Jack of Dover possibly a reference to a meat pie.
Jack Straw a leader of the riots in London during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.
Jason, Paris, Lamech Jason deserted Medea to marry a princess; Paris stole Helen from Menelaus, causing the Trojan war; and Lamech married two women at the same time.
Jaspre a type of stoneware praised during Chaucer's time.
Je vous sans doute French, meaning "I tell you this without doubt."
Joab an officer in David's army who blew his trumpet so powerfully that David's enemies fled.
Job from the Old Testament, the Book of Job presents the story of the sufferings of Job, who never loses his "patience with God" for inflicting harsh punishment on an innocent person.
Joseph See Genesis xxxvii and xxxix–xli.
Judith a devout Jewish woman who saved her town from conquest by stealthily entering the camp of the besieging Assyrian army and cutting off the head of its commander, Hologernes.
Juno the Roman queen of the gods.
Kenelm a young prince who, at seven years old, succeeded his father but was slain by an aunt.
King Demetrius The book that relates this and the previous incident is the Policraticus of twelfth-century writer John of Salisbury.
King Peter of Spain; King Peter of Cyprus; Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy; Count Ugolino of Pisa figures who relied on fortune and were betrayed, killed, or starved.
Koran/Mahomet Mahomet wrote the Koran, which is the book or bible of the Islamic religion.
Lancelot of the lake the popular knight of King Arthur's legendary Round Table.
lauriol, centaury, and fumitory herbs that were used as cathartics or laxatives.
Lazarus and Dives (Lazar and Dives) see Luke 16:19.
lechery (lecchours) excessive sexual indulgence.
The Legend Of Cupid's Saints (Steintes Legende Of Cupide) Better known under the title Legend of Good Women. Each episode shows how women have been abused by men and have suffered throughout the ages, therefore preparing us for abuse that Constance must endure.
Lemuel See Proverbs 31:4-7.
Lepe a town in Spain noted for its strong wines.
Livy Titus Livius, a Roman historian (55 b.c. to a.d. 17).
Lombardy a province in Italy.
Lot Lot's daughters got their father drunk and then seduced him (from the Book of Genesis in the Bible); the Pardoner's point is that Lot never would have committed incest if he had not been drunk.
Luna . . . Sol moon and sun.
Luna the Serene (Lucina the Sheene) the goddess of the moon.
