Ellesmere manuscript
Encyclopedia
The Ellesmere Chaucer, or Ellesmere Manuscript is an early 15th century illuminated manuscript
of Geoffrey Chaucer
's Canterbury Tales, held in the Huntington Library, in San Marino, California
(MS EL 26 C 9). It is considered one of the most significant texts of the Tales.
(1408-1462). The manuscript takes its popular name from the fact that it later belonged to Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), Baron Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, who apparently obtained it from Roger North (1530/31-1600), 2nd Lord North. The library of manuscripts remained at the Egerton house, Ashridge
, Hertfordshire
, until 1802 when it was removed to London. Francis Egerton
, created Earl of Ellesmere in 1846, inherited the library, and it remained in the family until its sale to Henry Huntington by John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton (1872-1944), 4th Earl of Ellesmere. Huntington purchased the Bridgewater library privately in 1917 through Sotheby’s.
The manuscript is written on fine vellum
and is approximately 400mm by 284mm in size; there are 240 leaves, of which 232 contain the text of the Tales. Though a single scribe was employed, the illustrations were possibly carried out by three different artists.
in their Text of the Canterbury Tales (1940) noted that whoever edited the manuscript probably made substantial revisions, tried to regularise spelling, and put the individual Tales into a smoothly running order. Up until this point the Ellesmere manuscript had been used as the 'base text' by several editions, such as that of W. W. Skeat, with variants checked against Harley MS. 7334
.
The manuscript's scribe has now been tentatively identified as Adam Pinkhurst
, a man employed by Chaucer himself. Pinkhurst also appears to be responsible for the Hengwrt Manuscript
of the Tales, now considered the earliest, most authoritative, and closest to Chaucer's holograph
. This would also imply, however, that the revisions seen in the Ellesmere manuscript would have been carried out by someone who had worked with Chaucer, knew his intentions for the Tales, and had access to draft materials.
The Ellesmere manuscript is conventionally referred to as El in most discussions of the Tales and their textual history. A facsimile edition is available.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
's Canterbury Tales, held in the Huntington Library, in San Marino, California
San Marino, California
San Marino is a small, affluent city in Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated in 1913, the City founders designed the community to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways...
(MS EL 26 C 9). It is considered one of the most significant texts of the Tales.
History
Written probably in the first or second decade of the fifteenth century, the early history of the manuscript is uncertain, but it seems to have been owned by John de Vere, 12th Earl of OxfordJohn de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford , was the son of Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford , and his second wife, Alice Serjeaux...
(1408-1462). The manuscript takes its popular name from the fact that it later belonged to Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), Baron Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, who apparently obtained it from Roger North (1530/31-1600), 2nd Lord North. The library of manuscripts remained at the Egerton house, Ashridge
Ashridge
Ashridge is an estate and house in Hertfordshire, England; part of the land stretches into Buckinghamshire and it is close to the Bedfordshire border. It is situated in the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about two miles north of Berkhamsted and twenty miles north west of...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, until 1802 when it was removed to London. Francis Egerton
Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere
Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere KG, PC , known as Lord Francis Leveson-Gower until 1833, was a British politician, writer, traveller and patron of the arts...
, created Earl of Ellesmere in 1846, inherited the library, and it remained in the family until its sale to Henry Huntington by John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton (1872-1944), 4th Earl of Ellesmere. Huntington purchased the Bridgewater library privately in 1917 through Sotheby’s.
Description
The Ellesmere manuscript is a highly polished example of scribal workmanship, with a great deal of elaborate illumination and, notably, a series of illustrations of the various narrators of the Tales (including a famous one of Chaucer himself, mounted on a horse). As such, it was clearly a de luxe product, commissioned for a very wealthy patron.The manuscript is written on fine vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
and is approximately 400mm by 284mm in size; there are 240 leaves, of which 232 contain the text of the Tales. Though a single scribe was employed, the illustrations were possibly carried out by three different artists.
Scribe and its relation to other manuscripts
The Ellesmere manuscript is thought to be very early in date, being written shortly after Chaucer's death. It has therefore been seen as an important source for efforts to reconstruct Chaucer's original text and intentions, though John M. Manly and Edith RickertEdith Rickert
Edith Rickert was an influential medieval scholar at the University of Chicago, whose foundational work includes the Chaucer Life-Records and the eight-volume "Text of the Canterbury Tales ....
in their Text of the Canterbury Tales (1940) noted that whoever edited the manuscript probably made substantial revisions, tried to regularise spelling, and put the individual Tales into a smoothly running order. Up until this point the Ellesmere manuscript had been used as the 'base text' by several editions, such as that of W. W. Skeat, with variants checked against Harley MS. 7334
Harley MS. 7334
Harley MS. 7334, sometimes known as the Harley Manuscript, is a mediaeval manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales held in the Harleian Collection of the British Museum....
.
The manuscript's scribe has now been tentatively identified as Adam Pinkhurst
Adam Pinkhurst
In 2004, Professor Linne Mooney was able to identify the scrivener who worked for 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer as an Adam Pinkhurst. Mooney, then a professor at the University of Maine and a visiting fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, was able to match Pinkhurst's...
, a man employed by Chaucer himself. Pinkhurst also appears to be responsible for the Hengwrt Manuscript
Hengwrt manuscript
The Hengwrt Chaucer manuscript is an early 15th century manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, held in the National Library of Wales, in Aberystwyth, where it is known as MS Peniarth 392D.-History of the manuscript:...
of the Tales, now considered the earliest, most authoritative, and closest to Chaucer's holograph
Holograph
A holograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person whose signature it bears. Some countries or local jurisdictions within certain countries give legal standing to specific types of holographic documents, generally waiving requirements that they be witnessed...
. This would also imply, however, that the revisions seen in the Ellesmere manuscript would have been carried out by someone who had worked with Chaucer, knew his intentions for the Tales, and had access to draft materials.
The Ellesmere manuscript is conventionally referred to as El in most discussions of the Tales and their textual history. A facsimile edition is available.
External links
- The Ellesmere mss at the Huntington Library
- Digital Scriptorium