Here begynnyth the prologe of the frerys tale. [folio 227b]
[Gap of 6 lines in the MS. Leaf 228 (containing 'prologe', painting, and 22 lines of the tale) has been cut out.]
[THis worthi [[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin]] lymytour/ this noble ffrere. [Harl. 1758 folio 102a]
he made alweie a maner/ [[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin]] louryng chere .
vp-on the Sompnour but yet [[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin]] for honeste .
No vilenous worde as yet spak/ he .
Line 1268
But at the laste he seide vn-to the wif .
Dame gode god yeue you right good lif/ .
Ye han touched here also mote I the .
In scole mater/ gret/ difficulte .
Line 1272
Ye han seide mochell thyng right well I seie . [Harl. 1758 folio 102b]
But dame here as we riden bi the weie .
Vs nedith not to speken but of game .
And late auctorites go [[go in margin]] a goddis name .
To prechyng/ & to scole eke of clergie .
But if it like vn-to this companye .
I will you of a somnour telle a game .
Parde ye may well knowe be the name .
Line 1280
That of no somnour may no gode be saide .
I praye that non of you be euyll a-paide .
A Somnour is a romere vp & doun .
With maundementis/ of ffornycacioun .
Line 1284
And is bete at euery townes ende .
Our/ oost tho spak a sir/ ye schulde ben hende .
And curteis as man of your/ estate .
In companye we woll no debate .
Line 1288
Telleth your/ tale & lateth the Somnour be .
Nay quod the Somnour late hym saie [[saie in margin]] to me
What so hym list whan it cometh to my lot .
Bi god I schall hym quyte euery grot .
Line 1292
I schall hym telle whiche a gret honour/ .
It is to be a flateryng lymytour/ .
And eek/ of full manye another/ cryme .
Whiche nedith not rehersen at this tyme .
Line 1296
And his office I schall hym telle y-wis .
Our/ hoste answerid pees no more of this .
And aftirwarde he seide vn-to the ffrere .
Tell forth your/ tale my leue maister/ dere .
Line 1300
Here endith the prolog/.
