"Learned Chaucer" : The evolution of Chaucer's reputation as the author of A Treatise on the Astrolabe

Abstract

In 1532, William Thynne printed the first edition of the complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer. It was also the first time his astronomical prose text, A Treatise on the Astrolabe, appeared in print. In his treatise, Chaucer describes the use of an astronomical instrument called the astrolabe. To be able to use such an instrument required knowledge of the Ptolemaic model of the universe. In Thynne's edition, Chaucer aqcuired the soubriquet "learned scientist" and subsequent comments seem to indicate that it was thanks to A Treatise on the Astrolabe. In my thesis, I explore all the editions of Chaucer where the Astrolabe has appeared and give an account of the editors's views and evaluations of the text and of its author. Most importantly, I attempt to determine how historical factors may have affected these views.