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and burgesses of the town； summoned to assist the royal councils；
deliberated in separate chambers or halls； but in the reign of
Edward III。 the representatives of the knights of the shires and
the burgesses united their interests and formed a body strong
enough to check royal encroachments； and became known henceforth as
the House of Commons。 In thirty years this body had wrested from
the Crown the power of arbitrary taxation； had forced upon it new
ministers； and had established the principle that the redress of
grievances preceded grants of supply。 Edward III。 was compelled to
grant twenty parliamentary confirmations of Magna Charta。 At the
close of his reign； it was conceded that taxes could be raised only
by consent of the Commons； and they had sufficient power； also； to
prevent the collection of the tax which the Pope had levied on the
country since the time of John； called Peter's Pence。 The latter
part of the fourteenth century must not be regarded as an era of
the triumph of popular rights； but as the period when these rights
began to be asserted。 Long and dreary was the march of the people
to complete political enfranchisement from the rebellion under Wat
Tyler to the passage of the Reform Bill in our times。 But the
Commons made a memorable stand against Edward III。 when he was the
most powerful sovereign of western Europe； one which would have
been impossible had not this able and ambitious sovereign been
embroiled in desperate war both with the Scotch and French。
With the assertion of political rights we notice the beginning of
commercial enterprise and manufacturing industry。 A colony of
Flemish weavers was established in England by the enlightened king；
although wool continued to be exported。 It was not until the time
of Elizabeth that the raw material was consumed at home。
Still； the condition of the common people was dreary enough at this
time； when compared with what it is in our age。 They perhaps were
better fed on the necessities of life than they are now。 All meats
were comparatively cheaper； but they had no luxuries； not even
wheaten bread。 Their houses were small and dingy； and a single
chamber sufficed for a whole family； both male and female。 Neither
glass windows nor chimneys were then in use； nor knives nor forks；
nor tea nor coffee； not even potatoes； still less tropical fruits。
The people had neither bed…clothes； nor carpets； nor glass nor
crockery ware； nor cotton dresses； nor books； nor schools。 They
were robbed by feudal masters； and cheated and imposed upon by
friars and pedlers； but a grim cheerfulness shone above their
discomforts and miseries； and crime was uncommon and severely
punished。 They amused themselves with rough sports； and cherished
religious sentiments。 They were brave and patriotic。
It was to describe the habits and customs of these people； as well
as those of the classes above them； to give dignity to consecrated
sentiments and to shape the English language； that Chaucer was
raised up。
He was born； it is generally supposed； in the year 1340； but
nothing is definitely known of him till 1357； when Edward III。 had
been reigning about thirty years。 It is surmised that his father
was a respectable citizen of London； that he was educated at
Cambridge and Oxford； that he went to Paris to complete his
education in the most famous university in the world； that he then
extensively travelled in France； Holland； and Flanders； after which
he became a student of law in the Inner Temple。 Even then he was
known as a poet； and his learning and accomplishments attracted the
attention of Edward III。； who was a patron of genius； and who gave
him a house in Woodstock； near the royal palace。 At this time
Chaucer was a handsome； witty； modest； dignified man of letters； in
easy circumstances； moving in the higher ranks of society； and
already known for his 〃Troilus and Cresseide；〃 which was then
doubtless the best poem in the language。
It was then that the intimacy began between him and John of Gaunt；
a youth of eighteen； then Earl of Richmond； fourth son of Edward
III。； afterwards known as the great Duke of Lancaster；the most
powerful nobleman that ever lived in England； also the richest；
possessing large estates in eighteen counties； as well as six
earldoms。 This friendship between the poet and the first prince of
the blood； after the Prince of Wales； seems to have arisen from the
admiration of John of Gaunt for the genius and accomplishments of
Chaucer； who was about ten years the elder。 It was not until the
prince became the Duke of Lancaster that he was the friend and
protector of Wyclif；and from different reasons； seeing that the
Oxford scholar and theologian could be of use to him in his warfare
against the clergy； who were hostile to his ambitious designs。
Chaucer he loved as a bright and witty companion； Wyclif he honored
as the most learned churchman of the age。
The next authentic event in Chaucer's life occurred in 1359； when
he accompanied the king to France in that fruitless expedition
which was soon followed by the peace of Bretigny。 In this
unfortunate campaign Chaucer was taken prisoner； but was ransomed
by his sovereign for 16 pounds；about equal to 300 pounds in these
times。 He had probably before this been installed at court as a
gentleman of the bedchamber； on a stipend which would now be equal
to 250 pounds a year。 He seems to have been a favorite with the
court； after he had written his first great poem。 It is singular
that in a rude and ignorant age poets should have received much
greater honor than in our enlightened times。 Gower was patronized
by the Duke of Gloucester； as Chaucer was by the Duke of Lancaster；
and Petrarch and Boccaccio were in Italy by princes and nobles。
Even learning was held in more reverence in the fourteenth century
than it is in the nineteenth。 The scholastic doctor was one of the
great dignitaries of the age； as well as of the schools； and ranked
with bishops and abbots。 Wyclif at one time was the most
influential man in the English Church； sitting in Parliament； and
sent by the king on important diplomatic missions。 So Chaucer；
with less claim； received valuable offices and land…grants； which
made him a wealthy man； and he was also sent on important missions
in the company of nobles。 He lived at the court。 His son Thomas
married one of the richest heiresses in the kingdom； and became
speaker of the House of Commons； while his daughter Alice married
the Duke of Suffolk； whose grandson was declared by Richard III。 to
be his heir； and came near becoming King of England。 Chaucer's
wife's sister married the Duke of Lancaster himself； so he was
allied with the royal family； if not by blood； at least by
ambitious marriage connections。
I know of no poet in the history of England who occupied so high a
social position as did Chaucer； or who received so many honors。
The poet of the people was the companion of kings and princes。 At
one time he had a reverse of fortune； when his friend and patron；
the Duke of Lancaster； was in disgrace and in voluntary banishment
during the minority of Richard II。； against whom he had intrigued；
and who afterwards was dethroned by Henry IV。； a son of the Duke of
Lancaster。 While the Duke of Gloucester was in power； Chaucer was
deprived of his offices and revenues for two or three years； and
was even imprisoned in the Tower； but when Lancaster returned from
the Continent； his offices and revenues were restored。 His latter
days were luxurious and honored。 At fifty…one he gave up his
public duties as a collector of customs； chiefly on wool； and
retired to Woodstock and spent the remainder of his fortunate life
in dignified leisure and literary labors。 In addition to his
revenues； the Duke of Lancaster； who was virtually the ruler of the
land during the reign of Richard II。； gave him the castle of
Donnington； with its park and gardens； so that he became a man of
territorial influence。 At the age of fifty…eight he removed to
London； and took a house in the precincts of Westminster Abbey；
where the chapel of Henry VII。 now stands。 He died the following
year； and was buried in the Abbey church；that sepulchre of
princes and bishops and abbots。 His body was deposited in the
place now known as the Poets' Corner； and a fitting monument to his
genius was erected over his remains； as the first great poet that
had appeared in England； probably only surpassed in genius by
Shakspeare； until the language assumed its present form。 He was
regarded as a moral phenomenon； whom kings and princes delighted to
honor。 As Leonardo da Vinci died in the arms of Francis I。； so
Chaucer rested in his grave near the bodies of those sovereigns and
princes with whom he lived in intimacy and friendship。 It was the
rarity of his gifts； his great attainments； elegant manners； and
refined tastes which ma