Wondirful newes!

By seynte Edward! Yt hath ben a ful stressfule weke, ful of much hastie and sodein laboure, but al of my effortes haue produced fayre and honourable fruyt thurgh the assistance of my frende and my Kinge.

Wednesdaye laste, ich was yn my lawn-chayre slepynge aftir a longe night of pwninge noobs, whanne ich was awook by Tommy Vske, who had travelid as fast as he coud from Londoun.

Litel Vsk ys nowe a serjeant-at-armes for my lord Kinge Richard. And he thus broghte tidynges to me in execucion of his office. Writtes had ben ysent to everye contee for the eleccioun of menne to speke for the communes in parlement, and the eleccioun was to be held that Sundaye in Canterburye. And therwithal my lorde Kynge Richarde had sente Vsk to telle me to runnen for parlement, for the Kynge seyde that he wolde lyk sum gode men and trewe and loyale to his majestee to be ther attendaunt vpon the parlement.

"Thinkstow that folke wille voten for me?" quod I.

"Hekke yes. Ich wolde vote for thee," he spak.

"And yet, what skille haue ich?" ich askede.

"Thou hast a swete litel woolen hatte. And thou art prettye good at enrollinge accountes, plus thou art lyk the onlie guye in the shire who ys enditinge a lengthie frame-tale collecioun in the englysshe tonge."

With gretest haste, we wente to Canterburye, and ther dide campaigne amonge the peple. Vsk did helpe me by vsinge his skilles of drawinge to make cunninge billes and posteres for me, the whiche we putte vpon the dores of chirches and of grete halles. We also hadde manye a litel signe of liveree on whiche was write ‘VOTE FOR CHAUCER.’ By cause we hadde the aide of my lord the kinge, we were gretede wyth grete favour and supporte by the bettir men of the contree.

And thus thurgh the intervencioun of Vske at the beheste of my Kynge, Ich am nowe a KNYGHT OF THE SHIRE! Ye do heare me correctlie, good gentils: in but a fewe monthes ich shal goon to parlement at Westminster to represente the shire of Kente, and be priuy to the grete speches and wise conseyles of grete lordes and grete affaires of the reaume, and eek to complayn aboute the smal detailes of lyf for my constituencie and the lak of stedfastnesse and of good dentale care. The parlement comenceth on the firste daye of October. Ich am so excitede -- this parlement is goinge to be wondirful!

In the mene while, eftsoon ich shal pooste the winneres of the tournamente of photographie. Ye maye stille sende yn entreez if ye haue nat yet hadde a chaunce to do so! Ye maye emayle entreez yn attachement to myn emayle at daliaunce AT hotmail.com.

And als, my newe posicioun yiveth me muche feyth in the wisdam of my conseil. If ye haue eny matirs on which ye mighte wisshe to seke myn advyce or conseil, emayle me at daliaunce AT hotmail.com.

And nowe ich must haue sum newe suites fittede for me.