The Nicolas Pol Hausbuch (MS 3227a, sometimes called the Nuremberg Hausbuch) is a German commonplace book (or Hausbuch in German) thought to have been created in ca. 1390.[1] The original currently rests in the holdings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany. It is sometimes erroneously attributed to Hans "Hanko" Döbringer,[2] when in fact he is but one of the four authors of a brief addendum to Johannes Liechtenauer's art of long sword fencing, which is also the only fencing material in the manuscript that appears in any other fencing manual. The rest of the manuscript is a typical example of a commonplace book, containing a variety of unrelated writings on mundane and esoteric topics, including fencing and grappling, but for this reason, the anonymous author of the rest of the fencing material is sometimes known as Pseudo-Hans Döbringer. Pseudo-Döbringer's writings seem to consist of commentary on and expansion of the teachings of Liechtenauer, and it is even speculated that he was still alive at the time of the writing.[3]
Christian Tobler argues that it is unjustified to assume a date of 1390 based purely on the presence of a century-long calendar.[4] The eclectic nature of commonplace books means that the calendar could easily have been an old calendar or even a future one. As the date of the Pol Hausbuch is also used to estimate the time period of Liechtenauer's career, this is a significant problem. (Using it to date Liechtenauer is further complicated by the fact that even if he were alive when the fencing treatise was written, the version in this manuscript could have been a later copy rather than the original.)[5] An upper limit on the origin of the manuscript is often estimated based on the date in the front cover, which seems to indicate that Nicolaus Pol owned it in 1494, but that's a misinterpretation Pol received his doctorate in 1494, and all books from his library follow his name with "Doctor, 1494".
However, while it's possible that the manuscript dates to the early 15th century, a creation date around the time of the first year on the calendar requires the fewest assumptions based on the evidence currently available.
Provenance
Contents
| 1r - 5v
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Liber Ignium by Marcus Graecus
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| 5v
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[edit] Complete Translation 
by Ondrej Vodicka
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Transcription [edit]
by Ondrej Vodicka
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In order to see a thousand armed knights in front of you in the field etc., cut off a branch of a willow tree with a single cut and wash it before sunrise in running water for seven days and say: "Gribello, come, you are coming with a thousandfold magnificence, I ask you by Astaroth, that you come with help of thousand-strong force." After you have said this ten times, take the rod and hit the ground three times and say the credo ten times, lift the rod in your hand, and now you can see 100 knights etc. in full armour etc.
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[5v] ¶ Ut videas mille milites armatis in campo ante te etc. Haw mit eynem slage von eyner weiden eynen czweyk und wasche yn in eynem flissendem wasser VII tage ante ortum solis, und sprich: Gribello, venite, venitis cum mille granditate, quaesso vos per Astaroth, quatenus veniatis cum milleno forte auxilio. Und wen du daz hast X gesprochen so nym dy ruten und slach sy III an dy erde und sprich X credo, czu hant hebe auf dy ruten, zo systu C ritter etc. mit vollem harnüsch etc.
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If you want them to disappear, throw the rod away on the ground, and the rod has no power anymore etc.
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¶ Si vis, ut recedant, proice vel iacta virgulam super terram, et tunc nulli plus valebit illa virga etc.
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| 6r
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Recipes for powders used for painting
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| 6v - 10v
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Latin recipes (paint, alchemy, medicine)
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| 11r - 12r
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Von dem herten by "Master Alchemy"
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| 12v - 13r
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Alchemical recipes in Latin
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| 13v - 17v
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Fencing advice by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 18r - 40r
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Gloss of Liechtenauer's long sword by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 43r - 52v
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Long sword by Andres Juden, Jobs von der Nyssen, Nicklass Prewßen, and "the Priest" Hans Döbringer
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| 53r - 59v
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Recital on mounted fencing by Johannes Liechtenauer
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| 60r - 61r
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Recital on short sword by Johannes Liechtenauer
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| 64r - 65r
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Conclusion of the teachings of Liechtenauer by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 66v - 67r
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Astrological texts, magical and medicinal recipes, name magic
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| 67v
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[edit] Draft Translation 
by Ondrej Vodicka
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Transcription [edit]
by Ondrej Vodicka
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So that your enemy can not prevail over you, write on three separate leafs Michael, Gabriel, Raphael.
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[67v] Daz dich dein veint icht uberbind muczen, so schreib an drew larlawb Michael, Gabriel, Raphael.
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So that your hair does not fall out, mix some burned flax seed with oil and spread the skin with it.
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Daz daz har nit auß ge, misch verprent linsat sam mit öl und salb daz haup da mit.
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And for the sin under the face of the night, put flour mixed with honey on it.
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Et für dy mail unter dem antlucz dez nachtes, leg dar auf pomnel gemischet mit hönig.
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And for worms in stomach, put 15 nails in his wine.
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Et für dy würm in dem pauch gib im XV nagel in wein trinken.
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Carry the gall of a roe deer with you in order to win the favor of the lord, or put it into the drink of a beautiful lady.
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Dez rehes gall trag pey dir so gebinstu herren gnad, oder gib es einer czarten fraün in trinken.
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| 68r - 73v
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Astrological texts, magical and medicinal recipes, name magic
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| 74r
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Sword and buckler teachings by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 74v - 77v
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Recipes for paint, tumors, metal and ivory treatment
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| 78r
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Staff teachings by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 79r - 81v
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Miscellaneous Latin recipes, treatment of gems, preparation of a miraculous potion
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| 82rv
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Messer teachings by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 83v
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Interval between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday for years 1390-1495
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| 84r - 85r
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Dagger teachings by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 85rv, 86rv
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Magical recipes
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| 86r, 87r - 89r
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Grappling teachings by Pseudo-Hans Döbringer
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| 90v - 91v
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Medical Recipes for the Mouth and Teeth
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| 92r
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[edit] No Translation 
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Transcription [edit]
by Helmut Werner Klug, et al.
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[92r] Wil du guten met siden so nim drew
tayl wasser vnd ain tayl hoenig vnd las
es wol siden vnd wann es wol gesoten
ist So nÿm dann czway viertail oder
mer all dar nach du met seüst vnd
trag das in ein stüben vnd seczt es
?[6] hinder den ofen vnd la es sten pis
es ein hewbel gebingt daz haist dan
ein tampfel dar nach tue hopfen in den
andern hefen vnd laz dan wol siden
vnd rür albeg dar gar vast vnd chum
nicht dauon oder der met prün an vnd
wuerd prv̈nssen vnd[7] wann er wol
gesoten ist So tue in inein vas vnd
geüs dann das tampfl hin in vnd lazz
dann durch ein ander arbayten
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Item czu
der varb nim lauttern saym vnd seud
den gar wol vnd ruer den auch albeg
dar mit einem holcz vnd wenn dy varb
wol gesoten ist So versuch sy nim ein pret
lein vnd trapf sy dar auf stent dy tropfen
vnd sind hert so ist sy güt vnd wenn
sy schonn vnd rot ist So geus sy also
haisse in den met vnd la in dann sten acht
tag oder vierczehen So hastu gueten met
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| 92r - 161v
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Various alchemical recipes, food recipes, nonsense recipes, in various hands
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| 109r, 113v, 119v - 120r
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[edit] No Translation
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Transcription [edit]
by Helmut Werner Klug, et al.
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[109r.1] ¶ Wiltu eÿn huen siden in eÿme kodrolf der
vnden weit ist vnd oben eyn engen hals hat zo
nym das huen vnd woerge is vnd bloze is of
vnd pflocke is sewberlich das dÿ hawt nicht
reisse vnd sneide is vorne an deme bawche
of vnd loeze das fleisch ab vmmevndvem bis an
dÿ floegel vnd an dÿ gelenke in den beÿnen vnder
den dÿen vnd sewt das fleisch wol vnd hacke
is mit eyern vnd petersilgen vnd tu den dy hawt
von deme huene yn das glas alzo gancz wen sÿ
weder vor czu ist genehet vnd loz das hawpt
hÿ aüsen vnd velle sy denne yn dem glaze mit
deme gehacken fleische von dem hune ader mit dem
voelsal das do von gemacht ist vnd gews denne
wasser dor ÿn ader iewche czu deme hune
vnd las is denne wol irwarmen vnd siden yn eÿme
toppe mit wasser alzo das daz wasser nicht
oben ÿn das glas ge czu deme hune
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[109r.2] ¶ Wiltu geverbete huener machen wÿ du wilt zo
nÿm eyn eÿ vnd bestreich is wol mit leÿn oel
vnd loz is wol trucken an der zonnen vnd streich
denne waze varbe du wilt an das eÿ vnd loz
is aber trucken vnd leg das eÿ vnder eÿne
henne das sÿ is aus bruete m ander eyern
zo wirt das hun denne gestalt noch der varben
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[109r.3] ¶ Mache eyn tyer von papyer vnd mele das
wy du wilt vnd tu eynen frosch oder grille dor yn
vnd halt eÿn licht vor das papyer zo
schreit der frosch dorÿne v ader tu eÿn
frosch ÿn eyn loch an eyner want vnd mole
eÿn tier of eyn papyer vnd kleybe is vor
das loch vnd halt eyn licht doran ut supra
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[109r.4] ¶ Stich eyn hun durch syn gehirne vnd czu reib
eÿn crawt daz heist hürses[8] czunge vnd schoecz
im ÿn dÿ wunde zo wirt is weder gesunt
[9]
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[110r.1] ¶ Wiltu milch broten an eÿme spisse zo tu czum erste
dÿ milch yn eyn toppelyn vnd sla eyn ader czweÿ
dorÿn vnd tu eÿn wennig mel dorczu vnd henge
is ÿn den andern top der vol sidende wassers seÿ
peÿ eynem fewer vnd laz ich sichs alzo coaguluem
dornoch czu sla das toeppelÿn von der milch vnd
stoz dÿ milch an eÿnen spis vnd sprenge sy mit
guten gewoertzten eÿern ¶ Ader sneit dÿ milch
czu stoecken vnd lege sy of eynen rost /
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[110r.2] ¶ Wiltu eÿnen petterstroeczel broten an eym spisse
zo stoz in an den spis vnd lege in czu dem
fewer vnd wende in endelich vmme vnd
bestrewe in vmm[10] mit mele vnd tu in nicht
czu heis /
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Paragraphs 3-6 on 110r are not about cooking
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[110v.1] ¶ wiltu secherley ÿn eyn lang glas giessen
das sich eÿns nicht vnder daz ander mische
So nym czum ersten milch wen daz ist ain aller
swersten vnd dÿ ÿn das glas vnd mache
denne eÿne dunne scheibe von holcz vnd tu dÿ
ÿn das glas of dÿ milch dornoch nym denne
eyn kleyn trichter vnd tu ÿn dÿ roere eÿn
halm ader eyn kleyn hoelczlÿn vnd gewz denne
durch den trichter bier of dÿ scheibe das is
kleÿne vnd melich an dem hoelczel nider ge
dornoch gewz wasser of das bier? dornoch
roten weyn dornoch mete dornoch czu oeberst
leynoel zo weicht als dÿ scheibe mit itzlichem
tranke of
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[110v.2] ¶ Item winterczeit las eÿn trank gevrisen noch
dem andern vnd meynnander wider tawen & idem valet
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[110v.3] ¶ Eÿn quittemus ader eyn confect mache alzo sewt
dÿ quitten ÿn irem brodem ÿn eynem toppe do
eÿn ander öberstoeuze donach schele sÿ wol
vnd tu dy kerne aus vnd stos sÿ in eynem
moerser vnd tu woercze darczu ÿngeber negeleÿn
pariskoerner vnd honik vnd sewt sÿ
yn eym newen toppe der mit honik gesmert
sÿ vnd sewt sy zo lange bis sÿ swarcz werden
vnd dicke vnd sneide sÿ wÿ du wilt &c
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[113v.1] ¶ Wiltu machen das petersilge vor den lewten
czusehende wachse in eÿner stunde So nÿm
petersilien somen vnd lege in yn gebranten
weÿn vnd loz in dorynne legen eyne gute
weÿle dor zo nÿm den zomen vnd strewe in
of truege fuechte erde dy geÿl sey vnd cleÿne
gereden zo wechset zi gar schire czu sehende
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[113v.2] Aliud/ · Ader / nym petersilien zamen vnd tu den er in
guten starken essik vnd loz in dorynne legen
eynen tag vnd rÿne nacht wen das nue geschiet
zo nym denne chaw vnd asche vnd menge
das vndereynnander das is nicht czu dicke noch
czu duenne werde vnd nym denne den zomen vnd
strewe ader zehe in of das gemenge von den
chalwe vnd der aschen vnd nym denne andere
warme asche vnd strewe sÿ dorof / & videbis
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[113v.3] Aliud/ · Ader nÿm bonstengel vnd bruee sÿ czu aschen
vnd nym denne petrisilgen zomen vnd lege in ÿn
guten starken weÿn vnd loz in dorynne legen vier
tag vnd vier nacht ader lenger is der weyn nicht
stark genuk vnd nÿm denne den be zomen aus
dem weÿne vnd loz in trucken werden vnd nÿm
denne trucken erde dÿ gar cleÿn sÿ vnd gereden
durch eÿn tuch Vnd nÿm denne dez selben ertrichz
czweÿteÿl vnd der vorgenanten aschen
eÿn teÿl vnd tu is mit eynander alzo gemengt
in eÿne schuessel vnd strew denne den petersilien
zomen dorof vnd besprenge is denne mit lawterm
regen wasser / vnd decke denne eyn mantel
doroeber eyn cleÿne weÿle vnd heb in denne off
zo siestu schoene petercilien gewachzen voer dir &c.
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[113v.4] Aliud/ ¶ Aber nym kerbes zomen ader pfeben zo vnd lege in
yn menschen blut vnd loz in dorynne legen an der
zonnen vij tage dornoch nym sy her aus vnd tu is
ÿn eyn butel ader taschen vnd nym denne geile
veiste erden vnd trucken sÿ vnd czu reis sy
gar kleyne vnd tu sÿ auch in eyn tuechel wen
du denne wilt zo schot das puluer of dÿ erden
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Paragraph 1 on 119v is not about cooking
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[119v.2] ¶ Wiltu kochen drey gerichte in eyme toppe
das daz eÿne nicht gesalczen werde daz ander
czu moze daz dritte alczu sere daz
erste sal seyn eyer das ander fleisch daz
dritte krebs
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[119v.3] ¶ das keÿne kese vawlen zo tu dorÿn krawzenmincze etc.
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[119v.4] ¶ Wiltu czweÿ eÿer siden in eynem toppe daz das
eÿne ro bleybe vnd das ander gezoten
zo s lege daz eÿne eÿ in den top vnd schoete
asche genuk dorof vnd lege das ander
of dÿ asche in den top vnd tu wasser doreÿn
vnd setze is czu dez fewer zo bleibt das
erste ro vnd daz ander daz aber wert gezoten
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[119v.5] ¶ Wiltu eÿer siden bey ader mit kaldem wasser
vil e denne bey fewer zo nÿm vngeleschte
kalt steyne vnd tu dy in eynen top vnd lege
dy eyer och dorczu vnd gewz kalt wasser in
den top zo werden si siden / vnd eyer in vngeleschten
kalk gelegt dy werden in kurczer stunt gel
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Paragraphs 6-10 on 119v and 1 on 120r are not about cooking
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[120r.2] ¶ Wiltu eÿn eÿ als gros machen als eyn hawp
ader bozekawle So nym czwenczik ader dreissik
eyer vnd czu sla das ^weiz von den eyern sunderlich
vnd dy toeter auch sunderlich vnd nym denne eÿne
bloze vnd gews das weisse vor doreyn dornoch
dÿ toeter +# {dornoch aber oben eyn wennig weisses doch daz
dy blose nicht gar vol seÿ zi czureist anders Auch
magstu dy toter vor eyn wennig czu druecken
vnd henge sy eynen tag ÿn eÿne ander bloze daz
sÿ sich coaguliren vnd tu sy denne In dy bloze
czu dem weissen ut supra} vnd bÿnt denne dÿ bloze wol czu vnd
tu dÿ in eynen top der vol sidende wasser sey bey
eynem fewer vnd das daz wasser oeber dÿ bloze ge
vnd decke den top wol czu das keyn brodem heraus
ge vnd los is alzo siden dornoch nym dÿ
bloze heraus vnd tu sÿ ap vnd sneit denne daz
ey of zo ist mitten der l toter komen vnd vmmevndvem
das weisse wen der toter flewt dy hitcze
[11] vnd helt sich in dÿ mitte als hastu eyn gut eÿ
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[120r.3] ¶ Wiltu denne dem
eÿ eyne schale machen zo czu stos dÿ eÿerschalen
vnd temperir sÿ m oele vnd mit kreyden
vnd bestreich auswennik dÿ bloze mete &c.
Auch wen das ey czu dem ersten eyn wennig behaisset
zo stich mit eyme griffel ader nodel doreyn
daz der brodem aus ge vnd daz si nicht zerreisse
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| 161v - 165v
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"Horse pharmacopeia" (Rossarzneibuch) by Master Albrant
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| 166r - 169v
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Index to the recipes in the manuscript, partly illegible
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Gallery
A collation diagram for this manuscript is available on the
index page.
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.
- Burkart, Eric (2016). "The Autograph of an Erudite Martial Artist: A Close Reading of Nuremberg, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Hs. 3227a." Late Medieval and Early Modern Fight Books. Transmission and Tradition of Martial Arts in Europe: 451-480. Ed. by Daniel Jaquet; Karin Verelst; Timothy Dawson. Leiden and Boston: Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004324725_017. ISBN 978-90-04-31241-8.
- Burkart, Eric (2020). "Informationsverarbeitung durch autographe Notizen: Die ältesten Aufzeichnungen zur Kampfkunst des Johannes Liechtenauer als Spuren einer Aneignung praktischen Wissens." Mittelalter. Interdisziplinäre Forschung und Rezeptionsgeschichte S2: 117-158. doi:10.26012/mittelalter-25866.
- Cabreira, Diniz (2018). Há Uma Única Arte da Espada (GNM HS 3227a). Santiago de Compostela: AGEA Editora. ISBN 978-84-948682-6-9.
- Chidester, Michael (2021). The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-13-7.
- Chidester, Michael; Dierk Hagedorn (2021). 'The Foundation and Core of All the Arts of Fighting': The Long Sword Gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-05-2.
- Ehlert, Trude; Rainer Leng (2003). "Frühe Koch- und Pulverrezepte aus der Nürnberger Handschrift GNM 3227a (um 1389)." Medizin in Geschichte, Philologie und Ethnologie. Königshausen & Neumann. ISBN 978-3826021763.
- Hammer, Maciej (2015). Tłumaczenie traktatu szermierczego zawartego w rękopisie Nürnberger Handschrift 3227a z wyszczególnieniem trudności zaistniałych podczas przekładu [unpublished thesis]. Uniwersytet Jagielloński Wydział Filologiczny.
- Hester, James (2009). "Real Men Read Poetry: Instructional Verse in 14th-century Fight Manuals." Arms & Armour 6(2): 175-183. doi:10.1179/174962609X417590.
- Hull, Jeffrey; Grzegorz Żabiński; Monika Maziarz (2007). Knightly Dueling: The Fighting Arts of German Chivalry. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-581606744.
- Leng, Rainer (2000). "Andreas der Jude, Jost von der Neißen und Niclas Preuß: Drei verhinderte 'Verfasser' eines Fechtbuches." Würzburger medizinhistorische Mitteilungen 19: 209-220.
- Talaga, Maciej (2022). "'Have the Highest Righteous Fencer in Your Mind's Eye': Medieval Martial Ethic as a Conceptual Repository for Just War Theory." Martial Arts Studies 12: 8-18. doi:10.18573/mas.154.
- Tobler, Christian Henry (2022). Lance, Spear, Sword, & Messer: A German Medieval Martial Arts Miscellany. Wheaton, IL: Freelance Academy Press. ISBN 978-1-937439-64-4.
- Verelst, Karin (2016). "Finding a Way through the Labyrinth: Some Methodological Remarks on Critically Editing the Fight Book Corpus." Late Medieval and Early Modern Fight Books. Transmission and Tradition of Martial Arts in Europe: 117-188. Ed. by Daniel Jaquet; Karin Verelst; Timothy Dawson. Leiden and Boston: Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004324725_008. ISBN 978-90-04-31241-8.
- Vodička, Ondřej (2019). "Origin of the oldest German Fencing Manual Compilation (GNM Hs. 3227a)." Waffen- und Kostümkunde 61(1): 87-108.
- Wallhausen, James (2010). Knightly Martial Arts: An Introduction to Medieval Combat Systems. Self-published. ISBN 978-1-4457-3736-2.
- Wassmannsdorff, Karl (1870). Die Ringkunst des deutschen Mittelalters. Liepzig: Priber.
- Welle, Rainer (1993). '…und wisse das alle höbischeit kompt von deme ringen'. Der Ringkampf als adelige Kunst im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert. Pfaffenweiler: Centaurus-Verlagsgesellschaft. ISBN 3-89085-755-8.
- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2008). "Unarmored Longsword Combat by Master Liechtenauer via Priest Döbringer." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts: 59-116. Ed. by John Clements. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3.
References
- ↑ Based on the presence of a sort of "calendar" on folio 83v that begins in 1390; the latest date it might have been created is 1532, the year its earliest known owner, Nicolaus Pol, died.
- ↑ The attribution to Döbringer is based on how prominently the name "Hanko pfaffen Döbringers" appears to be displayed on folio 43r, but upon examination this is revealed as a simple correction inserted in the margin, indicating that Döbringer's name had been accidentally omitted from the list of four authors of the treatise beginning on that page. Attributing this manuscript to Döbringer therefore requires him to have forgotten to include his own name in his own treatise.
- ↑ The manuscript uniformly lacks the traditional prayer for the dead when mentioning his name.
- ↑ This isn't a calendar in any conventional sense, but rather a simple list of the number of weeks between the holidays of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday in each of the years.
- ↑ Tobler, Christian Henry. "Chicken and Eggs: Which Master Came First?" In Saint George's Name: An Anthology of Medieval German Fighting Arts. Wheaton, IL: Freelance Academy Press, 2010.
- ↑ Revision or stain.
- ↑ At this point, there is a cross-shaped marking spanning two lines whose meaning is unclear.
- ↑ Reading unclear.
- ↑ Bottom line difficult to decipher.
- ↑ Ehlert expands to ‘verumteman’. But compare 109r line 6.
- ↑ Single cross as metamark.
Copyright and License Summary
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
