Today, John Lydgate, Monk of Bury (around 1370-late in 1449 or 1450) has all but faded into literary obscurity. However, the monk was rather famous and a staple of literature during his life and until the 17th century. His name appears in the full title of this book: The Woorkes of Geffrey Chaucer, newly printed, with divers addicions, whiche were never in printe before: with the siege and destruccion of the worthy citee of Thebes, compiled by Jhon Lidgate, monke of Berie.

Although Lydgate failed to permanently cement his name in the literary canon, the poet does deserve a degree of respect in his own right. John Lydgate was a contemporary and great admirer of Chaucer, even having a friendly relationship with the great writer's son Thomas and granddaughter Alice, the latter of whom served as one of Lydgate's patrons. Lydgate was born in Suffolk around 1370 and studied at Bury Saint Edmunds and possibly Oxford. He worked to rise in the ranks of organized religion and became an ordained minister in 1397. He began his literary career around 1400, and experienced a meteoric rise to about 1420. From the 1420s to 1444, Lydgate wrote his most notable works for himself and as commissioned by wealthy patrons. Some include The Flour of Courtesye, The Temple of Glas, Fall of Princes, and Ballade at the Departyng of Thomas Chaucer into France.

Two of his most defining works, The Siege of Thebes and The Complaint of the Black Knight were inspired by Chaucer's writings and are included later in this book.

Alt text: Image shows a blank page in the 1561 Woorkes of Geffrey Chaucer on which is handwritten in ink: "Chaucer is deed, that had suche a name of faire making, that was withoute in wene, Fayrest in our tonge, as the Laurir grene. - Lydgate Flower of Curtesie p. ccL[?}X. [?]. 236.