Adam Pinkhurst
Encyclopedia
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 flamboyantly-written signature on an oath he signed to his lettering on an early manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a copy thought to be closely derived from Chaucer's holograph
.
Not only is it significant in shedding light on the relationship between a writer, his scrivener and their manuscript
s at that time, it also adds detail to one of Chaucer's shortest works. Chaucer words unto Adam his scrivener takes the scribe to task for the many errors he introduces and the amount of work Chaucer has to do correcting them.
Pinkhurst had in fact been suggested as a possible candidate for "Adam scrivener" as early as the late 1920s, but modern techniques of handwriting analysis have enabled a more firm identification to be made.
Pinkhurst is identified as the scribe of two important manuscripts of the Canterbury Tales: the Hengwrt Manuscript
, now thought to be closest to Chaucer's own drafts, and the Ellesmere Chaucer, a more heavily-edited and polished work. Based on their shared work on another manuscript, Pinkhurst has been suggested as a colleague of "Scribe D
", another copyist of the Tales, and both scribes may have worked for the same bookseller or moved in the same literary circles.
Scrivener
A scrivener was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities...
who worked for 14th century poet 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...
as an Adam Pinkhurst. Mooney, then a professor at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
and a visiting fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, was able to match Pinkhurst's flamboyantly-written signature on an oath he signed to his lettering on an early manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a copy thought to be closely derived from 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...
.
Not only is it significant in shedding light on the relationship between a writer, his scrivener and their manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s at that time, it also adds detail to one of Chaucer's shortest works. Chaucer words unto Adam his scrivener takes the scribe to task for the many errors he introduces and the amount of work Chaucer has to do correcting them.
- Adam scrivener, if ever thee befall
- Boece or Troilus for to write new,
- Under thy longe locks thow maist have the scall,
- But after my makinge thou write mor trew,
- So oft a day I mot thy werke renewe
- It to correct, and eke to rubbe and scrape,
- And all is thorowe thy necligence and rape.
Pinkhurst had in fact been suggested as a possible candidate for "Adam scrivener" as early as the late 1920s, but modern techniques of handwriting analysis have enabled a more firm identification to be made.
Pinkhurst is identified as the scribe of two important manuscripts of the Canterbury Tales: 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:...
, now thought to be closest to Chaucer's own drafts, and the Ellesmere Chaucer, a more heavily-edited and polished work. Based on their shared work on another manuscript, Pinkhurst has been suggested as a colleague of "Scribe D
Scribe D
The Trinity Gower D Scribe , often referred to simply as Scribe D, was a professional scribe and copyist of literary manuscripts active during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century in London, England...
", another copyist of the Tales, and both scribes may have worked for the same bookseller or moved in the same literary circles.