Chaucers Official Life | Page 3

on this point are from Skeat's life
of Chaucer prefixed to the single volume edition of the poet's works in
the Oxford series: [Footnote: p. XIII.] "As the duke of Gloucester was
ill disposed towards his brother John, it is probable that we can thus

account for the fact that, in December of this year, Chaucer was
dismissed from both his offices, of Comptroller of Wool and
Comptroller of Petty Customs, others being appointed in his place. This
sudden and great loss reduced the poet from comparative wealth to
poverty; he was compelled to raise money upon his pensions, which
were assigned to John Scalby on May 1, 1388." On the same page:
"1389. On May 3, Richard II suddenly took the government into his
own hands. John of Gaunt returned to England soon afterwards, and
effected an outward reconciliation between the King and the Duke of
Gloucester. The Lancastrian party was now once more in power, and
Chaucer was appointed Clerk of the King's Works," etc.
Closely connected with the question of Chaucer's relations with John of
Gaunt, and indeed fundamental to it--as the constant reference in the
foregoing extracts to the grants which Chaucer held would indicate--is
the problem of the significance of Chaucer's annuities, offices, and
diplomatic missions. Extracts from two writers on Chaucer's life will
show how this problem has been treated. Professor Hales in his D. N. B.
article [Footnote: 1 Vol. 10, p. 157.] says of the first pension from the
King: "This pension, it will be noticed, is given for good service done ...
The pension is separate from his pay as a 'valettus' and must refer to
some different service." Similarly Professor Lounsbury in his Studies in
Chaucer writes: [Footnote: 2 Vol. 1, p. 61.] "It is from the statement in
this document about services already rendered that the inference is
drawn that during these years he had been in close connection with the
court." In regard to the grant of the wardship of Edward Staplegate, he
says: [Footnote: 3 idem, p. 65.] "This was a common method of
rewarding favourites of the crown. In the roll which contains this grant
it is said to be conferred upon our beloved esquire." By way of
comment on the grant of a pitcher of wine daily, he writes: [Footnote: 4
idem, p. 63.] "Though never graced with the title of poet laureate,
Chaucer obtained at this same period what came to be one of the most
distinguishing perquisites which attached itself to that office in later
times." With regard to the offices: [Footnote: 5 idem, p. 66.] "Chaucer
was constantly employed in civil offices at home and in diplomatic
missions abroad. In both cases it is very certain that the positions he
filled were never in the nature of sinecures." As to the diplomatic
missions [Footnote: 6 idem, p. 70.] "their number and their variety,

treating as they do of questions of peace and war, show the versatility
of his talents as well as his wide knowledge of affairs. Nor can I avoid
feeling that his appointment upon so many missions, some of them of a
highly delicate and important nature, is presumptive evidence that he
was not a young man at the time and must therefore have been born
earlier than 1340.... these appointments are proofs that can hardly be
gainsaid of the value put upon his abilities and services. Then, as now,
there must have been plenty of persons of ample leisure and lofty
connections who [Footnote: I Vol. 10, p. 157.] [Footnote: 8 Vol. 1, p.
61.] [Footnote: idem, p. 65.] [Footnote: idem, p. 63.] [Footnote: idem, p.
66.] [Footnote: idem, p. 7 0.] were both ready and anxious to be
pressed into the service of the state. That these should have been passed
by, and a man chosen instead not furnished with high birth and already
furnished with other duties, is a fact which indicates, if it does not show
convincingly, the confidence reposed in his capacity and judgment."
With regard to the controllership, Professor Lounsbury writes:
[Footnote: Studies in Chaucer, p. 72.] "The oath which Chaucer took at
his appointment was the usual oath. ... He was made controller of the
port because he had earned the appointment by his services in various
fields, of activity, and because he was recognized as a man of business,
fully qualified to discharge its duties." [Footnote: idem, p.74.] "In 1385
he was granted a much greater favor" (than the right to have a deputy
for the petty customs). "On the 17th of February of that year he
obtained the privilege of nominating a permanent deputy. ... It is
possible that in the end it wrought him injury, so far as the retention of
the post was concerned".
A merely casual reading of such statements