Python’s theory on a medieval mystery

The late Terry Jones was a man of many talents. He uniquely combined his popularity as a comedian with the Pythons with impeccable credentials as a Chaucerian scholar.

In October 2003, he gave a talk at the Canterbury Festival on his new book, Who Murdered Chaucer?

In his work of historical speculation, Jones investigates the mystery surrounding the death of the poet more than 600 years ago.

Geoffrey Chaucer was celebrated as the country’s finest writer of his time. And yet very little at all is known of his death.

Sometime in 1400 his name simply disappears from the record.

We don’t know where or how he died; there is no official confirmation of his death and no chronical mentions it. He left no will and didn’t leave any manuscripts.

Jones’ theory was that Chaucer’s writing may have become politically inconvenient after the seismic social shift that came with the overthrow of the liberal Richard II by the reactionary, oppressive regime of Henry IV. And as such, Jones suggests, Chaucer may have been bumped off. He speculates that Thomas Arundel, the Archbishop of Canterbury, would have been none too pleased with

Chaucer’s depiction of churchmen in The Canterbury Tales. The pardoner sells fake indulgences to poor congregations - while the summoner demands bribes. Did this “heresy” land the poet in the dungeon?

While fascinating, Jones’ case against Arundel and the new king is entirely circumstantial. We may never know the truth behind Chaucer’s death.

Terry Jones (right) in medieval garb as Sir Bedevere in Monty Python’s Holy Grail

The Geoffrey Chaucer statue at the junction of Best Lane and High Street, which was unveiled in 2016

Monty Python star and Chaucerian scholar Terry Jones

Did powerful figures in Henry IV’S new regime, disapproving of the Canterbury Tales, have Geoffrey Chaucer (right) bumped off?