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By Preeve which that is Demonstratif (6) There is in fact a sort of debate carried on through the D-Group, though the subject is not marriage. The Friar, complimenting the Wife on her tale, says: "Dame," quod he, "God yeve yow right good lyf! Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee, In scole-matere greet difficultee." "You have touched, as I hope to prosper, on very difficult academic matters." The Friar has been impressed by the Wife's theology. Again and again she had raised questions which were much discussed by medieval theologians. She asks, . . . why that the fifthe man Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan? How many myght she have in mariage? (21-23) Why was the fifth man not the husband to the Samaritan woman? (referring to John 4:18). How many men was it permissible for a woman to marry? Thomas Aquinas had asked such questions in the Summa Theologiae. He asks, "Whether a second marriage is permissible?" (Summa Theol., Supplementum, Quastio 63, art. 1). He devotes two sections of his work to the whole question of bigamy (Supplementum, Qs. 65 and 66). I am not suggesting that Chaucer necessarily had direct knowledge of the works of Aquinas. There are many ways in which he could have acquired a second-hand knowledge of the works of Aquinas. One possible way would have been through conversation with his friend the philosophical Strode, one of the dedicatees of his Troilus and Criseyde, who has been plausibly identified with the eminent Oxford Thomist Ralph Strode. In any case, other theologians discussed these questions. All I am concerned to show here is that many of the Wife's arguments were familiar scholastic questions. Actually though it is remarkable how often her arguments echo those of the Angelic Doctor, as we shall see. The Supple Doctor. * * * * * %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%