ichard II. pays 400 pounds for a carriage for the
queen, and for a simple cart 2 pounds only. _Ibid._, pp. 236 and 263.

[444] The verses of the Black Prince (below, page 353) are found in his
will, together with minute details concerning the carvings with which
his tomb must be adorned, and the manner he wishes to be represented on
it, "tout armez de fier de guerre." Stanley, "Historical Memorials of
Canterbury," 1885, p. 132. The tomb of Richard II. at Westminster was
built in his lifetime and under his eyes. The original indentures have
been preserved, by which "Nicholas Broker et Godfrey Prest, citeins et
copersmythes de Loundres" agree to have the statues of Richard and Anne
made, such as they are seen to day with "escriptures en tour la dite
toumbe," April 14, 1395. Another contract concerns the marble masonry;
both are in the Record Office, "Exchequer Treasury of the recipt,"
"Miscellanea," 3/40.

[445] "Le livre du chevalier de la Tour Landry pour l'enseignement de
ses filles," ed. Montaiglon, Paris, 1854, 12mo, pp. 46 and 98, written
in 1371.

[446] "Et hominem nudum coram se stantem prospexit, secundum cujus
formosam imaginem crucifixum ipsum aptius decoraret." "Chronica
monasterii de Melsa," ed. Bond, Rolls, 1868, vol. iii. p. 35. Hugh of
Leven, who ordered this crucifix, was abbot from 1339 to 1349. Thomas of
Burton, author of the chronicle, compiled it at the end of the
fourteenth century.

[447] The Commons point out that, as the royal purveyors "abatent et
ount abatuz les arbres cressauntz entour les mansions des gentz de
ladite commune, en grant damage, gast et blemissement de lour mansions,
qe plese a Nostre Seigneur le Roi que desoremes tiels arbres ne seront
copes ne pris en contre la volonte des seigneurs des ditz mansions."

Answer: "Il semble au conseil qe ceste petition est resonable." "Rotuli
Parliamentorum," 25 Ed. III., vol. ii. p. 250.

CHAPTER II.

_CHAUCER._

The new nation had its poet, Geoffrey Chaucer. By his origin, his
education, his tastes, his manner of life, as well as by his writings,
Chaucer represents the new age; he paints it from nature, and is a part
of it. His biography is scarcely less characteristic than his works, for
he describes nothing through hearsay or imagination. He is himself an
actor in the scenes he depicts; he does not dream, he sees them.

His history is a sort of reduction of that of the English people at that
day. They are enriched by trade,