Haertel—Social Conditions in Southern Bavaria. 1071 
presence of an officer of the law held good, for, despite the 
great number of people, including ten mighty fighters, there 
was no resistance. Some crawled into the stove 1 , others slipped 
under the bench 2 . But they were all captured, and were forced 
to carry to the court the hides of the oxen that had supplied 
meat for the feast. 3 This booty was the property of the judge. 4 
This particular judge was an honest man. Unfortunately 
there were some who could be bribed to free the worst robber 
in the world 5 . There was no need of defence, as the guilt of 
the prisoners was evident 6 , and all ten were condemned. Nine 
were hanged, but one, as the tenth, belonged to the sheriff. 
This one was blinded, and was deprived of one hand and one 
foot 7 , not an unusual punishment 8 . 
Poor Helmbrecht, blinded and crippled, was led away by a 
boy 9 . Helmbrecht’s father would have nothing to do with 
him 10 , and all peasants hated him 11 . Eventually he was cap¬ 
tured by a band of peasants, who, after taunting him for a time, 
beat him cruelly, and finally hanged him 12 . There was no one 
who would cut him down and bury him at the crossroads, as a 
good wife would have done. 13 
4. Business. 
Money is mentioned 14 , but ordinarily trade was carried on 
by an exchange of products. The escaped nun, who made the 
cap, received a sow, many eggs and cheeses 15 16 . TTo farmer had 
a coat that w v as worth two eggs more than that of young Helm- 
*L. 1616. 
2 L. 1617. 
3 L. 1656. 
4 L. 1668. 
8 LI. 1673ff. 
6 L. 1669. 
7 LI. 1688ff. 
8 LI. 1314ff. 
°L. 1708. 
10 L. 1710. 
11 L. 1771. 
12 L. 1909. 
13 LI. 1300ff. 
14 LI. 355, 399, 1334, 1884. 
16 LI. 117ff. 
