Beinecke MS 421               Germany, 1454
Jacob Twinger von Koenigshofen, Chronicle  (in Ger.)

MS 421 belongs to the A-recension of Twinger's Chronicle which was
written in 1386 (f. 235r:  Jacob von Koenigshofen mahte dies buch 1386); cf.
"Die Chronik des Jacob Twinger von Koenigshofen", Die Chroniken der
oberrheinischen Staedte vom 14. bis ins 16. Jahrhundert (Leipzig, 1870;
reprinted, Stuttgart, 1961) v. 8, pp. 230-498; v. 9, pp. 499-910.  MS 421
represents an abbreviated and earlier recension than that published in the
printed text (C-recension); in addition to being in an abbreviated form,
Chapter 5 contains a different sequence of text.

1.  ff. 1r-2r  Hie uohet an die uor rede in diss cronica.  Man vindet
geschriben in latine vil croniken das sint buecher von der zit die do sagent
von keisern babesten kuenigen vnd von ander heren wie in leben sie gewesen
vnd von etlichen geschichten und neuhaftigen dingen die von inen oder bi iren
ziten geschehen sint.  Aber zu tuesche is luetzel saellicher buecher wie
doch das die kluegen leigen also gerne lesent von semlichen dingen also
gelerten pfaffen...der selben materie ist me beschreiben.

     Preface, including a synopsis of the work.

2.  ff. 2r-225v  Hie het die vor rede vnde Cappitel ein ende vnd vohet die
cronike an wie gott die engel beschuef.  Got in ewigkeit noch sinre grosse
miltekeit der wolte ime selber alleine nuetbehalten sinen schatz der ewige
wunne und froede die alzit von ime flussent.  Darvmbe beschuef er in dem
anuang der welte zum ersten den obersten himel vnd darin ix choere mit
engeln...Des selben iores kam auch der kuenig von Fenenmarg gen Strossburg un
was zu uebernaht do vnd also heimlich das es wenig lutes benant.  [?] nun das
6 capitel.  ff. 226r-228v blank

     Chapters 1-5 of the Chronicles; 1:  History of the Ancient World, based on
the Bible and classical sources (ff. 2r-32v); 2:  History of the Roman Emperors
from Julius Caesar to King Wenceslas (ff. 32v-101r); 3:  History of the Popes
(ff. 101v-135r); 4:  History of the Bishops of Strasbourg (ff. 135v-158v);
5:  History of Strasbourg and Alsace (ff. 159v-225v).

3.  ff. 229r-246r  [Introduction:] Hie vohet an das VI cappitel dises buches.
In dem sint uil bi alle materien die do uor geschriben...Hie vohet an das
sechste cappitel do inne mit kurze geschriben stet alle vor geschriben ding
dis buches ...[f. 229v blank, text on f. 230r:] iiii Abel adams sun ward
erslagen von sim bruder chaim in dem iore also adam was CXXX ior alt den tod
weinte adam und eva C ior...cxxii Zwene babste [or bobste?] oder me sint dike
mittenander gewesen das such vor bi dem worte babste.  [colophon:] Deo gratias
primo nonas Februarij inditione secunda 1454.

     Chapter 6 of the Chronicle, which consists of an alphabetical index, is
preceded by an explanatory introduction.  Added at conclusion in a later hand
are 7 short entries.

4.  f. 246v  Anno LXVIII zugen die schwitz in das sunckgaw und brannten vil
schlosse hirtztstein brunstat schweikhussen freninngen [?] sanckhein [?]
rickeshein.  Im selben zug haten sy ein huffen vff dem schwartzwald vnd gewinnen
ein letze ab sant plesse do zugen die im brissgaw vnd schwartzwald...kam doch
zu spatt dar nach zugen sy wie [?] waltzhuett vmb das inen [?] der schad vf
waltzhuett beschechen wass geschach als vor herbst im LXVIII ior. ff. 247r-250v blank

     Short passage referring to the war of the Swiss in Alsace and the Black
Forest in 1468, added in a later hand.

     Paper (watermarks similar to Piccard Ochsenkopf VII. 151), ff. 250
(contemporary foliation in upper right corner, 1-229, in Roman numerals) + ii
(paper; ii = back pastedown), 272 x 200 (210 x 140) mm.
Folios 1-25 written in 35-39 long lines, the remainder in 2 cols., 36-39 lines.
Frame-ruled in lead.
     I^^11 [?], II^^14, III-XX^^12, XI^^9 [?].  Signatures for second and third
gatherings (small Roman numerals) on recto.
     Written in a cursive book hand by a single scribe.  Numerous annotations to
the text in margins by a later hand.
     Two uninspired initials, 7- and 5-line, in red with crude penwork in green.
Plain initials, headings and rubrics in red.
     Binding:  s. xviii-xix [?].  Vellum over wooden boards with two brass clasps.
Blue/green edges and title in ink on spine.

Written in Germany in 1454.  Entry on last page referring to the war of the
Swiss in Alsace and the Black Forest added after 1468.  Unidentified shelf-mark
"D 560" on spine.  Early modern provenance otherwise unknown.  Marginal
annotations in single hand, s. xvii.  Note, in pencil, inside lower cover:
"Property RB/3777."  Acquired by H. P. Kraus from Hienrich Rosenthal of
Lucerne in 1945.  Bought from Kraus (Cat. 80, no. 27; Cat. 111,
no. 7), 9 January 1970, as the gift of Edwin J. Beinecke.

secundo folio:  etwas vindest

Barbara A. Shailor