"Last year," cried the old gentleman, hoarse with indignation, striking
the table with his clenched fist as if he were in camp, "I saw them with
my own eyes throw down and drag away, I know not where, the pillar with
the beautiful image of Mary, the masterpiece of Erhard Heydenreich, the
architect of the cathedral, which stood in front of the new parish
church. Songs had been composed in her honour, and she was dear and
precious to you from early childhood, as well as to every native of
Ratisbon; the precentor--God rest his soul!--read to me from your letter
from Rome what exquisite works of art you saw there every day, but that
you still remembered with pleasure the beautiful Virgin at home.

"But what do these impious wretches care about beautiful and sacred
things? The temple desecrators removed and destroyed one venerable, holy
image after another. True, they did not venture into the cathedral,
probably from fear of his Majesty the Emperor, and whoever had undertaken
to lay hands upon the altar painting and the Madonna in our chapel would
have paid for it--I am not boasting--with his life. Though 'the
beautiful Mary,' in her superabundant mercy, quietly endured the affront
offered, our Lord himself punished it, for he inspired the illustrious
Duke of Bavaria to issue an edict which forbids his subjects to trade
with Ratisbon. Whoever even enters the city must pay a heavy fine. This
set many people thinking. Ursel will tell you what sinful prices we have
paid since for butter and meat. Even the innocent are obliged to buckle
their belts tighter. Those who wished to escape fasting are now
compelled by poverty to practise abstinence. It is said the Roman King
Ferdinand is urging the revocation of the order. If I were in his place,
I would advise making it more stringent till the rebels sweat blood and
crept to the cross."