study, till his superior abilities were taken notice of by some
persons of distinction, by whole patronage he then approached the
splendor of the court. The reign of Edward III. was glorious and
successful, he was a discerning as well as a fortunate Monarch; he had
a taste as well for erudition as for arms; he was an encourager of men
of wit and parts, and permitted them to approach him, without reserve.
At Edward's court nothing but gallantry and a round of pleasure
prevailed, and how well qualified our poet was to shine in the soft
circles, whoever has read his works, will be at no loss to determine;
but besides the advantages of his wit and learning, he possessed those
of person in a very considerable degree. He was then about the age of
thirty, of a fair beautiful complexion, his lips red and full, his
size of a just medium, and his air polished and graceful, so that he
united whatever could claim the approbation of the Great, and charm
the eyes of the Fair. He had abilities to record the valour of the
one, and celebrate the beauty of the other, and being qualified by his
genteel behaviour to entertain both, he became a finished courtier.
The first dignity to which we find him preferred, was that of page
to the king, a place of so much honour and esteem at that time, that
Richard II. leaves particular legacies to his pages, when few others
of his servants are taken notice of. In the forty-first year of Edward
III. he received as a reward of his services, an annuity of twenty
marks per ann. payable out of the Exchequer, which in those days was
no inconsiderable pension; in a year after he was advanced to be of
his Majesty's privy chamber, and a very few months to be his shield
bearer, a title, at that time, (tho' now extinct) of very great
honour, being always next the king's person, and generally upon signal
victories rewarded with military honours. Our poet being thus eminent
by his places, contracted friendships, and procured the esteem of
persons of the first quality. Queen Philippa, the Duke of Lancaster,