by Dryden, Pope, and others, who have done ample justice to their
illustrious predecessor.


[Footnote 1: Life of Chaucer prefixed to Ogle's edition of that author
modernized.]

[Footnote 2: Some biographers of Chaucer say, that pope Gregory IX.
gave orders to the archbishop of Canterbury to summon him, and that
when a synod was convened at St. Paul's, a quarrel happened between
the bishop of London and the duke of Lancaster, concerning Wickliff's
sitting down in their presence.]

[Footnote 3: Mr. Camden gives a particular description of this
castle.]

* * * * *


LANGLAND.

It has been disputed amongst the critics whether this poet preceded
or followed Chaucer. Mrs. Cooper, author of the Muses Library, is of
opinion that he preceded Chaucer, and observes that in more places
than one that great poet seems to copy Langland; but I am rather
inclined to believe that he was cotemporary with him, which accounts
for her observation, and my conjecture is strengthened by the
consideration of his stile, which is equally unmusical and obsolete
with Chaucer's; and tho' Dryden has told us that Chaucer exceeded
those who followed him at 50 or 60 years distance, in point of