Ellesmere Chaucer

Ellesmere Chaucer

This early 15th century English manuscript it not only one of the most beautifully adorned Chaucer specimens, it is also one of the earliest, most complete, and authoritative because the original manuscripts are now lost. As such, it serves as the base text for most modern editions of the Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1343–1400), who wrote them between 1387 and 1400. Written in Middle English, the story revolves around a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the tomb of Thomas Becket and participate in a storytelling contest during their travels. As such, it structurally resembles The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), which Chaucer would have been exposed to during his Italian sojourns on behalf of the English Crown. Originating between 1400 and 1410, the Ellesmere Chaucer is named after erstwhile owner, the 1st Baron Ellesmere, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540 – 15 March 1617) who was also 1st Viscount Brackley and a member of the Privy Council of Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1607).

A Cornerstone of English Literature

It appears as though Chaucer died before he could complete the work – although 31 pilgrims are mentioned, only 24 tales are told and the return journey to London is missing. Juxtaposed between the tales are short scenes, usually taking the form of lively exchanges and even arguments between the pilgrims, who come from all walks of life: knight, prioress, monk; merchant, man of law, franklin, scholarly clerk; miller, reeve, pardoner; wife of Bath and many others. Works representing such a broad swath of society were almost unheard of. Their stories range from moralizing to downright bawdy and are open to interpretation, helping to account for their ongoing allure. The manuscript at hand is believed to be the work for the scribe Adam Pinkhurst, who had worked for Chaucer while he was alive. The revisions made in the Ellesmere manuscript suggest that they were made by someone who knew the author and his intentions, and may have had access to earlier drafts.

An Artistic Masterpiece

The Ellesmere Chaucer contains 22 of the 24 stories that make up the Tales as we know them, which are adorned with 200+ initials rendered in splendid red, blue, and gold leaf. It additionally features miniatures of the 22 pilgrims at the beginning of their respective stories, which are also adorned by wonderful marginalia of various tendrils, known as demi-vinet borders. These are distinguished by their great refinement and detail, as well as indicating that the artists responsible, perhaps as many as three, were from East Anglia. An additional miniature is a portrait of Chaucer, something truly special as depictions of medieval authors are extremely rare, even if it was made a decade after his death. The large format of the manuscript, which measures 40 x 28.4 cm, allowed both the scribe and the team of artists responsible for the illumination and miniatures plenty of room for an elegant and uncluttered design. This masterpiece is incredibly well preserved because it lay undisturbed in the library of the Barons of Ellesmere for 300 years before being professionally cared for in the Huntington Library, and was rebound in 1995 to ensure that the 240 leaves will maintain their excellent condition.

“Margery seynt John ys a shrew!”

Many illuminated manuscripts bear evidence of their ownership histories such as escutcheons from nobles who owned them or notes from librarians who catalogued them, but few have the kind of rich “graffiti” found in the fly leaves of the Ellesmere Chaucer. Most striking is the accusation written in 16th century script that someone named Margery St. John is a shrew. Poor Margery has been slandered in these fly leaves for centuries as a result, but her identity and that of the hand from which the insult came are not known. The outburst could just as easily be the result of a sibling feud as unrequited love. This and many other such entries in the flyleaves preceding and following the text include the names Robertus Drury, Thomas Calthorpp, and Edwarde Waldegrave, who coincidentally had two cousins named Margery St. John. Additionally, one finds a few lines of verse in Latin and English, other writing exercises, doodles, and pen trials. The manuscript came to the United States in 1917, a highlight in the collection of 8,000 early printed books and 13,000 manuscripts on manifold subjects dating from the Middle Ages to the 18th century sold by John Francis Granville Scroop Egerton (1872–1944), 4th Earl of Ellesmere to American railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927). Today it represents a highlight of the collections of the beautiful Huntington Library in San Marino, California.