The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 334]

GROUP D. FRAGMENT V.

§ 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE.

LANSDOWNE MS.

Incipit prologus vxoris/. de Bathe.

THan schortly ansewarde þe wife of Bathe Line 1* And swore a wonder grete haþe Line 2* Be goddes bones .I. wil tel next Line 3* .I. will nouht glose bot saye þe text Line 4* Experiment þouhe none auctorite Line 1 Where in þis werlde is riht y-nouhe for me To speke of woo þat is in mariage For lordeinges sen .I. twelue ȝere was of Age Line 4 Þonked be god þat eterne alyue Hosbondes att þe cherche dor .I. haue hadde five If .I. so oft myht haue wedded be Bot al were worþi men in here degre. Line 8 Bot me was tolde certein nouȝt longe a-gon es [folio 87b] Þat seþen criste ne went neuer bot ones To weddeinge in þe Cane of Galile That be þilke ensample tauht he me Line 12 Þat .I. ne scholde wedded bue bot ones Herke eke loo suche a scharpe worde for þe nones Be side a well ihesu god and man Spak in repreue of þe Samaritan Line 16 Þou hast hi-hadde fyve husbondes quod he And þat ilke man þat nowe haþe þe Is nouht þin husbonde þus seide he serteine What he ment þerby .I. kan nouht seine Line 20 Well . Bot þat .I. ax. whi þe fift mane Was none husbonde to þe Semaritane How many myht sche haue in mariage Ȝit herd .I. neuer tell in myne age Line 24

[6-text p 335] Line 24 vpon þis nombre diffinicione Men maie devine and glosene vp and downe Bot wele .I. wote expresse wiþ-oute lye God bad vs wax and multiplye Line 28 Þat gentil tixt can .I. wele vnder-stonde Eke wele .I. he seide myn husbonde Scholde lete fader and moder and tak to me Bot of no nombre mencione maade he Line 32 Of bygamy or of octagamye Whi scholde y þan of it haue velanye Loke here þe wisman kinge Salomon .I. trowe he had wyues mo þan one Line 36 Now wolde god it leuefull were to me To be refresched half so oft as he Whiche ȝift of god had he for al his wyves No man haþe suche þat in þis werld on lyue is Line 40 God wote þis noble kinge as to my witt Þe first nyht he hadde mony a mery fitt Wiþ iche of hem so wele was him on live Blissed be god þat .I. haue wedded fyue Line 44 Welcome be þe sext whan þat euer he schall For soþe .I. wil nouȝt kepe chaste in all Whan myn husbonde is from þe werlde gone Son cresten man schal wedde me a-none Line 48 For þan þe Apostle seiþe þat .I. am fre To wedde on goddes halue where it likeþ me He seiþe to be wedede is no sinne Better is to be wedded þan to berne [folio 88a] What rekkeþe me þouhe folke seie velanye Line 53 Of schrewed lameþ and his Bigamye .I. wote wele Abraham was an holy man And Iacob eke as fer as euere y kan Line 56 And eche of hem had wyves mo þan tuo And mony anoþer holy man also Wher can ȝe seye in any maner age Þat vs god defended Mariage Line 60

[6-text p 336] Line 60 Be expresse worde .I. praie ȝowe telleþ me Or where commaunded he virginite .I. wote as wele as ȝe it is no drede The Apostle whan he spekeþe of Maidenhede Line 64 He seide þere-of precept had .I. none Men mai consel a womman to bene one Bott counseillinge is no comandement He put it in owre owen Iugement Line 68 For had god commanded maidenhede þan hadde he dampned wedinge wiþ þe dede And certes if þere were no sede .I.-sowe virginite þan where-of schold it growe Line 72 Poule dorst nouht commanden att þe leste A þinge of whiche his maistre ȝaf him none heste The darte is sett vp for virginitee Chase who so maye . who so renneþ best let see Line 76 Bot þis worde is nouht take of euery whiht Bot þere as god wolde gif it of his myht .I. wote wele þat þe Apostle was a maide Bot Naþeles þouhe þat he wrote or saide Line 80 He wolde þat euery wight were suche as he All ne is bot counseill to virginite And for to be a wif he ȝaue me leue Of Indulgence so is it of no repreue Line 84 To wedde me if þat my . make dye Wiþ-oute excepcione of bigamye Al were it goode no womman for to touche He ment as in his body or his couche Line 88 For perill is boþe to touche and for to assemble Ȝe knowe what þis ensample maie resemble Þis all and somme he helde virginite Mor perfite þan wedded in frelete. Line 92 Freelte clepe .I. nouht bot þat he and sche [folio 88b] Wolde lede here life al in chastite .I. graunte it wele .I. haue none envye þouhe maidenhed prefer bygamye Line 96

[6-text p 337] Line 96 It likeþ hem to be clene in body and goste Of myne astate .I. wil make no boste For wele ȝe knowe a lorde in his housholde Haþe nouht euery vessel of golde Line 100 Some biene of tree and done lorde seruise God clepeþ folke to him in sunder wise And eueryche haþ of god a proper ȝift Som þis. som þat. as him likeþ to schift Line 104 Virginite is grete perfectione And conscience eke wiþ deuocione Bot crist þat of perfection is well Bad nouht euery whight he schold sell Line 108 All þat he hadde and ȝiue it to þe pore And in suche wise folowe him and his lore He spak to hem þat wolden leue perfitelye And lordeynges be ȝoure leue þat am nouȝt .I. Line 112 .I. wyl be-stowe þe flowre of al myne age In charite and fruyte of Mariage Tel me also to what conclusione Were membres maade of generacione Line 116 And of so perfit wise and why y-wrouht Tresteþ riht wele þei were nouht maad for nouht Glose who so will and sei boþe vp and doune þat þei were maad for purgacione Line 120 Of vryne. and owre boþe þinges smale Were eke to knowe a female frome a male And for none oþere cause what seie ȝe noo þe experience woote it is nouȝt soo Line 124 So þat þe clerkes be not wiþ me wroþe .I. sei þis þet þei maked bue for boþe þis is to seine for Office and for ese Of engenderinge þere we nouht god displese Line 128 Whi scholden men elles in hire bokes sette þat man schal ȝelde to his wife his dette Nowe where-wiþ scholde he paye his payment If þat he ne vsed his sely instrument Line 132

[6-text p 338] Line 132 Than were þei maade vpon a creature To purge vryne and eke for engendrure Bot .I. sei nouȝt þat euery wyht is holde [folio 89a] þat haþe suche hernays as .I. to ȝow of tolde Line 136 To gone and vsen hem in engendrure Than scholde men take of chastite no cure Criste was a mayden and schapen as a man And mony a seinte soþþ þat þis werlde began Line 140 Ȝit leued þei euer in perfite charite .I. nyl envye wiþ no virginite Lete hem ete brede of pured whete sed And late vs wyues ete barly brede Line 144 And ȝit wiþ barly brede Marke tel can Owre lorde ihesu refrissched mony a man In suche astate þat god haþ cleped vs .I. wil perseuere .I. am nouht precious Line 148 In whifehode wil .I. vse myne Instrument As frely as my maker haþ it sent If .I. be daungerous god gif me sorwe Myne husbond schal it haue boþe eue and morwe Line 152 Whan þat him luste com forþe and paie his dette An husbond .I. wil haue .I. wil not lette Whiche schal be boþe my dettour and my þrall Line 155 And haue his tribulacione wiþ all Vpon his flesche while þat .I. am his wif .I. haue þe powere dureinge al my lif Vpon his propre body and not he Riht þus þe Apostle tolde to me Line 160 And bad owre husbondes for to loue vs wele Al þis sentens me likeþ euery dele

Vp stert þe pardoner and þat anone Nowe dame quod he be god and be seinte Iohn Line 164 Ȝe bue a noble prechoure in þis cas .I. was aboute to wed a wif alas What schold .I. by it on my flesche so dere Ȝit had .I. leuere none wedde to ȝere Line 168

[6-text p 339] Line 168 Abide quod sche Mi tale is nouȝt be-gonne Nay þou schalt drinken of a noþere tonne Are þat .I. go schal sauere wers þan ale And whan þat .I. haue tolde forþe my tale Line 172 Of tribulacione in mariage Of whiche .I. am experte in myne age This is to seye Mi-self haþ be þe whippe þan maist þou chese weder þou wilt scippe Line 176 Thilke tonne þat .I. schal a-broche [folio 89b] Be ware of it er þou to nyhe aproche For [I] schal tell ensamples mo þan tenne Wo so þat wil be war of oþere menne Line 180 Be him schal oþer men correct be þis same wordes writeþe tholome Ride in his almagist and take it þere Dame .I. praye ȝowe if ȝoure wil were Line 184 Said þis pardoner as ȝe began Tel forþ ȝowre tale spare for no man And teche vs ȝonge men of ȝoure practike Gladly quod sche if it maie ȝowe like Line 188 Bot þat .I. praie to al þis compaignye If þat .I. speke after my fantasie As takeþe not a greue of þat .I. saie For myne entent is nouht bot for to pleie Line 192

Nowe sires þan schal .I. tel ȝowe my tale As euere most .I. drink wyne or ale .I. schal seie soþe þe husbondes þat I. had As þre of hem were riht good and tuo were badde Line 196 The þre were godemen and riche and olde Vnneþ myht þei þe state holde In whiche þei were bounden vnto me Ȝe wote wele what .I. mene of þis parde Line 200 As god me help .I. lauhe whan .I. þinke Howe pytously a nyht .I. maade hem swynke Bot be me feie .I. told of hit no store þei hadde me ȝeue hir londe and here tresore Line 204

[6-text p 340] Line 204 Me neded nouȝt do longer diligence To wynne her loue and done hem reuerence Thei loued me so wele be god aboue þat .I. ne tolde no deynte of here loue Line 208 A wise womman wil bisie hire euere in one To gete hire loue ȝe þare as sche haþe none Bot seþþe .I. hadde hem holy in myne honde And siþþe þat þei hadde ȝif me al hir londe Line 212 What schold .I. take hem for to plese Bot if it were my profit and myne ese Bot .I. set hem so awerke be my faye þat mony a nyht þei songen walawaye Line 216 The bacon was nouȝt fette for hem .I. trowe That sum men haue in Essexe att Donnemowe I gouerne hem so wele after my lawe [folio 90a] That iche of hem ful blisful was and fawe Line 220 To bringe me gay þinges fro þe fayre Knyves ringes and purces wel fayre For god it wote .I. chidde hem spitously Nowe herkeneþe howe .I. bare me propu[r]ly Line 224 Ȝe wise wyves þat can vnder-stonde Thus scholde ȝe speke and bere hem wronge on honde For halue so boldely þer can no man Swere and lye as a womman can Line 228 .I. seie nouht þis be wives þat bue wise Bot it be whan þet þei hem mis-avise A wise wif schal if þat sche can hire gode Bere him on honde þat þe cowe is wode Line 232 And take wittenes of hire owen maide Of hir assent Bot herkeneþe how .I. saide Sir olde keynard þis is þin arraie Whi is my neihbors wif so gaie Line 236 Sche is honoured ouer al wher sche goþe .I. sette att home .I. haue no þrifty cloþe What dedest þou att myn neihbors house Is sche so feire ert þou so amerouse Line 240

[6-text p 341] Line 240 What roune ȝe wiþ oure maide benedicite Sire olde lichour lat þi Iapes bue And if .I. haue a gossib or a frende Wiþ-oute gilte ȝe chide as a fende Line 244 Ȝif þat .I. walk or pleie in-to his house Thowe comest home as dronke as mouse An prechest on þi bynche wiþ yuel preue Tho seid to me it is a grete Meschief Line 248 To wedde a pouer womman for costage And if þat sche be riche of grete parage Þan seist þat it is a tormentrie To suffur hire pride and malancolie Line 252 And if þat sche be faire þou verre knave Thow seiste þat euery hullur will hir have Sche maie no while in chastite abide That is assaide vpon iche a side Line 256 Thowe seiste som folke desire us for oure richesse Som for oure schappe and some for owre fairenesse And sum for sche kan eyþer singe oþere daunce Þus seyse þou wernard god ȝeue þe meschaunce Line 260 Some for her hondes and her armes smale [folio 90b] Þus goþe al to þe deuel be þi tale Þou seiste men maie nouȝt kepe a castel wall It maye so longe assailed be ouer all Line 264 And. if þat sche be foule þou seist þat sche coueteþe euery man þat sche maie see For as a spanyel sche wil on him lepe Til þat sche finde sum man þat wil hir chepe Line 268 Ne none so grei goos goþe þere in þe lake As seiste þou þat wil bue wiþ-owten make And seist it is an harde þinge for to welde A wyght þat no man wil his þonkes helde Line 272 Thus seiste þou lorel whan þou gost to bedde And þat no wise man nedeþ for to wedde And no man þat entendeþ to þe heuene Wiþ wilde þonder dint and fire leuene Line 276

[6-text p 342] Line 276 Mot þi welked nekke be to-broke Thow seist þat dropinge howses and eke smoke And chidinge wyves maken men to flye Owte of her owen house a benedicite Line 280 What eyleþe suche an holde man for to chide þou seist we wiues wil owre vices hide Til we be fast and þan we wil hem schewe Wele maie þis be a prouerbe of a schrewe Line 284 Thou seist þat oxen assen hors and houndes þei buen assaide att diuers stoundes Basyns lauours er þat men hem bye Spones stoles and suche husbondrie Line 288 And so buen cloþes pottes and oþere araies Bot aren of wemmen maked none assaies Til þei be wedded olde dotard schrewe And seystowe we wil þan owre vices schewe Line 292 Thou seiste also þat it displeseþ me Bot if þou wilt preis my beute And bot þou poure alwei vpon my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place Line 296 Bot þou make a fest on þilke daie Þat .I. was borne and make me frische and gaie And bot þou do to my Norise honoure And to my chambre wiþ-inne my boure Line 300 An to my faders folke and his allyes Thus seist þou olde barel full of lyes And ȝit of oure prentise Iankyn [folio 91a] For his crispe here schyneinge so gold fine Line 304 And for he swyers me boþe vp and downe Ȝit hast þou þouht and false suspecione .I. will him nouht þouhe þowe were dede to morue Bot tel me þis whi hides þou wiþ sorwe Line 308 The kayes of þi kist aweie fro me .It. is my good as wele as þine parde What wenes þou maake an Ideot of owr dame Nowe be þat lorde þat calle is seint Iame Line 312

[6-text p 343] Line 312 Thowe schalt nouht boþe þouhe þat þou were wode Be maistre of Mi body and my goode Þat on þou schalt for-goo mawgreve þine eyȝen What helpeþ it on me enquere and spien Line 316 .I. trowe þouhe þou woldest loke me in þi chist Þou schold seie wif go where as ȝow liste Take ȝowre disporte .I. wil not leue no tales .I. knowe ȝow for a good wif Dam Ales Line 320 We loue no man þat take kepe or charge Where þat we go we will be at owre large Of al men blissed mot he be The wise Astrologen Dam Ptholome Line 324 That seiþ þis prouerbe in his Almagest Of al men his wisdome is hiest Þat rekkeþ nouht who haþ þis werlde in honde Be þis prouerbe þou schalt wele vnde-stonde Line 328 Haue þoue .I.-nowhe what þare þe rekke or kare Howe merely þat oþe[r] folke fare For certes olde dotterd be ȝoure leue Ȝe schal haue qweynte riht. ynowhe att eue Line 332 He is to grete a nigarde þat wil warne A man to lyht a candel att his lanterne He schal haue neuere þe lesse liht parde Haue þou .I.-nowhe þe þar not pleine þe Line 336 Thou seiste also þat if þou make vs gaie Wiþ Cloþeinge or wiþ precious araye þat it is peril of owre chastite And ȝit wiþ wordes þou moste enfors me Line 340 And seie þes wordes in þe Apostles name In Abite maad wiþ chastite and schame Ȝe wemmen schold apparel ȝowe quod he And nouȝt in tressede here and gay perre Line 344 As perel ne wiþ gold ne cloþes riche [folio 91b] Aftere þi tixte ne after þi rubriche .I. wil nout wirke as muche as a gnatte Thou seide als þat .I. was like a catte Line 348

[6-text p 344] Line 348 Bot who so wolde seigne a catte scynne þat wolde þe cat wele dwelle in his Inne And if þe catt skynne be skyke and gaie Sche nil nouht dwel in house halue a daie Line 352 Bot forþe sche will or any daie be dawede To schewe hir scynn and go a Caterwawede This is to sei .If .I. be gaie sir sch ewe .I. wil rinne out My borell for to sschewe Sire olde foole whatte helpeþ þe to spyen Line 357 Theihe þou preie Argus wiþ his hondred eyȝen To be my wardecors as he can best In feiþe he schal nouȝt kepe me bot if me list Line 360 Ȝite couþe .I. maake his berde so mut .I. þe Thow seist eke þat þere be þinges þre The whiche þinges troublen al þis erþe And þat no whiht ne maye endure þe ferþe Line 364 O leue sir schrewe ihesu schort þi lif ȝet prechest þou and seist an hateful wif .I.-reknyd is for on of þis meschaunces Bene þere none oþer maner resemblaunces Line 368 That ȝe maie likken ȝowre parables to Bot ȝif a sely wif be on of þo Thou likenest wommannes loue to hell To Bareine londe þer water maie not dwelle Line 372 Thou likenest it also to wilde fire þe more it berneþ þe more it haþe desire To consume any þinge þat brent wolde bee þou seist riht as wermes schendeþ a tree Line 376 Riht so a wif distreyeþ hir husbonde This knowe þei þat bue to wyues bonde ¶ Lordeynges riht þus as ȝe haue vnder-stande Bare .I. stifly myne olde hu[s]bondes on hande Line 380 þat þus þei seiden in her drunkennes And þat he had suspecion and Ielousenes On Iankyn and on my nefe also O lorde þe peine .I. ded hem and þe woo Line 384

[6-text p 345] Line 384 Ful giltelesse be goddes swete pine For as an hors .I. couþe boþe bite and whyne .I. couþe pleine. and .I. was in þe gilte [folio 92a] Or elles oft time .I. had bue spilte Line 388 Who-so þat first to mell comeþ first grindeþ .I. pleyned first so .I. owre werre stinteþ Thei were ful gladde to excusen hem ful bliue Of þinge whiche þei gilt neuer her lyue Line 392 Of wenches wolde .I. beren hem on honde Whann þat for seke vnneþ þei myht stonde Ȝit tikeled .I. his hert for þat he Wend .I. hadde of him so grete cherte Line 396 .I. swore þat al my walkynge be nyht Was to aspye wenches þat he diht Vnder þat colour had .I. mony a myrþe For al suche witte is ȝeue us in owre birþe Line 400 Desceite wepeynge spynnynge . god haþe ȝeue To womman kindely while þat þei maie leue And þus of o þinge .I. auaunt me Att þe ende .I. had þe beste in yche degre Line 404 Be sleyȝt or force or be sum manere þinge As by continuel murmur or grucchinge Namely abedde had þei muschaunce Ther wolde .I. chide and do hem no plesance Line 408 .I. wolde no longer in þe bedde abide If þat .I. felte his arme ouer my side Til he had made his raunson vn-to me Than wolde .I. suffre him do his nycete Line 412 ¶ And þer-for euery man þis tale .I. telle Wyue who so maie al her for to sell Wiþþe empty hande men may none haukes lure For wynynge wold .I. al his lust endure Line 416 And make me a feyned appetite And ȝit in bacon had .I. neuere delyte That maked me þat euer y wolde him chide For þouhe þe pope had sette him be side Line 420

[6-text p 346] Line 420 I wold nouȝt spare him att his owene borde For be my trouþe .I. white him worde for worde As helpe me verrei gode omnipotent þouhe .I. scholde riht nowe make my testament Line 424 .I. ne hawe him a worde þat it nes quitte .I. brouht it so aboute be my witte þat he mot ȝeue it vp as for þe best Or elles had we neuer bue in rest Line 428 For þouhe he loked as a lyone [folio 92b] Ȝit scholde he faile of his conclusione þan wolde .I. sei goode leue take kepe Howe Mekely lokeþ wilkin owre schepe Line 432 Com nere my spouse lat me ba þi cheke Ȝe scholle be al pacient and meke And hane a swete spiced conscience Sen ȝe so preche of Iobis pacience Line 436 Suffreþ al-weie synne ȝe so wel can preche And bot ȝe do certeine we schol ȝowe teche þat it is faire to haue a wif in pes One of vs mote bowen douteles Line 440 And siþþe a man is more resonable Than womman is sir ȝowe must be more suffreable What eyleþ ȝowe to gruche þus and grone Is it for ȝe wolde haue myn queynte alone Line 444 Whi take it al lo haue it euery dele Petere .I. schrewe ȝowe bot ȝe loue me wele For. if .I. wolde selle my bele chose .I. couþe walke as fresche as a rose Line 448 Bot .I. wil kepe it for ȝoure owen toþe Ȝe be to blame be god .I. saie ȝow soþe Suche maner wordes had we on honde ¶ Now wil .I. speke of my ferþe husbonde Line 452 My ferþe husbonde was a reueloure This is to sey he had a paramour And .I. was ȝonge and ful of ragerie Stiborne and stronge and Ioly as a pye Line 456

[6-text p 347] Line 456 Lorde howe couþe .I. daunce to an harpe smale And singe .I.-wis as any nyhten-gale Whan .I. hadde dronke a drawht of swete wyne Metelinge þe foule cherle þe swyne Line 460 That wiþ a staf beraft his wif here lyf For sche dranke wyne. þouhe .I. had bue his wif Ne scholde he nouht haue daunted me fro drinke And after wyne of venus must .I. þinke Line 464 For also seker as colde engendereþ haile A likerous mouþe most haue a likerous taile In womman vi[n]olent is no defence þis knowen lichours bue experience Line 468 Bot lorde criste whan þat it remembreþ me Vpon my ȝouþe. and my Iolyte. It tikeleþ me aboute myne herte Rote [folio 93a] Vnto þis daie it doþ myne hert bote Line 472 That .I. haue had my werlde as my time Bot age alas þat all wil envenyme Haþe me be-raft my beaute and my piþþe Lat go fare wele þe deuel go þere wiþþe Line 476 The floure is gone þere is no more to telle Þe bran as .I. best can nowe mot .I. selle Bot ȝit to be riht merye wolde .I. fonde Now forþe to tell of my ferþe husbonde Line 480 .I. sei .I. had in herte grete dispite þat he of any oþer had delite Bot he was qwytte be god and be seinte Iose .I. maade him of þe same wode a crose Line 484 Not of my body in no foule manere Bot certeynly .I. maade folke suche chiere þat in his owen gres .I. maade him frie For angers and for verraie Ielousye Line 488 Be god in erþe .I. was his purgatorye For whiche .I. hope his soule be in glorie For god it wote he satte ful ofte and songe Whan þat his scho ful bitterly him wronge. Line 492

[6-text p 348] Line 492 For þere was none saue gode and he þat wiste In mony wise where .I. him twiste He dyed whan .I. cam from Ierusaleme And lyeþ in a graue vnder þe rode beme Line 496 Al nys is toumbe not so curious As was þe sepulcre of him Darius Whiche þat Appelles wrouhten soubtely It nys bot wast to beri him preciouslye Line 500 Lat him fare wele god ȝeue his sowle rest He is nowe in his graue and in his chest Nowe of my fift husbond wil .I. tell God lat neuer his soule come in hell Line 504 And ȝete was he to me þe most schrewe þat fele .I. on my ribbes al be rewe And euer schal vn-to myne endeynge daie Bot in owre bedde he was so fressche and gaie Line 508 And þer-wiþ also wele couþe he me glose Whan þat he wolde haue my bele chose þat þouhe he hadde me bette on euery bone He couþe winne a-ȝeine my loue a-none Line 512 .I. trow .I. louede him bette for he [folio 93b] Was of his loue daungerous to me We wemmen haue if þat .I. schal nouht lye In þis manere a qweynte fantasye Line 516 Whayte what þinke we may nouht lyhtly haue Þere-after wil we crie al daie and craue For-bede us þinge and þat desiren we Pres on vs fast and þan wil we fle Line 520 Wiþe daungier owten we al oure chafre Gret pres att þe Market makeþ dere ware And to grete chepe is holde att littel pris þis knoweþ euery womman þat is wys Line 524 My venus husbonde god his soule blisse Whiche þat .I. toke for loue and for no richisse He sumtyme was a clerke of Oxenforde And had left scole and went att home to borde Line 528

[6-text p 349] Line 528 Wiþþe my gossibbe dwelinge in oure toune God haue hire soule hire name was Alison Sche knewe myne hert and al my priuete better þan oure parische preste so mot .I. þe Line 532 To hire be-wryed .I. my counsell all For hadde my husbond pissed on a wall Or done a þinge þat schold haue cost his lif To hir and to anoþer worþi wif Line 536 And to my nece whiche .I. loue wele .I. wolde haue tolde his counsel euery dele And so .I. dide ful often god it wote þat maade his face often rede and hote Line 540 For verray schame and blamed him-selfe for he Had tolde to me so grete a priuete And so it be-fell þat ones in a lente So oft time .I. to my gossip wente Line 544 For euer ȝit .I. loued to be gay And for walke in marche aprile and Maie Fro hous to hous to herken sondaye tales Þat Iankin clerke and my gossib dam Alice Line 548 And .I. my selfe in-to þe felde wente Myne husbond was att Londen al þat lente .I. hadde þe better leyser for to pleie And for to see and eke for to be seie Line 552 Of lusty folke what wist .I. where my grace Was schapen for to be or in what place There-for maade .I. my visitacions [folio 94a] To vigiles and to processions Line 556 To precheinge eke and to þis pilgrimages To pleis of Miracles and of Mariages And wered vpon my gaie scarlet Gytes This wermes ne þes mouhtes ne þis mytes Line 560 Vpon my perel fete hem neuer a dele And wost þou whie for þei were vsed wele Nowe wil .I. telle forþe what happed me .I. saie þat in þe felde walked wee Line 564

[6-text p 350] Line 564 Til trewely we had suche daliance þis clerke and .I. þat of my purueance .I. spak to him and seide how þat he .If .I. were wedowe scholde wedde me Line 568 For certeinly .I. saie for no bobance þat was .I. neuer ȝit wiþ-oute purueance Of mariage ne of oþer þinges eke .I. holde a mannes witte nouht worþe a leke Line 572 þat haþ bott one hole to sterte vnto And if þat faile þan is þat al y-do [I bare hym on honde he hadde enchaunted me My dame taught me that subtilte And I seide I mette of hym all nyght Line 577 He wolde haue shamed me as I ley vp-right And my bedde was verey blode But yite I hope that ye shull do me good Line 580 ffor good blode be-tokenyth Golde as I was taught And all was fals I dremed of hym right noght But as I folowed my Dames lore [a line misst in the MS.] [Cambr. Univ. MS Ii 3. 26 folio 116a] ] Bot nowe sire lete me se what .I. schal seyne A ha be god .I. haue my tale a-ȝeine Whan þat myn faire husbonde laie on bere .I. wepe al gate. and maad sory chiere Line 588 As wives moten for it is vsage And wiþ my kerchef kouerde my vesage Bot for þat .I. was purveide of a make .I. wepe bot smale and þat .I. vnder take Line 592 To cherche was my husbonde borne on morwe Wiþ neyhbors þat for him maad sorwe And Iankin oure clerke was on of þo As helpe me god whan þat .I. sihe him go Line 596 Affeter þe bere me þouht he hadd a peire Of leges of feet so clene and faire þat al my herte .I. ȝaf vn-to his holde He was .I. trowe tuew[n]ty winter olde Line 600

[6-text p 351] Line 600 And .I. was fourty. if þat .I. schal seie soþe Bot ȝit .I. had alwaie a coltes toþe Gate toþede .I. was and þat be-come me wele .I. had þe printe of seint venus seale Line 604 As helpe me god .I. was a lusti one And faire and riche and ȝonge and wele be-gone And treuly as myne husbonde tolde me [folio 94b] .I. hadde þe best quoniam þat myht be Line 608 [ffor certis/ I am all/ fulli reueryan. In felyng/ & myn herte all marcian. Venus/ me yaf my lust/ my likyng/ & licorousnes/. And Mars/ gaf/ me my sturdi hardynes/. [Harl. 1758 folio 95a] ] Line 612 Myne asscendent was taurus and mars þere inne Alas alas þat euer loue was sinne .I. folowed ay myne Inclinacion Be vertue of mye constillacion Line 616 þat maade me .I. couþe nouȝt wiþ-drawe Mi chambre of venus frome a goode felawe [yet/ haue I a marke of/ Mars vp-on my face. [Harl. 1758 folio 95a] And also in another/ pryue place. ffor god so wisse be my saluacion. I louyd neuyr/ bi non discrescion. But euyr/ folewid myn appetite. All/ were he schort/ long/ blak/ or white. Line 624 I toke no kepe so that/ he liked me. How pore he was/ ne eke of what/ degre.] What scold .I. seie bot at þe moneþes ende This Ioly clerk Iankin þat was so hende Line 628 Haþe wedde me wiþ grete solempnite And to him ȝaf .I. al þe londe and fee þat euere was me ȝeuene þare before Bot afterwarde repentede me ful sore Line 632 He wolde suffer no þing of my lust Be god he smote me ones on þe luste for þat .I. rent oute of his booke a lef þat of þat stroke myne eren wexen def Line 636

[6-text p 352] Line 636 Styborne .I. was as is a lyonesse And of my tonge a verreie Iangeleres And walke .I. walde as .I. had do be-forne Frome house to house al þouhe he had it sworne Line 640 For wiþ often time he wolde preche And me olde romans gestes teche Howe he simplicius gallus left his wif And hire for-soke for terme of his lif Line 644 Not bot for hopen hede he hire seie Lokeynge oute att his dore on a daie Anoþer Romeyne tolde he me be name That for his wif was att a somer game Line 648 Wiþ-owte his weteinge he for-sooke here eke And þan wolde he vpon his bible seeke þat ilke prouerbe of ecclesiast Where he commandeþ and for-bedeþ fast Line 652 Man schal not suffur his wif go roile a-boute Than wolde he saie riht þus wiþ-outen doute ¶ Who so þat bildeþ his house al of salowes And prikeþ his blinde hors ouere þ[e] falowes Line 656 And sufferþ his wif for seken halowes Is worþi to be honge on þe galowes Bot al for not .I. set not an hawe Of his prouerbes ne of his olde lawe. Line 660 Ne .I. wolde nouht of him correct be [folio 95a] .I. hate him þat my vice telleþ me And so do mo god wote of vs þan .I. þis maade him wiþe me woode al vtterly Line 664 .I. nolde nouht for-bere him in no caas Nowe wil .I. seye ȝowe soþe be seint thomas Whi þat .I. rent oute of his boke a lefe For whiche he smote me þat .I. was defe Line 668 He had a booke þat gladly nyht and daie For his disporte he wolde rede al weie He clepede valerye and theofraste Att whiche boke he lauhe al-weye ful fast Line 672

[6-text p 353] Line 672 Ande eke þare was sum time a clerke in rome A Cardinale þat hiht seint Ierome þat maad a boke aȝeine Iouynyane In whiche booke eke þer was torculane Line 676 Crisippus Trecula and helowys That was Abbas nouȝt fer fro parische And eke þe paraboles of Salomon Ovydes arte and bokes many one Line 680 And al þis were boundene in o velome And euery nyht and day was his custome Whan he had leysere and vacacione frome oþer werldly occupacione Line 684 To reden on þis boke of wikked wyues He knewe of hem mo legentez and liues Than bue of goode wyues in þe bible For trusteþ wele it is an impossible Line 688 þat any clerke wil speken good of wyves Bot if it bue of holy seintes lyues Ne of none oþer womman neuere þe mo Who peynted þe lyon tel me who Line 692 Be god if wemmen had wreten stories As clerkes haue wiþ-inne hire oratories Thei wold haue wreten of men more wikkednesse þan al þe mark of Adam maie redresse Line 696 The childern of Mercure and Venus Bene in hire wirkeinge contrarius Mercurie loue wisdome and sciens And venus loueþ riote and dispens Line 700 And for hir diuers disposicion Sche falleþ in oþer exaltacion. And þus godde wote Mercurie is desolate [folio 95b] In piscis where venus is exaltate Line 704 And venus falleþ þere Mercurie is reised Þere-for no womman of no man is preised Þe clerke whan he is olde and maie nouht do Of venus werkes worþe his olde scho Line 708

[6-text p 354] Line 708 Than sitte he doune and write in his dotage That wemmen kan nouht kepe here Mariage Bot nowe to purpos why .I. tolde þe Þat .I. was beten for a booke perde Line 712 Vpon a nyht Iankin þat was owre sire Radd on his boke as he satte be þe fire Of Eue first þat for hire wykkednesse Was al man kinde first brouht to wrechednesse Line 716 [for which Ihesu crist / him silff was sleyne that bought vs with his herte blood ageyne lo here expresse of recorde / may ye fynde that woman was the loos / of al mankynde [Laud. MS 600 folio 85a] ] Line 720 þo redde he me howe sampson lost his heris Slepeinge his lemman kut it wiþþe hire scheris Thorwhe whiche treson loste he boþe his eyȝen þo redde he me if þat .I. schal nouht lyȝen Line 724 Of Hercules & of Dyamyre þat caused him to sett him self a fire Noþinge forȝate he þe penance and woo þat Socrates had wiþþe his wyues twoo Line 728 Howe þat ancippa kest pisse on his hede þis sely man satte still as he were dede He wype his hede no more dorst he seine Bot or þat þonder stinte comeþ a raine Line 732 Of Phasipha þat was queene of Crete For schrewednesse him þouht þe tale swete Fy speke no more it [is] a grisely þinge Of hire orrible lust and hir lykeinge Line 736 Of Clitermistra for hir lycherie þat falsly maad hir husbond for to deye He red it wiþ ful good deuocion He told me for what occasion Line 740 Amphiorax att Thebes lost his lif Myne husbond hadd a legent of his wife Eriphilem þat for a nouche of golde Haþe priuely vnto þe Grekes tolde Line 744

[6-text p 355] Line 744 Where þat hir husbond hid him in a place For whiche he hadd att Thebes sori grace Off lima tolde he me . & of lucye þei boþe maade her husbondes for to deye Line 748 That oone for loue þe toþer was for hate [folio 96a] Lyma hir husbonde on euen late Enpoysond had for þat sche was his foo Lucia likerous loued hire husbond soo Line 752 Þat for he schold vpon hire alweie þinke Sche ȝaue him suche a loue maner drinke þat he was dede or it was be þe morwe And þus algates husbondes haue sorwe Line 756 Þan tolde he me howe one latumyus Compleynede to his felawe Arius That in his gardyne groued suche a tre On whiche he seide þat his wyues þre Line 760 Honged hem self for hertes dispitous O leue broþer quod þis Arrius ȝif me a plante of þat blisful tre And in my gardine plantid it schal be Line 764 ¶ Of latter date of wyues haþe he radde Þat han sleyne here husbonde in her bedde And lete hire lychoure diht hire al þe nyht Whan þat þe cors laie in flore vpriht Line 768 And sum haue dreuen nayles in here brayne While þat þei slepe and þus þei haue hem sleyne Some haue ȝeuen poyson in my drynke He spake more harme þan hert maie be-þinke Line 772 And þerwiþal he knewe of mo prouerbes Þan in þis werlde þer growen grasse or herbes Bet is quod he þin habitacione Be wiþ a leoun or a foule dragone Line 776 Þan wiþ a womman vsinge for to chide Better is quod he hihe in þe rofe abide Þan wiþ an angre wif doun in an hous Þei bene so wikked and contrarious Line 780

[6-text p 356] Line 780 þei hateþ þat her husbonde loueþ aye He seid a womman kest hir schame awaye Whan sche cast of hire smok and forþermo A faire womman bot sche be chaste also Line 784 Is like a gold ringe on a sowes nose Who walde wene or wold suppose þe wo þat in myne hert was and pine And whan .I. sawe he wolde neuer fyne Line 788 To reden on þis cursed booke al nyht Al sodanly. þre leues had .I. plyht. Out of his boke riht as he redde and eke [folio 96b] .I. wiþ my fiste so toke him on þe cheke Line 792 þat in oure fire he fel bakward a-doune And he vp stert as doþe a woode lyone And wiþ his fist he smote me on þe hede Þat in þe flore .I. laie as .I. ware dede Line 796 And whan he sawhe howe stille þat .I. laie He was a-gast and wolde haue fledde a-waie Til atte þast owte of myne swohe .I. braide O hastowe sleyne me false þefe .I. seide Line 800 And for my lande þus hast þou morþerd me Or .I. be dede ȝit wil .I. kisse þe And nere he come and kneled faire a-doune And seide dere suster Alison Line 804 As helpe me god .I. schal þe neuer smyte Þat .I. haue done it is þi self to wite For-ȝeue it me and þat .I. þe be-seke And ȝit eft-sones .I. hitte him on þe cheke Line 808 And seide þef þus wil .I. me awreke Nowe wil .I. deye .I. maie no longer speke Bot att þe last wiþ muchel care and woo We fell accorded be oure seluen tuoo Line 812 He ȝaue me al þe bride in myn honde To haue þe gouernance of owse and londe And of his tunge and of his honde also And maade him birne his boke anone riht þo Line 816

[6-text p 357] Line 816 And whan þat .I. had geten vn-to me Be maistre al þe souerainte þan he seide myne owen trewe wif Do as þu lyst þe terme of al my lyf Line 820 Kepe þine honoure and kepe eke my astate After þat daie we had neuere debate God helpe me so .I. was to him als kinde As any wyf fro danmark in-to hinde Line 824 And also trewe and so was he to me .I. praie to god þat siteþ in maieste So blisse his sowle for his mercy dere Nowe wil .I. seie my tale . if ȝe wil here Line 828

[The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.]

The frere lowhe whan he had herd al þis Nowe dame quod he so haue .I. ioye or blis þis is a longe preamble of a tale And whan þe Somenour herde þe frere gale Lo quod þe Somenour be goddes armes tuo A frere wil entremete him euer mo Lo godemen a flye and eke a frere will fal in euery dissche and eke matere Line 836 What spekest þow of preambulacione What amble or trote or pees or goo sitte adoune Thou lettest owre disporte in þis manere Ȝe wil-tow so Somenour quod þe frere Line 840 Nowe be fey .I. schal or þat .I. go Tell of a somenour . suche a tale or tuo þat al þe folke schal lawhen In þis place Nowe elles frere .I. be-schrewe þi face Line 844 Quod þis Somenour. and .I. be-schrewe me Bot .I. tell þe tales two or þre Of freres ar .I. come to sideingborne þat .I. schal make þine herte for to morne Line 848

[6-text p 358] Line 848 For wele .I. wote þi pacien is gone Owre oste cried pees and þat a-none And seide lat þe womman tel hir tale Ȝe faren as folken bien of ale Line 852 Do dame tel forþe ȝowe tale and þat is best Al redi sire quod sche riht as ȝow lest Ȝif .I. haue lycence of þis worþi frere Ȝis dame quod he tell forþe þi tale .I. wil here Line 856

[6-text p 359]

Incipit fabula vxoris de Bathonia.

IN þe olde daies of þe kinge Arthoure Of whiche þat bretons speken grete honoure. All was þis land fulfilled of faire The Elphe queene wiþ hir Ioly compaignie Line 860 Daunced withe-oute in mony a grene mede Þis was þe olde opinion þat .I. rede .I. speke of mony a .C. ȝere a-go Bot now can no man see none elues mo Line 864 For þe grete charite and þe preiers Of lymytours and of oþer pouere frers Þat serchen euery lande and euery streme As þikke as motes in þe sonne beme Line 868 Blissinge halles chambres bowres Citees burghes Castels hihe towres Thorpes bernes schipnes dayeries þis makeþ þat þere be no fairies Line 872 For þere as was wonte to walke an elfe [folio 97b] Þer walkeþ nowe þe limitour him selfe In vndermeles and in morneynges And seiþe his Matines and his holy þinges Line 876 As he goþ in his visitacioune Wemmen maie go nowe sauely vpe and doune In euery bossche or vnder euere-y tre There is none oþer Incubus bot he Line 880 And he wil do hem bot disonoure And so fel it þat þis kinge Arþoure Had in his house a lusty bachellier Þat on a daie cam rideinge fro þe reuere Line 884

[6-text p 360] Line 884 And happed a-lone as sche was borne He sawhe a maiden walkinge him be-forne Of whiche maiden maugreue hire hede be verrei force he raft hir hir maidenhede Line 888 For wiche oppression was suche clamoure And suche pursuyt vnto kinge Arthoure That dampned was þis knyht for to be dede Be cours of lawe and scholde haue lost his hede Line 892 Parauenture suche was þe statute þo Bot þat þe queene and oþer ladies mo So longe preide þe kinge of grace Til he his him graunted in þe place Line 896 And ȝaue to þe qwene al att hir will To chese weþer sche wolde him saue or spill The queen þonked þe kinge wiþ al here myht And after þis þus spak sche to þe knyht Line 900 Whan þat sche seihe her time vpon a daye Thou stondest ȝit quod sche in suche araye þat of þi lyf ȝit hast þou no surte .I. graunte þe lif; if þu canst tel me Line 904 what þinge is þat wemmen moste desiren Be war and kepe þi nekke bone from yren And if þou can nouȝt tel it me anone Ȝit wil .I. ȝeue þe leue for to gone Line 908 A twelmoþ and a daie to seke and lere An ansewere sufficiant in þis matier And surte wil .I. haue ar þat þou pace Thi body for to ȝelden in þis place Line 912 Woo was þis knyht and sorwful he sikeþ Bot whate he may nouht do al as him likeþ And att þe last he chase him for to wende [folio 98a] An com aȝeine riht att þe ȝeres ende Line 916 With suche answere as god wold him purueye And takeþ his leue and wendeþ forþ his weye He sekeþe euery house and euery place Where as hopeþ for to finde grace Line 920

[6-text p 361] Line 920 To leren whatt þinge wemmen louen most Bot he nowe couþe riden in no cost Where as he myht finde in þis matier Two creatures accordinge in fere Line 924 Some seide wemmen louen best riches Some seide honour some seid Iolynes Some seide Riche araye and lust abedde And oft tim to be wedowe and wedde Line 928 Some seide þat we be most esede Whan þat we bene flaterde and yplesede He goþ ful nyhe þe soþe .I. wil nouht lye A man schal wynne vs best wiþ flaterye Line 932 And wiþ attendance and wiþ besines Bene we y-lymede boþ more and les And som men sein howe þat we louen best For to bue fre and do riht as vs lest Line 936 And þat no man repreue vs of oure vice Bot sei þat we bue wise and noþinge nice For trewly þare is none of vs al If any wight wil clowe vs on þe gal Line 940 Þat we nyl loke or he seie þe soþe Assaie and he schal finde it þat he doþe For be we neuere so vicious with-inne we wil be holden wise and clene of sinne Line 944 And summen seine þat grete delite haue we For to be holden stable and eke secre And in o purpos stedfastly to dwell And nouht be-wrye þinge þat men vs tell Line 948 Bot þat tale is nouȝt worþ a rake stele Parde we wemmen kan no þinge hele Wittenesse of myda wil ȝe here þe tale Ouide a-monges oþer þinges smale Line 952 Seiþ Mida ha vndre his longe heres Growinge vpon his tuo asse eres The whiche vice he hidde as he best myht Ful subtily from eueryche mannes siht Line 956

[6-text p 362] Line 956 That saue his wif þer wist þere-of no mo [folio 98b] He loued hir most and trist to hir also He praide hir most þat vnto no creature sche schold nouȝt tel of his disfigure Line 960 Sche swore him naye for al þis werld to wynne Sche nold do; þat velany or þat synne To make hir husbonde haue so foule a name For reproueinge of him and fowle schame Line 964 Bot Naþeles hir þouht þat sche deide þat sche so longe scholde a counsel hide Hir þouht it satt so sore aboute hir hert Þat nedely sum worde hir mot a-stert Line 968 And seþ sche dorste tel it to no man Doune to a marese fast sche ranne Til sche came þer hire hert was a fire And as betoure bebleþ in þe myre Line 972 Sche laide hir mouþe in-to þe water downe Be-wrye me nouht þou water wiþ þi soune Quod sche . to þe .I. tel it and no mo Myne husbonde haþe longe asses eres tuo Line 976 Nowe is myne hert al hole now it is owte .I. myht no longer kep it oute of doute Here mai ȝe see þouhe we a time abide Ȝit oute it mot we mowe no counsel hide Line 980 Þe remenant of þe tale if ȝe wil here Redeþ ovide and ȝe maie it lere This knyht of wiche mi tale is speciali Whan þat he sauh he miht nouht com þere bye Line 984 This to seie what wemmen louen most Wiþ-inne his hert sorweful was þe goste Bot home he goþe he miht nouht soiorne The daie was come þat homward most he torne Line 988 And in his wei it happed him to ride In all his care vnder a forest side Where he sawhe on o daunce go Of ladys foure and twenty and ȝit moo Line 992

[6-text p 363] Line 992 Towarde þe dawnce he drowhe him ȝerne In hope þat som wisdome scholde he lerene Bot certeinly ar he came fully þere Vanyssched was þe daunce he wist nouht where. Line 996 No creature sawe he þat bare lif Saue in þe grene he sawhe sittinge a wif A fowler wight þei may no man devise [folio 99a] A-ȝein þe knyht þe olde wif gan arise Line 1000 And seid sir knyht here forþe liþe no weye Tel me what þat ȝe seken be ȝoure feye Parauentur it maie þe better be This olde folke can muche þinge quod sche Line 1004 My leue quod þis knyht serteine .I. am bot dede bot if þat .I. can seine Whatt þinge it is þat wemmen most desire Couþe ȝe me wise .I. wold wele white ȝowre hire Line 1008 Plyht me þi trouþe here in my honde quod sche The next þinge þat .I. require þe Thowe schalt it do if it ly in þi myht And .I. wil tel it ȝowe ar it he nyht Line 1012 Haue here my trouþe quod knyht .I. graunt Þat quod sche .I. maye me wele auant Thi lif is saue for .I. wil stonde þer bye Vpon my lif þe qweene wil saie as .I. Line 1016 Latt see whiche is þe proddest of hem al That wereþ on a kercheue or a cal þat dar sey nay of þat .I. schal ȝow teche Lat vs go forþe wiþ-oute longer speche Line 1020 Tho rouned sche a pistel in his ere And bad him to be gladde and haue no fere Whann þei be commen to þe courte þis knyht Seid he had holde his daie as he had hiht Line 1024 And redy was his ansewere as he seide Foll mony a noble wif and mony a maide And mony a wedew for þat þei bu wise The queene hire seluen sitt Iuge as Iustise Line 1028

[6-text p 364] Line 1028 Assemblede ben his answere for to here And afterwarde þis knyht was bode a-piere And þat þe knyht schold tel in audience To euery. wight commanded was silence Line 1032 What þinge þat werldly wemmen louen mest þis knyht ne stode nouȝt stil as doþe a beste Bo to þis questione a-none he ansewerde Wiþ manly voyce þat al þe court it herde Line 1036 My liege lady lady general quod he. Womman desiret to haue souereynte As wele ouer hir husbonde as hir loue And for to be in maistre him a-boue Line 1040 This ȝowre most desire þouhe ȝe me kill [folio 99b] Doþe as ȝowe list .I. am here att ȝoure will In al þe courte ne was þer wif ne maide Ne wedowe þat contraried þat he seide Line 1044 Bot seyden he was worþi to haue his lyf And wiþ þat worde vpstert þis olde wif Whiche þat þe knyht sawe sittinge on þe grene Mercie quod sche Mi souereine ladi qweene Line 1048 Ar þat ȝoure Court depart do me riht .I. tauht þis ansewer vn-to þis knyht For whiche he pliht me his trouþe þere The first þinge .I. wolde of him require Line 1052 He wolde it do if it lei in his myhte Be-for þe Court þan praie .I. þe sir knyht Quod sche þat þu me tak vnto þi wif For wele þu woste þat .I. haue kepped þi lif Line 1056 If .I. saye fals seye soþe vpon þi fey This knyht ansewerd alas and walawaie .I. wote riht wele þat suche was my beheste For goddes loue chese a newe requeste Line 1060 Tak al my goode and lat my body go Nay þan quod sche .I. schrewe vs boþe tuo For þat .I. be foule olde and pouer .I. nolde for al þe metal ne for Oer Line 1064

[6-text p 365] Line 1064 þat vnder erþe is graue or liþe aboue Bot if þat .I. þi wif were and þi loue Mi loue quod he nay my . dampnacione Alas þat any of my nacione Line 1068 Schold euere so foule disparaged bue Bot al for nouht þe ende is þis þat he Constreigned was he nedes most he hir wedde And takeþ þis olde wif and goþ to bedde Line 1072 Now wold sum men seine parauenture Þat for my necligence .I. do no cure To tel ȝowe þe Ioye and þe arraye Þat att þe feste was þilke daye Line 1076 To whiche þinge schortely ansewere .I. schal. .I. seie þer was no ioye ne fest att al Þer nas bot heuynes and muche sorwe For priuely he wede hire on morwe Line 1080 And al daie after hidde him as an owle So woo was him his wif loked so foule. Grete was þe sorwe þe knyht had in his þouht [folio 100a] Whan he was wiþ his wyf ybedde brouht Line 1084 He waloweþ and torneþ to and fro His olde [wyf] laye smyleinge euermo And seide Dere husbonde o benedicite Fareþ euery knyht þus wiþ his wif as ȝe Line 1088 Is þis þe lawe of kinge Arþors house Is euery knyht of his þus daungerous .I. am ȝoure loue and eke ȝoure wif .I. am sche whiche saued haþ ȝoure lif Line 1092 And sertes ȝit dide .I. ȝowe neuer vnriht Whi fare ȝe þus wiþ me þe first niht Ȝe faren like a man þat had lost his witte Fy what is my gilte for goddes loue tell itte Line 1096 And it schal bue amended if .I. maie Amend quod þis knyht nay naye That wil nouht bue amendede neuere mo Þou ert so loþely and so olde also Line 1100

[6-text p 366] Line 1100 And þer-to comen of so lowe a kinde þat litel wonder is þouhe .I. walow and winde So wolde god myne herte wolde to-breste Is þis quod sche þe cause of ȝoure vnreste Line 1104 Ȝe certeinly quod he no wonder is Nowe sir quod sche .I. couþe amende al þis If þat me list ar it were daies þre So well ȝe myhtte bere ȝowe vn-to me Line 1108 Bot for ȝe speken of suche gentillese As is descended oute of al richesse þat þere-for scholden ȝe be gentil men Suche errogance is nouht worþe an hen Line 1112 Lo who þat most is vertuous alweie Preue and a-pert and most endeþ aie To do gentil dedes þat he can And take him for þe grettest gentil man Line 1116 Crist will we cleime of him oure gentilnes Not of oure eldres for here olde reches For þouhe þei ȝeue vs al her Heritage For whiche we cleime to be of hihe parage Line 1120 Ȝit may þei nouht be-queþe for no þinge To none of vs her vertuous leueinge That maad hem gentil men y-called be And bad vs folowen hem in suche degre. Line 1124 Wele can þe wise Poet of fflorens [folio 100b] Þat hiht Dante spekeþ in þis sentens Lo in Suche maner rim is dantes tale Ful selde vp riseþ be his braunches smale Line 1128 Prowes of man for god of his prouesse Wil þat we of cleime oure gentillesse For of oure helders maie we no þinge cleime Bot temperal þinge þat man maie hirte and maheime Line 1132 Eke euery white wote þis as wele as .I. If gentillesse were planted naturalye Into a certeine lignage doune þe line Preue and aperte þan wold hey neuer fyne Line 1136

[6-text p 367] Line 1136 To done of gentillesse þe faire ofice Thei myhten do no velany nor vice Tak fire and bere it in þe derkest house Be-twex þis and þe mount of Caucasouse Line 1140 And let men schette þe dore and go þeṇne Ȝit wil þe fire ly as fair and brenne As þouh a .M. men myht it be-holde His office naturele ay wil it holde Line 1144 Vp peril of lif til þat it deie Here maie ȝe se wele howe þat genterye Is nouht anexed to possession Seþ folke doþ nouht her operacion Line 1148 Alweie as doþe þe fire lo in his kinde For god it wote men maie ful often finde A lorde sone do schame and velanye And he þat wil haue prise of his gentirye Line 1152 For he was borne of a gentil hous And hadde his heldres noble and vertuous And nyl him-seluen do no gentil dedes Ne folowe his gentill ancestre þat dedes Line 1156 He is nouht gentil be he duc or Erle For veleyns sinful dede mak a cherle For gentillesse ne is bot reuente Of þine Auncestres for hire bente Line 1160 Whiche is a stronge þinge for þi persone The gentilles comeþ fro god alone Than comeþ oure verraie gentilles of grace He was noþinge be-queþe vs wiþ oure place Line 1164 Thinkeþ howe noble as seiþ valerius Was þilke tullius hostilius. That oute of pouert ros to hihe noblesse [folio 101a] Redeþ Senec and rede eke Boesse Line 1168 There schold ȝe seen expresse þat it no drede is That is gentil þat doþe gentil dedes And þer-fore dere husbonde .I. þus conclude Al were þat myne Ancestres were so rude Line 1172

[6-text p 368] Line 1172 Ȝit maie þat hihe god and so hope .I. Graunt me grace to leue vertuously Than am .I. gentil whan þat .I. be-ginne To leuen vertuously and weuen sinne Line 1176 ¶ And þare as ȝe of pouert me repreue The hihe god on whom þat we beleue In wilful pouert ches to leue his lif And certes euery man and maide and wif Line 1180 Maie vnder-stonde ihesu heuen kinge Ne wold nouȝt chese a vicious leueinge Glad pouert is an honest þinge certeigne This wil senec an[d] oþere clerkes seine Line 1184 Who so þat holde him paide of his pouert .I. holde him riche al had he nouht sert He þat coueteþ is a pouer wight For he wold haue þat is nouht in his myht Line 1188 Bot þat nouht haþe ne coueteþ to haue Is riche al-þouhe men holde him bot a knaue Verray pouert is sinne propurly Iuuenal seiþe of pouert merely Line 1192 The pore man whan he goþ be þe waye Be-for þe þeues he maie singe and pleye Pouert is hatel good and as .I. gesse A ful grete bringer oute of besinesse Line 1196 A gre amender eke of Sapience To him þat lakkeþ it in pacience Pouer is þis al þouhe it seme Alinge Possessione þat no wyht wil chalinge. Line 1200 Pouert ful oft whan a ma[n] is lowe Makeþ his and eke him self to knowe Pouert in spektacle is as þenkeþ me Þourhe whiche he maie his verray frende se Line 1204 And þere sen þat .I. ȝowe nouȝt greue Of my pouert no more me repreue Nowe sire of elde ȝe preue me And certes sir þoruhe none auctorite Line 1208

[6-text p 369] Line 1208 Wher in no boke ȝe gentil of honoure [folio 101b] Seine þat men scholde an olde wife do fauoure And clepe her moder for her gentillesse An Auctours schal .I. finde as .I. gesse Line 1212 Nowe þere ȝe seine þat .I. am foule and olde Þan drede ȝowe nouht to be no cokewolde For filþe and helþe as mot .I. þe Bene grete werdeins vpon chastite Line 1216 Bot naþeles sen .I. knowe ȝoure delite .I. scha[l] ful-fill ȝoure werly appetite Chese nowe quod sche one of þis þinges tweye To haue me foule and olde til þat .I. deie Line 1220 And be to ȝowe a trewe humble wif And neuer ȝoue displese in al my lif Or elles ȝe wil haue me ȝonge and faire And take ȝoure auenture of þe repaire Line 1224 That schal com to ȝoure house be cause of me Or in sume oþere place wel maie be Nowe chese ȝoure seluen wheþer þat ȝou likeþ This knyht a-vised him and sore he sikeþ Line 1228 Bot att þe last he seide in þis manere My lady and my loue and wife so dere .I. putte me in ȝoure wise gouernaunce Gesseþ ȝoure self whiche maie be most plesaunce Line 1232 And most honour to ȝowe and me also .I. do no force wheþer of þe tue For as ȝowe likeþ it sufficet me Than haue .I. gete of ȝowe þe maistre quod sche Line 1236 Sen .I. may chese and gouerne as me lest Ȝe sertes wif quod he .I. holde it for þe best Kisse me quod sche we be no longer wroþe For be my trowþe .I. will be to ȝowe boþe Line 1240 Þis is seine to be to ȝowe boþe feire and goode .I. praie to god þat .I. mot steruen woode Bot .I. to ȝowe be also sadde and trewe As euer was wif sen þat þe werlde was newe Line 1244

[6-text p 370] Line 1244 And bot .I. be to morwe also faire to seen As any lady Emperes or qween Þat is be-twene þe est and eke þe west Do wiþ my lif and deþe riht as ȝow lest Line 1248 Kast vp þe kurteyne and loke how it is And whan þe knyht sauhe al þis Þat sche so faire was and so ȝonge þer-to [folio 102a] For ioy he hent hir in his armes tuo Line 1252 His hert baþed in a baþþe of blisse A. M. time a rewe he gan hir kisse And sche obeide him in euery þinge Þat myht done him plesans or likeinge Line 1256 And þus þei leued vnto her lyues hende In parfite Ioye and ihesu criste vs sende Hosbonde meke ȝonge and fresshe y bedde And grace to ouer-lede hame þat we wedde Line 1260 And eke .I. praie to ihesu schort her lyues Þat wil nouht be gouernd be hir wyues And olde and Angrye Nigard in dispence God send hem sone a verrei Pestelence Line 1264

Explicit fabula Matrone vxoris de Bathonia.

[6-text p 371]

Incipit prologus fratris

This worþi lymitour þis noble frere He maad alweie lowreynge chere Vpon þe Sompnour bot for honeste No veleyns worde as ȝite spake he Line 1268 Bot att þe last he saide vnto þe wife Dame good god ȝyue ȝowe riht good life Ȝe haue touchede here as mot .I. þe In scole Matier gret difficulte Line 1272 Ȝe haue seide muchel þinge riht wele .I. seie Bot dame here as we riden be þe weie Vs nedeþ nouht to speken bot of game And lete Auctorites in goddes name Line 1276 To precheinge and to schole eke of clergie Bot if it like vnto þis compaignie .I. wil ȝowe of a Somnour tel a game Parde .I. maie wele knowe be þi name Line 1280 þat of no somnour mai no good be seide .I. praie þat none of ȝowe be yuel apaide A Somnour is a romer vp and doune Wiþ a mendement of fornicacioune Line 1284 And is .I.-bette att euery tounes ende Owre þan spake a sir ȝe scholde be hende And curteis as man of ȝoure astate In compaignie we wil no debate Line 1288 Telleþ ȝoure tale and lateþ þe somenour be Naie quod Somnour late him sei to me What so him liste whan it comeþ to my lote Be god .I. schal him qwite euery grote. Line 1292 I schall him tell whiche a grete honour [folio 102b] It is to be [a] flateringe limitour And of ful mony anoþer crime Whiche nedeþe nouht rehersen att þis time Line 1296 And his office .I. schal him tell .I.-wis Owre oste answard pees no more of þis And afterwarde he seide vn-to þe frere Tel forþe ȝowre tale my leue mayster dere. Line 1300

Explicit prologus.

[6-text p 372]

Incipit fabula.

Whilom þere was dwelinge in myne contre An Arche-deken a man of hihe degre That boldely dide execucion In poneschinge of fornicacione Line 1304 Of whiche craft and eke of baudrye Of diffamacion and avowtrie Of cherche reues and of testamentes Of contractes and of lac of sacramentes Line 1308 Of vsury and of Simony also Bot certes Lychoures dede he grettest woo Thei scholden singe if þei wer hente And smale tiþers weren fowle schente Line 1312 If any person wolde vpon hem pleine There myht a-stert him no pecuniale peyne For smale tiþes and eke smale offringe He maade þe peple spitusly to singe Line 1316 For or þe bischop cauht hem wiþ his hoke Thei were in þe Arche-decanes boke And þan hadde he þoruhe his Iurdictione Power to done on hem Correctione Line 1320 He had a somnoure redy to his hand A slyhere boye was none in yngelande For Sotely he had his especiaile That tauht him where he myht availe Line 1324 He couþe spare of lychours one or tuo To techen him to foure · and twenty mo ffor þouhe þis somnour woode were as an hare To tel his harlotry .I. wil nouȝt spare Line 1328

[6-text p 373] Line 1328 For we bue oute of her correctione Thei haue of vs no Iurdictione Ne neuer scholle terme of al her lyues Peter so bue þe wymmen of þe styues Line 1332 Quod þis Somnour yput houte of al oure cure Pes wiþ meschaunce and wiþ misauenture [folio 103a] Thus seid owre oste and late him tel his tale Now telleþ forþe and lete þe Somnour gale Line 1336 Ne spareþ nouht myne owen meister dere This false þef þis somenour quod þe frere Hadde alweie baudes redye to his honde As any hauke to lure in Ingelonde Line 1340 þat tellen him al þe secree þat þei knewe Of hire acqueyntance was nat come of newe þei weren his approwers priuely He toke him self a grete profit þer by Line 1344 His maister knewe nat alweie what he wan Wiþ-outen maundement of a lewed man He couþe Somne of pein cristes curs And þei weere glad to fill his purs Line 1348 And maade him grete festis att nale Riht as Iudas had purse smale And was a þeef riht suche a þeef was he His maister had bot half his Dewte Line 1352 He was. if .I. schal ȝeuen him his laude An þeef and eke a somnour and a baude He had eke wenches of his retenue That wheþer sir Robert or sir hewe Line 1356 Or Iohn or Raufe or who þat it wer þat lei by hem þei tolde it in his ere Þus was þe wenche and he of on assent Ande he wolde feche a feyned maundement Line 1360 And somone hem to chapeter boþ tuo And pil þe man and latt þe wenche go Than wolde he seie frend .I. sal for þi sake Do strike þe oute of owre letter blake Line 1364

[6-text p 374] Line 1364 þe þar no more as in þis caas trauaile .I. am þi frende þere .I. þe maie availe Sertein he knewe of briburs mo þan possible is to tell ȝou to Line 1368 For in þis werlde is no doge for þe bowe þat knowe an hurt dere fro an holde bet cowe þan þis Somenour knewe a licour Or a vouter or elles a paramour Line 1372 And for þat was þe fruyte of al þe rente Ther-for on it he set al his entente And so be-fel þat ones on a daie þis Somnour euere wayteinge one his preye Line 1376 Rode for to somne a holde wif a ribibe [folio 103b] Feynein a cause for he wald bribe And happed þat he sauhe to-for him ride A gaie ȝoman vnder a forest side Line 1380 A bowe he bare and arwes briht and kene He had vpon a courteby of grene An hatte vpon his hede wiþ fenges blake Sir quod þis Somnour heile and wele a take Line 1384 Welkom quod he and euery good felawe Weder rides þou vnder þis grene wod schawe Saide þis ȝoman wilt þou fer to daie þe Somnour him ansewerd and seide naye Line 1388 Here fast by quod he is myn entent To riden for to reisene vp a rent It longeþ to my lordes dewte Ert þou þan a baillif ȝe quod he Line 1392 He dorst nouȝt fo verre felþe and schame Sei þat he was somnour for þe name De par dieux quod þis ȝoman dere broþer þou ert a bailif. and .I. am anoþer Line 1396 .I. vnknowen as in þis contre Of þin acqueyntance .I. wil praie þe And eke of breþerhede if þat þou liste .I. haue golde and siluer in my chiste Line 1400

[6-text p 375] Line 1400 If þat ȝe happed to com in to owre schire It schal be þine riht as þou wilt desire Gremercie quod þis Somnour be my feiþe Euer-iche in oþers honde her trouþ leyþe Line 1404 For to be swore breþer to þei deye And wiþ þat worde þei ride forþe þer weie þis somnour wiþ þat was as ful of Iangles As foll of venym be þis wereangles Line 1408 And euere enquireinge vpon euery þinge Broþer quod he where is ȝoure dwelynge Anoþer daie if .I. schal ȝou seche þis ȝoman him ansewarde in soft speche Line 1412 Broþe[r] quod he fer in þe norþe cuntre Where as .I. hope some time .I. schal þe se Ar we departe .I. schal þe so wel wisse þat of myne hous schalt þou neuer mysse Line 1416 Now broþer quod þis Somenour .I. ȝow preie Teche me while we riden be þe weie. Sen þat ȝe be a baillif as am .I. [folio 104a] Som subtilite tel me feiþfully Line 1420 In myne office how þat .I. maie most winne And spare nouht for conscience ne sinne Bot as my broþer tel me howe do ȝe Nowe be my trewþe broþer dere seide he Line 1424 As .I. schal tellen þe a faiþful tale My wage buen ful streite and smale My lorde is harde to me and dangerous And myne Office ful laborous Line 1428 And þere-fore be extorcions .I. leue For soþe .I. al þat men wil me ȝeue Allgate be sleiht or violence Frome ȝere to ȝere .I. winne al my dispence Line 1432 .I. kan no better tellen faiþfully Now sertes quod Somnour so fare .I. .I. spare nouht to taken god it wote Bot if it be to heuy or to hote Line 1436

[6-text p 376] Line 1436 What .I. maye gette in Counseill priuely No manere consciens of þat haue .I. Ner mye extorcion .I. myht not leuen Of suche Iapes wil .I. nouht bu schreuen Line 1440 For stomak ne for conscience knowe .I. none .I. schrewe þis schrift faders euerychone Wele be we mette be god and be seint Iame Bot leue broþer tel me þan þi name Line 1444 Quod þis Somnour in þis mene while This ȝoman gan a litel for to smyle Broþer quod he wil towe þat .I. þe tell .I. am a steue my dwellinge is in hell Line 1448 And here .I. ride aboute my purchasinge To witte if men wil ȝeue me any þinge Mi purchache is to fett al my rent Looke howe þou ridest for þe same entent Line 1452 To winne good þou rekkest neuer howe Riht so fare .I. for ride wolde .I. nowe In to þe werldes ende for a preie A quod þis somnour Benedicite what ȝe seie Line 1456 .I. wende ȝe were a ȝoman trewly Ȝe haue a mannes schappe as wel as .I. Haue ȝe þan a figure determinate In hel þer ȝe bene in ȝoure astate. Line 1460 Nai certainly quod he þare haue we none [folio 104b] Bot whan vs likeþe we can tak vs one Or elles make ȝou seme we bene schape Som tim a man or lyke an hape Line 1464 Or lyke an angel can .I. ride or goo It is no wonder þinge þouhe it be soo A lousy Iogelour can disceyue þe And perde ȝit can .I. mor craft þan he Line 1468 Whi quod þis Somnour Ride ȝe þan or gone In Sondre schappe and nouht alweie one For we quod he wil vs suche forme make As most able is oure preis to take Line 1472

[6-text p 377] Line 1472 What makeþ ȝowe to haue al þis laboure Ful mony a cause leue sir Somnour Seid þis fende bot al þinge haþe time þe daie is schort and it is passed prime Line 1476 And ȝit ne wann .I. no þinge in þis daie .I. wil entend to wynynge if .I. maie And nouht entende oure wittes to declare For broþer myne þi witte is al to bare Line 1480 To vnderstonde þouhe .I. tolde hem þe Bot for þou axest whi labour we For sum time we bue goddes instrumentz And mennes to done his commandementz Line 1484 Whan þat him vpon his creatures In diuerse attes and in diuers figures Wiþ-outen him we haue no myht certaine If þat him lust stande þer aȝeine Line 1488 And sum tym att oure preie haue we leue Onely þe body and nouht þe soule greue Wittenes on Iob whom þat we deden woo And sumtyme haue we myht of boþe tuo Line 1492 This to seine of soule and body eke And som time we buen suffered for to done seke Vpon a man and do his soule vnrest Nouht his body and al is for þe best Line 1496 Whan he wiþ-stondeþ oure temptacione It is a cause of saluacione Al be it þat it was nouȝt owre entent He scholde be saue bot þat we wold him hent Line 1500 And some tim be we seruant vn-to a man As þe Erchebysschope seiþe Dunstan And to þe Aposteles seruant was .I. [folio 105a] ȝit tell me quod Somnour feiþfully Line 1504 Maake ȝe ȝowe bodys þus al wey Of Elementes þe fende seid naye Som time we feine and sum time we rise Wiþ dede bodies in ful sundre wyse Line 1508

[6-text p 378] Line 1508 And speke as renably faire and wele As to þe phitonessa did Samuele And ȝit wil sum men saie it was nouht he .I. do no fors of ȝoure diuinite Line 1512 Bot o þinge warne .I. þe .I. wil nouht Iape Thou wilt algates wite howe we be schape Thou schalt her-after-ward my broþer dere Come where þe nedeþ not of me to lore Line 1516 For þou schalt be þin owen experience Com in to þe chaier to rede þis sentence Better þan virgile while he was on lyue Or dante also nowe lat vs ride belyue Line 1520 For .I. wil holde company wiþ þe Til it be so þat þou for-sake me Naie quod Somnour þat schal not be-tide .I. am a ȝoman knowe is ful wide Line 1524 Mi trouþe wil .I. holde to þe as in þis caas For þeih þou were þe deuel Sathanas My trouþe will .I. holde to my broþer As .I. am sworne and iche of vs to oþere Line 1528 For to be trewe broþer in þis caas And broþer wee goon to owre purchas Take þu þi part what men wil þe ȝeue And .I. schal myne þus maye we boþe leuen Line 1532 And if þat any of vs haue more þan oþer lat him be trewe and part it wiþ his broþer .I. graunt quod þe deuel be my feye And wiþ þat worde þei reden forþe þeire weie Line 1536 And riht att þe entringe of þe tounes ende To whiche þe somnour schope him for to wende He sawhe a cart þat charged was wiþ haye Whiche þat a carter droue forþ on his waye Line 1540 Dep was þe way for whyche þe cart stode þis carter smote and striued as he war woode Heyt brok heyt scotte what spare we fore þe stones The fende quod he ȝowe fette boþe bodi and bones Line 1544

[6-text p 379] Line 1544 As ferforþly as euer were ȝe folde [folio 105b] So muche woo as .I. haue for ȝowe þoled The deuel haue al boþe hors and carte and haye Thouht þis Somnour here schal we haue a pleie Line 1548 And nere þe fende he drouhe as nouhten were An ful priuely rouned in his ere Herken my broþer herken be þi feiþe Heres þou nouht howe þe carter seiþe Line 1552 Hent it a-none for he haþ ȝeuen it þe Boþe heye and carte and eke his caples þre Nay quod þe deuel god wote neuer a dele It is nouht his entent trust me wele Line 1556 Ax him þi self if þou trowest not me Or elles stinte a while and þou schalt see This Carter þakkes his hors on þe croupe And þei be-gonne to drawe and to stoupe Line 1560 Heyte nowe quod he þat ihesu criste ȝow blisse And al his hondewerke boþe more and lisse þat was my faire lyarde boye And .I. praie god saue þe and seinte loye Line 1564 Nowe is my carte oute of þe slouhe parde Lo broþer quod þe fende what tolde .I. þe He[re] maie ȝe se myne owen dere broþer Þe carle spak o þinge bot he þouht anoþer Line 1568 Latt vs go forþe abouten owre viage. Here wynne .I. no þinge vpon cariage Whan þei com somwhat oute of þe toune This Somnour to his broþer gan roune Line 1572 Broþer quod he here wonneþ an olde rebek þat hadde al-moste as leue to lese here neke As for to ȝeue a peny of hire goode .I. wil haue tuelue pens þouhe þat sche be wode Line 1576 Or .I. wil somone hire to oure Office And ȝit god woote of hire know .I. no vice Bot for þou canst nouht as in þis countre Wynne þi coste take here ensample of me Line 1580

[6-text p 380] Line 1580 This Somnour clepeþ att þe wydoues gate Come owte he seide þou olde veritate .I. troue þou hast sum frere or preste wiþ þe Who clepeþ seide þis wif benedicite Line 1584 God saue ȝowe sire what is ȝoure swete wil .I. haue quod he a somons of þe here a bil Vp peine of Curseinge loke þat þu be [folio 106a] To morwe to-for owre Archidiacane kne Line 1588 To anseward to þe Courte of certeine þinges Now quod sche lorde ihesu criste kinge of kinges So wissely helpe me as .I. ne maie .I. haue bue seke and þat ful mony a daie Line 1592 .I. maye nouht so ferre go quod sche ne ride Bot .I. be dede so prikeþ it in my side May .I. nouȝt ax a libel sir Somonour And anseware þe by my procatoure Line 1596 To suche a þinge as men wolden aposen me Ȝis quod þis Somonour paie anone latt se Tuelue pens to me. and .I. wil þe acquite I schal no profett haue þer-by bot lite Line 1600 Mi maister haþe þe prophet and not .I. Com of and late me riden hastili Ȝeue me tuelue pens .I. maie no longer tarie Tuelue quod sche ladi seint Marie Line 1604 So wisely helpe out of care and sinne Þis wide worlde þouhe þat .I. schold it wynne Ne haue .I. noȝt tuelue pens wiþ-in myne holde Ȝe knowen wele þat .I. am pouer and olde Line 1608 Kyþe ȝoure Almos on me pouere wrecche Nay þan quod he foule fende me fecche If .I. þe excuse if þou scholdest be spilte Alas quod sche god wote .I. haue no gilte Line 1612 Pay me quod he or be þe swete Anne As .I. wil bere awaie þi newe panne For dett whiche þou owest me of olde Whan þou madest þin hosbonde kokewolde Line 1616

[6-text p 381] Line 1616 .I. paied att home for þi correccioun Thou lext quod sche be my saluacioun Ne was .I. neuer or now wedowe ne wif Somned in-to ȝoure court in al my lif Line 1620 Ne neuer .I. was bot of my body trewe To þe deuel blake and rouhe of hewe Ȝif I. þi body. and my panne also And whan þe deuel herd hir curs so Line 1624 Vpon hir knes he seid in þis maner Now Mable myne owen moder dere es þis ȝowre wil in ernest þat ȝe seie The deuel quod sche fette him ar he deie. Line 1628 And panne and al but he will him repent [folio 106b] Naie olde stote þat is nouȝt myne entent Quod þis Somnour for to repent me For any þinge þat .I. haue hadde of þee Line 1632 .I. wolde .I. hadde þi smokke and euery cloþe Nowe broþere quod þe deuel be nouht wroþe This body and þis panne is my be riht Thou schalt wiþ me to hell ȝut to-nyht Line 1636 Where þou schalt know of oure priuete More þan a maistre of diuinite. And wiþ þat worde þis foule fende him hente Body and soule he wiþ þe deuel went Line 1640 Where þat Somnours han her heritage And god þat maad after his ymage Mankinde saue and gide vs al and sume An leue þis Somnour good man to be-come Line 1644 Lordinges .I. couþe haue tolde ȝoue quod þis frere Hadde .I. had leiser for þis Somnour here After þe tixt Crist Poule and Iohn And of oure oþer doctours mony on Line 1648 Suche peines þat ȝoure hert myht a-grise Albeit so no tunge maie devise þouht þat .I. myht a þousand wynter tell þe peyne of þilke corsid house of hell Line 1652

[6-text p 382] Line 1652 Bot for to kepe us fro þat cursed place Wakeþ and prayeþ ihesu for his grace . . . . . Herkeneþ þis word be war as in þis caas Line 1656 The lion sitte in his awaite alweie To sle þe Innocent if þat he maie Disposeþ aye ȝoure hertes to wiþ-stonde The fende þat ȝowe wold make þrall and bonde Line 1660 He maie nouht tempten ȝowe over ȝowre myht For criste wil be ȝoure champion and knyht And praieþ þat þis somnour him repent Of his mesedede ar þat þe fende hem hent Line 1664

Explicit fabula;

[6-text p 383]

Incipit prologus aparitoris

This Somnour in his stirep hihe stode Vpon þis frere his hert was so wode þat like an haspen lef he quoke for ire Lordeinges quod he bot o þinge .I. desire Line 1668 .I. ȝowe be-seche þat of ȝoure curtesie Seþ ȝe haue herd þis fals frere lye As suffreþ me .I. maie a tale tell [folio 107a] This frere bosteþ þat he knoweþ hell Line 1672 As god wote þat is litel wonder Freres and fendes ben bot litel in sunder For parde ȝe haue oft time herd tell How þat a frere rauisshed was in hell Line 1676 In spiret ones be a visione And as Angel led him vp and downe To schewen him þe peynes þat þere were In al þe place sawe he nouȝt a frere Line 1680 Of oþer folke he sawe y-nowe in woo Vnto þis Angel spak þe frere þoo Now sir quod he haue freres suche grace þat none of hem schal com in-to þis place Line 1684 ȝis quod þis Aungel mony a melione And vn-to Sathanas he had him adoune And now haþ Sathanas saiþ he taile Bradder þan of þ[e] Carrik is þe seile Line 1688 Holde vp þi taile þu Sathanas quod he Schewe forþe þin erse and let þe frere se Where is þe nest of freres in þis place And ar þat halue a forlonge waie of space Line 1692

[6-text p 384] Line 1692 Riht so as bees swarme oute of an hive Owte of þe deuels ers þei gon drive twenty þousand freres on a rowte And þouht hell swarme al aboute Line 1696 An comen aȝeine als fast as þei maie gone And in his hars þei crepen euerychone He clapped his taile a-ȝeine and leye still This frere whan he loked had his fill Line 1700 Vpon þis tormentes vpon þis sor place His spirit god restored of his grace Vnto his body aȝeine and he awoke Bot naþeles for fere ȝit he qwoke Line 1704 So was deueles ars aie in his mynde þat is his heritage of verrai kinde God saue ȝoue al saue þis curse frere My prologe wil .I. ende in þis Manere. Line 1708

Explicit/ prologus.

[6-text p 385]

Incipit/ fabula aparitoris

LOrdeynges þere is in ȝorke-schire as .I. gesse A merschy contre called holdernesse In whiche þere went a limitour a-boute. To preche and eke to bigge it is no doute [folio 107b] And so be-fell þat on a daie þis frere Line 1713 Hadde preched att þe cherche in þis manere And specialy aboue euery þinge He excited þe peple in his precheinge Line 1716 To trentals and for goddes saake þere-wiþe men mihte holy houses maake þere as deuyne seruice is honoured Nouȝt þere as is wasted and deuoured Line 1720 Ne þere it nedeþ nouht for to be ȝeue As to possessioners þat maie elles leue þankede he god in wele and abundance Trentals seide he deliuerþ fro penance Line 1724 Here frendes soule as wele olde and ȝonge If þat þei bien hastely songe Nouht for to holde a preste Iolif and gaie He singeþ not bot o messe on a daie Line 1728 Deliuerd oute anone þe soules Ful harde it is wiþ fleschehokes or with oules Nowe spede ȝowe hastely for cristes sake Line 1732 To kepe ȝowe fro þe peines of þe fendes blake Line 1731 And whan þe frere hadde seide al his entente Wiþ qui cum patre forþe he wente Whan folke in churche had ȝeue him what hem lest He went his waie no longer wolde he rest Line 1736

[6-text p 386] Line 1736 Wiþ scrippe and tipped staf tokked ful hihe In euery . hous he gan to poure and prie And beggeþ mele or chiese or elles corne His felowe had a staf tipped wiþ horne Line 1740 A peire of tables of yvory And a pointel polisched fetusly And wrote þe names alweie as he stode Of euery folke þat ȝaue hem any goode Line 1744 Askaunse þat he wolde for hem preie ȝeue vs a boschel wete malte or rie A goddes kechel or a trep of chese Or elles what ȝowe lest we maie nouhte chese Line 1748 A goddes halpenye or a mespeny Or ȝeue vs of ȝoure branne if ȝe haue any A dagon of ȝoure blanket leue dame Lo suster dere lo here .I. write ȝoure name Line 1752 Bacon or befe or suche þinge as ȝe finde A stordy harlote went hem aie be-hinde [folio 108a] þat was he osteman and bare a sakke And what men ȝaue hem laide on his bakke Line 1756 And he was out att þe dore anone He pleyned awaie þe names euerychon þat he be-fore had wreten in his tables He serued hem wiþ nifles and wiþ fables Line 1760 Nay þere þou lext þou Somnour quod þe frere Pes quod oure host for criste/ moder dere Tel forþ þi tale Spare it nouht att al So þriue .I. quod þe Somnour so .I. schal Line 1764 So longe he went hous be hous quod he Til he come to an hous þer he was wonte to be Refressched more þat in an hundreþ place Seke laye bonde man wos þe place And vpon a couche lowe he laye Deus hic quod he O Thomas frende good daie Seide þis frere curtasly and soft Thomas seide he god ȝelde ȝowe ful oft Line 1772

[6-text p 387] Line 1772 Have .I. vpon þis benche fare wele Here haue .I. ete mony a mery mele And fro þe benche he drove a-waie þe catt And laide adoune his potent and his hatt Line 1776 And eke his scripe and sett him soft adoune His felowe was go walked in þe toune Forþe wiþ his knaue in-to þat hostlerie Where as he schope him þilke nyht to lye Line 1780 O dere maister quod þis seke man Howe haue ȝe fare . seþ marche be-gan .I. sauhe ȝou nouht þis fourtenyht and more God wote quod he labourde haue .I. ful sore Line 1784 And speciali for þin saluacione Haue .I. seide mony a precious orisone And for oure oþere frendes god hem blesse .I. haue to-daie done at ȝoure cherche a messe Line 1788 And seide a seremon after my simple witte Nouht al after þe text of holy wrytte For it is harde to ȝowe as .I. suppose Ther-fore. wil .I. tell al þe glose Line 1792 Glosinge is a glorious þinge certeine For letter sleþe so as clerkes seine Ther haue .I. tauht hem to be charitable. And spende here goode þere it resonable [folio 108b] Line 1796 þere .I. sauhe oure dame a where is sche ȝonde in þe ȝerde .I. trowe sche be Seide þis man and sche wil come anone Ey Maister welcome be ȝe be seint Iohn Line 1800 Seide þis wif howe fare ȝe hertly þe frere riseþ vp ful curtasly And her · enbraseþ in his armes narwe And kisseþ hir swete and chirkeþ as a sparowe Line 1804 Wiþ his lippes; dam quod he riht wele As he þat is ȝoure seruant euerydele I-þonkede be god þat ȝow ȝaf soule and lif Ȝit sawe .I. nouht to-daie so faire a wif Line 1808

[6-text p 388] Line 1808 In al þe cherche so god · saue me Ȝe god amend defautes sire quod sche Algates welcom be ȝe be my faye Graunt Merci dame þis haue .I. founde al weie Line 1812 Bot of ȝoure grete goodenes be ȝowre leue .I. wolde praie ȝoue þat ȝe not ȝowe greue .I. wil · wiþ thomas speke a litel þrowe þis Curates buen ful necligent and slowe Line 1816 To gropen tenderly a consciens In schrift and in precheinge is my diligence And stody in peters wordes and in poules .I. walke and fische men soules Line 1820 To ȝelden ihesu criste his propre rent To sprede his wordes .I. sett al myne entent Now be ȝoure leue o dere sir quod sce Chideþ him wele for god in trinite Line 1824 He is as Angry as a pismyre Ȝeihe þat he haue al þat he can desire þeihe .I. him wrye a nyht and make him warme And ouere him laye my legge or myne Arme Line 1828 He groneþ like owre bore groneinge in his stye Oþer disport of him riht none haue .I. .I. maie nouht plesen him in no maner caas .Ieo vous die treschier & bien amy o thomas Line 1832 þis makeþ þe fende it most bue amended Ire is a þinge þat hihe god defended And þere-of wil .I. speke a worde or tuo Nowe Maister quod þe wif ar þat .I. go Line 1836 What wil ȝe dyne .I. wil go þere aboute Nowe dame quod he Ie vous dy sanz doute [folio 109a] Haue. note of a capon bot þe liuere And of ȝoure soft brede bot a schiuere Line 1840 And after þat a rosted pigges hede Bot þat .I. wold for me no beste were dede þan hadde .I. wiþ ȝowe holy sufficeance .I. am a man of litel sustinance Line 1844

[6-text p 389] Line 1844 Mi spirte is fosterd in þe bible Þe body is aie so redy and penyble To wake þat my stomak is destruyed .I. prei ȝowe dame þat ȝe be nouht anoyȝed Line 1848 Þouhe .I. so frendely my counsel schewe Be god .I. wold nouht tell it bot a fewe Nowe sire quod sche bot a worde ar .I. goo My childe is dede wiþ-in þes wekes tuo Line 1852 Sene þat ȝe went oute of þis towne His deþ sawe .I. be reuelacione Seiþe þis frere att home in owre dortouure .I. dar wele sein ere þan halue an houre Line 1856 After his deþ .I. sawhe borne to blisse In myne avison so god me wisse So dede oure sexteine and oure fermourere þat haue bue trewe freres .l. ȝere Line 1860 þei maie nowe god be þanked of his lone Maken her Iubile and walken alone. And vp he ros and al oure couent eke Wiþ mony a tere trillinge on my cheke Line 1864 Wiþ-owten noyes or clateringe of belles Te deum was owre sange and no þinge elles Saue þat to crist .I. saide an orison Thonkeinge him of his reuelacione Line 1868 For sir. and dame tresteþ me riht wele Oure orisons bene mor esprituele And more we see of cristes secre þinges Line 1871 Than burel folke [þouȝe þei were kynges To lyue in pouert and in abstinaunce And borelle folke [Sloane MS 1685 folio 126b] ] in reches and wynynges In mete and drinke and in hire foule delite We haue þis werldes lust al in despite Line 1876 Lazar and diues leueden diuersly And diuers guerdone had þei þere-bye Who so wil praie he mot fast and be clene And fatte his soule and mak his bodi lene Line 1880

[6-text p 390] Line 1880 We fare as seiþe þe postle cloþe and foode Soffiseþ vs þouhe þei bo nouht gode [folio 109b] The clennes and þe fasteinges of vs freres Makeþ þat crist accepteþ oure preiers Line 1884 Lo Moyses .xl. daies and .xl. nyht Fasted or þat hihe god of miht Spak wiþ him in þe mounte of Synay Wiþ empty wombe fastinge mony a day Line 1888 Receyued he þe lawe þat was wreten Wiþ goddes finger and helthe wel ȝe weten In þe mount or er he any speche Wiþe þe hihe god þat is oure liues leche Line 1892 He fasted longe and was in contemplance And aaron þat had þe temple of god in Gouernance And eke þat oþre pristes euery-chone In-to þe temple whan þei schold gone Line 1896 To preie for þe peple and do seruice þei wold nouȝ dringen in no manere wise No drinke whiche þat miht hem drunke make Bot euer in abstinens to preie and wak Line 1900 Lest þat þei deide take hede what .I. seie Bot þei be sobre þat for þe peple preie Ware þat I. seie no more for it suffisit Line 1903 Oure lorde ihesus as holy god deuisit ȝeueþ vs ensample of fastinge and of preiers þer-for we amende fautes we pouere freres Bene wedded to pouert and to contenence To charite humblenesse and also pacience Line 1908 Persecucione for rihtwisnesse To wepeinge misericord and clennesse And þere-for may ȝe se þat oure preyers .I. speke of vs me vendinant freres Line 1912 Bene to þe hihe god more acceptable Þan ȝoures wiþ ȝoure fest att þe table For paradise first if .I. schal nouht lye Was man out chased for his glotonye Line 1916

[6-text p 391] Line 1916 An chaste was man in paradise certeine Bott herken þere what .I. schal seine .I. haue no text of þat as .I. suppose Bot .I. schal finde it in a maner glose Line 1920 þat speciali oure swete lorde ihesus Spak þus be verse whan he seid þus Blissed be þei þat pouer in spirit buen. And so forþe al þe gospel maie ȝe seen [folio 110a] Line 1924 Where it be like oure professione Or her þat swemmen in possessione Fye on here pompe and on her glotonye And for here lewdenes .I. hem defye Line 1928 Me þenkeþ þei ben like Iouynyan Fatt as a whal and walkinge and as a swan As vinolent as a botel in þe spense Her praier is ful of grete reuerence Line 1932 Whan þei for sowles seine þe psalme of Dauit Lo buf þei seine Cor meum Eructauit Who foloweþ cristes gospel and his lore Bot we þat humble be chast and pouer Line 1936 Werkes of goddes worde and eke auditoures There-fore riht as an hauke ripe att a sores Vp springeþe in-to þe eyre riht preiers Of charitable and chast besy freres Line 1940 Makene here sores to goddes eren and hoo Thomas þere-for so must .I. ride or goo And be þat god þat cleped is seint Iue Nere þou owre broþer scholdest þou noȝt þryue Line 1944 In owre chapetre prei we daie and nyht To crist þat he sende þe hele and myht Thi body for to welden hastely God wote quod he no þinge þere-of wote .I. Line 1948 As helpe me criste as in fewe ȝeres Haue .I. spended of diuers maner freres Full mony a pounde ȝit fare .I. neuer þe bette Certein my good almost haue .I. be-sette Line 1952

[6-text p 392] Line 1952 Fare wele my golde for it is al a-goo þe frere answerde o thomas whi dostowe soo What nedeþ ȝowe diuers freres to seche What nedeþ hem þat haþ a parfite leche Line 1956 To seche oþer leches in þe toune Ȝoure inconstance is ȝoure confusione Holde ȝe me þan or elles oure couente To praie for ȝowe buen insufficiente Line 1960 Thomas þat Iape is nouht worþe a myte Ȝoure maladie is for ȝe haue geuen vs so lite A ȝef þat couent half a quarter otes A ȝef. on or tuo grotes Line 1964 A ȝef þe frere a peny and late him goo Nay nay Thomas it maie no þinge be so [folio 110b] What is a ferþinge worthe parted in twelue Lo iche a þinge þat is houed be him selue Line 1968 Is more strange þan whan it is scaterd Thomas of me þou schalt nouht bene flaterde Tho woldest owre laboure haue for nouht þe hihe god þat al þis welde haþ wrouht Line 1972 Seiþ þat þe werkman is worþi his hire Thomas nouht of ȝowre tresoure .I. desire As for my self. bott for al oure couent To praie for ȝowe is aye so diligent Line 1976 And for to bilden cristes owen chirche Thomas if ȝe wil leren for to wirche Of bildeinge vp of cherches mai ȝe finde If it be goode In thomas lif of hinde Line 1980 Ȝe ligge here ful of Anger and of yre Wiþ whiche þe deuel sette ȝowre eres of fire An chiden hire þis sely innocent Ȝoure wif þat is so meke and pacient Line 1984 And þer-fore Thomas trowe me if ȝowe list Ne striue wiþe þi wife al for þe best And bere pis worde awaie be þi faiþe Toucheinge suche þinge lo what þe wise man seiþe Line 1988

[6-text p 393] Line 1988 Wiþ-inne þin hous ne bue þou no lyone To þi subgettes done none oppressione Ne maake þine acqueintance not for to flie And Thomas ȝitt eft-sonenes saie .I. þe Line 1992 Be war for hire þat in þi bosome slepeþ Be war of þe serpent þat so slely crepeþ Vnder þe gras þat stingeþ sotely Be war my sonne and herken paciently Line 1996 þat .xx.M. men haue lost her liues For þat þei haue bu spitous to her wives Nowe seþþe þus ȝe haue so holy and so meke a wif Line 1999 What nedeþ ȝow thomas to maken strif Ther is .I.-wis no serpent so cruel Whan men trede on his taile nouȝt half so fell As womman is whan sche haþ cauht an yre Vengaunce is þan al þat þei desire Line 2004 Ire is a sinne on of þe grettest of seuen Abhominable vnto god of heuen/ And to him self it is a destruccion This euery lewed vicarie or parson Line 2008 Can sey howe ire engendereþ homicide [folio 111a] Ire in soþe is executor of pride .I. couþe of ire seie so muche sorwe Mi tale schold last to tomorwe Line 2012 And þer-for .I. praie god daie and nyht An yrus man send him litel miht It is grete harme and certes grete Pyte To sett an Irus man in hihe degre Line 2016 Whilom þer was an Irrous potestate As seiþ Senec duringe his astate Vpon a daie out riden knyhtes tuo And as fortune wolde it were so Line 2020 That one of hem cam home þat oþere nouht Anone þe knyht to-for þe Iuge is brouht And seide þus þou hast þi felaw sleine For whiche .I. deme þe to deþ certeine Line 2024

[6-text p 394] Line 2024 And to anoþer knyht commaunded he Go lede him to þe deþ .I. charge þe And happe as þei went be þe weie Towardes þe place þere as he scholde deie Line 2028 The knyht cam whiche þei wende had bu dede Then þouhten þei it were þe beste rerede To lede hem boþe to þe Iuge aȝeine þei seiden lorde þe knyht ne haþ nouht sleine Line 2032 His felaw here standeþ on lyue Ȝe schollen be dede quod he so must .I. þriue þis to sei boþe oone tuo and þre And to þe first knyht riht þus spak he Line 2036 .I. dampned þe þou most algate be dede And þou also mot nedes lose þine hede for þou art cause whi þi felawe deyeþ And to þe þred knyht rih[t] þus he seiþe Line 2040 þou hast nouht done þat .I. comaunde þe And þus he dide sle hem al þre Irrous Cambises was eke dronkenlewe And aye delite him to bene a schrewe Line 2044 And so be-fel a lorde of his meigne Tha[t] loued vertuus moralite Seide on a daie vnto him self riht þus A lorde is lost if þat he be vicious Line 2048 A dronkenesse eke is a foule recorde Of any man and namely in a lorde There is ful mony eye and mony an ere [folio 111b] Awaytteinge on a lorde and he note where Line 2052 For goddes loue dringeþ more attemperelly Wyne makeþ man to lese wrecchely His mynde and eke his limes euerychone The reuerse schal þou se quod he anone Line 2056 And proue it be þine owen experience Þat wyne doþe to folke none suche offence Þere is no wyne be-reueþ me my myht Of hande ne foote ne of myn eyȝen siht Line 2060

[6-text p 395] Line 2060 And for despite he dranke ful muche more An .C. parte þan he hadd done to-fore And riht a-none þis cursed wreche Lete þis knyhtes son be-forne him fecche Line 2064 And commandeinge hem þei schol be-for him stonde And sodanly he toke his bowe on honde And vp þe stringe he pulle to his ere And wiþ an arwe he slowe þe childe riht þere Line 2068 Nowe weþe haue .I. seker honde or none Quod he is al my witte and my witte agone Haþe wyne bereued me my eyesiht What scholde .I. tell þe Ansewere of þe knyht Line 2072 His son was sleyne þere is no more to seie Beþe warre þer-fore wiþ lordes howe ȝe pleie Singeþ Placebo and .I. schal. If .I. can Bot ȝif it be vn-to a pouer man Line 2076 To a pore man he schold his vices tell Bot nouȝt to a lorde þouhe he schold go to hell Lo Irrous Sirus þilke percien How he destreiede þe river of Gysen Line 2080 For þat an hors of his was drenched þere-inne Whan þat he wente babiloyne to wynne He maad þat þe riuer was so smale þat wemmen mihten wade ouer ale Line 2084 Lo what seide he þat so wele teche can Ne be no felow to none yrous man. Ne wiþ no wood man walke be þe waie Leste þe repent .I. wil no more seie Line 2088 Now thomas leue broþer leue þin Ire þou schalt me finde als iust as is a swire Holde nouht þe deueles knyf ay þat þin herte Þine Anger doþe þe al to sore smarte Line 2092 Bot schew to me al þin confession [folio 112a] Nay quod þe seke man be seint Simon .I. haue be schreue þis daie att my curate .I. haue him tolde al holy myne estate Line 2096

[6-text p 396] Line 2096 It nedeþ no more spek of hit seide he Bot if me lust of myne humilitee Ȝif me þan of þi golde to make oure cloyster Quod he for mony a muskel and many an oyster Line 2100 Haþe buen oure fode oure cloi[s]ter for to reise Whan oþer men haþe be ful wele att eyse And ȝit god wote vneþ þe foundement Performed is ne of oure Paiment Line 2104 Nis nouht a tile ȝit wiþ-inne owre wones Be godde we owen fourti pounde for stones Now helpe thomas for him þat herewed helle Or we most oure bokes selle Line 2108 And if we lakke our predicacione Than goþ þe werlde al to destruccione For who wolde fro þis werlde vs be-reue So god me saue Thomas be ȝoure leue Line 2112 He wolde be-reve oute of þe werlde þe sonne For who can teche and worche as we conne And þat is nouht of litel time quod he Bot seþyns Elye was or Elyȝe Line 2116 Haþe freres buen þat finde .I. of recorde. In Charite y-þonked be oure lorde Now thomas helpe for seint charitee Adoune a-none he sett him on his kne Line 2120 ¶ This seeke man wex nyhe woode for ire He wolde þat þe frere had bue on fire Wiþ his fals dissimulacione Suche þinge as is here in my possessione Line 2124 Quod he þat maie .I. ȝeue and none oþere Ȝe seine me þus þat .I. am ȝoure broþer Ȝe sertes quod þe frere trusteþ me wele .I. toke oure dame oure lettres wiþ owre seale Line 2128 ¶ Nowe wele quod he and sumwhat wil .I. ȝeue Vn-to ȝoure holy Couent whiles .I. leve And in þin hand þou schal it haue anone Vpon þis condicione and oþere none Line 2132

[6-text p 397] Line 2132 Þat þou depart it so myne owene dere broþer Þat euery frere haue also muche as oþer This schalt þou swere on þi professione [folio 112b] Wiþ-oute fraude or cauellacione Line 2136 .I. swere it quod þis frere vpon my feiþe And þere-wiþ-al his honde in his he leiþe Lo here my feiþe in me schal be no lakke þan put þine honde doune be my bakke Line 2140 Seide þis man and grepe wel be-hinde Be-neþe my buttok þere schaltow finde A þinge þat .I. haue hid in priuete A þouht þis frere þat schal go wiþ me Line 2144 An doune his honde he launceþ in-to þe clift He hoped þere for to finden a ȝift And þan ful besi was þis frere Aboute his touele gropeinge here and þere Line 2148 Amiddes his honde he lete þe frere a fart Þare is no capel draweinge in þe cart þat myht haue latt a fart of suche a sowne Þe frere vp stert as it were a fers lyone Line 2152 A fals cherle quod he for kokes bones þis hastow for spite done for þe nones þou schal abye þis fart if þat .I. maie His meignȝe whiche þat herden þis affray Line 2156 Cam lepeinge inn and chased owte þe frere And forþe he goþe wiþ a ful Angry chiere An fette his felawe þere as leie here store He loked as it were a wilde bore Line 2160 He grenteþ his teþ so was he wroþe A stordy pas doune to þe courte he goþe Where as þere wonned a man of grete honoure To whome þat he was al weie confessoure Line 2164 This worþi man was lorde of þat vilage þis frere cam as þouhe it were in a rage Where as þis lorde satte eteinge att his borde Vnneþ miht þe frere speke a worde Line 2168

[6-text p 398] Line 2168 Til att þe last he seide god ȝow se Þis lorde gan loke and seide benedicite quod he ffrere Iohn what manere werlde is þis .I. see wele þat sum þinge is amys Line 2172 Ȝe loken as þe wode were ful of þeues Sitteþ anone and tel me whate ȝou greues And it schal bene amended if þat .I. maye .I. haue quod he a dispite to daye Line 2176 God ȝelde ȝow a downe in ȝoue vilage [folio 113a] Þat in þis werlde þere is none so pouer a page Þat he nolde haue abhomynacioune Of þat .I. haue reseyuede in ȝowre toune Line 2180 And ȝit me greueþ no þinge so sore As þat þis olde cherle wiþ lokkes hore Blasphemed haþ oure holy Couent eke Now mayster quod þis lorde .I. ȝowe beseke Line 2184 No maystere quod he bot seruitoure þeih .I. haue had in scole þat honoure God lykeþ nouht þat men vs Raby call Neyþer in Market ne in ȝoure hall Line 2188 No force quod he bot tel me of ȝoure greue Sir quod þe frere an hydous mescheue This daie be-tidde is to myne order and to me And so par consequence to iche degre Line 2192 Of holy cherche god amend it sone Sir quod þe lorde ȝe wote what is to done Distemper ȝowe nouȝte ȝe be my confessoure Ȝe bue þe salt of þe erþe and þe sauoure Line 2196 For goddes loue ȝoure paciens ȝe holde Telleþ me ȝoure greue and he anone him tolde Als ȝe haue herde be-for ȝe wote wele whatt The lady of þe hous ay stil satt Line 2200 Til sche herde what þe frere seide Ey goddes moder quod sche blisful meide Es þere nouht elles telleþ me feiþfully Ma dame quod he howe þinke ȝowe þer by Line 2204

[6-text p 399] Line 2204 Howe þat me þenkeþ quod sche so god me spede .I. seie a cherle haþe done a cherles dede What scholde .I. sei god lat him neuere þe His seeke hede is ful of vanite Line 2208 .I. holde him in a maner franseye Ma dame quod he be god .I. schal nouȝt lye Bot .I. on oþere wyse mai bene a-wreke .I. schal sclander him ouer al where .I. speke Line 2212 þe fals blasphemour þa[t] charged me To parte þat myht nouht departed be To euery man y-liche wiþ meschaunce The lorde satte stille as he lay in a traunce Line 2216 And in his hert he rolle vp vdoune Howe had þis cherle ymaginaciounce To schew suche a probleme to þe frere [folio 113b] Neuer arst or nowe herde .I. of suche matiere Line 2220 .I. trowe þe deuel put it in his mynde In ars metrike schal þere no man finde Be-for þis daie of suche a questione Who schold make a demonstracione Line 2224 þat euery man schold haue .I.-like his parte Of a sowne or of a sauoure of a farte O nyce proude cherle .I. schrewe his face Lo sires quod þis lorde wiþ harde grace Line 2228 Who euer herde of suche a þinge or nowe To euery man .y.-lyke tel me howe It is an impossible it mai nouȝt be A nyce cherle god lat him neuer þe Line 2232 The rumblinge of a farte and euery sowne Ne es bot bot of eyre reuelacioune And þere-wiþ wasteþ lytel and lyte a-waie Ther is no man can deme be my faie Line 2236 If þat it were departed equali What lo my cherle lo ȝit howe schrewdelye Vn-to my confessour to-daie he spak .I. holde him certeine a demonyak Line 2240

[6-text p 400] Line 2240 Nowe eteþ ȝoure mete and let him go pleie Latt him go honge him self a deuel weie Nowe stoode þe lordes swyer att þe borde þat kerue here mete and herde worde for worde Line 2244 Of alle þinge of whiche .I. haue ȝowe seide My lorde quod he be nouht heuel apaide .I. couþe telle for a gone cloþe To ȝow sir frere so ȝe be nouht wroþe Line 2248 How þat þis scholde euen ydelt be Amonge ȝoure Couent if it lykeþ me Tel on quod þe lorde and þou schalt haue anone A goune cloþe be god and be seint Iohn Line 2252 Mi lorde quod he whan þis weder is feire Wiþ-owten wynde or pertubeinge of eyre Lat bringe a carte whele here in-to þis hall Bot loke he haue his spokes all Line 2256 Twelue spokes haþ a cart whele comunly And bringe me þan .xij. freres witte ȝe why For twelue is a Couent as .I. gesse Ȝowre confessour hede for his worþinesse Line 2260 Schal performe vp þe nombre of his Couent [folio 114a] Than schal þei knele a-doune by on assent And to euery spokes ende in þis manere Ful saddely scholden lay here nose iche a frere Line 2264 Ȝoure noble Confessoure þere god him saue Schal holde his vpriht in-to þe naue Than schal þis cherle wiþ bely styffe and touht As any tabur hider buen brouht Line 2268 And sett him on þe whele riht on þis carte Vpon he naue and late him maake a farte And ȝe schol see vp peril of my lif Be preue whiche þat is demonstratif Line 2272

[6-text p 401] Line 2272 þat equali þe soune of it wil wende And eke þe stynk to þe spokes ende Saue þat þis worþi man þis confessoure Because he is a man of grete honoure Line 2276 Schal haue þe first fruyte as reson is The noble vsaga of freres ȝit is þis The worþi men of hem scholen first be serued And Serteynly he haþ it wele deserued Line 2280 He haþ to-day tauht vs so muche goode Wiþ precheinge in þe pilput þer he stoode þat .I. maie vouche saue .I. saie for me He hadde þe first smel of fartes þre Line 2284 And so wolde al his couent hardely He bereþ him so faire and so holyly The lorde þe lady and eche mon saue þe frere Saiden þat Iankyn spak in þis matiere Line 2288 As wele as Euclide or ptholome Toucheinge þe cherle subtelite And by hihe make him speke as he spak He is no fule ne none demoniak Line 2292 And Ianky haþ wonne a newe gowne Mi tale is done we buen almost att towne

Explicit fabula Aparitoris;

Notes

• on leaf 87
• spurious link
• spurious link
• spurious link
• spurious link
• Melius est nubere quam vri
• ¶ Ad Corinthios .vijo. vir sui corporis potes|tatem non habet set mulier.
• [A letter has been scratcht out after the h in this word.]
• Argus habuit C oculos
• ¶ Fallere flere nere dedit deus in Muliere
• [Cambr. Univ. MS Ii 3. 26, leaf 116, line 9]
• [MS Ii 3. 26 extract stops]
• [Harl. 1758 ex|tract stops]
• Nota
• [No other Oxford MS has these lines.—G. Parker.]
• [ [folio 97a] It repeats And whan þe somen|our herd þe frere gale]
• [bue, with u scratcht out]
• [? MS Fo or Fv]
• ¶ Nota de Senectute
• on leaf 102
• on leaf 102, back
• no gap in the MS.
• on leaf 106, back
• on leaf 107
• [is scratcht out]
• [dispense, Sloane 1685]
• [MS ihūc]
• [MS ihc̄]
• [þ not complete]
• [The Solution of the "Probleme" by the Lord's Squire. No break in the MS.]
• [t is l crost]