DIMEV 941
By that the Manciple had his tale all ended
Geoffrey Chaucer, the the Parson’s Prologue of the Canterbury
Tales — 74 lines in rhyming couplets.
Author(s): Geoffrey Chaucer
Title(s): Parson’s Prologue;
Canterbury Tales
Subjects: pilgrims/pilgrimage; links; tales, against
Versification: —
couplets —
aa
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Arch. Selden B. 14 (SC 3360), ff. 267-268
First Lines:By that the Maunciple had his tale endede
the sonne fro the southe
side is descendede…
Last Lines:…beth fructuous & that in litel space
and to do wel god
send yow his grace
Attributed Title: …And / next folwynge the person seith his Prolog (f. 267); the
persons prolog (RT); Here endith the Person his prolog And / next folowyng
bigynneth his tale (f. 268)
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Bodley 414 (SC 27880), ff. 184
v-185
First Lines:[B]E that the maunciple had his tale endid
The Sonne fro the South
side is discendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litle space
And to do wele god send
you his grace
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the prolog of þe persons tale (f.
183v)
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Hatton Donati 1 (SC 4138), ff. 228
v-229
First Lines:By that the maunciple hadde his tale ended
The son fro þe
southe side is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuose and that litul space
And to done wele god sende
yow his grace
Attributed Title: …And next biginneth / the Prolog of the Persones tale (f.
228v); The Persoun (RT); Here endeth the Prologg of the Persones
tale And next / biginneth the Persones tale (f. 229)
4.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 600 (SC 1476), ff. 268
v-269
v
First Lines:BI þat þe manciple had his tale endit
Þe sonne fro
þe souþe line is descendit…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litil space
And to do wel god
sende you grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynneþ þe prolog of þe persouns tale (f. 268);
þe persoun Here endeþ þe prolog of þe persoun (f.
269v, margin)
5.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 149 (SC 14641), ff. 121
v-122
First Lines:Be that the manciple had his tale endid
the sonne fro the southe
side is discendid…
Last Lines:…Bethe fructuouse and that in litil space
And to do wel god
sende yow his grace
Attributed Title: …and here / begynneth the persons prolog (f. 121v); prolog
person (f. 121v, margin); Person (RT); here begynneth the persons
tale (f. 122)
6.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 223 (SC 14714), ff. 232-233
First Lines:Than the marchaunt had his tale endid
The sonne fro the south side
is discendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wel god send
you his grace
Note: X.17-18 omitted.
Attributed Title: …And here beginneth the Prolog of the Person (f. 232); Prologus
Rectoris (RT)
7.Source: Oxford, Christ Church 152, ff. 248
v-249
First Lines:By that the yeman hadde this tale al ended
The sonne fro the south
lyne was descended…
Last Lines:…Beeth fructious and that in litel space
And to do wele god
send yow his grace
Attributed Title: …Here bygynneth the prohemie of the parson (f. 248v);
Explicit prohemium / Here bygynneth the persons tale (f.
249v)
8.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 198, ff. 261-261
v
First Lines:By þat þe maunciple hadde his tale ended
The sonne fro
þe souþ syde
line is descended…
Last Lines:…That I wol stonde to correccioun
vppon þis word we han
assented sone…
Note: X.62-74 lost.
Attributed Title: Here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe persoun (f. 261);
Cam xxiiijm (f. 261, margin)
9.Source: Oxford, New College 314, ff. 264-265
First Lines:BE þat þe Mauncipil had his tale endid
The sone fro
þe south side is descendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuos and þat in litil space
And to do wel god
sende you his grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynneth the Parsonnys prolog (f. 264); Here endith the
Parsons prolog / And here begynnyth his tale (f. 265v)
10.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 49, ff. 262-262
v
First Lines:Be that the Maunciple had his tale al endid
The sonne fro the southe
lyne is discendid…
Last Lines:…bithe fructuous and that in litil space
and to do well god
sende you his grace
Note: X.10, 56 omitted.
Attributed Title: Allocutio hospitis ad Rectorem (f. 262); Incipit ffabula
Rectoris (f. 262v)
11.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Gg.4.27 (Part 1a), f. 398
v
First Lines:BY that the Manciple hadde his tale I endid
The sunne from the south
lyne was descendid…
Last Lines:…Or art a Persoun sey soth by thyn fey
Be what thow be ne breke
thow nat oure pley…
Note: X.25-104 lost.
Attributed Title: …And here folwyn / the wordys of chaucer to the host (f.
398v)
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.
12.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ii.3.26, ff. 223-224
First Lines:BE that tyme the maunciple had his tale endid
The sonne from the
southe is so dissendid…
Last Lines:…Bethe fructuouse and that in litle space
And forto do wele god
sende vs grace
Note: X.43-4 omitted; 47-8 reversed.
Attributed Title: …And next begynneth the persons Prologe (f. 223); Persone (RT); Here
endeth the persons prologe / And here begynneth his tale (f. 224)
13.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Mm.2.5, ff. 221
v-222
First Lines:By þat þe manciple had his tale y endede
The sonne from
þe southe is descendede…
Last Lines:…Beeth fructuous and þat in litell space
And to do wele
god sende us his grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynneth þe prologe of þe parson (f.
221v); T4019.05-44hus endeth the prologe of þe parsons tale (f.
222)
14.Source: Cambridge UK, Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 181 [olim Ashburnham 127], ff. 267-267
v
First Lines:[B]Y that the mauncypull had his tale ended
The sonne fro the south
syde ys descended…
Last Lines:…Telle quod he your meditacoun
And hasteth you þe sonne
goth a doun
Note: X.5-14, 69-70, 73-4 omitted.
Attributed Title: The prolog of the person (f. 267)
15.Source: Cambridge UK, Magdalene College Pepys 2006, pp. 276-278
First Lines:By that the Maunciple hadde his tale alle ended
The sonne fro the
southe lyne was descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructvous in that lytelle space
And to do welle god sende
yow his grace
Note: Contains extracts from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales of
Melibee and the Parson’s Prologue and
Tale.
Attributed Title: Here bygynneth the Prolog of the Persones tale (p. 276); Explicit
Prohemium (p. 278)
Facsimiles: Edwards, A. S. G.
“Introduction.”
Manuscript Pepys 2006: A Facsimile. Magdalen College,
Cambridge.
Norman, OK: Pilgrim, and [Woodbridge, Suffolk]: Boydell and Brewer,
1985.
16.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.3 (582), ff. 113
rb-113
va
First Lines:Be that the ffrankelen had his tale ended
The sonne from the south
lyne was descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do well god
sende you his grace
Attributed Title: …And hiere beginneth a Prolog of the person (f. 113rb);
Hiere endeth the Prolog of the Person
And hiere beginneth his tale folwing
(f. 113va)
17.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.15 (595), ff. 276
v-277
v
First Lines:BY that the maunciple had his tale endid
The sonne fro the south
side is descendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wel god sende
you his grace
Attributed Title: …And / begynneth the Personnys Prologe (f. 276v); Here
endeth the Parsonnes Prologe / And here begynneth his tale (f.
277v)
18.Source: London, British Library Addit. 5140, ff. 315-316
First Lines:THo that the Manciple hadde his tale al eendid
The sonne from the
south lyne was descendid…
Last Lines:…Beeth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wel god send
you his grace
Attributed Title: …Incipit prohemium fabule Rectoris (f. 315); Person (RT);
Explicit prohemium Rectoris Incipit / narracio eiusdem et est ultima de
hijs / quas Chauncer composuit (f. 316)
19.Source: London, British Library Addit. 35286 [olim Ashburnham 125], ff. 228-229
First Lines:By that the Maunciple had his tale al ended
The sonne fro the south
lyne was descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litel space
And to do wel god sende
yow his grace
Attributed Title: …Here bygynneth the prolog of the personnes tale (f. 228); the person
(RT); Here endeth the prolog of the persons tale… (f. 229)
Editions: Horobin, Simon.
“A Transcription and Study of British Library MS Additional 35286 of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.”
Diss. Univ. of Sheffield, 1997.
20.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2726 [olim Haistwell], ff. 240
v-241
v
First Lines:By that þe Maunciple hade his tale ended
The son from þe
South lyne was discended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litle space
And to do wele god
send yow his grace
Attributed Title: …& Incipit prologus Rectoris fabule (f. 240v);
Hic desinit prologus Rectoris / et incipit fabula Sua (f.
241v)
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).
21.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2863 [olim Norton, post Compton Hall], ff. 186-187
First Lines:By þat the manciple had his tale ended
þe sonne fro the
south side is discendid…
Last Lines:…I take but the sentence trusteth well
Therefore I make
protestacioun…
Note: X.60-74 lost.
Attributed Title: …and here bygynnith þe prologe of þe persoun (f. 186); The
persoun (RT)
22.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2864 [olim Ingilby, post Compton Hall], ff. 258
v-259
First Lines:[T]Ho that the Manciple hadde his tale al eendid
The sonne from the
south lyne was descendid…
Last Lines:…Beeth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do weel god
send you his grace Amen
Attributed Title: Incipit prohemium fabule Rectoris (f. 258v); The prolog
of the person is tale (RT); Heer eendith the persons prolog / and begynneth his
tale (f. 259)
23.Source: London, British Library Harley 1758, ff. 204
v-205
First Lines:BY that the Manciple had his tale endid
The sonne fro the south side
is descendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous & that in litell space
And to do well god
sende you his grace
Attributed Title: Here begynneth the Prolog of the Persons tale (f. 204v); The
Person (RT); Here endeth the Prolog And begynneth the tale (f. 205)
24.Source: London, British Library Harley 7333, f. 116
ra-116
rb
First Lines:BI that the manciple had his tale endid
þe sonne from the south
lyne was dissendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuos and that in litle space
And to do wel god sende
you his grace
Attributed Title: …Here ffolouithe the wordis of Chaucer to þe / host (f.
116ra)
25.Source: London, British Library Harley 7334, ff. 251-252
First Lines:By þat þe maunciple had had his tale endid
The
sonne fro þe south line is descendid…
Last Lines:…Beþ fructuous and þat in litil space
And to do wel
God sende ȝow grace
Attributed Title: …And here begynneth the prologe of þe Persouns tale (f. 251);
Prosa Rectoris (RT)
Editions: Furnivall, Frederick James,
ed.
The Harleian MS 7334 of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury
Tales’.
Chaucer Society
73. London: Trübner, 1885.
26.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 851, ff. 229
v-230
v
First Lines:BE þat þe manciple hadde his tale endede
The sonne fro
þe souþe side is descendede…
Last Lines:…Beþ fructuous & þat in litel space
And to do
wele god send ȝowe his grace
Attributed Title: …Incipit prologus Rectoris (f. 229v); þe
Persone (RT); Explicit prohemium Incipit Sermo (f.
230v)
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.
27.Source: London, British Library Royal 17 D.XV, ff. 289
v-290
v
First Lines:[tear]nciple had his tale endid
[tear]om the south lyne was
discendid…
Last Lines:…[tear]sonne wol doun
[tear]litel
space
…[tear]grace
Note: X.1-11, 44-74 partially lost (MS torn).
Attributed Title: …And be / benneth the prologe of the Parson (f. 289v,
margin)
28.Source: London, British Library Royal 18 C.II, ff. 237-238
First Lines:[B]Y þat þe mansiple had his tale ended
Þe sonne fro
þe southe side is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litel space
And to do wel god
send ȝow his grace
Attributed Title: Here bygynneth the prologg of the persones tale (f. 237); Explicit
prohemium Incipit fabula (f. 238)
29.Source: Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D [‘Hengwrt’], ff. 235-235
v
First Lines:Be that the Maunciple hadde his tale al ended
The Sonne
fro the south lyne is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litel space
And to do wel god sende
yow his grace
Note: ‘Maunciple’ added over erasure in X.1.
Attributed Title: The Prologe of the Persons tale (f. 235); Explicit prohemium (f.
235v)
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.
30.Source: Alnwick Castle, Duke of Northumberland MS 455, ff. 286-286
v
Last Lines:…Be fructuouse and þat in litill spase
And to do wele God
send ȝew his grase
Attributed Title: …And here begynnyth the person his Prologg (f. 286); Here endith the
person his prologg (f. 286v, margin)
31.Source: Glasgow, Glasgow University Library Hunterian 197 (U.1.1), ff. 86
ra-86
va
First Lines:WHanne the Marchaunt had his tale ended
The sonne fro þe south
side is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litel space
And to do weel god
sende you his grace
Note: X.17-18 omitted.
Attributed Title: here begynneth the prologe of the Parsons tale (f. 86ra); the
Person (RT)
32.Source: Lichfield, Lichfield Cathedral Library 29, ff. 254-254
v
First Lines:By þat þe manciple had his tale ended
The sonne from
þe south side is descended…
Last Lines:…Beþ fructuous and þat in litel space
And to do wel
god sende ȝou his grace
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe persone (f. 254,
rubric); prologus (f. 254, margin); The prologe (RT); Here endeþ þe
prologe of þe persone his tale / And here after foloweth þe tale of
þe person (f. 255, rubric)
33.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 110, ff. 245
v-246
v
First Lines:BE þat the maunciple had his tale endid
The sonne fro þe
south lyne was descendid…
Last Lines:…Beþ fructuous & þat in litil space
And to do wel
god sende ȝow his grace Amen
Attributed Title: Heere bigynneþ þe prolog / Off the persouns tale (f.
245v); The persoun (RT); Heere endiþ þe persouns prolog
and biginniþ his tale (f. 246v)
34.Source: London, Royal College of Physicians 388 (13), ff. 319-320
v
First Lines:By that the Manciple had his tale endid
The sonne fro the Sowth is
soone discendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wele god
sende yow his grace
Attributed Title: …Incipit Prologus Rectoris (f. 319); Explicit Prologus
Incipit ffabula (f. 320v)
35.Source: Manchester, John Rylands Library Eng. 113 [olim Hodson 39], ff. 171-171
v
First Lines:By þat þe Maunciple had his tale ended
The sonne from
þe south lyne was discended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litle space
And to do wel god
send you his grace
Attributed Title: …And begynneth þe Parsons prologe (f. 170v); Person
(RT); Here endith þe parsons prologe… (f. 171v)
36.Source: Petworth House, Lord Leconfield MS 7, ff. 271
v-272
v
First Lines:By þat þe manciple had his tale ended
þe sonne fro
þe south is descended…
Last Lines:…Beeþ fructuous and þat in litel space
And to do wel
god sende ȝow his grace
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe persone (f.
271v); Thus endeþ þe prologe of þe persons tale /
And here bygynneþ þe person his tale (f. 272v)
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.
38.Source: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library M249 [olim Ashburnham 124, post Compton Hall], ff. 244-245
First Lines:By that the manciple had his tale ended
Tho sonne from the south
syde is descended…
Last Lines:…Both fructuous and that in lytel space
And to do wel god sende
you his grace
Attributed Title: …And here bygynneth / the prologe of the persone (f. 244); The
prologe (RT); Here endeth the prologe of the persones tale (f. 245)
39.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library 100 [olim Helmingham Hall], ff. 202-203
First Lines:Be that the mancipil had his tale endit
The son from the sowth side
is discendit…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and þat in litil spase
And for to do wel
God send vs grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynnyth the Person his prolog (f. 202); Person Prolog (RT,
rubric); Here endith the Person his Prolog / And ovir the leff begynnyth he his
tale (f. 203, rubric)
40.Source: San Marino, CA, Henry Huntington Library EL 26.C.9 [‘Ellesmere’], ff. 206-206
v
First Lines:By that the Maunciple hadde his tale al ended
The sonne fro the
south lyne was descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litel space
And to do wel god sende
yow his grace
Attributed Title: …Heere folweth the Prologe of the Persouns tale (f. 206, above the
written space); Persoun (RT); Explicit prohemium… (f.
206v)
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.
Print Witnesses:
1.Source: STC 5082.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, [Westminster, William Caxton, 1476] , ff. 325
v-327
First Lines:[B]Y that the Mauncipil had his tale endid
The sonne fro the south
syde is descendid…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wel god send
you his grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynneth the Parsonnys prolog (f. 325v); Here
endith the Parsons prolog (f. 327)
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. G.1-G.2
First Lines:[B]Y that the mauncipil had his tale ended
The sonne fro the south
syde is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in litil space
And to do wel god sende
you his grace
Attributed Title: …Here begynneth the parsonnys prologue (sig. G.1); The Prologue (RT);
Here endyth the parsons prologue (sig. g.2)
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. F.7-F.8
First Lines:[B]y that the manciple hadde his tale endyd
The soune fro the southe
syde is discended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in lytel space
And to do wel god sende
you his grace
Attributed Title: …And begynneth the parsones prologue (sig. F.7); The parsonnes
prologue (RT); Here endith the parsones prologue (sig. F.8)
4.Source: STC 5085.
Chaucer, Geoffrey,
Canterbury Tales, Westminster, W. de Worde, 1498 , sigs. x.5
vb-x.6
rb
First Lines:[B]y þat the maunciple had his tale endyd
The sonne fro þe
south syde is descended…
Last Lines:…Beth fructuous and that in lytyll space
And to do wel god
sende you his grace
Attributed Title: …And folowyth the personys pro / louue (sig. x.5vb); The
personys porolge (RT)