173. Chaucer has here mistranslated the Latin. It is not said that the Via
Appia (which led out of Rome through the Porta Capena to Aricia, Tres
Tabernae, Appii Forum, and so on towards Capua and Brundusium) was situated
three miles from Rome; but that Valerian is to go along the Appian Way as
far as to the third milestone. 'Vade igitur in tertium milliarium ab urbe
uia quae Appia nuncupatur.' See the South-E. Legendary, l. 37.
177. _Urban._ St. Urban's day is May 25. This is Urban I., pope, who
succeeded Calixtus, A.D. 222. Besides the notice of him in this Tale, his
legend is given separately in the Legenda Aurea, cap. lxxvii. He was
beheaded May 25, 230, and succeeded by Pontianus.