The prologue, whether written by Chaucer or not, states that he was going to pass the night at the Tabarde Inn, in Southwark, previous to setting out on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas à Becket at Canterbury. A number of pilgrims, twenty-nine _sundry folk_, meet at this hostelry in good fellowship. There they sup together; after which ‘mine hoste’ proposes that they shall journey together to Canterbury; that, in order to beguile the way, each shall tell a tale to and fro, and whoever tells the best shall have a supper at the expense of the rest; of course at his hostelry. The company assent. ‘Mine hoste’ is appointed judge and reporter of the stories. The pilgrims, or characters composing the social party, are, to all intents, an inventory of English society as it existed at that day. We seem actually to see the daily life of each reflected in the marvellous mirror. Allusions to drink abound. Thus, in the prologue, he describes a _Prioress_, and her delicacy of manners at table, as becomes a gentlewoman:-- Hire overlippè wiped she so clene, That in hire cuppe was no ferthing sene Of gresè, whan she dronken hadde hire draught. He describes the _Frankelein_ or country gentleman, who was ambitious of showing his riches by the profusion of his table, but whose hospitality often degenerated into excess. For he was Epicure’s owen sone, That held opinion, that plein delit Was veraily felicite parfite. An householder, and that a grete was he; Seint Julian he was in his contree. His brede, his ale, was alway after on; A better envyned man was no wher non. * * * * * It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke. London ale must have been then in repute, for among the accomplishments of one of the party who was less a pilgrim than a cook, it is noted:-- Well coude he knowe a draught of London ale. Thomas Tyrwhitt, in a note on this line, remarks, ‘Whether this was a different sort of ale from that of the provinces, or only better made, I know not; but it appears to have been in request about a century after Chaucer. In the account of the feast of Archbishop Warham, in 1504, we find that London ale was higher priced than Kentish by 5_s._ a barrel.’ The true British sailor of Chaucer’s time exhibited nearly the same strong traits as our own brave tars. That his conscience was not too finely drawn appears in his conduct at Bordeaux, where he drew full many a draught of wine while the chapman slept:-- The hote sommer hadde made his hewe al broun, And certainly he was a good felaw. Full many a draught of win he hadde draw From Burdeux ward, while that the chapman slepe; Of nice conscience toke he no kepe. The description of the Sompnour, or Ecclesiastical Apparitor, is not an inviting one. Church officials _temp._ Chaucer were not all they might have been.