Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/298

 '286 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE The popular poem ' Die Welsh Gattung ' (The Italian Eace) had a strong political tendency. It exposed the failings of all classes, but was particularly severe on the princes and on the advocates of the newly introduced Eoman Code. According to the writer, all power must be concentrated in one man if Germany was not to go to the wall. The emperors had made so many concessions that they were no longer obeyed. Before it was too late the leaders in the land should join in restoring all his power to the Emperor. If the unity of the Father- land was thus restored, the prevailing abuses would disappear. Otherwise the Empire should inevitably fall. Sebastian Brant addressed the following advice to the princes and other self-seeking authorities : ' In the name of God, princes, consider your conduct ; suppose the empire falls, you yourselves are not immutable ! All bodies are stronger when united than when divided. Unity brings power, but division weakness. Germany was once so strong in unity that it commanded universal respect, but now the Germans are destroying their own kingdom. You have to-day a good king, whose sceptre will guide you all wisely if you will but come to his aid. The good Prince Maximilian is worthy of the Imperial crown. He will rule our sacred land and save you from being like the seafarer, asleep on the stormy ocean. Awake from your dreams ! The axe is at the root of the tree.' The author of ' Die Welsh Gattung ' shows his patriotism by defending the simple judicial procedure of the old German law against the subtleties of the Eoman •Code. Among the many satires levelled against the abuses .among the clergy and the ignorance of statesmanship