¹ This MS has been made accessible for research workers through the efforts of C. R. Goedsche, who also furnished the literary part of the present article.

² For bibliography see G. Ehrismann, Geschichte d.dt.Lit. bis zum Ausgang des Mittelalters, ii, Schlussband (1935), 491.

³ German. Abhandlungen, xxv (1905), 484; for further reference see W. Uhl, Die deutsche Priamel (Leipzig, 1897).

⁴ Cf. Bibliothek des Lit. Vereins in Stuttgart, xxx and xlvi; J. Demme, Studien über Hans Rosenplilt (Münster, 1906).

⁵ The same prolonged i-dots occur also in deeds of Augsburg. Cf. F. Scholz, “Gesch. der dt. Schriftspr. in Augsburg bis zum Jahre 1374,” Acta Germ, v, 306.

⁶ Contrary to the usage of the early Augsburger printers, it would appear that the scribe had no aversion to the use of the n-abbr. Cf. F. Kauffmann, Gesch. der schwäb. Mundart (1890), p. 294.

⁷ It will be found very difficult to define the exact relation of the Newberry manuscript to the many Priamel manuscripts extant, i.e., to prove the source and its influence. Each of the 16 manuscripts differs greatly from the other. In addition, modern editions with their normalizing tendencies deviate too much from the original manuscript in all vital matters to make them useful for this comparison. The many inaccuracies and changes which most modern editors excuse with their habitual humanitarian “for the benefit of the reader” or “in order not to offend the eyes of the reader,” make definite conclusions well-nigh impossible. No doubt, even to texts as late as those of the fifteenth century, the basic rules of editorial technique must be applied in order to bring about a fruitful coöperation between literary criticism and philology proper.

¹ MHG gelten NHG zahlen

² Contrary to common practice, this order is treated with a certain respect

¹ NHG andauernd getrieben

² added in margin

³ NHG überteuern

⁴ NHG gibt; vnger corrupted from wider

⁵ au diphthong

¹ MHG luoder NHG Schlemmerei

² MHG vuoter NHG Futter, Nahrung

³ in front of it k crossed out

⁴ A MNL version of the same theme appears in a Dresdener MS. (33a 5v) :

¹ -er- abbr.

² -nem corr. from m

³ from schachern; better rhyme sug. geschefft as in other MSS.

⁴ MHG erarnen NHG einernten

⁵ refers to the knight “ane ritterlichen muot,” as presented in Stricker's Karl, 4876 ff.

¹ MHG gemeine NHG Gemeinde. The scribe here enumerates the ideal conditions under which a city may well flourish. Variations of this Priamel were hung in city halls in the Netherlands during the MD period.

² -er- abbr.

³ not graphic u.

¹ From here on the virgulas are missing, with the exception of 7,4, 10,9, 13,1 and 13,2.

² NHG Logik

³ NHG Stachel

⁴ NHG treibt

⁵ NHG schiebt

⁶ MHG verquanten NHG verhehlen.

⁷ in front of it henk crossed out; the scribe obviously intended to write henkt from memory; but looking at his source he noticed his error and corrected it.

⁸ NHG schlägt

⁹ NHG davon

¹⁰ encircled and added a line below; -r in oder abbr.

¹ MHG erzeln NHG aufzählen

² NHG Besitztum

³ NHG Rennbube, Stallknecht

⁴ NHG jagt

⁵ MHG verhîtheit, NHG Schande

¹ NHG Krämer

² MHG gesuoch NHG Gewinn

³ MHG tuomherre NHG Domherr

⁴ MHG stoc NHG Gefängnis

⁵ NHG abschaffen

⁶ -nem corr. from m

⁷ nasal bar forgotten.

¹ NHG vertreiben

² in front of it wiber crossed out

³ NHG Podagra

⁴ MHG büezen NHG gut machen

⁵ mistake; should read der

⁶ MHG jaemerlich NHG jämmerlich.

¹ possibly mistake; better reading mit.

² NHG peinigen

³ nasal bar forgotten.

⁴ NHG gönnen

⁵ MHG nahe NHG beinahe

⁶ corrupted from original thótlich?

¹ MHG zucken NHG rauben

² The scribe sketched a hand on the left margin pointing to this passage. He either recognized the four lines which were taken from the well-known Fastnachtspiel “Ein hübsch Vastnachtspil von zwein Eleuten” or he referred this passage to his own matrimonial difficulties. In the Fastnachtspiel (nr 163, 15–18) the wife says to the departing husband:

Dann einer, der ein frames weip hat

und der wil hüeten früe und spat,

furcht sie got nicht und irs mannes zorn:

So ist all hut an ir verlorn.

³ NHG hat

⁴ verb wil omitted

⁵ au diphthong

⁶ This Priamel was naturally much parodied (cf. Nicolai's Almanack i, 56 nr 6); even in music (cf. Friedländer, Das dt. Lied im 18. Jh., i, 236).

¹ Cap. A omitted.

² e corr. from a.

³ This line was erroneously anticipated by the scribe before ain Schmid and crossed out.

⁴ This whole line is partly cut off in the lower margin.

¹ MHG torlich NHG töricht

² au<â

³ over erasure

⁴ MHG bihtigaere, NHG Beichtvater. The unlearned “bihtiger” refers to the following medieval clerical instructions: keinen bichter soltu dir selber nemen der sinloß si oder unsinnig oder töbig oder zu eim kind worden si oder trunken oder schlaff oder in dem banne si oder priesterloß si oder zumal ungelert (Cf. Hasak, Der christl. Glaube des dt. Volkes, p. 253.)

⁵ MHG verhellen NHG gestehen

⁶ MHG kastenaere NHG Rentmeister

⁷ MHG risen NHG fallen

¹ diphthong au from â

² e corr. from a

³ bar over n should be omitted