While  some  of  their  chiefs  boasted  that  they  would  introduce  a  better  order
of  government  into  the  empire,  the  wildest  destruction  was  carried  from
castle  to  castle,  from  convent  to  convent,  and  even  threatened  the  towns
which  had  refused  to  join  the  rebellion. The  peasants  thought  theyought  not
to  rest  while  a  dwelling  was  left  standing  in  Germany  superior  to  a  peasant's
cottage.1  Their  fury  was  inflamed  by  the  ravings  of  fanatical  preachers,
who  justified  the  work  of  destruction,  and  thought  it  a  duty  to  shed  blood  ;
and,  following  the  inspiration  of  the  moment,  which  they  called  divine,  to
erect  a  new  kingdom  of  heaven. Had  this  movement  been  successful
there  must  of  course  have  been  an  endof  all  peaceful  progress,  according  to
the  laws  which  have  ever  governed  the  human  race. Happily,  it  could  not
succeed  ;  Munzer  was  far  indeed  from  being  the  prophet  and  hero  required
to  execute  so  gigantic  an  enterprise  ;  besides  which,  the  existing  order  of

1  According  to  Milliner's  Annalen,  the  peasants,  in  anger  at  receiving  some
refusal,  declared  to  the  council  of  Niirnberg,  that  the  council  might  stand  in
greater  need  of  the  peasants  than  the  peasants  of  the  council :  "  darauf  sind  sie
mit  einem  solchen  Trutz  und  Hochmuth  abgescheiden,  als  wann  die  Welt  ihr
eigen  ware  ;  haben  sich  auch  ingeheim  gegen  etliche  vernehmen  lassen,  sie
gedenken  kein  Hauss  in  ganzen  Land  zu  gedulden,  das  besser  sey  denn  ein  Bauern-
haus  :" — "  thereupon  they  departed  with  such  insolence  and  pride,  as  though
the  world  were  their  own  :  they  also  in  private  gave  many  to  understand  that
they  were  resolved  to  suffer  no  house  to  stand  which  was  better  than  a  peasant's
hut."  In  the  ordinance  made  by  Michel  Geismair  in  1526  ("  Lanndsordnung,  so
Michel  Geismair  gemacht  hat,  im  1526  Jar,"  Bucholz,  ix. 651),  the  fifth  article
is,  "  alle  Rinkmauern  an  den  Stetten,  dergl. alle  Geschlosser  und  Bevestigung
im  Lannd  niedergeprochen  werden  und  hinfur  nimmer  Statt  sonnder  Dorfer
sein,  damit  Unterschied  der  Menschen  (aufhore),  und  ain  gannze  gleichait  im
Lannd  sei  " — "  That  all  walls  round  towns,  likewise  all  castles  and  fortified
houses  in  the  country,  should  be  thrown  down,  and  thenceforth  there  were  to
be  villages  but  no  towns,  so  that  all  distinction  among  men  should  cease,  and  a
complete  equality  should  prevail  in  the  land."


Chap. 