Johannes Kessler, Sabbata: Chronica inhaltend historien geschichten und händel die sich von erwellung an Caroli V. Röm. Kai. in miner herren statt allhie zů Sant Gallen ... zůgetragen und verloffenn habennd
This chronicle of the Reformation, an autograph illustrated with
numerous woodcuts, comprises seven “books”: the first book is
about Christ and the Pope, and Kessler describes the old church. In
the second book he describes the emergence of Luther and the new
faith. Books III through VII give a detailed report about the
beginning and the course of the Reformation in St. Gall and in the
adjacent area ruled by the Prince-Abbots, in the Swiss
Confederation and in the German Empire. Regarding volume and
detail, the events in St. Gall and in Eastern Switzerland take up
the largest share. Mentioned and praised over and over again are
the merits of Vadian, whose work Kessler named “Sabbata”
because it was written “an den Sabbaten, das sind an den Fyrtagen
und Fyrabendstunden” (on the Sabbath, which are the holidays and
the hours at the end of the day, after work).
Rights
e-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland
