Still the fabulous stories concerning the saints, which are publicly
taught with great authority, surpass the marvelous tales of the
statues and pictures. Barbara, amidst her torments, asks for the
reward that no one who would invoke her should die without the
Eucharist. Another, standing on one foot, recited daily the whole
psaltery. Some wise man painted [for children] Christophorus [which
in German means Bearer of Christ], in order by the allegory to
signify that there ought to be great strength of mind in those who
would bear Christ, i.e., who would teach or confess the Gospel,
because it is necessary to undergo the greatest dangers [for they
must wade by night through the great sea, i.e., endure all kinds of
temptations and dangers]. Then the foolish monks taught among the
people that they ought to invoke Chistophorus, as though such a
Polyphemus [such a giant who bore Christ through the sea] had once
existed. And although the saints performed very great deeds, either
useful to the state or affording private examples the remembrance of
which would conduce much both toward strengthening faith and toward
following their example in the administration of affairs, no one has
searched for these from true narratives. [Although God Almighty
through His saints, as a peculiar people, has wrought many great
things in both realms, in the Church and in worldly transactions;
although there are many great examples in the lives of the saints
which would be very profitable to princes and lords, to true pastors
and guardians of souls, for the government both of the world and of
the Church, especially for strengthening faith in God, yet they have
passed these by, and preached the most insignificant matters
concerning the saints, concerning their hard beds their hair shirts,
etc., which, for the greater part, are falsehoods.] Yet indeed it is
of advantage to hear how holy men administered governments [as in the