_Exemplum_: In a village in Switzerland, there is a statute whereby they give to every beggar vs. hellers on condition that he shall for a quarter of a year at least not beg in the same neighbourhood. Once a woman took these same vs. hellers on condition that she would not beg any more in the neighbourhood. After that she cut her hair off, and begged up and down the country, and came again to Swytz, into the village, and sat down at the church gate with a young child. When the child was uncovered it was found to be a dog. Then she had to run away from the country. This person was called _Weissenburgerin_; she had been in prison at Zurich combing wool. _Item_, there are some who put on good clothes and beg in the streets. They accost any person, be it woman or man, and say, they have lain ill a long time, and are mechanics who have expended all their goods and are ashamed to beg, and ask that thou mayest help them to proceed on their journey. These are called GOOSE-SHEARERS.[16] _Item_, there are likewise some among those beforementioned who pretend they can dig or search for hidden treasures, and when they find some one who allows himself to be persuaded, they say they must have gold and silver, and must have many masses celebrated to this same end, _et cetera_, with many more words added. Thereby they deceive the nobility, the clergy, and also the laity, for it has not yet been heard that such villains have found these valuables. But they have cheated people enough. They are called SEFEL-(dirt-)DIGGERS. _Item_, there are also some among the above who treat their children badly in order that they may become lame (and who would be sorry if they should grow straight-legged) for thereby they are more able to cheat people with their LOE VOTS (lying words). _Item_, there are also others among the above who, when they come into the villages, have a little counterfeit finger and dirt[17] upon it, smearing it all over, and say they have found it, and ask if somebody will buy it. Thus a silly peasant’s wife (HANZIN) thinks it is silver, and knows it not, and gives them vi pennies or more for it, and therewith she is cheated. In like manner with _pater nosters_, or other signs which they carry underneath their cloaks. They are called WILTNERS. _Item_, there are also some QUESTIONERERS (persons who ask alms) who make evil use of the holy goods which they receive, be it flax, linen-cloth, broken silver plate, or other things; they are easily detected by those who are knowing, but the common man will soon be cheated. I give to no QUESTIONER anything, excepting the four messengers, _id est_, those that are here written down, viz. _Sancti Antonii_, _Sancti Valentini_, _Sancti Bernardi_, _et Spiritus Sancti_. The same have been confirmed by the See of Rome.[18] _Item_, beware of the pedlers who seek thee at home, for thou wilt buy nothing good of them, be it silver, haberdashery, spicery, or any other wares.