Why are so many medievalists in a tizzy today? New docs!
Context: Geoffrey Chaucer, aka “the Father of English Literature,” aka that dude who was definitely on your Brit lit survey course, may or may not have paid $$ to settle and hush a rape case. In 1380. 1/
Context: Geoffrey Chaucer, aka “the Father of English Literature,” aka that dude who was definitely on your Brit lit survey course, may or may not have paid $$ to settle and hush a rape case. In 1380. 1/
What we have:
1. A court doc in which one Cecily Chaumpaigne releases him from the charge of “raptus.” (Rape…or abduction. Lotta ink spilled on that one.)
2. A more public and accessible court doc in which she releases him from stuff. Just…stuff. Unspecified. 2/
1. A court doc in which one Cecily Chaumpaigne releases him from the charge of “raptus.” (Rape…or abduction. Lotta ink spilled on that one.)
2. A more public and accessible court doc in which she releases him from stuff. Just…stuff. Unspecified. 2/
3. Records showing that his two buds paid her and then he paid those two pals the exact same amount.
That’s about it. We don’t have the original charge, just her releasing him from it. We’ve figured out a few things about Chaumpaigne, like she was almost certainly an adult. 3/
That’s about it. We don’t have the original charge, just her releasing him from it. We’ve figured out a few things about Chaumpaigne, like she was almost certainly an adult. 3/
.@SebSobecki and @euanroger have found mYsTeRiOuS new records and are releasing them in an hour and we are all SO HYPED
Wow do I do poorly with suspense
Anyway you can see the docs we already have at chaumpaigne.org 4/
Wow do I do poorly with suspense
Anyway you can see the docs we already have at chaumpaigne.org 4/
Why do we care? Well in my case, because Chaucer then writes repeatedly and well on nuances of consent. Just a handful of scenarios (very cw: SA):
What if she's asleep at the start but seems happy afterwards?
What if she's been maneuvered so it's sex or damage her reputation? 5/
What if she's asleep at the start but seems happy afterwards?
What if she's been maneuvered so it's sex or damage her reputation? 5/
What if she doesn't want anyone but the king who conquered her people—and the gods—order that she marry?
What if it's "yeah, suuure I'll sleep with you if you [impossible, magical task]" and then he DOES?
What if he thinks he's kissing her mouth, and instead gets her, um... 6/
What if it's "yeah, suuure I'll sleep with you if you [impossible, magical task]" and then he DOES?
What if he thinks he's kissing her mouth, and instead gets her, um... 6/
As the panel is going now, look here for my semi-incoherent updates:
https://twitter.com/annawaymack/status/1579853575215517698
And look here for Jonathan Hsy's clearer livetweets:
https://twitter.com/JonathanHsy/status/1579852356946374656
Tl;dr for the new records: did Chaucer rape Chaumpaigne? a) still the wrong question and b) looks like he got her out of someone else’s employ as a servant into his own for more $$. With her own cooperation.
Re: the records,
https://twitter.com/Bookhand/status/1579860950076706816
We got #Chaucer trending. Don't worry, folks, he's fine—still dead.
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