Geoffrey Chaucer, most frequently called Jeff in the film and based on the famous Olde English author of Canterbury Tales (which serves in part as inspiration for the film), appears as a comic figure with specialized talents and possessing a great character flaw--he is a compulsive gambler. He enters the film 'TRUDGING' buck naked past the group of three varlets arguing over who's to ride the horse on the way to Rouen. They were beginning the journey to engage in their first deliberate thought out and premeditated fraud; hoping to enter the low born squire, William Thatcher as Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, of Gelderland.Chaucer is quite worldly and probably the the brightest character in the movie, and sees past their bickering and claims to knighthood for William immediately. He joins the group offering to write out unchallengeable patents of nobility if William, Watt, and Roland will clothe him and feed him. In Rouen, once the patents are accepted, William offers a share of the winnings if he would continue to act as their herald, in which role, the actor (Paul Bettany) performs perhaps the most memorable scene of the movie as he first introduces Sir Ulrich in front of his ultimate rival Count Adhemar of Anjou and his heart throb, the Lady Jocelyn. A short while before that he succumbs to his vice and ends up naked once again at the hands of two of the real Chaucer's characters placed in the film as a homage.Through most of the film Chaucer interacts with disputes and quarrels with Watt, another of the original group, and the two provide a number pf lighter humorous moments, and the occasional much needed skill. Show less «