Note 227 — from the Origins To the Renaissance (continued 3)
Reading edition
A bettre felaw sholde men noght finde, He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn, A good felawe to have his concubyn A twelf-month and excuse him atte fulle.
Prologue of the "Canterbury Tales." The name of summoner was held in little esteem, and no wonder:
"Artow thanne a bailly?"—"Ye," quod he; He dorste nat for verray filthe and shame Seye that he was a somnour for the name." ("Freres Tale," l. 94.)