Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/306

 294 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE inclined to his own national^ and that which belongs to it, and loves to hear of the land which gave us birth and of the deeds of our forefathers, rather than of strangers. Therefore shall I write what is interesting and remarkable in the history of Germany. And as the most honourable and sacred town of Cologne is called the metropolis and capital town of all German lands, I shall, according to the adage, " Paris for France, London for England, Eome for Italy, Cologne for Germany," begin by relating the origin and com- mencement of this same cit} r, according to what is found in ancient documents.' While the chronicler does not ignore the prejudices of the time or the cor- ruption to be found in the authorities, lay and ecclesi- astical, he does not agree with the grumblers of the century. ' Those who have preceded us have had much more to suffer than we. In comparison with those times the present are golden years. Just because of the peaceful and happy days which we enjoy are we the more apt to be disturbed by the anxieties and cares which are inevitable.' Jacob Unrest, the Austrian chronicler, pastor of St. Martin's at Techelsberg, in Carinthia, whose writings come down to 1499, approaches nearest to the manner of the Cologne chronicler. The South German dialect, with its many provincialisms, is peculiarly fitting to the naive, simple, pithy style of the Chronicles. The author possesses quick perception, sound judgment, and even temper. His simple words breathe an elevated idea of right and truth — another point of resemblance to the chronicler of Cologne. Both men are determined, to the best of their ability and knowledge, to tell the plain unvarnished truth, and to expose abuses, whether