In 1359-1360, Chaucer went to France with Edward III’s army during the Hundred Years’ War. By the time he was twenty, he was captured but was soon ransomed. There is no definite information of his life from 1361 to 1366, when he married Philippa Roet, who served in the Queen’s household. They apparently had two sons, ‘little Lewis’, to whom Chaucer addressed “A Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391), and Thomas, who was later highly successful in public service. Philippa died in 1387.

Between 1367 and 1378, Chaucer made several journeys on diplomatic and commercial missions in Flanders, France, and Italy. He held many important administrative positions, such as Comptroller of the Customs for the port of London. During that time he was charged with rape, although his guilt or innocence has never been determined. In 1385 he lost his employment and rent-free home, and moved to Kent where he as appointed as justice of the peace. He

was also elected to Parliament. In 1389, he was appointed clerk of the Works at Westminster, Tower of London, and other royal estates. This was probably his most important. As a royal clerk, he supervised a great number of craftsman and property.

As the population increased, hygienic conditions worsened, leading to an array of health problems. Not much was know about medicine and Europe did not have an good health care system. Antibiotics weren’t invented until the 1800s and it was almost impossible to cure diseases without them. Many people sought help from their ills through meditation, prayer, pilgrimages, and other nonmedical methods.

During 1367 – 1378, Chaucer produced most of his best poetry. In 1367 – 1370, he started out writing poetry in French. In 1367, he wrote the “Book of the Duchess” about the death of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster. From 1368 – 1372, he wrote many poems in French and English, including such poems as “The Complaint unto Pity” and “The Complaint to His Lady.” He began work on The Canterbury Tales about 1387. He intended for each of his thirty pilgrims to tell four tales, two while traveling to Canterbury and two while traveling from Canterbury. However, only twenty-three pilgrims received a story before Chaucer’s death in 1400.

Art and music were critical aspects of medieval religious life. Some churches had instruments such as organs and bells. Medieval drama came from the bible, and were performed with costumes and musical instruments. This was their entertainment.

The Middle Ages lasted from approximately 1066 – 1485 A.D. One of the signs of the end of Feudalism and the Middle Ages was the Magna Carta, which improved the position of the nobility and also helping the lower classes. It stated that there would be no taxation except by legal means, promised justice for all men, and assured there would be no imprisonment without a trial. Other signs were the Bubonic Plague, in 1348-49, which wiped out the broad base of the feudal system, approximately three fifths of the population of England and the Peasant’s Revolt in 1381, which showed the dissatisfaction of the people.

The food at the lord’s table was as full of variety, but the peasants had

Some topics in this essay:
Middle Ages, Canterbury Tales, Tower London, Comptroller Customs, Geoffrey Chaucer, Treatise Astrolabe, Magna Carta, Westminster Abbey, London Chaucer, Years’ War, middle ages, canterbury tales, died 1387, traveling canterbury, chaucer lived, 1378 chaucer, parliament 1389, 1367 �, musical instruments, “the complaint,