N GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340-1400) OT until the time of Chaucer did the business man play any considerable part in Middle English literature. Occasionally he is mentioned in the earlier romances and historical pieces. But these were chiefly about the nobles and their entertainments or romantic experiences. They seldom touched the worker and his daily occupations. The political and social change in the last half of the fourteenth century, however, brought the people of the middle and lower classes to the attention of the writers. As soon as these classes gained an important place in the life of the time, they appeared in its literature. Chaucer himself was essentially a business man, who wrote his poetry after the day's work was done. From 1370 he held various positions in the diplomatic and political service of his country. He seems to have been particularly interested in commercial affairs. In 1372 the Genoese were negotiating concerning a port in England as a commercial base. Chaucer was sent with two others to Genoa to discuss this matter, which was probably carried to a successful conclusion. On June 8, 1374, he became Comptroller of the Customs and Subsidy of Wools, Skins, and Tanned Hides in London. He was required to perform the duties in pèrson. This suggests that he had the requisite knowledge for the position and that the appointment was not a political sinecure. In 1382 he was appointed Comptroller of the Petty Customs of London. He was also sent by the king on several missions to France and Italy. Apparently his labors had become burdensome, for in 1385 he was allowed to appoint a permanent deputy in his Comptroller's office. When a new political party assumed control in 1386, Chaucer lost his Comptrollerships. But he was soon to receive political employment again, for in 1389 his party returned to power. From then until 1393 he was clerk of the King's Works. This office demanded the superintending of repairs to public buildings. As he did not receive another appointment, it is probable that during his last years he suffered from financial difficulties. At least his Compleint to his Empty Purse, addressed to the new king, implies as much. In The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales Chaucer describes a group of twenty-nine pilgrims who had assembled at the Tabard Inn as a starting place for the Spring Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Thomas à Becket at Canterbury. Among these were several business and professional men who were taking a short vacation and performing a religious duty at the same time. From the selections given here a general idea of the appearance and characteristics of the commercial class of the fourteenth century may be gained. The last selection is a short poem addressed by Chaucer to his copyist or secretary, who was as prone to carelessness as some of the modern secretaries. The text used is based on Skeat's text in The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. A MERCHANT A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, 9 10 6 With his bargaynes, and with his chevisaunce.12 But sooth to seyn, I noot 13 how men him calle. MEMBERS OF THE GUILDS An HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER, It is full fair to been y-clept 27 "ma dame",28 And have a mantel royalliche y-bore. A MAUNCIPLE A gentil MAUNCIPLE 30 was ther of a temple, For whether that he payde, or took by taille,3 pace 32 36 Of which ther were a dozeyn in that hous, To make him live by his propre good,88 In any cas that mighte falle or happe; 41 And yit this maunciple sette hir aller cappe. CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM HIS OWNE SCRIVEYN ADAM Scriveyn, if ever it thee bifalle Boece 42 43 or Troilus to wryten newe, Under thy lokkes thou most have the scalle, But after my making thou wryte trewe.11 So ofte a daye I mot 45 thy werk renewe, Hit to correcte and eek 46 to rubbe and scrape; And al is through thy negligence and rape. A JOHN LYDGATE (1370?-1451?) VISITOR to fifteenth century London soon discovered that he must have a full purse to enjoy the pleasures of the city. London was fast becoming a commercial metropolis, where competition was keen. The members of the guilds had their shops located in the most advantageous positions for their trade. In one section goods imported from Paris were sold; in another, products of English manufacture; and in a third, pastry and agricultural products. The guilds attempted to regulate competition and prices and to protect their members from the foreign merchants. The various shopkeepers cried their wares to the prospective customers and urged them to purchase. This was their chief method of advertising. In his poem London Lack-Penny Lydgate recounted the experiences of one who came to London without any money. Although Lydgate was a monk in the Monastery of Bury St. Edmunds, he had little liking for a monastic life. Undoubtedly he would have preferred a life similar to Chaucer's. He was an admirer and follower of this poet but lacked the ability of his master. For the subject matter of the majority of his poems, he chose the classical stories. In a few of his minor poems, however, he gave descriptions of his own time. The selection is taken from one of these. The first part of the poem describes how a poor man who had been defrauded tried to obtain justice in Westminster. Neither lawyer, judge, nor clerk would pay any attention to him because he had no money. When he left Westminster Hall, he wandered through the city and had the experiences related in the following stanzas. LONDON LACKPENNY Within this hall,1 neither rich nor yet poor, |