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 the Doge and Senate of Genoa, about affairs of great importance to our state.  The duke of Lancaster, whose favourite passion was ambition, which demanded the assistance of learned