Merchant : The merchant is presented as a typical business man, who is interested only in his profits. He is an exporter and money-lender. Chaucer says that he is a worthy man with a fashionable forked beard.

The Clerk of Oxenford : In Chaucer’s time, the word ‘Clerk’ denoted an ecclesiastical student. Chaucer’s Clerk of Oxenford is a member of the clergy engaged in advanced studies. Though he was a philosopher, he had a little gold in his possession. On the contrary, he spent on books and learning. He was a man of few words but spoke eloquently in the most appropriate manner. He is one of Chaucer’s noble characters attached to the church, and a true child of renaissance.

Sergeant at Law : In the fourteenth century, Sergeants at Law were the King’s servants in legal matters, chosen from among Barristers of sixteen years’ practice. Judges of courts were selected from them. Chaucer’s lawyer has deep knowledge in English case laws. He has acquired extensive areas of landed property, out of the income from the legal profession and an element of fraud can be suggested in his dealings. The outstanding feature in the conduct of the lawyer is that he pretended to be more busy than he actually was.

The Franklin : A Franklin was a free tenant of the Crown, holding his lands without any obligation of military service. He had a sanguine complexion. The word ‘sanguine’ is derived from blood and it indicates that Franklin’s character was dominated by the humour of blood. Medieval medical science classified men, according to human or fluid. Franklin was an Epicurean who always sought pleasure in life. He was very hospitable, who could rightly be called the St. Julian* of the country. The Franklin was a substantial person who presided over sessions of the ‘Justice of the Peace’ and had been a member of the Parliament.

The Guild’s men : Chaucer gives a collective portrait of five Guild’s men belonging to different trades namely the habardsher (seller of small goods), the carpenter, the weaver, the dyer and the tapicier (maker of tapestry).

The Guild’s men : see (15)