JOHN GOWER.
JOhn Gower, whom some make to be a Knight, though Stow, in his Survey of London, unknight∣eth him, and saith he was only an Esquire; how∣ever, he was born of a knightly Family, at Stiten∣ham in the North-Riding in Bulmore-Wapentake in Yorkshire. He was bred in London a Student of the Laws, but having a plentiful Estate, and prizing his pleasure above his profit, he quitted Pleading to follow Poetry, being the first renner of our English Tongue, effecting mich, but endeavouring more therein, as you may perceive by the difference of his Language, with that of Robert of Glocester, who lived in the time of King Richard the First, which notwithstanding was accounted very good in those days.
This our Gower was contemporary with the fa∣mous Poet Geoffry Chaucer, both excellently learned, both great friends together, and both alike endea∣vour'd themselves and employed their time for the benefit of their Country. And what an account Chaucer had of this our Gower and of his Parts, that which he wrote in the end of his Work, en∣tituled