Open Access

Michael Baldzuhn

• In a charter issued on 5 May 1513, the mayor and city council of the city of Freiburg/Breisgau reported that several citizens wanted to be allowed to establish a bruderschaft der sengerye, a confraternity of singing. “God, the almighty, would be praised thereby, the souls would be consoled, and all men listening to the concerts would be kept from blasphemy, gaming and other secular vices” (“gott der allmechtig [würde] dardurch gelopt, die selen getröst und die menschen zu zyten, so sy dem gesang zuhorten, von gotslesterung, ouch vom spyl vnd anderer weltlicher uppigkeyt gezogen”). Considering not least the “positive effects on the pour souls” (“guettaeten, so den armen selen dardurch nachgeschechen mocht”), the request was allowed. But the petitioners had to establish their bruderschaft in exactly the form that is described in detail in the regulations (ordnung) added to the request and cited “word for word” (“von wort zu wort”) in 17 articles in the foundation charter of the confraternity.