yeere 1402. [Footnote: Chaucer died 25. October, 1400, according to the
inscription on his tombstone at Westminster. Urry, in his edition of
Chaucer, folio, 1721, p. 534, attributes the _Epistle to Cupid_ to Thomas
Occleue, Chaucer's scholar, but does not give his authority.] (as hee
writeth himselfe in his Epistle of Cupide) shewed that the English
Knights after the losse of Acon, were wont in his time to trauaile into
Prussia and Lettowe, and other heathen lands, to aduance the Christian
faith against Infidels and miscreants, and to seeke honour by feats of
armes.

The English Knights Prologue.

[Sidenote: Long trauaile.]
A Knight there was, and that a worthie man,
that from the time that he first began
to riden out, he loued Cheualrie,
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,
and euer had honour for his worthinesse.

[Sidenote: Alexandria.]
At Alisandre hee was, when it was wonne:
full oft time hee had the bourd begon
abouen all nations in Pruce,
In Lettowe had hee riden, and in Ruce,
no Christen man so oft of his degree:
In Granade at the siege had he bee
At Algezer[1]: and ridden in Belmarye: