actually conduct the office himself. (Devon's Issues, p. 359, Cal. Pat.
Roll 1379, p. 386. Full statement of ecclesiastical offices in
Bibliotheca Topographies Brittanica II, 82.)] (July 2, 1387) and with
that very grant he was empowered to exercise the office by deputy.

Furthermore Henry Gisorz, who succeeded Chaucer in the controllership
of the petty customs, was appointed by Chaucer as his deputy, in 7
Richard II [Footnote: C. R. 224, mem. 36. Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 502.] in
that office. This office was re-granted September 2, 1388 to Robert
Kesteven. Now in the case of the controllership of the greater customs,
it seems evident that Adam Yardeley was merely put into the office as a
stop-gap. Note that he was not considered of sufficient importance to be
given another grant in 1387 to compensate him for the loss of the
office. And similarly in that of the lesser customs, it seems clear that
Gisors, Chaucer's deputy in the office, was appointed temporarily to the
office, on the departure of Chaucer, and deprived of it again as soon as
the King found some one to whom he wished to give a sinecure. Surely, if
one may be allowed to draw inferences from facts, it seems most likely
that Chaucer resigned the offices either to take up some work not now
known to us, or to have leisure after more than ten years' occupation in
office and missions, and that on his resignation the King made merely
temporary appointments and later filled the offices according to his
pleasure.

The theory that Chaucer's surrender of his annuity indicates any
extraordinary condition or disfavour on the part of his patrons is
likewise not supported by the facts. In the introduction to the Chaucer
Records, Mr. Kirk writes: "It may be asserted without fear of
contradiction, that it was a most unusual thing for any man to surrender
a pension, and for the King to grant it to someone else. Lands and