account of unknown palatine of 1711 continued-- In order that I may take up again my former thought, I desire to inform the reader how it fared with the rest of these in the camp in the taking of winter quarters. First, the Catholics in the remaining camps were separated from the Lutherans and Reformed, and for a few days they were encamped by themselves. Then the gracious will of the Queen was made known to them. If they would enter the Protestant fold, they would secure the royal favor and protection, but if they decided to cling to their idolatrous religion, they might as well make up their minds to return to the Fatherland at once. They should have their freewill in the matter, because, inasmuch as the English people were alarmed at the growth of the Papacy, they were obliged to be on their guard lest it should get too much power; they could hardly do otherwise. Whereupon 3584 catholics resolved to return to their homes again. After this resolution was made known, each of these persons received ten reichs gulden as expense money on their way, and were placed on eight ships that they might be carried to Holland. The 520 Catholics who remained in England, became Protestant; 322 becoming Lutherans and the rest Reformed. After this separation, the Middle camp also broke up and moved into the Redhouse, where the first ones had just quitted their quarters and sailed on the Thames to Battle Bridge to the warehouse of Mr. Charles Cox, with all their property. It was indeed a most excellent opportunity to pick out the Germans among them. The above named camp on Blackheath followed the Middle one into the Redhouse and then there were in all 17,000 souls to spend the winter together. In order that they might get along well, an overseer selected from their number belonging to a noble German family was given complete authority over them. He was made a general sanitary inspector and supervisor of the cooking booth. Continuous envy and contention arose among the women while cooking. One would say to another in a threatening tone,"you wicked beggar, get out of this place, this is my hole and you shall not cook here." then they would seize hold of each other by the hair and strike each other so that frequently the soup, meat and vegetables were spilt upon the ground, and it was evident that an overseer was needed. He took charge of the apartments of the women and put an end to their contentions. The Straw commissioners gave these poor people fresh straw every two weeks on which to lie down. He was also a coal distributor, since, as it was somewhat rainy about Christmas, the Queen allowed a distribution of coal by the ship load to the poor people, that they might warm themselves. The last of the camps to break up was the Camberwell which moved to Retriff. A few of them, as in the case of the Redhouse, stopped in seventh street, and several hundred in St. Stephen. Those who had some provisions, remained here and there in London after their own pleasure, since they could stop comfortably with their own people. Reaching the place of their entertainment, they were all so treated and accomodated, that no one could with reason complain of anything. Two hundred thousand pounds sterling or five millions, (?) the most gracious Queen Annie gave to us poor people. Upon reaching the ship which was going to Rotterdam, we were taken in the best manner from England, at the expense of the Queen, with bread, beer, butter, bacon and cheese and as God himself soon brought us over the sea, the Lord Commissioners were dispatched in the name of the Queen and the whole Parliament to congratulate us. After wishes of good luck had been given, each man recieved a nine pound loaf of bread, white as snow, and also a Reich gulden in money. We were then ordered to camp in the field and received weekly so much that every man could live respectably. All this they received from the Queen, besides what the princes, counts, barons, merchants and rich citizens daily spent for us. On many days thirty and even more wagons loaded with bread and cheese were brought into camp, where, there being no purchasers, these things were freely distributed. Besides this, many rich gentlemen broght 60 or 80 pounds or as many Reichsthalers and distributed them among the entire German people, and while doing so, said very modestly, "take this now, with my sympathy." Many thousands of naked, and also such as out of greed locked up their own clothing in their chests, and went about in rags, were clothed anew. A single business man, a Quaker, had for eight days cut up many wagon loads of cloth, for the naked ones. Another one bought out nearly all the shoemakers; even before, he had bought 32,000 pairs of shoes which he gave to the people. And still another distributed 18,489 shirts so that those who were ill-clad might go better dressed. It would be hard to say how much the court preacher, now an inspector at Magdeburg, John Tribekko, spent in behalf of Germans. On the whole our weak tongues can never tell the excellent deeds of charity which we Germans in England enjoyed. But sighing, we can only pray to God, that he may return it to them a thousand fold. And likewise, as pure wheat is never entirely without weeds, or seldom a herd which has not one sickly member, so also among these many rich benefactors there were at times wicked outcasts who made it all the more bitter for the Germans. But the trouble came mostly by means of those Catholics who we previously had with us. At one time, while we were still camping in the fields, there came more than 1800 English people, on a dark night, with scythes and other weapons to our camp, who desired to cut down all the Catholics. This, indeed, without doubt would have been accomplished had they not been with the Lutherans and Reformed. To this day, on December 4 (1711) the pope is burned in effigy in all the streets of the City of London, and in all England, showing thereby how favorable they must have been to the Catholics! Among the other dissolute outcasts there was a Presbyterian, born of the devil, a clerical, one devoid of all common sense, who had run away from Switzerland, and was now seeking to make it very bitter for these Germans. He represented to the Queen and to the Parliament as wearing blue-stockings and declaring that they should be allowed to perish like dogs. As he received but little attention, he placed himself behind the recruiting officers, and as if he had Royal authority, took away the finest and youngest boys as soldiers on the men of war and in other military service. he indulged in beer, tobacco, beer and whiskey from morning until night, and had like Sminderides for 20 years, or so long as he had been in England, never seen the sun rise or set, sober. In such prolonged carousal he pleased all the poor Englishmen. he took away the children from the poor Germans, and played with them as a Jew would do. For when a poor Englishman obtained a child to whom he promised to teach his profession, the Queen gave him five pounds sterling: when they had the money they supported the child for a week or two, but after that gave him blows instead of bread, so that because of his extreme hunger he was forced to run away. Finally, after such religious malice was discovered, it was made known to the public and upon the knowledge of this pharaoh-like oppression, there began the German emigration from England to other countries and islands, bringing them to dire distress. the beginning of the movement was made by those who went to Ireland, numbering 3688 persons. They were badly accomodated. they had to endure hunger and cold, keep several fast days per week, as they had nothing to eat. No one ever received anything he could call his own. He might go wheresoever he would, but he must remain, together with his own people, a slave and a bondsman. First those in Liverpool followed those who had gone over into Ireland at the breaking up of the camp. Or rather 30 families or 126 persons of those in Liverpool followed after them. They were excellent people, and artisans but were so well supported by their hard labor, that after they had consumed their own provisions they could drive away hunger. Sixteen families went into Sunderland, 120 miles from London, to a Prince who promised them so much ground, but did not keep his promise. instead, he made day laborers of them and at last even went so far as to make those who did not escape in the night, slaves, sending them to jamaica. Ten families proceeded to the West Country, otherwise called Plymouth, to earn their bread in the Alaunen mountains. They received plenty of work but little pay. Now an Englishman in those days received a Reich gulden for his days wages, but the Germans got only a half Kopfferstu:cke. thereupon they all turned their faces towards London, so that they might go back to Germany again. Two families or fourteen people went to a gentleman 40 miles from London, at a place called Northumberland, who received only one pound of salt weekly among them, and daily they received half a pound of bread. Besides this they received neither meat nor vegetables of any kind. One family numbering eight was taken to a certain gentleman in the country,who promised them golden mountains, but in reality compelled them to herd swine. the head of the family was a hunter and an excellent man of the Reformed religion, and whose name I could give for the information of his friends. But he has escaped with his wife and children, and with the others, who perhaps were not allowed to return to the Fatherland, went to New York. Eight hundred and forty-four poor persons from Switzerland were put on board a ship to sail to North Carolina, but were anchored for half a year at Portsmouth in the greatest hunger. 3086 persons were embarked on ten ships to be transported to New York, but they were already on the sea for eighteen weeks, from Christmas to Easter, and will leave port only with the fleet. it was their intention to enter some humble employment and if they could earn enough to buy property, they would become landholders. 1600 persons were packed on two ships to be go to the Scilly islands, but when the inhabitants of that place received news of their coming, they sent a woefully worded petition to Parliament stating they could not support themselves much less the Germans, who did not understand fishing and could not ward off hunger. After six weeks had passed they were set on land, and went to Germany again accompanied by their Lutheran pastor. Three hundred and twenty two young people went into the English military service. The English bought 141 children, boys and girls. Fifty six young persons were used as servants, because these were other families here and there that no one knew of, because they went out of the company without leaving their names. Of these there came back into Germany again, the following: I. 3548 on the 29th of September, 1708(1709?) went back to Fatherland again. II. 1600 who were to go to the Scilly island went back again III. The 746 who were to go ordered to go to Ireland, had to go to Germany. IV. 800 from Ireland came also upon German soil again. In a like manner all those who escaped from Plymouth, Sunderland and Liverpool, and other places were also sent out of England. In all, these numbered 6994 souls. To Ireland, North carolina, New York and other places 8213 were sent. This number must be added to those who had gone to Germany, making a total of 15,201. the whole number that came to England was 32,468, and subtracting from this total the before mentioned 15,201 there were in all 17,261 who died in London and other parts of England, not taking into account the 200 who went down with the ship and those who were buried at sea and in Holland. As long as the Germans were encamped, things went tolerably well in spite of the fact that most of the parents permitted their innocent children to become corrupt, and cared not if they died, not even going to their funerals. But there were other good people who buried them. To these funerals many hundred Englishmen went, both on foot and in wagons. Frequently the concourse made such a noise, both by the neighing of the horses, rattling of wheels and by their loud talking, that no one could hear the minister or schoolmaster who officiated. As those still living here moved into quarters, a hundred or more together, and lodged there, one could see among other things what these wicked people brought from Germany, who left their own people without counsel, help or comfort, to die like cattle. they did not bury their children decently but permitted them to be dragged along like carcasses. Ordinarily, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, a signal was given to bury the dead, by means of sheep and cow bells, whereupon the men, two by two brought the corpse of an adult, hanging from a sort of a carrying frame, and these were followed by the corpses of the small and half grown children, borne upon the heads of women to the cemetery at Dertforth. Perhaps half a dozen old women accompanied these funeral representations. (Weiber die mit in Engeland Wu:rtz na:gelein in Carolin zulesan gekommen.) As soon as the procession reached the cemetery, the corpses were thrown into a hole in layers, like herring. First were laid the women and virgins; upon these men and young boys, and upon these were placed the children, lengthwise and crosswise, until the hole was full. Frequently it happened that when they carried out the dead and there were no ditches ready, they were put into coffins made of old boards and placed behind the encampment walls, from which they were taken by the dogs and entirely devoured.[-gantzlich aus den Sargen heraus nahmen und von ihnen Speisten.] Those who werein other quarters at the Redhouse, and remained with the Lutheran ministers, had it far better, for they were buried in a Christian manner, with beautiful hymns and a funeral panegyric. These services were usually conducted by Master George Hainer and the schoolmaster John George Tiltz. Rightly it was said of the Palatines, for so the Germans were commonly called in England, "you hit them but they do not feel it." For if the evil Spirirt choked and killed them, there was nothing but rejoicings and marriages among them. The before mentioned George Hainer himself joined 248 couples, and it is definitely not known how many were married by the others, namely by Master John Trebekko and Mr. Ruperti, before his arrival. 308 children were baptized by Mr. Hainer, five of whom were illegitimate, and thirteen were baptized at sea. Nor should the remarkable marriage act be passed over in silence, which Mr. Hager accomplished after his ordination. Truly, he who could have seen this marriage ceremony performed as I saw it, would have laughed until his belly shook. In the first place, as Mr. hager took his position in front of an old barrel full of cobbler's wax, and had mumbled a few words, a bridegroom came up who was lame in his left foot, accompanied by his bride who was lame in the right foot. truly they looked like the children of Vulcan. Along with these came another couple, a very loving pair. The bride was more than 60 years old and had a hundred thousand wrinkles, in which foxes and hares could have hidden themselves; in other respects she looked much like a stuck calf. The groom was 18 or 19 years old, not yet dry behind the ears. He supported himself at the girdle of the bride, much like a child when it is learning to walk. The third pair, however, looked a little more graceful. The groom on account of sickness, was so weak he could hardly stand. The bride had a large eye and a small one, and was barefoot and ragged. Meanwhile, she would cast furtive glances upon her beautiful "Corydon" like a cat upon a mouse. This most honorable couple wound up the company as they were all gathered around the barrel. The minister spoke a few words and they were all joined. Whereupon they all went away from each other, like goats when they go away from their shepherd, each to his own place. Now, at last, when everybody was married that could go or stand, their hopes were disappointed because Parliament would not give its consent to what the Queen had promised. Upon this, the preachers were ordered by the committee to make known in sermons and at prayer-meeting, that those who desired to return to the Fatherland, should so decide and give their names, for each one was to receive a pound sterling for the expenses of the journey. Upon this more than 900 people gathered together and returned again to Germany. The rest who remained in England, thought they would stay there, as it was a country in which the earth was so fruitful, that in many respects it could be compared to the promised land. in a word, it was an earthly Paradise. yet good and excellent as the land was, in spite of it all, the Germans were forced to make room and go again upom German soil. But the most of these people went to Dantzig. How contented they all will be there, experience will tell us. -finis- ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Have you visited the webpage associated with this mail list? If not go to http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pennadutch.html