Reeve (England) - Depiction By Chaucer

Depiction By Chaucer

There is an exceptional literary portrait of a reeve in the second half of the 14th century. The reeve is one of the pilgrims making their way to Canterbury in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and the Prologue paints a vivid picture of this man, who had originally been a carpenter but had served as reeve of a manor for many years and had grown old in service. Chaucer describes a highly efficient servant, impossible for any man to deceive or outwit, never in debt and knowing exactly how much the manor should produce. It is an early picture of a completely reliable accountant, rather a cold individual but indispensable.