DIMEV 3255
Lordings there is in Yorkshire as I guess
Geoffrey Chaucer, the Summoner’s Tale of the Canterbury
Tales — 586 lines in rhyming couplets.
Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer
Title(s): Sommoner’s Tale; Canterbury Tales
Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage; devil; friars; Church corruption
Versification: —
couplets —
aa
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Arch. Selden B. 14 (SC 3360), ff. 106
v-114
v
First Lines:Lordynges there is in yorke shire as I gesse
a merssh contre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…and Iankyn hath I wonne a newe gowne
my tale is don we ben
almoste at towne
Note: III.1731, 1873-4, 2229 omitted; spurious lines follow 1732, 2230; 2101-2
reversed; 1937, 1938, 1941 partially blank.
Attributed Title: …And / next folwith his tale to angre the ffrere (f.
106v); the sompnour (RT); Here endith the Sompnour is tale… (f.
114v)
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Barlow 20 (SC 6420), ff. 126-134
First Lines:Lordynges þer is in Yorkeshire as I gesse
A merschy Contre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a new gowne
Myn tale is don we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.1731, 1750, 1873-4 omitted; 2101-2 reversed; 1768 inserted in
margin.
Attributed Title: here begynne þe sompnoures tale (f. 126); Sompnour (RT)
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 414 (SC 27880), ff. 83-89
v
First Lines:[L]Ordingis ther is in yorkshire as I gesse
A marshe cuntre callid
holdirnesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath wonne a new goun
My tale is done we ben almost
at the toun
Attributed Title: The tale of the Sompnour (f. 83)
4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 686 (SC 2527), ff. 91
v-98
v
First Lines:Lordings þer is in yorkeshire as y gesse
A mershcontre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankin hath ywonne a new gowne
My tale is don we ben
almost at toune
Note: III.1955, 2153 inserted at foot.
Attributed Title: …And begynneþ his tale (f. 91v); Somnour (RT); Here
endeth þe Somnours tale… (f. 98v)
5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 129-135
v
First Lines:Lordinges þere is in yorkshire as I gesse
A Merssh contre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath wonnen a newe gown
Mi tale is don we be al
most atte town
Note: III.1731 omitted; spurious line follows 1732.
Attributed Title: …And next / biginneth the Somnours tale (f. 129); The Somnours tale
(RT); Here endeth þe tale of the Somnour… (f.
135v)
6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 102-110
v
First Lines:…In euery hous he gan to poore and prie
And beggeþ mele
chese or elles corn…
Last Lines:…And Ienkyn haþ wone a newe gowne
Mi tale is don we be
almost at towne
Note: III.1709-37 lost (resupplied on leaves added in the seventeenth century,
ff. 100-1); 1805, 1873-4 2229 omitted; 1805 inserted lated; spurious line
follows 2230; 1747-8, 2101-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: þe sompnour (RT)
7.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 739 (SC 1234), ff. 151
v-158
v
First Lines:[L]ordyngs ther is in yorkshire as I gesse
A merssh countre y callid
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And forth he goth with a wele angry chere
He ne had noȝt
ellis for his sermone
To parte among his bretherin whan he come home
And
thus this tale is I don
ffor we were almost at þe toune
Note: III.1748, 1764, 2144, 2159-2294 omitted; four spurious lines follow
2158.
8.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 141 (SC 14635), ff. 148
v-153
v
First Lines:LOrdynges ther is in ȝork shyre as I gesse
A merssh contre
cleped holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And commandyng hem thei shulde before hym stond
And sodenly he
toke his bowe on his hond…
Note: III.2067-294 lost; 1731, 1738, 1873-4, 1928, 2041, 2049 omitted;
spurious lines follow 1732, 2048. Catchphrase at the foot of f. 153v:
‘& vp the stryng’.
Attributed Title: Here bigynneth the sompnors tale (f. 148); The sompnor (RT)
9.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), ff. 71-74
v
First Lines:Lordynges ther is in yorkeshire as I gesse
A marsh cuntre called
holdernes…
Last Lines:…And forth he goth with a ful angri chere
He ne had noght elles
for his sermon
to departe amonge his brethren when he come home
And thus
is this tale y done
For we were almoost atte toune
Note: III.1731, 1748, 1764, 2159-294 omitted; spurious lines follow 1732,
1762.
Attributed Title: …And here begynneth his tale of a frere (f. 74v);
fab (f. 71, margin); here endith the somonours tale of the
frere… (f. 71)
10.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 223 (SC 14714), ff. 149-157
v
First Lines:Lordinges ther is in Yorkeshire as I gesse
A merssh contre I callid
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a newe gowne
My tale is don we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.2205-10 omitted.
Attributed Title: …And here beginneth his tale folwing (f. 149); Apparitoris De
ffratre (RT); Here endith the sompnors tale… (f.
157v)
11.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 93
v-102
First Lines:Lordynges ther is in yorkeshire as I gesse
A Meirsshy countre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.1730, 1748, 1970 omitted (1730 and 1970 inserted subsequently in
margin).
Attributed Title: …And bigynneth his tale (f. 93v); Here endeth the
Sompnours tale… (f. 102)
12.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 121-129
v
First Lines:Lordynges þer is in york schure as I gesse
A mersshy countre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn haþ y wonne a newe goune
My tale is doon we
ben almost at towne
Note: III.1731, 1873-4 omitted; 2101-2 reversed; spurious line follows
1732.
Attributed Title: Here begynneþ þe Somnours tale (f. 121); Somnours (RT, rubric);
here endeþ þe Somnours tale… (f. 129v)
13.Source: Oxford, New College 314, ff. 122-130
v
First Lines:LOrdingis quod he þere is in yorkshire as I gesse
A mersh
contre þat callid is holdernes…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a new gowne
Mi tale is doon we be
almost at Toune
Note: III.2018, 2229 omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious lines follow
2230.
Attributed Title: …and begynneth the Somp / nors tale (f. 122); Sompnour (RT)
14.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49, ff. 98-106
v
First Lines:LOordynges there is in yorkshire I gesse
a mershe contre callied
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…and Iankyn hath wonne a newe goune
My tale is done we be
almoste att towne
Note: III.1731, 1748, 1858, 1926, 2024, 2070, 2224 omitted.
Attributed Title: Sompnoure (RT); Explicit… (f. 106v)
15.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Dd.4.24, ff. 86-92
First Lines:Lordyngges there is in ȝorkshire as I gesse
A mersshy contre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a newe Govne
My Tale is doon we ben
almost at Tovn quod Wytton
Note: III.1963-4 reversed.
Attributed Title: …Et incipit fabula (f. 86); Hic fintur fabula
Summonitoris… (f. 92, following a space of approximately eight
lines)
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 Gg.4.27 (Part 1a), ff. 235-243
v
First Lines:…A godis kechil or a trip of chese
Or ellis what ȝow
lyste we may not chese…
Last Lines:…That I may vouche saf I sey for me
He hadde þe ferste
smel of fartys thre…
Note: III.1709-46, 2285-94 lost; 1907-11 omitted.
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.
17.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ii.3.26, ff. 129-135
First Lines:LOrdynges quod he there is in yorkeshyre as I gesse
A mercche contre
that called is holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Ienkyn hath y wonne a newe gown
My tale is done we be
almoste at the town
Note: III.2229 omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious lines follow 1745,
2230.
Attributed Title: …And here begynneth his tale (f. 129); Sompnour (RT); Here Endeth the
Sompnours tale… (f. 135)
18.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, ff. 133-139
First Lines:Lordynges þer is in ȝorkeschire as I gesse
A mersshy
countre called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…Beforne þis day of suche a questioun
Who schulde make a
demonstracon
He ne had not ells for his sermoun
To parte amonge his
brethern when he come home
And þus is þis tale ydone
ffor we
were almoste at þe toun
Note: III.1726, 1731, 1873-4, 2225-94 omitted; 2101-2 reversed; spurious lines
follow 1732, 2224.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth þe somnours tale (f. 133); þe somnere (RT); Here
endith þe somnours tale… (f. 139)
19.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], ff. 152
v-158
v
First Lines:[L]Ordynges þer is in yorke schyre as y gesse
A mersche cuntre
called holdenesse…
Last Lines:…Come lepynge in and chased oute þe ffrere
And forth he
goth with a full angry chere
He ne had nouȝte ell for his
sermoune
To departe amonge his breddrn when he come home
And þus ys
the tale of the frere ydon
ffor we were almost at þe toun
Note: III.1731, 1748, 1887-8, 1991-8, 2005-10, 2051-2, 2079-85, 2101, 2111-12,
2115-20, 2159-2294 omitted; spurious lines follow 1732, 2086, 2158. The rest of
the verso and the following recto and verso are left blank following the
Tale.
Attributed Title: The tale of þe Sompnoure (f. 152v, rubric); Sompnoure (RT);
Her endeth the Sompnours Tale (f. 158v, rubric)
20.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.3 (582), ff. 63
ra-66
rb
First Lines:…Had prechid at a chirche in his manere
And specialli abouen
eueri thing…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a newe goune
My tale is don we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.1709-13 lost; 1907-12, 2205-10 omitted; 1967-8, 2199-2200
reversed.
Attributed Title: Hiere endith the tale of the Sompnour… (f. 66rb)
21.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.15 (595), ff. 148-156
v
First Lines:LOrdynge quod he in Yorke shire as I gesse
Is a
mersh[?] contre that callid is
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath Iwonne anewe gone
My tale is done we be almost
at toune
Note: III.2229, omitted; spurious line follows 2230; 1963-4
reversed.
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the sompnours tale (f. 147v); Here endith
the sompnours tale… (f. 156v)
22.Source: London, British Library Addit. 5140, ff. 118-128
First Lines:LOrdynges ther is in yorkshire as y gesse
A merissh contre y called
holdirnesse…
Last Lines:…And Iaynkyn hath wonne a new gowne
My tale is don we be almost
at towne
Note: III.2114, 229 omitted; spurious line follows 2230.
Attributed Title: …& Incipit fabula eiusdem (f. 118); Sompnour (RT);
Explicit fabula Apparitoris… (f. 128)
23.Source: London, British Library Addit. 25718, ff. 41-47
v
First Lines:…In the mounte Orebl or he had any spech
With heygh god
þat is our lifes leche…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne anewe gowne
Myn tale is don we ben al
moste at toune
Note: III.1709-1890 lost; 1964, 2136, 2188, 2220 omitted; 1924-5, 1926-7,
2030-1 reversed.
Attributed Title: Here endeth the sompnours tale (f. 47v)
24.Source: London, British Library Addit. 35286 [olim Ashburnham 125], ff. 74-81
v
First Lines:Lordynges ther is in yorkeshire as I gesse
A Mersshi Contre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath wonne a new goun
My tale is doun we ben almost
at toun
Note: III.1914 omitted.
Attributed Title: …Here bygynneth the Sompnours tale (f. 74); The Sompnour
(RT)
Editions: Horobin, Simon.
“A Transcription and Study of British Library MS Additional 35286 of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.”
Diss. Univ. of Sheffield, 1997.
25.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell], ff. 100
v-108
First Lines:Lordynges there is in the north cuntre as I gesse
A merssh cuntre
called Holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iannkyn hath y won a newe goun
My tale is done we ben
allmost at toun
Note: III.1953-4, 2229 omitted; 1963-4, 1969-70, 2277-8 reversed; spurious
line follows 2230.
Attributed Title: …Et incipit fabula eiusdem (f. 100v); Hic
desinit fabula Summonitoris… (f. 108)
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).
26.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2863 [olim Norton, post Compton Hall], ff. 96-103
v
First Lines:…And specially abouen euery thing
Excited he þe peple in
his prechyng…
Last Lines:And Ianken haþ I wonnen a newe gowne
Myn tale is done we ben
almost at towne…
Note: III.1709-14 lost; 1731 omitted; spurious line follows 1732.
Attributed Title: The Sompnour (RT)
27.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2864 [olim Ingilby, post Compton Hall], ff. 103
v-111
First Lines:[L]Ordynges ther is in york shor shire as I gesse
A
merissh contre I called holdirnesse…
Last Lines:…And Iaynkyn hath wonne a newe gowne
Mi tale is don we be
almost at towne
Note: III.2229, 2286 omitted; spurious line follows 2230.
Attributed Title: …Incipit Narracio eiusdem (f. 103v); The Sompnour
(Rt); Explicit fabula apparitoris (f. 111)
28.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, ff. 107-113
v
First Lines:LOrdyngis ther is in yorkschire as I gesse
A merschy contre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath wonne a newe gowne
Mi tale is done we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.1731 omitted; 1748 inserted in margin; spurious line follows 1732; a
tipped-in leaf (f. 113) contains 2159-2294, lines missing in related MSS. After
the concluding fourteen lines on f. 113v, the rest of the page is
left blank.
Attributed Title: …and begynneth the Tale (f. 107); The Somnour (RT); Here endith the
Sompnours tale (f. 113v)
29.Source: London, British Library Harley 7333, f. 75
va-77
ra
First Lines:LOrdinges [erasure] is in yorkshire as I ges
A merssh Cuntre that
Callid is holdernes…
Last Lines:…And Ienkyn hathe I wonne a new goune
My tale is don we be
almoste at towne
Note: III.2018, 2229 omitted; spurious lines follow 1873, 2230; 1963-4
reversed.
Attributed Title: Here Endithe þe Sompnour his tale… (f.
77ra)
30.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 108
v-116
v
First Lines:LOrdyngs þer is in Engelond I gesse
A mersschly lond called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn haþ I wonne a newe goune
My tale is don we ben
almost at toune
Note: III.Spurious lines follow 2004, 2012, 2037, 2048;1865-6, 2091-2, 2101-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: Narrat (f. 108v); The Sompnours Tale (RT); here endith
the sompnours tale… (f. 116v)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury
Tales’.
Chaucer Society
73. London: Trübner, 1885.
31.Source: London, British Library Harley 7335, ff. 81
v-90
First Lines:[L]Ordynges ther is in york shire as y gesse
A mersshe contree
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe goune
Mi tale is doon we ben
almost at toune
Attributed Title: ffabula sumonitoris (f. 81v, margin); Explicit ffabula
somonitoris… (f. 90, margin)
32.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 107-114
First Lines:LOrdeynges þere is in ȝorkeschire as I gesse
Amerschy
contre called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn haþ wonne a newe gowne
My tale is done we buen
almost att towne
Note: III.1731, 1873-4 omitted; spurious line follows 1732; 2101-2
reversed.
Attributed Title: …Incipit fabula aparitoris (f. 107); þe Somnour (RT);
Explicit fabula Aparitoris… (f. 114)
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.
33.Source: London, British Library Royal 17 D.XV, ff. 149-157
v
First Lines:LOrdenges þere is in yorkeschyre as I gesse
A Mersche contre
callede holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Ianken haþe ywonne A newe Gowne
My tale is doone we
bene Almoste atte Towne
Note: III.1731, 2086, 2131, 2185 omitted; spurious line follows
1732.
Attributed Title: …And begynnyth the tale of the Sompnore (f. 149); Here endith the
tale of the sompner… (f. 157v)
34.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 125
v-131
First Lines:LOrdingis þer is in ȝork schire as I gesse
A mersh contre
I callid hodirnesse…
Last Lines:…And forþ he goþ wiþ a wel angry chere
He ne had
noȝt ellis for his sermon
To part among his breþryn whan he com
hom
And þus is þis tale I don
ffor we were almost at þe
ton
Note: III.1748, 1764, 2159-2294 omitted; spurious lines follow
2158.
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the tale (f. 125v); The Sompnoure
(RT)
35.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1685, f. 125-129
v
First Lines:…Or yif vs of youre bran yf ȝe haue eny
A dagon of youre
blanket leue dame…
Last Lines:…Kome kepynge In and chased oute þe frere
And
forthe he goth with a fulle angry chere
Ne ne hade nouȝt elles for hys
sermon
To part a monge his bretheren whan he come home
And þus is
þis tal ydon
ffor we were almoste at þe town
Note: III.1709-49. 1967-2038 lost; 1910, 2159-294 omitted; 1855-6 reversed;
spurious lines follow 2158.
Attributed Title: The Somnour (RT); Here endeth þe Sompnours tale… (f.
129v)
36.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1686, ff. 146-155
v
First Lines:LOrdinges there is in Yorkeshire as I gesse
A mersshy contre callid
holdernenesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne a newe gown
My tale is don we ben
almost at town
Note: III.1731, 1873-4, 1906-11 omitted; 2101-2, 2289-90 reversed; spurious
line follows 1732.
Attributed Title: …And here gebynneth [sic] his tale (f. 146); a Tale
of the Sompnour (RT); Here endeth the sompnours tale… (f.
155v)
37.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D [‘Hengwrt’], ff. 79
v-86
v
First Lines:LOrdynges ther is in Yorkshire as I gesse
A Merssh contree called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we been
slmoost at towne
Note: Last five words of III.2048 inserted by a different hand (Hoccleve?);
blank leaf follows f. 86v.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Somnours tale (f. 79v); The Somnour (RT);
Here endeth the Somnours tale… (f. 79)
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.
38.Source: Alnwick Castle, Duke of Northumberland MS 455, f. 110
v-116
First Lines:Lordingis ther is in Yorkshire as I ges
A mery contre callie
holdirnes…
Last Lines:…Com lepeing in and chasid out the ffrere
And forth he goith
with a ful angry chere
Note: III.1731, 1894, 1963-4, 1987-8, 1991-8, 2005-10, 2051-2, 2079-85,
2111-12, 2119-20, 2159-294 omitted; for 2159-294 in this MS see
510; spurious lines follow 1732,
2086.
Attributed Title: …And here he begynnyth his tale (f. 110v)
39.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 54
rb-57
ra
First Lines:LOrdyngges þere is in yorkshire as I guesse
A mersh contre y
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe goune
My tale is done we be
almost at Towne
Note: III.2205-10 omitted.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth þe tale of þe Somynour (f. 54rb); The
Sompnour (RT); fferthermor in the Somynours Tale (f. 55vb, at
III.2016); Here endeth the tale of the Somonour… (f.
57rb)
40.Source: Holkham Hall, Earl of Leicester MS 667, ff. 76
rb-79
ra
First Lines:Lordinges þer is in york shire as I gesse
A merssh cuntre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And forth he goth with a full angre chere
He had nat elles for
his longe sermoune
To parte amonge his brethern when he com home
And
thus is this tale y done
ffor were allmoste at the toun
Note: III.2159-294 omitted; 2123-4 reversed; spurious lines follow
2158.
41.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, f. 130-137
v
First Lines:Lordinges ther is in ȝorkshire as I gesse
A mersshy cuntre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is done we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.1731, 1873 omitted; spurious line follows 1732.
Attributed Title: …and bigynneth the tale of the / Somenour (f. 130, rubric); The
Somenour (RT, rubric); Thus ende the Somenour… (f. 137v,
rubric)
42.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 110, ff. 114-121
v
First Lines:LOrdinges þer is in ȝorkshire as I gesse
A mersh contre
Callid holdirnes…
Last Lines:…And iaynkyn haþ wonne anew gowne
My tale is don we ben
almost at towne
Note: III.2229, omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious line follows
2230.
Attributed Title: Sompnour (RT); Here endiþ þe tale of þe Sompnour talkinge of
þe ffrere… (f. 121v, heavily stained)
43.Source: London, Royal College of Physicians 388 (13), ff. 157
v-167
First Lines:LOrdynges ther is in yorkshire as I gesse
A mersh contry callid
holdirnesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath I wonne anewe gowne
My tale is don we bien
almost at towne
Note: III.1906, 1911, 2135-6 omitted; 1912-14 follow 1905 producing the
following line order: 1905, 1912-14, 1907-10, 1915.
Attributed Title: …Incipit fabula (f. 157v); Explicit fabula
Aperitoris… (f. 167)
44.Source: Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 113 [olim Hodson 39], ff. 71-76
First Lines:Lordingis þer is in york schire as I gesse
A Merssh Countre
called holdyrnesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath won a newe gowne
My tale is don we be almost
at Towne
Note: III.2229 omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious line follows
2230.
Attributed Title: …Incipit fabula Sumpmonitoris (f. 71); ffabula
Sumpmonitoris (f. 71, margin); Sompnour (RT); Explicit fabula
Sumpmonitoris… (f. 76)
45.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 153-159
First Lines:LOrdyngges þer is in yorkshire as I gesse
A mershy country
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And forþe he goþ with a ful angry chere
He ne had
nat ellis for his sermon
To parten amonge his breþeren whan he come
home
And þus is þis tale ydon
ffor we were almost at þe
ton
Note: III.1731, 2159-294 omitted; spurious lines follow 1732,
2158.
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneþ þe somnour tale (f. 152v);
The Somnour Tale (Rt); Thus endeþe þe Somnours tale… (f.
159)
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.
48.Source: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M249 [olim Ashburnham 124, post Compton Hall], ff. 128
v-136
First Lines:Lordynges ther is yorkshire as I gesse
A mersshy cuntre called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is done we ben
almost at towne
Attributed Title: …And here bigynneth his tale & cetera (f.
128v); The Sompnour (RT); This ende the Somnour… (f.
136)
49.Source: Philadelphia, Rosenbach Museum and Library 1084/1 [olim Rosenbach 157; prior Phillipps 8137], ff. 100-106
First Lines:Lordynges ther ys in ȝork schyre as y gesse
A mershy contre
called holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And forth he gooth with a full angry chere
He ne had not elles
for hys sermon
To parte amonge hys bretheren when he come hom
And this
ys the tale ydon
ffor we were almoste at þe town
Note: III.1731, 1748, 1763-4, 1894, 1946, 2159-294 omitted; spurious lines
follow 1732, 2158.
Attributed Title: …and begynneth þe tale (f. 100); The Tale (RT); The somnor (Rt);
Here endeth þe sompnours tale… (f. 106)
50.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library 100 [olim Helmingham Hall], ff. 98
v-105
First Lines:Lordingis quod he in ȝorkshere is as I ges
A merssh contre that
callid is holdirnes…
Last Lines:…And Ienkyn hath I won anewe gown
My tale is done wee be almost
at town
Note: III.1718-1963 lost; 2229 omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious line follows
2230.
Attributed Title: …And here begyynyth he his tale (f. 98v); Sompnoure (RT);
Here endith the Sompnoure his tale… (f. 105)
51.Source: San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], ff. 81-81
First Lines:Lordynges ther is in yorkshire as I gesse
A Merssh contree called
holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we been
almoost at towne
Attributed Title: Heere bigynneth the Somonours tale (f. 81); Somonour (RT); The Wordes of
the lordes Squier and his keruere for departynge / of the fart on twelue (f.
86v);Heere endeth the Somonours tale (f. 87, foot)
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.
52.Source: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale angl. 39, ff. 47
ra-50
rb
First Lines:Lordyngis ther is in yorkshire as I gesse
a mery cuntre callid
holdirnesse…
Last Lines:…he nys no foole ne no domyak
and Iankyn hath I wonne a newe
goun
my tale is doon and wee be almost at toun
Note: III.1712-12, 1731, 1769, 1831, 1875-6, 2090 omitted; spurious lines
follow 1730, 1732, 1770, 1832, 1928, 2092; 2101-2 reversed.
Attributed Title: …& subsequenter incipit fa / bule eiusdem hoc modo
sequente (f. 47ra); Explicit fabula apparitoris…
(f. 50rb)
53.Source: New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library, Takamiya Deposit 22 [olim Sion College, Arc. L 40 2/E 23], ff. 65
v-77
v
First Lines:Lordyngis þer is in ȝorkschire as I gesse
a merssh contre
callyd holdernsse…
Last Lines:…and Iohnkyn hath I wonne a newe gowne
my tale is done and we
be nygh at towne
Note: III.1907-11, 2229 omitted; spurious lines follow 2230, 2232. Following
Summoner’s Tale, at the foot of f. 77
v, the scribe
copies the opening line of
Clerk’s Prologue—‘Syr clerk
of Oxinford oure ost seyde’—before realizing he has already copied
that text (
4860). He
then adds ‘
vt supra’, and below that ‘
Vtile con
cilium dominus ne despice serui’.
Print Witnesses:
1.Source: STC 5082.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster, William Caxton, 1476] , ff. 159
v-169
v
First Lines:[L]Ordingis quod he in yorkshire as I gesse
Is a mersh contre that
callid is holdernes…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we been
almost at Toune
Note: III.2229 omitted; 1963-4 reversed; spurious line follows
2230.
Attributed Title: …And / begynneth the Sompnours tale (f. 159v)
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. t.6
v-v.6
v
First Lines:[L]Ordyngis ther is in york shire as I gesse
A mersh contre that
callyd is holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is doon we be
almost at toune
Note: III.1963-4, 2049+2050-2051+2052 reversed.
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Sompnours tale (sig. t.6v); The Sompnours
tale (RT); Here endeth the Sompnours tal (sig. v.6v)
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. aa.5-bb.5
v
First Lines:[L]Ordynges ther is in yorke shyre as I gesse
A mersshe countre that
called is holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gown
My tale is doon we be al
most at the toun
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Sompnours tale (sig. aa.5); The Sompnoures tale (RT);
Here endith the Sompnoures tale (sig. bb.5v)
4.Source: STC 5085.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, Westminster, W. de Worde, 1498 , sig. i.1
ra-i.5
va
First Lines:[L]Ordynges ther is in york shyre as I gesse
A mersh contre that
callyd is holdernesse…
Last Lines:…And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne
My tale is done we be
almost at towne
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the sompnours tale (sig. i.1); The Sompnours tale (RT); Here
endyth the sompnours tale (sig. i.5va)