Liber Vagatorum

Liber Vagatorum (Latin for 'Book of Vagabonds')[a] is an anonymously authored text first printed in Pforzheim, southwestern Germany, likely in 1509 or 1510. It consists of three sections: the first provides a catalogue of various types of wandering beggars, the second outlines the deceptive practices they are alleged to use, and the third offers a glossary of terms in Rotwelsch, a cant used by vagrants. Despite its Latin title, Liber Vagatorum is predominantly written in German, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond the scholarly class. While traditionally attributed to Matthias Hütlin, a 16th-century Spitalmeister (lit. 'hospital master') of Pforzheim, this authorship remains contested.

Following its initial publication, the book gained rapid popularity and underwent multiple reprints under various titles throughout the 16th to 18th centuries. Martin Luther, the seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, edited several editions beginning in 1528, adding a preface that advised readers to refrain from almsgiving to wandering beggars, arguing that such charity would divert resources from those genuinely in need.

Contents

Liber Vagatorum comprises three parts.

Part I

The first part is organised in twenty-eight chapters. The text provides a categorisation and description of various types of beggars and vagrants found in medieval German society, detailing their methods of deception and strategies for soliciting alms. Bregers, for example, are honest paupers who beg out of necessity, often ashamed of their circumstances, and are typically known to the local community.