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Document Details : Title: De stichtingskronieken van het Utrechtse kartuizerklooster Nieuwlicht Author(s): DE WEIJERT, Rolf Journal: Ons Geestelijk Erf Volume: 88 Issue: 2-4 Date: 2017 Pages: 233-257 DOI: 10.2143/OGE.88.2.3256932 Abstract : The Nieuwlicht charterhouse was founded in 1391 by the Dutch nobleman Zweder van Gaasbeek († 1400) near the Dutch town of Utrecht. It existed until 1580 when it was dissolved by the City Council of Utrecht. Two short chronicles from Nieuwlicht have survived, dealing with the foundation history of the monastery up until 1407. One chronicle has survived as a copy in a miscellany (nicknamed Chronicon) dating from the last quarter of the sixteenth century, and the second chronicle survived in another miscellany (a.k.a. Anniversarium) that dates from 1440. The text of both chronicles is almost identical, except from two passages that have been swapped and the fact that both chronicles end differently. The chronicle from the Chronicon is known as Version A and the chronicle from the Anniversarium is labeled Version B. This is due to the fact that the text of Version A is supposed to be older, although the manuscript is of a later date than the manuscript containing Version B. In addition to these two versions there is a post-medieval, abbreviated version of the chronicle by the antiquarian Gijsbert Lap van Waveren (Version C), and also two fragments (Version D and Verion E) from around 1400 that were used as mackle in two manuscripts from the Nieuwlicht library. As mentioned, Version A and Version B are both incorporated in miscellanies. The different texts in either miscellany share a common purpose. The texts of the Chronicon all focus on legitimizing the existence of Nieuwlicht – the manuscript was created when the existence of the monastery was in danger – while the texts of the Anniversarium all deal with the commemoration of the dead. Therefore, it is evident that both manuscripts (and chronicles) were used differently, and that is also the reason as to why both versions of the chronicle have a different ending. Version A ends with a reflection on Divine Providence and the benefactors of Nieuwlicht, while version B ends with the mentioning of the death of the founders of Nieuwlicht and an appeal to pray for their souls. In this paper I compare the different versions of the foundation chronicle of Nieuwlicht, and discuss the motivation of why these chronicles were created and their different functions. I also pay attention to the content of the chronicles, and the possible reasons as to why Zweder van Gaasbeek decided to found the Nieuwlicht charterhouse. |
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