The English Manuscripts of Walter Hilton’s Scala perfectionis: An Assessment of Reception by Darrel W. Bargen A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English Department of English and Film Studies University of Alberta © Darrel W. Bargen, 2017 ii ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the reception of the forty full-text English medieval manuscripts of Walter Hilton's Scala perfectionis in order better to understand their cultural influence in late medieval England. It presents evidence for and assesses the reception of the manuscripts individually in the first instance, and then bases the main argument on the results arising from this individual assessment. The overall argument is presented first followed by the individual assessments of manuscripts in the form of a catalogue. This study argues that a thorough assessment of the evidence will not sustain the narrative which has gained a general scholarly consensus that the Carthusians are primarily responsible for the dissemination of full-text English Scala manuscripts. The main discussion first presents the evidence for the production and distribution of these manuscripts. Secondly, it evaluates the arguments put forward hitherto for Carthusian involvement in this distribution. And, finally, it proposes that the evidence indicates the involvement of the Austin canons to some degree and weighs the current state of that evidence in a consideration of the possible extent of their engagement in this effort. The primary conclusions reached are, first, that the Cambridgeshire region is the main centre for the early production and distribution of Scala perfectionis manuscripts. Secondly, the Carthusians came late to the work of making and disseminating Scala and, partly for this reason and partly because they had no houses in Cambridgeshire, cannot have played the dominant role. Thirdly, despite the earlier scholarly dismissal of the role of Walter Hilton's order, that of the Austin canons, in circulating Scala, at least as much evidence exists for their earlier involvement as exists for the later involvement of the Carthusians, and, moreover, there are significant indicators that their efforts may have been dominant. The evidence for the role of the Austin iii canons is more difficult to excavate because its medieval traces appear to have been more thoroughly decimated at the dissolution of the monasteries; consequently, the evidence that does exist must be weighed accordingly. iv DEDICATION For Andreya, Silas, Elyce, Ezekiel, Winnifred, Elia, and any who follow: you inspired me to finish this work v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A dissertation is not done without support from many quarters. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of my supervisor and examiners. I have been extraordinarily felicitous in having Professor Stephen Reimer as my supervisor. Without his long-suffering but rigorous attention to my work, especially to the details, it would not have reached its current state. Never was it too much trouble and, always, seemingly, was it his delight. He was unflaggingly sympathetic with the challenges and my particular discouragements while never relaxing the standards. I cannot imagine anyone better suited to my approach to and desires for the work. My first reader, Professor Sylvia Brown, has contributed more than she may know to my development. Not only did she make insightful remarks at critical points in the process, but also she has had a formative influence on my teaching. Professor David Gay, my second reader, has provided encouragement as the project progressed: his regular confidence in my work has made an important contribution to its completion. At an early period, Professor Michael Fox served as my second reader and his warm and meaningful encouragement during that time is still deeply appreciated. I wish to thank my examiner from the Department of History and Classics, Professor John Kitchen, for taking the time to read my dissertation and to provide a constructive and thought-provoking response in the defence and for his subsequent encouragement. Moreover, it has been my pleasure to have had Professor Rick Bowers to chair all three of my oral graduate examinations in his gracious and efficient manner, and I thank him heartily for reducing the stress of such events in this way. I am both humbled and encouraged by the detailed and thorough response to my work of my external examiner, Professor Nicholas Watson of Harvard. I thank him for making time in vi his busy schedule to attend my defence by way of electronic communication and for his continued willingness to correspond with respect to my research. All this evidences his scholarly generosity. Beyond these who have supported my work professionally is a host of others who have made various contributions to my development and to the project over the years, ranging from those who contributed for briefer periods and in smaller doses along the way to those who have provided enduring and significant support. I think in particular of family members who patiently encouraged even while making sacrifices on my behalf. I think of friends who showed interest and made heartening comments even when they did not understand my work. I think of many colleagues and of my professors who engaged me intellectually and contributed significantly to my scholarly development. I think in particular here of fellow graduate students who shared more than one course with me or in other ways engaged with me over a longer term. And I think of other professionals who in various ways supported my advance toward completion. To each of you, I extend my heartfelt and enduring gratitude. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table of Manuscript Sigla xi Abbreviations xiv Introduction 1 Regions of Production and Distribution of Scala perfectionis Manuscripts 9 Cambridgeshire 9 North Norfolk 11 London 12 Back to Cambridgeshire 13 A Network of Relationships Relevant to Scala Circulation 14 London Again 25 The West Midlands 32 The Northeast Midlands 34 Yorkshire 36 Miscellaneous Manuscripts 38 Assessment of the Evidence for Circulation 38 The Inflation of the Importance of the Carthusians in the Production and Distribution of the English Scala 48 A. I. Doyle's and S. S. Hussey's Arguments 48 Is Syon Abbey Producing Scala Manuscripts? 55 Michael G. Sargent's Argument 61 Do the Austin Canons Nevertheless Play a Role? 69 viii Holy Trinity, Aldgate, and the Minories 70 Configurations of Potential Production Sites in Other Regions of Origin 75 Evidence of Book Ownership and Production in Priories near Scala Localisations 76 Conclusion 88 Introduction to the Catalogue 91 Notes on Editorial Procedures 93 Catalogue of Full Manuscripts of the English Scala perfectionis 98 Sigla A London, British Library, MS Additional 11748 98 As Oxford, All Souls College, MS 25 108 B Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 100 (SC 1947) 112 B3 Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 592 (SC 2365) 117 C Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Additional 6686 123 (olim Ashburnham-Young; Ashburnham, Addit. MS140) Cc Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS R.5 (James 268) 134 Ch Bakewell, Derbyshire, Chatsworth House Library and Archive 143 D Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Dd.v.5 146 E Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Ee.iv.30 152 F Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Ff.v.40 156 H London, British Library, MS Harley 6579 166 H2 London, British Library, MS Harley 330 173 H3 London, British Library, MS Harley 1022 178 H4 London, British Library, MS Harley 1035 190 ix H5 London, British Library, MS Harley 2387 194 H6 London, British Library, MS Harley 2397 200 H7 London, British Library, MS Harley 6573 205 Hu San Marino, Huntington Library, MS HM.112 208 (olim Sir Thomas Brooke) Hu2 San Marino, Huntington Library, MS HM.266 213 (olim Phillipps 2180) J Cambridge, St. John's College, MS G.35 217 (olim James 202) L London, Lambeth Palace Library, MS 472 220 Ld Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 602 (SC 1499) 228 Ln London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 362 238 Lt Warminster, Wiltshire, Longleat House Library and Archives MS 298 240 Lw Tokyo, Collection of Professor Toshiyuki Takamiya, Takamiya MS 3 242 (olim Luttrell Wynne) (currently deposited in New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Takamiya Deposit) M Cambridge, Magdalene College, MS F.4.17 (James 17) 247 N Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, MS 6126 250 P London, Inner Temple Library, MS Petyt 524 253 Pl New York, Columbia University Library, MS Plimpton 257 257 R Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson C.285 (SC 12143) 260 Ry Liverpool, Liverpool University Library, MS Rylands F.4.10 267 x (olim Harmsworth) S London, British Library, MS Additional 22283 (Simeon) 270 Sr Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Library, MS Codex 218 293 (olim Stonor Park; Eng 8) St Clitheroe, Lancashire, UK, Stonyhurst College, MS A.vi.24 301 T Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.15.18 (James 354) 304 T2 Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.7.47 (James 1375) 313 U Oxford, University College, MS 28 318 V Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Eng. poet. a.1 (Vernon; SC 3938-42) 323 Wo Worcester, Worcester Cathedral Chapter Library, MS F.172 341 Ws London, Westminster School, MS 4 346 Works Cited 351 Appendix Two Latin Manuscripts of Scala associated with John Dygon of Sheen Jo Oxford, St. John's College, MS 77 385 Mo Oxford, Magdalen College, MS 141 (Lat. 141) 389 xi TABLE OF MANUSCRIPT SIGLA Note: The catalogue is in the alphabetical order of the sigla. Sigla Page Bakewell, Derbyshire, Chatsworth House Library and Archive Ch 143 Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Additional 6686 C 123 (olim Ashburnham-Young; Ashburnham, Addit. MS 140) Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Dd.v.55 D 146 Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Ee.iv.30 E 152 Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS Ff.v.40 F 156 Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS R.5 Cc 134 (olim James 268) Cambridge, Magdalene College, MS F.4.17 M 247 Cambridge, St.