[57] Chaucer Soc., “Life Records,” iv., p. xxx.
[58] “Eulog. Hist.,” iii., 357: Statutes of Parliament, Ric. II., an. 6, c. 6. The preamble complains that such “malefactors and raptors of women grow more violent, and are in these days more rife than ever in almost every part of the kingdom,” and it implies that married women were sometimes so carried off. Cf. Jusserand, “Vie Nomade,” p. 85, and “Piers Plowman,” B. iv., 47—
| “Then came Peace into Parliament, and put forth a bill, How wrong against his will had his wife taken, And how he ravished Rose, Reginald’s love,” etc., etc. |
[59] “Life Records,” iv., p. xxxv.
[60] Riley, “Memorials,” pp. 410, 445.
[61] Oman, “England, 1377-1485,” p. 100.
[62] “Eulog. Hist.,” iii. 359.
[63] Ibid., 360.
[64] That is, they contributed to maintain the Minster, and were admitted to a share of the spiritual benefits earned by “all prayers, fastings, pilgrimages, almsdeeds, and works of mercy” connected therewith. Edward III., and at least three of his sons, were already of the fraternity of Lincoln, and Richard II., with his queen, were admitted the year after Philippa Chaucer.
[65] Riley, “Memorials,” pp. 271, 285, 321. The Masons’ regulations given on p. 281 of the same book are interesting in connection with Chaucer’s work; but still more so are the documents in “York Fabric Rolls” (Surtees Soc.), pp. 172, 181.