In this study I focus on the reconstruction of the state of the book culture in medieval Louny. This is a closely related question ot the origin of the historiography here. Inicially, I outline the preconditions for reception of the book culture and pursue the milieus where books could be used. I also pay attention to the ancestors of the historiography in this town, which are in important precursor to their fully developed forms. Finally, I deal with the oldest annals that originated in Louny.
This article deals with a legacy report of six books to the Augustinian Canon monastery in Třeboň which was writen down in the years 1460-1468 by Martin of Třeboň, a physician. Two of the manuscripts were identified in the holding of the National Library of the Czech Republic today and moreover, further manuscripts belonging to Martin not mentioned in the legacy were found. They are also held in the National Library of the Czech Republic and by the National Library in Vienna. Another codex belonging to the same owner may be held by the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. The contents of the manuscripts indicate that Martin intended to build up his library as and expert reference library with special regard to medicine and natural sciences but it also contained manuscrips of other branches.
This article is the first to publish a versified pamphlet with the incipit De sancto Stephano Symon celebro male sano (Walther, Initia, no. 4155). The author sees in its 166 verses two pamphlets: the first targets a Constance priest from St Stephen's, Simon Lind, and was evidently composed in Constance some June after 1300, while the second targeting an unknown Simon, was composed some 18th October. The author believes that this double-pamphlet was included in Summa recreatorum by its unknown author, who was perhaps working to the order of Albrecht of Šternberk, as part of the struggle between himself and Petr Jelito for the favour of Charles IV and the associated ecclesiastical posts. The Summa was not drawn up for the death of Charles, soon after which followed that of Albrecht of Šternberk. Hence its ongoing composition must be put down to the 1370s.