Geoffrey Chaucer, the Canterbury Tales — ten fragments in various rhyme schemes; Prologue, frame, and most tales in couplets.

Note: For individual [verse] Tales and links see: the General Prologue (6415), Knight’s Tale (6530), Miller’s Prologue (6427), Miller’s Tale (6537), Reeve’s Prologue (6307), Reeve’s Tale (724), Cook’s Prologue (5238), Cook’s Tale (145), Introduction to the Man of Law’s Tale (4315), Man of Law’s Prologue (3929), Man of Law’s Tale (2587), ‘Man of Law’s Endlink’ (4316), Wife of Bath’s Prologue (1242), Wife of Bath’s Tale (2618), Friar’s Prologue (5802), Friar’s Tale (6536), Summoner’s Prologue (5756), Summoner’s Tale 3255, Clerk’s Prologue (4860), Clerk’s Tale (5573), ‘Clerk’s Endlink’ (5801), Merchant’s Prologue (6185), Merchant’s Tale (6535), ‘Merchant’s Endlink’ (745), ‘Squire’s Headlink’ (5024), Squire’s Tale (725), ‘Squire-Franklin link’ (2499), Franklin’s Prologue (5617), Franklin’s Tale (2476), Physician’s Tale (5599), ‘Physician-Pardoner link’ (4314), Pardoner’s Prologue (3251), Pardoner’s Tale (2502), Shipman’s Tale (120), ‘Shipman-Prioress link’ (6206), Prioress’s Prologue (3970), Prioress’s Tale (5601), Prologue to Sir Thopas (6401), Sir Thopas (3097), ‘Thopas-Melibee link’ (3700), Monk’s Prologue (6295), Monk’s Tale (2316), Nun’s Priest’s Prologue (2033), Nun’s Priest’s Tale (142), ‘Nun’s Priest’s Epilogue’ (4870), Prologue of the Second Nun’s Tale (5405), Second Nun’s Tale (5729.4), Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue (6296), Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale (6753), Manciple’s Prologue (6711), Manciple’s Tale (6390), Parson’s Prologue (941); for the Tale of Gamelyn, see 3090. For the Tale of Beryn, see 6270. For two texts sometimes referred to as the Plowman’s Tale, see 5277 and 6603. For an edition based on San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], but that incorporates numerous readings from other MSS, see Benson (1987), 123-328.

Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer

Title(s): Canterbury Tales

Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage

Versification: — couplets — aa

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Note: Ends X.1086. Verse ends f. 268.

Attributed Title: Here bigynneth the prolog of this book the which is namede the talis of Caunturbury in the whiche prolog thauthour openly declarith the names of alle the pilgremes there condiciouns & there array (f. 4)

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Note: I.574-IX.362.

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Note: Incomplete; ends with the Second Nun’s Tale.

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Note: A single leaf: I.298-368.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 229.

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Note: I.134-X.916. Verse ends [269]v.

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Note: Ends VII.866.

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Note: Contains I.2567-IX.140. Catchwords on p. 436: ‘And nyght & day’.

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Note: I.431-X.1092. Verse ends on f. 122. On f. 136v is the colophon: ‘Expliciunt fabula script[us?] per snnevets mlliW’ (mirror writing for William Stevenns.

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Note: Begins I.172. Verse ends f. 232.

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Note: Missing VIII.627-719; X.887-943; X.1044-1092 due to loss of leaves. Verse ends on f. 249v.

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Note: Begins I.73; ends X.290.

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Note: Two leaves missing at beginning, so begins I.569; verse ends 265v; prose ends 311v.

Attributed Author: Explicit tractatus Galfridi Chaucer… (f. 311v)

Attributed Title: Explicit tractatus Galfridi Chaucer de gestis peregrinorum versus Cantuarium (f. 311v)

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Note: Verse ends on f. 262v.

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Note: I.253-VIII.855. The scribe writes ‘Quod Wytton’ and ‘Amen quod Wytton’ at the ends of the Knight’s Tale, Miller’s Tale, Man of Law’s Tale, and Summoner’s Tale (ff. 39, fol. 47, 67, and 92).

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Note: Folios 127-131 missing so begins imperfectly; these supplied by two 17th-century hands copying from Speght’s 1598 edition onto folios 10-28v; verse ends 398v but prose ends 443v with ‘here takyt the makere of this bok his leue.’ Begins I.37.

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Note: Begins I.67, and missing text supplied by a later hand in top nad right margin of f. 2; verse ends f. 224, prose ends f. 237.

Attributed Author: Explicit Liber Galfridi Chawcer de gestis Peregrinorum versus Cantuarium (f. 237)

Attributed Title: Explicit Liber Galfridi Chawcer de gestis Peregrinorum versus Cantuarium (f. 237)

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Note: Begins I.91.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 267v at X.70, with a catchphrase for the first line of the Parson’s Tale.

Attributed Author: Here bigynneth the Talys of Caunterbiry / Compiled by Geffrei Chaucers (f. 1)

Attributed Title: Here bigynneth the Talys of Caunterbiry / Compiled by Geffrei Chaucers (f. 1)

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Note: Ends X.880. Verse ends. on f. 118.

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Note: Begins I.56; lines 1-55 supplied by a later (sixteenth-century) hand on ff. 3v-4v. Verse ends on f. 277v.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 314.

Attributed Author: Explicit prohemium Rectoris Incipit narracio eiusdem et est ultima de hijs quas Chauncer composuit (f. 314)

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Note: Lines I.478-528.

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Note: Contains lines I.1394-1524, 1584-1706, 1829-1950, 2011-3108; 3109-3486; II.31-517, 702-822; III.1891-2294; Fragment VI; IV.1-1013; VII.303-452, VII.453-473 (474-523 are partially present on a very damaged folio), 1256-1564 (with missing leaves taking 1311-1316; 1371-1538).

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Note: Contains lines I.154-X.472. Verse ends on f. 229.

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Note: Ends at X.1084, with the missing text supplied on an eighteenth-century leaf. Verse ends. f. 261v.

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Note: Begins at I.909 and ends X.937, with losses elsewhere. Verse ends on f. 186v with X.59.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 259.

Attributed Author: Incipit liber Galstid Chaucer de gestis peregrinorum versus Cantuariam (f. 1)

Attributed Title: Incipit liber Galstid Chaucer de gestis peregrinorum versus Cantuariam (f. 1)

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Note: Begins I.893; ends V.1624, followed by a colophon:
‘Vestre magnifice & generosissime dominacionis humilimus seruiens
& ser Orate heremita de Grenewych mundo quasi totaliter
segregatus ac mentibus suorum fortune amicorum & hominum per
oblitus’.

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Note: The Parson’s Prologue ends on f. 205.

Attributed Author: [H]Ere begynneth the book of tales of Caunterburye compiled by Gef / fraie Chaucers of Brytayne chef poete (f. 1)

Attributed Title: [H]Ere begynneth the book of tales of Caunterburye compiled by Gef / fraie Chaucers of Brytayne chef poete (f. 1); Prologus libri (RT)

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Note: The Parson’s Prologue ends on f. 116.

Attributed Title: On f. 37, the poem is introduced as ‘The Prologue of the Knyghtes Tale’, followed by the heading: ‘O yee so noble and worthi pryncis and princesse oþer estatis or degrees. what euer yee beo þat haue disposicione or plesaunce. to rede or here þe stories of olde tymis passed to kepe yow frome ydelnesse and slowþe. in escheuing oþer folies þat might be cause of more harome filowyng vowcheth sauf I be seche yowe. to fynde yowe occupacioun in þe Reding here of þe tales of Caunterburye wiche beon compilid in þis boke filowyng ffirst foundid ymagenid and made boþe for disporte and leornyng of all þoo that beon gentile of birthe or of condiciouns by þe laureal and moste famous poete þat euer was to fore him as in þemvelisshing of oure rude moders englisshe tonge. clepid Chaucyer a Gavfrede of whos soule god for his mercy have pitee of his grace Amen’.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 252.

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Note: Contains I.1202-VI.676.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 230v.

Attributed Title: Incipit prologus fabularum Cantuarensis (f. 3)

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Note: Contains I.69-X.449, with the last folios being badly damaged. Verse ends on f. 290v.

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Note: Verse ends f. 238.

Attributed Title: Here endeth the book of the tales of Caunterburye compiled by Geffrey Chaucer of whos soule Ihesu Crist haue mercy Amen (f. 271)

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Note: Contains I.649-VII.3424. Catchwords on f. 222v: ‘I shalle’.

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Note: Contains I.63-IX.362.

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Note: Three damaged leaves containing: VII.2784-2820; VII.2822-2860; VII.3021-3058; VII.3060-3098; VII 3184-3222; VII.3223-3262.

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Note: Ends incomplete in Parson’s Tale, f. 250v.

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Note: Contains I.157-X.989 plus the Tale of Beryn (6270). Verse ends on f. 286v.

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Note: Two fragments of the Man of Law’s Tale: II.850-924; 1076-1144.

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Note: Begins I.353. On f. 102v is a scribal colophon: ‘Orate pro salute animarum Galfridi Spirleng Ciuis Norwici Courtholder Clerici Maioratus & comitatus dicte Ciuitatis ac Thome Spirleng filij sui qui scribendo hunc librum compleuerunt mense Ianuariij anno domine Millesimo CCCCmolxxvjto quo tempore dictus Galfridus quasi quinquaginta et dictus Thomas quasi sexdecim etatis extiterunt annorum’. The Parson’s Prologue ends on f. 89v; the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale ends on f. 115 with: And þere a poynte for ended is my tale
God sende euery true man bote of hise bale.

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Note: Contains I.1065-VII.1479. Verse ends on f. 81vb.

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Note: Begins I.79; verse ends f. 255; prose ends f. 292v.

Attributed Author: …compiled by Geffray Chaucers of whoos soule Ihesu crist haue mercy Amen (f. 292v)

Attributed Title: Here endeth the boke of the tales of Canterbery compiled by Geffray Chaucers of whoos soule Ihesu crist haue mercy Amen (f. 293v)

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Note: I.381-X.639; original scribe ends f. 258v mid-way through Parson’s Tale and remaining text (ff. 259-266v) supplied by a hand of sixteenth century.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 320v. Parson’s Tale ends X.1062 on f. 358v.

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Note: An 11-folio fragment: this leaf containing VIII.1091-167 of the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale. Part of the same MS as Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 63 (‘Oxford Fragments’).

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Note: Verse ends 171v. On f. 194 is the scribal colophon ‘Iste liber Constat Johanni Brode Juniori’.

Attributed Title: Expliciunt fabule Cant. (f. 194)

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Note: Verse ends on f. 272v.

Attributed Title: Here endeþ þe boke of þe talys of Caunterbury compiled / by Geffray Chawcer on whoos soule Ihesu crist haue mercy / Amen (f. 307v)

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Note: Part (a) = Lines VI.831-968 and VII.1-1353; Part (b) = Lines X.587-1092. Part (a) signed ‘vj-viiij’; Part (b) signed ‘ffj-ffiij’.

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Note: Begins I.153. Verse ends f. 217.

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Note: I.859-VIII.1057. Catchwords: ‘how I can wyrchen’.

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Note: f. 1: Epilogue to the Merchant’s Tale (IV.2419-2440), followed by V.1-8 (adapted for the Franklin rather than the Squire); V.709-752 of Franklin’s Tale; fol. 2: V.1198-1272.

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Note: Ends at X.1013. Verse ends on f. 245.

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Note: Contains I.2718-X.917. Verse ends on f. 191v at VI.1406 with the catchwords ‘Of Tarquyne.’

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Note: An 11-folio fragment: I.4246-4372 of the Reeve’s Tale, Cook’s Prologue, and Cook’s Tale; II.95-140, 211-350, 1051-1120 of the Man of Law’s Tale; V.57-132 of the Squire’s Tale; VIII.1091-1167 of the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale; VII.836-922 of the Tale of Thopas and the Thopas-Melibee Link; X.256-297, 1043-1073 of the Parson’s Tale. Part of the same MS as Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 63 (‘Oxford Fragments’).

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Note: Contains I.1975-X.754. Verse ends on f. 203.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 206v.

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Note: A ‘U’ lombard initial precedes the first word of the text, ‘Whan’. On fol. 83v is a scribal colophon: ‘a elle magre xij xij quod Duxworth scriptor xij’.

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Note: Extracts from the Canterbury Tales: Clerk’s Prologue (ff. 1-2); Clerk’s Tale (ff. 2v-29); ‘Lenvoye de Chau[n]cer’ (ff. 29-30); Wife of Bath’s Prologue (ff. 30-47v); Wife of Bath’s Tale (ff. 48-56); Friar’s Prologue (ff. 56v-57); Friar’s Tale (ff. 57r-64v); Summoner’s Prologue (ff. 64v-65v); Summoner’s Tale (ff. 65v-77v).

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Note: Verse ends f. 238v.

Attributed Title: Of your charite praieth for the writer of this booke / Explicit (f. 274)

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Note: Begins I.177. Verse ends f. 132v.

Attributed Author: Here endyht thee boke of the talis of Caunterbery compiled by giffrey Chauceris of whoos so / wle Ihu Crist haue Mercy Amen (f. 157v)

Attributed Title: Here endyht thee boke of the talis of Caunterbery compiled by giffrey Chauceris of whoos so / wle Ihu Crist haue Mercy Amen (f. 157v)

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Note: Ends X.1061. Verse ends on f. 216.

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Note: Verse ends on f. 327.

Attributed Author: Explicit Tractatus Galfrydi Chaucer de Penitencia vt dicitur pro fabula Rectoris (f. 373)

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Note: Verse ends on sig. G2.

Attributed Author: Explicit Tractatus Galfridi Chaucer de Penitencia vt dicitur pro fabula Rectoris (sig. L3v)

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Note: Verse ends on sig. F.8.

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Note: Verse ends on sig. x.8.

Attributed Title: The Boke of Chaucer named Canterbury tales (sig. [a.1])

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Note: Verse ends on sig. T,1v.

Attributed Author: Explicit tractatus Galfridi Chaucer de Penitencia vt dicitur pro fabula rectoris (sig. Y,3v)

Attributed Title: Thus endeth the boke of Caunterbury tales (sig. Y,3v)

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Note: Folio numbering begins at folio 14 at beginning of The Miller’s Tale, by which count foliation would begin at beginning of Knight’s Tale; verse (Parson’s Prologue) ends folio 107rb, or sig. v.vrb; prose (Parson’s Tale) ends f. 126vb or sig. z.vivb.

Attributed Title: The Caunterbury tales (sig. b.i); Thus endeth the boke of Caunterbury Tales (f. 126vb, or sig. z.vivb).

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