Literary interlude! Geoffrey Chaucer

‘A medieval literary interlude!

A good yarn puts everyone in a better  mood!

Whether they be of gentle tone, or even a little lewd!’

Geoffrey Chaucer

The man writing the yarns in the latter part of the 14th century was Geoffrey Chaucer, a man of many talents. He was a soldier, diplomat, administrator, Member of Parliament, gardener and a poet. Many would be impressed by this compelling man, including the royal family, especially King Edward III. Chaucer would remain in royal favour, with the ascension to the throne of Richard II and also under his successor, Henry IV in 1399 . To enjoy the pleasure of three kings over a period of forty years, during times of dangerous political intrigues in which many heads rolled, was an achievement in itself.

Chaucer was born in London around 1443 into a prosperous family of vintners.

‘Life is simply divine when you are partaking of the fruit of the vine!’

The Chaucer family’s connection to wine would continue in an unexpected vein, later in Geoffrey’s career. Chaucer would gain a fan in King Edward III, who admired his poetry. In recognition of his literary talents, the king in 1374, granted Chaucer a gallon of wine a day for the rest of his life.

King Edward III.

‘My dear Chaucer, thou dost write many a fine poetic line!

So I am rewarding you with a daily ration of  delicious vintage wine!’

Geoffrey Chaucer

In fact, Chaucer had caught the eye of King Edward III as a teenager, long before his literary career had borne fruit. In 1359, he sailed to France as a soldier in one of Edward’s military expeditions. However, he was captured by French forces at the siege of Rheims and held for ransom.

The siege of Rheims.

The king happily paid the princely sum of £16 (more than £11,000 in today’s money) for young Geoffrey’s safe return. The king remarked:

‘Oh yonder Geoffrey, a lad so fair and handsome!

For his safe return, I will gladly pay the requested ransom!’

It is likely that the king considered the ransom fee as money well spent. Chaucer would go on to serve the crown as a diplomat, travelling to France, Italy and Spain during the 1360’s. He must have made an impression, as King Edward awarded Chaucer a pension of 20 marks for services rendered.

Geoffrey Chaucer married the politically connected Philippa Roet, the two having met as children in the household of Elizabeth of Ulster. They probably had four children and Philippa died around 1387.

To be a pilgrim.

‘You know, life can at times, be a trifle grim!

Well, liven it up by going forth and becoming a pilgrim!’

There was no such thing as a holiday in medieval times, because few people left the area in which they were born. Although the term holiday is derived from ‘holy days’ when people would meet to enjoy sports and a little feasting with their neighbours at the local church. However, some people would be lucky enough to travel on a pilgrimage to one of England’s many holy shrines. The pilgrimages gave rise to an industry rather like today’s commercial tourism. The places where they were located would of course offer accommodation and food to the pilgrims, as well as souvenirs to take home. One of the most famous and frequently visited places of pilgrimage was the shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer decided that a pilgrimage to Canterbury was a basis for a good story and the result was The Canterbury Tales.

The Canterbury Tales is undoubtedly Chaucer’s most well known work. It is a story of a group of pilgrims who set off from the Tabard Inn in London for their destination, the shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral.

Medieval pilgrims en route to a shrine.

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In his masterpiece, Chaucer vividly describes the characters, and their stories give a lively insight  into a slice of late medieval life. Pilgrimages were an important aspect of the medieval kaleidoscope and were undertaken for a variety of reasons. One might embark on a pilgrimage in order to atone for past sins and therefore receive a shorter sentence in purgatory.

‘My pilgrimage is a holy mission!

A journey of abject and sincere contrition!’

The Pardoner.

‘I beg your pardon!

Purgatory sure ain’t no rose garden!’

One of the characters in Chaucer’s epic work was the pardoner in the Pardoner’s Tale. The Catholic Church was the only religion of any significance in medieval times and it exercised great influence over the people. It taught people to think of the next world rather than the present one and the importance of doing good and avoiding sin. Priests would regale their congregations about the sublime rewards of heaven and the agonies of the fires of hell.

Purgatory was a half way house where the dead would suffer unspeakable torments before being admitted to heaven. However, a sinner might avoid a long stint in purgatory if they were to pay for the privilege. This is where the pardoner came in.

The Pardoner.

‘Today, people might call the pardoner, a cynical old religious freak!

But in those days, they simply marvelled at his amazing selling technique!’

The Pardoner was authorised by the Church to sell ‘indulgences’, a fee for spending less time in purgatory. The service raised huge sums of money for the Church as well as making people feel better about themselves..

Others would go in order to ask for divine intervention in the case of a loved one being afflicted by a terrible illness. Another reason for becoming a pilgrim would be to give thanks to God for deliverance from sickness. The Canterbury Tales was written towards the end of Chaucer’s life and remained unfinished at his death in 1400. Nevertheless, it is regarded as a truly great work of English literature and is studied in educational establishments all over the world to this very day.

Chaucer died in London in October, 1400 and is interred in what is now known as Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.