Anna Ovena Hoyers

“Anna, the daughter of Hans Oven” is remembered for her strong self-confidence, the truth-seeking approach of whom almost became an obsession.

She was the daughter of the wealthy astronomer Hans Oven and was born in Koldenbüttel in Holstein. She did learn to speak Greek, Latin and Hebrew. She lost her mother in her childhood. At the age of fifteen, she was married to another wealthy person Hermann Hoyer. Well, the dowry she received for her marriage was believed to have been used to repay the debts of the estates of her husband. She gave birth to five children. After the death of her husband in 1622, she devoted herself in the religious arguments prevent that time. She started condemning the intolerant religious teachings and lifestyles of the clergymen in the land and joined anti-Baptist movements. She works were probably published in pamphlet form at least in the beginning. But she not only wrote religious and political pamphlets, but also letters, moralistic and satirist poems. She also wrote religious poems. Her powerful and populist style, which was often unpolished, placed her moralist and satirist verses among the most spirited religious ballads of sixteenth century. 

Coming under economic trouble and deserted by friends, she had to sale her estate in Hoyersworth. In the year 1632 she shifted to Sweden via Hamburg and found shelter under Marie Eleonore, the widow of the Swedish king Gustav Adolf. The queen gifted her an estate in Sittwick. Anna Ovena probably visited Hoyersworth once again, but with a bitter view towards the world and sunk in her mystical dream, she died in Sittwick at the age of 71.

She did write not with a definite purpose in mind, she was against using high-sounding phrases and careful metrical rules to express she considered ‘nothing’. Therefore her content is often strong, blatant, and usually sarcastic. Normal that the clergymen, who were mostly her target of ridicule, did not did not have much respect about her. A selection of her poems, which was published in Amsterdam in 1650, was burnt in many places in Europe as accused of being heretical. A handwritten manuscript were preserved in Stockholm contained many of his unpublished ballads.

Auff / auff Zion

1. Auff / auff Zion /
Vnd schmück dich schon /
Singe das Hosianna,
Frölich Psallier /
Es singt mit dir /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

2. Nun kompt das Lamb
Auß Davids stamb /
Singe das Hosianna,
Will trösten dich /
Des frewet sich /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

3. Nah' ist die zeit
Der Herrllchkeit /
Singe das Hosianna;
An diesem heil /
Hat mit ihr theil /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

4. Auff / auff Jungfraw'n
Geht auß zuschaw'n /
Singet das Hosianna;
Der Breut'gamb kümmt /
Jhr seiten stimmt /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

5. O Jhr Jüngling /
Seyd guter ding /
Singet das Hosianna,
Jhr Alten mit /
Weil euch drumb bitt
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

6. Von hertzen grund /
Auß vollem mund /
Singet das Hosianna:
Beid Arm und Reich /
Es singt mit euch /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

7. Es frewe sich /
Vnd sey willig
Zu sing'n das Hosianna,
Was leb't auff Erd /
Denn das begehrt
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

8. Nemet die Laut /
Erfreut die Braut /
Singet das Hosianna;
Jhr traurigkeit
Setzt weit beyseyt /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

9. Alles unglück
Weich nun zurück /
Singet das Hosianna;
Der Fried floriert /
Frölich Psalliert /
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

10. Hallelujah,
Die hülff ist nah' /
Singet das Hosianna:
Frölich im Herrn
Jst immer gern
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

11. O scheinend' Sonn /
Voll freud und Wonn /
Singe das Hosianna,
An diesem tag /
Führt nicht mehr klag
Hanns Ovens Tochter Anna.

12. Jhr mein drey Söhn
Macht laut gethön /
Singet das Hosianna:
Jhr Töchter beid /
Auch frölich seyd /
Mit ewrer Mutter Anna.

13. Jesu des Herrn
Lob zu vermehrn /
Singet das Hosianna:
Auff Seiten spiel /
Macht freuden viel /
Mit ewrer Mutter Anna.

14. Ew'r hertz bewegt /
Ew'r lippen regt /
Singet das Hosianna,
Frölich Psalliert /
Vnd Jntonirt /
Mit ewrer Mutter Anna.