pre

tion, in the Testament of Love, of the tences and modes of reasoning brought forward by the party he embraced, coincides, says Mr. Godwin, "*in so many particulars with Walsingham's account of the proceedings of John of Northampton, that it is almost impossible to doubt that these were the proceedings in which the poet found himself so deeply entangled." That the Testament of Love, which authenticates the history of his durance, was not written till after the close of the year 1386, may be gathered from a comparison of his own words with the date of the appointments to situations, bestowed son others, of which he had been deprived. These were the offices of Comptroller of the Customs in the Port of London, and Comptroller of the Small Customs; of which the former was bestowed on Adam Yerdely, and the latter on Henry Gisons, in the December of 1386. His own words are: "Thy worldly godes ben fulliche dispente, and thou berafte out of dignitie of office."

*Life of Chaucer, ch. 50,

+ Proved from the Tower-Records, both in this and the following instance, by Mr. Godwin. Life of Chaucer ch. 50.

Test. ed. Urr. p. 490. col. 2.

But the date of his imprisonment may, without impropriety, be considered as somewhat anteriour to these deprivations. At this period, Vere, Earl of Oxford, the favourite of the king, exercised the most unbounded authority; nor ceased to influence the unhappy Richard till at least towards the close of the following year.

In his confinement the poet, as Mr. Godwin well remarks, "recollected his former pursuits, the cherished visions of his happier days, and became again an author;" alluding to his composition of the Testament of Love. Nor is it improbable that he was forbidden, as Mr. Godwin adds, "§ the visits of his friends; but by the magick power of fancy he called about him celestial visitants." Such cheering visitation is indeed || avowed in the first of the poems, contained in this division of the Illustrations. This poem also, frequently in the very words which describe similar feelings in the Testament of Love,

+ Compare all our historians, under the years 1386, 1387. Life of Chaucer, ch. 50.

§ Ibid.

See the poem, p. 299.

faithfully I belevyd

That the voyce came from the celestyall place.

deplores the loss of comforts which had been enjoyed, specifies the gloomy situation into which he was brought, and at the same time consoles the heart with religious sentiments. *Phrases also of particular and striking import in other parts of Chaucer's Works, are found in this poem. The poem, which follows, presents resemblance likewise to the Testament of Love in its allegorical style; for in the one he amuses himself, in this respect, with the name of Vere, as in the other with that of Marguerite. This poem is certainly intended to implore the assistance of Vere. To whom could the author address himself with better prospect of obtaining restoration to liberty, than to such a man? And, considering the time and all the circumstances which I have stated, to whom may we impute these compositions but to Chaucer?

VII. The Glossary, which forms this division of the Illustrations, is founded, with gratitude, on that of Mr. Tyrwhitt, as far as respects what is extracted from Chaucer's Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, and the Flower and Leaf; yet not without occasional but re

*These corresponding sentiments and phrases are exhibited under the text of the Poems.

spectful difference of opinion, and hot without some augmentation. The other Extracts, given from our early writers in this volume, present indeed words and phrases, or allusions to manners and customs, though not numerous, which are not found in Chaucer. Of such the illustration has been sought by me from authentick sources.

Nor may the engravings, which accom pany this work and are minutely correct copies of what they represent, be unacceptable to the lovers of Gower and Chaucer. The portrait of Chaucer is copied from the Manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, belong ing to the Marquis of Stafford. Of Gower's monument in the Church of St. Saviour (which formerly was the Monastery of St. Mary Overies) in Southwark, and of Chau cer's in the Abbey of Westminster, I directed the drawings to be taken on the respective spots. Of these tombs the former has witnessed the least injury. The latter is not that which Berthelet describes as existing in 1532, but that which was erected to the poet's memory in 1555 by Nicholas Brig ham.

To the Marquis of Stafford my thanks have been already tendered. It remains

that I should acknowledge the similar liberality of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in permitting me to make such extracts from his fine collection of manuscripts as might be subservient to my design. Of this occasion I avail myself gratefully to acknowledge also, what none have experienced in a kinder manner than I have from his Grace's usual generosity, the encouragement of a prelate vigilant and zealous in the cause of lite

rature.

While I claim the indulgence of the candid for any inaccuracy which I may have stated, and submit with cheerfulness to the judicious reader the authentick documents which I have collected; however humble my labour has been, I shall always think that the time passed pleasantly, if not usefully, which was devoted to any illustration of those writers, by whom our language has been improved, and to whom our reformed religion is indebted.

Feb. 24, 1810,

HENRY J. TODD.