Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 3090

DIMEV 3090

IMEV 1913

NIMEV 1913

Listen and listeneth and harkeneth aright

The Cook’s Tale of Gamelyn — 902 lines in couplets

Title(s): Gamelyn

Subjects: romances

Versification: — two-line — aa

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Ashmole 45, Part III (SC 6928), ff. 2v-18

First Lines:

Lithen & lestneth and herkeneth a right
And ye shul heren of a doughti knight
Sir Iohn of Boundis was his right name
He coude of norture & mochel of game…

Last Lines:

…And soe shal we alle mai ther no man fle
God bringe vs to the Ioie that euere shal be

Note: Seventeenth century; transcribed by Ashmole. Recto fols. 3 and 5-8 have a running title — ‘The Coke’, f. 4 — ‘The Cokes Tale’, fols. 9-18 ‘Gamelyn’.

Attributed Title: Here begynneth ye Cokes tale Gamelyn (f. 2v)

2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Barlow 20 (SC 6420), ff. 51-62v

First Lines:

Lithen and listneth and herkenyth ariȝt
And ȝe shul here of a doughti kniȝt…

Last Lines:

…And so shal we alle may þer no man fle
God bryng vs to þe Ioy þat euer more shal be amen

Attributed Title: The Coke…Gamelyn (RT); Here endith þe Cokes tale and here bygynnyth þe prolog of þe man of law (f. 62v)

3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 65-75v

First Lines:

Sit and lysthen & herkeneth a right
And ye shal her of a doughti knight…

Last Lines:

…And so shall we all may þer no man fle
God god bring vs to þe ioy that ever shal be Amen

Attributed Title: The Cokes tale (RT); Here endeth þe Cokes tale of þe prentise of londoun… (f. 75v)

4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 62v-75v

First Lines:

LIthen and listneþ and herkeneþ a right
And ye shul heren of a doughti knight…

Last Lines:

…And so shal we alle mai þer noman fle
God bringe vs to þe Ioie þat euere shal be

Attributed Title: þe coke (RT); Gamelyne (RT)

5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 739 (SC 1234), ff. 67v-81

First Lines:

[L]ythen and lightenyth & herkenygh a ryȝt
And ȝe shull here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so shall we all may ther no man fle
God bryng vs to þe Ioy that euer shall be

6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), ff. 53-58

First Lines:

…Two gentilmen gouerned the place
Come to gamelyn god yeve hem good grace…

Last Lines:

…And so shal we al ther may no man fle
God bryng vs to the ioy that euer shal be

Note: Begins line 267.

Attributed Title: The Coke (RT); Here endith the cokes tale… (f. 58)

7.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 58v-71v

First Lines:

Lithen & lystenyth & herkenyth a right
And ye shul heren of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so shall we alle may there noman flee
God brynge vs to the Ioye that euer shall be

Note: A blank space of ca. eleven lines follows the end of Gamelyn on f. 71v.

Attributed Title: Here be gynnytht the Cokys tale & cetera (f. 58v)

8.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 62-73v

First Lines:

LIthen & lesteneþ and herkeneþ aright
And ȝe schulle heeren of a doughty knight…

Last Lines:

…And so schal we all may þer noman flee
God bring vs to þe Ioye þat euer schal be

Note: Follows the Cook’s Tale with ‘Incipit ffabula’ in right margin and large illuminated initial ‘L’ opening the text.

Attributed Title: Incipit ffabula (f. 62, margin)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77: App. to Frag. A.

9.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49 60v-73

First Lines:

Now lithe and lystenyth so god geue you goode fyne
and ye schulle here gode game of yonge Gamelyne
xxiij an youngemen that helde hem ful bolde
[These lines crossed out and ‘vacat’ written in the margin, followed by:]
Lith and lestenyth and herkenyth a right
and ye shullen here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…and so schulle we alle may ther no man fle
god bring vs to his ioie that euere schall be amen

Attributed Title: Incipit ffabula de Gamelyn (f. 60v); Coke (RT); Explicit fabula de Gamelyn… (f. 73)

10.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ii.3.26, ff. 52-62v

First Lines:

Sytte and listen and herken a right
And ye schull here of a dughti knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so schull we all may there no man flee
God bryng vs to the Ioye that euer shall be Amen & cetera

Attributed Title: here endeth the prologue of the Coke And here begynneth his tale (f. 52); Coke (RT)

11.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, ff. 48v-58v

First Lines:

Lithen and listenyth and herkenyth a Riȝht
And ȝe schul here of a doghty knyȝht…

Last Lines:

…And so schall we alle ne may þer no man flee
God brynge us to þe Ioye þat euer schall be Amen

Attributed Title: The tale of ȝonge Gamelyn (rubric heading, f. 48v); The cokes tale (RT)

12.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], ff. 65-77

First Lines:

[L]Ithen and lysten and herken aryght
And ye schull here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so schull we all þer may no man flee
God brynge us to þe Ioy þat euer schall be Amen

Attributed Title: The Cokes Tale (f. 65); The C[trimmed] (RT)

13.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell] 56-63

First Lines:

Lithen & letheneth and harkeneth a right
And ye shal hearen of a Doughti Knight…

Last Lines:

…And so shul we alle mai ther no Man flee
God bring us to ye joie that ever shalle be

Note: Eighteenth-century copy: eight inserted leaves between ff. 55-56.

Attributed Title: The Cokes | Tale as it | is in MS. | Laud K50 [i.e., Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476)].

14.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2863 [olim Norton, post Compton Hall], ff. 37-49

First Lines:

Lithen and lesteneth & herkeneth a right
And ȝe shul here of a doughti knight…

Last Lines:

…And so schal we alle may þer no man flee
God bringe vs to þe ioye þat euer schal be

Attributed Title: …Here bigynneth þe tale of Gamelyn (f. 37); The Coke (RT); Here endith þe Cokes tale of Gamelyn (f. 49)

15.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, ff. 46-55

First Lines:

…All the londe that he hadde it was purchas
ffayn he wolde it were dressid among hem alle…

Last Lines:

…Than seide Adam that lokkes had hore
Cristes curs mote he haue that hym bond so sore…

Note: Begins and ends imperfectly.

Attributed Title: The Cokes Tale (RT)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77.

16.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 59-70v

First Lines:

Litheþ and lestneþ and herkneþ aright
And ȝe schul heere a talkyng of a doughty knight…

Last Lines:

…And so schal we alle may þer no man fle
God bryng vs to þe Ioye þat euer schal be AMEN

Note: Followed by eleven blank lines.

Attributed Title: Icy comencera le | fable de Gamelyn (f. 58v); The Gamelyn (RT); The kookes Tale (RT)

Editions:

Wright, Thomas, ed. ‘The Cook’s Tale of Gamelyn.’ Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Percy Society 24. London: Richards, 1847: 176-201.

Bell, Robert, ed. Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. 8 vols. Annotated Edition of the English Poets. London: Parker, 1854.

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’. Chaucer Society 73. London: Trübner, 1885.

French, Walter Hoyt, and Charles Brockway Hale. Middle English Metrical Romances. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1930: 209.

Knight, Stephen, and Thomas Ohlgren. Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales. Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University for TEAMS, 1997.

17.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 54v-65

First Lines:

And þerfore listenþ and herkeneþ þis tale ariht
And ȝe schullen here of a douhte knyht…

Last Lines:

…And so schal we al maie þere none fle
God bringe vs to þat Ioye þa euer schal be AmeN

Attributed Title: þe Coke (RT); Explicit fabula Coci… (f. 65)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77.

18.Source: London, British Library Royal 17 D.XV, ff. 66v-79v

First Lines:

Lythen & listeneþe & harkeneþe Arighte
And ye schulne here of A doughty knyghte…

Last Lines:

…And so schall we all maye þer no man fflee
God brynge vs to the Ioye þat euer schall be

Attributed Title: …& her folowyth a nother / tale of the same cooke (f. 66v); Here endith the tale of the Coke… (f. 79v)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77.

19.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 57-67v

First Lines:

Lithen & listenyth & herkenyth a right
And ȝe shul here of a doughti knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so shal we alle may þer no man fle
God bring vs to þe Ioye þat euer shal be

Attributed Title: THe tale of ȝong Gamelyn (f. 57); The Cook (RT)

20.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1685, ff. 51v-62v

First Lines:

Lithen & listeneth & herkenyth a right
And shul here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…Lete none scape atte þe dore take ȝongemen ȝeme
ffor I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme…

Note: Ends imperfectly.

Attributed Title: The tale of ȝong Gamelyn (f. 51v); The Cook (RT)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77.

21.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1686, ff. 71-86v

First Lines:

LIthe and listeneth & herkeneth aright
And ye shall here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

And so shalle we alle there may no man flee
God bryng vs to the ioye that euyr shall be Amen

Attributed Title: The tale of Gamelyn tolde be the Cooke (f. 71); [g]Amelyn (RT); Here endith the Cookes tale of Gamelyn… (f. 86v)

22.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 24ra-25ra

First Lines:

Lythe and listeneth and herkenyth a right
And ye shal here of a douty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so shal we alle may þere no man flee
God bryng vs to þe ioye þat euere shall be

Note: Missing lines 145-862 (Skeat’s edition) due to missing bifolia at center of quire.

Attributed Title: The Tale of yong Gamelyn tolde by / the Coke of london (f. 24ra); The Coke (RT); Here endeth the Tale of the Coke… (f. 25ra).

23.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, ff. 57v-69

First Lines:

Sitheth and lesteneth and herkeneth aright
And ȝe shul here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so was his wyf and shull we
God binge vs to þe ioye þat euere shal be

Attributed Title: The Tale of ȝonge Gamelyn (f. 57v); The Cook (RT); Thus endeth þe Cokes Tale…(f. 69)

24.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 62-74v

First Lines:

Liþes & listneþ and harkeneþ ariȝt
And ȝe shul here of a doughty knyȝt…

Last Lines:

…And so shul we alle may þer no man fle
God bring vs to þat Ioye þat euer shal be

Attributed Title: But here of I wil pas as nowe
And of yonge Gamelyn I wil tell ȝow (f. 62r); þe tale of yonge Gamelyne (margin f. 62r); The Cokes Tale (RT)

Editions:

Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. A Six-Text Print of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer Society 1st ser. 8-10, 13. London: Trübner, 1868-77.

25.Source: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M249 [olim Ashburnham 124, post Compton Hall], ff. 62-74

First Lines:

Sitheth and lesteneth and herkeneth aright
And ye shul here of a doughty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And so was his wyf and shul we
God brynge vs to the ioye that ever shal be

Note: Follows Cook’s Tale fragment, with added couplet, ‘But here of I wol passe as now / And of yonge Gamelyn I wol telle yow’ (f. 62)

Attributed Title: Here endeth the Cookes tale (f. 74)

26.Source: New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library, Takamiya Deposit 32 [olim Penrose 6; prior Delamere], ff. 45rb-51ra

First Lines:

Lythes and lestenyht & herkenyht a Ryght
And yee shall here of a dowghty knyght…

Last Lines:

…And syhtthyn was Gamelyn graven vnder movlde
And soo schall wee alle May ther no man flee
God bryngge to thee ioye that evere schall bee
Explicit Gamelyn

Attributed Title: Here bee gynnyht Gamelyn (f. 45); Explicit Gamelyn (f. 51); Gamelyn (RT)

27.Source: Philadelphia, Rosenbach Museum and Library 1084/1 [olim Rosenbach 157; prior Phillipps 8137], ff. 5-15v

First Lines:

…And for Gamelyn was yongest he shuld haue [ ]ght
Alle the lond that there was thei di[ ] it in two…

Last Lines:

…And soo schall we alle may there no man fle
God brynge vs to þe ioye þat euere schall be

Attributed Title: Cook (RT); Here endeth the cookes tale… (f. 15v)