This Day in History: 1358-12-24

On 24th December 1358, John of Gaunt, future lord of Pontefract, spent Christmas at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, with his brother Lionel, and Lionel’s wife Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. Geoffrey Chaucer (author of ‘Canterbury Tales’) was employed by Elizabeth, at this time, as a page.