in itself; but if, as there is much reason for supposing, the
person on whose behalf it was granted was no less a man than the
illustrious poet--the "moral Gower"--the interest attached to it is very
much enhanced: and for this reason I am desirous of giving it publicity
through the columns of "N. & Q."--a fit place for recording such pieces of
information, relating to the lives of men eminent in the annals of
literature. I have not been able to find any notice of the marriage of John
Gower in the books to which I have been able to refer; and, though it may
be perhaps an event of little importance, it is one which a faithful
biographer would never omit to mention. The document is as follows:

"Willelmus permissione divina Wyntoniensis Episcopus, dilecto in
Christo filio, domino Willelmo, capellano parochiali ecclesiae S.
Mariae Magdalenae in Suthwerk, nostrae diocesis, salutem, gratiam, et
benedictionem. Ut matrimonium inter Joannem Gower et Agnetem Groundolf
dictae ecclesiae parochianos sine ulteriore bannorum editione, dumtamen
aliud canonicum non obsistat, extra ecclesiam parochialem, in {488}
Oratorio ipsius Joannis Gower infra hospicium cum in prioratu B. Mariae
de Overee in Suthwerk praedicta situatum, solempnizare valeas licenciam
tibi tenore praesentium, quatenus ad nos attinet, concedimus specialem.
In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum fecimus his apponi. Dat. in
manerio nostro de alta clera vicesimo quinto die mensis Januarii, A.D.
1397, et nostrae consecrationis 31mo."

The connexion of the poet Gower with the priory of St. Mary Overy is well
known; as well as his munificence in contributing very largely to the
reconstruction of the church of the priory, in which he also founded a
chantry, and where his tomb still exists. It would appear from this
document, that he actually resided within the priory.

This marriage must have taken place late in his life. The year of his birth
is unknown. He is said to have been somewhat older than Chaucer, the date
of whose birth is also uncertain; there being some grounds for assigning it
to 1328, others, perhaps more satisfactory, for fixing it 1345. If the
latter be correct, and if we allow for the disparity of age, we may suppose
Gower to have been somewhere between fifty-five and sixty years of age at
the time of his marriage with Agnes Groundolf.

W. H. GUNNER.

Winchester.

[A reference to the will of Gower,