Nataša GOLOB, Ljubljana Between ca. 1300 and 1500 several types of scribes are mentioned in the written records of Ljubljana : scribe, landscribe, city scribe, scribe of the law court and scribe at the Castle ; a noteworthy exception is the mention of one "schreiberin - notharin", not knowing whether she was really performing this job or if she was a scribe's wife or widow. Scribes are -- regardless to the level of their functions -- documented mainly as witnesses, subscribers of contracts as sealers.

The article follows some of them and their fortunes ; some of them had extensive properties and were honoured by King Henry of Bohemia with several donations. It is possible to trace the fortune of one family during several decades of the 14th century : father Alber von Sand Peter and his three sons, Lienhart, Alber and Niclas, who succesfully intertwinned the office of city scribe and land scribe with the position of city judge and councellor in later years.

Though the history of this family makes a vivid and talkative presentation of the current circumstances, they were an exception in the economic situation of the scribes. Just like other artisans and craftsmen, scribes have had to earn for their living from other sorts of bussiness : from the incomes of their lands, etc. But we may suppose that at least some of them belonged to the patricians of the city. The article touches as well few details regarding the language they used, locations of their houses and the schools in Ljubljana.