| Chaucer's habit of poking fun at pardoners and summoners is not so much an example of impiety as a way of demonstrating how much virtue he has to spare. |
|
| Corrupt summoners would write false citations and frighten people into bribing them to protect their interests. |
|
| Summon 'F' bishop of London by good summoners to be before the aforesaid justices on such a day, etc. |
|
| Summoners were Church officers who brought sinners to the Church court for possible excommunication and other penalties. |
|
