Page images
PDF
EPUB

add not a few pithy sayings to his collection. The student of German dialects would be interested in some of the curious words and expressions to be found in the inscriptions with which the windows are plentifully besprinkled. The genealogists might supply a missing link. The methods of government in vogue in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, in that part of Switzerland, viz., the neighbourhood of Lucerne, from which the windows come, might receive illustration. The herald would find sufficient to occupy his attention for many months, perhaps years.

Merely to catalogue the subjects in the seventeen windows would occupy a volume, and, as in the following account of some of the windows it has been necessary to be brief, it has been quite impossible to enlarge as I should like to do upon the various subjects treated of, and the method in which they have been treated. All that has been possible is merely to name the subjects and to append the inscription where it is legible. But in some cases, owing to the breakage which has occurred in removing the glass from Switzerland to England, and which has necessitated the use of much lead in repairing the damage, the inscription has become very hard to decipher, and it must therefore be understood that the letters or words which are given between brackets are merely conjectural, though in many cases the conjecture amounts to a practical certainty.

In the following account the work of tabulating the subjects and inscriptions, and the brief description of them given, has been done by me. The more important work of the verification of the inscriptions and the translation of them has been done by Dr. Schüddekopf, and I need scarcely add that the remarks on the dialectical peculiarities and linguistic matters in general are entirely his. Every effort has been made by both to get the inscriptions absolutely correct, but it is impossible to guarantee that there are no mistakes.

EDWARD H. SANKEY.

It had been my intention to give a somewhat complete account of the dialect in which the inscriptions are written. But as I can give but little time to this paper, and as I am,

moreover, by no means an expert in Swiss dialects, I am compelled, much against my own inclination, to reduce this account to a few short observations.

The German language possesses three great dialects, viz., Upper German, Middle German, Low German (Oberdeutsch, Mitteldeutsch, Niederdeutsch). The Upper German dialect has three divisions, viz., Alemannic, Swabian, and Bavarian, or, as Schmeller calls them, the dialect of the Upper Rhine, the dialect spoken in the west of the Lech, and that spoken in the east of the same river. The Alemannic dialect comprises Alsace, the south of Baden and Switzerland. The Swiss portion possesses an eastern and a western group, both of which have numerous sub-dialects. Our inscriptions belong to the western group of the Swiss dialects. Considering that the number of the latter is very considerable, it is not surprising to find that traces of different Swiss dialects are apparent in our inscriptions.

The following are a few of the most prominent features of the language in the inscriptions. Anyone who is interested in Teutonic philology will be able to add a great many more dialectal peculiarities to this list.

Literary German au, when corresponding to an older German, appears as u: Haus-hus, auf-uf; whilst literary German au when corresponding to an older German au, appears as au: auge― auge, hauptmann-—hauptmann. Literary German ei, which represents an older German í, is i: weibwib, speise-spiss, weise-wys, zeit-zit. The literary German diminutive suffix -lein has the form li: fähnlein-fendli. The definite article in the feminine gender frequently loses its vowel and becomes amalgamated with its substantive: dsell = die seele. An unaccented e, preceding the syllable which bears the accent is frequently dropped: gricht gericht.

The reader will observe that almost every feminine name in these inscriptions ends in -in. This usage is, of course, not confined to the Swiss dialects, but was common to all German dialects, and may be traced even now in the language of the lower classes. By these, a Frau Müller is frequently spoken of as "die Müllern," the final n in this form being simply the older -in, which is so frequent in our inscriptions.

A few words, most of them denoting the offices and dignities of the various persons whose names are recorded

in these windows, and some of them occurring over and over again, are of considerable interest to the student, not only of German language, but also of archæology and history. A short account of these words is therefore appended.

Schuldthes: M.H.G. schultheize-O.H.G. scultheizoOld English scyldhata -Modern German Schultheiss or Schulze. Etymologically the meaning of the word is, one who imposes certain obligations, i.e., a judge. The chief magis. trates of villages are to this day called "Schulzen" in Germany, and in former times the chief magistrates of towns-now called Bürgermeister-had the same title.

Vogt (in Obervogt, Undervogt, Spittelvogt, etc.): Low Latin *vogatus (for advocatus). "Vogtei" is the right of a person to represent and protect the interests of another, who is thereby reduced to a condition of dependence on the former.

66

Vögte are first of all found in cloisters, churches, hospitals, etc. Later on the Emperors installed "Vögte as administrators of their own "immediate" possessions, in opposition to the "Grafen," who were princes of the empire. The The various German princes also appointed Vögte" as chief magistrates of towns and villages in their dominions. Officers of lower rank were and are also frequently called "Vögte Vögte" (Schlossvogt, Hausvogt, Feld

66

vogt).

""

Meyer (in Obermeyer, Kilchmeyer): early Low Lat. major. It means steward of an estate. "Kilchmeyer' (= Kirchmeyer) is the steward of the estate or estates attached to a church.

Fendrich (Fähnrich, derived from Fahne) is ensign, flag-bearer, who ranks as an officer of his company.

Amtmann, Ammann is every one who has an "Amt" (O.H.G. ambaht, ambahti, Gothic andbahti), more especially one who administers the law in a certain district.

Schützenmeister, the head of the "Schützen," the master of the "Schützen "-guild, i.e., the town rifle-band. Nearly every German town could boast of a "Schützengesellschaft," which the citizens joined with the object of becoming proficient in the use of various arms (such as crossbow, rifle, etc.). Each "Schützengesellschaft" had its Hauptmann, Schützenmeister, Kleinodienmeister and Pritschen

meister. They held the "Schützenfest" once a year which, mutatis mutandis, was very similar to the tournaments of the knights. Many German towns celebrate their annual "Schützenfest" to this day.

Weibel (in Gross weibel), cp. Mod. Germ. Feldwebel. It is the M.H.G. weibil, O.H.G. weibil, and is derived from the M.H.G. verb weiben, "to move to and fro." It means as much as Amtsdiener, Unterbeamter, officer of inferior rank.

Allmende, derived from O.H.G. alagimeinida (cp. Grimm's Wörterbuch, I. 237). This is the name given to all lands and fields that did not belong to any individual, but to the whole community. In the medieval period the word was common to all German dialects; Goethe uses it in the sense of "the open street" (wie man exempel jeden Tag in der almende sehen mag; Neuest. aus. Plundersw. 58). Its use is now restricted to Swabia and Switzerland.

A. W. SCHÜDDEKOPF.

NORTH SIDE OF NAVE. EASTERN MOST WINDOW.

Right-hand Light.

A figure in a monk's dress. S. PLACIDUS ABBAS, M. Our Lord's Baptism. (Dies ist mein geliebter Sohn in welchem ich ein wolge= fallen hab, Matt. 3 c.). A coat of arms. William Tell's son standing under a tree with an apple on his head, his father with a cross-bow about to shoot. eini Alerzan der Obermei, Anno 1631. A boat on a river (the Rhine?) laden with wine casks, houses on the bank. The Virgin appearing to S. Antony of Padua, a sleeping monk below. Has Erhait bō Konacher, granwyler und vogtsperg, Sus(an)na vō . . . chor vo Gra... A coat of arms with various figures of ecclesiastics and others on each side. Hau(pt)mă Lupars Was, 16*2. A woman nourishing a prisoner with her breasts, beneath which is a coat of arms. F. Gratianus Ludolf Decanus und Administrator des fürstlich Frein Gotshus Pfäffers, anno... The Coronation of the Virgin. Ludwig Schuonacher der zit Schuldthes und Schüczen-Fendrich der Statt Lucern, anno 1638.8 A man standing on a terrace with a family group below him. Hans Wichser, anno domini 1537. One woman in the group is labelled SUSANNA, a boy is labelled dangel wo. Around this group are small figures of a bishop, a monk, a tree with a

This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

5 Perhaps illustrating Fischarts' wellknown poem "Das Glückhaft Schiff von Zürich" (1576)

6 Hans Erhart von Ronacher, Gran wyler and Vogtsperg, Susanna von Ron

cher Granwyler.

7 F. G. L., Dean and Administrator of the manorial free Church of Pfeffers (in the Canton of St. Gallen).

8 L. S., late mayor and ensign of the city rifle band of Lucerne.

ladder resting against it, and a garden scene. A woman riding in a waggon drawn by three horses, on one of which a man is riding: the waggon is laden with wine casks. A figure of a monk. The Annunciation. S. Catherine. A crowned figure holding a model of a church. The Virgin and Child. S. Catherine with a kneeling monk below. Heinrich Buchholzer Corher zu Münster, M.D.LXII. The Virgin and Child, figures of a bishop or mitred abbot on either side are bestowing alms on a beggar. Probst und Capitel des würdigen Gstyfft zu Lucern by Sanct Leodogari off dem Hoff, Anno 1634.00

Centre Light.

Mitre with Virgin and Child on it. Inscription cannot be deciphered. Mitre supported to left by bishop or abbot in canonicals, to right by monk holding a vessel (not a chalice) out of which a serpent appears. Hans Frey und Ulrich Oninger von Ell'gg..., 1598." To the left of the above bishop or abbot in canonicals: Figure seated on clouds holding palm branch. LEONTIUS, M. To right, the Virgin holding a sword by the point in the left hand and clasping a book to the breast in the right hand. Figure seated on clouds. S. BENEDICT.

:

12

Mitre with Virgin and child on it, beneath it a coat of arms supported to left by figure of a monk holding a crozier in right hand and a vessel in the left to the right S. John B. in the act of blessing with book, lamb and flag in left hand. Hr Johan Jacob Nüdler gewester Oberbogt zue Hünenberg der zeit Grossweibel der Statt Zug und Fe Anna Marie Vogt Sein Ehegemahelin, ao. 1696. To left of this centre piece, figure in canonicals, S. UDAL. ICUS AB., and below a somewhat similar figure bestowing alms on a beggar; to the right a figure in a surplice with crozier in the right hand and cross, spear and sponge in the left, S. BERNARDUS, and below a figure in a monkish habit with crozier in left hand, together with book on which stands a chalice with a serpent coming out of it.

Heraldic device with cannon, cannon balls, flags, drums, to left and right, also figure of S. Sebastian, and martyr holding sword and palm branch at the top a man in armour with hands clasped in prayer, with the legend round his head, In te domine sperav. con. undar in eter . . . Johan Wilhelm Lüttiger Bürger Zug der Zeit Lan(d) Vogt Zuo Hünenberg Frau Cathariña Mañgoldin sein Ehegemahlin,

17..

13

Head of our Lord on a cloth, the ark, tiara and cross keys, S. Sebastian, female saint praying on hill top, with S. George and the dragon, angel appearing to pilgrim.

9 H. B., Canon (Corher Chorherr) at Münster. There are various towns and villages of this name in Switzerland. The one meant here is very probably Beromünster, a well known Chorherrenstift (canonry) in the canton of Lucerne.

10 Provost aud chapter of the venerable monastery of Lucerne on the Churchyard, near St. Leodogar's Church, Anno 1634. (The town of L. owes its name and existence to this monastery which was founded A.D. 740).

11 Is this Ellingen, a town in Bavaria, in the district of Mittelfranken, which was from 1216 to 1786 in the possession of the Teutonic order and seat of the comthur (commander) of the Franconian district?

12 Herr.. late high bailiff of H., at present chief sergeant of the court of justice in the city of Zug, and Frau Anne Mary Vogt, his wife. Anno 1696.

13 J. W. L. citizen at Zug, now bailiff at H., Frau C. M., his wife.

« PreviousContinue »