Götz von berlichingen johann wolfgang von goethe

I stayed with them a while and then went back home. I swore the oath with a sad, troubled, and oppressed heart, as I had no taste for being killed [by them], which is what had happened recently to many fine nobles at Weinsberg. As I did, Marx Stumpff came down the steps from meeting with the peasants and asked, “Götz, is it you?” I said, “Yes, where do things stand?

As I said, I was present at these events but took part in no other serious attack mounted during this war.

I have no other personal knowledge of the Swiss war, except that the Swiss destroyed many troops, whenever the army was not together. This I did and rode out and spoke to them, one troop after another, for all the troops were gathered together.

As chance would have it, I was wearing a French great coat, which Sir Veit von Lentersheim had ordered made at Namur in Brabant. I have relied on and trusted in this principle, and I have believed that others should do likewise, just as I have done throughout my whole life and, God willing, continue to do. Their cannonade was so heavy that we couldn’t see the troops for the smoke.

When we got as far as the wagon fort, they were trying to close it up.

It was thought that they had spoken on my behalf to the old prince, their father, and also to the queen, their mother, in order to protect me from punishment on the Pole’s account.[1] But that was not to be, for the old margrave wanted to please his wife, and the young princes their mother, so the margrave had to agree to put me in the tower.

But I bound myself to them by neither word nor deed. Later, however, this Thalacker became an enemy of the entire Swabian League.[7]

[…]

During the spring the affair between the margrave and the Nurembergers began. We arrived at Worms in the first week of Lent, having ridden first from Ansbach to his residence in Schrozberg, then one day from Schrozberg to Mosbach and from Mosbach to Heidelberg.

But then came the news that the Swiss had received reinforcements, and seeing that they now had gained the advantage, the march forward was abandoned. I did this, because I recognized the emperor and knew it was he, so I didn’t ask anyone [for permission]. Many peasants had assembled at Schöntal, and I should help him make sure they didn’t overcome him.

During this month, however, they must all agree in writing that in all lordships and districts, towns, hamlets, and villages, whether at home or anywhere else, far or near, they will obey the aforementioned terms and will not burn or damage any prince’s or noble’s home. My pounding heart told me, God put it into my mind, and my own reason saw the need, so I speared the leading teamster from his horse.

Since the whole force was on the march, we went on for about half a mile [=3–4 English miles], until Christoph von Giech and some riders met us. I well noticed how it struck fear into the rebels, who soon left Würzburg and went to Lauda.