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Summary The Wiesbaden Codex, named after the place where it is currently kept (Wiesbaden, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, 3004 B 10), is a folio size codex, produced in Flanders around 1410. It contains a collection of some 80 widely divergent Middle Dutch texts – several of which unique – whose sole common denominator is that they qualify as ‘devotional literature’. The miscellany is of a puzzling nature, intensified by the fact that an unmatched collection of discarded pre-Eyckian drawings was glued onto separate leaves, which were then inserted into the codex. The copyists and compilers of the collection do not introduce, let alone name themselves, but they most likely are a group of urban, lay devout people, intent on living a sincere religious life, willing to bypass ecclesiastical authority if it threatened the unfettered pursuit of their spiritual ideals. Apart from mere availability, the choice of texts seems to be have been governed by three spheres of interest: catechetical instruction, apocalypticism, and lay spirituality. The general character of the texts gradually shifts from virtuous and humble to ardently devout and assertive. While scholarly analysis tends to seek coherence in whatever it investigates, it is important on principle to consider ‘chance’ an important factor in the composition of this collection. The rather unprofessional nature of the codex is enhanced by the fact that the collectors take on the roles of scribes and illuminators, with the least qualified copyist ultimately taking on the role of editor-in-chief. His personal touch can be traced throughout the codex as he applies crude decorations and scatters small texts into every available place. A further amateurish feature is the versified, moralistic formulation of lending rules. It suggests that members of the group are themselves the readers of the codex, even though it is uncertain whether the codex ever functioned in the intended way. Thus the defining characteristic of the codex seems to be that it defies all common conceptions and categorizations. None of the obvious expectations are met, and a long list of incongruities can be drawn up. The drawings the codex contains, were never meant to be part of a book and have nothing to do with this manuscript. Even though the book was privately owned, the owners did not commission the book as one would expect, nor was it written by professional scribes. What looks like an institutionally
698 Het Wiesbadense handschrift owned book – either a monastery or a chapter –, was apparently owned by private persons, and they themselves were the scribes. A book whose outer appearance suggests it was meant for serious study or lectio divina, was in fact used for catechetical instruction and private devotion. What looks like a book that was destined to be part of a larger library, probably ended up being a ‘one-volume library’. Due to their nature, many texts would be better placed in a compact, small size book, and are at odds with this bulky codex in folio. The size and lay out of the leaves are markedly uncommon for a book of private reading. With the present critical edition the entire collection of texts in the Wiesbaden Miscellany becomes available for scholarly research. This extra - ordinary collection is of interest to scholars and students of historical literature, ‘medioneerlandici’ as well as mediaevalists, art-historians and theologians.
- Page 648 and 649: folio 153r, afb. 63 647
- Page 650 and 651: Een kritische editie in de nvm-reek
- Page 652 and 653: Literatuuropgave 651 Vulgaat = R. W
- Page 654 and 655: Literatuuropgave 653 Hommel-Steenba
- Page 656 and 657: Literatuuropgave 655 in het Middeln
- Page 658 and 659: folio 1v, pl. i 657
- Page 660 and 661: folio 14r, pl. iii 659
- Page 662 and 663: folio 15r, pl. v 661
- Page 664 and 665: folio 16r, pl. vii 663
- Page 666 and 667: folio 24r, pl. ix 665
- Page 668 and 669: folio 45r, pl. xi 667
- Page 670 and 671: folio 60v, pl. xiii 669
- Page 672 and 673: folio 61v, pl. xv 671
- Page 674 and 675: folio 92r, pl. xvii 673
- Page 676 and 677: folio 110v, pl. xix 675
- Page 678 and 679: folio 120v, pl. xxi 677
- Page 680 and 681: folio 121v, pl. xxiii 679
- Page 682 and 683: folio 126v, pl. xxv 681
- Page 684 and 685: folio 132v, pl. xxvii 683
- Page 686 and 687: folio 136v, pl. xxix 685
- Page 688 and 689: folio 152r, pl. xxxi 687
- Page 690 and 691: Lijst van zwart-witafbeeldingen Hie
- Page 692 and 693: Register van opschriften 691 oefeni
- Page 694 and 695: Register van incipits 693 geest Die
- Page 696 and 697: Register van incipits 695 pape Die
698 Het Wiesbadense handschrift<br />
owned book – either a monastery or a chapter –, was apparently owned by<br />
private persons, and they themselves were the scribes. A book whose outer<br />
appearance suggests it was meant for serious study or lectio divina, was<br />
in fact used for catechetical instruction and private devotion. What looks<br />
like a book that was destined to be part of a larger library, probably ended<br />
up being a ‘one-volume library’. Due to their nature, many texts would be<br />
better placed in a compact, small size book, and are at odds with this bulky<br />
codex in folio. The size and lay out of the leaves are markedly uncommon<br />
for a book of private reading.<br />
With the present critical edition the entire collection of texts in the Wiesbaden<br />
Miscellany becomes available for scholarly research. This extra -<br />
ordinary collection is of interest to scholars and students of historical<br />
literature, ‘medioneerlandici’ as well as mediaevalists, art-historians and<br />
theologians.
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