This quaestio disputata by the Augustinian Johannes of Paltz (around 1445-1511) is a perfect illustration of the working methods of medieval scholasticism. The manuscript was written in Erfurt in the summer of 1486 and has as its topic the refutation of three errors. The first regards those who claim “to be able to calculate and foresee the Last Judgment.” It seems that this document is the only handwritten version of this text, which is known through two printed editions from the 15th century. Franz Xaver Karker (1812-1892), Canon of the Cathedral of Breslau (today Wroclaw in Poland), donated this work to the Fribourg library. (jur)

Online Since: 04/09/2014

This small but extensive (198 ff.) prayer book is written in a variant of North German (Middle Low German). In accordance with the female form in many of the prayers, it was intended for a woman. With the exception of one full-page miniature depicting Christ as the gardener before Mary Magdalene (Noli me tangere), all illuminations have been removed. An ex-libris on the front pastedown informs us that this small manuscript was a gift to the Fribourg Library in 1891 from Franz Xaver Karker, canon of Wroclaw Cathedral. (ber)

Online Since: 10/08/2020

This elegant codex, written in humanistic script, was commissioned by Pope Leo X († 1521). The Medici coat of arms can be found in the middle of the original binding's cover, in a rich frieze on the frontispiece, and in the initials on f. 3v and f. 134v. The decoration is attributed to the famous Florentine illuminator Attavante degli Attavanti († 1525) or his circle. This codex is from the collection of Major J.R. Abbey. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

Likely the oldest surviving exemplars of the Compendium theologicae veritatis by Hugo Argentinensis (Hugo Ripelin of Strasburg) and the Quaestiones super quatuor libros sententiarum by William Rothwell. Probably from the bequest of Rudolf Schwerz, Zurich choirmaster and pastor of Altdorf. (pel)

Online Since: 11/04/2010

This fragment, consisting of 1 leaf, contains an excerpt from a missal with neumes, which probably originated in the Strasbourg area based on its contents, the celebration of St. Arbogast. Around 1650 it was re-used, presumably in Bern, as dust cover for a school notebook of Niclaus Frisching (BBB Mss.h.h. XXIV.183), from which it was removed in 1944. (mit)

Online Since: 07/02/2020

This manuscript is composed of four parts. The first part (1-16) is from the 14th century and presents an abridged version of Usuard's martyrology. The second part (17-66), from the beginning of the 14th century, contains, among others, texts by Albertus Magnus and Pseudo-Robert Grosseteste. The third (67-164) and fourth parts (165-258), which can be dated to the 14th and 15th century, contain texts by Vincent of Beauvais and Peter Lombard, as well as legal writings. Before it was purchased by the Cantonal Library of Fribourg in 1900, the manuscript belonged to the clergy of Gruyères. (ber)

Online Since: 12/14/2018

Fragment from a Glagolitic breviary with texts for August 13th and 14th; based on the script, it can be dated to the 15th century. It belonged to Franz Miklosich (1813-1891), one of the most important Slavicists of his time, and was a gift to the Basel Antiques Collection, the precursor of the Basel Historical Museum. (gam/flr)

Online Since: 06/25/2015