About a Steward
In Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales,' the historical significance of the Manciple's tale is that it is adapted from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses.' Ovid chronicled the history of the world from its beginning to the glorification of Julius Caesar, in a combination historical and mythological form.
The manciple was a purchaser of provisions, usually for a university.
The Manciple is a person who is put in charge of the acquisition of food and supplies for the " Temple" an inn at court where lawyers live and gather. This manciple is portrayed by the narrator as being somewhat dishonest. Although admitting to being "unlearned", he boosts of somehow always being able to come out ahead of his learned clientele financially.
The manciple was a type of officer in charge of purchasing provisions for a college or other institution. In medieval times, the manciple was considered a lower-ranking official among the various officers of an institution, such as a monastery or college.
A manciple had the job of overseeing purchase and storage of food for such organizations as monasteries, colleges, courts, and so on.
The manciple traveled with the group of pilgrims in Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales." He was responsible for purchasing provisions for the group.
The Pardoner's prologue shows him openly admitting to deceiving people for profit, while the Manciple's prologue portrays him as a wise and prudent person. The Pardoner is dishonest and manipulative, while the Manciple is portrayed as trustworthy and astute.
A manciple was someone who oversaw and organised the storage of food, so today it would be quite different. Since most food is quickly consumed, little is stored, so today a manciple would unlikely be necessary on a national basis. A manciple was also a steward of a monastery. Today, he would assumably be the same.
Yes, the manciple in Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is described as being illiterate or poorly educated, but he is portrayed as clever and shrewd in managing his finances and handling his responsibilities as a steward.
There are actually more than five pilgrims on the pilgrimage in the Canterbury tales (though not all of them tells a tale, they are as follows): *The Knight, and his *Squire, The Yeoman, The Nun, the *Prioress, the *Second Nun, and the *Nun's Priest, (note that there appear to be two other priests who do not have tales and are never heard from again after the mention of the prioress's "preetes three." *The Monk, *The Friar, *The Merchant, *The Oxford Scholar (or clerk), *The Man of Law, *The Franklin, The Haberdassher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer and Rugmaker (none of whom tell tales, to my knowledge), *The Cook, the *Reve and the *Miller *The Shipman, *The Doctor of Medicine, *The Wife of Bath, *The Parson and the Plowman, *The Sommoner and *Pardoner *The Manciple *Chaucer himself As well as the Cannon and his *Yeoman (who randomly appear later in the tales) And the Host (I almost forgot him) *'s indicate those who tell a tale
In the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer portrays the Manciple as a dishonest person who always makes a profit on his purchases. Chaucer also ironically praises his financial wisdom that enables him to hoodwink his masters who are the best-learned lawyers in the country.
He wore knickers which were like shorts,and no other clothing!