XVIII.

able historian," ingenuously confess, that CHAP. his studies at Oxford were not so complete, but that he added much to the stock of his science by the ardour of his application at another place. We find, after leaving Oxford, that he spent several years in France, and acquired much applause by his literary exercises in that country. His fame followed him on his returning home; and, animated by his success abroad, he resorted to the societies and courts of justice in his native metropolis, which he had perhaps also frequented previously to his residence in France "."

Mr. Tyrwhit has thought proper to call in question the authority of Leland in this and other particulars relating to Chaucer, and has endeavoured to reduce the life of the poet to a dry extract of the records of those of our English sovereigns whom Chaucer served. This is certainly a very unreasonable and extraordinary way of treating historical evidence. Public and official records of the early

denied by

a moder

critic.

* Scriptores Britannici, cap. dy.

CHAP. incidents of Chaucer's life we can scarcely XVIII. expect to find. Mr. Tyrwhit says, "these

Principles of

evidence.

historical travels in France rest entirely on the authority of Leland." And upon what authority are we to expect them to rest? What sort of appearance will be exhibited by modern and by ancient history, if the authority of the eldest writers is to be treated as of no weight? We ought undoubtedly to distinguish between the different classes of evidence; but it would be an idle and ruinous scepticism to blot out of our narratives every thing which is not to be found in official records and gazettes. When a man of a sober and calculating mind reads the histories of Herodotus or Sallust, he knows that he is reading a tale, a multitude of the circumstances of which may be real, or may be imaginary. But he does not on that account regard them as unworthy of notice: he on the contrary receives them with a certain mo derated degree of belief.

Canterbury Tales, Preface, Appendix C,

XVIII.

The mode of estimating historical evidence CHAP. in doubtful cases, which has usually been adopted by capable enquirers, has been; where the representation, for instance, of the monastic historian, as William Fitzstephen or Matthew Paris, or even of the poet, as Homer, sufficiently coincides with the practices and notions of the times, and with what might have been expected from generations of men circumstanced like those which he has attempted to describe,-there to admit his representations without scruple. Let us try the statement of Leland by this test.

Nothing can be more certain than that it was the frequent custom in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, for Englishmen who were carefully educated, to proceed, after having finished the course of their studies at home, to the university of Paris. We have already had occasion to allege several instances of this, among a multitude which might be produced. Wood, in treating of

Resort af men to

English

the uni

versity of

Paris.

Chap. XIV, p. 262.

XVIII.

CHAP. these instances, says, in the example of Grossteste," he went over to Paris, following in this the practice of every Englishman eminent for learning ;" and in that of Roger Bacon," he visited this university, in conformity to the practice of all the more learned English, particularly those who had been bred at Oxford "Why should we imagine that the result of historical reasoning is, to lead us to deny to Chaucer, the most eminent literary character of his time, all those advantages of institution and example which were best calculated to conduct him to that eminence ?

Chaucer's

extensive

ance with

literature.

J

Leland, in his remarks upon the subject, acquaint makes a very natural observation. It was French during the years that Chaucer resided at the university of Paris, says he, that he imbibed all the beauties, elegance, charms, wit and of the French tongue to a degree grace that is scarcely credible." Nothing indeed be more indubitable than that Chaucer

can

d Wood, A. D. 1228.

с

. ditto, A. D. 1292.

XVIII.

was a consummate master of the language, and CHAP of all the literary productions which had then appeared in France. How are we accustomed to reason, previously to all historical evidence, upon instances of this sort, happening under our own observation? We naturally say, “This man must certainly have lived in France."

in Leland's

Chaucer.

Mr. Tyrwhit reinforces his incredulity by Deficiencies observing that, "Leland's account is full of account of inconsistencies." Leland is indeed erroneous in his chronology, and appears to have supposed Chaucer to have been born and to have died thirty years later than he actually did. In treating of Chaucer's studies at Paris, he refers them expressly to the concluding years of Richard II. But, though glaringly defective in his dates, he has introduced no inconsistencies or contradictions into his statement of the consecutive series of Chaucer's education.

We have a right indeed to infer, from Leland's egregious mistakes of chronology in this point, which he might probably have corrected from the inscription on Chaucer's