Elzka legit et relegit. A Benedictine Nun in Early Fifteenth-Century Prague as a Reader and a Librarian
Abstract
In the early fifteenth century, a commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict was written by Martin of Vyšehrad, a monk from the abbey of Ostrov in Central Bohemia, for the Benedictine nun Elizabeth of Waldstein, called Elžka, living in St.
George's abbey at Prague Castle. The text reveals often unique details from the everyday life of its addressee and of a late medieval nunnery in general.
It is evident (not only from this source) that books played a crucial role in the lives of choir nuns. The books accompanied them all day long, both during and outside the liturgy, both in the community and in private.
In addition to the Divine Office and sewing, reading was an integral part of Elžka's life. Elžka herself was entrusted with the convent's books for a certain time, but she did not perform her task very conscientiously.
According to the contemporary witness, the Benedictine nuns of Prague did not keep their books tidy and in good order and ultimately, they got along without any library catalogue until the convent's dissolution in 1782. Although some Czech texts were also found in their codices, there is no doubt that still at the beginning of the fifteenth century the nuns read mainly in Latin and were also able to hold a common conversation in that language.
The nuns who usually grew up in the convent since childhood were certainly taught reading, Latin and singing because these skills were necessary for them to fulfil their liturgical tasks as choir sisters. Elžka also took part in the upbringing of the younger girls, and perhaps this was the main reason why the Ostrov's monk addressed his educational manuscript to her.
On the other hand, no great emphasis was placed on the ability to write. Even though the nuns of St.
George's convent could write, they were not skilled scribes, and it has not yet been possible to unequivocally identify any author of a literary work among them.