Nigel de Longchamps, also known as Nigel Wireker, (fl. c. 1190, died c. 1200),[1]Neel de Longchamps, or Nigel of Canterbury, was an Anglo-Normansatirist and poet of the late twelfth century, writing in Latin. He is known to have been a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, from 1186 to 1193, and perhaps earlier (he claims to have met Thomas Becket, killed in 1170).
He is the author of the Speculum stultorum (A Mirror of Fools), a satire in Latin elegiac verse on the clergy and society in general. The hero is Burnellus, or Brunellus, a foolish ass, who goes in search of a means of lengthening his tail. Brunellus first visits Salernum to obtain drugs for this purpose. However, he loses these when attacked by a Cistercian monk with dogs. He then goes to Paris to study, but makes no progress there, being unable to remember the city's name after eight years of study. He then decides to join a religious order, but instead founds a new one by taking the easiest parts from the rules of other orders. Finally, his master recaptures him.
Many other short Latin poems from a thirteenth-century manuscript are attributed to him, along with a prose treatise, Contra Curiales et Officinales Clericos. This treatise is an affectionate reproof to William Longchamp the Chancellor, in his role as Bishop of Ely. Wireker takes his intimate friend (possibly a relative) to task for attempting to combine Church with State.
Bibliographyedit
Miracles of the Virgin; Tract on Abuses, ed. and trans. Jan M. Ziolkowski and Ronald E. Pepin, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 75 (Cambridge, MA, 2022) – facing-page Latin text and English translation
A Mirror for Fools: The Book of Burnel the Ass, trans. John H. Mozley (Oxford, 1961) – English translation
Speculum Stultorum, ed. John H. Mozley and Robert R. Raymo (Berkeley, 1960) – critical edition of the Latin text
The Book of Daun Burnel the Ass: Nigellus Wireker's Speculum Stultorum, trans. Graydon W. Regenos (Austin, 1959) – English translation
Ward, Catalogue of Romances (London, 1883–93)
Wright, The Anglo-Latin Satirical Poets (London, 1874)
Image from Speculum Stultorum From The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Digital Library
January 01, 1970
nigel, longchamps, also, known, nigel, wireker, 1190, died, 1200, neel, longchamps, nigel, canterbury, anglo, norman, satirist, poet, late, twelfth, century, writing, latin, known, have, been, monk, christ, church, canterbury, from, 1186, 1193, perhaps, earlie. Nigel de Longchamps also known as Nigel Wireker fl c 1190 died c 1200 1 Neel de Longchamps or Nigel of Canterbury was an Anglo Norman satirist and poet of the late twelfth century writing in Latin He is known to have been a monk of Christ Church Canterbury from 1186 to 1193 and perhaps earlier he claims to have met Thomas Becket killed in 1170 Contents 1 Works 1 1 Speculum stultorum 1 2 Other works 2 Bibliography 3 Notes 4 External linksWorks editSpeculum stultorum edit He is the author of the Speculum stultorum A Mirror of Fools a satire in Latin elegiac verse on the clergy and society in general The hero is Burnellus or Brunellus a foolish ass who goes in search of a means of lengthening his tail Brunellus first visits Salernum to obtain drugs for this purpose However he loses these when attacked by a Cistercian monk with dogs He then goes to Paris to study but makes no progress there being unable to remember the city s name after eight years of study He then decides to join a religious order but instead founds a new one by taking the easiest parts from the rules of other orders Finally his master recaptures him The poem was immensely popular for centuries Under the title Daun Burnel the Asse it is mentioned by Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales in the Nun s Priest s Tale Other works edit Many other short Latin poems from a thirteenth century manuscript are attributed to him along with a prose treatise Contra Curiales et Officinales Clericos This treatise is an affectionate reproof to William Longchamp the Chancellor in his role as Bishop of Ely Wireker takes his intimate friend possibly a relative to task for attempting to combine Church with State Bibliography editMiracles of the Virgin Tract on Abuses ed and trans Jan M Ziolkowski and Ronald E Pepin Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 75 Cambridge MA 2022 facing page Latin text and English translation A Mirror for Fools The Book of Burnel the Ass trans John H Mozley Oxford 1961 English translation Speculum Stultorum ed John H Mozley and Robert R Raymo Berkeley 1960 critical edition of the Latin text The Book of Daun Burnel the Ass Nigellus Wireker s Speculum Stultorum trans Graydon W Regenos Austin 1959 English translation Ward Catalogue of Romances London 1883 93 Wright The Anglo Latin Satirical Poets London 1874 Notes edit Library of Congress LCCN Permalink n86094078 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 Nigel New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead External links editImage from Speculum Stultorum From The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Digital Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nigel de Longchamps amp oldid 1215664243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
