[7] See the cases given in full by Thorold Rogers, "Oxford City Documents," pp. 168, 170, 173, and H. Rashdall's "Universities of Europe," ii., 363, 369, 403.
[8] See the articles by Prof. Maitland and Mr. A. L. Smith in vol. ii. of "Social England."
[9] Cf. Reynerus, "De Antiq. Benedict," pp. 107, 136, _425_, _468_, 595. The pages in italics contain startling lists of defaulting abbeys and priories.
[10] See Gower's "Vox Clamantis," Bk. III., c. 28, for a description of the worldly aims of the 14th-century universities.
[11] It seems extremely probable, to say the least, that the poem of Piers Plowman was by more than one hand; but, in any case, the authors were contemporaries, and seem to have held very much the same views; so that it is still possible for most purposes of historical argument to quote the poem under the traditional name of Langland.
[12] Bartholomæus Anglicus (Steele, "Mediæval Lore," 1905), p. 86.
[13] Besant quotes accounts recording (_inter alia_) a gift of wine to the "Chaucer" on the occasion of a mayoral procession, but apparently without realizing its significance. ("Mediæval London," i., 303.)
[14] Mr. V. B. Redstone, in _Athenæum_, No. 4087, p. 233, and _East Anglian Daily Times_, April 8, 1908, p. 5, col. 7. It is not my aim, in this chapter, to trouble the reader with discussions of doubtful points, but rather to present what is certainly known, or may safely be inferred about Chaucer's life.
[15] At Wycombe, too, "every citizen from twelve years old could serve on juries for the town business." Mrs. Green, "Town Life," i., 184. I shall have occasion in the next chapter to note how early men began life in those days.
[16] Pauli, "Pictures of Old England," chap. v.
[17] "Life Records," iv., 232. The industry of Mr. Walter Rye has collected a large number of documentary notices which establish a probable connection of some kind between Chaucer and Norfolk; but the evidence seems insufficient as yet to prove Mr. Rye's thesis that the poet was born at Lynn; and in default of such definite evidence, it is safer to presume that he was born in the Thames Street house. (_Athenæum_, March 7, 1908; cf. "Life Records," iii., 131.)
[18] At Rouen, Caudebec, and Gisors, for instance, are very exact counterparts of the Walbrook, except that the overhanging houses are a century or two later, and proportionately larger.
