The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland | Page 2

of law,
being to the Court; nor is it unlikely that the service of the father should
recommend the son.

It is universally agreed, that he was born in the second year of the reign
of King Edward III. A.D. 1328. His first studies were in the university
of Cambridge, and when about eighteen years of age he wrote his Court
of Love, but of what college he was is uncertain, there being no account
of him in the records of the University. From Cambridge he was
removed to Oxford in order to compleat his studies, and after a
considerable stay there, and a strict application to the public lectures of
the university, he became (says Leland) "a ready logician, a smooth
rhetorician, a pleasant poet, a great philosopher, an ingenious
mathematician, and a holy divine. That he was a great master in
astronomy, is plain by his discourses of the Astrolabe. That he was
versed in hermetic philosophy (which prevailed much at that time),
appears by his Tale of the Chanons Yeoman: His knowledge in divinity
is evident from his Parson's Tale, and his philosophy from the
Testament of Love." Thus qualified to make a figure in the world, he
left his learned retirement, and travelled into France, Holland, and other
countries, where he spent some of his younger days. Upon his return he
entered himself in the Inner Temple, where he studied the municipal
laws of the land. But he had not long prosecuted that dry study, till his
superior abilities were taken notice of by some persons of distinction,
by whole patronage he then approached the splendor of the court. The
reign of Edward III. was glorious and successful, he was a discerning
as well as a fortunate Monarch; he had a taste as well for erudition as
for arms; he was an encourager of men of wit and parts, and permitted
them to approach him, without reserve. At Edward's court nothing but
gallantry and a round of pleasure prevailed, and how well qualified our
poet was to shine in the soft circles, whoever has read his works, will
be at no loss to determine; but besides the advantages of his wit and
learning, he possessed those of person in a very considerable degree.
He was then about the age of thirty, of a fair beautiful complexion, his
lips red and full, his size of a just medium, and his air polished and
graceful, so that he united whatever could claim the approbation of the
Great, and charm the eyes of the Fair. He had abilities to record the
valour of the one, and celebrate the beauty of the other, and being
qualified by his genteel behaviour to entertain both, he became a
finished courtier. The first dignity to which we find him preferred, was
that of page to the king, a place of so much honour and esteem at that

time, that Richard II. leaves particular legacies to his pages, when few
others of his servants are taken notice of. In the forty-first year of
Edward III. he received as a reward of his services, an annuity of
twenty marks per ann. payable out of the Exchequer, which in those
days was no inconsiderable pension; in a year after he was advanced to
be of his Majesty's privy chamber, and a very few months to be his
shield bearer, a title, at that time, (tho' now extinct) of very great
honour, being always next the king's person, and generally upon signal
victories rewarded with military honours. Our poet being thus eminent
by his places, contracted friendships, and procured the esteem of
persons of the first quality. Queen Philippa, the Duke of Lancaster, and
his Duchess Blanch, shewed particular honour to him, and lady
Margaret the king's daughter, and the countess of Pembroke gave him
their warmest patronage as a poet. In his poems called the Romaunt,
and the Rose, and Troilus and Creseide, he gave offence to some court
ladies by the looseness of his description, which the lady Margaret
resented, and obliged him to atone for it, by his Legend of good
Women, a piece as chaste as the others were luxuriously amorous, and,
under the name of the Daisy, he veils lady Margaret, whom of all his
patrons he most esteemed.
Thus loved and honoured, his younger years were dedicated to pleasure
and the court. By the recommendation of the Dutchess Blanch, he
married one Philippa Rouet, sister to the guardianess of her grace's
children, who was a native of Hainault: He was then about thirty years
of age, and being fixed by marriage, the king began to employ him in
more public and advantageous posts. In the forty-sixth year of his
majesty's reign, Chaucer was sent to Venice in commission with others,
to treat with