JOHN OF GAUNT CHAUCER'S PATRON.

31

was devised by a woman. Isaure, Countess of Tholouse, founded the famous floral games, in which he who had produced the finest poem was crowned with a golden violet. It was from this institution that Chaucer derived his allegory. The fantastic custom of thus rewarding the professors of the gay science, soon obtained throughout France.

The charming conceits, the exquisite descriptions, the noble moral infused throughout the whole of this poem, the 'Flowre and the Leafe,' are characteristic of the best parts of . Chaucer's nature of the best productions of his genius. The grossness of many of his poems was characteristic, as Warton justly observes, ' of his age.' 'We are apt,' he adds, 'to form romantic and exaggerated notions about the moral innocence of our ancestors. Ages of ignorance and simplicity are thought to be ages of purity.' We find not only in the productions of Chaucer, but in those of similar periods, that this is an error. Rude periods have that grossness of manners which is not less friendly to virtue than luxury itself.' 'Men,' we still quote from Warton, are less ashamed as they are less polished.' Refinement, at all events, suppresses public licentiousness.

But circumstances occurred to elevate the tone of a mind full of virtuous resolve, and ennobled by faith in Christianity. One of the fruits of Chaucer's success at Court was the patronage of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward the Third, and the friendship of the accomplished Duchess Blanch. This illustrious couple soon invited Chaucer to reside in their family; they even wished him to marry one of their especial and favourite protegées. Among the suite of Blanch was Catherine Rouer, the daughter of Sir Payne Rouer, a native of Hainault and Guienne, King at Arms. Catherine was the widow of Sir John Swynford of Lincoln, and held, at that time, the office of governess to the children of John of Gaunt; she was, also, his acknowledged mistress. She had been domesticated in his family before her marriage; she now returned to it

32

CHAUCER'S SUCCESS IN LIFE.

in this double capacity, and her children were subsequently legitimatized by Act of Parliament. Catherine had a sister, named Philippa; and, with the full approval of his patron, Chaucer, then in the very flower of his age, was married to this lady. The alliance added considerably to his influence at Court. He was now overwhelmed with honours and gifts: first, a pension of twenty marks per annum (afterwards doubled) was bestowed on him; next he was appointed one of the gentlemen of the Privy Chamber; then he was deputed to hold the now extinct honour of Shield-Bearer to the King; so that he was always near the royal person, and, in case of important victories taking place, was entitled to signal rewards. He was afterwards sent to Genoa to hire ships for the King's use-for we had then but few ships of our own, and were obliged to hire them where we could-and on his return, was made Comptroller of the Customs of the Port of London for wood, for wood-fells, and for hides; one stipulation was that he should personally execute his office, and keep the accounts with his own hand. So well did Chaucer fulfil his trust that the King granted him, besides a pension, a pitcher of wine daily in the port of London, to be delivered by the butler of England. Chaucer's success in his various employments takes away the reproach from poets as being unfit for common life. His diligence and honesty brought his reward in the accumulation of a fortune amounting to a thousand a year; in the enjoyment of which, at that time a large income, he lived with dignity. The confidential servant of his sovereign, it does not, however, appear that he arrived at any other honour, in spite of the gold chain which he wore around his neck, and which is depicted in the original portrait of this great writer. It is supposed, however, to have been his insignia of office as Comptroller of the Customs.

6

Whilst all earthly prosperity seemed to attend the career of Chaucer, John Wickliffe, the morning star of the Reformation,' was preparing the minds of the higher classes for the

HIS COMPLAINT OF THE BLACK KNIGHT.'

-

33

great blessings which were afterwards permitted to visit this country. The lower classes were, in those times, devoted to the Romanist faith, but cultivated intellects hailed the fearless censures of Wickliffe, his exposure of corruption, his attack on transubstantiation, and his declaration that he would seal his opinions with his blood; and these striking announcements, coming in an age of the deepest mental subjection, and of the darkest credulity, found a ready response in the heart of Chaucer. The death of Edward the Black Prince, the youth of Richard the Second, the heir apparent,-the great popularity of the Duke of Lancaster, all contributed to the importance of that movement which was now stirring within the pale of the Church itself. Hitherto Chaucer's muse had been exercised in lively and courtly themes; amongst which, his Complaint of the Black Knight,' written in honour of John of Gaunt's courtship of the Duchess Blanch, was amongst the most elegant. But he now applied his versatile talents to other themes, and attacked the ignorant and indolent monks and priests, whose vices, he thought, injured the faith in which Chaucer was ever a believer. Centuries afterwards a tribute was paid to the share that Chaucer had in opening men's eyes, by John Fox, in his 'Acts and Monuments.' Chaucer,' he observes, seems to have been a right Wicklevian, or else there never was any; * and that all his works almost, if they be thoroughly advised will testify, (albeit it be done in mirth and covertly,) and especially the latter end of his third book of the Testament of Love; for there purely he toucheth the highest matter, that is, the Communion; wherein, except a man be altogether blind, he may espy him at the full. Although in the same book (as in all others he useth to do), under shadows covertly, as under a vizor, he suborneth truth in some such sort, as both privily she may profit the godlyminded, and not be espied of the crafty adversary.

And

VOL. I.

* Biog. Art. Chaucer.

D

34

6

CHAUCER'S TESTAMENT OF LOVE.'

therefore the bishops belike, taking his words but for jest and toys, in condemning other books, yet permitted his books to be read.' And to these remarks Fox adds that many persons were converted by Chaucer's works, among which he mentions the Tale of a Ploughman,' one of the poems

ascribed to the Poet.

The insurrection of the bigoted citizens; their attack on the beautiful palace of the Savoy, the residence of John of Gaunt; the negotiations with France, in which Chaucer was accredited as envoy,-are important events belonging to history, and not to the annals of social life. One thing is remarkable grants as well as honours had signalized Chaucer's career; but there must be something combustible in literature, which seems, to use a vulgar proverb, 'to burn a candle at both ends,' or, to adopt another metaphor, something that makes to itself wings to fly away-in money gained by authorship; for soon after the accession of Richard the Second, Chaucer's debts and difficulties had become so considerable, that he was obliged to throw himself on the protection of the King to save him from his creditors.

6

After this era Chaucer's whole life was tinged with gloom. The times were indeed out of joint.' John of Gaunt's influence had declined; the name and fortune of Chaucer had been mixed up with the insurrections of Wat Tyler and of Jack Straw; his patron, it was even asserted, disowned the doctrines of Wickliffe, and called them the doctrine of devils;' but this is supposed to have been erroneous. Chaucer, however, stood firm; his advice to John of Northampton, then Mayor of London, to reform the city on Wickleian principles, imperilled his safety, and the weak King Richard gave orders for his arrest, and Chaucer fled first to Hainault, and afterwards to Zealand. Here he wrote his Testament of Love,' that admirable treatise in which his burthened heart gave vent to the sorrows which were almost too heavy for him to sustain. Many were the impoverished exiles around

6

RETIRES TO DUNNINGTON CASTLE.

35

him in that foreign land. He relieved them for a time; but treacherous men at home stopped his remittances. He then, rashly perhaps - but to avoid starvation

came over to

England. Here he was thrown into prison, and only set at liberty after his endeavours to restore the peace of the city, and to obtain certain concessions which were made to the King.

Harassed, calumniated, weary of the world, Chaucer now resolved to retire for ever from the court life which he had loved so well. He fixed upon Woodstock as his future home. Had he written no other book, his 'Testament of Love' would at once have immortalized his name, and shown forth his own true character. In it he taught the knowledge of one very God our Creator, as also the state of grace and the state of glory, all which good things are figured by a Margarite Pearl.' 'In this work we see,' writes one of Chaucer's biographers, a great philosopher broken by misfortunes, deserted by companions, and exposed to the censure of an evil world, delivering himself in a prison with freedom and spirit, though in the language of sorrow; painting in the boldest colours his own mistakes as well as those of others, and pointing out the sole recreations that are left when a man is abandoned by fortune and friends.'

It was at this era that John of Gaunt married the Lady Catherine Swynford, the sister of Chaucer's wife. This was a step that astonished the world, for Catherine had long since bid adieu both to youth and beauty; yet the old attachment felt for her by the Duke had revived. For a time the fortunes of Chaucer were benefited by this alliance; but the death of the Duke of Lancaster again crushed all his hopes. He retreated to Dunnington Castle, where he witnessed the revolution which placed Henry of Lancaster upon the throne, and verified the circumstance related by Froissart, who, whilst in attendance upon Queen Philippa at Berkhamstead, heard an ancient knight expounding to the maids of honour