DIMEV 142
A poor widow somedeal stoop in age
Geoffrey Chaucer, the Nun’s Priest’s Tale of the
Canterbury Tales — 626 lines in couplets.
Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer
Title(s): Nun’s Priest’s Tale; Canterbury Tales
Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage; beast fables; dreams
Versification: —
couplets —
aa
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Arch. Selden B. 14 (SC 3360), ff. 206
v-215
First Lines:A poure widowe somdel stopen in age
was whilom dwellynge in a narowe
cotage…
Last Lines:…as seith oure lorde so make vs alle good men
and bringe vs to
his highe blis Amen
Attributed Title: …and next folwyng bigynneth his tale (f. 206); The nonnys preste
(rubric, RT); Here endith the nonnes prest his tale… (f. 215)
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Barlow 20 (SC 6420), ff. 246-255
First Lines:A pore widow somdel stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seit my lord so make vs alle gode men
And bryng vs alle to
his highe blysse amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2944, 2973, 3043-8, omitted; 2860-1, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …& here bygynnyth þe tale (f. 246); Here endith þe
Nonne preostes tale… (f. 255)
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 414 (SC 27880), ff. 172
v-180
First Lines:[A] Pore widow sumdele stept in Age
Was whilom duelling in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As saith my lord god make us al good men
And bring us alle to
his high blisse Amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2973, 3043-8, 4297-8, 3207-14 omitted; 2860-1, 3391-2
reversed; 2876 inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: The Nonnes prestis tale of the cokke / and the henne Chauntclere and
pertlot (f. 172v)
4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 217-224
First Lines:A Poor widow som dele stape in age
As whilom dwelling in a narow
cage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs al gode men
And bring vs all to
his high blisse amen
Note: VII.2902, 2922 omitted; 3831-2, 2965-6, 3391-2 reversed; 2822, 3135
inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: …And next beginneth the Nonnes Prest tale of the Cok and of þe
Foxe (rubric, f. 217); The Nonne Prest (rubric, RT); Here endeth the Nonnes
Prest tale… (rubric, f. 224)
5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 259-263
v
First Lines:A pore widow somdel stope in age
Was whilom duelling in a pore
cotage…
Last Lines:…And to him rennen his wifes alle
Þus real as a Prince in
his halle…
Note: VII.3185-446 lost; 2946-7 omitted.
Attributed Title: HEre begynneþ þe nonne prestis tale (f. 259); Þe nonne prest
(rubric, RT)
6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 141 (SC 14635), ff. 154-155
v
First Lines:…And casten hem ful erly for to seyle
But herkene how that the
oo man fille in a gret peryle…
Last Lines:…ffull is myn hert of Reuell & solas
But sodenly hym fel a
sorewfull cas…
Note: VII.2821-3074, 3205-446 lost; 3083-4 omitted.
Attributed Title: The nonnes preest (rubric, RT)
7.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), ff. 116-119
First Lines:…As for that night departe company
And ich of hem goth into
his hostelery…
Last Lines:…As saith my lord god make vs al good men
And bryng vs al to
the hihe blis Amen
Note: VII.2821-2992 lost; 3043-8, 3368 omitted; 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: the nonne preest (rubric, RT); Here endith the non preestes tale…
(rubric, f. 119)
8.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 223 (SC 14714), ff. 195-204
First Lines:A pore widewe somdel stope in ag
Was whilom dwelling in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make us alle gode men
And bringe us to his
hiȝe blisse Amen
Note: VII.2923-4, 2973-4, 3413-14, 3417-18 reversed.
Attributed Title: Here beginneth the Nonnes Prestes tale of Chauntecler & Pertelote (f.
194v, positioned in the middle of an otherwise blank, ruled
verso); Chauntecler Pertlote (RT); Here endith the Nonnes Prestes tale…
(rubric, f. 204)
9.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 166-173
v
First Lines:A Pore widowe somdele stape in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs alle good men
And brynge vs to
his blysse amen
Note: Followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s Priest’s
Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: Here bygynnetħ the Nonnes prestes tale (rubric, f. 166)
10.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 247
v-256
First Lines:A Pouere wydewe somdel stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seiþ my lord so make vs all goode men
And bringe vs
all to his heihe blisse amen
Note: VII.2822, 2824, 2973, 3033-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Nonnes Prestes tale / of the Kokke and his vij Hennes
(f. 249v); nonne prestes (rubric, RT); Here endeþ þe Nonne
prestes tale
11.Source: Oxford, New College 314, ff. 249
v-259
First Lines:A pore widow som deel stept in age
Was sumtyme dwellyng in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs alle gode men
And brynge vs to
his hiȝ blisse Amen
Note: VII.2877, 3124 omitted; 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: …And here begynnyth his tale (rubric, f. 249)v); Nonnys
Prest (rubric, RT)
12.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49, ff. 231-239
First Lines:A pore wonman somdell stope in age
that whelom dwellid in an narowe
cotage…
Last Lines:…as seith my lorde god make vs al gode men
and bringe vs al
vnto his hie blisse amen
Note: VII.2904, 2973, 2990, 3022, 3043-8, 3054, 3066, 3092 omitted; 2861-2,
3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: ffabula presbeteri de Chauntecler / And Pertelt (rubric, f. 231);
Chauntecler (rubric, RT)
13.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Dd.4.24, ff. 189-195
First Lines:…What eyleth yow to grone in this manere
Ȝe ben a verrey
slepere fy for shame…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
An brynge vs to his
blisse Amen
Note: Followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s Priest’s
Epilogue’ (
4870). VII.2821-2889 lost; 3163-6
omitted.
Attributed Title: Heere endeth the Tale of the Nonnes Preest (f. 195v)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Cambridge MS. Dd.4.24 of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales,
Completed by the Egerton MS. 2726 (The Haistwell MS).
The Chaucer Society
1st Series, no. 95 (Part 1, issue for 1901) and 96 (Part 2, issue for
1902).
14.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Gg.4.27 (Part 1a), ff. 365-370
v
First Lines:…His color was reddere than the fyne coral
And batayled as it
were a castel wal…
Last Lines:…The dokis cryedyn as men wolde hem quelle
And that the
Romaynys haddyn brente Cartage…
Note: VII.2821-58, 3391-446 lost; 2958, 3365 inserted at foot; 3365 follows
3390 as final surviving lines.
Facsimiles: Parkes, Malcolm B., and Richard Beadle.
“Introduction.”
Poetical Works. Geoffrey Chaucer. A Facsimile of Cambridge University
Library MS Gg.4.27. 3 vols Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1979 (vol. 1); 1980 (vols. 2-3).
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James.
The Cambridge MS (University Library, Gg.4.27) of Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, nos. 4, 10, 17, 28, 33, 40, 52, 66. London: Trübner,
1868-79.
15.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ii.3.26, ff. 211
v-219
First Lines:A pore wedowe somdele stepe in age
Was some tyme dwellyng in a
narowe cotage…
Last Lines:…As saithe my lorde so make vs all good men
And brynge vs to
the highe blisse Amen
Note: VII.2904, 2962, 3054, 3338 omitted; 3291-4 follow 3298.
Attributed Title: Here endeth the prologe of the nonnes preest / And here begynneth his tale
(f. 211v); Nonnes preste (rubric, RT); Here Endeth the nonnes prestes
tale… (f. 219)
16.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, ff. 164
v-170
v
First Lines:A pore wydowe som dele stope in age
Was whilom dwellynge in an
narowe cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make us all goode men
Ande brynge us all
to þe hye blysse amen
Note: VII.2878-81, 2973, 3043-8, 3235-96; 3861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …& here begynneth þe tale (f. 164v); þe
Nonne preste tale (RT); Here endeth þe nonne prestes tale… (f.
170v)
17.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], ff. 256
v-263
First Lines:[A] Pore wydow somdele stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…Thorou thi grace make us all gode men
And bryng us to his
Blysse Amen
Note: VII.2821-2, 2871-6, 2921-40, 2943-74, 3043-8. 3159-60, 3175-84, 3189-90,
3205-14, 3226-9, 3235-50, 3267-72, 3279-82, 3293-83339-59, 3363-4, 3394-6,
3401-4 omitted; 2061-2, 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: The tale of þe nonnes preste (f. 256v); The nonnis prest
(RT); Here endeth þe nonnes prestes Tale (f. 263)
18.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.3 (582), ff. 81
vb-85
rb
First Lines:A pore widewe somdel stope in age
Was whilom duelling in a narwe
cage…
Last Lines:…As saith my lord so make vs alle goode men
And bringe vs alle
to his high blisse Amen
Note: VII.2973, 3043-8, 3080-4, 3086, 3093-4, 3253-4 omitted; 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: A Tale of the Nonnes prest (f. 81vb); Hiere endeth the tale of
the Nonnes prest (f. 85rb)
19.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.15 (595), ff. 261-270
v
First Lines:A poure wedowe somdel stept in Age
Was somtyme dwollynge in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs all good men
And brynge vs to his
blys high blis amen
Note: VII.2945, 3256 omitted; 2877-8, 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: …and begynneth his tale (f. 261)
20.Source: London, British Library Addit. 5140, ff. 275-284
v
First Lines:A poore Widdwe somdel stopen in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a naruh
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so maake vs alle good men
And bryng vs to his
hihe blys Amen
Note: VII.4491-4, 3343-4 omitted; followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s
Priest’s Epilogue’ (
4870.
Attributed Title: …Incipit narracio eiusdem de Chaunteclere & Pertelotte (f.
275); Nonnys preest (rubric, RT); Explicit fabula sacerdotis
monialium… (f. 284v)
21.Source: London, British Library Addit. 35286 [olim Ashburnham 125], ff. 201-209
v
First Lines:A pore widow somdel stepe in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle good men
And brynge vs to his
hie blis Amen
Attributed Title: …Here bigynneth the tale of the nonnes prest (f. 201); The nonnes
prest (rubric, RT); Here endeth the nonnes prestes tale (f.
209v)
Editions: Horobin, Simon.
“A Transcription and Study of British Library MS Additional 35286 of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.”
Diss. Univ. of Sheffield, 1997.
22.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell], ff. 209-217
First Lines:A poure widowe somdele stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs all gode men
And bryng vs vn to
his blisse amen
Note: VII.3084 inserted at foot; 2941-2 reversed; followed by sixteen-line
‘Nun’s Priest’s Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: …and begynneth his tale of þe Cok and þe Hen (f.
209)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Cambridge MS. Dd.4.24 of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales,
Completed by the Egerton MS. 2726 (The Haistwell MS).
The Chaucer Society
1st Series, no. 95 (Part 1, issue for 1901) and 96 (Part 2, issue for
1902).
23.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2863 [olim Norton, post Compton Hall], ff. 177-182
v
First Lines:…With stikkes & drye diche wiþ oute
In whiche sche
hadde acok þat highte chaunteclere…
Last Lines:…So aferd for berkynge of dogges
And showtyng of men & of
women eke…
Note: VII.2821-47, 3388-3446 lost; 2922, 2924, 2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2061-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: The Nonne preest (RT)
24.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2864 [olim Ingilby, post Compton Hall], ff. 225
v-233
v
First Lines:[A] poore widowe somdel stopen in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a naruh
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
And bryng vs to his
hihe blisse Amen
Note: VII.2924, 2991-4, 3343-4 omitted; followed by sixteen-line
‘Nun’s Priest’s Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: Incipit narracio Sacerdotis Monialium (f. 225v); The
nonnesse is tale (RT)
25.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, ff. 193-200
First Lines:A Pore widowe somdell stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs alle good men
And bryng vs alle
to his hye blis amen
Note: VII.2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2 reversed; 28 lines left blank
after explicit.
Attributed Title: Here endith the Prolog And begynneth the tale (f. 193); Nonnes Preest (RT);
Here endith the tale of the Nonnes Preest (f. 200)
26.Source: London, British Library Harley 7333, ff. 112
rb-114
va
First Lines:A Pore wedow somdele steppid in Age
Was some tyme dwellyng in a
narow cotage…
Last Lines:…As sey myn lord so make vs al gode men
And bringe vs to his
hie blisse amen
Note: VII.3077-8 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here begynnith þe nonne preste / of chauntclere (f. 112rb,
rubric); Here Endithe þe nonne prestes tale… (f. 114va,
rubric)
27.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 238-246
First Lines:A Pore wydow some del stope in age
Was whilom duellyng in a pore
cotage…
Last Lines:…As saith my lor so make vs all good men
And bring
vs all to his blisse ameN
Note: VII.2646-7, 3289-90 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here bygynneth the Nonne prest his tale (f. 238); The prestes tale (rubric,
RT); Here endeþ þe tale of Chaunteclere and pertelote… (f.
246)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury
Tales’.
Chaucer Society
73. London: Trübner, 1885.
28.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 218-225
First Lines:A Pouer wedowe sumdel stoupe in age
Was whilom dwellynge in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seiþe my lorde so makeþ vs al good men
And bringe
vs al to his hihe blisse Amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2973, 3043-8, 3067, 3300-1 omitted; 2861-2, 3389-90,
3391-2 reversed; 3007 inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: þe Preste (RT); Explicit fabula Capellani… (f.
225)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Lansdowne Manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, nos. 7, 13, 20, 36, 43, 55, 69. London: Trübner,
1868-79.
29.Source: London, British Library Royal 17 D.XV, ff. 274
v-284
First Lines:A pore widowe dwellid in a narow cotage
And was somdel stopen in
age…
Last Lines:…As seytħ my lord so make vs al goode men
And bryng vs to his
blis Amen
Note: VII.2973, 3259 omitted; 2821-2 reversed; followed by sixteen-line
‘Nun’s Priest’s Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: …And begynnyth the tale of the nones prest (rubric, in margin, f.
274v)
30.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 226
v-234
First Lines:A Pore widowe somdel stope in age
Was whilom dwelling in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle gode men
And bringe vs alle
to his hye blisse Amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2973, 3253-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the tale (rubric, f. 226v); The Nonne prest
(RT)
31.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1685, ff. 214
v-222
v
First Lines:A pore wydowe some dele stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…But sir I dyd it nouȝt in no wicked entente
Cometh doune
& I shalle telle you what I ment…
Note: VII.3424-46 lost; 2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2 reversed.
Catchwords on f. 222v: ‘I shalle’. The rest of the MS
lost.
Attributed Title: …& begynneth þe tale (f. 214v); The Nunne Prest
(rubric, RT)
32.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1686, ff. 281
v-290
First Lines:A Pore widewe somdele stope in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seithe my lorde so make vs alle good men
And bryng vs alle
to his high blisse Amen
Note: VII.2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2862-3, 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: Here endith the Prolog of the Nonnes Preest / And here begynneth his tale
folowyng (rubric, f. 281); Tale of the Nonnes Preest (RT)v); Here
endith the Nonnes prest tale… (rubric, f. 290)
33.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales MS 21972D [Merthyr fragment], ff. 1
v; 2-2
v; 3-3
v
First Lines:[…]om dwel[…]ng[…]
[…]groue
stondyng…
[…]par[…]ee no re[…]
[…]n ne
compleyne…
[…]hall[…]
[…]ere in h[…]
pasture…
Last Lines:…His kombe was redder than the fyn coral
And batailled as it
were a castel wal…
…God wot it reweth me and haue good day
And thus he toke his
leue and went his way…
…If I conseil of women w[…]de blame
Pas ouer for I seyde
it in my […]e…
Note: Three damaged leaves containing: VII.2784-2820; VII.2822-2860;
VII.3021-3058; VII.3060-3098; VII 3184-3222; VII.3223-3262.
Attributed Title: Here endeth the prologe / Here endeth the prologe and bygynneth the tale
(f. 1, foot)
Facsimiles: Stubbs, Estelle,
ed.
The Hengwrt Chaucer Digital Facsimile (CD-ROM).
Leicester, England: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2000.
Editions: Stubbs, Estelle,
ed.
The Hengwrt Chaucer Digital Facsimile (CD-ROM).
Leicester, England: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2000: Contains a digital facsimile and transcription of the
Merthyr Fragments.
34.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D [‘Hengwrt’], ff. 99
v-107
First Lines:A poore widwe som del stape in age
Was whilom dwellynge in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
And brynge vs to
his heye blisse Amen
Attributed Title: Here bigynneth the Nonnes preestes tale of the Cok and hen / Chauntecler
& Pertelote (f. 99v); The Nonnes preestes tale (RT); Here is
ended the Nonnes preestes tale… (f. 107)
Facsimiles:
Ruggiers, Paul G.,
ed.
The Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer. A Facsimile of the Hengwrt
Manuscript, with Variants from the Ellesmere Manuscript.
Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma, and Folkestone: Wm. Dawson,
1979.
Stubbs, Estelle,
ed.
The Hengwrt Chaucer Digital Facsimile (CD-ROM).
Leicester, England: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2000.
Editions:
Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Hengwrt Manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, nos. 3, 9, 27, 39, 51, 71. London: Trübner,
1868-79.
Blake, Norman F.,
ed.
The Canterbury Tales. Edited from the Hengwrt Manuscript.
York Medieval Texts, second series.
London: Edward Arnold, 1980.
Stubbs, Estelle,
ed.
The Hengwrt Chaucer Digital Facsimile (CD-ROM).
Leicester, England: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2000.
35.Source: Alnwick Castle, Duke of Northumberland MS 455, ff. 274-282
v
First Lines:A pore wedow som dele stepid in age
was whilom dwellyng in a narow
corage…
Last Lines:…As thow art lord so make vs al good men
And bryng vs to thy
blis amen
Note: VII.2859, 2922, 3163-6, 3256, 3325-9 omitted.
Attributed Title: …And here he begynnyth his tale of Chauntclere & Pertelot (f.
274); Here endith the tale of þe Nonnys preest of Chauntclere / And of
Pertelot… (f. 282v)
36.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 73
rb-76
rb
First Lines:A Pore widowe somdel stoupe in age
Was whilom duellyng in a narwe
Cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle good men
And bryng vs to the
high blisse amen
Note: VII.3312 blank; 2973-4, 3413-14, 3417-18 reversed.
Attributed Title: Now begynneths the preestis tale (f. 73ra); The Preste (RT); The
Priest (RT); The Pryest (RT); Here endeth the tale of the Nunnes preste…
(f. 76rb)
37.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, ff. 242-249
v
First Lines:A pore wydowe somdele stoupe in age
Whilom was dwelling in a narowe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seiþ my lorde so make vs al good men
And bringe vs all
to his high blisse Amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …and here bygynneth the the Preest his tale (f. 241v); The
Tale of þe non preest (RT); The nonnes Preest (RT); Here endeth þe
nonne preest his tale (f. 249v)
38.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 110, ff. 232
v-240
v
First Lines:A Pouere widowe sumdel stope in age
Was whilome dwellynge in a narw
vilage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle good men
And brynge vs vn to
his blisse amen
Note: VII.3343-6 omitted.
Attributed Title: heere bigynnyth þee tale Of þe Cokk / And the henne and the fox
(f. 232v); The Nonnes Preest (RT); here eendith þe tale of
þe Nunnes preest… (f. 240v)
39.Source: London, Royal College of Physicians 388 (13), ff. 301
v-312
v
First Lines:A Poore widew sumdel stope in aage
Was whilom dwellyng in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs al goode men
And bryng vs to his
hie blisse Amen
Attributed Title: …Incipit Fabula (f. 301v); Explicit ffabula
(f. 312v)
40.Source: Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 113 [olim Hodson 39], ff. 148-153
v
First Lines:[A] Powre Wedowe somdele stopen in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a
narowe Cotage…
Last Lines:…As seid my lord god make vs all good men
And brynge vs vnto
his blis Amen
Note: VII.2078-81 omitted; followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s
Priest’s Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: Here begynnyth the Nonnes prestis / tale of the Cokke and of the Henne (f.
147v); Nonnes Prest (RT); Here endith þe tale of þe
Nonnes Prest… (f. 153v)
41.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 258
v-266
v
First Lines:A poor wydowe somdel stope in age
Was whilom dwelling in anarowe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seiþ my lorde so make vs all good men
And bringe vs al
to his blisse Amen
Note: VII.2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneþ þe nonne preest his tale (f.
258v); The Nonnes Preestes (RT); Thus endeþ þe preestes
tale… (f. 266v)
Editions:
Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Petworth MS of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, nos. 6, 12, 19, 35, 42, 54, 68. London: Trübner,
1868-79.
Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
Autotype Specimens of the Chief Chaucer MSS, Part II.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, no. 56. London: Trübner, 1876.
44.Source: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M249 [olim Ashburnham 124, post Compton Hall], ff. 231-239
First Lines:A poor wydowe somdele stoupe in age
Whilom was dwellyng in a narowe
cotage
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs alle good men
And brynge vs all
to his higħ blisse Amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 2973. 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneth the same preest his tale (f. 231); The tale of
the Nonne prest (RT); The Nonnes Preeste (RT); Here endetħ the Nonne prestes
tale… (f. 239)
46.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library 100 [olim Helmingham Hall], ff. 192-200
First Lines:A pore wydowe som dele steppid in age
Was som tym dwellyng in a
narowe cotag…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord God make vs al good men
And bring vs to his
hy blis Amen
Note: Preceded by 20 blank lines. VII.2884-6 obscured by patch; 2922, 2924,
3236, 3339 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here begynnyth the Nonnys Prestis tale (rubric, f. 192); Nonnys Prest /
Chauntclere (RT); Chanticler & Pertelot (RT); Here endith þe Nonnys
Prest his tale… (f. 200)
47.Source: San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], ff. 179-185
v
First Lines:A poure wydwe somdeel stape in age
Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
And brynge vs to
his heighe blisse Amen
Note: Verse ends on f. 206v.
Attributed Title: Heere bigynneth the Nonnes Preestes tale of the Cok and / hen Chauntecleer
and Pertelote (f. 179); Nonnes Preest (RT); Heere is ended the Nonnes preestes
tale (f. 185v)
Facsimiles:
The Ellesmere Chaucer Reproduced in Facsimile.
2 vols. Preface by Alix Egerton. Manchester: Manchester University
Press, 1911.
Hanna, Ralph,
ed.
The Ellesmere Chaucer Reproduced in Facsimile.
2 vols. Manchester: Manchester UP, 1911. Preface by
Alix
Egerton
repr. as The Ellesmere Manuscript of Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales: A Working Facsimile. Intro. Hanna; Cambridge: D. S.
Brewer, 1989.
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Ellesmere Manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer Society
Series 1, nos. 2, 8, 16, 26, 32, 38, 50, 70. London: Trübner,
1868-79.
48.Source: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale angl. 39, ff. 73
vb-77
rb
First Lines:A pouer widow sumdel stept in to age
was sum tyme dwellyng in a narw
cotage…
Last Lines:…as seith my lord make vs alle good men
and bryng vs to thyn
heuyn blisse amen
Note: VII.3291-4 omitted; 2973-4, 3299-3300, 3205-6, 3417-18
reversed.
Attributed Title: Consequenter incipit fabula presbiteri (f. 73vb);
Explicit fabula presbiteri (f. 77rb)
50.Source: New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library, Takamiya Deposit 32 [olim Penrose 6; prior Delamere], ff. 128
rb-132
rb
First Lines:A pore wydwe svmdel stepen in age
Was whilvm dwelynge in a narwe
cotage…
Last Lines:…Of yowre grace lord make vs all goode men
And brynge vs alle
to his heyghe blisse amen
Note: VII.2973, 3043-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3075-6, 3391-2 reversed; 3036 inserted
at foot.
Attributed Title: Here by gynnyht thee tale (f. 128rb); Thee Nvnnis preest (RT);
Explicit / Here Eendyht Chauntekleer & pertilote (f.
132rb)
51.Source: Geneva, Bibl. Bodmer, Geneva 48 [olim Rosenbach 156, prior Phillipps 8136], ff. 202
v-210
v
First Lines:A pore widow sumdel stept in age
Was whilom duelling in a narow
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seiþ my lord god make us al gode men
And bring vs al
to his high blis amen
Note: VII.2922, 2924, 3043-8, 3107-8 omitted; 2861-2, 3391-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: The tale of þe Nonnes preste of Chauntclere & Pertlot (f.
202v)
Print Witnesses:
1.Source: STC 5082.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster, William Caxton, 1476] , ff. 308
v-319
v
First Lines:[A] Poure wydow som deel stept in age
Was somtyme dwellyng in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lorde so make vs alle good men
And bringe vs to
his high blisse amen
Note: VII.2877, 2945 omitted; 3391-2 reversed.
Attributed Author: Here endeth the prolog of the Nonnys preest / And here begynneth his tale
(f. 308v)
Facsimiles: Bordalejo, Barbara,
ed.
Caxton’s Canterbury Tales: The British Library Copies.
Leicester: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2003.
2.Source: STC 5083.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster], W. Caxton, [1483] , sigs. E.3-F.3
v
First Lines:[A] Poure wydow som dele y stept in age
Was somtyme dwellyng in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As seith my lord so make vs al good men
And bryng vs to thy
hygh blisse amen
Note: Followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s Priest’s
Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: And here begynnyth his tale (sig. E.3); The Tale of The Nonnys preest
(RT)
Facsimiles:
The Canterbury Tales (a facsimile of the Pepys copy of Caxton’s Second
Edition).
London: Cornmarket Reprints in association with Magdalene College,
Cambridge, 1972.
Bordalejo, Barbara,
ed.
Caxton’s Canterbury Tales: The British Library Copies.
Leicester: Scholarly Digital Editions, 2003.
3.Source: STC 5084.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, R. Pynson, [1492] , sigs. D.7
v-F.1
First Lines:[A] poure wydowe somdele y stept in age
Was somtyme duellyng in a
cotage…
Last Lines:…As saythe my lorde god make vs alle gode men
And bryng vs to
thy high blysse amen
Note: Followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s Priest’s
Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: Here endith the prologue of the nonnes preest / And begynneth his tale
(sig. D.7v); The tale of the Nonnes preest (RT)
4.Source: STC 5085.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, Westminster, W. de Worde, 1498 , sigs. q.5
va-r.4
rb
First Lines:[A] Poore wydow som dele y stept in age
Was somtyme dwellyng in a
pore cotage…
Last Lines:…As sayth my lorde so make vs all good men
And brynge vs to thy
hyghe blysse amen
Note: Followed by sixteen-line ‘Nun’s Priest’s
Epilogue’ (
4870).
Attributed Title: Here begynneht the nonnys preest tale (sig. [q.5v]); The tale of
the nonnys prest (RT); Here endyth the tale of the nonnys preest (sig.
r.4rb)