05.40 Visitation Returns: Heroldsberg (26 September 1561)

Johannes Wölcker of Herzogenaurach, now seven years in Heroldsberg. The Honourable Council placed him in office. He receives eighty gulden per year from the treasury. He was initially examined at Ansbach and it has been left at that. Previously he was in the parish of Roßtal. Of average quality, he has done sufficiently well in the examination and the sermons. [Here follows a list of his books]...he holds the ceremonies in the church as stipulated in the service book. He teaches the catechumens conscientiously. He preaches only on Sunday, otherwise he does not hold a service in the church during the week.

Hans Laiming together with his wife has not gone to communion for seven years (though he thinks that she may have gone on one occasion). Peter Leitmeir and his wife also do not go to communion. This has been discussed with them on many occasions and they have been enjoined to go.

Hans Hirschman has no job. He maintains himself through gaming alone. He is a godless man.

Hans Stirner and his wife also do not go the Lord's Table. His wife can faithheal for Rheumatism and sickness of the eyes.

Lorentz Fenn, a baker, and his wife have not gone to church or communion for three years.

Lorentz Schwab, a potter, and Hans Schwab, a peasant, do not go to communion.

Hans Sengel, a sick man, trusts and consults wisewomen. It is said that he has pledged a silver image for a pilgrimage. He is an Epicurean and does not believe in the resurrection of the dead. [He asks that the pastor should come to them. He has had a home visit, but they would not own up to the magic.] Item: Hans Marz and his wife overcharge the people for their provisions.

[Marginalia] ...Barthel Syßer takes communion. People cited: George Pentner does not go to communion, though he goes to sermons. The wife of Neuner, day labourer, and the wife of Hans Klugel rarely go the sermons and speak disrespectfully of God's Word. Further, Treffeisen's wife goes to church only very rarely. Schreiner has not gone to communion for three years. Seßel Peter does not go to communion nor to church. He is a godless man.

(27 September 1561)

Heinz Bub is the church warden; he was placed in office by the Geuder family,. to whom the account is made...[Heinz Bub] finds no fault with the pastor, neither in his life or learning. He generally conducts himself well. The parishioners are well pleased with him. He is learned and preaches in fine German, not too quickly. In the summer, due to the fieldwork, the parishioners do not go to church very conscientiously. At times, his sermons are too long, so that the peasants, when it takes them, fall asleep. This then raises the ire of the pastor.

Cuntz Schmidt, church warden and mayor, attests that they were placed into office by the Geuder family and render the accounts to them. The pastor leads a good life and his teaching is sound. For a while he was at the place where they shoot and play skittles, but he has refrained from taking part for about two years now....

...Fritz Maderner, Cuntz Seubolt, Hans Knetzkher, and Cuntz Renner, all four court officials, testify that they know of nothing to say about their pastor other than he is conscientious in his office. He honours the practices prescribed in the service book. His sermons are audible. The parishioners, their children and their dependents are quite good at attending church services...

Early on Sunday, 28 September 1561, [the Visitors] saw and heard the church ordinance, the sermon, and the ceremonies in the church. At the end the people who had been cited [before the authorities] were called for and given the following dispatch:

1) Treffeisen's wife, who has not been going to church, will henceforth go more eagerly than has been the case up to now. She is at odds with someone, but they have [since] been reconciled.

2) Neuner the day labourer's wife, who goes very seldom to church and speaks disrespectfully of God's Word (though she will not confess to it) will conduct herself in a just and God-fearing fashion.

3) Hans Laiming has not attended communion twice in seven years, his wife for nine. He confesses [to this absence] and reported how he had suffered a fire which robbed him of his goods. For this reason he has always born a grudge and felt himself unfit to receive the sacrament. They want to leave off [this rancour] and go to the Table of the Lord. They will present themselves to the pastor beforehand and receive counsel...

7) Peter Leickham, otherwise known as Seßel Peter, has not gone to church for a year, the reason being that he does not have suitable clothes. Now, however, he has been able to dress himself up a bit and he will from today week go to church and receive the sacrament of communion. He would be well pleased to send his two small children to church, were they not so small and if they had more than just a nightshirt to wear. It would be too cold for them. He will go to church; and when his children are bigger and able to speak a little better he will send them as well...

11) ...Hans Hirschman, who does not go to church, has no occupation. He is a godless man who earns his living through gaming. He has not gone to communion for three years, the reason being that he has fallen out with his neighbours. He does not keep himself through gaming anymore [he claims], but has a horse and wagon and earns his living with that. He has however made up with his neighbours and he will better himself and go to the Table of the Lord.

One or two years ago the pastor was indeed in the alehouse eating and drinking, and in the skittlepark as well, where, in a rage, he bashed two teeth down the throat of a bath attendant with a ball. But this animosity between the attendant and the pastor has been resolved for the good, so that it need not come before the Hounorable Council of the city of Nuremberg...

...Hans Stirner's wife, otherwise known as the Pernreuter, has not gone to communion for a long time. She is said to have faith-healed for the people for Rheumatism and sickness of the eyes (though she will not confess to it). She is in a state of conflict with her neighbour and for this reason has not gone to the sacrament of communion. The thing with her neighbour is, however, settled...

(28 September 1561)

In the afternoon the public examination was held in the church in Heroldsberg. The commune, especially the young, were all right [in their understanding of] Christian teachings. Following this, they were told to go regularly to the catechism sessions and, as they are such a fine crop of youth, [their parents] should send them to school with the pastor.

Finally, notice was given to the mayors, court officials, and church wardens of Heroldsberg (as is contained in the instructions) that they make sure the pastor sings the hymns every Sunday in the church, and that they themselves are present, so that the commune may have witness to their good example.