Liber Quodlibetarius (MS B.200)

Liber Quodlibetarius
MS B.200, Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen Erlangen, Germany
ff 117v - 118r
Hagedorn LQ Leng 49a.5.1
Wierschin — Hils —
Also known as	MS 1463
Type	Commonplace book
Date	1524
Place of origin	Nuremberg
Language(s)	Early New High German New Latin
Author(s)	Unknown
Scribe(s)	Benedictus Rughalm
Illustrator(s)	Unknown
Material	Paper, in a half-leather cover
Size	204 folia (210 mm × 290 mm)
Format	Double-sided; one or two illustrations per side, with captions
Identified	Jan Dovica
External data	Library catalog entry Gateway Bayern
Treatise scans	Digital scans

The MS B.200 is a German commonplace book created in or around 1524; it seems to have been scribed by one Benedictus Rughalm, though he was probably not the author of any of it. The original currently rests in the holdings of the Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg in Erlangen, Germany. The manuscript is a compilation of a variety of disparate texts, and includes a brief series of fencing and wrestling pieces based on the only two printed German books on fighting at the time, the anonymous Landshuter Ringerbuch ("Landshut Wrestling Manual") and Andre Paurenfeyndt's Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst der Fechterey ("Foundation of the Chivalric Art of Swordplay").

This manuscript is very similar to BJ Rkp. Przyb. 35/64, and was probably created in the same workshop.

Contents

118r - 119r	Nine of the "Twelve Rules for the Beginning Fencer" by Andre Paurenfeyndt Illustrations Draft Translation by Matt Galas Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn Lively and spirited, [with weapon] in hand; or it will shame the both of us. He who steps after cutting, will not be happy with his luck. [118r] frisch vndt frolich auf in der hand. oder es ist vns baiden schant Wer trit nach heyen: darf sich nit gluckhes freyen Whichever leg is forward, should be bent; the left extended; hold the body upright. Welcher fues von stet sey pogen: der linck gstraks zirt den leib oben Fence on high with your body stretched; make your attacks with force from a distance. [118v] hoch gfochten mit gstraktem leib, Gwaltig possen aus dem leng treib Strike and step with one another; and set the feet against each other. Note what the flat is; don’t fight from the left if you are right[-handed]. Straich vnd trit miteinander, vnd setz den fües wider ein ander Vermerk was dj flӑch ist, ficht nit linkh so du gerecht pist Step close in the bind; otherwise you will be wounded. If you scare easily, don’t learn how to fence. [119r] Trit Nahent Inn pünt, Anders oder du wierst verwunt Erschrickstu Gern, klain fechten du lernee Fight close at the body; don’t avoid [giving] light hits. Strike ‘before’ and ‘after’; don’t be too quick to run in close. ficht nahent peym leib, die zekrüer nit vermeidt Streich vor vndt nach, Einlauffen, zum, sei dir nit gach
119v - 121r	Additional pieces, possibly based on Andre Paurenfeyndt Illustrations Draft Translation by Matt Galas Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn Give way backwards and retreat. [119v] weich hintersich vndt fleüg Hold still; wait a while. hab Stil laß dir der weil. Strike quickly, I tell you; or I will give you a thrust. [120r] schlag balt ich zue dir sprich. oder ich gib dir ainen stich Strike, step—and cut together with [him]. schlag trit vndt darzüe hau [No text] [120v] [No text] [No text] [No text] Take note, that wreath is mine! [121r] Der krantz ist mein merkh I cannot prevent you from closing in; use Indes. ein laüffen ich dir nit weren kan brauch indes
121v - 125r	Wrestling based on the Landshuter Ringerbuch Illustrations Draft Translation by Matt Galas Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn In Saint George’s name, begin; and watch to see whether your opponent goes high or low: That is the beginning [lesson] of wrestling. [121v] In sant Jŏrgen namen heb an vnd schau, ob der man hoch oder nieder gang: das ist des ringens anfang. If he grabs at you with his hand, then use the technique that is called Zucken (pulling). So man mit hant tuet Nach dir Greyffen So nymb das stükh hayst das zügken If he has lifted you up, then use the technique which you see here. [122r] Wen er dich erhebt hat: So brauch du das stugk wie du da siegst If he shoves you away from him when you are in the Haken (hook), then grab a piece of his jacket near the hip. Wen er sich weit von dir scheybt so du Im hagkn stest: So nyms stük wamashuft[?] This technique is called the Inwendig Schlent Hagkl (inside [?] hook). If you use that at full force, you will throw him. [122v] Das stuck haist der Inwendig schlent hagkl So du das nymbst mit voller sterk so wirfst In If your opponent grabs you first, then use this technique, which is called the Abstoss (shove-away). Greifft dich der man züm ersten an, So nymb das stuk vndt haist der abstoß If he stands upright and positions himself in the Balance. [123r] Wen er sich aufricht vnd In dy wag setzt If he pulls your head [under his arm] when you try to run in at him with the Hacken (hook), then use the technique called the Aüsser Hacken (outer hook). wen er dir den kopf zückt. so du Im Inn hagken wilt lauffen. So nymb das stük haist der aüsser hagken If your opponent grabs hold of you with fury, then use the Abwinden (turning aside). If he has lifted you up, act as if you are going to fall, [but instead] grasp hold of his right thigh and shove him away from you. [123v] Greifft dich der man mit zoren an So nymb das abwinden Wen er dich erhebt hat tue als welst fallen greiff Im nach dem rechten schinkel vnd stöß In von dir hin If he stands completely upright and strains backwards, then use the technique called the Schragen. Wen er sich gantz aufricht vnd hinter sich strebt So nymb das stugk haisset der schragen If he stands with his legs wide apart, then use the technique called the Halb Hufft (half hip). [124r] Wen er weit mit painen stet • So nymb das stük haist der halb hufft This is the hip in the Aüsser Hacken (outer hook). Use this with force. Wrestle with the legs and step forwards [to the?] hip. das ist der hufft Im aüsseren hagken nymb solich mit sterk / Rng mit painen: nymb furtretüt ? hufft [No text] [124v] [No text] [No text] [No text] [No text] [125r] [No text]

Gallery

118r

118v

119r

119v

120r

120v

121r

121v

122r

122v

123r

123v

124r

124v

125r

Additional Resources

The following is a list of publications containing scans, transcriptions, and translations relevant to this article, as well as published peer-reviewed research.

• Leitch, Stephanie (2024). "A Customized Housebook of Repurposed Prints: the Liber Quodlibetarius, c. 1524." Customised Books in Early Modern Europe and the Americas, 1400–1700: 137–165. Ed. by Christopher D. Fletcher; Walter S. Melion. Leiden: Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004680562_006.

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Images		Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg
Translation	Matt Galas	Private communication
Transcription	Dierk Hagedorn	Index:Liber Quodlibetarius (MS B.200)