DIMEV 2587
In Syria whilom dwelt a company
Geoffrey Chaucer, the Man of Law’s Tale of the Canterbury
Tales — 1026 lines in rhyme royal stanzas.
Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer
Title(s): Man of Law’s Tale;
Canterbury Tales
Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage; secular saints; miracles; tidings
Versification: —
rhyme royal, seven-line —
ababbcc
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Arch. Selden B. 14 (SC 3360), ff. 143-157
First Lines:In Surre vmwhile dwelled a companye
of chapmen riche & therto
sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
and kepe vs alle that
ben in this place
Attributed Title: the man of lawe (RT); Here endith the man of lawe his tale… (f.
157)
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Barlow 20 (SC 6420), ff. 64
v-78
v
First Lines:In Surrye whilom duellid a compaignye
Of Chapmen riche &
þerto sad & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle þat
ben in þis place
Attributed Title: The Man of law (RT); here endith þe tale of þe man of law…
(f. 78v)
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 414 (SC 27880), ff. 52
v-64
v
First Lines:[I]N Surry whilom duelt a company
Of chapmen riche and þerto
sad & true…
Last Lines:…Ioyes aftir wo gouerne us in his grace
And saue hem all that
ben in this place
Note: II.197 omitted; 767 inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the lawyers tale (f. 52v)
4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 686 (SC 2527), ff. 57
v-70
v
First Lines:In surrie whilome dwelt a compaigny
Of chapman riche & therto
sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all þat
byn in this place
Attributed Title: Here begynneþ þe tale of þe man of lawe (f. 57v);
Man of lawe (RT); Here endeth the tale of Custaunce… (f.
70v)
5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 52-64
First Lines:IN Surry whilom dwelled a company
Of chapmen riche and þere to
sadde and true…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftre wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that arn
in þis place Amen
Note: II.697-8, 700, 880, 882 omitted.
Attributed Title: …next / biginneth the man of lawe is tale of Quene Constance (f. 52);
The man of lawes tale (RT); Here endeth þe man of lawes tale of
Constance… (f. 64)
6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 127
v-142
v
First Lines:In Surry whilom duellid a companye
Of chapmen riche and þerto
sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioie after woo gouerne vs in grace
And kepe vs alle þat
ben in þis place
Note: II.967-133 lost.
Attributed Title: þe man of lawe (RT)
7.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 739 (SC 1234), ff. 84-98
v
First Lines:In surrie whilom dwelte a company
Of chapmen riche & þerto
sad & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place
Note: II.985 omitted.
8.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 141 (SC 14635), ff. 31-47
First Lines:In Surre while dwelled a compenye
Of chapmen ryche & therto sad
& tirwe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place
Note: II.425, 822-3 omitted; spurious lines follow 430, 821, 824.
Attributed Title: The seriaunt (RT)
9.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), ff. 24
v-36
v
First Lines:In Surry whilom dwelled a company
Of chapmen riche & thereto sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all
þat arn in this place
Note: II.1020-97 lost; 1119 omitted; spurious line follows 1121.
Attributed Title: A tale of the Emperouris daughter of Rome (f. 24v, margin, in a
later hand); the man of lawe (RT); here endith the man of lawes tale… (f.
36v)
10.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 223 (SC 14714), ff. 63
v-79
First Lines:In surrye somwhile dwelt a company
Of chapmen riche and therto sad
and true…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe us alle that
beth in this place
Attributed Title: The lawier tale (RT); Here endeth the tale of the man of lawe… (f.
79)
11.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 191
v-204
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelte a companyee
Of Chapmen riche & therto
sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place Amen
Note: II.341, 835 omitted; 341 inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: Narrat (f. 191v, margin); the tale of the . man of lawe
(f. 191v, margin); Here endeth the tale of the man of lawe… (f.
204)
12.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 75
v-90
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelt a companye
of Chapmen riche and þerto
sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe all þat be
in þis place
Attributed Title: Explicit (f. 90, margin)
13.Source: Oxford, New College 314, ff. 54
v-69
First Lines:In Surry whilom duellid A company
Of Chapmen riche þerto sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioie aftir woo gouerne vs and his grace
And kepe vs alle that
been in þis place
Note: II.271, 276, 504, 985 omitted.
Attributed Title: Man of lawe (RT); Here endith the man of lawis tale… (f.
69v)
14.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49, ff. 184
v-198
First Lines:In suery sum tyme dwelled a compani
of chapmen riche and eke ther to
sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioie aftir woo gouerne vs in grace
In kepe vs al that ben in
this place amen
Attributed Title: Incipit fabula (f. 184v); Man of lawe (RT);
Explicit… (f. 198)
15.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Dd.4.24, ff. 55
v-67
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelled a companye
Of chapmen riche and ther to sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place Amen quod Wytton
Note: II.530-710 lost.
Attributed Title: Hic finitur fabula legis periti… (f. 67)
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).
16.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ee.2.15, ff. 18-23
v; 28-28
v; 30-35
v
First Lines:In surrey wylom dvelled a company
Of chapmen ryche & ther to sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye of thys worlde for tyme wolle nat a byde
ffro day to
nyght hit chavngethe as the tyde
Note: II.155-61, 368-78, 396-406, 463-686, 743-98, 821-6, 850-4, 1045-50,
1074-8 lost; 366-7, 394-5, 427-34, 450-62, 820, 848-9, 1044, 1072-3 partially
lost.
17.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Gg.4.27 (Part 1a), ff. 196-210
v
First Lines:In Surry whilom dwellede a cumpaignye
Of chapmen riche &
þerto sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftyr wo gouerne vs in hise grace
And kepe vs alle
þat ben in þis place Amen
Attributed Title: Here endyth the man of lawe hise tale… (f. 210v)
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.
18.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ii.3.26, ff. 64-76
First Lines:In Surrey whilome dwelled a company
Of chapmen true and riche and
therto true…
Last Lines:…Ioy after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that ben
in this place Amen
Note: II.626, 678, 773, 850 omitted; 137-8 reversed.
Attributed Title: The man of lawe
19.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, ff. 78
v-91
First Lines:In surrye whilom dwelled a companye
Off chapmen riche and þerto
sadde and tewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne us in his grace
And kepe all þat
bene in þis place
Note: II.520 omitted; 109, 1004-6 inserted in margin; 153-4
reversed.
Attributed Title: The man of lawe (RT); Explicit… (f. 91)
20.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], ff. 79-93
First Lines:IN surry whilom dwellid a company
Of merchaundes riche and
þerto sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne us in his grace
And kepe us all that are
in this plase
Note: II.197-203, 302-8, 407-13, 421-7, 456-62, 645-51, 1086-92, 1135-41
omitted; 154-5, 963-4 reversed.
Attributed Title: The man o[trimmed] (RT)
21.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.3 (582), ff. 26
vb-33
vb
First Lines:In Surrye somtyme duelt a companie
Of chapmen rich and therto sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
beth in this place
Note: II.800-6, 1073 omitted. A space of twenty blank lines
follows.
22.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.15 (595), ff. 76-91
v
First Lines:In Surry whilom dwholled a compeny
Of Chapmen riche therto sad and
trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
bene in this place
Attributed Title: Here endeth the man of lawes tale… (f. 91v)
23.Source: London, British Library Addit. 5140, ff. 69
v-87
v
First Lines:In Surrey whilom dwelt a companye
Of chapmen ryche and therto sad
and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo governe vs in this grace
And kepe vs all that
ben in this place
Note: No break between the
Prologue (
3929) and
Tale.
Attributed Title: Sergeaunt (RT); Explicit ffabula Iurisperiti… (f.
87v)
24.Source: London, British Library Addit. 25718, ff. 32
v-40
v
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelled acompAnye
Of Chapmen riche and therto sadde
& trewe…
Last Lines:…When þat þe kyng þis cursed letre sent
And
Custance with a dedly and pale face…
Note: II.517-701, 823-1162 lost; 411, 454 omitted.
Attributed Title: legisperiti (RT)
25.Source: London, British Library Addit. 35286 [olim Ashburnham 125], ff. 44-51
v
First Lines:…For thei han seyn hir euer so vertuous
And louyng hermengold
ryght as hir lyf…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftyr wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs al that ben
in this place
Note: II.134-623 lost.
Attributed Title: The Sergeaunt (RT); Here endeth the Sergeauntes tale of noble Custance the
Emperours / doghter of Rome… (f. 51v)
Editions: Horobin, Simon.
“A Transcription and Study of British Library MS Additional 35286 of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.”
Diss. Univ. of Sheffield, 1997.
26.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell], ff. 66-78
v
First Lines:IN Surry whilom dwelt a company
Of Chapmen riche an þer to sad
and true…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo govern vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that ben
in this place
Note: II.328-9 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Man of Lawe his tale (f. 66); Hic finitur
Legisperiti… (f. 78v)
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).
27.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2863 [olim Norton, post Compton Hall], ff. 50-61
v
First Lines:…For here entent þei take here herbergage
Soiorned han
þese marchauntez in þat town…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo governe vs his grace
And kepe vs all þat
ben in this place
Note: II.134-146, 586-737 lost; four blank lines follow 420.
Attributed Title: The Man of lawe (RT); Here endith þe tale of þe Man of
Lawe… (f. 61v)
28.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2864 [olim Ingilby, post Compton Hall], ff. 66
v-81
First Lines:[I]n Surrey whilom dwelte a companye
Of chapmen riche and therto sad
and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo governe vs in his grace
And kepe us alle that
ben in this place
Attributed Title: Heer bigynnyth the substaunce of the tale (f. 66v); The
sergeaunt of lawe (RT); Explicit (f. 81)
29.Source: London, British Library Harley 1239, ff. 80
v-88
First Lines:In surrey sum whyle dwelte a companye
Of chapmen rich & þer
to sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftyr wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs al þat
ben in þis place
Note: II.775-898 lost; 176-82, 1023, 1042 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here endyth the tale of Custace (f. 88)
30.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, ff. 56
v-67
v
First Lines:In Surry whilom dwellid a companye
Of chapmen riche & therto sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that ben
in this place
Note: II.213, 215, 357, 436 inserted in margin.
Attributed Title: The Man Of lawe (RT); Here endith the Man of Lawe (f.
67v)
31.Source: London, British Library Harley 5908, single leaf, f. 61
First Lines:…Takeþ it aȝen I ȝeue ȝew leue of my
grace
Returneþ to ȝoure faderes house quod he…
Last Lines:…The smok quod he þat þou haste oppon þi bak
Let
it be stil and bere it forþe wiþ þe…
Note: Chaucer’s Clerk’s Tale, lines IV.808-91 of The
Canterbury Tales.
32.Source: London, British Library Harley 7333, ff. 60
vb-65
va
First Lines:In surry whilom þer dwellid a Companye
Of merchaundes wyse
þe wiche were sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir woo gouerne vus in his grace
And kepe vus al
þat ben in this place Amen
Note: II.671 omitted; 324, 485, 796 inserted in margin; 377-8
reversed.
Attributed Title: …the begynnyng / of the tale (f. 60); Here endithe the Man of Lawes
tale (f. 65).
33.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 72
v-86
First Lines:In Surrie dwelled whilom a companye
Of Chapmen riche and þerto
sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy after woe gouerne vs in his grace
And keep ous alle
þat ben in þis place
Note: II.417 omitted.
Attributed Title: The man of Lawes tale (RT)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury
Tales’.
Chaucer Society
73. London: Trübner, 1885.
34.Source: London, British Library Harley 7335, ff. 45-61
v
First Lines:IN Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignie
Of chapmen riche and therto
sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Or Ire or talent or some kynnes affray
Enuye or pryde or
pascion or offence…
Note: II.1139-62 lost.
35.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 66
v-79
First Lines:In Surre some while dweled a company
Of chap men riche &
þerto sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs al þat
bene in þis place
Note: II.122, 579, 873 omitted.
Attributed Title: þe man of lawe (RT); Explicit fabula legis periti… (f.
79)
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.
36.Source: London, British Library Royal 17 D.XV, ff. 81
v-95
v
First Lines:In Surrye whylome dwellede A Companye
Of chapmen ryche And
þerto sadde & true…
Last Lines:…Ioye affter woo governe vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that
bene in this place
Attributed Title: Here endith the tale of the mane of Lawe… (f.
95v)
37.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 70
v-82
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelt a companye
Of chapmen riche & þerto
sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place
Attributed Title: The man of lawe (RT); Explicit legisperiti fabula (f. 82,
margin)
38.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1685, ff. 63
v-78
First Lines:In surrie whilome dwellith a companye
Of Chapmen ryche &
þerto sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle
þat bene in þis place
Note: II.1122-35 partially lost due to tear; 213, 215, 290, 357, 479-80, 947,
1067 omitted.
Attributed Title: The Man of lawe (RT)
39.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1686, ff. 89-106
v
First Lines:IN sorrye whilom dwellyd a company
Of chapmen riche and therto sad
and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in grace
And kepe vs alle that ben
in this place Amen
Note: II.461, 1055 omitted; 790-1 reversed.
Attributed Title: [A] Tale of the man of lawe (RT); Here endith the mannys tale of
lawe… (f. 106v)
40.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D [‘Hengwrt’], ff. 113
v-128
First Lines:In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
Of chapmen riche and ther to
sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
been in thie place Amen
Note: Ends incomplete in Parson’s Tale, f. 250v.
Attributed Title: Here is ended the tale of the man of lawe (f. 128, below written space,
following verso blank)
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.
41.Source: Alnwick Castle, Duke of Northumberland MS 455, ff. 55-66
v
First Lines:…Solempnly with al circumstaunce
And ferth lete her seyll in
this manere…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir woo govern vs and grace
And kepe hem all that been
in this place
Note: I.134-316 lost; 318-20, 362, 391, 464-5, 471, 490, 523, 530, 866, 949,
955-7, 1096, 1119 omitted; 325-7 repeated.
Attributed Title: Here endith the man of law his tale… (f. 66v)
42.Source: Derbyshire, Chatsworth House ‘Devonshire Fragment’, ff. [1]-[2]
v
First Lines:…Now ladie bright to whom all wofull crien
Þou glorie of
womanhed þu faire may…
Last Lines:…Send me no more vn to non hethenes
Bot þank my lord here
of hys kyndnes…
Note: Two fragments of the Man of Law’s Tale: II.850-924;
1076-1144.
Attributed Title: The man of law (RT, rubric)
43.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 34
vb-37
vb
First Lines:On Surrey whilom duelled a companye
Of Chapmen riche and þerto
sadde and true…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe all þat
ben in this place
Note: II.946-52, 1031 omitted; 153-4 reversed.
Attributed Title: The Man of lawe (RT); Here endeth the tale of the man of lawe… (f.
37vb)
44.Source: Holkham Hall, Earl of Leicester MS 667, ff. 43
ra-49
vb
First Lines:In Surry sometyme dwelte a companye
Of chapmen ryche & thertoo
sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that ben
in this place
Note: II.165, 306 omitted; blank line follows 166 with spurious line added
later; 641-2 reversed.
45.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, ff. 71-84
First Lines:In Surrie whilom dwelled a companye
Of chapmen riche and þerto
sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle
þat ben in þis place
Attributed Title: The man Of lawe (RT); Here endeth þe tale of þe Man of
Lawe… (f. 84)
46.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 110, ff. 54
v-67
First Lines:In surrie somwhile dwelled a companye
Of chappemen riche &
therto sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftur woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in this place
Note: II.672-748 lost; 486 omitted.
Attributed Title: The Man of lawe (RT)
47.Source: London, Royal College of Physicians 388 (13), ff. 80
v-97
v
First Lines:IN Surrye whilom dwellid a compaignie
Of chapmen Riche and therto
sadde and triewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
bien in this place
Note: II.492 follows 484; 485 follows 491; 906-7 reversed.
Attributed Title: Explicit fabula legisperiti… (f. 97v)
48.Source: Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 113 [olim Hodson 39], ff. 47
v-56
v
First Lines:[I]N Surrye whilom dwelled a compaignie
Of Chapmen riche &
þerto sad and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle
þat been in this place
Attributed Title: Incipit fabula legisperiti (f. 47v); ffabula
legisperiti (f. 47v, margin); Explicit fabula
legisperiti… (f. 56v)
49.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 86
v-103
First Lines:In Surry whilom dwelt a companye
Of Chapmen riche & þerto
sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all
þat ben in þis place
Attributed Title: The Man of lawes Tale (RT); Here endeþ þe tale of þe man of
lawe… (f. 103)
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.
53.Source: Philadelphia, Rosenbach Museum and Library 1084/1 [olim Rosenbach 157; prior Phillipps 8137], ff. 52
v-57
v; 43-50
v
First Lines:In surrye whylom dwelled a companye
Of chapmen ryche and therto sad
and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy after woo gouerne vs in hys grace
And kepe vs alle that
ben in thys place
Note: II.381-2 omitted. The MS is misbound, with [13].8 following [12].7
(becoming f. 43) and Q [14] misbound to follow Q [12] (with [14] foliated 44-51,
and [13] foliated 52-57). Quires [1-4] and [6-7] are inferred to be lost, with
the foliation not taking account of them. Thus V.9-91 follow II.558-1190 and are
in turn followed by II.79-557; a blank leaf follows, and then V.92, etc.
V.656-72 lost; 134-40 omitted.
Attributed Title: The Man of lawe (RT); Here endeth the tale of the man of lawe (f.
50v, rubric)
55.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library 100 [olim Helmingham Hall], ff. 36-51
First Lines:In Surry whylom dwellid a company
Of Chapmen rich and there to sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir woo govern vs in his grace
And kepe vs al that ben
in this plase Amen
Note: II.985 omitted; 297-8 follow 301.
Attributed Title: Man of lawe (RT); Her endeth the tale of the man of lawe… (f.
51)
56.Source: San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], ff. 50
v-63
First Lines:IN Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
Of chapmen riche and therto
sadde and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
and kepe vs alle that
been in this place Amen
Attributed Title: Heere bigynneth the man of lawe his tale (f. 50v); Man of lawe
(RT); Heere endeth the tale of the man of lawe… (f. 63)
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.
57.Source: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale angl. 39, ff. 25
rb-31
rb
First Lines:In surrey som tyme ther dwellid a company
of chapman
riche and þerto sadde & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioy aftir wo gouerne vs in his grace
and kepe vs alle þat
been in this place
Note: II.176-82, 528-9 omitted; 678-9 reversed; spurious lines follow 521,
522, 527, 531.
Attributed Title: …& incipit fabula (f. 25rb); Explicit fabula
seruientis ad / legem sine iurisperiti… (f.
31rb)
60.Source: Geneva, Bibl. Bodmer, Geneva 48 [olim Rosenbach 156, prior Phillipps 8136], ff. 57-71
First Lines:In Surry whilom duelt a company
Of Chapmen riche & þerto
sad & true…
Last Lines:…Ioyes aftir woo gouerne us in his grace
And saue hem alle that
ben in þis place
Note: II.288-315, 771-84, 932-45, 1086-92 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here beynneþ the lawyers tale (f. 57, rubric)
Print Witnesses:
1.Source: STC 5082.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster, William Caxton, 1476] , ff. 79
v-97
First Lines:[I]N Surry whylom duellyd a companye
Of Chapmen riche therto sad
& trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that
been in this place
Attributed Title: Here endith the man of lawis tale… (f. 97)
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. i.8-l.7
v
First Lines:[I]N Surry whylom duellyd a companye
Of Chapmen riche & therto
sad & trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye aftyr woo gouerne vs in hys grace
And kepe vs alle that
been in thys place
Attributed Title: The man of Lawys tale (RT); Here endyth the man of lawes tale… (sig.
l.7v)
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. k.6-m.5
v
First Lines:[I]N surry whilom duelt a company
Of chapmen riche and therto sadde
and trewe…
Last Lines:…Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace
and kepe vs alle that
been in this place
Attributed Title: The Man of lawes Tale (RT); Here endith the man of lawes tale (sig.
m.5v)
4.Source: STC 5085.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, Westminster, W. de Worde, 1498 , sigs. f.2
ra-g.3
vb
First Lines:[I]N surry whylom dwellyd a companye
Of chapmen riche and therto sad
& treue…
Last Lines:…Ioye after woo gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs all that
ben in this place
Attributed Title: The man of lawes tale (RT); Here endith the man of lawes tale (sig.
g.3v)