The Dominican friar Vincent of Beauvais compiled the 'Speculum Maius' (The Great Mirror) at the monastery of Beauvais, France, under the patronage of King Louis IX. This gargantuan Latin compilation was the most comprehensive encyclopedia in the Western world during the late medieval period, divided into three parts reflecting nature, doctrine, and history. It synthesized thousands of passages from Christian, classical, and Islamic scholars, aiming to provide a total cosmic view of creation.

The 'Speculum Maius' served as an invaluable thematic repository for late-medieval vernacular writers. Geoffrey Chaucer drew extensively upon Vincent's encyclopedic narratives to construct the philosophical background and classical illusions featured throughout 'The Canterbury Tales'.