Geoffrey Chaucer

“ The various MSS. and editions collated in this edition (besides others which do not afford much help) are all duly enumerated in their proper places. It is, perhaps, advisable to say expressly, that the same symbol is often used for different MSS.; and that the same MS. is sometimes (not often) denoted by different symbols. But no confusion need arise, as this never happens with respect to the same piece. For example, in the Minor Poems, 'A.' occurs as a symbol for MS. Ashinole 59; whilst in the Legend of Good Women, the same symbol occurs for MS. Arch. ”