Hans of Trient, the Unlucky Stonemason
The story of what happened in Lucerne in May 1559. It is about
- Hans von Trient, the stonemason
- Lux Ritter, the mayor and mercenary leader
- The Ritterscher Palace in Lucerne
Before reading this, please note that the story is told as it appears in the
Wickiana by
Johann Jakob Wick. Wick was a Reformed priest at the
Grossmünster in
Zurich. At that time, Catholic Lucerne and Reformed Zurich were enemies and fought each other.
Despite the confessional hostility between Zurich and Lucerne, the Wickiana remains an important — and one of the only — sources about Hans von Trient.
Ritterscher Palace — seat of the government of the Canton of Lucerne
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Schultheiss (mayor) Lux Ritter planned to build a huge palace. If God had not shortened his life, and the house had not only been built up to a fathom above the ground, there would have been nothing comparable in the Confederation nor in the German lands.
Wherever Lux Ritter heard of excellent craftsmen, he called them to work for him. So he did not want to miss Hans von Trient, an outstanding stonemason.
Hans came to Lucerne to speak with Lux Ritter and discuss the conditions. When everything seemed settled, Hans mentioned that he belonged to another religion and that it might be dangerous for his life to come to Catholic Lucerne. Therefore, he said, he was forced to refuse the offer.
Lux Ritter replied: Do not worry. Remain silent and do not speak about your religion to others, and no harm or disadvantage will come to you.
So Hans agreed, and they made a contract stating that his salary would consist of:
- 4 crowns per week
- Meals at the table of Lux Ritter
- Accommodation
- Everything else needed for daily life
Both were satisfied, and Hans gladly began his work.
Then it happened that Lux Ritter was called to arms by the King of France. Lux told Hans to continue the work while he was away.
Lux needed someone to look after the house, since he had driven his wife away. He therefore asked
Hans von Trient to manage the household during his absence, and offered to increase his salary by
2 crowns per week for that time.
Hans agreed gladly and continued his work. Lux went to war in
Picardy, France.
Lux returned 14 weeks later, and the payment of wages became due. At the same time, the Musegg Walls procession took place, and a pastor from Hertenstein was in town. After the procession, Lux invited the priest to a meal. So Lux, the priest, and Hans had supper together.
When Lux had eaten and drunk well, he began to provoke Hans.
He asked him to explain his religion, and requested that the priest question him about it.
Hans replied that he was not there to dispute matters of faith, and that he had been promised freedom.
Lux Ritter became angry and, after drinking more, declared to the priest that Hans was a heretic who would not confess.
Later, Lux regretted what he had said — but he could not take it back.
Then Hans von Trient became angry and demanded leave and payment of the wages owed to him. Lux Ritter refused to pay the additional 28 crowns accumulated during his absence, and told Hans to be content with their original agreement. Hans refused — so they went before the Council (which also served as court).
When Hans presented his claim before the council, Lux Ritter stood up and accused him of being a heretic. Other council members politely urged Lux to pay what was owed and allow the craftsman to go his way. But this did not happen.
Instead, the council was compelled to arrest Hans von Trient and begin an inquiry. He was imprisoned in the Water Tower on the Chapel Bridge.
According to the Wickiana,
Lucerne spread lies about Hans von Trient.
In the end, Hans was found guilty and sentenced to death on the
Monday before White Sunday in 1559.
Hans praised the Lord and asked for new and fine clothes to be brought to the Water Tower. Dressed in them, he listened to his sentence.
On the way to the execution site, as they passed the house of Lux Ritter, Hans stopped, looked at the building and said:
If I had not asked for what was mine,
this would not have happened to me.
Mayor Ritter is guilty of my death.
You will never finish this house,
and in three days you will do as I do now.
At the execution site the priests spoke insistently to Hans, but he did not listen.
Fearlessly, he looked around, knelt, looked toward heaven and said:
Jesus of Nazareth,
have mercy on me.
According to Your will I suffer this death.
Then he stretched out his head — and it fell.
Three days later,
Lux Ritter died. A strong fever overcame him.
He had eaten and drunk excessively, and in his drunkenness he (and his servants) jumped into the cold water during early Mass.
Returning home, he took a warm bath. After some time in the tub, a violent fever struck him, and it seemed that he would die at once. He became rigid and passed away seven hours later.
After his death, Lux Ritter was fined 4,000 crowns by the council of Lucerne for cutting more wood than he was permitted to take.
As recorded in the Wickiana (F12, fols. 21–22a) by Johann Jakob Wick, Zentralbibliothek Zürich.
