The Emperors Quarters at Gelnhausen
As an interesting historical aside, Frederic I., `Barbarossa' (1152-1190), was a famous German monarch in the days  when knights were the order of the day. When Martin Luther was on his way to Worms, he passed through Gelnhausen, the red/white dot just to the right of Frankfurt. Here was the "Kaiserpfalz" of Barbarossa located. Friedrich based the solvency of his household on the expansion of his royal land holdings from `Elsass' (land from Basel to Karlsruhe) over to the `Egerer Land' (along the Rhine River).
Martin Luther Sayings and Off the Cuff Remarks, A Flavor of the Times
We all know that Dr. Martin Luther was not one to mince words. The following sayings are painted on the walls of the Castle University of Wittenberg when I visited there in August of 1994. These sayings are in the German language of the 16th century and are translated into English as good as possible.
"Der Bapst woll auch ein manser ban
Des nam sich Doctor Murner an.
Mans hyn und her und widerum
Noch ist der Luther gerecht und frum."
Translation:
`The pope would also ban a man when Dr. Luther took him on. Man's to and fro and once again but still the Luther is just and pious.'
"Ach jemchfraw Bock wie stinckst so hart
Nach kenschait in deim langen part.
Ich glaub dass dein Theologie
Sey merers teyls bocksteitzlerie."
Translation:
`Well you Bocl who smells so hard as all know in your long body. I believe your theology is mostly just stubborn show off.'
"Der irdisch Got und Antichrist
hat vil gebraucht biss her der List.
Mit gewalt und geytei falsch curtisey
Ach Christ von hymel mach uns frey."
Translation:
`The earthly God and Antichrist has often used the list and used with force and false pretending, oh Christ from heaven, make us free.'
"Recht wie ein Saro lebt Doctor Eck
Wan er hat wein und esekceck
Sein loick thut probieren nier
Dan Bibel geschriftt und Calvitus ler."
Translation:
`So just like a Saro lives Dr, Eck when he has wine and cheese crackers, his look is trying everywhere, his bibilical writings and music are empty.'
"Herrn Doctor Lamp Evangelist
Mit neyd und zorn ein boeser Christ
Er wuer und pilt recht wie ein bundt,
Der geschrift hat er gar wenig grundt."
Translation:
Mr. Dr. Lamp evangelist with envy and anger a bad Christian, he was and built just like supposed, who wrote and that without much reason.'
"Lieber Eck nym also von mir zu gut
Ich weiss noch ein gutten Cardinals hut
Magst den Luther concluvieren
will ich dir dein Servkopf mit zieren."
Translation:
Dear Eck its good if you take it from me I know yet a good cardinals hat, you mayest put down Luther but we will decorate your slave head with it.
"Hern Loew all buebrey und faule sachen
kann ich durchs gelt widerumb gerecht mache
Mit meiner Sophistrie und grossem geschray
Harv ich den Luther und Gots wort entzway."
Translation:
`Mr. Loew all books and foul things can I straighten out through money, and with sophistries and much noisy screaming shall I destroy Luther and God's word.'
Plays on words:
Dr Eck said about Luther: "Dr. Luder".
In German a "Luder" is a bad fellow.
Luther said about Dr. Eck: "DrEck".
In German "Dreck" means dirt, Dr. Dirt.
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