Fribourg/Freiburg, Couvent des Cordeliers/Franziskanerkloster
The library of the Franciscan Monastery is a private library; it joined RERO (the network of libraries of Western Switzerland and union catalog) in 2013. The library contains about 35,000 volumes, 10,000 of which date from before 1900. The majority of the books can be accessed via a card catalog. The old library can be traced back to Guardian Friedrich von Amberg; 18 of his volumes have been preserved. During the monastery’s golden age in the 15th century, the superiors collected mainly sermon and study literature. The Franciscan Monastery was able to preserve its library on site; it contains 80 medieval and 100 post-medieval volumes of manuscripts (not catalogued), as well as 136 incunabula and 80 post-incunabula.
Codex 62 is typical of composite manuscripts from the time around 1400 found in Franciscan convents. It contains sermonic material by known and unknown authors in the form of complete sermons, thematic selections and exempla. It is made up of 15 codicological units. Friederich von Amberg (ca. 1350-1432) assembled this collection, added a table of contents, and had it bound in Fribourg (Switzerland). The most valuable part of this miscellany consists of a set of 16 sermons on pennance by the Dominican St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419), delivered by the sermonist between March 9 through 21, 1404 in Fribourg, Murten, Payerne, Avenches, and Estavayer. Friedrich von Amberg made a fair copy and incorporated it as the 6th codicological unit (fol. 45r-97v) of this composite manuscript.
Online Since: 10/04/2011
Composite manuscript of material for sermons, written by various hands in cursive. It might have been compiled by Friedrich von Amberg (guardian of the Franciscan Monastery of Fribourg 1409, 1414). The catchwords and the Tabula de tempore and de sanctis are in his hand.
Online Since: 06/13/2019
This large-format Franciscan-use Psalter, probably from the Bern region, can be dated to the last quarter of the fifteenth century. The rich book decoration includes blue-red initials with pen-flourishes as well as black cadel-style initials with red-lipped faces with profiles. The fifteenth-century wooden-board binding covered with white leather was restored in 1998-2000 by Father Otho Raymann.
Online Since: 08/27/2026
Master manuscript of the "Freiburger Perikopen". German language plenary with scripture selections for Mass in German, glosses and additional texts for Sunday and important holy days.
Online Since: 07/31/2007
This composite manuscript, much used by Friedrich von Amber, contains material about the history of the religious order in the first part (f. 1r-100v). In the second, probably more important part (f. 109r-165v), it contains treatises, questions and polemics from the time of the conflict of Pope John XXII with Louis IV (called the Bavarian) who resided in Munich and with the Franciscan Spirituals who had fled to that city. Several of these writings are preserved only in this manuscript, among them a treatise on the Visio beatifica of 1332-1333 (f. 127v-153r) which, according to Annelise Maier can possibly be attributed to William of Ockham, as well as a polemic (f. 153r-160r) in which Louis IV is warned against too hastily making peace with the Pope in Avignon.
Online Since: 09/23/2014
This composite manuscript consists of four parts, the oldest of which is dated 1416 (Part 2). It contains sermons and other short texts related to pastoral care. Parts 3 and 4 originally belonged to the Strasbourg monk Johannes Rüeffel, who wrote them during his studies in England and in 1446 in his home town. They include introductions to scholastic philosophy and quaestiones. Part 1 with French-Latin translation exercises and other school texts probably originated around the middle of the 15th century in the area around Fribourg i. Ue. The volume was probably compiled by Jean Joly, guardian of the Franciscan monastery of Fribourg.
Online Since: 12/10/2020
Collection of anonymous sermons (Quadragesima) from the early 14th century, containing 96 sermons. The foliation by Friedrich von Amberg (guardian in Fribourg, † 1432) indicates that the manuscript is incomplete. Catchwords by Friedrich von Amberg, ownership note f. 115v. Typical white leather binding from the Franciscan workshop, non-restored chained volume (cf. ms. 66).
Online Since: 12/14/2017
A student’s manuscript copied in Strasbourg by the hand of the Basel Franciscan Conrad Grütsch (guardian of the Franciscan convent of Fribourg 1452 and 1453). The volume contains speculative grammar and metaphysical writings. The majority of initials and lombards feature inner-field decorations, including faces in profile, that have been added later. The former chained volume, covered in dark-brown leather, comes from the workshop of Rolet Stoss in the Franciscan Convent of Fribourg, and has been restored in 2017.
Online Since: 08/27/2026
Codex 25, a paper manuscript from the middle of the 15th century, consists of two separate codicological textual units. The first contains an average quality copy (and selection) of the most important and earliest work of the Dominican Johannes Herolt, known as “Discipulus” (d. 1468): De eruditione Christifidelium. The second textual unit was written in 1455 by the scribe Franciscus de Gallandia from Yvonand. It goes by the title Fabulae moralizatate and consists of 122 Latin fables taken from various sources from antiquity, presented in the form of dialogs. Magninus Mediolanensis (d. 1376) and Nicolaus Pergamenus are identified as the authors. Beginning with the first print edition (1480) the Fabulae moralizatae were re-named Dialogus creaturarum optime moralizatus.
Online Since: 10/04/2011
This composite manuscript contains study materials, for the most part written by Jean Joly (the guardian of the Fribourg Franciscan Convent, 1467-1469, 1472-1478, 1481-1510) during his studies in Avignon. In addition to numerous study-texts by Jean Joly, it contains the writings of the Franciscans Johannes de Fontanellis and Matthew of Acquasparta. The wooden-board binding covered in brown leather comes from the Rolet Stoss’s workshop in the Franciscan Convent of Fribourg, restored in 2020.
Online Since: 12/11/2025
During his studies in Avignon, Jean Joly (Guardian of the Franciscan Convent of Fribourg 1467-1469, 1472-1478, 1481-1510) prepared this copy of the Quaestiones in quattuor libros sententiarum by Peter of Aquila, an Italian Franciscan theologian who lectured at Paris in the 1330s. His commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard earned him the nickname “Scotellus” for his accessible presentation of the doctrine of John Duns Scotus (d. 1308). The wooden-board binding and formerly chained volume from the fifteenth century was restored by Carole Jeanneret in 2022.
Online Since: 12/20/2023
Excerpts from Bonaventure's commentary on Peter Lombardus' Sentences, written by the Franciscan Heinrich von Isny (Bishop of Basel, 1275-1286). Ownership note on f.1r (Johannes Joly). Colophons f. 336vb (frater Henricus), f. 337ra (Antonius de Maasmünster, scribe, 1478), f. 352ra (Johannes Joly, scribe, 1478). Former chained book with pressed leather cover of the 15th century.
Online Since: 06/14/2018
Antiphonary from the Franciscan Monastery of Fribourg, dated 1488 according to the colophon f. 214v. Drolleries are drawn in the margins and by the initials. The manuscript contains a miniature (f. 14v, birth of Christ) and beautiful initials (flowers, fruit, zucchini), attributed to the Master of the breviary of Jost von Silenen.
Online Since: 04/09/2014