As I must needs confess unto you all.

But seeing that I did herein proceed
[A]At his command, whom I could not refuse,
I humbly do beseech all those that read,
Or leisure have, this story to peruse,
If any fault therein they find to be,
Or error, that committed is by me;

That they will of their gentleness take pain,
The rather to correct and mend the same,
Than rashly to condemn it with disdain,
For well I wot it is not without blame,
Because I know the Verse therein is wrong,
As being some too short and some too long.

For _Chaucer_, that my Master was, and knew
What did belong to writing Verse and Prose,
Ne're stumbled at small faults, nor yet did view
With scornful eye the Works and Books of those
That in his time did write, nor yet would taunt
At any man, to fear him or to daunt.

[Footnote A: _Hen._ 5.]

Now if you would know further of him, hear him in his Prologue to the
Story of _Thebes_, a Tale (as his Fiction is) which (or some other) he
was constrained to tell, at the command of mine Host of the _Tabard_ in
_Southwark_, whom he found in _Canterbury_, with the rest of the
Pilgrims which went to visit Saint _Thomas_ shrine.