BONER or BONERIUS, ULRICH (fl. 14th century), Swiss writer of fables, was born in Berne. He was descended from an old Bernese family, and, as far as can be ascertained, became a monk; yet, as he subsequently married, it appears that he received the "tonsure" only and was thus entitled to the benefit of the clerici uxoriati, who, on divesting themselves of the clerical garb, could return to secular life. He is mentioned in records between 1324 and 1349, but neither before nor after these dates. He wrote, in Middle High German, a collection of fables entitled Der Edelstein (c. 1349), one hundred in number, which were based principally on those of Avianus (4th century) and the Anonymus (edited by I. Nevelet, 161o). This work he dedicated to the Bernese patrician and poet, Johann von Rinken berg, advocatus (Vogt) of Brienz (d. c. 135o). It was printed in 1461 at Bamberg—the first book printed in the German language.