 Section 15 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World's Story, Volume 7, Germany. The Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March-Tappen. Section 15. How Siegfried won a bride for King Gunther from the Nieben-Lungen League. Eisenstein is supposed to be Iceland, the editor. So they parted merrily from out the Burgundian land, Siegfried quickly grasped an oar, and from the shore the stalwart man began to push. Bold Gunther took the helm himself and thus the worshipful and speedy knights set forth from land. With them they took rich food and eek good wine, the best that could be found along the line. Their steeds stood fair, they had good easement, their ship rode well, scant harm did hap them, their stout sheet-rope was tightened by the breeze. Twenty leagues they sailed or ever came the night with a good wind, downward toward the sea, these hard toils brought later the high meddled warriors' pain. Upon the twelfth day morning, as we here say, the winds had borne them far away to Eisenstein in Brunnhild's land. To none save Siegfried was this known, but when King Gunther spied so many castles and brought marches to, how soon he spake. Pray tell me, friend, Siegfried, is it known to you whose are these castles and this lordly land? Siegfried answered, I know it well, it is the land and folk of Brunnhild and the fortress Eisenstein, as you heard me say. Fair ladies, you may still see there today, me think it good to advise you, heroes, that ye be of one single mind, and that ye tell the self-same tale. For if we go today before Brunnhild, in much jeopardy must we stand before the queen, when we behold the lovely maiden with her train, then ye far-famed heroes must ye tell but this single tale, that Gunther be my master and I his man. Then what he crabbeth will come to pass, for ready they were for whatever he bade them vow, nor because of pride did anyone abstain. They promised what he would, wherefrom they all fared well, when King Gunther saw fair Brunnhild. For sooth I bow it less for thy sake than for thy sisters, the comely maid, who is to me as mine own soul and body. Gladly will I bring it to pass that she become my wife. Meanwhile their bark had come so near the castle, that the king saw many a comely maiden standing at the casements. Much inert King Gunther that he knew them not, he asked his comrade Siegfried, as thou know knowledge of these maidens, who yonder are gazing downward towards us on the flood, whoever be their lord they are of lofty mood. At this, sir Siegfried Spake, I pray you, spy secretly among the high-born maids, and tell me then whom ye were Jews, and ye had the power. That will I, Spake Gunther, the bold and valiant knight, in yonder window do I see one stand in snow-white weeds. She is fashion so fair that mine eyes would choose her for her comeliness. Had I power she should become my wife. Right well thine eyes have chosen for thee it is the noble Brunnhild, the comely maid for whom thy heart doth strive and eke thy mind and mood. All her bearing seemed to Gunther good. Then bad the queen her high-born maids go from the windows, for it behooved them not to be the mark of strangers' eyes, each one obeyed. What next the ladies did hath been told us since, they decked their persons out to meet, the unknown knights, away their maids have ever had. To the narrow casements they came again, where they had seen the knights, through love of gazing, this was done. But for there were that were come to land, through the windows the stately women, saw how Siegfried led a horse out on the sand, whereby King Gunther felt himself much honored. By the bridle he held the steed so stately, good and fair, and large and strong, until King Gunther had sat him in the saddle. Thus Siegfried served him, the which he later quite forgot, such service he had seldom done of four, that he should stand at any hero's stirrup. Then he led his own steed from the ship. All of this the comely dames of noble birth saw through the casements the steeds and garments, two of the lusty knights of Snow White Hugh were right well matched, and all alike. The bucklers, fashioned well, gleamed in the hands of the stately men. In lordly wise they rode to Brune Hills Hall, their saddle set with precious stones, with narrow martingales, from which hung bells of bright and ruddy gold. So they came to the land as well befit their prowess, with newly sharpened spears, with well wrought swords, the which hung down to the spurs of the stately men. The swords, the bold men bore, were sharp and broad, all this Brune Hill, the high-born maid, espied. With the king came Danquart and Hagan too, we have heard tales told of how the knights were costly raiment, raven black of hue. There were their bucklers, Mikkel, good and broad. Jewels they wore from the land of India, the which gleamed gloriously upon their weeds. By the flood they left their skiff without a guard, thus the brave knights and good rode to the castle. Six and eighty towers they saw within, three broad palaces and one hall, well wrought of costly marble, green as grass wherein Brune Hill herself sat with her courtiers. The castle was unlocked and the gates flung wide, then ran Brune Hills men to meet them and welcome the stranger into their mistress's land. One bad relieved them of their steeds and shields. Then spake a chamberlain, pray give us now your swords and your shining brass plates too, that we may not grant you, said Hagan of Troneg, we ourselves will bear them. Then gans, seek free, tell, or write the tale. The usage of the castle, let me say, is such that no guests may hear bear arms. Let them now be taken hence, then we'll all be well. Unwillingly Hagan, Gunther's man, obeyed, for the strangers, men, bad, poor, outwine and make their lodgings ready. Many dowdy knights were seen walking everywhere at court in lordly weeds, nickel and off were these heroes gazed upon. Then the tidings were told to Lady Brune Hill that unknown warriors will come in lordly raiment sailing on the flood. The fair and worthy maid again asked concerning this, pray let me hear, spake the queen, who be these unknown knights who stand so lordly in my castle, and for whose sake the heroes have journeyed hither. Then spake one of the courtiers, my lady, I can well say that never have I set eyes on any of them, but one like seek free doth stand among them. Him ye should give fair greetings, that is my read in truth. The second of their fellowship is so worthy of praise that he were easily a mighty king over broad and princely lands, and he had the power and might possess them. One doth see him stand by the rest in such right lordly wives. The third of the fellowship is so fierce, and yet with also fair of body, most noble queen, by the fierce glances he so oft doth cast, I wean he be grim of thought and mood. The youngest among them is worshipful indeed, I see the noble knight stand so charmingly with courtly bearing in almost maiden modesty. We might all have cause for fear, had any done him ought, however blithely he doth practice chivalry, and how so fair of body he be, yet might he well make many a comely woman weep, should he ere grow angry. He is so fashioned that in all nightly virtues he must be a bold knight and a brave. Then spake the queen, now bring me my attire, if the mighty secret become unto this land through love of mine, he doth risk his life. I fear him not so sore that I should become his wife. Rune hill the fair was soon well clad, then went there with her many a comely maid, full hundred or more decked out in gay attire. The stately dames would gaze upon the strangers, with them there walked good knights from Isenland, Rune hill's minute arms, five hundred or more Ubor swords in hand. This the strangers rude, from their seats then the brave and lusty heroes rose, when that the queen spied Siegfried, now hear what the maid did speak. Be ye welcome, Siegfried, here in this our land, what doth your journey mean, that I feign would know. Grim mercy, my Lady Rune hill, that ye have dain to greet me, most generous queen in the presence of this noble knight, who standeth here before me, for he is my liege lord. This honor I must needs foreswear, by birth he's from the Rhine, what more need I to say. For thy sake, O become hither, feign would he woo thee, however he fare, but think thee now, be times, my lord, wilt not let thee go. He is height Gunther, and is a lordly king, and he wind thy love, he doth crave not more. For sooth this night, so well be seen, did bid me journey hither. I would feign have given it over, could I have said him nay? She spake, is he thy liege, and thou his man, dare he assay the games, which I meet out, and gain the mastery, then I'll become his wife. But should I win, it will cost you all your lives. Then up spake Hagen of Tronegg, my Lady, let us see your mighty games, it must indeed go hard, or ever Gunther, my lord, give you the palm. He throweth well to win so fair a maid. He must hurl the stone, and after spring, and cast the spear with me. Be ye not too hasty, ye are like to lose here, your honor, and your life as well. But think ye therefore rightly, spake the lovely maid. Siegfried the bold, went to the king, and bade him tell the queen, all that he had in mind, he should have no fear. I'll guard you well against her with my arts. Then spake King Gunther, most noble queen, now meet out what so ye list, and were it more, that would I all endure for your sweet sake. I'll gladly lose my head, and ye become not my wife. When the queen heard this speech, she begged them hasten to the games, as was but meat, she bade purvey, her with good armor for the strife, a breastplate of ruddy gold, and a right good shield, a silken circo too, the maid put on which sword had never cut in any fray of silken cloth of Libya. Well, was it wrought, bright embroidered edging, was seen to shine thereon? Meanwhile the knights were threatened much with battle cries, Dankwart and Hagen stood ill at ease, their minds were troubled at the thought of how the king would speed, thought they, our journey will not bring us warriors, ought of good. Meanwhile Siegfried, the stately man, or ever any marked it, had hide him to the ship where he found his magic cloak, concealed footnote, which made invisible whoever wore it, end of footnote. Into it he quickly slipped, and so was seen of none. He hurried back, and there he found a great press of knights where the queen dealt out her lofty gains. Thither he went in secret, wise, by his arts it happed, nor was he seen of any that were there. The ring had been marked out where the games should be, of four many valiant warriors who were to view them there. More than seven hundred were seen bearing arms who were to say who won the game. Then was come Brune Hill's arm as though she would battle for all royal lands. Above her silken coat she wore many a bar of gold, gloriously her lovely color shown beneath the armor. Then came her courtiers who bear along her shield of ready gold with large broad strips as hard as steel beneath the which the lovely maid would fight. As she'll thong there served a costly band upon which lay jewels green as grass, it shone and gleamed against the gold. He must needs be passing bold to whom the maid would show her love. The shield the maid should bear was three spans thick beneath the studs as we are told. Rich she now it was of steel and eek of gold, the which four chamberlains could scarcely carry. When the stalwart Hagen saw the shield borne forth, the knight of Tronegg spake full grim of mood. How now King Gunther, how we shall lose our lives, she you would make your love is the devil's bride in truth. Here now, about her weeds, he now of these she had, she wore a circote of silk of as a gook, noble and costly. Many a lordly stone shone in contrast to his color on the person of the queen. Then was brought forth for the lady a spear, sharp, heavy and large, the which she cast all time, stout and unwieldy, nickel and broad, which on its edges cut most fearfully. Of the spear's great weight here, wonders told, three and one half weights of iron were wrought therein, the which scarce three of brunhild's men could bear. The noble Gunther again be so afraid within his heart he thought, what does this mean? What does this mean? How could the devil from hell himself escape alive? Were I safe and sound and burgundy, long might she live here free of any love of mine. Then spake Hagen's brother, the valiant dankwart, the journey to this court doth rue me soar. We who have ever borne the name of knights, how must we lose our lives? Shall we now perish at the hands of women in these lands? It doth hurt me much that ever I came unto this country. Had but my brother Hagen his sword in hand and I, mine too, then should brunhild's men go softly in their overweening pride. This, no for sure, they'd guard against it well. And had I sworn a peace with a thousand oaths before I'd see my dear lord die, the comely maid herself should lose her life. We might leave this land unscathed, spake then his brother Hagen, had we the harness which we sorely need, and our good swords as well, then would the pride of this strong dame become a deal more soft. Let the warrior spake the noble maid heard well over her shoulders she gazed with smiling mouth. Now, sith he thinketh himself so brave, bring them forth their coats of mail, put in the warrior's hands their sharp-edged swords. When they received their weapons, as the maiden bade, bold dank wart blushed for very joy. Now let them play what so they list, spake the dowdy men, come through his unconquered, since now we have our arms. Midly, now, did Brunhild's length appear. Into the ring men bear a heavy stone, huge and great, nickel and round. Twelve brave and valiant men at arms could scarcely bear it. This she threw at all times when she had shot the spear. The Burgundian's spear now grew amane. Woe is me, Cryt Hagen, whom hath King Gunther chosen for a love, certs she should be the thou fiend's bride in hell. Upon her fair white arm the maid turned back her sleeves. With her hands she grasped the shield and poised the spear on high. Thus the strife began. Gunther and Siegfried feared Brunhild's hate, and had Siegfried not come to Gunther's aid, she would have bereft the King of Light. Secretly Siegfried went and touched his hand. With great fear Gunther marked his wiles. Who hath touched me, thought the valiant man. Then he gazed around on every side, but saw none standing there. To his eye Siegfried, the dear friend of thine, thou must not fear the Queen. Give me the shield from off thy hand and let me bear it, and mark a right what thou dost hear me say. Make thou the motions I will do the deeds. When Gunther knew that it was Siegfried, he was overjoyed. Quote Siegfried, now hide thou my arts, tell them not to any man, then can the Queen win from thee little fame, albeit she doth desire it. See how fearlessly the lady standeth now before thee. Then with might and main the noble maiden hurled the spear at a shield, Mikkel knew and brought, which the son of Siegeland bore upon his arm. The sparks sprang from the steel as if the wind did blow. The edge of the mighty spear broke fully through the shield, so that men saw the fire flame forth from the armor rings. The stalwart men both staggered at the blow, but for the cloak of darkness they had lain there dead. From the mouth of Siegfried the brave gushed forth the blood. Quickly the good night sprang back again and snatched the spear that she had driven through his shield. Stout Siegfried's hand now sent it back again. He thought, I will not pierce the comely maid, so he reversed the point and cast it at her armor with the butt that it rang out loudly from his mighty hand. The sparks flew from the armor rings as though driven by the wind. Siegmund's son had made the throw with might. With all her strength she could not stand before the blow. In faith King Gunther never could have done the deed. Brunnhild the fair, how quickly up she sprang. Gunther, noble knight, I cry you mercy for the shot. She weened that he had done it with his strength. To her had crept a far more powerful man. Then went she quickly, angry was her mood. The noble maid and good raised high the stone and hurled it mightily far from her hand. After the cast she sprang that all her armor rang in true. The stone had fallen twelve fathoms hence, but with her leap the comely maid out sprang the throw. Then went Sir Siegfried to where lay the stone. Gunther poised it while the hero made the throw. Siegfried was bold, strong and tall. He threw the stone to still farther and made a broader jump. Through his fair arts he had strengthened out to bear King Gunther with him as he sprang. The leap was made, the stone lay on the ground. Men saw none other save Gunther, the knight alone. Siegfried had banished the fear of King Gunther's death. Brunnhild the fair waxed red with wrath. To her courtiers she spake a deal to love, when she spied the hero's safe and sound at the border of the ring. Come nearer quickly, ye kinsmen and liegemen of mine, ye must now be subject to Gunther the king. Then the brave knights laid aside their arms and paid their homage at the feet of mighty Gunther from the Burgundian land. End of Section 15. This recording is in the public domain. Section 16 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sandra Schmidt. The World's Story, Volume 7. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva March-Tappen. Section 16. Bishop Hetto and his Maus Tower. About 968. By Robert Sadi. According to tradition Hetto II. Duke of the Ostrofranks was in 968 made Archbishop of Men's. He was a learned and skillful man, but cruel and miserly. Even when a terrible famine prevailed, his only thought was to save the grain which he had stored up. He had lectured poor people unmercifully, declaring that if they had not been lazy and wasteful, there would have been no famine. The story of his well-deserved punishment is told in the following lines. The Editor. The summer and autumn had been so wet, that in winter the corn was growing yet. It was a piteous sight to see all around the corn lie rotting on the ground. Every day the starving poor crowded round Bishop Hetto's door, for he had a plentiful last year's store, and all the neighborhood could tell his granaries were furnished well. At last Bishop Hetto appointed a day to quiet the poor without delay. He bade them to his great barn repair, and they should have food for the winter there. Rejoiced such tidings good to hear to poor folk flocked from far and near, the great barn was full as it could hold of women and children and young and old. Then when he saw it could hold no more, Bishop Hetto he made fast the door, and while for mercy on Christ they called, he set fire to the barn, and burned them all. If I is, it is an excellent bonfire, quoth he, and the country is greatly obliged to me for ridding it in these times full on of rats that only consume the corn. So then to his palace returned it he, and he sat down to supper merrily, and he slept at night like an innocent man, but Bishop Hetto never slept again. In the morning as he entered the hall, where his picture hung against the wall, a sweat like death all over him came, for the rats had eaten it out of the frame. As he looked, there came a man from his farm, he had a countenance white with alarm. My Lord, I opened your granaries this morning, and the rats had eaten all your corn. Another came running presently, and he was as pale as pale could be. Fly, my Lord Bishop, fly! Quoth he, ten thousand rats are coming this way. The Lord forgive you for yesterday. I'll go to my tower in the Rhine, replied he, just to save his place in Germany, the walls are high and the shores are steep, and the stream is strong and the water deep. Bishop Hetto fearfully hastened away, and he crossed the Rhine without delay, and reached his tower, and barred with care all windows, doors and loopholes there. He laid him down, and closed his eyes. But soon a scream made him arise, he started, and saw two eyes of flame on his pillow, from whence the screaming came. He listened, and looked, it was only the cat, but to Bishop he grew more fearful for that, for she said screaming, mad with fear, at the army of rats that were drawing near. For they have swam over the river so deep, and they have climbed the shores so steep, and up the tower their way is bent, to do the work for which they were sent. They are not to be told by the dozen or score, by thousands they came, and by myriads and more, such numbers had never been heard of before, such a judgement had never been witnessed of your. Down on his knees the bishop fell, and faster and faster his beats did tell, as louder and louder drawing near, the gnawing of their teeth he could hear. And in at a windows and in at a door, and through the walls held us gelt a day poor, and down from the ceiling and up from the floor, from the right and the left, from behind and before, from within and without, from above and below, and all at once to the bishop they go. They have whetted their teeth against the stones, and now they pick at the bishop bones. They knelt a flesh from every limb, for they were sent to do judgement on him. End of Section 16 This recording is in the public domain. Section 17 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland Read for LibriVox.org by Sandra Schmidt The Lorelei by Heinrich Heine According to ancient legend, the Lorelei is a witch who takes the form of a beautiful maiden. She often seats herself on the Lorelei-Berg rock, which overhangs the Rhine, and sings so entrancingly that the boatmen forget their danger and are drawn into a neighbouring whirlpool, the editor. I know not whence it rises, distought so full of woe, but a tale of times departed haunts me and will not go. The air is cool and it darkens, and calmly flows the Rhine, the mountain peaks are sparkling in the sunny evening shine. And Yonder sits a maiden, the fairest of the fair, with gold is her garment glittering, and she combs her golden hair. With a golden comb she combs it, and a wild song sings as she, that melts to heart with a wondrous and powerful melody. The boatman feels his bosom with a nameless longing move. He sees not the gulfs before him, his gaze is fixed above. Till over boat and boatman, the Rhine's deep waters run, and this, with her magic singing, the laurel lie has done. End of Section 17. This recording is in the public domain. Section 18 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The World's Story, Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, edited by Eva March Tappen. Section 18, the little fowl's tower of Munich by Franz Trautmann. A loft on the city wall to the left of Sendling Gate, as one goes out, is a peculiar little pointed tower with a fist, fowl's, which seems to menace far and wide on its top. Some people used to think a court fowl was once walled in there because he had delivered over the keys of the city to the enemy. They were right in the delivering over, but not in the court fowl. For the tale about it is as follows. About 260 years ago, two Dukes, Ernst and Bill Helm, ruled together in Munich. These two had a wild, restless cousin, by name Ludwig, who gave them much trouble and often. Gradually, though, he began to behave more peacefully, letting it be rumored that most of the time he was ill, and by those and other means he succeeded in making his princely cousins feel quite secure. However, as soon as they were not on the lookout for any evil, he began to plan their entire ruin, intending to drive them wholly out of the city and seize Munich, and he was already discussing the matter with the burgo master of the place. The latter hoping for golden thanks was treacherous enough to enter into the plot to betray his rightful lords, and when they had come to a final understanding, he began to play his part very cleverly. He selected a few bad fellows who in a short time had sown the first seeds of discontent among the people. They carried it further and further until the citizens of Munich really thought they were not so well off as they might be. In short, a wild, rebellious spirit awoke among them, and no one inquired any longer who had provoked it. Soon there was nothing but uproar and riot everywhere. Well all that was happening, the treacherous burgo master behaved as if he were highly indignant, issued several proclamations of warning, and always quieted things down again for which reason the Dukes placed still greater trust in him. But the uproars and riots always began afresh. Whatever the Dukes did, even if it were for the best, was no longer of any account. Here and there it began to be said they were not even the rightful lords. And at last the taxes were disputed and collected only with the greatest difficulty. Altogether the prospect was not inviting, for the people were full of suspicion and defiance, and the Dukes of indignation and impatience, the uproar master had foreseen. So when the Dukes consulted him as to what was to be done further, he said, Your Highness's dislike to great severity, for kindness is out of place here, that is sure and certain. So my sincere advice is this, as soon as any disturbance takes place again, leave this ungrateful city so that the people may see what it is like when you are not here and all the money of the princely household flows somewhere else. But if you do that experience for a time, you will soon see they will humbly submit and implore your return and never forget the example they have had. But if on the contrary, they still rebel after that, I would not hesitate in your place, but would return home in might and power and have their vile obstinate heads cut off by the hangman's sword. A dozen more or less makes no difference. He decoyed the kind hearted Dukes in that speech into following his advice. At the next disturbance, they mounted their steeds and left the burg with their whole princely suit riding across the marker place and passed St. Peter through Sennlinger Gasse to the gate and out toward the Isleheim. While that was happening, the people stood about in alleys and open squares, collabing with each other. The burglar master mounted the city wall with his accomplices and stepping to the little open watchtower looked after the departing Dukes from vents and called out as they disappeared in the distance. Good riddance, noble lords, we did not do that badly. Shake your fists if you like. If you attempt anything further, I will shake my fist at you. Huzza, once outside and you will never get inside again. When the Dukes were gone, the city was set on and grew into mockery. The Dukes, it was said, had fled because they were afraid, partly of the people, partly of their princely cousin who was in no wise ailing, but on the contrary, was drawing near at that moment to take possession of the city which was his by right. During all that wild talk, the burglar master's accomplices played their parts and simulated great fear and people turned away from their two rightful lords and looked forward to a golden future when once the new lord was there. So when the day was waning and vespers had been rung and that princely cousin Ludwig was really nearing the city outside the anger gate with his suit it was opened wide for him although the burglar master made a pretense of hesitation. There upon the new Duke entered the city looking around on the crowd with a smiling and almost gracious countenance and a man rode behind him throwing pennies around as if they were as plenty as blackberries. At that one shout of joy followed another and so it went until the cousin, now Duke, dismounted at the burg taking possession of it and the people of Munich firmly believed that good times were in store for them. But they were very much mistaken, for when he went to the Duke the next day and said your highness we have won the game. The latter slapped him on the back and said there is no doubt about it. You are quite a man for treason only take care and don't try the same with me for it might turn out badly for you as I have much better eyes than my beloved cousins. Anyone can fancy the burglar master's surprise, fright and disappointment especially because the princely cousin did not behave in the least as if he had ever mentioned a word about gratitude and a reward of money. He completely ignored the past on the contrary and ordered a tremendous tax to be imposed when the burglar master stammered that the whole city would rebel at such a demand he jumped up from his seat grasped his sword and insisted upon immediate obedience. At that all the burglar masters had the courage for soak him he was downstairs and in the courtyard before he knew how he got there and he left the castle grounds full of humiliation and anger he went straight to the Roth house where he called together all the citizens and made known what the new lord demanded at that there was a great uproar and each one blamed the other but strife and quarreling were of no use the tax had to be raised and a week later the princely cousin imposed another and much larger one things went on like that from week to week and from moon to moon and it looked as if the princely cousin would reduce entire munich to beggary for his demands were ever larger and more frequent and when the least sign of rebellion appeared he sent his soldiers to make short work of it with their swords the people were on the verge of despair for the more prosperous and plucky they had been before they were just so much the poor they saw that such a state of things would soon bring them to starvation because they were reduced to the last penny but the burgo master was not prospering either for in addition to his anger at the dukes and gratitude he was in a sea of trouble over his own accomplices they were tireless in their demands for reward and no matter how often or how much he paid them they always renewed their claims with an increase and again to let the people know who was responsible for all their suffering and to tell the two dukes Ernst and Wilhelm what he had shouted out after them from the little tower on the city wall in case the two lords should return to munich after all someday that would not be a very good thing for him the burgo master so he fell completely into the power of his accomplices and assistants and after he had given them his all to satisfy them he was obliged to resort to the money bags of the city and above all they mocked him to set the degree that at last he lost all control over himself and answered their threats by defying them upon that the scoundrels lost little time in keeping their word and slandered the burgo master in all parts of the town repeating what he had to their great astonishment called out on the city wall and that spread like wildfire before the day had passed and he had been a firm man and in two days more there was a great riot the burgo master's house on the market place was assaulted and if he had been there they would certainly have murdered him he was not at home though but somewhere else not far from the burg to which he escaped and he implored the duke for help the duke's contemptuous answer was so long as I am here I will protect you but when I'm gone you will have to look out for yourself there's nothing more to pilfer from the city because the people are poorer than poverty itself and hungrier than church mice so all I have still to do is to plunder the duke's castle and make off with what is valuable what happens after that is all the same to me the people have been rightly punished as I hope you will be now you know my mind and you may take that as your reward you accursed traitor to break faith with your rightful lords and to see of the first order for if I wanted to be just I should have your head cut off when the duke said that in the presence of his marshal the burglar master was badly frightened and tried to stammer something but the duke thundered out at him make yourself off out of my princely sight there upon the burglar master wheeled around to the left and out like a flash the duke however sent a few soldiers after him they brought him home and took the crowd away and guarded his house all night so that no harm came to him meanwhile the duke caused everything of gold or otherwise of value that could be found in the castle to be heaped up in wagons that went on all night until daylight and just as the seven o'clock mass at st. peters was ended the duke flung himself upon his horse in the burg courtyard and rode off with all his counts knights and warriors in their midst were the wagons laden with booty and in that fashion they rode through burg gossah past st. peters and through sendling gurg gossah toward the city gate the people flocked with her murmuring and reviling but the duke took no notice of them except to laugh as if amused at their helpless rage but at sendling gate he stopped and turning with his horse he reached into his money bag and threw a handful of pennies and said my thanks see what your hatred and anger are worth to me you deserve no better many greetings to your burgo master who has served you this trick otherwise I never should have gone so far sound of blast trumpeters thereupon he put about and rode out through the gate his retinue and the wagons following him all straight ahead then to the right toward the pricing high road the people however hurried back to the marketplace to revenge themselves upon the burgo master he suspected what was in store for him and tried to hide here and there but no one would give him shelter he turned from one place to another but there was refuge nowhere and everywhere was the cry away with you traitor then he fled through the streets and alleys with the people after him led by his own accomplices until he gained an open courtyard stumbling gate there he climbed a wall and found a quiet path which led to the tower on the left he slipped in both of the gates and went toward the city wall intending if worse should come to worse to climb or jump down and gain either freedom or death thereby he went up the stairs intending to kill the sentinels if they should bar him the way but he thought he was safe for a while from the rear suddenly the crowd pushed on the gates were broken in the accomplices ran up the stairs followed by as many as could crowd in and they all shouted to the sentinels seize the traitor there upon the wall sentries rushed at him from in front and the others from behind so that the burgo master did not know which way to turn and was not able to get any farther than the little open tower from which he had mocked the dukes he tried to climb up there so he pulled out his sword shouting not without paying first and slashed and stabbed all around when he recognized his assistants and accomplices he called out you against me you scoundrels you who were my instruments so you are trying to whitewash yourselves wait a minute and I will color you red and he cut and hacked at them in a rage they were turning it better luck though than they for he killed the first as well as the second and he pushed the third over the parapet into the town below where he fell with a shattered skull then he turned to the others they shouted and yelled and struck out at him and he at them front and back although he wounded many a man he himself did not escape entirely and at last he was quite exhausted and saw his fate clearly before him there upon he summoned his last and tried to follow his accomplice over the parapet and shatter his own head but the others pulled him back and knocked him down even then he raged and struggled for a long time until he was bound and shackled then they let him away back through the passage down the stairs and scaffolding of the tower to Sandalinger and along through the town to Falcon Tower where they threw him into the tower who had been innocent in the whole affair and the decision was reached which pleased them all there upon three gentlemen of the council and six citizens mounted their horses they rode away together to the two rightful lords who were somewhere near Dachau they confessed everything that had happened and implored forgiveness for the sorely tried city because the people are good they said and of the very best they would keep that in mind and not lay it up against them but return they would be welcomed with repentance and great rejoicing not two days past before the Dukes approached and at Vespers wrote around the whole city to the blast of trumpets and each gate was open to them at last they made a triumphal entry through the anger gate and when they were in the city they halted a moment and Ernst said to the people what you deserve is what you deserve where you have sinned deeply and ignored a sacred duty as if you were better off with someone else than with us who have always meant well by you have you found that out now for yourselves you deserved it all our cousin was right when he said that but you are pardoned and forgiven and everything is forgotten no sign of the misfortune must remain except that you will have empty purses for a long time yet and that the anger gate yonder will be walled up and that will be a sign forever the people broke out into shouts of joy at such mild words the Dukes wrote along the anger across the marketplace and so on to the castle courtyard where they dismounted they discovered then that the burg had been empty of everything of value and were not a little angry about it they then inquired into all the particulars of the affair beginning and found out the burgo masters part in it and above all what he had called out after them the next day the people were summoned to the wrath house the Dukes wrote hither also and stopping at the door commanded that the burgo master be taken out of the falcon tower and brought there he came accordingly in chains and fell upon his knees before the Dukes begging for his light but all the people cried out and Bill Helm it is said spoke thus in a loud voice you satanic fellow you beg for your life you may have it but you would have done better to beg for death I can tell you that of a truth for you may live traitor but in such a way that death any day would be more welcome upon that he stopped speaking and his brother Ernst took up the word saying do you remember the advice you gave us and what you called out the way duped by your cunning you shook your fist in mockery at us and called you are outside and will never get inside again well are we here again or not your word has turned out a lie but the word we give you in return will remain true forever and that word is as follows you will be walled up in that little tower from which you reviled and insulted us two bricks space will be left you will be given you and there you will stay as a counterplay to your own word you will be inside and will never get outside just as you who are to blame for the people suffering and misery shook your fist at us in defiance of justice and duty even so we shake ours forever at you and every traitor in a symbol from the top of your prison they will carry your disgrace down to posterity who used you to drive us away and lead our faithful people astray that we intend to revenge ourselves upon him when the time comes at that the burgo master broke down in total despair and the jailers pulled him on to his feet again and took him off to send them gate and up through the passage to the little pointed tower the masons were already there the people surged down below on the city side shouting the burgo master was walled in that was his reward and soon after he heard hammering above him the fist was being riveted to the little tower so that was how the dukes gained possession of their city again and the burgo master came to his narrow jail he lived in it for half years and the wall centuries heard him raving and raging often enough then in the course of time that changed to the burgo master and asked for a priest the latter came accordingly he confessed to him and entrusted him to beg forgiveness of the dukes and of the whole city and to implore them to pray and then Aave Maria out of compassion for him because his time was drawing to a close the priest delivered the messages and many prayed for the soul of the burgo master dedicated that he and the little tower had died then they broke into the wall and found the dead burgo master his hands were folded reverently together and judging from that he had met his end quietly and bravely they carried him out and buried him in the church chart of heiligen geist that graveyard has been destroyed in the course of time and it is open for the future and the fist up on its point even today it speaks of the disgrace of traitors just as the dukes said and the word of the two dukes concerning their princely cousin came to pass also for later when he heard that the good people of Munich had made some money again the desire awoke once more in that wild lord to seize the city this time by force as he had before succeeded in doing by cunning and make the people as poor as he had done the other time therefore he chose what he thought was the right moment and marched forward with military forces but very secretly the dukes however had noticed his game called everyone to arms and marched out against their cousin meeting him somewhere near Blutenberg which place received his name from all the blood which flowed then and there they fought him and his followers so furiously and fiercely escaped with his life that he did not dream again of any designs against Munich or of duping the true heart of people again but heaven punished him still more severely because of his crime against his cousins for his own son rose up against him he was taken prisoner by him and led from place to place stripped of all power and possessions and at last confined in a tower at Berghausen where he stayed until his death in the section 18 this recording is in the public domain section 19 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland read for Libervox.org by phone Germany part 4 life in the 15th century historical note during the middle ages Germany had even more than her share of strife and confusion the country was divided among a host of lawless nobles and prelates archbishops, bishops, abbots, dukes, margrays, landgrays and counts acknowledging no authority saved the emperors and even that only when the emperor was strong enough to impose it by force the lesser nobles secure in their strong castles grew rich by plundering helpless travellers and merchants and the greater nobles carried on a constant warfare by the 15th century many of the cities of Germany had used the wealth brought them by the increase of commerce and manufacturing to free themselves by bribes or by force from their feudal lords the imperial cities as these were called had grown into turbulent little republics governing themselves as they listed and uniting in powerful leagues to defend their rights against the neighbouring princes these cities were a most important factor in the development of Europe they were the centres not only of trade and industry but of culture and art they were rich and strong and the freedom which they demanded and obtained was a long step towards the development of a free nation the most famous union of the 16th century was the Hanseatic League which at one time numbered more than 90 cities among its members and was strong enough to carry on war against foreign countries before the 16th century was well begun however maritime discoveries had opened new routes of trade stronger government had made travel safer and about the middle of the 17th century the league was dissolved during the 15th century the border was introduced and swiftly brought about a vast change in the structure of society shifting the brunt of fighting from the shoulders of the armoured knights to common soldiers and leading to the introduction of mercenaries or hired troops and the establishment of standing armies end of section 19 this recording is in the public domain section 20 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Colleen McMahon the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March-Tappen section 20 the great Hanseatic League by Eva March-Tappen there was one trading company far greater and more famous than all the others this was the Hanseatic League Hansa or Hansa is a word of several meanings it seems to have signified in the first place a society then the fee paid for entrance into a trading guild then a company of merchants trading away from home the Hanseatic League was a union of 70 or 80 cities in northern Germany it aimed not only at commerce but at making it safe to travel among these towns and also by sea in those days piracy was looked upon as being disagreeable indeed for any vessel that was captured and robbed but it was nevertheless a perfectly respectable calling the German Ocean and the Baltic Sea were overrun by a gang of pirates one of whose leaders was a nobleman named Sturdebecker the league sent out its vessels in pursuit captured the leaders and 150 men Sturdebecker's court was a judge to deserve death and this nobleman was doomed to be hanged with his companions let me go free he said and I will give you a chain of pure gold long enough to go around the cathedral and the town this request was refused but his second wish was granted namely that he and his comrades might dress themselves in their best and march to the place of execution to the music of drum and fife the Hanseatic League aimed at monopolizing the trade of the greater part of Europe and stronger sometimes the members bought trade privileges and sometimes they fought for them they established factories or trading stations in as many countries as possible Bergen in Norway was one of their chief stations they paid no taxes and obliged the people to send to Bergen all the productions of the land that were for sale there the Hansards selected what was of most value before any sales could be made elsewhere they were forbidden to marry or to spend a single night out of bounds the young men and boys were treated with the utmost severity every newcomer had to undergo tortures one of the mildest of which was to be flogged till the blood came if he survived to the possibility lay before him of rising to a high position and gaining great wealth the trade of Denmark and Sweden was in the hands of the League in Russia it was for many years so powerful that it was able to establish themselves at Navgarat and at length became strong enough to oblige the Russians to obey whatever laws they chose to make for instance if a Russian merchant failed the League decreed that he must pay in full whatever he might owe the Germans before he was allowed to pay the smallest debt to his countrymen in the Netherlands the Hansards founded a factory at Bruges here they obliged every passing vessel save those going to England or the Baltic coast at the port of Bruges pay tall and allow them to select from the cargo whatever they chose to buy in France, Spain, Portugal and Venice they carried on trade but not so widely as in the northern countries in England the power of the League was greatest the English called its members Easterlings because their lands lay to the east of England the German money was often spoken of as Easterling or Sterling Money it was with this Sterling Money that the Hansards bought their way to the favour of the English sovereigns more than once when an English king was in need of gold the League helped him out of his difficulties and in return graciously accepted trade privileges worth far more than the loans that they had made the people of England were not always pleased to have these favours shown to foreigners and during the Wat Tyler Rebellion in the latter part of the 13th century they made a fierce attack upon the Germans say bread and cheese they would command everyone to be a foreigner if he pronounced the words with a trace of the German accent he was struck down on the instant it was easy however for the Hansards to get their revenge all that they had to do was to tax the English heavily at Bruges or Bergen or to refuse to allow their vessels to enter the Baltic Sea or to stop at any port of Iceland or Greenland in the latter part of the 15th century however both Hansards and English had been playing pirate and at length a treaty of formalities as if this trading company had been another nation the headquarters of the league in England was a settlement in London known as the Steelyard probably because here stood the great scales called by that name this was a city within a city its buildings stretched up from the riverfront so that the merchandise of the league could be unloaded at its own wharves here stood the Great Hall a handsome stone building which was used for business meetings and also for a dining room with the treasures of the company not far away was a garden with trees and vines there were also tables and seats for the garden became a favorite resort for both Hansards and Londoners who went there summer evenings to drink Rennesh wine and eat the salmon, caviar and Nietztang for which it was famous life in the Steelyard was far from being all play however for there was plenty of work for everybody and the rules of the place were exceedingly strict playing at dice even in one's own room and entertaining any person not a member of the league were punished by heavy fines if a man fenced or played tennis with an Englishman he was fined 20 shillings if two men indulged in a fight with either fists or knives they needed to have long purses for the fine was 100 shillings every evening promptly at 9 o'clock the door of each dwelling was shut and locked where they desired and forcing the helpless folk of Bergen to do as they were bitten in England the German merchants were no less bent upon having their own way but as far as possible they bought privileges rather than demanded them they made liberal gifts but usually in directions where they would do the most good the Lord Mayor of London received from them a generous present each year the English alderman whose business it was to settle any disputes was to make its annual gift of 15 gold coins worth about 100 shillings wrapped in a pair of gloves the inspector of customs fared even better for once a year a friendly windfall of about 400 shillings delighted his heart in spite of lavish gifts to those in power and of princely loans to English sovereigns the steel yard had to be prepared at all times to defend itself against a London mob and as a safeguard it was required to keep in his room a suit of armour and a supply of arms in order to be prepared for any possible uprising as English merchants grew stronger their jealousy of the league increased the attacks of the mob upon the steel yard became more frequent and at length near the end of the 16th century its charter was taken away the later history of the league and other countries was much the same the Hanseatic merchants were so successful that the merchants of other lands sought earnestly for the same success the different cities and countries became rich and powerful enough to manage their own trade the league weakened and came to its end the free cities Hamburg and Bremen were the last to yield but in 1888 these two gave up their independence and joined the German Empire if we judge the Hanseatic League by present standards its methods seem cruel and despotic but it is a long way from the 13th century to the 20th and many things are frowned upon now remembering this we can appreciate the fact that the record of the league should be looked upon as a noble one it aided the development of industry it spread civilization it created the commerce of northern Europe and it trained merchants and magistrates and sea captains in the cities of the league there was courage and independence there was industry and enterprise better still there was an ever increasing appreciation of order and of peace section 20 this recording is in the public domain recording by Colleen McMahon section 21 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Colleen McMahon the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland section 21 the walled cities of Germany by Sabine Bering Gould with the collaboration of Arthur Gilman it was only about the beginning of the 15th century that the cities of Germany rose to great importance and became remarkable for their stately buildings for their wealth and influence they were all enclosed within walls with a moat surrounding the walls at intervals in the ring the city was indulged of making all different so as to add to the beauty of the appearance of the town very few of the great German towns remain walled in with their towers but some have these ornaments intact Raddisfone had 15 towers variously capped making the distant view of the city a vision of beauty all have been pulled down but one at the beginning of the 13th century, the city was driven to build a better material and to use tile or slate instead of thatch nevertheless a good many old timber and plaster houses remain indeed even the castles were only partly built of stone they were to a large extent composed of buildings of more perishable material a little way up a tributary of the Moselle is an old castle Schloss Els tower of stone and walls of stone but the principal buildings for the inmates hall of banquet and bedrooms are of black timber with plaster fillings at first in the towns only the churches and town halls and other public buildings were of stone but at the beginning of the 15th century the patricians that is the ruling families and merchants who were very wealthy began to build themselves handsome stone houses in the main nearly all the houses down to the end of the 14th century were of combustible materials and were without chimneys the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof the streets of Paris were paved in 1185 but though some attempts at paving were made in Germany in the 13th and 14th centuries it was not till later that they were systematically paved passengers picked their way in the mud as best they might we read of Hal as she was thus trying to get along a street in Eisenach a rude woman pushed her off the stepping stone upon which she had lighted and she fell down into the black slough and was splashed from head to foot there were not many windows filled with glass before the 15th century even at Zurich where the town hall was built in 1402 the windows were filled with oiled linens strained to frames in Zurich the first fountain was erected in 1430 in the fountains that decorate so many of the German towns the houses in the town were very different in plan from old English houses let me tell you what I saw one summer's day at Villengen in the black forest this is a walled town the walls nearly perfect with all the towers standing but with the water let out of the moat which is turned into gardens when I visited the place it was at the time of hay harvest and wanes laden with hay and the gables are towards the street with a large door in the attic and a crane over it the chain from this contrivance was run down and the bundles of hay were raised and piled up in the garret of the house which served as a great hay store later the corn would be brought in and the flax and stored away in the same place the roof of the house formed to the barn then the cows and horses were driven into the ground floor rooms they were really stables vaulted with stone and to enter the house to ascend steps as the citizens of a small town were landowners and farmers they thus made their houses compact farm dwellings that was how they managed in small towns in large cities they used the roof for stores of merchandise and the basement for shops when you ascend the stairs you find in these old houses that there is a great deal of room given up to passage and that this passage is paved and sometimes vaulted with a lot of furniture and meals were also taken in it when the company was large these corridors are called Lauben the rooms open out of these corridors and are comparatively small in olden times before fire engines were invented the only way by which fires could be extinguished was with pails the first fire brigade was established at Frankfurt in 1439 and the first fire engine used at Augsburg in 1518 we have many accounts of the German towns Nuremberg especially was regarded as the ideal of a beautiful medieval town and to the present day with its stepped gables, solar windows corner terrets and rich sculpture it retains more of its medieval character than any other town Italians however declared that a more beautiful city than Cologne could not be found a verdict we in the present day should be far from endorsing it is now a collection of extremely beautiful churches the illustrious Frenchman Montaigne declared that Augsburg was more lovely than Paris Annias Silvius Piccolomini afterwards Pope Pius II could not find terms in which to praise the wealth and splendor of the German cities there is some exaggeration when he says where is a German inn at which silver plate is not used what citizen woman not necessarily noble the town lies in a crescent on the Danube the city wall is 5,000 paces long and has double fortifications the town proper lies like a palace in the center of the suburbs several of which rival it in beauty and size nearly every house has something to show something remarkable in or about it each dwelling has its back court and front court large halls and smaller good winter apartments the guest rooms are beautifully paneled and fully furnished and warmed with stoves all windows are glazed some have painted glass and have iron work guards against thieves on the basement are large cellars and vaults which are devoted to apothecaries warehouses shops and lodgings for strangers in the halls many tame birds are kept so that in passing through the streets one hears the sounds of a green pleasant forest the marketplaces and streets team with life 20,000 inhabitants and 7,000 students enormous is the commerce of the traders and enormous the sums of money here earned and spent the whole district round Vienna is like one vast and beautiful garden covered with grapes and apples and studied with the most charming country houses there is however another side to the picture Ania Silvia says by night and day there is fighting in the streets sometimes the artisans are assailing the students sometimes the court people and sometimes it is citizen who has sword drawn against citizen a festival rarely concludes without bloodshed if the cities did not cultivate poetry they nursed music they all had their master singer guild and on Sunday afternoons the performers sang in the town hall or the churches prizes were given for the best compositions the highest prize was a representation of king David playing on the harp stamped on a gold slate the others consisted of wreaths gold or silver this performance was called school singing the last performance at Nuremberg was in 1770 and the very last of all was at Ulm in 1839 end of section 21 this recording is in the public domain recording by Colleen McMahon section 22 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain if you have any information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Colleen McMahon the world's story volume 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 22 German life in the 15th century by Johannes Janssen the artists of four centuries ago always painted historical characters as if living at the same time as they themselves a picture of the Virgin Mary for instance presented her wearing the same sort of clothes that a maiden of their own day would have worn and a faithful likeness of a German house represented in most satisfactory fashion the abode of folk of any age in any country as the artists made accurate copies of what they saw around them we have only to study their pictures to learn what the people wore how they lived and how they amused to themselves four centuries ago the editor of the genre pictures done by the best artists of the time we are familiar with the manners of the day and can contrast them with those of later times a market scene is represented in a miniature or on glass in which women and young girls recommend their wares and offer them for sale white bread and butter on a white plate eggs and baskets and milk and jugs pigeons and young chickens are tied in hampers which are carried on the heads of the women in the neck and crossed over the bosom the skirts scant and of convenient length an apron is tied by strings knotted in front the hair divided in the middle is allowed to hang loose by the young girl while by the older women it is hidden under a handkerchief which hangs loosely down or is tied under the chin we also find the popular amusements of the day represented with the same precision and accuracy for instance one picture shows us children spinning tops trundling hoops singing and turning somersaults another shows us older people amusing themselves with chess backgammon and dice may festivals and shooting parties are often represented dancing being the favorite indeed the general amusement of the people in the middle ages it naturally formed a constant subject for art the lower orders always preferred to dance in the open air the inns never contain dancing halls and we see the gay crowds collected on the green or the violin the wealthier classes had their private dancing saloons and sometimes used the city halls for this their favorite amusement a copper engraving by israel von meccanin gives us a good idea of those dancing festivals which were so popular on the Rhine at the close of the 15th century in the center the musicians are placed in a gallery supported by pillars the dancing couples seem to be moving with great difficulty on account of the tight fitting jackets and the cumbersome trains of the ladies these trains completely cover the floor endless varieties displayed in the costumes the headdresses are shaped like sugar loaves high on the head and with long veils falling to the ground or flat coiffes ornamented with flowers or ribbons the men wear loose jackets over their tight fitting vests fastened with buckles and long cloaks reaching to the floor or else short mantles the women all wear low necked dresses their hair hangs in curls around the head for headgear they wear a gaily embroidered band a hat with feathers or a turban like cap from the stained glass the miniature paintings and even the alter pictures of the period we can form an exact idea of the prevailing taste for rich materials and bright colors for art in the middle ages copied exactly from nature we see the dresses for state occasions made of thick brocade of the richest colors and embroidered with gold and silver the dress slid open and trimmed with embroidery dresses enriched with precious stones and pearls often had six and seven rows of coral chains around the neck many finger rings were worn a study of the inventory's still extent of the wardrobes of well-to-do citizens will give us some idea of the luxury and variety of the dress of the middle ages in the will of the wife of George Winter of Nuremberg dated 1485 there is mention, among other things of four mantles of maline silk six long over skirts three smock frocks three under dresses six white aprons one black two white bath cloaks along with the other jewels we find 30 rings mentioned a citizen of Breslau contributed to his daughter's trousseau 1490 a fur lined mantle and dress four dresses of different values several caps, sashes and armlets a little ring worth 25 florins we read of another daughter receiving in 1470 from her guardians as an inheritance from her mother 36 gold rings besides several chains buckles and sinkers the pictures of headgear both of men and women are very diverse and extraordinary women wore pointed caps a yard high or headdresses formed of colored stuff pressed and ornamented with gold and precious stones women of the bourgeois class in the city was particularly remarkable consisting of a muslin handkerchief laid in folds on a wire frame and having ribbon strings to tie under the chin the shapes of men's hats and caps were quite as remarkable on some of the illuminated of the city regulations of Hamburg we find patterns of hats and caps some high and some low some with wide and others with narrow brims turned up behind or vice versa some hats of various colors and designs trimmed with feathers gold ornamentation or ribbons that hung down to the ground long curls were considered a great adjunct to manly beauty and much time and care were bestowed on the arrangement of them when the son of the wealthy patrician Jerome Chekin Berlin of Basel became disgusted with the vanities of the world and joined the Carthusian order at the age of 26 he had his portrait painted long curls encircled his forehead and fell over his shoulders in the portrait of the youthful Maximilian we always notice his beautiful wavy hair falling low over his neck even Albert Durer the son of the plain blacksmith seemed to delight in his ringlets sometimes even we see men with their curls encircled by an enamel band fastened by buckle and heron's plume or even with a bunch of ivy or flowers instead of flowing curls the women were thick braids which gave rise to the reproach that the women wear the hair of the dead the young girls wore their plots in gold or jeweled nets to which were attached gold egglets Durer's well-known picture of the espousal of the virgin gives us a good idea of the favorite dress of the young fiance's of the middle ages over a short velvet dress which Mary holds in one hand she wears a richly fur trimmed road with train and hanging sleeves on her head is a small cap and veil amongst her companions there is a fair and burg woman of good position who wears a full mantle and a piled up linen cap still more striking though than the shapes of clothes even among the working classes was the variety of their color stone cutters and carpenters worked in costumes consisting of red coats with blue trousers and caps or in yellow coats with red trousers and caps others again are represented in light blue and green mixed with yellow and red a peasant bringing his pig to market wears a red hat green coat and brown trousers a truckman wheeling a hog's head before him appears in a red coat lined with green red cap blue hose and bronze riding boots the village dandies seem to delight in producing ridiculous effects by the multitude of colors that they wore at the same time one side of their costume would be of one color while the other was composed of a pair in red from head to foot embroidery was also much used in the year 1464 Bernard Rohrbach from Frankfurt had the sleeves of his coat so richly embroidered that they had 11 ounces of silver on them art in those days was a faithful portrayal of life in all its varieties and absurdities its virtues and its vices the caprices and the tyranny of its fashions its wealth and luxury its misery and its squalor were the same pattern represented to our vision take for instance the hideous rabble in Martin Schungauer's carrying of the cross who are driving the saviour to his death they are clad in the clothes which chance or charity has given them one has an overcoat without sleeves and his legs are naked another has trousers but his feet are bare and his short torn jacket discovers a tattered shirt another with naked shoulders wears a cap with tassels from under which a long curl escapes and his head is wrapped around his head in a kind of cotton turban and a fifth wears a shapeless felt on his close cut hair whilst his neighbor lets his unkempt locks float in the wind among the rabble we discover figures that look as if they had seen better days one is dressed in a garment trimmed with fringed ribbon loops and his arms are bare to the elbow another with laced shoes and naked legs has wrapped a sheepskin around his shoulders as though it were a royal ermine an old man is clothed in a hermit's frock and which one sees so often reproduced in the pictures of the time is painfully repulsive and gives a vivid idea of the masses who played so prominent a part in the politico ecclesiastical stripes of the sixteenth century amongst all this phoppery and folly however the workmen, the burgers the professional and the scientific men stand out in more sober relief both in form and coloring the dress of the artisans was very simple dressed in a short, convenient blouse-like garment and tight or wide trousers either coming down over or tucked into the boots or shoes when at work they slipped on sleeveless jackets and tucked their shirt sleeves up to their shoulders on their close cropped heads they wore either caps or felt hats the dress of the burgers was a short vest with an outer garment over it either in the shape of a blouse closed in the front and put on over the head or else a coat opened down the front this outer garment was generally brown or black and lined or bordered with fur scientific and professional men wore long full robes reaching to the feet almost always of a dark color but occasionally red a simple beretta-like cap covered their close cut hair these distinct costumes or each rank and position are very characteristic of the true honest German citizen and German domestic life and are truthfully depicted by German art the room like uncomfortable for instance is the room in which Juror depicts Saint Jerome it has two windows with small round panes the ceiling is of dark timber in the corner is an antique oak table on which are the crucifix and an ink stand and the furniture is ample and comfortable in the background we see the large hourglass which is considered an indispensable accessory in all well regulated households the row of tapers ready lighted the flasks of balsam and the medicine case are made of household remedies there lies also the leather portfolio with writing materials and a large scissors beside the rows relies a brush from the ceiling hangs a gourd under the bench are thick sold sabbats everything bespeaks German thrift and domestic comfort anything that may be wanting to make this a complete picture of a German home is added by Juror in the bedroom of Saint Anna after the birth of the Virgin a wide staircase with heavy ballast near the door whose massive locks attract attention is a wash stand with all its conveniences the towels and brushes hanging near on the shelf are seen a richly bound prayer book a handsome candlestick spice and medicine boxes in front of the window is drawn up one of those comfortable seats which are yet to be seen in old German houses there are no chairs in the room but instead several cushioned seats the table is massive carved chest the repository of the household linen stands in the corner Saint Anna lies in a canopy bed and is in the act of taking some soup or other refreshing beverage everything around her bespeaks the perfection of housekeeping the sponsors and neighbors gathered together are also refreshing themselves with food and drink and one stout housewife in full armor of side pocket bunch of keys and shadow lane seems particularly anxious for a drink for the infant Mary one of the most beautiful pictures of German domestic life is juror's holy family at their daily duties Mary sits outside the door with spindle in her hand while the infant Jesus lies in his cradle and Joseph is making a wooden trough little angels in the shape of boys are collecting the chips in a basket and at the same time indulging in childish pranks one of them brings a bunch of lilies of the valley to the young mother it is a faithful representation it is open and well regulated where all is peace and freedom and joy end of section 22 this recording is in the public domain recording by Colleen McMahon section 23 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story by in 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 23 the contest of the master singers by August Hagen in the 14th century guilds or societies were formed by some of the craftsmen of Germany for the cultivation of music almost every large city had its guild but Nuremberg was especially rich in these associations of master singers they were called the most famous member was the shoemaker Hans Sachs who appears as a character in Wagner's opera D. Meister Singer this versatile cobbler was born in 1494 and before his death in 1576 was able to boast that he had written no less than 4,275 master songs 1,558 stories and fables 208 dramas and seven dialogues notwithstanding the beauty of his muse his work has real merit and exercised a lasting influence on German literature the editor I walked up and down my room while waiting for my breakfast and looking out of the window saw a rope which extended from St. Sibaldes to the town hall and from the middle of which hung a painted shield all the pains which I took to make out the figures upon it were in vain when at the same moment Peter Visker the younger who was one of the members of the council and was as amiable as he was accomplished entered my room he greeted me and reminding me of what had been agreed upon between us inform me that today a festival of the singing school would be held in honor of the emperor I looked at him with surprise but then I remembered that Peter Visker was devoted to his words and at the same time to understand what was meant by the suspension of the tablet Peter related to me that by this shield all who took part in Pi's festivals were invited to the singing school in the meantime breakfast was brought in and Visker was pleased to share it with me he told me much about the origin and nature of the art of the master singers and in other places also pursued the same recreation did not make him angry he rather felt himself incited to instruct me concerning the high meaning of their endeavors good music and the lovely art of singing he began somewhat solemnly do not merely contribute to the delight and amusement of men but are the noblest means of exciting in them a recollection of divine favors and the devotion of the heart even as the holy apostle Paul and his songs I purposely interrupted him in his discourse and he then continued the high school of master singers his minds and the branch schools are Nuremberg and Strasburg before a long time this charming art has been more cultivated in Nuremberg than elsewhere as 50 years ago the illuminator Hans Rosen splute and the barber Hans Volts were in high repute so now the linen weaver Hans socks the cobbler what is the meaning of those figures on the tablet I asked on the tablet he answered you see above in a sculpture with a crown those are the arms of the master singers and below are twelve men who are cultivating a garden but whose labor is destroyed by a wild beast the twelve men are the twelve celebrated singers who organized the first school and the wild beast is envy holy calling the twelve men sang songs which were pleasing to God and profitable to men the emperor Otto the great of illustrious memory ratified their union and gave them an armorial bearing with a crown but the monks who at one time had everything their own way in the church were envious that they should thus publicly set forth the grace of God they culminated them to the Pope as heretics here frankly declared that God inspired their songs that they were therefore not only innocent but also holy where at his holiness was astonished in order to bring them to shame as liars he gave them all a theme out of the Bible on which they were to make a poem and caused each to be separately locked up in a chamber but the one who was put to shame was the Pope when he compared all their poems with one another and found that they agreed word for word although one did not deserve this name are the names of these wonderful men known certainly they are known some were learned men some knights and some citizens one was a smith one a rope maker one a glass burner there's not much to be told about them but only so much the more about the knight Volferon von Eschenbach of Heinrich Fraun Blob doctor of the holy scripture Glingsoar was a mighty astrologer and necromancer in Hungary who lived at the time when they were at the court of the land grave Hermann on the Vordtburg six masters of the art of singing equally noble by birth and by soul five of them of noble extraction were knights such as the territorial lord Volter van der Vogelwiede and Wolfram Rohn but one was a citizen of Eisenach Heinrich van Afterdingen they celebrated in songs the glory of the land grave and the chastity of the land Graveen Sophia once upon a time they resolved to open a contest of song they called it the war of the Vordtburg and as in war it is a question of life and death they agreed among themselves that he who came off worse should be hung they contended in song in Heinrich van Afterdingen was vanquished by the lady Sophia and she screamed him and contrived that the vanquished one should obtain the assistance of a master in song so as in the space of a year to offer himself again to the contest he now traveled about and went also into Hungary where he saw the renowned cling sore observing the stars he laid the matter before him and the necromancer promised to come at the end of a year if he should by that time have observed all the stars as much sorrow and care he waited one moon after another the year was nearly gone and he learned that cling sore was still counting the stars at home but on the very day on which the contest of song was to take place in the night's house cling sore caused himself to be carried by his spirits to their engine and proceeded towards the Vordtburg in the guise of a bishop the contest had commenced first Wolfram began and then cling sore sang out of the movement of the planets Wolfram knew nothing of all this and was obliged to be silent then he in his turn praised the glory of God and proclaimed how the word had become flesh and how our Lord Jesus Christ had given his blood for Christendom as a pledge and earnest of eternal blessedness cling sore knew nothing of all this and was obliged to be silent cling sore now summoned his servant the devil Nasin who appeared with four books in a bright clarifier on it loose courage proceeded triumphantly God is the highest being and God is the Lord of all worlds does thou know all worlds Nasin and Wolfram looked at him embarrassed snip snap then cried Nasin thou art a layman how does thou know that God is the Lord of all worlds if thou does not know how many worlds there are and he wrote on the wall with his finger as with a glowing coal Wolfram is vanquished the land grave to leave the court laden with precious gifts thus were saved Wolfram's honor and after Dingin's life that is the history of the Burt Berg Contest another famous master singer as doctor from Meissen he extolled in immortal songs the beauty and virtue of women and out of gratitude the women of Mainz bore him to the grave since it was fit their virtue should display itself to him not only during his life then the art of singing with which you are now occupied you derive from these 12 masters yes certainly they instructed youths and the scholars became masters in their turn and so on down to our time whoever wishes to learn the art goes to a master who has once at least gained the prize in the singing school and he instructs him without any fee he teaches what it means to sing for the honor of religion and initiates him into the mysteries of the tabula tour for so we call the laws when the scholar has mastered these he petitions the society to be admitted a member in as much as he is of commendable manners and shows good will on being received he must ascend the singer's chair in the church and give a proof of his skill if he succeeds his wish is granted he takes the most solemn vow to be ever true to the art to maintain the honor of the society always to bear himself peaceably and not to profane any master song by singing it aloud in the street registering money and gives two measures of wine as a treat in the ordinary meetings of the master singers and when they are assembled together in the tavern secular songs are indeed allowed but never at the school festivals the festivals of the schools take place three times a year at Easter at Wittson Tide and at Christmas in St. Catherine's church here only such poems are recited the subjects of which are taken from the Bible or the sacred legends he who sings with the fewest faults are called in chain and he who comes next best after him with a wreath he on the contrary who is convicted of gross faults must atone for them by a fine thus the life of the master singers glides away amidst edifying songs and if one is called away from the happy band his companions assemble round his grave and sing a farewell song to him as the clock of the town hall now struck this skirt broke off I suppose he would have taken me with him to St. Catherine's church in the afternoon hour as he must first put on another dress he kept his word and soon appeared completely clad in black silk with a graceful cap there was no fear of going wrong as one had only to follow the train of people who were streaming towards the festival of the school at the entrance of the little church the sacro stand held out his cap for drink money this was to prevent all the rabble from pressing in and depriving respectable people from the choir which the emperor was to occupy hung down a rich purple canopy most impressed was the appearance of the company of master singers seated all around upon the benches some of them long bearded old men all of whom however still appeared vigorous some beardless youths who were all nevertheless as quiet and serious as if they belonged to the seven wise men of Greece all appeared in silk garments green blue or black with neatly plaited lace collars with socks and his teacher nun and beck a greater stillness could not have reigned during high mass this girl and I were the only talkers as he had to explain everything to me by the side of the pulpit was the singer's chair this chair which the masters had built at their own expense in which today was ornamented with a gay carpet was like a pulpit only smaller in the four part of the choir a low platform had been erected from the German merkin to mark for here was the place for those who had to mark the faults which the singers committed informed against the laws of the tabulature and is subject by deviating from the Bible narrative and the legends of the saints these people were called Meriker and there were three of them although the America was enclosed with black curtains yet from my seat I could observe everything that went on there and I saw hanging on one side of the platform the golden chain which was called the David's governor the David's winner and the wreath which was made of silken flowers the noise of wheels was now heard before the entrance and the emperor Maximilian appeared with his whole train and bore himself very graciously as he looked veneignantly down from the choir but he did not tarry long for the divine art of singing did not seem to give him particular meaning a venerable master ascended the singer's chair and from that gear Meriker resounded the word begin it was Conrad knock to gall a locksmith whose song was so yearning and painted that he well deserved his name of the heavenly Jerusalem and of the founding of the new he said much that was beautiful I observed in that gear Meriker how one of the masters fathered him in the Bible how another counted the syllables at the time but the masters below were also attended and quietly acted they were all engaged in a strange game with their fingers in order to note accurately the measure of the verse I perceived by the shaking of their head that here and there the reciter had gone wrong after master knock to gall the term came to a youth named Fritz Kothner a bell founder who had chosen the story of the creation and the youth was embarrassed and could not proceed and a marker told him to leave the chair the master has sung wrong whispered viscer to me and when I asked him why he was not allowed to continue his peace to the end he explained to me that he had committed a grave fault by this name they who possessed the signs of the tabulature designated an offense against the laws of rhyme there were many strange names for false as blind meaning, clip, syllable, dock, might, false flowers for the various measures were indeed extraordinary as the black ink measure the departed glutton's measure the cupid's handbow measure it was in the hedge blossom measure that Leonard Nunn and Beck a venerable old man in a black garment made his voice heard from the choir his head was as smooth as the inside of my hand and only his chin was ornamented with a snow white beard all heard him with wonder as in the style of the apocalypse the angel gave praise and honor and thanksgiving to him who sits there on and lives from everlasting to everlasting how the four and twenty elders cast down their crowns before the throne and gave praise and honor and thanksgiving to him by whose will all things have their being and were created and how they have made their garments bright in the blood of the land and how the angels who stood around the throne around the elders and around the four animals fell on their faces and worshiped God and in particular the face of Hans Sox who was his grateful pupil being with joy he was proud of his teacher as his teacher was of him I too was pleased with the poem which however was more sublime than beautiful now came forward as the fourth and last singer another youth what he said was completely to my taste he belonged moreover to the company of weavers and was called Michael behind and had seen many countries his father had given himself the name of behind Burma because he had come out of Bohemia into Franconia with indefatigable efforts our behind cultivated the art of singing and rightly compared himself to a minor who laboriously digs and seeks to obtain precious gold it never before come forward at a school festival as he resolved not to mount the singer's chair except with glory Michael behind would doubtless have obtained the first prize had not none in back sung before Michael behind too long to quote was one of those complicated analogies in which the good folk of the middle ages so delighted but which seemed big and far fetched to the readers of today then Michael behind had recited his poem the markers left their seats the first marker went up to none in back and with a flattering congratulation hung the David's prize round his neck and the second marker decorated behind's head with the wreath which became him well these gifts however were not presents but only marks of distinction the festival in the church was now over and all pressed forward with hearty sympathy to those who received these marks of honor in order to give them a joyful shake of the hand I also could not deny myself the pleasure of offering my thanks allowed to the brave behind close by stood Han socks who accosted me in a friendly manner and renewed the bond of friendship into which we had shortly before entered I lamented that it had not been my luck to hear him but his other songs from his mouth and those which he had favored me with on the highway when I was not exactly in a humor to hear them dear as hair heller come with us to the tavern and you shall hear to your heart's content he replied and went with me arm in arm out of the church which had gradually become vacant it was the custom for the master singers particularly the younger ones to be take themselves after the school festival to a neighboring tavern where a joyous friend in the church the wine here drunk was at the cost on the one hand of the master Kothner who paid for it as a penalty on the other of the master behind who gave it in honor of having received the prize for the first time five measures of wine were given this day for the latter part of the entertainment the master singers about sixteen a number across the street in pairs one behind the other from the church to the tavern the crown behind led the procession it was his call obliged to submit to him as to a marker when the masters joined in a song of the whole company he had the arrangement of it the galea tired guests contrast strangely enough with the tavern which equally within and without look black with smoke and ruinous there was nothing in the long room but tables and benches and these were of the description which one generally finds in country gardens but gay spirits and a good glass of wine caused all one another and the singer see to themselves on both sides at the top was behind his throne was an armchair and a wooden hammer his scepter for commanding silence I sat by Han socks from the pressure of my neighbors I was pushed hard against him so as to remark that his sleeves were stiffened with rods of fish bones and this induced me to examine particularly his strange dress the jacket was of sea green stuff with many slits in the breast through and as of his shirt appeared the plaited collar of which surrounded his neck in the form of a circle the sleeves were black satin in which pointed incisions were tastefully made in regular lines so that everywhere the white undergarment was seen through a small cask of wine was placed in the middle of the table and one of the masters had the labor of drawing it while the empty cups were reached to him incessantly after much talking and laughing on various subjects he ascended behind knocked with his hammer and then asked the assembled guests whether they would not attempt a contest in verse no one made any objection he asked again who was willing to sing and three masters raised their hands behind himself on socks and Peter viscar on socks was to propose a question for dispute and indeed for my sake as I told him how constantly I visited the workshops of the artists and he chose a subject alluding to this matter my knowing friends I pray you say whose art does highest skill display the carpenter viscar speaks first and claims for his fellow workmen the glory of having built pleasure halls mills walls the arc of Noah the city of Jerusalem the palace of Solomon and even the labyrinthine house of deadless then comes behind who claims the first place for the masons the builders of town walls forts walls the tomb of mausoleus and last of all the pyramids finally Han socks takes the stand and sings of the glorious work of the painter let axe and chisel play their part they cannot buy with the painter's art they only bring houses and towns to life pile castles and watch towers dizzy and height but he what our God by his word of power call forth at creations natal hour by mimic art to the queen trees or beach and flowers and field and on heat the birds as through the air they soar the human face with its living power the elements he wields them well the rage of fire the ocean swell the devil he paints and hell and death and heaven and angels who wait on God's breath all this by colors now deep and now clear by his magical art can he cause to appear each part wrought out with the finest shading to your very view not words can describe them more full and true on these must he pondered by day and by night for even in dreams his spirit is bright the treasures of fancy await his control for he glows with the poet's creative soul the knowledge of all things is at his command for they grow into life in his formative hand who can fashion all things under heaven to him the master craft is given thus saying the poet and his opponents were silent full of inward delight and spoken to me as if out of my own soul all loaded him with marks of approbation and not least Michael behind he took off his wreath and placed it on the head of Hans Sachs Nernberg's accomplished shoemaker end of section 23 this recording is in the public domain section 24 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 24 John Gutenberg inventor of printing middle of the 16th century by Eva March Tappen a German named John Gutenberg had been working away for many years trying to invent a better process of making books than the slow tiresome method of copying them by hand letter by letter when Gutenberg was a boy this was the way in which all books were made moreover they were generally written on parchment and this added to the expense the result was that a book was a costly article could afford to own one after Gutenberg became a young man a way of making books was invented which people thought was a most wonderful improvement for each page the printer took a block of fine grained wood drew upon it whatever picture he was to print then cut the wood away leaving the outlines of the picture by inking this and pressing it upon the paper only one side of the paper was used and so every pair of leaves had to be pasted together at first only pictures were printed but after a while some lettering was also done such books were called block books many were printed in this way whose pictures illustrated Bible history and these were known as poor men's Bibles although the block books were much less expensive than the books written by hand still they were by no means cheap it was long slow work to cut a block for each page and after as many books had been printed as were needed the blocks were of no further use Gutenberg wondered whether there was not some better way to print a book he pondered and dreamed over the matter and made experiments and thought came to him an idea so simple that it seemed strange no one had thought of it sooner it was only to cut each letter on a separate piece of wood form the letters into words bind them together in the shape and size of a page print as many copies as were desired then separate the letters and use them in other books they were worn out here was the great invention but it was a long way from beginning to a well printed book now people began to wonder what Gutenberg could be working at so secretly in those days everything that was mysterious was explained as witchcraft so the inventor in order to avoid any such charge made himself a workshop in a deserted monastery outside of the town he had yet to learn how to make his types of metal how to fasten them together and firmly informs how to put on just enough ink and how to make a press at length he carried through a great undertaking he printed a Latin bible this was completed in 1455 and was the first bible ever printed but Gutenberg was in trouble he had not had the money needed to carry on this work without help and he had been obliged to take a partner by the name Faust was disappointed and not making as much money as he had expected the bible had taken longer to complete and had cost more than Gutenberg had planned and at length Faust brought a suit to recover what he had loaned the judge decided in his favor and everything that the inventor owned went to him Gutenberg was left to begin again nevertheless he went on bravely with his printing at the time to print better and better by and by the Elector Adolphus of Nassau gave him a pension this is all that is known of the last few years of his life he died in 1468 but the art of printing lived printing presses could hardly be set up fast enough for every country wanted them England, France, Holland, Germany had presses within a few years after the death of Gutenberg Jews carried one to Constantinople and a century later even Russia had won so it was that the knowledge of printing flashed over Europe the old Greek manuscripts were printed and sent from country to country a Venetian printer named Aldo Manuccio issued especially accurate and well made copies which became known as the Aldean Editions the crusades had aroused people eager to learn now they found in the ancient writings of the Greeks and Romans no blur palms more dignified histories and more brilliant orations than they had known before by this new learning as it was called men were stimulated to think they felt as if they were brighter and keener than they used to be as if they were not their old slow doll selves they felt so much as if they had just been born into a new fresh world that the name Renaissance or new birth had been given to this period end of section 24 this recording is in the public domain