*** Many of the documents referred to in the foot-notes are printed _at
length_ in Godwin's Life of Chaucer, 2nd ed. 1804 (vol. iv), or in the Life
by Sir H. Nicolas. The former set are marked (G.); the latter set are
denoted by a reference to 'Note A,' or 'Note B'; &c.
§ 1. The name CHAUCER, like many others in England in olden times, was
originally significant of an occupation. The Old French _chaucier_ (for
which see Godefroy's Old French Dictionary) signified rather 'a hosier'
than 'a shoemaker,' though it was also sometimes used in the latter sense.
The modern French _chausse_ represents a Low Latin _calcia_, fem. sb., a
kind of hose, closely allied to the Latin _calceus_, a shoe. See _Chausses,
Chaussure_, in the New English Dictionary.
It is probable that the Chaucer family came originally from East Anglia.
Henry le Chaucier is mentioned as a citizen of Norfolk in 1275; and Walter
le Chaucer as the same, in 1292[1]. But Gerard le Chaucer, in 1296, and
Bartholomew le Chaucer, in 1312-3, seem to have lived near Colchester[2].
In several early instances, the name occurs in connexion with Cordwainer
Street, or with the small Ward of the City of London bearing the same name.
Thus, Baldwin le Chaucer dwelt in 'Cordewanerstrete' in 1307; Elyas le
Chaucer in the same, in 1318-9; Nicholas Chaucer in the same, in 1356; and
Henry Chaucer was a man-at-arms provided for the king's service by
Cordwanerstrete Ward[3]. This is worthy of remark, because, as we shall see
presently, both Chaucer's father and his grandmother once resided in the
same street, the northern end of which is now called Bow Lane, the southern
end extending to Garlick Hithe. (See the article on Cordwainer Street Ward
in Stowe's Survey of London.)
§ 2. ROBERT LE CHAUCER. The earliest relative with whom we can certainly
connect the poet is his grandfather Robert, who is first mentioned,
together with Mary his wife, in 1307, when they sold ten acres of land in
Edmonton to Ralph le Clerk, for 100s.[4] On Aug. 2, 1310, Robert le Chaucer
was appointed 'one of the collectors in the port of London of the new
customs upon wines granted by the merchants of Aquitaine[5].' It is also
recorded that he was possessed of one messuage, with its appurtenances, in
Ipswich[6]; and it was alleged, in the course of some law-proceedings (of
which I have more to say below), that the said estate was only worth 20
shillings a year. He is probably the Robert Chaucer who is mentioned under
the date 1310, in the Early Letter-books of the City of London[7].
Robert Chaucer was married, in or before 1307 (see above), to a widow named
Maria or Mary Heyroun[8], whose maiden name was probably Stace[9]; and the
only child of whom we find any mention was his son and heir, named John,
who was the poet's father. At the same time, it is necessary to observe
that Maria had a son still living, named Thomas Heyroun, who died in
1349[10].
John Chaucer was born, as will be shewn, in 1312; and his father Robert
died before 1316 (Close Rolls, 9 Edw. II., p. 318).
§ 3. RICHARD LE CHAUCER. Some years after Robert's death, namely in
1323[11], his widow married for the third time. Her third husband was
probably a relative (perhaps a cousin) of her second, his name being
Richard le Chaucer, a vintner residing in the Ward of Cordwainer Street;
respecting whom several particulars are known.
Richard le Chaucer was 'one of the vintners sworn at St. Martin's, Vintry,
in 1320, to make proper scrutiny of wines[12]'; so that he was necessarily
brought into business relations with Robert, whose widow he married in
1323, as already stated.
A plea held at Norwich in 1326, and entered on mem. 13 of the Coram Rege
Roll of Hilary 19 Edw. II.[13], is, for the present purpose, so important
that I here quote Mr. Rye's translation of the more material portions of it
from the Life-Records of Chaucer (Chaucer Soc.), p. 125:--
'London.--Agnes, the widow of Walter de Westhale, Thomas Stace,
Geoffrey Stace, and Laurence 'Geffreyesman Stace[14],' were attached to
answer _Richard le Chaucer of London and Mary his wife_ on a plea that
whereas the custody of the heir and land of _Robert le Chaucer_, until
the same heir became of full age, belonged to the said Richard and Mary
(because the said Robert held his land in socage, and _the said Mary is
nearer in relationship to the heir of the said Robert_,) and whereas
the said Richard and Mary long remained in full and peaceful seizin of
such wardship, the said Agnes, Thomas, Geoffrey, and Laurence by force
and arms took away _John, the son and heir of the said Robert_, who was
_under age_ and in the custody of the said Richard and Mary, and
married him[15] against the will of the said R. and M. and of the said
heir, and also did other unlawful acts against the said R. and M., to
the grave injury of the said R. and M., and against the peace.
'And therefore the said R. and M. complain that, whereas the custody of
the land and heir of the said Robert, viz. of _one messuage with its
appurtenances in Ipswich_, until the full age of, &c., belonged, &c.,
... because the said Robert held the said messuage in socage, and the
said Mary _is nearer in relationship to the said Robert,_ viz. _mother
of the said heir, and formerly_ _the wife of the said Robert_, and
(whereas) the said R. and M. remained in full and peaceful seizin of
_the said wardship_ for a long while, viz. _for one year_; they, the
said Agnes, T., G., and L., on the _Monday_ [Dec. 3] _before the feast
of St. Nicholas, in the eighteenth year of the present king_ [1324],
... stole and took away by force and arms ... the said John, _son and
heir of the said Robert_, who was under age, viz. _under the age of
fourteen years_, and then in the wardship of the said R. and M. _at
London_, viz. _in the Ward of Cordwanerstrete_, and married him to one
_Joan, the daughter of Walter de Esthale_ [error for _Westhale_], and
committed other unlawful acts, &c.
'Wherefore they say they are injured, and have suffered damage to the
extent of 300l.'