were once more reduced to
despair, as they had to pay the cost, maintenance, and peace subsidies
for the standing army. And the army dispersed itself amongst the
population.

CHAPTER III.

THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR.--THE VILLAGES AND
THEIR PASTORS.

Oft have the soldier's sword Into my mouth once or more,
And jeering Croat horde, As 'twere a tub, they did pour
With usage rude and fierce, A mess of liquid dung;
Threaten'd my heart to pierce. Four churls, cords round me
strung;
Yet I drew unhurt my breath, Yet I drew unhurt my breath,
No mishap could bring me death. No mishap could bring me death.
In water, 'gainst my will, One of an exile band,
Plunged deep, I far'd but ill; There in Thuringia's land,
Closed in a wat'ry grave, At Notleben, I dwelt,
God deign'd my life to save; Till I God's blessing felt,
Wond'rous 'tis I was not drown'd; And to Heubach's parsonage
pass'd
Brought to land all safe and Where kind. Heaven sent peace
sound. at last.

God's servant, here have I
The church kept orderly,
Have preach'd the word therein,
The bad expell'd, of sin
Absolv'd the penitent heart,
And labour'd truth to impart.

_From 'Four Christian Hymns of Martin Boetzinger_.' (1663.)

Whoever could portray the desolation of the German people, would be
able to explain to us the striking peculiarities of the modern German
character; the remarkable mixture of fresh youth and hoary wisdom,
aspiring enthusiasm, and vacillating caution; but above all, why we,
among all the nations of Europe, still strive in vain after much which
our neighbours, not more noble by nature, not more strongly organized,
not more highly gifted, have long secured to themselves.

The following documents will only furnish an unimportant contribution
to such an explanation. Individual examples will render the ruin of the
village and city communities comprehensible, and what counteracting
power there was, together with the destroying power which supported the
remaining vitality, and prevented the final annihilation of the nation.

From