GEOFREY CHAUCER a.d. 



1402. 



countrey, he was immediatly by hard fortune tossed up 

 and downe with dangerous stormes and tempests, and was 

 brought into such distresse, that he despaired even of his 

 owne life. At length, having not without danger of 

 death, sailed along the coastes of Denmarke, Norway, and 

 Scotland, he returned into Northumberland, and went to 

 the castle of Tinmouth as unto a place of refuge knowen 

 of olde unto him : where, after hee had refreshed himselfe 

 a fewe dayes, hee tooke his journey toward his Mannour 

 of Plashy, bringing great joy unto the whole kingdome, 

 aswell in reo^ard of his safetie as of his returne. 



The verses of Geofrey Chaucer in the knights [I- 124.] 

 Prologue, who living in the yeere 1402. (as 

 hee writeth himselfe in his Epistle of Cupide) 

 shewed that the English Knights after the 

 losse of Aeon, were wont in his time to 

 travaile into Prussia and Lettowe, and other 

 heathen lands, to advance the Christian faith 

 against Infidels and miscreants, and to seeke 

 honour by feats of armes. 



The English Knights Prologue. 



Knight there was, and that a worthie man, 



that from the time that he first began 



to riden out, he loved Chevalrie, 

 trouth, honour, freedome, and Curtesie. 

 full worthy was he in his lords warre : 

 and thereto had hee ridden no man farre, 



As well in Christendome as in Heathennesse, Long travaile. 



and ever had honour for his worthinesse. 



At Alisandre hee was, when it was wonne : Alexandria, 



full oft time hee had the bourd begon 

 aboven all nations in Pruce, 



In Lettowe had hee riden, and in Ruce, Lettozve,Ruce, 



no Christen man so oft of his degree : 

 In Granade at the siege had he bee 



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