DIMEV 5802
This worthy limiter this noble Friar
Geoffrey Chaucer, the Friar’s Prologue of the Canterbury
Tales — 36 lines in rhyming couplets.
Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer
Title(s): Friar’s Prologue; Canterbury Tales
Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage; links; requital
Versification: —
couplets —
aa
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Arch. Selden B. 14 (SC 3360), ff. 100-100
v
First Lines:This noble lymytour this worthi ffrere
he made alway a lovrynge
chere…
Last Lines:…and afterwarde he seide vn to the ffrere
telle forth your tale
my leve maister dere
Attributed Title: …And / next folwith the ffreris prolog of the Sompnour (f. 100); the
ffrere (RT); Here endith the ffrere his prolog… (f.
100v)
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Barlow 20 (SC 6420), f. 120
v
First Lines:This worthi lymitour þis noble ffrere
He made alwey lowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftirward he said vnto þe frere
Telle forth ȝour
tale my leue maister dere
Attributed Title: …And here / by gynnyth þe prologe of the ffrere (f.
120v); he endith þe prologe… (f.
120v)
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 414 (SC 27880), f. 78
v
First Lines:[T]his wurthy limitour this noble frere
He made alwey a noble
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he seid vnto the frere
Tell furth your tale
leue maister dere
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the prolog of the ffrere (f. 78v)
4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 686 (SC 2527), f. 86
First Lines:This worthi lymytour this noble frere
He made al wey a lowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And after þis he seide vnto þe ffrere
Tel forth
youre tale leve maister deere
Attributed Title: Here begynneth þe prologe of þe freris tale (f. 86); Here endeth
the Prologe of / the ffreres tale… (f. 86)
5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 123
v-124
First Lines:This worthi lymytoure þis noble frere
He made alwey a loward
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftreward he seid vnto the ffrere
Telleth forth youre tale
myn own maister dere
Attributed Title: …And next biginneth / the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 123v);
The prolog of þe ffrere (RT); Here endeth þe prolog of the ffreres
tale… (f. 124)
6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 94
v-95
First Lines:This worþi lymytour this noble frere
He made alwaie a louring
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir ward he seide vn to þe frere
Telle forþ
youre tale my leue maister dere
Attributed Title: Here begynneth þe prolog of þe frere (f. 94v); the
prolog of þe frere (RT)
7.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 739 (SC 1234), ff. 145-145
v
First Lines:[T]His worthy lymytour this noble ffrere
He made alwey a lowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And afterwarde he seid vn to the frere
Telle forth ȝoure
tale my leve maister dere
8.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 141 (SC 14635), ff. 141
v-142
First Lines:This worthi limitour this noble Frere
He made al wey louryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seyd vnto the frere
Telleth forth youre tale
myn owne mayster dere
Attributed Title: Here bigynneth the prolog of the frerus tale (f. 141v); The
ffrere (RT)
9.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), f. 68
First Lines:This worthi lymyter this holi frere
He made alway lovryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And afterwarde he saide vnto the frere
Tel forthe youre tale
my leef maister dere
Attributed Title: …and begynneth the freres prolog (f. 68); prologus frere (f.
68, margin)
10.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 223 (SC 14714), ff. 142-142
v
First Lines:This worthy limitour this noble frere
He made alwey a maner louryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he said vnto the frere
Telle forth your tale
leue maystir dere
Attributed Title: …And here beginneth the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 142); Here endith
the Prolog of the ffrere… (f. 142v)
11.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 88-88
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a maner louryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seyde vn to the frere
Telle forth youre tale
leue maister dere
Attributed Title: …here bigynneth the prologe of the freris tale (f. 88); here endeth
the prologe… (f. 88v)
12.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 115
b-115
bv
First Lines:This worþy lymytour þis noble Frere
He made alway lowrynge
cheere…
Last Lines:…And afterward he seyde vnto þe frere
Telle forþ
ȝoure tale my leue mayster deere
Attributed Title: Incipit prologus ffratris (f. 115b, margin); prologus
(rubric, RT)
13.Source: Oxford, New College 314, ff. 115-115
v
First Lines:This nobil lymytour þis worthi frere
He made alwey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after þis he saide vnto þe frere
Tel forth your
tale myn owyn maister dere
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 115); The ffreris prolog
(RT); Here endith the ffreris prolog… (f. 115v)
14.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49, ff. 91
v-92
First Lines:This worthi lymytour this noble frere
he made alway lourynge
chere…
Last Lines:…and afterwarde he saide vnto the frere
tellith forth youre
tale my swete maister dere
Attributed Title: Here begynnyth the prologe of the ffrere (f. 91v); Prologus
ffratris (RT)
15.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Dd.4.24, ff. 81-81
v
First Lines:This worthy Lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a maner louryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seide vn to the ffrere
Telleth forth
ȝoure tale myn owen maister dere…
Attributed Title: …Et incipit prologus fratris (f. 81)
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 Ii.3.26, ff. 124-124
v
First Lines:This noble lymytoure this worthy ffrere
Vppon the sompnore but for
honeste…
Last Lines:…Oure hoste answerde pese no more of this
And after this he
saide vnto the ffrere
Note: III.1298 omitted.
Attributed Title: …And here begynneth the ffreres prologue (f. 124); The ffreres
Prologe (RT); Here Endeth the ffrerers prologe
17.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, f. 128
First Lines:This worthy limitour þis noble frere
He made alwey lowrynge
chere…
Last Lines:…And afterwarde he seide vn to þe frere
Tell forth
ȝour tale my lefe maister dere
Attributed Title: Prologus (f. 128, margin); þe prologe (RT)
18.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], f. 146
v
First Lines:[T]His worthy lymytoure this noble frere
He made alwey lowrynge
chere…
Last Lines:…Tell forth youre tale my leve mayster dere
Gladly quod he with
gode chere
Note: III.1273-5 omitted; spurious lines follow 1272, 1298.
Attributed Title: The prolog of þe ffrere (f. 146v)
19.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.3 (582), ff. 61
ra-61
rb
First Lines:This worthi limitour this noble Frere
He made alwey a maner of
louring
chiere…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he said vnto the ffrere
Telle forth your tale
lieue maister diere
Attributed Title: A Prolog of the ffrere (f. 61ra)
20.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.15 (595), ff. 141-141
v
First Lines:THys noble lymytour this worthy ffrere
He made alwey a maner lorynge
chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seide vnto the frere
Telle forth youre tale
myn own maistir dere
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the Prologe of the ffrere (f. 141); Here endith the
ffrerys Prologe… (f. 141v)
21.Source: London, British Library Addit. 5140, ff. 110-110
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble ffrere
He made alwey a lowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir he seid to the frere
Telle forth your tale leeve my
maister deere
Attributed Title: …& incipit Prologus ffratris (f. 110); Explicit
prologus ffratris… (f. 110v)
22.Source: London, British Library Addit. 35286 [olim Ashburnham 125], ff. 68-68
v
First Lines:This worthi limitour this noble frere
He made alwey A maner louryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seyde vn to the frere
Telle forth your tale
leue mastyr dere
Attributed Title: …Here bygynneth the prolog of the freris tale (f. 68); the frere
(RT); Here endeth the prolog… (f. 68v)
Editions: Horobin, Simon.
“A Transcription and Study of British Library MS Additional 35286 of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.”
Diss. Univ. of Sheffield, 1997.
23.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell], f. 95
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble frere
He made all wey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seid vn to þe frere
Tell on your tale
myn owen maister dere
Attributed Title: …Et incipit prologus ffratris (f. 94v)
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).
24.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2864 [olim Ingilby, post Compton Hall], ff. 97
v-99
First Lines:[T]His worthy lymatour this nobil freere
He maad alway a lowryng
cheire…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he seyde to the frere
Telle forth your tale
leeve maystir deere
Note: Leaf misbound: III.1356-1427 follow 1282.
Attributed Title: …Incipit prologus ffratris (f. 97v); The ffrere
(RT)
25.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, f. 102
v
First Lines:This worthi lymytour this noble Frere
He made alweie
a maner louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And aftirwarde he seide vn to the ffere
Tell forth your tale
my leue maister dere
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 102v); The ffrere
(RT); Here endith the prolog… (f. 102v)
26.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 102
v-103
First Lines:THis worthy lymytour þis noble ffrere
He made alway a lourynge
cheere…
Last Lines:…And after þis he sayd vnto þe frere
Telleþ
forþ ȝour tale my maister deer
Note: III.1295-6 follow 1308.
Attributed Title: …Here begynneth þe prologe of þe ffreres tale (f.
102v); The ffreres Tale (RT)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury
Tales’.
Chaucer Society
73. London: Trübner, 1885.
27.Source: London, British Library Harley 7335, ff. 74
v-75
First Lines:[T]His worthi lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seide vn to the frere
Telle forth your tale
leue meister dere
Attributed Title: Prologus fratris (f. 74v); The ffreyers tale (f.
74v, added later)
28.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 102-102
v
First Lines:THis worþi lymitour þis noble frere
He maad alweie
lowreynge chere…
Last Lines:…And afterwarde he seide vnto þe frere
Tel forþe
ȝowre tale my leue mayster dere
Attributed Title: …Incipit prologus fratris (f. 102); þe ffrere (RT);
Explicit prologus… (f. 102v)
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. 143-143
v
First Lines:This worþye lymytour þis noble ffryer
He made allwaye A
lowrenge chere…
Last Lines:…And affterwarde he sayde vnto the ffryer
Telle forþe your
tale My lyeue Mayster dere
Attributed Title: …And begynnyth the prolog of the frere (f. 143); Here begynnyth
[sic] the prolog… (f. 143v)
30.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 120-120
v
First Lines:This worthi lymytour þis noble frere
He made alwey alowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftirwarde he saide vnto þe frere
Tel forþ
ȝoure tale my leue maister dere
Attributed Title: The prolog of the ffrere (f. 120); The ffrere (RT); Here endith the
prolog… (f. 120v)
31.Source: London, British Library Sloane 1686, ff. 138
v-139
First Lines:THis worthy lymitour this noble frere
He made alweye lowryng
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftirward he he seide vnto the ffrere
Telle
forthe your tale my leve maister dere
Attributed Title: …And here gynneth the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 138v); Here
endith the Prolog of the ffrere (f. 139)
32.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D [‘Hengwrt’], ff. 73
v-74
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a manere louryng
cheere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seyde vn to the frere
Tel forth youre tale
leeue maister deere
Attributed Title: …The prologe of the ffreres tale (f. 73v); The ffrere
(RT); Here endeth the prologe of the ffrere… (f. 74)
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.
33.Source: Alnwick Castle, Duke of Northumberland MS 455, f. 104
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this nobill frere
He made al wey alowrande
chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir ward he seid on to the ffrere
Tel forth your tale my
leve mastir dere
Attributed Title: …And here begynnyth the ffrere his prologg (f. 104v); Here
endith the ffrere his prologg (f. 104v)
34.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 52
ra-52
rb
First Lines:THis worthy lymytour þis noble frere
He made alwey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seid vn to the frere
Telle forth youre tale
lief Maister dere
Attributed Title: …And now folweth the prologe of the ffrere (f. 52ra); The
Tale of the ffrere (RT)
35.Source: Holkham Hall, Earl of Leicester MS 667, ff. 73
rb-73
va
First Lines:This worthy lymatour þis noble frere
He made alwey a lowringe
chere…
Last Lines:…And afterwarde he seide vn to the frere
Telle forthe youre
tale me leev maister dere
36.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, f. 124
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a manere
lowrynge chere…
Last Lines:…I shal hym telle which a gret honour
It is for to be a
flaterynge lymytour…
Note: III.1295-8 lost; resupplied on seventeenth-century leaf.
Attributed Title: …and begynneth the prologe of the ffrere (f.
124v)
37.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 110, ff. 108-108
v
First Lines:THis noble lymytour þis worþi frere
He maad alwey amaner
of laurynge chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seide vn to þe frere
Telle forth
ȝoure tale myn owne maistir dere
Attributed Title: …And here begynnyth the prologe of the ffrere (f. 108); þe
prologe of þe frerys tale (f. 108v, margin)
38.Source: London, Royal College of Physicians 388 (13), ff. 150-150
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this worthy frere
He made alwey a maner of
lowryng chiere…
Last Lines:…And after that he saide vnto the frere
Tel forth yowre tale my
lief maister dere
Attributed Title: Incipit Prologus ffratris (f. 150); Explicit Prologus…
(f. 150v)
39.Source: Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 113 [olim Hodson 39], f. 67
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour þis noble frere
he made all way a maner
lowryng chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir þis he seyde to the ffrere
Tell forth youre
tale myn oune master dere
Attributed Title: …Incipit prologus fabule ffratris (f.
67v)
40.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 146
v-147
First Lines:This worþi lymitour þis noble Frere
He made alway louring
chere…
Last Lines:…And afterward he seide vnto þe frere
Telle forþ
youre tale my maister dere
Attributed Title: …And here begynneþ þe prologe of þe frere (f.
146v); þe prologe (f. 146v, margin); The prologe
of þe frere (RT); Thus endeþ þe prologe of þe frere…
(f. 147)
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.
43.Source: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M249 [olim Ashburnham 124, post Compton Hall], ff. 122
v-123
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble ffrere
He made alwey a manere
lowrynge chere…
Last Lines:…And afterward he seide vnto the frere
Telle forth youre tale
leue Maister dere
Attributed Title: …And here bigynneth þe prologe of the ffrere (f.
122v); The ffere (RT); Here endeth the prologe of þe
ffrere… (f. 123)
45.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library 100 [olim Helmingham Hall], f. 92
First Lines:…What so hym list when it comyth to my lot
Be God I shal hym
quyte every grot…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he seid vn to the ffrere
Tel forth youre tale
myn own mastir dere
Note: III.1265-90 lost.
Attributed Title: And here endith the prolog… (f. 92)
46.Source: San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], f. 76
v
First Lines:This worthy lymytour this noble frere
He made alwey a maner louryng
chiere…
Last Lines:…And after this he seyde vn to the frere
Tel forth youre tale
leeue maister deere
Attributed Title: The prologe of the freres tale (f. 76v); ffrere (RT)
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.
47.Source: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale angl. 39, f. 44
va-44
vb
First Lines:This wurthi lymytour þis noble frere
he made alway a
maner laughyng cheere…
Last Lines:…and aftirward he said vnto the frere
telle forth your tale my
leef mayster deere
Attributed Title: …& subsequenter incipit prohemium / fabule fratris hoc
modo (f. 44va); Explicit prohemium fabule
fratris… (f. 44vb)
Print Witnesses:
1.Source: STC 5082.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster, William Caxton, 1476] , ff. 152-152
v
First Lines:[T]His nobyl limytour this worthy frere
He made alwey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And aftir this he sayde vnto the frere
Tel forth your tale myn
owyn maister dere
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the prolog of the frere (f. 152); Here endith the
Freris prolog… (f. 152v)
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] , sig. s.8
First Lines:[T]His nobil lymytour this worthy frere
He made alwey a manere
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And aftyr thys he sayd vnto the frere
Tel forth your tale myn
owyn mayster dere
Attributed Title: …And Here begynneth the freris prologe (sig. s.7v); The
Freris Prologe (RT); Here endyth the Freris prologe (sig. s.8)
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. v.5
v-v.6
First Lines:[T]his noble lymytoure this worthy frere
He made alwey a maner
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he sayde vnto the frere
Telle forth youre tale
myn owne mayster dere
Attributed Title: …And here begynneth the Freres prologue (sig. v.5v); The
Freres prologue (RT); Here endith the Freres prologue (sig. v.6)
4.Source: STC 5085.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, Westminster, W. de Worde, 1498 , sig. h.4
ra-h.4
rb
First Lines:[T]his noble lymyttour this worthy frere
He made al waye a manere
louryng chere…
Last Lines:…And after this he sayd vnto the frere
Tell forth your tale myn
owne mayster dere
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the freres prologe (sig. h.4ra); The freres
prologe (RT); Here endyth the freres prologe (sig. h.4)