Dibdin, Thomas Frognall; Spencer, George John [Oth.]: Bibliotheca Spenceriana: or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century, and of many valuable first editions, in the library of George John Earl Spencer (Band 4) (London, 1815) [Cicognara, 4650-4]

300

BOOKS PRINTED BY [Canterbury Tales;

Nowhere so besy a man as he ther nas
And yet he semyd besyer than he was
In teermes hadde he caas and domes alle
That fro the tyme of kyng wylliam were falle
Therto he coude endyte and make a thyng
Ther coude no wyght pynche at hys wrytyng
And euery statute coude he pleyn by rote
He rood bnt liomely in a medle cote
A gyrt wyth a seynt of silk wyth barris smale
Of hys aray telle I no lenger tale

Next comes the Frankelin; succeeded by

THE HABERDASHER, CARPENTER, &c.

An habyrdassher ther was and a carpenter
A weble a dyer and a tapyser
And they were clothed alle in o lyuere
Of a solempne and grete fraternyte