| Summary: |
Chronicle of persons sentenced by the criminal court (Halssgericht) in Nuremberg, from 1298 to March 1709, compiled by an
unknown author from mostly unidentified sources. The chronicle is prefaced by two documents: an undated edict, entitled Ordnung
des Halssgerichts allhier zu Nürnberg (f. 2r-v), specifying procedures to be followed by the court, which acted in the name
of the Holy Roman Empire; and a poem, entitled Loch Ordnung zu Nürnberg (f. 3r-v), which seems to evoke the experience of
a person held in custody in the remand prison (Loch) and eventually executed. Under the subheading Urtheil (judgment), the
edict lists methods of execution and gives formulations to be used in the court proceedings, as spoken by or to the judge
(Pann Richter), jurors (Schöpffen), court clerk (Gerichtschreiber), and executioner (Nachrichter), as well as alternative
formulations to be used when a forced confession (Urgicht) is obtained from a person who refuses to confess. Prefacing the
poem is a statement that, until the time of writing , 1159 persons had been executed in Nuremberg, as found in an old book
(Vor dieser Zeit Anfang sind in Nürnberg 1159 Persohnen gerichtet worden, welches man in einem alten Buch gefunden hat; f.
3r). The chronicle reports cases under headings by year, beginning in 1298 with a general reference to many Jews being burned
not only in Nürnberg but also in Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and other places, on account of careless dealings (von
wegen allerleij leichtfertigen Händeln; f. 4r). After that it jumps to 1337 and the reports become more specific. Headings
are given for 9 different years in the 14th century, for 18 in the 15th century, and for most of the years in the 16th and
17th centuries. From 1653 to 1709 there is a heading for every single year. Crimes include murder, robbery, witchcraft (Hexerij,
Zauberij; f. 42r), forgery (falschen Brieff; f. 6v), and sexual crimes (sodomitische Unzucht, f. 26r; Hurereij, f. 49v). Sentences
include executions (burning, beheading, hanging), floggings, and expulsions from the city. Individuals are usually identified
by name; other details may include their profession, or status as noblemen (Edelmänner) or Jews; city of birth; and the names
and/or professions of their parents, spouse, or employer. Many reports narrate the circumstances of the case in detail. Four
reports include what appear to be transcriptions of official documents (Sentenz, 52v; Decretum in senatu, f. 57v, 58v), in
the cases of Hanss Rüdter and Barthel Rauschbock in 1699 (f. 52v); of Helena Sussanna Wiedlin in 1708 (f. 57r-v); of Georg
Spörl and Jacob König in 1708 (f. 57v-58v); and of Christina Sorgerin in 1709 (f. 58v). The name of Johann Michael Wiedmann
(or Wiedtmann) appears on all 4 documents as executioner (executio facta per carnificem; f. 52v, 57v, 58v). Wiedmann is first
mentioned under the year 1666, where it is noted that he had assumed the office of Nachrichter in September 1665 (f. 43v).
Two other names appear on the 1699 document: Johann Sigmund Löffelholz, as Obrist-Wachtmeister; and Johann Cuno, as Auditor
(f. 52v). A note under the year 1707 (f. 56v) indicates that the following 2 reports are on cases that actually do not belong
in the Nuremberg chronicle: one concerns the famous case of General Johann Reinhold Patkul (f. 56v), who was executed in Kazimierz,
Poland, for treason to Sweden; and the other, the case of Christoph Heinrich Stechau (f. 56v-57r), who was charged with the
murder of a Nuremberg citizen, Georg Rössler, but under the jurisdiction of the office of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. The latter
report includes a transcription of a notice about the execution posted in the marketplace of Fürth (f. 57r). Included also
are transcriptions of 2 poetic works composed by people who were executed in 1691 and 1702, respectively: a prayer by Maria
Magdalena Wölffin (f. 48r) and a song by Ambrosius Wolff Christoph Dörr, to be sung to the tune of Aus der Tieffe ruff ich
(f. 54v).
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| Notes: |
Ms. codex.
Title from title page (f. 1r).
Foliation: Paper, iii (newer paper) + 66 + iii (newer paper); [1-66]; modern foliation in pencil, lower right recto (f. 59-66
are blank).
Layout: Written in 48-71 long lines, except for poetic texts in 2, 3, or 4 columns (f. 3r-v, 48r, 54v); frame-ruled in pencil.
Script: Written in a German cursive hand.
Decoration: Title page (f. 1r) and rubric of first document (f. 2r) written in a formal calligraphic book script, with decorated
initials and pen flourishes.
Binding: Modern boards.
Origin: Written in Nuremberg, Germany, around 1709.
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