# A1 — The earliest layer of the Strasbourg record of the 1518 dancing episode Raw sources and page images: `../sources/` (index: `../sources/A1_SOURCES.md`). **Verification legend.** **[IMG]** transcription checked against the printed page image saved under `../sources/…/images/`; **[OCR]** read only in archive.org OCR text; **[2ND]** known only through a secondary work quoted here; **[UNVERIFIED (from memory)]** not retrieved. Every quotation below is given as printed in the edition cited (spelling untouched; obvious OCR errors corrected against the image where an image exists). Translations are mine unless marked. Dates: 1518 is Julian; weekday equivalences were computed (Easter 1518 = 4 April; 22 July 1518 = Thursday) and agree with the day-dates Dacheux prints in BSCMHA XIX (e.g. "Montag post Quasimodo, 12. april"). Abbreviations of the editors (Reuss/Dacheux): *XXI* = protocol of the Council of XXI; *Pp. Schn.* = papers of Louis Schnéegans; *Pp. Rh.* = papers of T. W. Rœhrich; *Pp. C.* = papers of Cunitz; *Pp. P.* = Piton; *Pp. J.* = Jung; *Rés. Rh.* = Rœhrich's résumé; *Exc. Sp.* = 18th-c. anonymous excerpts from Specklin; *K.-S. G.* = glosses added to a copy of Kœnigshoven ed. Schilter 1698 (Bibliothèque municipale) [OCR, BSCMHA XIII pp. 176–177 "Renvois aux sources"]; *Sp. n°* = Specklin entry number in Reuss's edition; *W. n°* = Wencker chronicle entry number in Dacheux's edition; *Suppl.* = supplement volume of Wencker's Extractus (lost); *Memoriale Petri Buotz* = notebook of the city secretary Peter Butz for 1518. --- ## 0. One-paragraph result The contemporary Strasbourg record of 1518 that survives today consists of (a) three original documents in Strasbourg and Bas-Rhin archives — the deliberations of a three-man council commission of **Friday 23 July 1518** with an *Instruction* for the persons to be sent to St Vitus (AVES III 200/15, formerly "G U P 200"; printed in full by Martin 1914 as Anlage I–II), a mandate signed by Sebastian Brant of **2 August 1518** (AVES 1 MR 3 f. 72r; not transcribed in anything I could retrieve), a **letter of the magistrate to Bishop Wilhelm of 25 July 1518** (ADBR 12 J 1495; only a 2018 French translation retrieved) and undated notices/mandates to the brotherhoods (III 200/15; printed by Martin) — and (b) extracts made in the 17th–18th c. by Jacob II Wencker from the lost XXI protocols/Memoriale of 1518 (the so-called *Annales de Brant*, burned 1870), transmitted through 19th-c. copies and printed by Dacheux (BSCMHA XV 1892 no. 3443; XIX 1899 no. 4398). Independent contemporary witnesses are the Augsburg chronicler Wilhelm Rem (a notice of 1518) and, by report, the Imlin family chronicle and Gebwiler. The contemporary layer gives: onset "um Margarethen" / "8 days before Magdalene" (c. 13–15 July) with one woman; "uff fünfzig personen" dancing day and night; a physicians' verdict of a *natural* illness ("hitzig geblüt" in Jung's résumé; "astral conjunction and heat" in the 25 July letter); the transport of the sick in three groups on hospital and cathedral-works wagons to St Vitus at the Hohlenstein above Saverne with sung masses, small offerings and red shoes (the shoes only in Specklin/Wencker); a ban on dancing and drumming until Michaelmas (29 Sept) with an exception for weddings and first masses with string music; orders that families and brotherhoods keep and calm their sick; and on **Tuesday 31 August 1518** a hundredweight of wax to be sent as a candle to St Vitus with a sung mass and three side-masses. **No contemporary document mentions a single death.** Deaths first appear in Daniel Specklin's *Collectanea* (c. 1580: "Viel tantzten sich zu tode"), in Kleinlawel's rhymed chronicle (1625: "Viel sind Todt drüber blieben") and in Wencker's chronicle (1637: "Etliche stürben dran"). "Hundreds" of dancers appear only in the undated verses printed by Schilter in 1698 ("Viel hundert") and in the 17th-c. chroniclers (Imlin "mehr denn 400"; Schadaeus/Duntzenheim "mehr als 200"; Specklin "über 100"). --- ## 1. Inventory — found / not found ### 1.1 Found and read (see `../sources/A1_SOURCES.md` for files and URLs) | # | Source | Where read | Status | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | Jacob II Wencker, *Extractus ex prothocollis D.D. XXI, necnon quibusdam ex annalibus Seb. Brandti* ("Annales de Brant"), extracts by Schnéegans/Cunitz/Rœhrich → L. Dacheux, "Extraits des Annales de Sébastien Brant", BSCMHA 2e sér. XV (1892), nos. 3238–3645bis; 1516–1519 entries nos. 3422–3448 on pp. 235–242; **no. 3443 (St. Veits-Tanz) pp. 239–240** | archive.org `pourlaconser2v15soci` (+ Google scan) | [IMG] pp. 147–148, 202–203, 236–240; [OCR] p. 241–242 | | 2 | Same work, Andreas Jung's full copy 1517–1536 → L. Dacheux, "Annales de Sébastien Brant (suite)", BSCMHA XIX (1899) pp. 33–260; **no. 4398 (S. Veitstanz) p. 42** | archive.org `pourlaconser2v19soci` | [IMG] pp. 41–42; introduction pp. 35–38 [OCR] | | 3 | Daniel Specklin, *Collectanea* (lost 1870) → R. Reuss, "Les Collectanées de Daniel Specklin", BSCMHA XIII (1888) pp. 157 ff. and XIV (1889); **no. 2216 (S. Veitstanz) XIV pp. 307–308** (the 1516–1519 entries stand on pp. 306–308) | archive.org `pourlaconser2v13soci`, `pourlaconser2v14soci` | [IMG] XIV pp. 306–308; XIII introduction pp. 172–177 [OCR] | | 4 | Jacob Wencker's chronicle of 1637 (lost) → Dacheux, "Fragments de la chronique de Wencker", BSCMHA XV (1892): **no. 3007 (S. Veits tantz wunderliche chur) p. 148**; nos. 3006, 3008, 3009; no. 3237d pp. 202–203 | as 1 | [IMG] | | 5 | Duntzenheim's chronicle (lost) → A. Jung, *Beiträge* II (1830) p. 59 → Dacheux, "Fragments de diverses vieilles chroniques", BSCMHA XVIII (1897) **no. 3981 p. 12** | archive.org `bulletinvolumen00dalgoog` | [IMG] p. 12 | | 6 | Council documents of 1518 in the Strasbourg city archive "G U P 200" (= today AVES Série III 200/15): six identical notices, a later mandate, *Anlage I* (23 July 1518) and *Anlage II* (Instruction) → Alfred Martin, "Geschichte der Tanzkrankheit in Deutschland", *ZVfV* 24 (1914) pp. 113–134, 225–239 | archive.org `zeitschriftfrv24verbuoft` | [IMG] pp. 113–124 (all quotations below); pp. 125–134, 225–239 [OCR] | | 7 | Imlin family chronicle (Strasbourg Landesbibliothek; via Witkowski 1879) → Martin 1914 p. 119 | as 6 | [IMG] but [2ND] for the text itself | | 8 | Schilter 1698 (verses from a lost "Chron. M.S. Argent. p. 318", dated "An. 1418"), Kleinlawel 1625 verses, Schadaeus/Goldmeyer via Boersch 1836 → Martin 1914 pp. 113–116 | as 6 | [IMG] but [2ND] | | 9 | Wilhelm Rem (Augsburg), *Cronica newer geschichten*, ed. F. Roth, *Chroniken der deutschen Städte* 25 (1896) **p. 88** | archive.org `bub_gb_RICIqSRvM78C` | [IMG] p. 88 (OCR unusable, Fraktur) | | 10 | 2018 exhibition press kit and teachers' dossier (Musées de Strasbourg / AVES), with the cotes of the surviving originals and French translations of the 23 July deliberations, the 25 July letter, Gebwiler and Specklin | PDFs in `../sources/misc/` | read in full (pypdf text) | ### 1.2 Not found / not retrievable (reasons in `A1_SOURCES.md` §3) Schilter 1698 itself (503 / no scan); Heidelberg, AVES online, Gallica, Bielefeld (bot gates or 403 — not circumvented); Witkowski 1879; Jung 1830; Krieger 1879; Boersch 1836; Gebwiler ed. Stenzel 1926; the 2018 catalogue with Clementz's transcriptions; the 2 August 1518 mandate text (1 MR 3 f. 72r) and the German text of the 25 July 1518 letter (12 J 1495); any hospital accounts, city accounts (Stadtrechnungen) or Saverne chapel records for 1518 — none of the retrieved editions prints or cites such accounts, and the 2018 lenders' list contains none. Whether AVES published scans of III 200/15 for the exhibition could not be checked (archives.strasbourg.eu blocked). --- ## 2. The sources one by one — author, date of composition, manuscript/edition history ### 2.1 The surviving originals (Strasbourg and Bas-Rhin archives) - **AVES (Archives de la Ville et de l'Eurométropole de Strasbourg) Série III 200/15** — formerly cited as "Archiv der Stadt Strassburg G U P 200" (Martin 1914 pp. 115, 121–124). Contents according to Martin and the 2018 lenders' list: (i) the council commission's deliberations "Vff Fritag post Marie Magdalene" (= 23 July 1518; Martin's *Anlage I*, undated in the year but assigned to 1518 by the archive from the names of the magistrates); (ii) the "Instruction der armen dantzen[den] Personen so zu Sant Vit geschickt. Veneris post Magdalene etc. XVIII" (Martin's *Anlage II*; the year is written only "etc. XVIII", which is how the false "1418" of Schilter → Hecker → Häser arose); (iii) six identical undated notices ("Als sich yetzt die kranckheit des dantzens wider erhept …"), apparently for distribution to the guilds (presumably the "note du magistrat aux confréries" of the 2018 lenders' list); (iv) an undated mandate ("Als dann die kranckheit mit dem dantzen sich leider nit enden will …") with a correction in the original. Martin: "Das Original (Anlage II) liegt noch im Archiv der Stadt Strassburg (GUP 200) und hat auch nur etc. XVIII. Nach der Charakteristik der Schriftzüge ist 1518 anzunehmen" [IMG p. 115]. - **AVES 1 MR 3, f. 72 r** — "Extrait du registre des Mandats et Règlements de la Ville de Strasbourg. Interdiction des danses publiques par le magistrat de Strasbourg, signée Sébastien Brandt (Strasbourg, 2 août 1518)" (2018 press kit, illustration caption; lenders' list: "Source manuscrite du 2 août 1518. Feuillet signé Sébastien Brant, 1 MR3, f° 72 r"). Text not retrieved. Its content is presumably what the Extractus summarises as the ban on dancing until Michaelmas (§3.1). - **ADBR (Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin) 12 J 1495** — "Source manuscrite du 25 juillet 1518 : lettre du magistrat à l'évêque Wilhelm" (2018 lenders' list); French translation of two passages in the teachers' dossier p. 11 (§3.5). German text not retrieved. - **AMS X 140** — dance prohibition of 15 June 1547 (2018 lenders' list); later, not used. ### 2.2 The lost XXI protocols and Wencker's *Extractus* ("Annales de Brant") The protocols of the Council of XXI for 1518 no longer exist: "Comme les Protocoles des XXI n'existent aux Archives de la Ville qu'à partir de 1539 …" (Dacheux, BSCMHA XIX p. 35 [OCR]). What survives are extracts made by **Jacob II Wencker** (city archivist, d. 1743; dates [UNVERIFIED (from memory)]) from the protocols and from the *Memorialia* (notebooks) of the city secretaries, among them the "Memoriale Petri Buotz de a° 1518". Dacheux (XV p. XCVII [OCR, Google scan]): "Aux archives de la ville on conservait également autrefois en deux exemplaires un manuscrit désigné généralement sous le nom d'Annales de Brant, qui malheureusement fut transporté … à la bibliothèque publique; … tous ont péri dans l'incendie de 1870. Ces prétendues Annales de Brant étaient en réalité l'œuvre de Jacques II Wencker et portaient le titre suivant: *Extractus ex prothocollis D. D. XXI, necnon quibusdam ex annalibus Seb. Brandti, auctore Jacobo Wenckero*. L'un des deux exemplaires, peut-être l'original, formait un volume. Le second exemplaire, en deux volumes, était une copie, car il portait la note suivante: *Descripsit Maria Barbara Meyer, Lahrensis ancilla, 1763*." Dacheux XIX p. 36 [OCR]: "Bien que le titre porte le nom de Brant, il est certain que les Annales sont l'œuvre de Jacques Wencker … Brant y est complètement étranger, sauf que pour les années antérieures on a tiré partie de ses carnets, Memorialia, Gedenkbüchlein, comme on l'a fait pour ses successeurs." Authority of the text: "exactement celle des Registres conservés aux Archives et qui renferment les procès-verbaux des séances des Conseils" (ibid.). Two printed witnesses of the 1518 entries: - **Dacheux 1892 (BSCMHA XV)**: 19th-c. extracts from the papers of L. Schnéegans, Cunitz and Rœhrich (each entry marked *Pp. Schn.*, *Pp. C.*, *Pp. Rh.*), sometimes giving two versions of the same folio ("Autre texte"). Folio numbers of the lost volume are printed in the margin (fol. 158–174 = 1517–1519). - **Dacheux 1899 (BSCMHA XIX)**: the full copy of the religious-affairs entries 1517–1536 made by the librarian **Andreas Jung** "pour son propre usage et tandis que le manuscrit original restait encore déposé à la Bibliothèque"; "Généralement M. Jung a transcrit textuellement; rarement il semble avoir résumé" (p. 36 [OCR]). Jung's marginal notes are printed in small type; his résumés are enclosed between ‖ ‖ signs. **The 1518 dance entry (no. 4398) is one of the cases where Jung only résuméd** — see §3.2. ### 2.3 Daniel Specklin's *Collectanea* (→ Reuss 1888–89) Daniel Specklin (Strasbourg architect, 1536–1589; Martin p. 119: "der 1536 in Strassburg geboren wurde, also seine Nachrichten noch von älteren Leuten haben kann, die den Tanz erlebten"). His preparatory *Collectanea* (2 vols., c. 402 + 492 fols. [from my earlier reading of Reuss's introduction; the exact figures are OCR-only]) passed at his death to his brother-in-law, the printer Lazarus Zetzner, were bought in 1615 by the pastor Oseas Schad for 30 florins ("Empta a … Lazaro Zetznero, quindecim viro Reipublicae Argentinensis, 1615, triginta florenis" — Reuss, XIII p. 173 [OCR]), passed to the city archives and then to the city library, and burned in 1870. Reuss reconstructed them from: the papers of Schnéegans, Silbermann, Jung, Rœhrich, Piton, an 18th-c. anonymous excerptor ("Exc. Sp."), Wencker's *Collectanea* in the archives, and "Gloses ajoutées à un Kœnigshoven, éd. Schilter (Bibliothèque municipale) = K.-S. G." (XIII pp. 176–177 [OCR]). **The dance entry no. 2216 rests on "K.-S. G., p. 1087" and "Pp. Rh."** — i.e. on a gloss written into a printed Schilter 1698 at p. 1087 (the very pages where Schilter printed his own note "Vom Veitz-Tantz", pp. 1085–1090 per Martin p. 114 n. 1) plus Rœhrich's papers. Date of composition: Specklin was writing in the 1570s–80s (the dossier says "vers 1580"). ### 2.4 Jacob Wencker's chronicle of 1637 (→ Dacheux 1892) Manuscript chronicle of the Wencker family, lost 1870; Dacheux printed fragments from Schnéegans's extracts (BSCMHA XV). The dance entry no. 3007 is marked "Sp. n° 2216. — Pp. Schn.", i.e. Dacheux/Schnéegans regarded it as derived from Specklin; it adds details (guild halls named, "hellensteg", people falling before the image, the note that everything ceased once refuted "aus Gottes wort") — Martin p. 119: "Wencker hat diesem Bericht 1637 hinzugefügt …". ### 2.5 Duntzenheim's chronicle (→ Jung 1830 → Dacheux 1897) Known only as a German résumé by Andreas Jung (*Beiträge*, 2. Theil, p. 59), reprinted as no. 3981 in BSCMHA XVIII (1897) p. 12 [IMG]. Author/date of the Duntzenheim chronicle: not established here (the family Duntzenheim were Strasbourg patricians; [UNVERIFIED (from memory)] a "Chronik" attributed to Batt von Duntzenheim, 16th c.). ### 2.6 The Imlin family chronicle (→ Witkowski 1879 → Martin 1914) "Die sogenannte Imlinsche Familienchronik der Strassburger Landesbibliothek bringt als Zeugnis eines Zeitgenossen" (Martin p. 119 [IMG], citing Witkowski, Allg. Zs. f. Psychiatrie 35, 1879). Whether the 1518 entry is really contemporary could not be checked; the wording ("meinw g[nädigen Herrn]") is that of a 16th-c. Strasbourg burgher's notebook. ### 2.7 Seventeenth-century chronicles (Schadaeus, Kleinlawel, Goldmeyer) via Boersch 1836 → Martin Martin p. 116 [IMG]: the medical historians' account "gründet sich auf Schilter und auf das, was Boersch zusammengetragen hat, der die Angaben aus der (1870 verbrannten) handschriftlichen Chronik von Schadaeus (Oseas Schad, 17. Jahrhundert) und den im 17. Jahrhundert gedruckten von Goldmeyer und Kleinlawel vermehrte." Martin adds: "Die Goldmeyersche Chronik erwähnt nach Angabe der Strassburger Landesuniversität den Veitstanz von 1518 nicht." ### 2.8 Schilter 1698 and the "1418" error Schilter's note to Königshoven (Strassburg 1698, pp. 1085–1090) quotes six verses "aus Chron. M.S. Argent. p. 318" under the heading "St. Veits Tantz An. 1418" and prints (incompletely, with misreadings — Martin) the *Instruction* and the commission protocol. The manuscript chronicle he used cannot be identified; Martin p. 114: "Wie mir die Strassburger Landesbibliothek mitteilt, ist die angeführte Chronik beim Bibliotheksbrande 1870 zugrunde gegangen. Ich glaube, es geschah schon früher, da keiner der Schriftsteller vor 1870, die nach handschriftlichem Stoff suchten, ausser Schilter ihrer gedenkt" [OCR]. Hecker 1832 took 1418 from Schilter; Boersch 1836 first printed 1518, then recanted to 1418 and inserted "vierzehnhundert" into his French translation of the Instruction; Häser then added "14.." to the German text "etc. XVIII" — "und so entstand in der Ratsverfügung die gefälschte Jahreszahl 1418" (Martin p. 115 [IMG]). ### 2.9 Wilhelm Rem, Augsburg Wilhelm Rem, Augsburg merchant-chronicler (c. 1462–1529 [UNVERIFIED (from memory)]); his "Cronica newer geschichten" covers 1512–1527 and was written up year by year. The Strasbourg notice stands in the 1518 section between an entry on the Louvain Collegium trilingue and the entry on the Augsburg diet of June 1518 (CDS 25 p. 88 [IMG]). Martin p. 114 calls Rem a "Nürnberger Chronist" — an error; the volume is *Chroniken der schwäbischen Städte: Augsburg* 5. ### 2.10 Martin 1914 Alfred Martin (physician-folklorist) — the first to use the original G U P 200 documents; he prints them (pp. 121–124), corrects the date to 1518, identifies the Saverne site (Hohlenstein/"Vixberg") and reviews the whole German tradition (Zürich 1418/1428/1452, Cologne/Liège 1374, Kölbigk 1021 etc. in the second instalment pp. 225–239 [OCR only]). --- ## 3. Every 1518 dancing passage, quoted in full, with translation and citation ### 3.1 Wencker's *Extractus* ("Annales de Brant"), no. 3443 — BSCMHA 2e sér. XV (1892) pp. 239–240 [IMG: `../sources/bscmha-xv-1892/images/p239.jpg`, `p240.jpg`; IIIF `pourlaconser2v15soci$363`, `$364`] Printed text (marginal year 1518; the first paragraph is from Rœhrich's papers, the "Autre texte" paragraphs from Schnéegans's): > **3443.** (*St. Veits-Tanz.*) — Als diss jars um Margarethen ein schwäre erschreckliche krankheit mit St. Vitstanz erhub, also dass uff fünfzig personen damit behafft tag und nacht tantzeten dass jämmerlich zu sehen war, wurden dieselben alle in der Stattcosten verwahrt und zu dem lieben heil. St. Vit im Hohenstein bei Zabern geführt und fast erledigt. Da setzten unsere herren uff und lissen ein gebot üssgon, dass niemand tantzen soll bis Michaelis in der ganzen Statt und burgbann, bei 30 sch. pf. und kein brucken schlagen; wol möchte man bey brautläuften und ersten messen mit saitenspiel tantzen nach eines jeden conscienz. > Darnach uff 4a post Laurentii ist erkannt den zünfften zedel zu schicken dass jedermann sin kind und die sinen verwart und die bruderschafften ir brüder in ihren kosten undersuchten oder zu den heyligen schickten. — 5a Mariae Magdalenae. Item als etlich frauen und knaben den bössen dantz tantzen, soll die termen (?) abstellen und heimlich seitenspiel haben. > Item die verordneten herren bringen an des tantzens halb. Erk. in Unser Frauen capell mittwoch ein herlich amt halten, porro erkant die tantzent im Spittal zu dem heiligen schicken und ein opfer von der ganzen Statt wegen dem heiligen bringen. Die leichtfertigen der Statt ein zitlang verwisen, darauf der hh. bedacht des opfers halb zu St. Viten, namlich ein zentner wachs zu einer kerzen mit dem rentmeister schicken, und ein erlich ampt und 3 nebenmessen lassen lesen von wegen des Raths und gemeiner Statt wegen. — Pp. Rh. > [margin: Fol. 172, 1518] *Autre texte:* Herren bringen ihren bedacht des opffers halben zu St. Viten, dass man ein wäccen bild eines centners schwer mit dem rentmeister oder kornmeister zu St. Viten schicke für ein opffer, oder aber dasselbig wächserin bild auf einen altar im Münster stelle und da ehre bis die neu capell ausgemacht, dann einen altar in derselben capellen in St. Viten ehren weyhen lassen. Erkt. den centner wachs zu einer kerzen machen und zu dem lieben heyligen mit dem rentmeister schicken, und ein singent erlich ampt und 3 neben messen lassen lesen von wegen des ganzen Raths und gemeiner Statt wegen. Dienstag post Adolphi. — *XXI.* — Pp. Schn. > [margin: Fol. 36a] *Ad art. S. Veits-Tanz:* von disem tantz findt man in miner *Cronicken* ad longum. — *Reg. de a°. 1518.* *En marge:* «Not. Dr Sebast. Brandt *Chronicon*.» > [margin: Fol. 172a] *Autre texte:* Vorgeschlagen ein wehssen bild eins zentners swer zu S. Vit schicken, oder aber dasselbig wehssen bild uff ein altar im Münster stellen, und do eren bitz die neu cappel üssgemacht, dann ein altar in derselben capellen in S. Viten ehre wihen lossen. Erkt. zu einer kerzen machen lassen und zu dem lieben heiligen schicken und ein singent erlich ambt und dry neben messen lossen lesen von wegen des ganzen Raths und gemeiner Statt. Dienstag post Adolphi 1518. — *XXI.* > *S. Veits-Tanz:* fol. 159b, 161b, 171a et b, 172a, 174b. Translation: > **3443.** (St Vitus's dance.) — As in this year around St Margaret's day a grave, terrible sickness with St Vitus's dance arose, so that up to fifty persons afflicted with it danced day and night, which was pitiful to see, these were all kept at the city's cost and taken to the dear holy St Vitus in the Hohenstein [recte Hohlenstein] near Zabern [Saverne] and [were] nearly [all] relieved (*fast erledigt*). Then our lords resolved and issued a decree that nobody shall dance until Michaelmas [29 September] in the whole city and its jurisdiction (*burgbann*), on pain of 30 shillings pfennig, and [that nobody shall] beat *brucken* [sic; Martin reads *beucken* = kettledrums]; but at weddings and first masses one might well dance with string music, according to each one's conscience. > Thereafter, on Wednesday after St Lawrence [11 August 1518] it was resolved to send notes to the guilds that everyone should keep his child and his household under guard, and the brotherhoods look after their brothers at their own cost or send them to the saints. — Thursday [the feast] of Mary Magdalene [22 July 1518]. Item: as some women and boys are dancing the evil dance, [one] shall stop the *termen* (?) and have string music privately (*heimlich*). > Item: the deputed lords report about the dancing. Resolved: to hold a solemn service in Our Lady's chapel on Wednesday; further resolved to send those dancing in the Hospital to the saint and to bring an offering to the saint on behalf of the whole city. To banish the frivolous (*leichtfertigen*) from the city for a while; thereupon the lords' consideration about the offering to St Vitus, namely to send a hundredweight of wax for a candle with the treasurer (*rentmeister*), and to have a solemn service and three side-masses read on behalf of the council and the whole community. — Pp. Rh. > [Fol. 172, 1518] Other text: The lords bring their consideration about the offering to St Vitus: that one send a wax image weighing a hundredweight with the treasurer or the grain-master to St Vitus as an offering, or else set the same wax image on an altar in the cathedral and honour it there until the new chapel is finished, then have an altar consecrated in the same chapel in honour of St Vitus. Resolved: to make the hundredweight of wax into a candle and send it to the dear saint with the treasurer, and have a sung solemn service and three side-masses read on behalf of the whole council and the whole community. Tuesday after Adolphi [31 August 1518]. — XXI. — Pp. Schn. > [Fol. 36a] On the article "St Vitus's dance": of this dance one finds [an account] at length in my chronicle. — Register of the year 1518. In the margin: "Note: Dr Sebastian Brant's Chronicon." > [Fol. 172a] Other text: Proposed: to send a wax image weighing a hundredweight to St Vitus, or else to set the same wax image on an altar in the cathedral and honour it there until the new chapel is finished, then have an altar consecrated in the same chapel in honour of St Vitus. Resolved: to have it made into a candle and sent to the dear saint, and have a sung solemn service and three side-masses read on behalf of the whole council and the whole community. Tuesday after Adolphi 1518. — XXI. > St Vitus's dance: fol. 159b, 161b, 171a and b, 172a, 174b [= the six places in Wencker's Extractus that mention the dance]. Notes on the text. (a) "um Margarethen": St Margaret = 13 July in most German calendars (20 July in the Roman); Martin's bracket "[22. Juli]" (p. 116) is a slip (that is Magdalene). (b) "brucken schlagen": Dacheux prints *brucken*; Martin (p. 116) prints "beucken [Pauken]" — the sense "drum-beating" is secured by Rem ("paugkenschlagen"), Specklin ("trummen und pfeiffen"), Imlin ("drummeln vnd pfiffen") and the physicians' advice in the 25 July letter (no "timbales et fifres"). (c) "termen (?)": queried by Dacheux, unexplained by Martin ("Was mit termen gemeint ist, weiss man nicht", p. 121); my conjecture: a copyist's misreading of *trummen* ("stop the drums and have string music in private"), which would make the 22 July decision the first restriction of drums. (d) "5a Mariae Magdalenae" = feria quinta = Thursday, 22 July 1518 — i.e. this entry precedes the commission of Friday 23 July; the extract is not in chronological order. (e) "Dienstag post Adolphi": St Adelphus (Adolphus) of Metz, venerated at Neuwiller, 29 August [UNVERIFIED (from memory) as to the Strasbourg calendar], hence Tuesday 31 August 1518. **Martin's bracket "[29. September]" (p. 122) and his conclusion that the epidemic lasted "mindestens bis nach Adolphi, dem 29. September 1518" is an error** — Adolphi is not Michaelis; the exhibition's chronology (from a 2018 press report read but not saved — treat as unverified) likewise puts the candle decision on 31 August. (f) "in miner Cronicken ad longum": a first-person note in the 1518 register that a full account exists "in my chronicle", glossed as Brant's *Chronicon* — evidence that a detailed contemporary narrative (Brant's lost chronicle, mentioned by Wencker in his *Res Alsaticae*, Dacheux XV p. XCVIII [OCR]) once existed. (g) "die tantzent im Spittal": by the time of this entry there were dancers being kept in the Hospital. ### 3.2 Wencker's *Extractus*, fol. 171, no. 4398 — Jung's copy, BSCMHA 2e sér. XIX (1899) p. 42 [IMG: `../sources/bscmha-xix-1899/images/p042.jpg`; IIIF `pourlaconser2v19soci$68`] > [margin: Fol. 171] **4398.** *S. Veitstanz.* ‖ In mehreren Sitzungen wurde von Veitstänzern gesprochen: die Aerzte erklärten es für eine natürliche krankheit, die von hitzigem geblüt herkomme. Indessen «die armen leute» wünschten, daß man für sie messen lese u. s. w. Der Rhat schickte deswegen zu dem bischöflichen *Vikarius*, der antwortete: > *Ein aufgeklärter bischöfl. Vikar.* — Dass dis im unnot zu sin dünkt, sondern diwyl die Artz anzeigen, daß es eine natürlich krankheit sy, daß man auch natürlich mittel mit in versuche, aber domit nit nichts beschehe, woll er alle Predikanten beschickhen und in bevelhen dass sie öffentlich in *cancellis* Gott ermaneten zu betten und anzurieffen, daß er sin gnad und barmherzigkeit uns sende. — Weniger aufgeklärt, oder vielleicht gedrängt von dem abergläubischen volke, verordnet indessen der Rat religiöse übungen; die kranken wurden zu dem h. Vitus geschickt, und da sie gesund zurückkehrten, diesem ein bild von wachs, ein centner schwer, zuerkannt. ‖ *Résumé de M. Jung.* — Cfr. n° 3443. > [small type:] Wencker, *Chronik*, II, fol. 23, fol. 36. — Cfr. n° 3443. / Freitag p. Medardi, 11. juni. Ein päpstl. Legat hier. — Suppl., fol. 4b. / Mittwoch Vigil. Joh. Bapt., 23. juni. Leutpriester am Alt S. Peter klagt. — Id., fol. 4b vel a. Translation: > 4398. St Vitus's dance. ‖ In several sessions the St Vitus dancers were discussed: the physicians declared it a natural illness which comes from hot blood. However, "the poor people" wished that masses be read for them, etc. The council therefore sent to the episcopal vicar, who answered: [Jung's heading: "An enlightened episcopal vicar."] — That this seemed to him unnecessary, but since the physicians indicate that it is a natural illness, that one should also try natural remedies on them; yet so that nothing at all be left undone, he would summon all the preachers and order them to admonish [the people] publicly from the pulpits (*in cancellis*) to pray to God and call upon him to send us his grace and mercy. — Less enlightened, or perhaps pressed by the superstitious populace, the council nevertheless ordered religious exercises; the sick were sent to St Vitus, and when they came back healthy, a wax image weighing a hundredweight was awarded to him. ‖ Résumé by Mr Jung. — Cf. no. 3443. Note. Everything between ‖ ‖ is **Jung's 19th-century résumé**, not the wording of the protocol; only the vicar's answer ("Dass dis im unnot zu sin dünkt … uns sende") is in the language of the source. Therefore the formula "hitzig(es) geblüt" is attested only at third hand (lost protocol → Wencker's Extractus fol. 171 → Jung's résumé), although the underlying verdict "natürlich krankheit" is confirmed verbatim in the vicar's reply and independently by the 25 July letter (§3.5). Note also that the episcopal vicar's answer contradicts the common modern statement that the Church/council "rejected" the physicians: the vicar accepted the natural diagnosis and merely added public prayers. ### 3.3 Wencker's *Extractus*, fol. 159a, no. 3439 — BSCMHA XV p. 238 [IMG `p238.jpg`; IIIF `$362`] > **3439.** (*Schwerdtanz.*) — Swertdantz den Snydern und Schumachern abgeslagen. Sabb. post Conv. Pauli 1518. — *XXI.* > — Sword-dance refused to the tailors and shoemakers. Saturday after the Conversion of St Paul [30 January] 1518. — XXI. (A carnival sword-dance request denied six months before the epidemic; the index line of no. 3443 lists fol. 159b and 161b under "S. Veits-Tanz", so Wencker or his excerptors grouped these early-1518 dance items with the epidemic.) ### 3.4 The council documents in AVES III 200/15 ("G U P 200") as printed by Martin 1914 #### 3.4.1 The six identical notices to the brotherhoods (undated) — Martin p. 121 [IMG `../sources/martin-zvfv-24-1914/images/p121.jpg`; IIIF `zeitschriftfrv24verbuoft$135`] > Im Stadtarchiv zu Strassburg finden sich sechs gleichlautende, undatierte Bekanntmachungen, die wohl zum Verteilen an die Zünfte bestimmt waren: „Als sich yetzt die kranckheit des dantzens wider erhept unnd zu besorgen von tag zu tag meren möcht, do habent unser herren rete und XXI. erkandt, das eyner yeden bruderschafft buchssenmeistere, die jhennen so inn irer bruderschafft sindt und mit solcher krankheit beladen werden, versorgen, und versehen, das die nyder getüschet oder zu dem heiligen sant Viten gefürt werden, und inen keynerley seytten oder fröydenspiel gebruchen, cleynötter oder hübsche cleyder uff oder anthün, ouch sie nirgent lossen, uff den gassen louffen, dann welche brüderschafft oder büchssenmeistere solchs verbrechent, die wöllent unser herren darumb straffen, unnd ir ernstliche hut daruff setzen, des wiß sich menglich zu halten.“ (Archiv der Stadt Strassburg G U P 200.) > Translation: "As the sickness of dancing has now arisen again and it is to be feared that it may increase from day to day, our lords the councils and the XXI have resolved that the box-masters [alms-box keepers] of every brotherhood shall provide for those in their brotherhood who are burdened with such sickness, and see to it that they are quieted down (*nyder getüschet*) or taken to the holy St Vitus, and use no string or merry music for them, put no jewels or fine clothes on them, and also nowhere let them run about in the streets; for whichever brotherhood or box-masters violate this, our lords will punish for it and keep an earnest watch upon it; let everyone know to conduct himself accordingly." Comment: "wider erhept" (arisen *again*) shows a relapse after the first group had been sent to Saverne and reported "fast erledigt" — i.e. a second wave, presumably early August. Martin (p. 121): "Hier wurde nun die ursprünglich vom Rat angewandte Methode, durch Musik und Tanz zu heilen, gänzlich verboten, dafür sollten die Kranken niedergetuscht oder nach St. Veit geschickt werden." #### 3.4.2 The later mandate (undated) — Martin p. 122 [IMG `p122.jpg`; IIIF `$136`] > „Als dann die kranckheit mit dem dantzen sich leider nit enden will, do haben unser herren rät und XXI erkant daz ein jeder burger sin kind, der massen behafft, und gesind die daz vermögen, inn iren husern behalten und zutuschen soll; wo aber ein dienstknecht also behafft wurt, sollen die brüderschaftmeister sins hantwercks, inn der bruderschaft costen, denselben verwaren oder zu dem heiligen Sant Viten (‚dem heiligen Sant Viten‘ durchgestrichen und dafür steht ‚den heiligen, wo inen geliebt‘) schicken, domit sie nit also öfflich uff der gassen, zu beswernis anderer menschen, sich des dantzens annemen, dann welcher den sinen nit also verwaret, den wöllen unser herren darumb heffteklich straffen.“ (Archiv der Stadt Strassburg G U P 200.) > Translation: "As the sickness with the dancing unfortunately will not end, our lords the councils and the XXI have resolved that every burgher shall keep his child, [if] afflicted in that manner, and [his] servants — those who can afford it — in their houses and quiet them down; but where a servant is so afflicted, the brotherhood-masters of his craft shall, at the brotherhood's cost, keep him or send him to the holy St Vitus ('the holy St Vitus' struck out and replaced by 'the saints, wherever they please'), so that they do not thus publicly in the streets, to the annoyance of other people, take up dancing; for whoever does not thus keep his own, our lords will punish severely for it." Comment: content and the corrected plural "den heiligen" match the Extractus's decision of Wednesday 11 August 1518 ("den zünfften zedel zu schicken dass jedermann sin kind und die sinen verwart und die bruderschafften ir brüder in ihren kosten undersuchten oder zu den heyligen schickten"). Martin himself would not fix the order of the pieces ("Ob sämtliche Schriftstücke zeitlich so aufeinander folgen, weiss ich nicht", p. 122) but noted that the change from "St Vitus alone" to "the saints, wherever they please" marks declining trust in the Saverne shrine. #### 3.4.3 *Anlage I* — deliberations of the deputed lords, Friday after Mary Magdalene [23 July 1518] — Martin pp. 122–123 [IMG `p122.jpg`, `p123.jpg`; IIIF `$136`, `$137`] > „Vff Fritag post Marie Magdalene in presentia Herrn Gladi Bocklin, Caspar Hoffmeisters vnd Martin Herlin als verordent Herren ist geratslagt der armen menschen halb so izt dantzen. > Haben sy anfenglich geradtslagt die Burger so kind daby haben zu beschicken vnd sagen, das sy jr kind versorgen by jn haben oder aber nach anzall costen mittheilen. > Staden Jerg daruff beschickt vnd jm solchs furgehalten, sagt, er sy selber ein armer dienstknecht, sy in sym vermugen nit jn zu jm zu halten und nemen, bit aber jn by den andern zu behalten, oder zu dem Heiligen zu furen, wil er nach sym vermiegen nach miner Herren erkantnus vnd willen leben. Sin mume hab auch dem knaben, sim son XV. ß gesamlet, die haben die uff der Zimmerlüt Stuben hinder sich genomen. > Wither geradtslagt die armen personen in dry huffen theilen vnd nach einander zu dem Heiligen schicken, vnd so es sin mag dry gesungen Empter singen lassen, so nit, eins singen vnd zwey lesen lassen, von eim Ambt XVIII Pfenning geben fur eins, darzu 1. pfenning zu pfrymen vnd 1. pfenning zu opfern dem Heiligen geben, vnd 1. pfenning in stock für das opffer. > Balthasar Burgawer der Lermeister hinder den Barfußen beschickt vnd jm solchs ouch fürgehalten, Sagt, sin Son Bernhart hab zugesehen und hüt morgen angefangen dantzen, do er jm die kindt solt helffen vnderwisen; hab er jn gedutzset bitz nachmittag, nach den zweyen hab er zu dem dantz gewelt, hab jn dohin müssen füren. Erbüt sich nachmals sin costen so uff sin Son godt ußzurichten, dan er dhein Frauw noch gesind hab, könne ouch von sin lerkinden nit wichen. > Antheng Silinger der Wagener Apolonigen Hußwürt so dantzt, uff der Zimerlut stuben befragt, Er sy uß der Erne kommen, sy sin frauw in der stuben gestanden vnd uffgehüpfft, hat sy dryer gefragt, wie jr sy, vnd geachtet, sy wer abermals, als sy dan vormals ouch gewesen, von Sanct Martzolff [Epilepsie] beladen, vnd nider gedutscht vnd nach die armen lüte mit einer Sackpfiffen kommen, sy sy uffgewust vnd jn nachgelouffen, wol gern sin frauw do hinfüren, sy sonst ein arme mensch. > Item Hanß Eckart von Prüssel got dem Almusen noch, hat ein Dochter by dantz, genant Apolonia, Sagt, er sy ein armer alter gebrochner Man, wil aber gern die dochter hin zum Heiligen füren, wen es min Herren wellen, vnd als er ein armer swacher man, haben jm die Herren miner Herren meynung gesagt vnd erlaubt heim zu gon. > Karle Schansleben [Lesart zweifelhaft] sins sons halb beschickt, sagt er sy ein armer gesel, sy mer schuldig, dan er in lip und gut hat. > Dem schaffner im spital gesagt, gerust zu sin mit dry pferden und 1 wagen und warten uff die subent ure uff bescheidt. Dem schaffner uf unser frauenhus gerust zu sin mit 2 wegen und in jden dry pferd. > Dilchin und Heintz zum ersten huffen, Peter von Rixingen zum andern huffen und Pantaleon zum dritten huffen zu ritten verordnet. Hans Wagner zum ersten, Jacob Buckenheim zum andern und Barthel Schryner zum dritten huffen. Und denselben bevelch geben zu handeln lut ingelipter instruction.“ > Strassburger Stadtarchiv G U P 200. Bei Schilter unvollständig und mit sinnstörenden Fehlern. (Martin's footnotes: "Bedeutung von 'pfrymen' ist unklar"; "Das Frauenhaus oder Stift Unser Frauen Werk diente zur Bauunterhaltung des Münsters". The bracketed "[Epilepsie]" and "[Lesart zweifelhaft]" are Martin's. "Gladi Bocklin" is printed thus; the 2018 dossier renders the name "Claude Bocklin", i.e. Claus Böcklin.) > Translation: "On Friday after Mary Magdalene, in the presence of Lord Claus Böcklin, Caspar Hoffmeister and Martin Herlin as deputed lords, deliberation was held about the poor people who are now dancing. > First they resolved to summon the burghers who have children among them [the dancers] and tell them to provide for their children, keep them with themselves, or else share the costs pro rata. > Staden Jerg, summoned and confronted with this, says he is himself a poor servant; it is not within his means to take his [son] to himself and keep him, but he asks to have him kept with the others or taken to the saint; he will live according to his means [and] according to my lords' decision and will. His aunt has also collected 15 shillings for the boy, his son; those on the Carpenters' guild-hall have taken these into keeping. > Further resolved: to divide the poor persons into three groups and send them one after another to the saint, and, if it can be done, have three sung services sung; if not, one sung and two read; to give 18 pfennig for each service, in addition 1 pfennig for *pfrymen* [unexplained] and 1 pfennig to offer to the saint, and 1 pfennig into the box for the offering. > Balthasar Burgawer, the schoolmaster behind the Franciscans, summoned and likewise confronted, says his son Bernhart had watched [the dancers] and this morning began to dance, when he was supposed to help him teach the children; he calmed him down until the afternoon; after two o'clock he wanted [to go] to the dance and he had to lead him there. He offers to pay afterwards the costs incurred for his son, for he has neither wife nor servants and cannot leave his pupils. > Antheng Silinger the wheelwright, husband of Apolonia who is dancing, questioned on the Carpenters' hall: he had come in from the harvest; his wife was standing in the room and hopped up; he asked her three times how she was and thought she was again — as she had been before — burdened by St Marcolf [Martin: epilepsy], and quieted her down; and when the poor people came by with a bagpipe she got up and ran after them; he would gladly take his wife there; she is otherwise a poor creature. > Item, Hanss Eckart of Prüssel, who lives on alms, has a daughter at the dance called Apolonia; he says he is a poor old broken man but will gladly take the daughter to the saint if my lords wish it; and as he is a poor weak man, the lords told him my lords' opinion and allowed him to go home. > Karle Schansleben [reading doubtful], summoned on account of his son, says he is a poor fellow and owes more than he has in body and goods. > The steward of the Hospital was told to be ready with three horses and one wagon and to wait at seven o'clock for orders. The steward of Our Lady's House [the cathedral fabric] to be ready with two wagons with three horses in each. > Dilchin and Heintz appointed to ride with the first group, Peter von Rixingen with the second and Pantaleon with the third. Hans Wagner to the first, Jacob Buckenheim to the second and Barthel Schryner to the third group. And these were ordered to act according to the enclosed instruction." #### 3.4.4 *Anlage II* — the Instruction, "Veneris post Magdalene etc. XVIII" [23 July 1518] — Martin pp. 123–124 [IMG `p123.jpg`, `p124.jpg`; IIIF `$137`, `$138`] > „Instruction der armen dantzen[den] Personen so zu Sant Vit geschickt. Veneris post Magdalene etc. XVIII. Gedencken angfenglich die armen menschen in den dryen huffen, wie sy dan gerodt [soll wohl heissen: „in Rotten eingeteilt“] werden, zu behalten. > Vnd das die knecht so uff die armen lüt bescheiden, derselbigen warten vnd by jn bliben. > Vnd so sy gon Zabern nohen, der ein zu Zabern in ryten vnd do dry oder vier Priester mit rat des Dechans zu Zabern, bestellen, die do ider Rotten insonders noch einander gesungen empter halten. > Vnd wann je ein Ambt einer rotten gesungen, sollen dieselbigen armen lüt in derselbigen rotten umb den Altar gefürt werden, vnd ein iedes kranckes mensch ein pfennig pfrymen, desglichen dornach ouch opfern, vnd so ein person nit so geschickt wer, das es solchs thun mecht, sol der jhin so es umb den altar fürt, für jn darlegen. > Vnd also demnach je ein Rot nach der andern also vmbgefürt und gehalten werden. > Vnd wan die dry empter also volbracht, sollen sy Erlich nach rat des Dechans usgericht werden. > Daryn jdes armes mensch 1 pfennig in den stock geben, vnd solchs von dem almusen gelt, so den armen lüten geben ist, ußrichten. > Vnd was uberig blibt in den stock ouch stossen.“ > Auf der Rückseite: „Dantzende arme personen so zu Sanct Vit zum Holenstein geschickt.“ > Strassburger Stadtarchiv G U P 200. Bei Schilter unvollständig und mit Lesefehlern, dann aus Schilter bei Boersch und bei Häser (über deren Abänderungen siehe oben). > Translation: "Instruction for the poor dancing persons who are sent to St Vitus. Friday after Magdalene etc. [15]18. [They] intend first to keep the poor people in the three groups into which they have been divided. > And that the servants assigned to the poor people attend to them and stay with them. > And when they approach Zabern, one of them is to ride into Zabern and there engage three or four priests, on the advice of the Dean of Zabern, who shall hold sung services for each troop separately, one after the other. > And whenever a service has been sung for a troop, the poor people of that troop shall be led round the altar, and every sick person shall *pfrymen* one pfennig [and] likewise afterwards make an offering; and if a person were not fit to do so, the one who leads him round the altar shall lay it down for him. > And so one troop after another shall be led round and dealt with in this way. > And when the three services are completed, they shall be honourably paid for on the Dean's advice. > In addition each poor person shall put 1 pfennig into the box, and this is to be paid from the alms money that has been given to the poor people. > And whatever remains shall also be put into the box." > On the back: "Dancing poor persons who were sent to St Vitus at the Holenstein." Martin's résumé (p. 117 [IMG]) adds the point that the transport was on three three-horse wagons, "nicht auch zu Fuß, wie Hecker und Häser angeben", and that "Schilter hat falsch gelesen, es steht im Original Holenstein" (Schilter: "Rotenstein"; Brant annals: "Hohenstein"; Wencker 1637: "hellensteg") — the site is the Hohlenstein cave-chapel on the Vixberg/Veitsberg west of Saverne (pp. 117–118). ### 3.5 Letter of the magistrate to Bishop Wilhelm [of Honstein], 25 July 1518 — ADBR 12 J 1495 (German original not retrieved; French translation in the teachers' dossier p. 11, `../sources/misc/dossier_enseignant_1518.txt`) > « (…) Le Magistrat de Strasbourg à l'évêque Wilhelm : Vous nous avez écrit au sujet de l'inhabituelle maladie qui vient de se déclarer, pour que nous fassions un rapport. Ça a commencé avec une femme, puis avec d'autres personnes qui se sont mises à danser. Nous avons gardé ces personnes quelques jours et interrogé les médecins, qui nous ont dit qu'il s'agissait d'une maladie naturelle due à une conjonction astrale et à la chaleur du moment. Elle touche néanmoins à sa fin. Ceux qui ont été atteints ont été surveillés et on les a fait conduire chez saint Guy [sans doute am Hohlenstein, au-dessus de Saverne]. » > « Conseils donnés par les médecins au Magistrat — Les médecins nous ont aussi conseillé de ne pas leur donner de vin, mais de « l'eau [décoction ?] d'orge » et du pain ou de la bouillie d'orge et d'avoine et autres choses semblables... et de leur faire de la musique, mais pas avec des timbales et des fifres, mais uniquement avec des cithares, violons, luths ou orgues positifs. » > English (from the French): "You wrote to us about the unusual illness that has just broken out, asking for a report. It began with one woman, then with other persons who started to dance. We kept these persons for some days and questioned the physicians, who told us that it was a natural illness due to an astral conjunction and the heat of the season. It is nevertheless coming to an end. Those affected have been watched and we have had them taken to St Vitus." — "The physicians also advised us not to give them wine but barley-water and bread or porridge of barley and oats and similar things … and to make music for them, but not with kettledrums and fifes, only with citherns, fiddles, lutes or positive organs." Comment: the bishop had written first, asking for a report; the reply is dated two days after the commission. It confirms independently (i) onset with one woman, (ii) the physicians' *natural* diagnosis (here "astral conjunction and heat" — which is compatible with, and probably the same verdict as, the "hitzig geblüt" of Jung's résumé), (iii) an optimistic assessment ("touche à sa fin") on 25 July, (iv) a dietary regimen (no wine; barley water; barley/oat bread and porridge — an anti-"heat" regimen), and (v) the medical origin of the string-only music rule that reappears in the council's ban ("mit saitenspiel … nach eines jeden conscienz"; "kein brucken/beucken schlagen"). The 2018 press kit also quotes, without giving the document, a sentence attributed to Sebastian Brant: « Nous sommes frappés par un grand malheur avec ces personnes malades qui ne s'arrêtent pas de danser… » (`fievre_danse_dossier.txt` line 231–233). ### 3.6 Mandate of 2 August 1518 (AVES 1 MR 3 f. 72 r) Only known to me from the 2018 caption: "Extrait du registre des Mandats et Règlements de la Ville de Strasbourg. Interdiction des danses publiques par le magistrat de Strasbourg, signée Sébastien Brandt (Strasbourg, 2 août 1518)". Not transcribed in any retrieved work. The Extractus's ban "dass niemand tantzen soll bis Michaelis … bei 30 sch. pf. und kein brucken schlagen; wol möchte man bey brautläuften und ersten messen mit saitenspiel tantzen" (§3.1) is almost certainly this mandate. ### 3.7 Daniel Specklin, *Collectanea* fol. 168, no. 2216 — BSCMHA 2e sér. XIV (1889) pp. 307–308 [IMG `../sources/bscmha-xiv-1889/images/p307.jpg`, `p308.jpg`; IIIF `pourlaconser2v14soci$351`, `$352`] > **2216.** (*S. Veitstanz.*) — Da erhub sich ein dantz von iungen und alten leutten, die tantzten tag und nacht, dass sie nider fielen, also dass über 100 zu Strassburg auff einmal tantzten. Da gab man in etliche zunftstuben ein, auch auff dem Ross- und Kornmarckt macht man gerüst und bestellte eigene leutt umb lohn, die mussten stets mit ihnen, tantzten mit trummen und pfeiffen; es half alles nichts. Viel tantzten sich zu tode. Do schickte man sie hinder Zabern zu St. Veit, zum holen stein, auff waegen; da gab man ihnen creutzle und rothe schuh, und macht mess über sie. An den schuhen war unten und oben creutz mit dem chrisam gemacht und mit weyhwasser besprengt in St. Veits nahmen, dass halff ihn vast allen. Und kam solches viel leuth an, denen man St. Veits tantz fluchte, lieff auch viel schelmenwerk mit unter. — K.-S. G., p. 1087. — Pp. Rh. > Translation: "Then a dance arose of young and old people, who danced day and night until they fell down, so that over 100 danced at Strasbourg at one time. They were given some guild-halls; also on the horse-market and corn-market platforms were built and special people hired for pay, who had to [dance] continually with them, danced with drums and pipes; it all helped nothing. Many danced themselves to death. Then they were sent behind Zabern to St Vitus, at the hollow stone, on wagons; there they were given little crosses and red shoes, and mass was said over them. On the shoes, below and above, a cross was made with chrism and sprinkled with holy water in St Vitus's name; that helped nearly all of them. And this came upon many people upon whom St Vitus's dance had been wished [as a curse]; much roguery also ran in with it." Transmission: the marginal folio (168) and the neighbouring entries 2215 (indulgence 1518, "Fol. 168, 1518") and 2217 ("Fol. 169", Theurung) place the item in Specklin's 1518 section; the text itself comes from a gloss in an annotated Schilter (p. 1087) and from Rœhrich's papers. (The 2018 teachers' dossier cites this passage as "Dacheux (éd.), Les Collectanées de Daniel Specklin, … 1890, no 2216, p. 488–489" — the offprint pagination of the *Fragments des anciennes chroniques d'Alsace* 2; the editor is Reuss, not Dacheux.) ### 3.8 Wencker's chronicle (1637), no. 3007 — BSCMHA XV (1892) p. 148 [IMG `../sources/bscmha-xv-1892/images/p148.jpg`; IIIF `$156`] > **3007.** *S. Veits tantz wunderliche chur.* — Domaln erhob sich ein tantzen von jungen und alten, die tantzten tag und nacht, das man ihnen zu Strassburg der Zimmerleut- und Gerberstub gab, und sondere leute bestellet die genug mit ihnen tantzten. Etliche stürben dran. Auf dem Rossmarck schlug man ein gerüst auf, liess sie bey trummel und pfeiffen tantzen, half aber alles nicht. Man schickt viel auf wagen nach S. Veit zum hellensteg hinder Zabern, andre lieffen selbs dahin und fielen also dantzend vor dem bild nieder. Da machte dan ein priester ein mess über ihn, darauf gab man ihnen creuzlein und rothe schue daran oben und unden † mit chrisam gestrichen und mit weyhewasser in S. Viti nammen besprengt, half vilen und trug ein gross opfer, darum nent mans S. Vits tantz; kame vil leute 1518 an, denen mans fluchte, lieff aber auch viel schelmenwerck mit under, da mans anfieng aus Gottes wort zu widerlegen, liess alles nach. — Sp. n° 2216. — Pp. Schn. > Translation: "St Vitus's dance, a wondrous cure. — At that time a dancing arose of young and old, who danced day and night, so that at Strasbourg they were given the Carpenters' and the Tanners' guild-hall, and special people were engaged who danced with them as much as needed. Several died of it. On the horse-market a platform was put up, they were let dance to drum and pipes, but it helped nothing at all. Many were sent on wagons to St Vitus at the *hellensteg* behind Zabern; others ran there themselves and fell down dancing before the image. Then a priest said a mass over them, whereupon they were given little crosses and red shoes on which, above and below, a † was drawn with chrism and sprinkled with holy water in St Vitus's name; [it] helped many and brought a large offering, which is why it is called St Vitus's dance; in 1518 it came upon many people upon whom it had been wished [as a curse], but much roguery also ran in with it; when one began to refute it from God's word, everything ceased." ### 3.9 Duntzenheim's chronicle via Jung, no. 3981 — BSCMHA XVIII (1897) p. 12 [IMG `../sources/bscmha-xviii-1897/images/p012.jpg`; IIIF `bulletinvolumen00dalgoog$25`] > [margin: 1518] **3981.** (*S. Veits-Tanz.*) — Nach Duntzenheim's *Chronik* gieng die tollheit von einer frau aus, welche zuerst vier tage an einem forttanzte; wenige tage darauf waren es schon vier und dreissig, und in der vierten woche stieg die zahl auf mehr als zwei hundert. — Jung, *Beiträge*, 2. Theil, p. 59. — Cfr. W., n° 3007. > Translation: "According to Duntzenheim's chronicle the madness started from a woman who first danced on for four days without stopping; a few days later there were already thirty-four, and in the fourth week the number rose to more than two hundred." (Jung's paraphrase, not the chronicle's words.) ### 3.10 The Imlin family chronicle, via Witkowski 1879 — Martin p. 119 [IMG `p119.jpg`; IIIF `$133`] > „Anno 1518 jar 8 tag vor S. maria magdalena hub ein frauw an zu dantzen, vnd dan[a]ch weren woll 6 tag da leiss sey meinw γ [gnädigen Herrn] nach St. Vit gehn Zabern füren da war sey still, vnd die will sey noch uff dem weg da fing noch mehr an zu dantzen bei dem γ [Magistrats-] stall also daz in 4 tagen bey 34 frauw vnd man waren, da verbatten meinw γ [gnädigen Herrn] die drummeln vnd pfiffen vnd fürt ein teil uff die gewererstub [Zunftstube der Gerber] die and uff die Zimmerleutstub, vnd an dem and tag da leiss man sey alle nach S. Vit füren vnd da dantz, und in 4 wochen wurden Ir mehr denn 400 Dantzer“ (the bracketed expansions are Martin's). > Translation: "In the year 1518, 8 days before St Mary Magdalene [c. 14 July] a woman began to dance, and thereafter [it] lasted a good 6 days; then my gracious lords had her taken to St Vitus at Zabern; there she became quiet. And while she was still on the way, more began to dance by the [magistrates'] stable, so that in 4 days there were about 34 women and men; then my gracious lords forbade the drums and pipes and took one part to the Tanners' hall, the others to the Carpenters' hall, and on the next day they had them all taken to St Vitus and [there they] danced, and in 4 weeks there were more than 400 dancers." ### 3.11 Wilhelm Rem (Augsburg), *Cronica newer geschichten*, 1518 — CDS 25 (1896) p. 88 [IMG `../sources/cds-25-rem-1896/images/p088.jpg`; IIIF `bub_gb_RICIqSRvM78C$109`] > Wie zů Straspurg vil leut sant Veitz tantz ankam. > Anno dni. 1518 im sumer da kam es zů Straspurg fast vil leutt sant Veitz tantz an, daß ain tag wol bei 15 menschen ankam¹. es weret fast lang, also verbott man das tantzen und pfeiffen und paugkenschlagen. (Marginal "[Bl. 47a]" begins at the next entry; Roth's note 1: "Im Jahre 1518 trat der Veitstanz mit großer Heftigkeit in Straßburg auf. S. Krieger, Beiträge zur Gesch. der Volksseuchen in Straßburg in den Statistischen Mittheilungen über Elsaß-Lothringen … 1879, Heft 10 S. 95. Eine kritisch sichtende Arbeit über den Veitstanz in Straßburg erschien von Wittkowsky in der Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie 1879, Band 35, S. 1 ff. Die die Tanzsüchtigen betreffenden Anordnungen des Rathes von Straßburg finden sich bei Häser III S. 202 ff.; Börsch, Essai sur la mortalité à Strasbourg dans les siècles passés (1836) S. 124 ff." Martin p. 114 quotes the passage with "im Summer".) > Translation: "How St Vitus's dance came upon many people at Strasbourg. — In the year of the Lord 1518, in summer, St Vitus's dance came upon very many people at Strasbourg, so that in one day it came upon a good 15 persons. It lasted very long; so dancing and piping and drum-beating were forbidden." Value: an outside, contemporary notice (Augsburg, where the imperial diet of summer 1518 drew news from everywhere) that independently attests the summer of 1518, an incidence of "about 15 a day", a long duration, and the triple ban on dancing, piping and drumming. It says nothing of deaths, St Vitus pilgrimage or numbers in the hundreds. ### 3.12 Later rhymed and narrative reports (all [2ND], via Martin pp. 114–116 [IMG]) - Verses printed by Schilter 1698 from a lost manuscript chronicle ("Chron. M.S. Argent. p. 318"), headed "St. Veits Tantz An. 1418": „Viel hundert fingen zu Straßburg an / Zu tantzen und springen, Fraw und Mann, / An offnen Mark, Gassen und Strassen. / Tag und Nacht ihren viel nicht assen, / Biß jn das Wüten wieder gelag. / St. Vits Tantz ward genant die Plag.“ — "Many hundreds began at Strasbourg to dance and leap, woman and man, in open market, lanes and streets. Day and night many of them did not eat, until the raging subsided again. St Vitus's dance the plague was called." (No deaths; "many hundreds".) - Kleinlawel, *Strassburgische Chronik* (1625), under "Vitsdantz 1518": „Ein Seltzam sucht ist zu der zeit / Vnder dem Volck vmbgangen, / Dan viel Leut auß Vnsinnigkeit / Zu Dantzen angefangen. / Welches sie allzeit Tag und Nacht / Ohn vnter laß getrieben, / Biß das sie fielen in ohnmacht, / Viel sind Todt drüber blieben.“ — "A strange sickness at that time went about among the people, for many people out of madness began to dance, which they kept up all the time, day and night, without ceasing, until they fell in a faint; many died of it." - Schadaeus (Oseas Schad, 17th c.) as summarised by Boersch/Martin (p. 116): a woman began 1518 eight days before Magdalene, danced four whole days, was sent to St Vitus at Zabern and stayed quiet; then more began at the city stables, 34 men and women within four days; the magistrate forbade drums and pipes and sent the dancers to St Vitus, but within a few days the number rose to more than 200. "Die Chroniken von Goldmeyer und Kleinlauel fügen hinzu, dass die Kranken Tag und Nacht tanzten, bis sie erschöpft und ohnmächtig umfielen, und viele unter ihnen konnten sich nicht erheben und starben. Soweit Boersch a. a. O." — with Martin's caveat that Goldmeyer in fact does not mention 1518. - Hieronymus Gebwiler (contemporary humanist; ed. Stenzel 1926 pp. 74–75): not retrieved; the teachers' dossier gives only a moralising excerpt in French ("Il faudrait se souvenir de ces événements pendant mille ans, et limiter les danses, en particulier les danses obscènes et indécentes …"). --- ## 4. Comparison table — what each passage says | Passage (layer, date of composition) | Start date | Numbers | Deaths mentioned? | Symptoms / behaviour | Council measures | End / duration | Cause given | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | **Commission protocol, Fri 23 July 1518** (original, III 200/15; §3.4.3) | none stated; cases "hüt morgen angefangen" (Bernhart Burgawer) | no total; 5 families named; dancers lodged on the Carpenters' guild-hall; 3 wagons (1×3 + 2×3 horses) for 3 groups | **no** | "dantzen"; a wife "uffgehüpfft" (hopped up) and ran after the dancers when a bagpipe passed; husband thought it her recurrent "Sanct Martzolff" affliction (epilepsy) | parents to keep children or pay; poor sent in three groups to St Vitus with masses (18 d each) and 1 d offerings; riders and servants assigned | — | — (one father attributes his wife's fit to St Marcolf's disease) | | **Instruction, 23 July 1518** (original; §3.4.4) | — | three troops | **no** | "kranckes mensch", some "nit so geschickt" to make an offering themselves | priests engaged at Saverne on the Dean's advice; sung mass per troop; led round the altar; 1 d "pfrymen", 1 d offering, 1 d in the box, paid from the alms money | — | — | | **Letter to the bishop, 25 July 1518** (original; French trans. only; §3.5) | "commencé avec une femme" | "une femme, puis … d'autres personnes" | **no** | "l'inhabituelle maladie"; persons "se sont mises à danser" | kept and watched "quelques jours"; physicians consulted; taken to St Vitus; regimen: no wine, barley water, barley/oat bread and porridge; music only with strings/positive organ, no drums or fifes | "touche néanmoins à sa fin" (25 July) | **physicians: natural illness, astral conjunction + heat** | | **Six notices to brotherhoods** (original, undated; §3.4.1) | "wider erhept" (arisen again) | — | **no** | "mit solcher krankheit beladen"; running in the streets | brotherhood box-masters to provide for sick members, calm them ("nyder getüschet") or take them to St Vitus; no string/merry music; no jewels/fine clothes; not let run in the streets; penalties | — | — | | **Mandate "sich leider nit enden will"** (original, undated ≈ 11 Aug 1518; §3.4.2) | — | — | **no** | dancing "öfflich uff der gassen, zu beswernis anderer menschen" | burghers to keep afflicted children/servants at home and calm them; brotherhoods to keep journeymen at their cost or send them "to the saints, wherever they please" (St Vitus struck out); severe punishment | — | — | | **Extractus no. 3443** (Wencker's extract of the lost 1518 protocol; 17th/18th c.; §3.1) | "um Margarethen" (c. 13 July) | "uff fünfzig personen" | **no** | "schwäre erschreckliche krankheit mit St. Vitstanz"; "tag und nacht tantzeten dass jämmerlich zu sehen war"; "den bössen dantz" | kept at city cost; taken to St Vitus "im Hohenstein" and "fast erledigt"; ban on dancing till Michaelmas in city and Burgbann, 30 sh. fine; no drumming; weddings/first masses with strings allowed; 22 July: stop the "termen"(?) and string music in private; 11 Aug: notes to guilds (families/brotherhoods); solemn mass in Our Lady's chapel; dancers in the Hospital sent to the saint; offering from the city; "leichtfertige" banished for a time; 31 Aug: hundredweight wax candle, sung mass + 3 side-masses | ban runs to 29 Sept; decisions still on 31 Aug | — | | **Extractus fol. 171, no. 4398** (Jung's résumé; §3.2) | "in mehreren Sitzungen" | — | **no** | — | council consults physicians and the episcopal vicar; vicar: natural remedies + public prayers from the pulpits; council orders religious exercises, sends sick to St Vitus, votes wax image | sick "gesund zurückkehrten" | **physicians: natural illness from "hitzigem geblüt"** (Jung's wording) | | **Rem, Augsburg, 1518** (contemporary; §3.11) | "im sumer" 1518 | "fast vil leutt"; "ain tag wol bei 15 menschen" | **no** | "sant Veitz tantz ankam" | ban on dancing, piping and drum-beating | "es weret fast lang" | — | | **Imlin family chronicle** (16th c.?; via Witkowski; §3.10) | "8 tag vor S. maria magdalena" (14 July) | 1 → 34 in 4 days → "mehr denn 400" in 4 weeks | **no** | "hub … an zu dantzen"; the first woman "war … still" once at Saverne | first woman sent to St Vitus after ~6 days; drums and pipes forbidden; dancers put in the Tanners' and Carpenters' halls; next day all sent to St Vitus | 4 weeks of increase | — | | **Duntzenheim via Jung** (§3.9) | one woman danced 4 days | 1 → 34 → >200 in the 4th week | **no** | "tollheit" | — | 4th week | — | | **Schadaeus** (17th c., via Boersch/Martin; §3.12) | 8 days before Magdalene | 1 → 34 in 4 days → >200 | **no** (deaths are attributed by Boersch to Goldmeyer/Kleinlawel) | danced four whole days | sent to St Vitus at Zabern; drums/pipes forbidden | — | — | | **Specklin c. 1580** (§3.7) | — (1518 section) | "über 100 … auff einmal" | **YES: "Viel tantzten sich zu tode."** | day and night till they fell; guild-halls; platforms on horse- and corn-market; paid dancers with drums and pipes | as left; sent on wagons to St Vitus "zum holen stein"; little crosses, red shoes with chrism crosses, holy water, mass | "halff ihn vast allen" | curse ("denen man St. Veits tantz fluchte"); "schelmenwerk" (fraud) | | **Kleinlawel 1625** (verses; §3.12) | "zu der zeit" 1518 | "viel Leut" | **YES: "Viel sind Todt drüber blieben"** | day and night without pause till fainting | — | — | "Vnsinnigkeit" | | **Wencker 1637** (§3.8) | "Domaln" (1518) | "viel" | **YES: "Etliche stürben dran."** | as Specklin + people ran to Saverne themselves and fell dancing before the image | guild-halls (Carpenters', Tanners'); hired dancers; platform on the horse-market with drum and pipes; wagons to St Vitus; masses, crosses, red shoes | "da mans anfieng aus Gottes wort zu widerlegen, liess alles nach" | curse; "schelmenwerck"; ceased under the Reformation | | **Schilter 1698 verses** (undated MS; §3.12) | "An. 1418" (error) | "Viel hundert" | **no** | in open market, lanes and streets; many did not eat day and night | — | "Biß jn das Wüten wieder gelag" | — | --- ## 5. Related entries 1516–1518: weather, harvest, grain prices, famine, disease, beggars, moral ordinances All from Dacheux 1892 (BSCMHA XV) and Reuss 1889 (BSCMHA XIV) unless noted; [IMG] where an image is saved. **Weather and harvest.** Wencker chronicle no. 3237d "(Schlechtes Jahr.) 1517–1518" (XV pp. 202–203 [IMG]): „Auf den vorigen dürren sommer ist erfolgt ein druckener kalter winder, das es von anfang des jahres bis auf den mittwoch in den Ostern nicht geregnet, seind die alten rebstöck erfroren, am freytag vor Georgii gabs ein grossen reyffen, thete viel schaden im feld, reben und obst, gab man von Pfingsten bis Martini den becken und burgern vom speicher frucht, das fiertel rocken um 7 sch., musste aber ein jeder handtreu geben dass er keinen vorrath, und dass er solches in seiner haushaltung mit den seinigen essen wolte; den gar armen gab man meel den sester um 17 pfenninge, sonsten zalte das korn 17 auch 18 schillig. Im Spital waren so viel erhungerte und krancke, dass man wochenlich haben musste 30 fiertel frucht, 4 fuder wein und in die küchen 60 gulden, war das pfund rindfleisch taxirt 1½ pfennig. Was den burgern gegeben belief sich auf 50,000 fiertel, und wurde sonst innerhalb zwei jahren aus der Statt geführt 362,962 fiertel, ohn was der Bruderhof, Unser Frauenhaus, der Spital, die Ellende herberg, das Gutleuthaus und andere pflegereyen hingeben und sonsten heimlich hinweg geführt worden. Weil wenig wein gewachsen, kam das fuder auf 26 bis 30 gulden, die mass 7 oder 8 pfenninge.“ — Translation: "After the previous dry summer followed a dry cold winter, so that from the beginning of the year until the Wednesday in Easter week [7 April 1518] it did not rain; the old vine-stocks froze; on the Friday before St George [16 April 1518] there was a great frost, which did much damage in field, vines and fruit. From Whitsun to Martinmas [23 May – 11 Nov 1518] the bakers and burghers were given grain from the [city] granary, the *fiertel* of rye for 7 shillings, but everyone had to give his hand-pledge that he had no stock and would eat it in his own household; to the very poor meal was given at 17 pfennig the *sester*; otherwise grain cost 17 or 18 shillings. In the Hospital there were so many starved and sick that one needed weekly 30 *fiertel* of grain, 4 *fuder* of wine and 60 gulden for the kitchen; the pound of beef was taxed at 1½ pfennig. What was given to the burghers amounted to 50,000 *fiertel*, and otherwise within two years 362,962 *fiertel* were carried out of the city, not counting what the Bruderhof, Our Lady's House, the Hospital, the Elendherberge, the Gutleuthaus and other foundations gave away or what was secretly carried off. Because little wine grew, the *fuder* rose to 26–30 gulden, the *mass* to 7 or 8 pfennig." Dacheux's note: Reuss (*Alsatia* 1868–72 pp. 153–154) read this in Wencker's chronicle "II, tome IV, p. 24" under 1517; Friese (II p. 136) places the famine in 1518. Cf. Wencker nos. **3006** "(Hungersnoth.) [1517] In diesem jahre eine grosse hungersnoth. — Sp. n° 2217" and **3008** "(Theürung.) [1518] Nachdem schon drey Jahre hinter einander die Ernte und der Herbst missrathen und daher eine grosse Theürung entstanden war … öfnete (der Magistrat) die reichen Vorrathskammern der Stadt … Was die Stadt in zwey Jahren an Fremde, das Fiertel zu 18 Gulden verkaufte, soll, wie Wencker's Chronik versichert, 362962 Fiertel ausgemacht haben. — Friesé, II, S. 138" (XV p. 148 [IMG]) — "after three successive failed harvests and vintages". **Grain prices / famine (council).** Extractus **3436bis** "(Theurung.) — Fruchttax theurung halb, viertel korns um 10 sch., ein sester um 20 ₰ und ein sester mehls um 16 ₰. — Pp. C." (XV p. 237 [IMG]; between 1517 and Jan 1518 entries) — an official grain tariff "because of the dearth". Specklin **2217** "(Theurung.) [fol. 169, 1518] Als nun die thürung hart ware, baten die armen burger die geistlichen, die dann vil frucht hatten, das man in solche wolte um ein recht gelt lossen, desglichen bate die oberkeit auch. Aber die geistlichen sagten, sie erfüren wie der gemeine man die lutherische ketzerey wolte, deshalben müsten sie 2 schilling weiters geben, nemlichen 1 pfund, und wolten nit 6 pfennig nochlassen. Do hatte ein oberkeit noch frucht, die dailten sie ausz und gabens den burgern um 7 schilling. Das vertrosze die geistlichen … und die artikel so Luther liez auszgan, schluge man, den pfaffen zu troz, an ihre heuser und kirchen. — J. Wencker, Collectanea." (XIV p. 308 [IMG]) — "as the dearth was hard, the poor burghers asked the clergy, who had much grain, to let them have it at a fair price … the clergy said they heard how the common man wanted the Lutheran heresy, therefore they must pay 2 shillings more, namely 1 pound, and would not remit 6 pfennig. The authorities still had grain, distributed it and gave it to the burghers at 7 shillings. That vexed the clergy …". **Disease and the Hospital.** Specklin **2214** "(Der Englische Schweiss.) [1517] Eodem anno kam die kranckheit, der englische schweyss ..... Eodem musste man alle wochen im spittal haben 30 viertel frucht, 4 fuder wein, 60 gulden in die kuchen ..... Eodem wuchsen die reben so gross dass 5 ein centner wogen. — Exc. Sp." (XIV p. 307 [IMG]). Extractus **3428** (fol. 158a, 1517): Brant's own note „Hac nocte incidi in egritudinem vitiati pulmonis, lectoque decubui 14 septimanis usque ad festum S. Jacobi … 3a post Quasimodo“ with the later "Nota. — Dises Memoriale ist zum theil incomplet wegen des Doctors kranckheit etc." (XV p. 236 [IMG]) — Brant was bedridden 14 weeks in spring–summer 1517 and his 1517 Memoriale is incomplete for that reason. Extractus **3447** "(Hebammen.) — Item die hebammen begeren ein frau so an einem kind gestorben, uffschniden zu besehen der bresten: zugelassen. 1518. — Pp. Rh." and **3435** "(Anatomie.) [1517] Item als die Aertzt und Scherer begehren an den verurteylten menschen anatomy zu besehen. Ist ihnen zugelassen …" (XV pp. 237, 241 [IMG/OCR]) — the same physicians' milieu that gave the 1518 verdict. **3438 / 3430**: the indulgence for the "Blaterhuss" (pox-house) and orphanage (Caspar Hoffmeister — one of the three commissioners of 23 July — was its "erster pfleger" and its steward for 21 years): "Wurde durch bäbstl. Heiligkeit den armen weisen, bloterlüten und andern armen spitaldürftigen in der Statt Strassburg zu uffenthaltung ein volkommener ablass … ein jahr lang verliehen" with a bond in the Fugger bank (XV pp. 237–238 [IMG]); Specklin **2215**/Wencker **3009**: a cardinal's indulgence sold at Jung St Peter for four weeks in 1518 with "über zwantzig pferdt und vier wagen … und acht essel" (XIV p. 307; XV p. 148 [IMG]). **Beggars and the poor.** Extractus fol. 170b (1518, under 3441): „Das für under der Pfaltzen abthun und die hütte noch etlich tag lassen, doch dass der bettelvogt in sag das man die hütte ouch abthun wurd, auch die starcken jungen bettler üss der Statt triben.“ (XV p. 239 [IMG]) — "remove the fire under the Pfalz and leave the hut a few days more, but the beggar-warden is to tell them that the hut too will be removed, and drive the strong young beggars out of the city." Cf. **3433** (Dec 1517) the orphan-wardens' begging-box vs. the pox-house box. The 23 July 1518 protocol itself is a document about *poor* dancers ("der armen menschen halb so izt dantzen"; "armer dienstknecht"; "got dem Almusen noch"; "almusen gelt"). **Moral / festive ordinances 1517–1518.** **3432** (21 Dec 1517): a schoolboy of Old St Peter "fieng er an über ihn St. Velten und Cürin zu schwören" — swearing "by St Valentine and St Quirin" at the sacristan carrying the holy oil (XV p. 236 [IMG]; "St. Velten" is probably St Valentine, the epilepsy saint, rather than St Vitus — my reading, cf. Martin p. 120 on the curse formulas 'Gott geb dir Sankt Veit' / 'Dass dich Sankt Veit ankäme'). **3437** (11 Jan 1518): "Schuheknecht haben bey ihrem umzug einen bischoff gehabt" — the shoemakers' journeymen carried a mock bishop in their procession. **3439** (30 Jan 1518): sword-dance refused to tailors and shoemakers. **3440** (1 March 1518): "Friheitsbuben" (privileged rowdies) not to carry the Schenk. **3441/3442** (27 March – 3 April 1518): the Passion play allowed "diewil es nit ein spectacul, sonder Gots und geistlich spiel"; during Holy Week "hat man nit gelütet ouch kein Rath gehalten"; Hans Lamprecht jailed for blaspheming the indulgence "vor dem Münster öffentlich". **3444** (25 May 1518): new city seal. Wencker **3004** (1514): printed mandate against concubinage and on prostitutes' quarters (XV p. 147 [IMG]). And in the dance entry itself (3443): "Die leichtfertigen der Statt ein zitlang verwisen" — the frivolous/loose persons banished for a time — and the six notices' ban on jewels and fine clothes for the sick. --- ## 6. Assessment ### 6.1 The transmission chain ``` 1518 originals surviving? ├─ XXI protocols 1518 ............................... lost (archives hold XXI protocols only from 1539) ├─ Memoriale Petri Buotz 1518, Extractus Missivarum . lost ├─ commission protocol + Instruction 23 July 1518 ... AVES III 200/15 (ex "G U P 200") → Schilter 1698 (faulty) → Hecker/Häser ("1418") │ → Martin 1914 Anlage I–II (full text) → Clementz 2018 (catalogue, not retrieved) ├─ six notices + mandate to brotherhoods ............ AVES III 200/15 → Martin 1914 p. 121–122 ├─ mandate 2 Aug 1518 signed Brant .................. AVES 1 MR 3 f. 72r (text not retrieved) ├─ letter to Bishop Wilhelm 25 July 1518 ............ ADBR 12 J 1495 (French trans. 2018 only) └─ Brant's own "Chronicon" ("in miner Cronicken ad longum") ... lost 17th–18th c. compilations from the lost protocols └─ Jacob II Wencker, Extractus ex prothocollis D.D. XXI ... ("Annales de Brant"; 2 exemplars, one copied 1763) — burned 1870 ├─ Schnéegans / Cunitz / Rœhrich extracts (19th c.) → Dacheux, BSCMHA XV (1892) no. 3443 etc. └─ Andreas Jung's copy 1517–1536 (19th c.) → Dacheux, BSCMHA XIX (1899) no. 4398 (partly résumé) Chronicles ├─ Specklin, Collectanea (1570s–80s) — burned 1870 → gloss in a Schilter 1698 (K.-S. G. p. 1087) + Rœhrich → Reuss, BSCMHA XIV (1889) no. 2216 ├─ Wencker chronicle 1637 — burned 1870 → Schnéegans → Dacheux, BSCMHA XV no. 3007 (marked "Sp. n° 2216", i.e. derived from Specklin) ├─ Duntzenheim chronicle → Jung, Beiträge II (1830) p. 59 → Dacheux, BSCMHA XVIII (1897) no. 3981 ├─ Imlin family chronicle (Landesbibliothek) → Witkowski 1879 → Martin 1914 ├─ Schadaeus (Oseas Schad, 17th c.; burned 1870), Kleinlawel 1625, Goldmeyer → Boersch 1836 → Hecker/Häser/Martin ├─ "Chron. M.S. Argent." (lost; verses "An. 1418") → Schilter 1698 └─ Wilhelm Rem, Augsburg (1518) → CDS 25 (1896) p. 88 [independent, contemporary] ``` ### 6.2 What the contemporary record contains 1. **Onset and timing.** Around St Margaret's day (Extractus) / eight days before Magdalene (Imlin; Schadaeus) — i.e. 13–15 July 1518 — with a single woman; the council's first recorded discussion is Thursday 22 July; the commission met Friday 23 July and ordered three wagons to stand ready "uff die subent ure" (at seven o'clock); the letter to the bishop of Sunday 25 July already speaks of the illness as ending. A relapse ("wider erhept") followed; the dance ban of 2 August ran to Michaelmas (29 Sept); on Wednesday 11 August families and brotherhoods were ordered to keep their sick; on Tuesday 31 August the council was still voting the thank-offering (a hundredweight of wax). Rem: "es weret fast lang". The 2018 exhibition's "resorbed in about two months" is consistent with this. **Martin's "until after 29 September" rests on his misdating of Adolphi.** 2. **Numbers.** The only contemporary total is the Extractus's "uff fünfzig personen" (which may be the preamble of the 2 August mandate); Rem gives an incidence "wol bei 15" a day. All larger figures (over 100; over 200; over 400; "viel hundert") are from chroniclers writing between the 1570s and 1698, and Imlin (if contemporary) is the exception with ">400" — but that text is known only through Witkowski/Martin and could not be checked. 3. **Symptoms and behaviour.** The council documents describe only: dancing "tag und nacht", "jämmerlich zu sehen"; people "beladen" with the sickness who must be "nyder getüschet" (calmed/held down) or would "uff den gassen louffen"; one woman who "uffgehüpfft" and ran after a bagpipe; a boy who began after watching the dancers ("hab zugesehen und hüt morgen angefangen dantzen"); some persons "nit so geschickt" to walk round an altar and pay a pfennig. Nothing about foaming, screaming, broken ribs, bleeding feet, exhaustion to death, hallucinations or convulsions (those belong to later literature). The one medical detail — the physicians' regimen against "heat" (no wine, barley water, barley/oat food) and the advice that only string instruments (no drums/fifes) be played — points to a humoral reading of over-excitement. 4. **Council measures, in order:** (i) 22 July: stop the *termen*(?)/drums, string music in private; (ii) 23 July: commission; parents to keep children or pay; poor dancers in three troops to St Vitus with masses; (iii) 25 July: report to the bishop with the physicians' verdict and regimen; (iv) 2 August: mandate (Brant) — general ban on dancing till Michaelmas, no drumming, exception for weddings and first masses with strings; (v) undated notices: brotherhood box-masters responsible for their sick — calm them or take them to St Vitus; no music, jewels, fine clothes, no running in the streets; (vi) 11 August: notes to the guilds — every burgher to keep and calm his afflicted child or servants at home; brotherhoods to keep journeymen at their cost or send them "to the saints, wherever they please"; (vii) undated: solemn mass in Our Lady's chapel; dancers in the Hospital sent to the saint; offering from the whole city; "leichtfertige" banished for a time; (viii) "in several sessions": physicians' verdict, poor people's wish for masses, the vicar's reply; (ix) 31 August: wax image of one hundredweight debated (send it, or set it on a cathedral altar until the new chapel was finished); resolved: candle + sung mass + three side-masses on behalf of council and city. 5. **Cause attributed.** Contemporary: the physicians — "natürlich krankheit" from hot blood / an astral conjunction and the heat of the season; the council also treated it as something a saint could remedy ("zu dem lieben heyligen"). Later: a curse ("denen man St. Veits tantz fluchte", Specklin/Wencker) and fraud ("schelmenwerk"); Wencker adds that Gospel preaching ended it. 6. **Deaths.** See §7. ### 6.3 What it does not contain, and discrepancies to flag - No contemporary death, no name of the first woman (Paracelsus's "Frau Troffea" is a 1530s invention, per the 2018 dossier), no "Frau Troffea", no "400 dancers" (except Imlin), no "platforms on the markets with hired dancers" (that is Specklin/Wencker) — but note the council *did* pay musicians/servants and *did* put dancers on guild-halls, so the later picture is not baseless. - Martin p. 232 [OCR]: „Auch beim Strassburger Veitstanz kommt in keinem der zeitgenössischen Berichte der Name Veitstanz vor, und ich vermute, dass man sich scheute, den Namen auszusprechen oder niederzuschreiben.“ This is contradicted by his own material: the Extractus's 1518 entry has "ein schwäre erschreckliche krankheit mit St. Vitstanz" and Rem (1518) has "sant Veitz tantz". What is true is that the surviving originals (23 July protocol, Instruction, notices, mandate) never name the disease — they say "die kranckheit des dantzens", "der armen menschen halb so izt dantzen" — while calling the shrine "Sant Vit"/"Sanct Vit zum Holenstein". - Place-name of the shrine: "Holenstein" (original dorsal note), "Hohenstein" (Extractus copy), "holen stein" (Specklin), "hellensteg" (Wencker 1637), "Rotenstein" (Schilter's misreading, repeated in the 2018 teachers' dossier with "[recte Hohlenstein]"). - Readings: "brucken" (Dacheux) vs "beucken" (Martin) for drums; "termen (?)"; "Gladi Bocklin" (Martin) vs "Claude/Claus Böcklin" (2018); Martin's brackets "[22. Juli]" for Margarethen and "[29. September]" for Adolphi are wrong; Martin calls Rem a Nuremberg chronicler (he is Augsburg). - Jung's no. 4398 is a résumé; its "hitzigem geblüt" must not be quoted as the protocol's words. - Dating: the 1518 originals carry only "etc. XVIII"; the assignment to 1518 rests on the hand, the magistrates' names and the concordance with the Extractus (Martin p. 115) — now beyond doubt given Rem's dated notice and the ADBR letter dated 1518. - The Extractus's index line shows six folios in Wencker's volume touching the dance (159b, 161b, 171a–b, 172a, 174b): the printed extracts (3439, 3443, 4398) do not exhaust what Wencker had; fol. 161b and 174b are not represented by any printed entry. --- ## 7. Answers to the key questions **Q1. Earliest dated record and its start date.** The earliest *dated* document is the commission protocol of **Friday after Mary Magdalene = 23 July 1518** with its *Instruction* "Veneris post Magdalene etc. XVIII" (AVES III 200/15; Martin 1914 Anlage I–II, §3.4.3–4), followed by the **letter to the bishop of 25 July 1518** (ADBR 12 J 1495, §3.5) and the **mandate of 2 August 1518** (AVES 1 MR 3 f. 72r, §3.6). The earliest council *decision* recorded (through Wencker's Extractus) is of **Thursday 22 July 1518** ("5a Mariae Magdalenae. Item als etlich frauen und knaben den bössen dantz tantzen …", §3.1). The onset itself is given as "um Margarethen" (Extractus; St Margaret = 13 July) and "8 tag vor S. maria magdalena" (Imlin; = 14 July), with one woman dancing 4–6 days before being sent to Saverne — hence the conventional "mid-July 1518" (Martin: 15 July). **Q2. Numbers of dancers per layer.** Contemporary council layer: "uff fünfzig personen" (Extractus 3443, probably the mandate's own words); no figure in the originals of 23 July, in the six notices, or in the mandate; Rem (1518): "fast vil leutt … ain tag wol bei 15 menschen". Later/unverifiable: Imlin (via Witkowski) 1 → 34 → >400; Duntzenheim (via Jung) 1 → 34 → >200; Schadaeus (via Boersch) 1 → 34 → >200; Specklin (c. 1580) "über 100 … auff einmal"; Wencker 1637 "viel"; Schilter's verses "Viel hundert". The 2018 exhibition (Clementz) settles on "quelque cinquante personnes". **Q3. Does ANY contemporary record — or Specklin — mention deaths?** No contemporary record does: not the 23 July protocol, not the Instruction, not the six notices, not the mandate, not the Extractus entries 3443/4398 (which speak of the sick being "fast erledigt" and "gesund zurückkehrten"), not the 25 July letter as translated, not Rem, not Imlin, not Duntzenheim/Schadaeus as summarised. **Specklin does**: „Viel tantzten sich zu tode.“ ("Many danced themselves to death.", BSCMHA XIV p. 308 [IMG]). So do Kleinlawel 1625: „Biß das sie fielen in ohnmacht, / Viel sind Todt drüber blieben“ (via Martin p. 116) and Wencker 1637: „Etliche stürben dran.“ ("Several died of it.", BSCMHA XV p. 148 [IMG]). Boersch attributed the deaths to "Goldmeyer und Kleinlawel"; Martin found that Goldmeyer does not mention 1518 at all. The earliest death statement is therefore Specklin's, written some 60 years after the event, in a compilation that Reuss reconstructed from an 18th-c. gloss and Rœhrich's notes. **Q4. The council's sequence of actions with dates.** 22 July (Thu): restrain the *termen*(?)/drums, string music in private. 23 July (Fri): commission Böcklin–Hoffmeister–Herlin; parents to keep or pay; poor dancers in three troops with riders and servants on three wagons (Hospital 1, Frauenhaus 2) to St Vitus; sung masses at Saverne, led round the altar, pfennig offerings from the alms money. 25 July (Sun): report to Bishop Wilhelm; physicians' verdict and regimen. 2 Aug (Mon): mandate signed by Brant — no dancing till Michaelmas in city and Burgbann, fine 30 sh., no drumming, weddings/first masses with strings excepted. Undated (early August?): six notices — brotherhoods' box-masters to calm their sick or take them to St Vitus, no music/jewels/fine clothes, no running in the streets. 11 Aug (Wed): notes to the guilds — burghers keep and calm their own; brotherhoods keep journeymen at their cost or send them "to the saints, wherever they please" (St Vitus struck out in the original). Undated: solemn mass in Our Lady's chapel; dancers now in the Hospital sent to the saint; city offering; loose persons banished. "In several sessions": physicians and vicar consulted. 31 Aug (Tue): wax image/candle of one hundredweight with the Rentmeister; sung mass + three side-masses. 29 Sept: end of the ban. (All from §3.1, §3.2, §3.4–3.6.) **Q5. Origin of the "hitzig blut"/physicians' verdict.** It comes from Wencker's Extractus fol. 171 as **résuméd by Andreas Jung** and printed by Dacheux in 1899 (BSCMHA XIX p. 42, no. 4398): "die Aerzte erklärten es für eine natürliche krankheit, die von hitzigem geblüt herkomme" — Jung's paraphrase; the only verbatim words are the vicar's: "diwyl die Artz anzeigen, daß es eine natürlich krankheit sy, daß man auch natürlich mittel mit in versuche". Independently, the magistrate's own letter of 25 July 1518 (ADBR 12 J 1495; 2018 French translation) says the physicians called it "une maladie naturelle due à une conjonction astrale et à la chaleur du moment" and prescribed a cooling diet and string music only. So "natural illness" is contemporary and secure; the specific formula "hot blood" is attested at third hand; "astral conjunction + heat" is the formulation of the original letter (in translation). **Q6. What the record says about symptoms.** Almost nothing clinical: dancing day and night, pitiful to behold; sick persons who must be held down/calmed ("nyder getüschet", "zutuschen") or who run in the streets; a relapsing epileptic woman who "hopped up" and followed a bagpipe; a schoolboy who started after watching; some too unfit to walk round an altar unaided; a physicians' regimen implying "heat" (no wine, barley water, barley/oat food, gentle string music). Later chroniclers add falling down exhausted, fainting and death (Specklin, Kleinlawel, Wencker), not eating for days (Schilter's verses), and cures by red shoes, chrism crosses and masses at the Hohlenstein (Specklin, Wencker).