Details

Subjects:

Theologians -- Switzerland -- Biography.
Reformed Church.
History.
Theologians.
Zurich (Switzerland) -- History.
Zurich (Switzerland) -- Church history.
Reformed Church -- Switzerland -- Zurich -- History -- 17th century.
Switzerland -- Zurich.
Switzerland.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Biographies (literary works)
Sermons.
Speeches.
Manuscripts, German.
Manuscripts, European.
Biographies.

Language:

German, with a few passages in Latin (pp. 79, 352-353, 617-619, 690).

Summary:

Biography of the Swiss theologian Johann Jakob Breitinger by an unidentified author, accompanied by copies of, or excerpts from Breitinger's works, including writings and speeches on political, social, and religious topics. The manuscript opens with a religious rubric (Mit Gott den Anfang, Mitel und Aussgang), the date, and the name and title of the work's subject: Her Hanss Jacob Breitinger, Diener der Kirchen zum Grossen Münster Zürich, with reference to the Grossmünster (cathedral) where Breitinger was pastor, and head prelate of the Zurich church, from 1613 until his death. The first portion of the text (pp. 1-64) seems to be devoted strictly to the biography of Breitinger, beginning with his birth and ending with a section entitled Herr Breittingers Badenfahrt 1637 (p. 57). Three rubrics interspersed in the next portion of the manuscript relate to Breitinger's works: 1. Verzeichnuss etlicher Bedäncken und Sachen, wellche Hr. Breitinger zum Theill brichtet von Mund, zum Theill in Schriften, zum Theil auch in offnem Truckh (p. 65), followed by a list of lectures given by Breitinger, with the author reporting that the original texts are to be found at the rectory of the Grossmünster; 2. Herr Breittingers Sachen wellche er zum Theill lassen komen in Truckh, zum Theill aber nit (p. 80), followed by a list of published works; and 3. Sachen die nit in Truckh komen (p. 82), followed by a list of unpublished works. The rest of the manuscript (pp. 85-690) appears to be an account of Breitinger's life and times, consisting of the copied material from his works, interspersed with narrative. Sometimes his name appears in the opening rubric (pp. 235, 271), or his name or title (Diener der Kilchen und Schuel) in the closing (pp. 117, 225). Possibly some of the copied material is not by Breitinger; some references are to official protocols (e.g. the author notes that originals of two items are to found among records of the Dutch synod; p. 573). Following are examples of rubrics for copied material: Fürtrag betreffend den venedischen und frantzosischen Ambassadoren (p. 107); Delineattion der Reformation (p. 218); Wijderhollung dess ... vaterlandischen Projects (p. 235); Vom drijten Grad der Bluetsfründtschafft (p. 409); Gottes sonder bahre und duldige Hilff in meiner eignen Kranckheit (p. 567). One section headed Sweden (Schwed; p. 667) pertains to events of the Thirty Years' War around 1633. The manuscript ends with a prayer, including a petition for the fatherland (zu gueten dem geliebten Vaterland), followed by a Latin dictum referring to Breitinger (p. 690).

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Pagination: Paper, ii + 345 + v; 1-189, [190-690]; contemporary pagination in ink, modern pagination in pencil, upper outer corners.
Layout: Written in 23-35 long lines.
Script: Written in a neat German cursive hand.
Decoration: Catchwords, lower right corner, on both recto and verso of leaves throughout codex.
Binding: Contemporary parchment (Zacour-Hirsch).
Origin: Written in Zurich in 1670 ( Anno 1670 den 10 Weinmonat [October]; p. 1).

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Ivan Volkoff (Pasadena, Calif.), 1961.

Cited in:

Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1965), p. 90 (Ms. German 52).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1143

OCLC:

214278385