George Ashby, A Prisoner's Reflections

Aline Douma (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Ed. by Natalie Hanna, University of Liverpool, Sebastian Sobecki, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1463

Places

England (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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Recommended Reading

A Prisoner’s Reflections

(henceforth:

Reflections

) is a Boethian poem written in 1463 by former signet scribe George Ashby while he was incarcerated in the Fleet prison. Starting with a lament on his present unfortunate circumstances, Ashby reflects on his happier days in the past, only to proceed with a poetical lesson to help both himself and his readers reconcile themselves with their worldly fate. Only one copy of the poem is known to exist today, in Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.3.19, a collection of fifteenth-century vernacular short lyrics as well as excerpts from larger poems such as John Lydgate’s

Fall of Princes

The poem’s author, George Ashby (c. 1385-1475), was scribe of the king’s signet seal for much of his professional career, from 1437 to 1461. He left royal

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1125 words

Citation: Douma, Aline. "A Prisoner's Reflections". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 November 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39165, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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