Exhortacio ad canonicos regulares de vicio proprietatis – edition by Kristýna Strnadová
Exhortacio ad canonicos regulares de vicio proprietatis
Edition by Kristýna Strnadová <strnadova.kristyna@seznam.cz>
About the edition: The text was compiled by an unknown author, probably an Augustinian canon in Central Europe. The author was inspired by the works of Henry of Langenstein (Heinricus de Hassia; Heinrich von Langenstein; *? – † 11. 2. 1397), which he also extensively quotes. Henry studied theology in Paris, and later worked at the University of Vienna. He is known primarily for his religious-political writings. He compiled three treatises on property whose names are variable and interchangeable. The writings are: Tractatus conta proprietatem religiosorum (inc.: Regularium sive claustralium), Tractatus de vicii proprietatis religiosorum (inc.: Pro salute eorum) and finally the tract or letter meant for monks from Klosterneuburg Ad canonicos regulares de proprietate (inc.: Ecce nos reliquimus). The exact relation between our text and the works Henry’ of Langenstein will be the subject of further research. The text was created in the late 14th or early 15th century. The oldest manuscript dates to 1420. The text concentrates on property and is compiled as a challenge or a warning for regular canons. At the beginning, it refers to the monastic vow, the Canon Law and the Rule of St. Augustine. It mostly consists of excerpts of texts relating to the property from the pen of religious scholars and authorities. In addition to the references to the aforementioned texts by Henry of Langenstein we can find excerpts from the Order of St. Augustine, the Order of St. Benedict, of the texts of Hugh of Saint Victor, Humbert of Romans or of papal documents. This edition was compiled from six copies of the text. They are:
- Roudnice, 1410-1450 (Prague, National Library, III.D.16)
- Vienna, 1420 (Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol, Cod. 625)
- Schnals, 1431 (Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol, Cod. 481)
- Innischen & Schnals, mid 15th century (Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol, Cod. 749)
- Carmeliten-Kloster Bamberg, ? (Bamberg, Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Msc.Theol.218)
- Teggernsee, ? (Munich, Bayerische Staats- und Stadtbibliothek, Clm 18551)
We can find the text at least in four other manuscripts (Munich, Bayerische Staats- und Stadtbibliothek, Clm 24804, Clm 11749, Clm 16512, Clm 7720), and it is probably it not the final number. These copies were not included in this edition. The manuscripts Clm 18551, Clm 16512, Clm 11749 (Munich, Bayerische Staats- und Stadtbibliothek) and Cod. 625 (Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol) contain some of the aforementioned texts by Henry of Langenstein. The text in the manuscript Cod. 481(Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol) was the model for Cod. 749 (Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol). Based on textual similarities a correlation between the text from Roudnice (Prague, Library of the National Museum, III.D.16) and from Teggernsee (Clm 18551) can be observed. The text circulated among Augustinian Canons, Benedictines, Carthusians and Carmelites.
Aim of the digital edition: This edition was created as the basis for my thesis.