The First Emergence of the Ricardian "Confessio": Morgan M. 690.
- Author/Editor
- Fredell, Joel.
- Title
- The First Emergence of the Ricardian "Confessio": Morgan M. 690.
- Published
- Fredell, Joel. "The First Emergence of the Ricardian 'Confessio': Morgan M. 690." In Margaret Connolly, Holly James-Maddox, and Derek Pearsall, eds. Scribal Cultures in Late Medieval England: Essays in Honour of Linne R. Mooney (Woodbridge, Suff.: Boydell Press for York Medieval Press, 2022). Pp. 200-21.
- Review
- Fredell seeks a new approach to what he terms "a longstanding puzzle"--the Henrician and Ricardian forms of the poem. He calls for a reconsideration of Macaulay's three recensions, proposing a notion of multiple competing approaches presenting Gower's work in a relatively short period of time at the turn of the fifteenth century, and he offers instead of recensions what he terms a "late state" model as a way to explain, and date, the variations in manuscripts of the "Confessio Amantis." Crucial to his argument is New York, Morgan Library MS M.690, "associated with Ricardian 'Confessio's" (200), which he considers possibly the first "Confessio" (220). However, because crucial folios are missing from its beginning and end (loci of tell-tale dedications, etc.) Fredell judges the question ultimately "insoluable"--while suggesting, nonetheless, the possibility that the excision of the front and read folios, where sections complimentary to Richard might have been found, was intentional (220-21). In support of his argument for an early date for Morgan M. 690, Fredell provides a thoughtful and exacting discussion of London styles for decorative borders after 1400, and argues for strong similarities between Morgan M. 690 and the group of manuscripts containing the work of "Scribe D" (so named by Doyle and Parkes 1978), recently claimed by Linne Mooney and Estelle Stubbs to be John Marchaunt of the Guildhall. Fredell is careful not to argue past his evidence, refraining from stating categorically that Morgan M. 690 was the earliest surviving Ricardian "Confessio." His argument does considerably complicate our thinking around the recension model by replacing a multi-decade chronology over the presumed time of completion of the "Confessio," drawing it into the Lancastrian usurpation and Henry IV's early reign. [RAL. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 42.1]
- Date
- 2022
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis
Manuscripts and Textual Studies