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

[6-text p 527]

GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.

§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE. LANSDOWNE MS. [THE PROEM.] [[No breaks between the stanzas in the MS.]]

Incipit prologus .2^e. Monyalys [folio 152]

(1)

THe Ministre of þe Norice vn-to vices Line 1 Whiche þat men clepen in englisshe ydelnesse The porter of þe gate is of delices To eschiewe. And bu hir contrarie hire oppresse Line 4 That is to seine be leful besinesse Wele ouhte we to done oure entent Lest þat þe fende þoruhe .Idelnesse vs schent Line 7

(2)

¶ For he þat wiþ his þousand cordes slyȝe Line 8 Contenuely vs wayteþ to be-clappe Whan he maie man in Idelnesse aspiȝe He can so lihtly cache him in his trappe Line 11 Til þat a man be hente riht be þe lappe He is not waree þe fende haþe him in honde Wele ouhte vs werche and ydelnesse wiþ stonde Line 14

(3)

¶ And þouhe men dradden neuer for to deye Line 15 Ȝit seen men wele be reson douteles þat ydelnesse is rotin slogardye Of þere comeþ neuere none encrese Line 18 And seþens þat slouþe hir haldeþ in a lese Onely to slepe and for to ete and drinke And to deuowren al þat oþer swynke Line 21

[6-text p 528] Line 21

(4)

¶ And for to putt vs fro suche Idelnesse Line 22 þat cause is of þe grete confusione .I. haue here done my feiþeful besinesse After þe legent in translacione Line 25 Riht of þe glorious lif and passione þou with þi garlonde wrouht wiþ rosus and lylie The mene .I. a maide and Martire seint Cecile Line 28

(5)

¶ And þou þat floure of virgines art al Line 29 Of whome þat Bernarde lust so wele to write To þe att my begynynge first .I. call þou comfort of vs wreches do me endite Line 32 þi maydens deþ þat was þoruhe hir merite þe eternale lif and of þe fende victorie As men maie after reden in hir storie Line 35

(6)

¶ Thou maiden and moder douhte of þi sonne Line 36 Thou well of Mercy sinful soules cure In whome þat god for bounte chees to wonne þou humble and hihe ouer euery creature Line 39 þat no desdeyne þe Maker had of kinde þou noblest so fere oure nature His sonne in blode and flessche to cloþe and winde [folio 152b]

(7)

¶ Wiþ-inne þe cloister blisful of þi sides Line 43 Toke mannes schap eterne loue and pees þat of þe trine compas lorde and gide es Whome heuen and see and erþe out reles Line 46 Ay herien. and þou virgine wemles Bare of þine body and dueldist maide pure The creatore of euery creature Line 49

[6-text p 529] Line 49

(8)

¶ Assembled is in þe magnificence Line 50 With mercy goodnesse and wiþ suche pite þat þou ert þe sonne of excellence Nouht only helpest hem þat preyen þe Line 53 But oft time of þi benignite Ful frely er þat men þin helpe beseche þou gost be-forne and ert her lyues leche Line 56

(9)

¶ Nowe help þou meke and blisful faire maid Line 57 Me flemed wriche in þis desert of gal þenke on þe womman Canan þat seide þat whelpes eten somme of þe crommes al Line 60 þat from her lordes table buen yfal· And þouhe þat .I. þe vnworþe douhter of Eue Be synful ȝit accept my be-leue Line 63

(10)

¶ And for þat feiþ is dede wiþouten werkes Line 64 So for to worchene ȝeue me witte and space þat .I. be qwyte frome þe place þat most derke is O þou þat art so faire and so ful of grace Line 67 Be myne aduocate in so hihe a place There as wiþ outen eende is songe Osanna Thou cristes moder and douhter of Anna Line 70

(11)

¶ And of þine lyht þou graunt my self haue parte Line 71 þat triblide is be þe cogitacione [Of my body / and also by þe weyght Of erthely lust and fals effeccion [Harl. 7333 folio 86b:2] ] Line 74 O heuen o refute o saluacione Of hem þat buen in sorwe and destresse Nowe helpe for vnto my werke .I. wil me redresse Line 77

[6-text p 530] Line 77

(12)

¶ Ȝet praie .I. ȝowe þat reden þat .I. write Line 78 For-ȝeueþ me þat .I. do no diligence þis ilke storie subtely to endyte For boþe haue .I. þe wordes and þe sentence Line 81 Of hem þat att þe seintes reuerence þe stori wrote and folowen here legende And praien ȝowe þat ȝe woll my werk amende Line 84

(13) [THE TALE.]

¶ ffirste will .I. ȝowe þe name of sein Cecile Line 85 Expounde as men maie in here stories see [folio 153a] It is to seyen on Englisshe heuenes lylye For pure chastenesse of virginitee Line 88 Oþer for sche witnesse hadde of honeste Of grene of conscience and of good fame The swete sauoure lylye was hir name Line 91

(14)

Oþere Cecely. is to seie þe waie to blinde Line 92 For sche ensample was be gode techeinge Or elles Cicily is as .I. writen fynde Is Ioyned be a maner conioyneinge Line 95 Of heuen and lya. and hire in fygureinge þe heuen is sette for þouht of holynesse And lya for hire lasteinge besinesse Line 98

(15)

Cecile eke mai be seide in þis manere Line 99 Wanteynge of blindenesse for hire grete liht Of Sapiens and for hire þewes clere Or elles lo þis maydens name briht Line 102 [Off heuen and leos commyth ffor which bi riht [Addit. 5140 folio 285a] ] Men myht þe heuen of þe peple hir call Ensample of goode and wise werkes all Line 105

[6-text p 531] Line 105

(16)

For leos peple in ynglissle is to seie Line 106 And riht as men may in þis heuen see The sonne and mone and þe sterres euery weye Riht so gostly in þis mayden fre Line 109 Seyen þe faiþe of Manificence And eke of helþe and of sapiens And sondre werkes briht of excellence Line 112

(17)

An[d] riht as þes philosofers write Line 113 þat heuen is swift rounde and berneinge Riht so was faire Cecile þe white Ful sweft and besi euer in good workinge Line 116 And rounde and hole in goode perseueringe And bernede euer in charite liht Nowe haue .I. declared ȝow what sche hiht Line 119

Explicit Prologus

Incipit fabula.

(18)

This maiden hiht Cecile as hire lif seiþe Line 120 Was comen of Romeyns and of noble kinde And so forþe fostred vp in þe feiþe Of Crist and bare his gospell in hir mynde Line 123 Sche neuer cesede as .I. wreten finde Of hire praier and god to loue and drede Besecheinge him to kepe hire Maidenhede Line 126

(19)

And whan þis maiden scholde vnto a man Line 127 Iwedded be þat was ful ȝonge of Age [folio 153b] Whiche þat ycleped was Waleriane And þe daie was commen of his Mariage Line 130 Sche fel deuoute and homble in hire Corage Vnder hire robe of golde þat satte ful faire And next hire flesche yclad hire in an haire Line 133

[6-text p 532] Line 133

(20)

¶ And while þe orgen^s maden melodie Line 134 To god alone þus in hert songe sche O lorde my soule and eke my bode gie Vnwemed lest þat .I. confounded be Line 137 And for his loue þat deied vpon a tree Euery secunde or þe þred daie sche fast Aie biddi[n]ge in hir orisons ful fast Line 140

(21)

¶ The nyht came and to bed sche most gone Line 141 Wiþ hire husbond as often is þe manere And priuely sche seide anone O swete and wel be-loued spouse dere Line 144 þer is a counsel and ȝe wold it here Whiche þat riht feine .I. wil vnto seine So þat ȝe me assured it nouȝt to be-wreine Line 147

(22)

¶ Valerian gan fast vn to hir swere Line 148 þat for no caas ne þinge þat miht be He scholde for noþinge neuere be-wrien hire And þann att erst vnto him þus seid sche Line 151 .I. haue an Angel whiche þat loueþ me þat wiþ grete loue wheþer so y wake or slepe Is rede ay my bode for to kepe Line 154

(23)

// And ȝif þat he may felen oute of drede Line 155 [That ye me touche or love in vilonye He ryȝt a-non wol slee you with þe dede And in your thought þus schulle ye dye Line 158 And yf ye me in clennes gy [Harl. 7333 folio 87a:2] ] He wolde ȝowe loue as me for ȝoure clennesse And schewen ȝowe of his ioye and his brihtnesse Line 161

[6-text p 533] Line 161

(24)

¶ Valerian correctid as god wolde Line 162 Ansewerd aȝeine if .I. schal truste to þe Latt me þat Angel see and him be-holde And if þat it a verraie Angel be Line 165 þan wil .I. done as þou hast preide me And if þou loue a noþere man for soþe Riht wiþ þis swerde .I. wil sle ȝowe boþe Line 168

(25)

¶ Cecile ansewerd anone in þis wis Line 169 If þat ȝowe lust þat Angel schal ȝe see So þat ȝe trowe on criste and ȝowe baptize Goþe forþe to via apia quod sche Line 172 That frome þis toune ne stant bot miles þree And to þe pouer folkes þat þere duelle [folio 154a] Sei hem riht þus as þat .I. schal ȝowe telle Line 175

(26)

¶ Tel hem. þat .I. Cecile ȝowe to hem sent Line 176 To schewen ȝowe þe good vrbane þe oolde For secre nedes and for good entent And whan þat ȝe seint vrban haue be-holde Line 179 Tel him þe wordes whiche þat .I. ȝowe tolde And whan þat he haþ purged ȝowe fro sinne Than schal ȝe se þat angel ar ȝe twinne Line 182

(27)

¶ Valerian is to þat place y-goon Line 183 And riht as him was tauht be his lerenynge He fonde þis holy Vrban anone Amonge þe seintes buriels lotiynge. [.i. latitans] Line 186 And he anone wiþ-outen tariynge Did his Message and whan þat he hadde tolde Vrban for Ioye gan his hondes vpholde Line 189

[6-text p 534] Line 189

(28)

The teres from his yen lete he fall Line 190 Almihti god o ihesu Crist quod he Sewere of Chaste counseil. and herde of vs all The fruyte of þilke seed of chastite Line 193 þat þou hast sowe in Cecile take to þe Loo ylike abuse bee wiþ oute gile þe serueþ aye þin owen þral Cecile Line 196

(29)

¶ For þilke spouse þat sche toke bot nowe Line 197 Ful like a fers lyon sche sendeþ here As meeke as any lombe was to ȝowe And wiþ þat worde anone þer gan apere Line 200 And old man clad wiþ white cloþes clere And had a booke wiþ lettres of gold in honde And gan beforne Valerian stonde Line 203

(30)

¶ Valerian as dede fel doune for drede Line 204 When he him saughe and him vp hent þoo And on his booke riht þus he gan to rede O lorde .o. feiþe .o. god wiþ owten mo Line 207 Of Cristendome and fader of all also Aboue all and ouer al euery where þis wordes al wiþ golde wreten were Line 210

(31)

¶ Whan þis was radde þan seide þis olde man Line 211 Leuest þou þis þinge or no sey ȝe or naye .I. leue al þis þinge; [quod valerian ffor sother thing [Harl. 7333 folio 87b:1] ] þan þis .I. dare wele saye Line 214 Vnder þe heuen no whiht ne þenke maye Tho vanysched þe olde man he nyste wher An pope Vrbane him cristene riht þere [folio 154b]

[6-text p 535]

(32)

Valerian goþe home and sein Cecile Line 218 ¶ Wiþ-inne his chambur he sauhe an Aungel stande þis Aungel hadde of Roses and of lyle Corons tuo whiche he bare in hande Line 221 And first to Cecile as .I. vnderstande He ȝaf þat one and after gan he take þe tother to Valerian hire make Line 224

(33)

¶ Wiþ body clene and vnwemmed þouht Line 225 Kepe ay wele þis Corounes quod he Frome paradise to ȝowe haue .I. hem brouht Ne neuer more scholl þei roten be Line 228 Ne lese her swete sauore trusteþ me Ne neuer whight schal seen hem wiþ his eyȝe Bot he be chaste and hate velanye Line 231

(34)

¶ And þou walerian for þou sone Line 232 Assentest to good counsel alsoo Sey what þe lust and þou schalt haue þi bone .I. haue a broþer quod valerian þoo Line 235 þat in þis werd .I. loue no man soo .I. praie ȝowe þat my broþer maie haue grace To knowe þe trouþe as .I. do in þis place Line 238

(35)

¶ The Angel ansewarde god lykeþ ȝoure request Line 239 And boþe wiþ þe pame of Marterdome Ȝe schol com vnto þe blisful feste And wiþ þat worde Tiburce his broþer come Line 242 And whan þat he sauoure vnder nome Wiþ þat þe roses and þe lyles Caste Wiþ inne his herte he gan to wonder fast Line 245

[6-text p 536] Line 245

(36)

¶ And seide in þis time .I. wonder of þe ȝere Line 246 Whens þis suote sauour comeþ so And Roses and lilys it .I. smell here For þouhe .I. had hem in myn hondes tuo Line 249 The sauoure in me myht no depper go The swete smel it in myne here .I. finde Haþe chaunged me al in anoþer kinde Line 252

(37)

¶ Valerian seide tuo corounes haue we Line 253 Snowe white and rose rede þat schyneþ clere Whiche þat þine yen haue no myht to se And as þou smellest hem þoruhe my preiere Line 256 So schalt þou seen leue broþer dere If it so be þat wolte wiþ oute slouþe Beleue a riht and knowe verrei trouþe [folio 155a] Line 259

(38)

Tiburce answerd saist þou þus to me Line 260 In soþenesse or in dremes herken ȝe þis In dreme quod Valerian han we bue Vnto þis time myn broþer ywisse Line 263 Bot nowe att erst oure trouþe dwellyngis How woost þou quod Tiburs and in what wise Quod Valerian þat .I. schal deuise Line 266

(39)

¶ The Aungel of god haþe me trewþ ytauht Line 267 Whiche þat þou schalt seen if þat þou wolte reneye þe ydoles and be clene and elles nouht And of þe miracles of þes corounes tueye Line 270 Seint Ambrose in his preface lust to seie Solempnely þis noble doctor dere Commendeþ it and seiþ in þis manere Line 273

[6-text p 537] Line 273

(40)

¶ The palme of marterdome for to receyue Line 274 Sein Cecile fulfild of goddes ȝift þe werlde and eke here Chambre . gan sche weyue Wittnesse Tiburce and Cecilez schrift Line 277 To whiche god of his bounte wolde schift Corounes tuo of floures wele smellynge And maade þe Angel hem þe Corounes bringe Line 280

(41)

¶ The maide haþ brouhte þes men to blisse a-boue Line 281 The werlde haþ wiste what it was worþe certeyne Deuocione of chastite to loue Tho schewde him open and pleine Line 284 þat al ydoles nys but þinge in veine For þei bu domme and þerto þei bue def And charged him his ydoles for to lef Line 287

(42)

¶ Who þat þis troueþ nouht a beste he is Line 288 Quod þo Tyburce if þat .I. schal nouht lye Sche gan þan kisse his breste and þat herd þis And was ful glad he couþe trouthe aspye Line 291 þis daie .I. take þe for myne a-lye Seide þis blisful maide faire and dere For affter þat sche seide as ȝe maye here Line 294

(43)

¶ Lo. Riht so as þe loue of crist quod sche Line 295 Maad me þi broþers wif riht in þat wyse Anone for myne Allye here take .I. þe Seþens þat þou wolde þin ydoles despise Line 298 Go wiþ þi broþer nowe and þe baptize And maake þe clene so þat þou maiste beholde The aungels face of whiche þi broþer tolde [folio 155b]

[6-text p 538]

(44)

Tiburce ansewarde and seide broþer dere Line 302 ¶ First tel me wheder .I. schal and to what man To whome quod he come forþe wiþ riht good chier .I. will þe leede vn to þe pope vrban Line 305 To vrban broþer myne valerian Quod þo Tiburce wil þou me þeder lede Me þinkeþ þat it were a wonder dede Line 308

(45)

¶ Remenest þou nouht vrban quod he þo Line 309 þat is so of dampned to be dede And wonneþ in halkes to and fro And dare nouhte ones put forþe his heede Line 312 Men wolde him berne in a fire so rede If þat he were founde and men miht him aspye And we also þat bere him companye Line 315

(46)

¶ And whiles we seken þilke diuinitee Line 316 þat is hidde in heuen priuey Algate y-brent in þis werld shol we be To whome Cecily anseward boldely Line 319 Men myht drede wele and skilfully þis lyf to lese myne owen dere broþer If þis were leueynge only and none oþere Line 322

(47)

¶ Bot þere is better lif in oþer place Line 323 þat neuer schal be lost ne drede þe nouht Whiche godes sonne vs tolde þorwhe his grace [þat fadres son hathe al þing wrouȝt [Harl. 7333 folio 88a:1] And all þat wrovte [[rov corrected]] is with a skylfull þouȝt þe gost that from the fadir gan procede He souled him with-oute eny drede Line 329

[6-text p 539] Line 329

(48)

By worde & by myracle by goddes son [[Harl. 7333]] Line 330 When he was in this worlde declared her þat þer was oþer lyf þer men may wene To whom aunswerd tyburce o systur der Line 333 Ne sedest thow ryght now in þis maner þer nas but O. lord god in sothefastnes And now of thre how maist þou bere wytnes Line 336

(49)

þat schall I tel quod sche or I goo [[Harl. 7333 extract ends]] ] Riht as a man haþ sapiens þre Memorie engyne. and intellect also Soo moo beynge of diuinite Line 340 þre persones riht wel þere maie bee ¶ Tho gan sche him busily preche Of cristes come and of his peynes teche Line 343

(50)

And mony poyntes of his passione Line 344 How goddes son in þis werld was holde To do mankinde pleine remissione þat was ybonde in sinne and cares colde Line 347 Al þis þinge sche vnto tyburce tolde ¶ And affter þis tiburce in good entent To pope vrban wiþ valerian he went Line 350

(51)

Whiche þonked god and wiþ glad hert and liht Line 351 He Cristened him and maade him in þat place Parfite in his leueynge goddes knyht And aftur þis Tiburce gat suche grace Line 354 That euery daie he sawe in time and space [folio 156a] The aungel of god and euery maner bone þat he god axed it was sped ful sone Line 357

[6-text p 540] Line 357

(52)

¶ It were ful harde be order for to seyne Line 358 Howe mony wonderes ihesu for him wrouht Bot att þe last to tel schort and pleine The seriant of þe toune of Rome hem souht Line 361 And hem be-forne Almache þe prouost brouht Whiche hem opposed and knewe all her entente And to þe ymage of Iubiter he hem sente Line 364

(53)

¶ And seid who so wil nouȝt sacrifice Line 365 Swappe of his hede þis is my sentence here Anone þes marters þat .I. ȝowe of deuise On Maximius þat was an officere Line 368 Of þe profectes and of Corniculere Hem hent and when he forþe þe seintes ladde Him selfe he wope for pite þat he hadde Line 371

(54)

¶ And whan maximius hadd herd þe seintes lore Line 372 He gatte hem of þe tormentours leue And hadde hem in his house wiþ oute more And wiþ here precheinge ar þat it were eue Line 375 þei gōn fro þe tormentours to reue And frome maximius and frome his folke ichone þe fals feiþe to trowe in god a-lone Line 378

(55)

¶ Cecele Came whan it was waxen nyht Line 379 Wiþ prestes þat hem crėstened al in fere And afterward whan daie was waxen liht Cecile hem seide wiþ a sobre chere Line 382 Nowe cristes owen knyhtes leue and dere Cast al awaye þe werkes of derknesse And armeþ ȝowe in armure of lyhtnesse Line 385

[6-text p 541] Line 385

(56)

¶ Ȝe haue for sothe done grete Bataile Line 386 And haþe þe victorie ȝoure feiþe ȝe haue confermed Go to þe croune of lif þat maie nouht faile Þe rihtful Iugge whiche þat ȝe haue serued Line 389 Will bringe ȝowe to his blisse þat to ȝow haþ reserued And whan þis þinge was seide as .I. devise Men led hem forþe to done þe sacrifise Line 392

(57)

¶ Bot whan þei were vn-to þe place ybrouht Line 393 To tell schortly þe conclusioune Thei nolde encense no sacrifise riht nouht Bot on her knees þei satten hem a doune Line 396 Wiþ humble hert and sadde deuocion [folio 156b] And losten boþe her hedes in þe place Here soules went to þe kenge of grace Line 399

(58)

¶ This Maxinius þat sawe þis þinge be-tide Line 400 Wiþ pitous tales tolde it a-none riht Þat he her soules sawhe to heuen glide Wiþ algels ful of clerenesse and of liht Line 403 And wiþ his worde conuerted mony a wyht For whiche almachius dide him so to-bete Wiþ whippe of leede to he his lif gan lete Line 406

(59)

Cecilie him toke and beried him anone Line 407 Be tiburce and valeriane softly Wiþ inne hire heriynge place vnder a stone And after þis Almachius hastely. Line 410 Badde his Ministres ffecchen openly Cecile so sche myht in his presence Do sacrifice and Iubite encense Line 413

[6-text p 542] Line 413

(60)

¶ Bot þei conuerted þorwhe here wise lore Line 414 Wepten sore and ȝaf credence Vnto her worde and cryden more and more Crist god son with outen difference Line 417 Is verrey god. þis is al oure sentence þat haþe so good a seruant him to serue þus wiþ o voice; we trowe þei we sterue Line 420

(61)

Almachius þat herd al þis Line 421 Bad fecche Cecile þat he miht hir see And alþer ferst lo þis was his askeinge What maner womman ert þou þo quod he Line 424 .I. am gentill womman borne quod sche .I. ax quod he þouhe it þe greue Of þi religion and of þi be-leue Line 427

(62)

Whi þan be-gan ȝoure questione folilye Line 428 quod sche þat woldest þou ansewere conclude In o demande ȝe axed lewdly Almachius anseward to þat similitude Line 431 [Of whens comthe thin Answer so rude [Harl. 7333 folio 88b] ] Of whense quod sche when þat sche was refreynede Of concience and of good feiþe vnfeynede Line 434

(63)

Almachius seide takest þou none hede Line 435 Of þin Ansewere and sche him ansewerd þus Ȝoure myhte quod sche litel is to drede For euery mo[r]tel manesse power ne is Line 438 Bot y-lyke a bledder ful of wynde y-wis For wiþ a nedeles point whan þat is blowe [folio 157a] Maie al þe bost of it be leid ful lowe Line 441

[6-text p 543] Line 441

(64)

¶ Ful wrongefully began þou quod he Line 442 And ȝut in wronge is þi perseuerance Woste þou nouht howe owre mihti princes fre Bene þus commanded and maken ordinance Line 445 þat euery cristen whight scha[l] haue penance Bot if þat he his cristendome wiþ seie And gone al quyte if he wil it renaye Line 448

(65)

¶ Ȝoure Princes erren as ȝoure noblen doþe Line 449 Quod þo Cecile and a woode sentence ȝe maake us gilti and it is nouht soþe Fore þat knowen wele oure Innocence Line 452 For as muche as we done a reuerence To criste; and for we bere a cristen name ȝe put on vs a crime and eke a blame Line 455

(66)

¶ Bot we þat knowen þelk name so Line 456 For vertuous we maie it nouȝt seie Almachie seide chese one of þes tuo Do sacrifice or cristendom reneye Line 459 þat þou mowe skapen be þat weie Att whiche þe holy blisful maide Gan for to lauhe and to þe Iuge sche saide Line 462

(67)

¶ O Iuge confuse in þi nycete Line 463 Wilt þou þat .I. reney Innocence To maken me a wikked wyht quod sche Lo he dissimuleþ here in audience Line 466 He stareþ and wodeþ in his aduertence To whome Almachius seide o vncely wrecche Ne wost þou not houe fer my miht mai streche Line 469

[6-text p 544] Line 469

(68)

¶ Haþe nouht oure myhte prince to me yȝouen Line 470 ȝe bothe power and auctorite To make folke to deyȝen or to leuen. Whi spekest þou so proudely þan to me Line 473 .I. speke it nouȝt bot stedfastly quod sche Nouht proudly for .I. saie as for my side .I. hate dedely þilke vice of pride Line 476

(69)

¶ And ȝif þou drede nouht a soþe to here Line 477 þan wil .I. schewen al openly be riht þat þou hast maade a ful grete leseinge here þou seist þi princes haue ȝeue þe myht Line 480 Bothe to slene and for to whikke a wiht Thou þat ne maist bot onely lif here be-reue [folio 157b] Thou na haste þerto neiþer pouer ne leue Line 483

(70)

Bot þou maist seie þi Princes han þe maked Line 484 Ministre of deþe; for if þou speke of mo þou liest for þi pouer is ful naked Do waie þi boldenes seide Almachius þo Line 487 Or sacrifice to oure goddes or tuo .I. reche nouht what wronge þat þou me profer For .I. can suffre it as a philosofer Line 490

(71)

Bot þilke wronges maie .I. not endure Line 491 þat þou spekest of owre goddes here quod he Cecile ansewerd .o. nice creature þou seidest no word seþens þou spak to me Line 494 þat .I. ne knewe þere wiþ þi nicete And þat þou were in euery maner wise A lewde Officer and a veine Iustise Line 497

[6-text p 545] Line 497

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þere lakkeþ no þinge to þine vtter yȝen Line 498 þat þou nart blinde for þinge þat wee seen all þat is a stone þat men wele maie aspyen þat ilke stone a god þou wol it call Line 501 .I. rede þe latt þine honde vpon hit fall And tast it wele a stone þou schalt it finde Sens þat þou sixt it not wiþ þine yȝen blinde Line 504

(73)

It is a schame þat þe peple schal Line 505 Schal scoren þe and lauhe att þi folye For communly wemmen wote it wele ouere al þat myhte goddes is in his heuenes hihe Line 508 And þes ymages wele þan maistowe aspie To þe ne to hem self ne maie þei profit For in hire effecte þei bue nouht worþe a myte Line 511

(74)

þus and suche oþere wordes seide sche Line 512 And he wex wroþe and badde sche scholde be ledde Home to hire hous and in hir hous quod he Birne hire riht in a fire wiþ flammes rede Line 515 And as he bad riht so was done þe dede And in a bathe þei gan hir fast schetten And nyht and daie grete fire vnder þei maden Line 518

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Al þe longe niht and þe daie also Line 519 For al þe fire and eke þe baþes hete Sche satt al colde and felt of it no wo Ne maade hire nouȝt a drope for to swete Line 522 Bot in þat baþe hir lif sche moste lete. For he Almachius wiþ ful wekked entent [folio 158a] To sleene hir in þe baþe his sonde sent Line 525

[6-text p 546] Line 525

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þree strokes in þe nekke he smote hir þo Line 526 The tormentour bot for no maner chaunce He myhte nouhte smyte al here nek y tuo And for þere was þat time an ordinance Line 529 That no man schold do to man suche penance The ferþe stroke to smyten soft or sore þis tormentour ne dorste no more Line 532

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Bot half dede wiþ hire nek y-coruen þere Line 533 He left hire lye and in his weie he wente The cristen folke whiche abowten hire were Wiþ schetes home ful feire here hente Line 536 þree daies leued sche in þis torment And neuer cesed hem þe feiþe to teche þat sche had fostred hame sche gan to preche Line 539

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And hem sche ȝaue here mebles and her þinge Line 540 And to þe Pope vrban be-toke hem þo And seide þus axed þis of heuen kinge To haue respite þrei daies and no mo Line 543 To recommande to ȝowe er þat .I. go þes sowles loo and þat .I. miht do wirche Here of myne house perpetuelly a cherche Line 546

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Seint vrban wiþ his dekenes priuelye Line 547 The lady fette and beried it be nyht Amonge his oþere seintes honestly Here house þe cherche of seinte cecely hiht Line 550 Seinte vrban halowed it as he wel myht In þe whiche in to þis daie in noble wise Men done to criste and to his seintes seruise. Line 553

Explicit vita sancte Cecilie.

[6-text p 547]

Incipit prologus .Canonice. [on leaf 158]

Whan ended was þe lif of seint Cecile Er we had reden fulli. fiue myle Att bouhton vnder þe ble vs gan a take A man þat cloþed was in cloþes blake Line 557 And vnder þat he hadde a white surplis His Hakenay þat was al pomel gris So swete þat it wonder was to see It semed he had priked myles þre Line 561 þe hors eke þat ȝoman rode vpone So swet þat vnneþ myht he gone Aboue þe paitrel stode þe fome ful hyȝe He was of fome al flekked as a pye [folio 158b] Line 565 A male tweyfold on his cropur leye It semed þat he Caride litel araye Al liht for somere rode þis worþe man And in myn herte wonder .I. be-gan Line 569 What þat he was til þat .I. vnder-stode Howe þat his cloke was sewed to his hode For whiche when .I. longe had auysed me .I. demed him sum chanon for to be Line 573 His hatte honge doune be-hinde his be a lace For he had ridde more þan a trote or a pace It hadde ay priked lyke as he ware wode A clote lef he had vnder his hode Line 577 For suote and for to kepe his hed from hete Bot it was Ioy for to seen him swete His fored dropped as a stillatorie Where ful of pleintein and of peritorie Line 581

[6-text p 548] Line 581 And whan he come he gan to crye Line 582 God saue quod he þis Iolie companye Fast haue .I. priked quod he for ȝoure sake Because þat .I. wold ȝowe ouer take Line 585 To riden in þis mery companye His ȝoman eke was ful of curtasie And sires nowe in morwe tide Oute of ȝoure Ostlery .I. sawe ȝowe ride Line 589 And warned here my lorde and my souereine Whiche þat to ride wiþe ȝowe is ful feyne For his disporde he loueþ daliance Frende for þi warneyinge god ȝeue þe good chaunce Line 593 Seide oure oste sertes it wolde seme Thi lorde were wise and so .I. maie wele deme He is ful Iocunde also dar .I. laie Can he ouht tell a mery tale or tueye Line 597 Wiþ whiche he glade maie þis companye Who sire my lord ȝe ȝe wiþ oute lye He kan of merþe and eke of Iolyte Not bot .I.-nowhe also sir tresteþ me Line 601 And ȝe him knewe as wel as do .I. ȝe wold wonder howe wele and þreftely He couþe werke and þat in sundre wise He haþ tak on him mony sundre aprise Line 605 Whiche were ful harde for any þat is here To bringe aboute. bot þei of him it lere [folio 159a] As homely as he rideþ amonges ȝowe If ȝe him knewe. it wolde be ȝoure prowe Line 609 ȝe nolde nouht forgone his aqueyntance For mochel good .I. dare leie in a balance Al þat .I. haue in myne [[? for possossione]] proossione He is a man of hihe discrecione Line 613 .I. warne ȝowe wele he is a passinge man Wele quod oure oste .I. pray þe tel me þan Is he clerk or none tel what he is Nay he is gretter þan a clerke ywis Line 617

[6-text p 549] Line 617 Seide ȝoman and in wordes fewe Line 618 Oste and of his craft sum what .I. wil ȝowe schewe .I. sei my lorde can suche a sutelte Bot al his craft ȝe maie nouht wite att me Line 621 And som what help .I. ȝit to his worcheinge þat al þis grounde whiche þat we bien on rideinge Til þat we come to Canturbury toune. He couþe al clene torne vp so [[? MS se]] doune Line 625 And paue it al of siluer and of golde And whan þis ȝoman hadde þus ytolde Vnto oure hoste he seide benedicite þis þinge is wonder meruelous to me Line 629 Seþens þat þi lorde of so hihe prudence Be cause of whiche men scholde hem reuerence þat of his worschipe recheþ he so lite His ouere slope is not worþe a myte Line 633 As in effecte to him so mot .I. go It is al bawde and to-tore also Whi is þi lorde so slottesche .I. þe preie And his of pouer better cloþes to beie Line 637 If þat his dede accorde wiþ þi speche Tel me þat. and þat .I. þe beseche Whie quod þis ȝoman wherto ax ȝe me God helpe me so for he schal neuer þe Line 641 Bot .I. wil nouht avowe þat .I. seie And þere for kepe it secre .I. ȝowe preie He is to wise in feiþe as .I. beleue þat þat is ouere done it wil nouht preue Line 645 And riht as clerkes seine it is a vice Where-fore in þat .I. holde him lewde and nyce For whan a man haþ ouere grete a witte Ful oft it hapneþ to mis vsen it [folio 159b] Line 649 So doþe my lorde and þat me greueþ sore God it amend .I. can seie nowe no more Thare-of no force good ȝoman quod oure Oste Seþens his connynge of þi lorde þou woste Line 653

[6-text p 550] Line 653 Tel. howe he doþe .I. praie þe hertelye Line 654 Seþen þat he is so craftie and so slye Where dwellen ȝe it to tel be In þe subbarbes of a toune quod he Line 657 Lurkeinge in Hirnes and in lanes blinde Where þes robbers and þeues be kinde Holden her priue fereful residence As þei þat dare nouht schewe her presence Line 661 So fare we if .I. schal sey þe soþe ȝit quod oure Oste lat me talke to þe Whie ert þou discoloure in þi face Peter quod he god ȝif harde grace Line 665 I am so vsed in þe fire to blow That it haþe chaunged my colour as .I. trowe .I. am nouht wont in no myrrour to prie Bot swynke sore and leren to multiplie Line 669 We blondern euer and pouren in þe fire And for al þat we failen of oure desire For euere we lakken oure conclusione To muche folke we bene bot illusione Line 673 And borwe golde be it a pounde or tuo Or ten. or .xij. or mony summes mo And make hem wene att þe leste weie þat of o pou[n]de we couþe maake tweie Line 677 ȝit is it fals and aye we haue good hope It forto done and after it we grope Bot þat science is so fer vs be-forne We mowe nouhte al-þouhe we had it suorne Line 681 It ouertake. it slide a-waie so faste It wil vs make beggers att þe last Whiles þis ȝoman was þus in þis talkeinge This Chanon drouhe him nere and herd al þinge Line 685 Whiche þat þis ȝoman spak for suspecione Of men speche euer had þis chanone For Caton seiþe he þat giltif is Demeþ al þinge be spoke of him ywys Line 689

[6-text p 551] Line 689 Because of þat he gan so nyhe to drawe Line 690 His ȝoman þat he herd al his sawe [folio 160a] And þus he seide vnto his ȝoman þo Holde þow þi pees and speke wordes no mo Line 693 For if þou do þou schalt it dere abye Tho sklanderst me here in þis compaignye And eke diskeuerest þat þou scholdest hide ȝe quod oure Oste tel one what so be-tide Line 697 Of al þis þreteinge reche þe nouht a myte In feiþe quod he no more .I. do bot a lite And whan þis Chanone sawe it wolde nouht be Bot his ȝoman wolde tel his priuete Line 701 He fledde awaie for verrei sorwe and schame A quod þis ȝoman here schal arise game Al þat .I. can anone wil .I. tell Seþen he is gone þe foule fende him quell Line 705 For neuer here after wil .I. wiþ him mete For penye ne for pounde .I. be-hete He þat me brouht first vnto þat game Er þat he deie sorwe haue he and schame Line 709 For it ernest to me be my feiþe þat fele .I. wele what so any man seiþe And ȝitte for al my smert and al my greue For al my sorwe laboure and mescheue Line 713 .I. couþe neuere leue it in no wise No wolde god my witte myht suffise To tellen al þat longeþ for þat arte Bot naþeles ȝit wil .I. tel ȝowe parte Line 717 Seþen my lorde is gone .I. wil not spare Suche þinge as .I. knowe .I. wil declare

Explicit prologus

[6-text p 552]

[THE PREAMBLE.]

Incipit ffabula. [on leaf 160]

Wythe þis chanon dwelled haue .I. seuen ȝere And of his science am .I. neuer þe nere Line 721 Al þat .I. had .I. haue .I.-lost þere by And god wote so haþe mony mo þan .I. Ther .I. was wont to be riht frissche and gay Of cloþinge and of good arraie Line 725 Nowe may .I. were an hose vpon myn hede And where my coloure was boþe freche and rede Now it is wan and of a lewde hewe Who so it vseþ sore sc[h]all he rewe Line 729 And of my swynke ȝit blered is myne eyȝe Lo whiche avantage is for to multepliȝe. þat slideinge science haþ me maade so bare [folio 160b] Þat .I. haue no goode where þat euere y fare Line 733 And ȝite .I. am endited & endetted so þar bye Of golde þat .I. haue borwed trewlye þat while .I. leue .I. schal it quite neuer þat euery man be war be me for euer Line 737 What manere man þat casteþ him þer to If he continue .I. holde his þreft ydo For so helpe me god þar by schal he nouht wynne Bot empte his purce and make his wittes þinne Line 741 And whan he þoruhe his madnes and foly Haþ lost his owen goode þorul Iopardy þan he exciteþ oþer men þerto To lese here gode as hem self haþ do Line 745 For vnto schrewes Ioye it is an[d] ese To haue her felowe in peine and disese.

[6-text p 553] Thus was .I. lerned ones of a clerk Of þat no charge .I. wil speke of oþer werke Line 749 Whan we bene þare as we schal exercise Oure eluyssche craft we seme wonder wise Oure termes buen so clergial and so wheinte .I. blowe þe fire til þat myne hert feinte Line 753 What schold .I. tel of suche proporcion Of þinges whiche þat we worche vppon As .on. v. or .vj. vnce it maie wel be Of siluer or of sum oþe[r] quantite Line 757 And bise me to tel ȝowe þe names Of orpement bernt bones yren swames þan in to pouder grounde bue ful smal And in an erþen potte houe þat potte is al Line 761 And salt put inne and also papere Be for þes pouders þat .I. speke of here And wele ycouerd wiþ a lampe of glas And of muche oþere þinge what þat þere was Line 765 And of þe potte and glas engluteinge That of þe eyere myht passe no þing And of the esye and smarte alsoo Whiche þat was maad and of þe care and woo Line 769 þat we hadde in oure matiers sublimeinge And amalgamynge and calcenynge Of whike siluere y-cleped Marcurie crude For all oure sleytes we can nouht conclude Line 773 Oure orpement and sublimed Mercurie [folio 161a] Oure grounde litage eke on þe perorforie Of yche of þes vnces a certeine Nouȝt helpeþ vs oure laboure is in veine Line 777 Ne eke owre spirites ascencion Ne eke oure matiers þat lien al fix adoune Mowe in oure werkeinge noþinge vs aveile For lost is al oure laboure and traueile Line 781 And al þe cost in .xx. deuel waie Is loste also whiche we on it leie

[6-text p 554] þere is also mony anoþere þinge þat is to oure crafte or perteineinge Line 785 þouhe .I. be order hem here ne reherse can Because þat .I. am a lewde man ȝit wil .I. tel hem al þei come to mynde þouhe .I. ne kan sette hem in her kinde Line 789 As bole armonyac verte grece and borace And sundere vessels maade of erþe and glasse Oure Orinales and oure descensories Viols cresletes and sublimatories Line 793 Cocurbites [[? MS Corurbites]] and alembekes eke And oþer suche dere y-nowhe a leke Note nedeþ it to reherse hem al Waters rubefinge and boles gall Line 797 Arcenyk sal armonyak and bromstone And herbes couþe .I. tel eke many one As egremoyne valeriane and lunarie And oþer suche if þat me luste to tarye Line 801 Oure lampes berneinge boþe nyht and daie To bringen aboute oure craft it þat we maie Oure forneys eke of Calcinacione And of waters albificacione Line 805 Vnslekked lyme chalke and gleire and of an aye Pouders diueres asshes donge pisse and cleie Ceride poketes Sal peter and vitriol And diuers fires maad of wode and cole Line 809 Sal tarter Alkaly and sal preparate And combust matiers and coagulate Cleye made wiþ hors here and oyle Of tartre Alumglasse berme worte and Argoile Line 813 Resalgar and oþer matiers enbybeynge And eke of oþer maters encorperinge And of siluer citrinacione [folio 161b] Oure cementinge and fermentacione Line 817 Oure Ingotes testes and mony mo .I. wil ȝowe tell as was me tauht also

[6-text p 555] The . foure spirites and þe bodis seuen Be order of ofte as .I. herd my lorde neuen Line 821 þe . first spirit whiksiluer cald is þe . secunde Orpement þe þred .I.-wis Sal armoniac . and þe fourt bromstone The bodis .vij. eke lo hem here anone Line 825 Sol . gold . is . and luna . siluer we þrepe Mars . yren . Mercure . whikseluer we clepe Saturnus lede . and Iubiter is tynne And Venus coper be my fader kinne Line 829 þis cursed craft who so wil exercise He schal no goode hane þat maie him suffise For al þe good he spendeþ þere aboute He lese schal þer-of haue .I. no doute Line 833 Who so þat lust to outen his folie Lat him com forþe and leren to multeplie Ande euery man þat ouht in his cofre Lete him appere and wax a philosophre Line 837 Ascanse þat craft is so liht for to lere Nay nay god it wote al be he monke or frere Preste or chanone or any oþer wyht þouhe he sitte att his boke boþe daie and nyht Line 841 In lerneynge of þis elvisshe nice lore Al is in veine and parde muche more Is to lerne a lewd man þe sotelte For fye speke nouht þere-of for it wil nouht be Line 845 Al couþe he letterure or couþe he none As in effect he schal finde it al one For boþe tuo be my saluacione Concluden in multiplicacione Line 849 I-lyche wele whan þei haul al y-do þis is to seine þe feile boþe tuo ȝit for þat .I. to muche rehersaill Of waters Corosif and of lymayle Line 853 And of bodis mollificaciōne And also of here induracione

[6-text p 556] Oyles ablucione and metale fusible. To tellen al wald passen any bible. Line 857 That ouhwhere is where-for as for þe best [folio 162a] Of all þis names now will .I. me rest For as .I. troue .I. haue ȝowe tolde ynowhe To Reysen a fende loke he neuer so rouhe Line 861 A nay lat be þe philosophre stone Elixir cleped we sechen fast ychon For had we him þan were we seker ynowhe Bot vnto god of heuen .I. maak a vowe Line 865 For al oure craft whan we haue al y-do And al oure sleiht he wil nouht com vs to He haþe vs made spend muche good For sorwe of whiche al-moste we wexen wode Line 869 Bot þat goode hope crepeþ in oure herte Supposeinge euer þouhe we sore smert To be releued be him afterwarde Supposinge and hope is scharpe and harde Line 873 .I. warne ȝowe wele it is to seken euer þat futur temps haþ maad men deseuer In trust þer-of from al þat euer þei hadde Ȝit of þat art þei couþ nouht wex sadde Line 877 For vn to hem it is a bitter swete So semeþ it forne had þei bot a shete Whiche þei miht wrappe in a nyht And Abak to walken inne be daie liht Line 881 Thei wold hem sellen and spenden on þis craft Thei can nouht stint til noþinge be laft And euer more where þat euer þei gone Men maye hem knowe be smell of bromstone Line 885 For al þe worlde þei stinken as a gote Hire sauoure is so rammysshe and so hote That þouhe a man from hem a mile be The sauour wil infecte trusteþ me Line 889 Lo þus be smellinge and be þrede bare arraie If þat men lust þis folke þei knowe maie

[6-text p 557] And if a man wil ax him priuely Whi þei bue cloþed so vnthriftely. Line 893 Riht anone þei wil roune in his ere And seie if þei espied were Men wold hem fle be cause of hire science Lo þus folke be-trayen Innocence Line 897 Passe ouer þis .I. go my tale vntoo Er þat þe pote be on þe fire ydoo Of Metaile wiþ a certeine quantite [folio 162b] Mi lorde hem tempreþ and no man bot he Line 901 Nowe he is gone .I. dare sei boldely For as men seine he can do craftely. Algate .I. wote wele he haþe suche a name And ȝitte ful ofte he renneþ in þe blame Line 905 And witte ȝe howe ful oft it hapneþ so þe potte to-brekeþ and fare wele al is goo þes metals been of so grete violence Owre walles maie nouht make hem resistence Line 909 Bott if þei wrowht of lime and stone þei percen so and þoruhe þe wal þei gone And sum of hem sinken in to þe grounde þus haue we lost be times mony a po[u]nd Line 913 And somme erne scaterd al þe flore aboute Somme lepen in to þe roof wiþþe-outen doute þouhe þat þe fende note in oure siht hem schewe .I. trow þat he wiþ vs be þat schrewe Line 917 In hell where þat his lorde and sire Ne is þere no more woo ne angur ne Ire Whan þat owre potte is broke as .I. haue seide Euery man Chitte and halt him yuel apaide Line 921 Som seide it was longe on þe fire makeinge Somme seide nay . it was longe on þe bloweynge Than was .I. ferde for þat was myne office Strawe quod þe þredde ȝe be lewde and nyce Line 925 It was nouht tempred as it ouhte to be Nay quod þe ferþe stinte and herken me

[6-text p 558] Be cause oure fire was nouht maade of beche þat is þe cause none oþer so þeeche Line 929 .I. can not tell where on it is a-longe Bot wele .I. wote grete strife is vs amonge What quod my lord þere is no more to done Of þes periles .I. wil be ware eft sone Line 933 .I. am riht seker þat þe pott was crased Be as be maye be ȝe no þinge amasud As vsage is late swepe þe flore as swyþe Pluke vpe ȝoure herte and be ȝe gladde and bliþe Line 937 The mollok on an hepe yswepped was And on þe flore cast a canvas And al þis mollok in a sif yþrowe And ysiftide and yplucked mony a þrowe Line 941 Parde quod one summe what of oure metale ȝitt is þere here þouhe we haue nouht al [folio 163a] And þouhe þis þinge mishapped haþe as nowe Anoþer time it maie be wele ynowhe Line 945 Vs most putte oure goode in aduenture A marchant parde maie nouht aie endure Tristneþ me wele in his prosperite Som time is goode is drowned in þe see Line 949 And sum time it commeþ sauf vnto þe londe Pes quod my lorde þe next time .I. wil fonde To bringe oure crafte al in anoþere plite And bote .I. do sires latt me haue þe wite Line 953 There was defaute in sum what wele .I. wote An oþere seide þe fire was ouere hote Bot be hit hote or colde .I. dar sei þis þat we concluden euermore amys Line 957 We failen of þat whiche þat we wolde haue And oure madnesse euer more we raue And whan we bue to-geder euerychon Euery man semeþ as wise as salomon Line 961 Bot al þinge whiche þat schyneþ as þe gold Is not golde as .I. haue herde it tolde

[6-text p 559] Ne euery appel þat is faire att eyȝe Ne is not good whatt so men clappe or crie Line 965 Riht so loo farith it amongus vs He þat semeþ þe wisest be ihesus [[MS ihc]] Is most foole whan it commeþ to þe prefe And he þat semeþ trewest is a þefe Line 969 þat schol ȝe knowe er þat .I. fromme ȝowe wende Be þat .I. of my tale haue maade an ende [[No break in the MS.]]

[6-text p 560]

[THE TALE.]

THer is a chanon of religion [.ij^a. pars] Amonges vs wolde enfecte al a toune Line 973 þouhe it as grete were as nynyue Rome Alisander . Troy . and oþer þre His sleihtes and his infinite falsenesse There couþe no man writen as .I. gesse Line 977 þouhe þat he myht leuen a . þowsande ȝere In al þis of fals-nesse ne is his pere For in his termes he wil him so winde And speke his wordes in so slyhe a kynde Line 981 Whan he comun schal wiþ any wiht What he wil make him dote anone riht Bot it þe fende be as his seluen is Ful mony a man haþe he bigiled ar þis [folio 163b] Line 985 And will if þat he maie leue a while And ȝit men riden and gon ful mony a myle Him for to seeke and haue acqueyntance Nat knoweinge of his fals gouernance Line 989 And if þe luste to ȝeue me audience .I. will it tellen here in ȝoure presence Bot worschipful chanon religious Ne demeþ nouht þat .I. sclander ȝoure house Line 993 Al þouhe my tale of chanon be Of euery order some schrewe is parde And god for-bede þat al a companye Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye Line 997 To sclander ȝowe is not myne entente Bot to Corretten þat mys yment

[6-text p 561] This tale was nouȝt onely tolde for ȝowe Bot eke for oþere mo ȝe woote wele howe Line 1001 þat amonge cristes posteles twelue Þere nas no traytur bot Iudas him selue Than whi scholde þe remenant al haue blame That giltles were . by ȝowe say .I. þe same Line 1005 Sauf only þis if ȝe wil herken me If any Iudas in ȝoure Couent be Remoueþ him be time .I. ȝowe rede If schame or losse maie causen any drede Line 1009 And buþe noþinge displesed .I. ȝowe preie Bot in þis caas herkeneþ what .I. wil seie

IN Londen was a preste an annuellere þat þer-inne dwelled had mony a ȝere Line 1013 Whiche was so plesant and so seruisable Vn-to þe wiff where he was att table That sche wolde suffur him no þinge for to paye For borde ne for cloþeinge wente he neuer so gaye And spendinge siluer hadde he riht ynouhe þere-of no force .I. wol procede as nowhe And tel forþe my tale of þe Chanon þat brouht þis prest to confusion Line 1021 This fals chanon cam vppon a daye Vnto þe prestes chambre þer he laye Besecheinge him to lene him a certeine Of golde and he wolde white him a-ȝeine Line 1025 Lene me a marke quod he bot daies þre And att my daie .I. wil it quyte þe [folio 164a] And it so be þou finde me fals Anoþer daie honge me be þe hals Line 1029 This preste him toke a marke and þat als swiþe And þis chanon him þonked oft siþe And toke his leue and went forþe his weie And att þe þered daie brouht his monye Line 1033 And to þis preste he toke þis golde aȝeine There-of þis prest was glad and feine

[6-text p 562] Certes quod he no þinge anoyeþ me To lene a man a noble or tuo or þre Line 1037 Or what þinge were in myn possessione Whan he so trewe is of condicione þat in no wise breke wil his daie To suche a man .I. can neuer saie naye Line 1041 What quod þis chanon schold .I. be vntrewe Naye it were þinge fallen al of þe newe Treuþe is a þinge þat .I. wil euer kepe In to þe daie in whiche þat [I] schal crepe Line 1045 In to my graue and elles god for-bede Beleueþ þis as seker as is ȝoure crede God þonke .I. and in goode time be it seide þat þer was neuer man ȝit yuel appaide Line 1049 For golde ne siluer þat he to me lent And neuer falsed in myne herte y ment And sir quod he nowe of my priuete And seþen . ȝe so goodly haue bue to me Line 1053 And kiþed to me so grete gentillesse Som whatte to whiten wiþ ȝoure kindenesse .I. wil ȝowe schewe .&. if ȝowe lust to lere .I. schal it schewe to ȝowe anone riht here Line 1057 Howe .I. kan worchen in filosophie Takeþ goode hede ȝe scholn sene wele att ye þat .I. wil do a maistre ar .I. goo Ȝe sir quod þe preste . ȝe sire and wil ȝe so Line 1061 Mary þere-of .I. praie ȝowe hertely Att ȝoure commandement sir treuly Quod þe chanon and elles god for-bede Lo how þis þef couþe . his seruise bede Line 1065 Ful soþe it is þat suche proferd seruise Stinkeþe as wittenes þis olde wyse And þat ful sone .I. wil . it verifie In þis chanone is rote of al trecherie [folio 164b] Line 1069 That euermore delite haþe and gladnesse Suche fendely þouhtes in his hert empresse

[6-text p 563] Howe cristes peple he maie to meschief bringe God kepe vs fromme his fals discimulinge Line 1073 What wist þis preste wiþ whome he delte Ne of his harme comynge noþinge he felte O cele preste o celi Innocent Wiþ Couetise anone þou schalt be blent Line 1077 O graceles ful blinde is þi conceite No þinge ert þow war of þi deceit Whiche þat þis fox schapen haþ to þe His wyle wrenches þou maiste nouht flyhe Line 1081 Wher-fore to go to þe conclusion þat referreþ to þi confusion Vnhappe man anone .I. wil me hihe To tellen þin vnwitte and þi folye Line 1085 And eke þe falsenesse of þat oþer wreche As ferfor as my connynge wil streche þis chanon was my lorde ȝe wolde wene Sir oft in faiþe and bue þe heuen quene Line 1089 It was anoþer chanon and nouht he þat can an .C. folde more sotelte He haþ be-traied folke mony a time Of his falsnesse it deliteþ me to rime Line 1093 Euer whan .I. speke of his falsede For schame of him my cheke waxen rede Al gates þei be-gon for to glowe For redenes haue .I. riht nowe wele .I. knowe Line 1097 In my vesage for sinnes diuers Of Metals whiche ȝe haue herd me reherce Consumed and wastede haþe myne redenesse Now takeþ hede of my chanons cursednesse Line 1101 Sir quod he to þe preste lat ȝoure man gone Fo[r] whiksiluer þat we is had anone And latte him bringe vnces tuo or þre And whan he commeþ als fast schal we se Line 1105 A wonder þinge whiche ȝe sawe neuer ar þis Sir quod þe preste it schal be done ywisse

[6-text p 564] He bad his seruant fechen him his þinge And he al rede was at his bedynge Line 1109 And went him for and cam anon aȝeine Wiþ þis whike siluer schortly for to seyne [folio 165a] And toke þes vnces þre to þe chanone And he it leide faire and wele adoune Line 1113 And bad þe seruant coles for to bringe þat he anone myht go to his wirkeinge þe coles riht anone weren yfet And þis chanon toke oute a croselet Line 1117 Of his bosome and schewe it þe prest This quod he whiche þat þou sest Take in þine hande and put þi self þere inne Of þis whike siluere an vnce and here beginne Line 1121 In þe name of crist to wex a philosofer Ther bene ful fewe whiche þat .I. wil profer To schewe hem þus muche of my science For ȝe schol seen here be experience Line 1125 þat þis siluer .I. wil mortifie Riht in ȝoure siht anone wiþ oute lye And maak it as god siluer and als fyne As þer is any in ȝoure porce or in myne Line 1129 And þerto als doulcete and malliable And elles holde me fals and vn-able Amonge folk euer to appere .I. haue a pouder here . it cost me dere Line 1133 Schal make al good for it is cause of al Mi konnynge whiche . þat .I. ȝowe schew shall Voideþ ȝoure man and lat him be þer oute An schette þe dore whiles we bene aboute Line 1137 Oure priuete þat no man vs aspie Whiles we werken in þis philosophie Al as he bad ffulfilled was in dede þis ilke seruant anon riht oute ȝede Line 1141 And his maister schett þe dore anone An to her laboure spedely þei gone

[6-text p 565] þes preste att þis cursed chanons bydynge Vpon þe fire a-none sett þis þinge Line 1145 And blewe þe fire and besid him ful fast And þis chanon in to þis croselett cast A pouder note .I. wher-of it was .y.-maade of chalk oþere of glas Line 1149 Or sum whatte elles was nouht worþe a flie To blinde wiþe þis preste and badd him hihe þes coles for to cowchen al aboue This Croslet for in token þat .I. þe loue [folio 165b] Line 1153 Quod þis chanon þine hondes tuoo Schal worche al þinge whiche as schal be doo Gremercy quod þe preste and was ful gladde And couched coles as þe Chanon badd Line 1157 And whiles he besy was þis fendely wrecche þis fals chanon þe foule fende him fecche Oute of his bosom toke a bechen cole In whiche ful sotelly was maad an hole Line 1161 And þereinne pitt was of siluer limaile An vnce and stopped was wiþ oute faile This hole wiþ wex to kepe the limal inne An[d] vnderstondeþ þat þis false gynne Line 1165 Was not maade þere bot it was maade to fore And oþer þinges .I. schal tel more Here after warde whiche þat he wiþ him brouht Ar he com þere to begile him he þouht Line 1169 And so he dide are he went a twynne Til he had tornyd him kouþe he not blinne It dulleþ me whan þat .I. of him speke On his fals hede faine wolde .I. me awreke Line 1173 If .I. wist howe bot he is here and þere He is so variant he bideþ no where Bo[t] takeþ hede nowe sires for goddes loue He toke his cole of whiche .I. spak aboue Line 1177 And in his honde he bare it priuely And whiles þe priste couched besili

[6-text p 566] þe coles as .I. tolde ȝow er þis þis Chanon seide frende ȝe done amys Line 1181 þis is nouht couched as it ouht to be Bot sone .I. schal amend it quod he Nowe lat me medel þere-wiþ bot a while For of ȝoue haue .I. pete be sein gile Line 1185 ȝe been riht hote .I. see wele how ȝe swete Haue here a cloþe and wype aweie þe wete And whan þe prest him wyped haas This Chanon toke his cole .I. schrewe his face Line 1189 And leid it vpon abouen þe Midward Of þe croselett . And blewe wele afterward Til þat þe Coles gan fast berne Now ȝif vs drinke quod þe Chanone þann Line 1193 Als swiþe al schal be wele .I. vndertake. Sit we doune and lete vs mery make [folio 166a] And whann þe chanons bechen cole Was brente al þe limal oute of the hole Line 1197 Into þe croselet anone fel adoune And so it mot nedes be resoune Seþþen it so heuen aboue couched was Bot þere-of wist no þinge þe preste alas Line 1201 He demed al þe coles ylyche goode For of þe sleyht no þinge he vnderstode And whan þis Alkamistrie sauhe is time Riseþ vp sir priste and stonde be me Line 1205 And for .I. wote Ingote haue ȝe none Goþe walkeþ forþe and bringeþ a chalke stone For .I. wil make it of þe same schappe þat is an Ingote if .I. maie haue happe Line 1209 And bringe wiþe ȝowe a bol or a panne Ful of water and ȝe schal see þanne How þat oure besines schal happe and preue And ȝit for ȝe schal haue no mysbeleue Line 1213 Ne wronge conseite of me in ȝoure absence I wil nouht bue oute of ȝoure presence

[6-text p 567] Bot go wiþ ȝowe and com wiþ ȝow ageine The chamber dore schortly to seine Line 1217 Thei opened and schette and went forþe her waie And forþe wiþ hem þei caried þe keie And comen aȝeine wiþ outen any delaye What scholde .I. tary al þe longe daie Line 1221 He toke · þe chalke and schoppe it in þat wise Of an Ingote as .I. schal ȝowe deuise .I. seye he tok out of his owen sleue A cheyne of siluer . yuel mot he cheue Line 1225 Whiche þat was bot an vnce of wheyht And takeþ hede nowe of his cursede sleyht He schop his Ingote in lengeþ and in brede Of þe cheyne wiþ outen any drede Line 1229 So slely þat þe preste it nouht aspide And in his sleue aȝeine he gan it hide An[d] frome þe fire toke vp his matier And in to þe yngote it putte wiþ meri chere Line 1233 And in to þe water vessel he it kest Whan þat him lust and badde þe preste as fast Loke what þere is put in þine honde and grope Thou schalte finde þer siluer as .I. hope [folio 166b] Line 1237 What deuel of hel scholde it elles be Chaueynge of siluer silue is parde He putte in his honde and tok vp a teyne Off siluer fyne and glad in euery veine Line 1241 Was þis priste whan he sauhe þat it was so Goddes blissinge and his moders also And al halowes haue ȝe sir Chanon Seid þe preste and .I. here Malison Line 1245 Bot and ȝe vouche sauf to teche me This noble craft and þis soteltie .I. wil be ȝoures in al þat euer .I. maie Quod þe chanone ȝit wil .I. make asaie Line 1249 þe secunde time þat ȝe mowe take hede And bee experte of þis and in ȝoure nede

[6-text p 568] Anoþer daie in Mine absence This discipline and þis crafte science Line 1253 Lat take anoþer vnce quod he þo Of whiche siluer wiþþe outen wordes moo And do þerwiþ as ȝe haue done ar þis Wyþe þat oþere whiche þat nowe siluere is Line 1257 This preste him besieþ in al þat he can To done as þis chanone þis cursed man Commandeþ him . and fast blewe þe fire For to come to þeffette of his desire Line 1261 And þis chanon riht in þe mene while Al redi was þis preste oft to begile And for a countenance in his honde bare An holowe stikke take hede and be ware Line 1265 In þe ende of whiche an vnce and no more Of siluer lymal put was al be-fore Was in his coule and stopped wiþ wax wele for to kepe inne his lymal euereydele Line 1269 And while þis preste was in his besinesse This chanon wiþ his stike gan him dresse To him a-none and his pouder kast inne As he dide ere þe deuel out of his kinne Line 1273 Him torne .I. praie to god for his false-hede For he was euer fals in worde and dede And wiþ his stikke a-boue þe croselett That was ordeygned wiþ þat fals gett Line 1277 He stireþ þe coles til relent gan The wex aȝeine þe fire as euery man [folio 167a] Bot it a fole be; wote wele and mot nede And al þat in þe hole was oute ȝede Line 1281 And in to þe croselet hastely it fel þe preste supposed nouht bot wele Bot busid him fast and was wonder feyne Supposinge nouht bot treuþe soþe to seine Line 1285 He was so glad .I. can nouht expresse In no manere his merþe and his gladnesse

[6-text p 569] And to þe Chanon he proferd eft sone Body and goode ȝe quod þe chanone sone Line 1289 þouhe poure .I. be crafte þou schalt me finde .I. warne þe ȝit is þere more be-hinde Is þere any coper here inne seide he ȝe sir quod þe preste .I. troue þere be Line 1293 Elles go by sum and þat aswyþe Nowe sir go for þi waie and hyhe þe And went his waie and wiþ his coper he came And þis chanon in his hode it name Line 1297 And of þat coper weyde oute bot an vnce Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce His mostre and his witte þe doublenesse Of þis chanone rote of Corsednesse Line 1301 He semed frendly to him þat knewe him nouht Bot he was fendely boþe in werke and þouht It werieþ me to telle of his falsenesse And neþeles ȝit wil .I. it expresse Line 1305 To þat entent þat men maie be war þere bye And for none oþer cause treulye He putte þis vnce of coper in to þe crosellet And on þe fire also swiþe he haþe it sett Line 1309 And kest in pouder and maade þe preste to blowe And in his worcheinge for to stoupe lowe As he dide erst and al was bott a Iape Riht as him lust þe preste he maade his ape Line 1313 And afterwarde in to þe Ingote he it kest And in þe panne put it att þe last Of water and inne he put his owen honde And in his sleue as ȝe beforne honde Line 1317 Herde me tell he had a siluer cheyne He slyhely toke is oute þis cursed hyne Vnwetinge þis preste of his fals craft And in þe pannes bothom he haþ it left [folio 167b] Line 1321 And in þe water rumbleþ to and fro And wonder priuely toke it vpp also

[6-text p 570] þe coper teyne nouh[t] knoweinge þe preste And hid it and hent him be þe breste Line 1325 And to him spak and þus seide he in his game Stoupeþe adoune be god ȝe be to blame Helpeþe me nowe as .I. dide ȝowe whilere Put in ȝoure honde and loke what is þere Line 1329 This preste toke vppe þis siluer teyne anone And þan seide þe Chanon latt vs gone Wiþ þes þre teynes whiche þat we haue wrouht To summe gōlsmyþe and wit if it be owhte Line 1333 For be my feiþe .I. nolde for myne hode Bot if þei were siluer fine and gode And þat as swyþe proued schal he be Vnto þe goldsmythe wiþ þes teynes þre Line 1337 Thei wente and put þes teynes in assaie To fire and hamur myht no man seie naie Bot þei were as hem ouht to be þis soted preste who was gladder þan he Line 1341 Was neuer bridde gladder aȝeines þe daie Ne nyhtgale in þe seson of maie Was neuere none þat lust better to singe Ne lady lustier in Carolynge Line 1345 And for to speke and loue and wommanhede Ne knyhte in armes done an hardy dede To stonden in grace of his ladie dere þan hadde þis preste þis craft to lere Line 1349 And to þe chanon þus he spak and seide For þe loue of god þat for us al deyde And as .I. maye deserue it vn to ȝowe What schal þis receyte cost telleþ nowe Line 1353 Be oure lady quod þis chanon. it is dere .I. warne ȝowe bot saue .I. and a frere In. yngelonde þere can no man it make No fors quod he now sir for goddes saake Line 1357 What schal .I. paye tel me .I. þe preye .I.-wys quod he it is ful dere .I. seie.

[6-text p 571] Sire att o worde if þat þe list it haue Line 1360 ȝe schal paie fourte [[a later þ added]] pounde so god me saue And ne were þe frindeschippe þat ȝe dide ar þis. To me ȝe scholde paie more ywys [folio 168a] This preste þe summe of .xl. pounde anone Of nobles fette . & toke hem euerychone Line 1365 To þis Chanon for þis ilke receit Al his worcheinge was fraude and deceite Sire preste he seide .I. kepe for haue no los Of my craft for .I. wolde it were kepped clos Line 1369 And as ȝe loueþe me kepeþ it secre For and men knewe al my subtilite Be god men wolde haue so grete envie To me be cause of my philosophie Line 1373 .I. scholde be dede þere were none oþere weye God it for-bede quod þe preste what ȝe seye ȝit had .I. leuer spende all þe goode Whiche þat .I. haue and elles wex .I. woode Line 1377 þan þat ȝe scholde fall in suche meschife For ȝoure goode wil sire haue ȝe riht good prefe Quod þe chanone wele graunt mercie He went his waye and neuer þe priste him sihe Line 1381 After þat daie and whan þat þis preste schold Maken assay . att suche time as he wolde Of þis receyte fare wele it wil nouht be Lo þus be-Iaped and begiled was he Line 1385 Thus makeþ he his introduccion To bringe folke to hire destruccion ¶ Considereþ sires howe þat myche astate Be-twex men and golde þar is debate Line 1389 So ferforþe þat vnneþes þere is one This multepliynge blindeþ · so mony one þat in good feiþe I trowe þat it be þe cause grettest of al subtilite Line 1393 This Phylosophres speken so mystelye In þis craft þat men can nouht com þer bye

[6-text p 572] For any witte þat men haue nowe a dayes þei maie wele Chitter and ganglen as done þes Iayes Line 1397 And in her termes sett lust and peine Bot to here purpos schal þei neuere atteyne A man may lyhtlyche leren if he haue ouhte To multeply and bringe his good to nouht Line 1401 Lo suche a locre is in þis lusty game A mannes merþe it wil torne al to gram And empte also grete and heuy porces And make folke to purchasen curses [folio 168b] Of hem þat han þere-to here good ylente Line 1406 O fy . for schame þei þat haue be brente Alas Can þei nouht flye þe fires hete ȝe þat it vsen .I. rede ȝowe it lete Line 1409 Lest ȝe lees al · for bet þan neuer is late Neuer to þriue were to longe a date þouhe ȝe prolle aye ȝe schol it neuer finde ȝe bene als bolde as is bayer þe blynde Line 1413 þat blunderþ forþ and peril casteþ he none He is as bolde to renne aȝeine a stone As for to go be side in þe weie So fare ȝe þat multeplie .I. seie Line 1417 If þat oure yȝen kan not seen a riht Lookeþ þat ȝoure mynde lake nouht ȝoure siht For þouhe ȝe looke neuere so brode and stare ȝe schol nouht wynne a myte of þat chaffare Line 1421 Bot wasten al þat ȝe maie rappe and rinne Wiþ-drawe þe fire lest it so fast birne Medeleþe no more wiþ þat art .I. mene For ȝif ȝe done ȝoure þreft . is gone ful clene Line 1425 And riht als swiþe .I. wil ȝoue to here What þat þe Philosophres seine in þis matiere Lo þus seiþe Arnalde of þe Newtoune As his rosarie makeþ Mencioune Line 1429 He seiþe riht þus wiþ outen any . lye There maie no man Mercuri Mortifie

[6-text p 573] Bot if it be wiþ his broþer knowelecheinge Howe þat he wiche þat first seide þis þinge Line 1433 Of philosophres fader was Ermes Seiþe howe þat þe dragon douteles Ne deyeþ not bot if he he sleine Wiþ is broþer and þat is for to seyne Line 1437 Be þe dragon Mercurie and none oþer He vnderstode þat bromston were is broþere þat oute of sol and luna were ydrawe And þerfore seide he take hede to my sawe Line 1441 Latt no man besy hime þis arte for to seche Bot he þat þe entencion and speche Of Philosofres vnderstonde kan And if he doo he is a lewde man Line 1445 For þis science and þis connynge quod he . Is of secre of secretees parde [folio 169a] Also þere was a disciple of Plato þat on a time seide his maister to Line 1449 As his booke sonier wil bere wittnesse And þis was his demaunde in soþefastnesse Tel me þe name of þe priue stoone And plato ansewerd vnto him anone Line 1453 Take þat titanus men name Whiche is þat quod he Magnesia is þe same Seide Plato; ȝe sire and es it þus þis is ignotum per ignocius Line 1457 What is magnesia good sire .I. preie It is a water þat is maad .I. seie Of elementes foure quod plato Tel me þe roches good sir quod he þo Line 1461 Of þat water if it be ȝoure will Naie Naie quod plato certeine þat .I. nyll The philosophres were sworne euerychon þat þei scholde discouere it to no mon Line 1465 Ne in no booke it write in no manere For vnto criste it is so leue and dere

[6-text p 574] þat he wil nouȝt þat it discouerd be Bot where so it likeþ to his deite Line 1469 Man to enspire and eke to defende Whome þat him lykeþ lo þis is þe ende That conclude .I. þus seþen þat god of heuen Ne wil not þat þe philo[so]fres neven Line 1473 Howe þat a man schal com vn-to þis stone .I. rede as for þe beste latt it gone For who so makeþ god his aduersarie As for to worche any þinge in contrarye Line 1477 Vnto his wil certes neuer schal he þriue Thouhe þat he multiplie terme of his liue And þere a pointe for endid is my tale God sende euery trewman bote of his bale Line 1481

Explicit fabula.

Incipit prologus Magistri Phisici. [on leaf 169]

NOwe trewly quod oure Oste þis is a prati tale For litel merveile it is þat þou lokest so pale Seþen þou hast medeled wiþ so mony þinges Wiþ bloweinge att þe cole to melte boþe brochez & ringes And oþere many Iewels dar .I. vnder-take Line 5 And þat þi lorde couþe vs tel: if we myht him ouere-take Bot lat him go a deuel waye þe compaigny is neuer þe wers [folio 169b] And al suche fals harlotes .I. sette not be hem a kers Bot latt pas ouere nowe al þes subtilitees Line 9 And sume worþi man tel vs summe veritees As ȝe worschipful Maister of Phisike Telleþ vs somme tale þat is a cronyke Line 12 Þat we may of ȝowe leren sum witte Quod þe Maister of Phisik a tale þat .I. finde writte In cronyke passed of olde tyme Herkeneþ for .I. wil tel it ȝow in rime Line 16

Explicit prologus.