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Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London between 1340-1342. His name was of French origin and meant shoemaker. Chaucer was the son of a prosperous wine merchant. There is little information on his early education, but his writings indicate that he could read French, Latin, and Italian. In 1359-1360, Chaucer went to France with Edward III’s army during the Hundred Years’ War. By the time he was twenty, he was captured but was soon ransomed. There is no definite information of his life from 1361 to 1366, when he married Philippa Roet, who served in the Queen’s household. They apparently had two sons, ‘little Lewis’, to whom Chaucer addressed “A Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391), and Thomas, who was later highly successful in public service. Philippa died in 1387. Between 1367 and 1378, Chaucer made several journeys on diplomatic and commercial missions in Flanders, France, and Italy. He held many important administrative positions, such as Comptroller of the Customs for the port of London. During that time he was charged with rape, although his guilt or innocence has never been determined. In 1385 he lost his employment and rent-free home, and moved to Kent where he as appointed as justice of the peace. He