Monday, 17 February, 2025

The Parliament of Fowls

History

The Parliament of Fowls

1 min read

In 1375, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the “Parliament of Fowls,” a 700-line verse poem in which the narrator falls asleep and dreams of a beautiful garden.

“upon an hille of floures,
Was set this noble goddesse Nature;”

Nature is presiding over a debate between three high-ranking eagles, all of whom are vying for the attentions of a beautiful female. The other birds, each of which represents a different aspect of English society, are also given a chance to express their opinions. Over the course of a day, each eagle pleads his case in turn.

One says he loves her the best, another says he has loved her the longest, and the third claims he would worship her the most. The other exasperated birds, still waiting to make their choice, start to offer conflicting advice, serving as self-proclaimed authorities on the different types of love. Finally, nature has enough and decides that the formel (the female eagle) should choose for herself which of the three tercels to take as a mate.

Chaucer uses this device to gently satirize the medieval tradition of courtly love and the narrator handles the debate with humour whilst deftly characterising all the various birds.

The debate on love and marriage is never resolved but the poem nevertheless ends on a note of joy and satisfaction. It also gently mocks the futility of the workings of the English Parliament: despite the day-long debate, in the end, the speeches and deliberations amount to nothing.

The Parliament of Fowles is the first piece of English literature to mention Valentines Day:

“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”

February has long been celebrated as a month of romance and the date as usual has both Roman and Christian roots. Exactly who Valentine was is unclear but in every story he seems to have a tragic end, usually by execution under the Roman Emperor, Claudius II.

Originally, the Romans celebrated the ides of February with the festival of Lupercalia which was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture as well as to the Roman city founders Romulus and Remus. For example, on one day of the celebrations, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn and the city’s bachelors would each choose one. Lupercalia was outlawed by Pope Gelasius in the 5th century AD who then declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day.

In the midst of the rather gloomy winter months, Valentine’s Day is a highlight. – a time of chocolates, flowers and gifts, all exchanged in the name of love.

Here at Highclere, it is all about tours and teas, a celebration of delicious food with choux pastries in the shape of swans, heart shaped cakes, rose garlands winding up the main staircase, roses on the tables, a little collection of poetry and, of course, champagne.

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30 Comments

Jane Ashworth
February 17, 2025 at 12:46 pm

Advanced happy 26th anniversary to you and Lord Carnarvon! Hope you have a wonderful day. Cheers to many more years of happiness!

~elen~
February 17, 2025 at 01:26 pm

Thank you, Lady Carnarvon
Although I live in an American suburbia, I'm at heart a British country girl and your blog is an inspiration to me.
I found you via Victoria magazine.

Lady Carnarvon
February 17, 2025 at 01:40 pm

Thank you!

Joan
February 17, 2025 at 02:17 pm

Thank you for your delightful blog telling us the history of Valentine’s Day.
I hope everyone enjoyed your celebrations at Highclere. The photo’s look wonderful. Your chef must highly skilled to make the choux pastry swans.

Karen Farris
February 17, 2025 at 02:33 pm

Lovely the pictures of the parliament of fowls and did you and lord Carnarvon have wonderful weekend and lam fan of Downton Abbey and lovely higcelere castle

Martha Glass
February 17, 2025 at 02:54 pm

Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for your commemoration of Valentine’s Day at Highclere - always a beautiful place - and its history. Chaucer’s whimsical writing of the eagles in Parliament of Fowles is a study of humanity then and now.
I hope you and Lord Carnarvon had a lovely celebration on Valentine’s Day! ❤️
Martha G.

Pauline Godwin
February 17, 2025 at 03:02 pm

So very interesting thank you another great Monday read

Laura Barger
February 17, 2025 at 03:55 pm

May your heart be happy and your day be sweet — that’s a message I received in a valentine over the weekend. I think it’s nice sentiment, and hope it’s true for you, Lady Carnarvon, as well as for everyone who reads this blog.
P.S. I enjoyed the painting of the multitude of birds so much that I saved it on my iPad!

Katie Mulry
February 17, 2025 at 04:00 pm

The fragrance must be breath taking. Roses are my favorite sniffing flower. Cheers!

Pam Jackson
February 17, 2025 at 04:11 pm

Now I need to dig out my Chaucer volume! Always a pleasant Monday morning when you send me to a new or forgotten place, thank you.

Lady Carnarvon
February 17, 2025 at 10:16 pm

He was the most extraordinary poet

Lady Carnarvon
February 17, 2025 at 10:17 pm

Thank you so much

Lady Carnarvon
February 17, 2025 at 10:17 pm

Thank you!

Heather Mills
February 17, 2025 at 10:33 pm

How blessed we are to have the history we have, how thankful we should be that Chaucer was allowed to express his opinions and that they have been preserved for all of us❣️
Thank you Lady Carnarvon for reminding us about the blessings we have

Deborah L. Roberts
February 18, 2025 at 12:47 am

Lady Carnarvon,
You do find such interesting things to write about!
Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day.

Lady Carnarvon
February 18, 2025 at 01:48 pm

Thank you - yes!

Lady Carnarvon
February 18, 2025 at 01:49 pm

I am a real fan of Chaucer - his characters are brilliant

Theresa Watson-Raffee
February 18, 2025 at 06:42 pm

Lady Carnarvan
I found your blog through Victoria magazine and what a treasure I found! I live in the United States, Southern California actually. My Dad immigrated to America in 1957 from Liverpool, England.
I love all things British as I spent many days as a child in England with family. Someday I will get to Highclere! I'm looking forward to all that you have to share on your blog! Thank you

Moira
February 18, 2025 at 10:00 pm

Coincidentally, my family spent Valentine's day on a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament.
I had not realised how much art work, both paintings and statues, it has, showing scenes of historic battles, Biblical stories, kings and queens all the way back to Edward the Confessor, and previous prime ministers.
It has the feel of an old castle and it is funny to think that Chaucer would have seen that building, so long ago.

I love your choux pastry swans.

Mary L. Mantel
February 18, 2025 at 11:17 pm

Some things never change, especially those related to politics, and especially the House of Commons. I wasn't familiar with the Chaucer poem, but loved how you linked it to the rest of your fabulous blog. Have a wonderful week, Lady Carnarvon, and I hope the weather in the UK cheers up somewhat. We have freezing temperatures in West Texas today but it will be in the 80's by the end of the week.

Catherine in Greece
February 19, 2025 at 02:09 pm

How lovely the Valentine celebrations must have been at Highclere! Beautiful roses on the stair case and everywhere I am sure. Thank you for the words of Chaucer, and the story of courtly love. Always a joy to see you blog, but please have a high tech person check this blog, as the last two weeks it has gone into my "SPAM" file saying thr "images were insecure"???? Take care, be well!

Sunny
February 19, 2025 at 05:49 pm

I’ll definitely read the Parliament of Fowls again! Thank you for the inspirational reminder.

Lady Carnarvon
February 19, 2025 at 10:24 pm

I will update the whole site I think !

Lady Carnarvon
February 19, 2025 at 10:25 pm

That is a change in your weather!
Thank you - it is worth reading

Lady Carnarvon
February 19, 2025 at 10:25 pm

The swans are cute

Lady Carnarvon
February 19, 2025 at 10:25 pm

thank you very much

Su Bowling
February 20, 2025 at 02:58 pm

Thank you for history of Valentine’s Day/Chaucer’s poetry and the lovely art of the fowl painting.

Also, the beauty of your writing. Such a talent you have.

Monday’s email is always brightened by your blog.

Have a great week! We’re planning a fall visit to Highclere. When are fall open dates added to the calendar?

Mary J
February 22, 2025 at 02:36 am

So enjoyed learning about Chaucer's Parliament Of Fowls. Equally delighted to know that there are others who still read him, according to earlier comments. I polished off Canterbury Tales on a Nordic Trak ski exerciser which requires reading at a slow rate. (Might have skimmed otherwise). Took all winter!
Best Wishes for an early spring!

Lady Carnarvon
February 23, 2025 at 01:52 am

That is so funny - this poem is not so long???

Delia crea
March 11, 2025 at 11:34 am

Thank you so much for this lovely piece Lady Carnarvon, providing a precious moment to recall past times and a breath of fresh air in days of doom and gloom. Looking forward to the next!!
Delia C.

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