OF

GEOFFREY CHAUCER,

THE EARLY ENGLISH POET:

INCLUDING

MEMOIRS OF HIS NEAR FRIEND AND KINSMAN,

JOHN OF GAUNT, DUKE OF LANCASTER:

WITH SKETCHES OF THE

MANNERS, OPINIONS, ARTS AND LITERATURE

OF ENGLAND

IN

THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

BY WILLIAM GODWIN.

Come like shadows ; so depart !

SHAKESPEAR.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY T. DAVISON, WHITE-FRIARS;

FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, N°. 71, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

1804.