The memorial window to Chaucer, immediately over his tomb, is intended to embody his intellectual labour, and his position amongst his contemporaries. At the base are the Canterbury Pilgrims, showing the setting out from London, and the arrival at Canterbury. The medallions above represent Chaucer receiving a commission, with others, in 1372, from King Edward III. to the Doge of Genoa, and his reception by the latter. At the apex, the subjects are taken from the moral poem entitled “The Floure and the Leafe.” “As they which honour the Flower, a thing fading with every blast, are such as look after beauty and worldly pleasure; but they that honour the Leaf, which abideth with the root, notwithstanding the frost and winter storms, are they which follow virtue and during qualities, without regard to worldly respects.” On the dexter side, dressed in white, is the Lady of the Leafe, and attendants; on the sinister side is the Lady of the Floure, dressed in green. In the spandrils adjoining are the Arms of Chaucer. On the dexter side, and on the sinister, Chaucer impaling these of (Roet) his wife. In the tracery above, the portrait of Chaucer occupies the centre, between that of Edward III. and Philippa his wife; below them Gower and John of Gaunt, and above are Wickliffe and Strode, his contemporaries. In the borders are disposed the following arms, alternately: England, France, Hainhault, Lancaster, Castile, and Leon. At the base of the window is the name Geoffrey Chaucer, died A.D. 1400, and four lines selected from the poem entitled, “Balade of Gode Counsaile.”

“Flee fro the prees, and dwell with soth fastnesse,
Suffise unto thy good though it be small;”
*** ***
“That thee is sent receyve in buxomnesse;
The wrastling for this world asketh a fall.”

This window was designed by Mr. J. G. Waller, and executed by Messrs. Thomas Baillie, and George Mayer, 118, Wardour Street, London, 1868.

Explanation of the Subjects.—The Pilgrims are arranged in the following manner:—The Departure from the Tabard, thus:

1. 2. 3. 4.5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
1. The Reve. 4. The Knight. 7. The Serjeant of Law.
2. The Manciple. 5. The Yeoman. 8. The Shipmanne.
3. Chaucer. 6. The Squire. 9. The Doctor of Physick.

The Arrival at Canterbury, thus:

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.16. 17. 18.
10. The Somptnour. 13. The Monk. 16. The Frankelein.
11. The Pardoner. 14. The Prioress. 17. The Plowman.
12. The Parson. 15. The Nun. 18. The Clerk of Oxenforde.

Arrangement of Portraits in Tracery.

Wickliffe. Strode.
Edward III. Chaucer. Philippa.
Gower. John of Gaunt.

Above is a neat monument to the memory of John Roberts, Esq., the very faithful Secretary of the Right Honourable Henry Pelham, Minister of State to George II. This marble was erected by his three surviving sisters, in 1776.—Hayward, sculptor.