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No, the Franklin in The Canterbury Tales is not part of the clergy. He is a landowner who is described as a generous and hospitable man who enjoys fine food and wine.
In "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, the clergy members are the Prioress (head of a convent), the Monk, the Friar, the Parson (humble village priest), and the Summoner. Each of these characters represents different aspects of the clergy in medieval society.
The Parson
The reason he wrote the Canterbury Tales is to show the difference between each classes such as the clergy class. He thought the clergy class was fake and not as they seemed. An example is the nun who wore a green cloak when the usually wear a black and white coat.
People from all classes of society: nobles, merchants, laborers, clergy...
The Wife of Bath criticizes the clergy in "The Canterbury Tales" as hypocritical, greedy, and corrupt. She believes they do not practice what they preach and are more concerned with accumulating wealth and power than with serving God.
Some people have accused Catholic clergy of misogamy. That is to confuse a fact, the celibacy of said clergy, with an attitude, misogamy or a hatred of marriage.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, Primate of the Church of England.
The five social groups represented by Chaucer's pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales" are the nobility (Knight, Squire, Franklin), clergy (Prioress, Monk, Friar, Summoner, Pardoner), professionals (Doctor, Lawyer, Guildsmen), tradespeople (Merchant, Shipman, Cook, Wife of Bath), and laborers (Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Plowman).
Henry Kingscote has written: 'A letter to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury' -- subject(s): Accessible book, Benefices, Church of England, Clergy
The one social group that was not represented among the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales was the nobility. The pilgrims came from various societal backgrounds such as the clergy, merchants, craftsmen, and professionals, but the nobility was notably absent.
Elias Sydall has written: 'The clergy farther vindicated. A sermon preach'd in the cathedral-church of Canterbury, at the primary visitation of ... William Ld Arch-bishop of Canterbury, on Saturday June 16th, 1716. By Elias Sydall, ..' 'The true protestant and Church of England clergy vindicated from the imputation of preaching up themselves' 'The insupportable yoke of popery, and the wickedness of bringing it again upon these kingdoms, ... consider'd and apply'd, with regard to the present rebellion: in a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of Canterbury, on Saturday, Nov. 5. 1715. By Elias Sydall, ..' 'To every thing there is a season'