about 1380 AT HOME. Chaucer sent on a mission to A.D. France (Stowe, Annals). 1377 Death of Edward III, and accession of Richard II. The Vision of Piers Plowman (B-text). Wycliffe condemned by papal bull Bible translated into English by Wycliffe (The work must have begun earlier, as it is alluded to in the B-text of Piers Plowman.) Poll-tax of 12 pence levied upon all persons above fifteen years of age Wat Tyler's Rebellion Chaucer is appointed Comptroller of the Petty Cus toms ? Chaucer's Troilus Death of Wycliffe ? Chaucer's Hous of Fame. ? Chaucer's Legende of Good Women. Chaucer dismissed from his 1384 وو 1387 1389 the Austrians at Näfels. 1389 set. 1392-8 Battle of Nicopolis 1396 1397 1397-8 1398 1399 1400 * See p. xiv. Chaucer as Forester of North Petherton Park, Co. SomerThe Earls of March were Foresters of North Petherton under the King, and appointed substitutionary foresters. Among the appointments are these: lxii CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF N. PETHERTON PARK. 10 Ric. II (June 1386-7). the Earl of March. Richard Brittle, by the appointment of '14 Ric. II (June 1390-1). Richard Brittle and Gefferey Chaucer, by the appointment of the Earl of March (Roger, who died July 20, 1398). 21 Ric. II (June 1397-8). Gefferey Chaucer, by Alianor, Countess of March.' Collinson, Hist. and Antiq. of the Co. of Somerset, iii. 62. I take Chaucer's first appointment to be a joint one with Brittle, and suppose that this continued till Chaucer was made sole Forester by Lady March, probably while her husband was lying on his death-bed. Mr. Floyd, however, who found the entries, and Mr. Walford D. Selby, who wrote on them in the Athenæum, Nov. 20, 1886, and Life Records of Chaucer, ii. p. 117 (Chaucer Soc. 1886), both better authorities than I, hold that as a joint appointment is most unusual, R. Brittle was Forester until 14 Ric. II; that in that year, that is, between June 22, 1390, and June 21, 1391, Chaucer succeeded him, and remained Forester till his own death in 1400. Earl Roger died July 29, 1398, and soon after, his widow appointed Chaucer, that is, continued him in his office. Collinson should therefore read 22 Ric. II (June 1398-9), not 21. I doubt.-F. J. F. |