Vor Alten Jaren

Vor alten Jaren ist gewiss
diss Geschlecht man die Langman hiess,
Welches vor der Zeit umb dass Jar
1280 in der Statt wonhafft war,
Wie man bey vielen Geschlechten findt
dennen sie befreundt gewessen sindt,
Demnachs aber fuernem ehrlich Leutt
beruembt; und es war zu der Zeit
Nach Christi im 1347 Jar,
herr Hanss Langman erwoeltt war
Von seinem Geschlecht der erst im Rath
in Nuernberg der fuernemen Reichs Statt,
Darin dient er dem Vatterlandt,
biss sich der Aufflauff anfing zuhandt,
Mit sonnderlicher Begird und grossem Vleiss,
dann er verstendig war unnd weiss,
Ward auch von dem gemainen Povel zwar
aus der Statt vertrieben im 1349 Jar
Beneben andern dess Raths, wie man list,
doch von Carlo dem Vierten wieder eingesetzt ist,
War hernach noch ein lange Zeit
im Rath biss auff dass Jar 1369 bereitt
Durch den Thot er war hinweg genumen.
nach im (ist) keiner zu Rath mehr kumen,
Wiewol sie noch lanng hernach
in der Statt gewonnt und gleich auch
An vielen Orten hin und her
den Gaistlich gestifft zu grosser Ehr
Von ihren Vermoegen denselben gethan
wie die Kirchen unnd Closter zaigen an.
Lezlich wie alles nach einandter in der Waeldt
vergehet unnd gar nichts besteht,
Also auch diesse Langmenen zusam
ein Endt haben genumen mit ihrem Nam,
Sint abgestorben vor langer Zeit
lenger denn vor 200 Jaren bereit.

(Translation)

Engelthal bei Nurnberg, 1591

Langmann: Adelheid L., out of a Nuremberg family, took the veil some time between 1325 and 1330 as a nun in the convent of Engelthal outside Nuremberg, where she died on November 22, 1375. True to the tradition of the convent, in which during the blooming of the mystical period the visionary lives were quite typical--we have in the small book "Von der genaden uberlast" (Burdened down by the godly grace; published by Karl Schroeder 1871) an account of the visionary lives of the convent sisters written at the command of the mother superior--and also L. wrote her experiences down in a manner similar to that of her more celebrated sister in the faith (and close relative), Christina Ebner (1277-1356). From her diaries, especially dating from the years between 1330 and 1347, and from word passed around at the time by mouth, her 'Offenbarungen' (Revelations) took shape, and these are today preserved in two hand written copies. The seemingly monotonous writings touch only slightly on general living conditions during the 14th century, but provide a picture as a link in a row of holy visions in the cloisters of the German middle ages which should not be underestimated. For Adelheid frequent bodily self-torment and asceticism were interchanged with excitement, raptures and conversations with God, and all this was not just kept inside the walls of the convent at Engelthal. At different times was she sought out by people from the outside who were looking for her advise, solace, and quite often healing. She was herself again and again plagued by thoughts of suicide. In speech and beliefs--there are numerous concords here to the High Song--she was influenced by her spiritual friend and adviser, Ulrich, the later abbot to Kaisheim (1340 to 1360) who also was a friend of Margarethe Ebner in Medingen and Heinrich von Noerdlingen.
Die Offenbarungen der Adelheid Langmann, published by Phillip Strauch, Strassburg 1878. See also Anz. f. deutsches Alterthum 6, 214 f. and Schoenbach, Supplement to Wiener Abendpost 1878, No. 129 and 130. Strauch.