New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-04
RELICS or CTL1CCER.
THE ELI.EsMERE Ms. THE. MOST vALJ-
ABLE

From The London Chronicle
The quincentenary Of Chaucer's death falls on
the 18th of this month, if re are - believe his
tombstone in Westminster Abbey X IS doubt
full if tOmbstOncs always tell the truth, but here
there is really other evidence, and 50 the
date is accepted We are thus on the eve OF
very interesting celebration and Wh-re could L
be more fifty observed than a the British Au-
scum?
Go to the Kings Library. and you will find
that all the Chaucer memorials which the Mu-
scum possesses have been specially arranGed II
half a dozen cases. To wander round theSf
looking at the manuscripts in their blue Frd AM
gold or a the earliest Chaucer editions printed
from type. would, in any circumstances. Dc Al
hour well spent; and IN our case the 1o4Il-E
was made under the escort Of an official O. N
| Museum. learned in all that relates 10 Ch.l.--+-
AS everybody cannot be 50 favored. the obvious
thing is to pass the information on.
I'VE have here, said our guide. prtic t4-ll--Y
all the printed editions OF Chaucer, but not o.
any means all the known Chaucer manuscripts
| Some of these are in private hands and sOn-e
are at Oxford and Cambridge don't recall any
Chaucer manuscript that has gone out OF the
country. There may be Two in Paris
but they nothing to speak about"
| when one refers 10 Chaucer manuscript. Il
| does not, of course, mean manuscript IN ms
handwriting"
'Oh. no: because there are none So far as I
am aware there is not copy Of his sig
nature in existence Even allowing for the re-
moteness of his time that is rather curious
He was Controller of Customs for Hides and
Woods at the Port Of London and Clerk of Works
at Windsor. While he had these posts he must
have written his signature many times day
that as much as that of his handwriting sur
wives. Therefore Chaucer manuscript IS SIM
ply book OF the time printed by nand-'
What is the most valuable Chaucer relic n
England?'
The Ellesmere manuscript. which Professor
Skeat took as the foundation OF his edition Of
the Canterbury Tales. II gets its name be
cause it belongs TO the Earl OF Ellesmere, and
is at Bridgewater House 1t not only has the
text which is considered the best. but il
tains a series of contemporary pictures coiOred
by hand OF these we have reproduction. as
collie .rrfQYf
But You have treasures far greater than "a
productions"
called after its possessor last century. Robert
Harley Earl of oxford. Until the ElleSmere
manuscript this was the best text known. and
Thomas Wright and DR.. Richard Morris
used it for their editions OF the Canterbury
Tales 1t is fairly clean text. but has some
plumbers and some doubtful readings
DO we know what sort Of man Chaucer was
in appearance"
Well there is a manuscript work in this case
which gets its Chaucer interest from the fact
that it contains portrait of him. Anyhow, the
Volume-it is by friend of ChauceC'S. one
Thomas Occleve-beiongs 10 the early part OF
the fifteenth century. The poem contains ref
erence to Chaucer-a reference 10y one who knew
him-and the portrait is opposite. This drawing
may be said TO be the foundation OF all the pOr-
traits which are known Of Chaucer Next We
come TO the LansdOwne manuscript. and it also
has a picture of Chaucer worked into an initial
letter We may pass over the subsidiary manu-
scripts-those of ChauCer'S minor wOrkS-and
look at the early printed editions of the Canter-
ITO what date do the editions belong"
"Chaucer died in 4oD and thu Sc four volumes
We're printed before Leo Two of them Cax-
tons. and 50 are valuable in double sense
perhaps they worth t2.Op each. The third
book is printed by TynSon. the fourth by
Wynkin de Worde- We have also a Caxton edi-
ton of Chaucer's minor writings. and. again all
the collected editions of his works These col
lected editions show how people kept inserting
things into ChauCer that were Chaucer'S-
This kind of editing of him reached IT'S climax
with the edition of Urry in l12l, the worst edi-
ton of all"
There was then. a clear call for the Chaucer
Society,""
There was. indeed Its mission was To get
ri1 OF what not Chaucer'S. and toward that
end five Of the best manuscripts printed
side by side The society has also edited the
Canterbury Tales so providing authoritative
text. i might talk 10 you of the Kelmscott
Chaucer or of a very different subjeCt-the eff
forts which various writers since Chaucer have
made to render him into the English OF their
own day. Even an attempt made turn
him into rhymed Latin. but il sue
cessful than the others As I say. | might talk
of these and such like points. but perhaps what
have told you sufficiently indicates the interest
OF this Chaucer collection"