wHan that Apprill with his shouris sote and the droughte of marche hath p[er]cid þe rote ...

WHan that Apprill with his shouris sote And the droughte of marche hath {per}cid þ^e rote A•••• badid euery veyne in suche licour Of whiche vertu engendrid is the flour Whanne zepherus eke with his sote breth Enspirid hath in euery holte and heth The tendir croppis•• and the yong sonne Hath in the ram half his cours y ronne And smale foulis mak•• melodie That slepyn al nyght with opyn ye So prikith hem nature in her corage Than longyng folk to gon on pilgremage And palmers to seche straunge londis To serue halowis couthe in sondry londis And specially fro euery shiris ende Of yngelond to Cauntirbury thy wende The holy blisful martir forto seke That them hath holpyn when they were seke ANd fil in that seson on a day In Suthwerk atte tabard as I lay Redy to wende on my pilgremage To Cauntirbury with deuout corage That nyght was come in to that hosterye Wel nyne & twenty in a companye Of sondry folk be auenture y falle In feleship as pilgrymys were they alle That toward Cauntirbury wolden ryde The chambris and the stablis were wyde And wel were they esid atte beste

And shortly whan the sonne was at reste So had I spokyn with hem euerichon̄ That I was of her feleship anon̄ And made forward erly fo••to ryse To take our wey there as I you deuyse But natheles whiles that y haue tyme & space Or that y ferth••r in this tale pace Me thynketh that it were accordaunt to reson To telle you al the condicion Of eche of hem so as it semed me And whiche they were and of what degre And in what ••ray eke they w••ren ynne AN•• at a knyght I wil begynne A kn••ght ther was a worthy man That fro the tyme he first began To riden out he loued chyualrye Trouthe and honour fredom and ••urtesye Ful worthy he was in his l••rdis werre And therto hadde he riden noman ferre And as wel in cr••stendom as in hethenesse And euer had••e honour for his worthynesse At al••saundre he was whan it was wonne Ful ofte tyme he had the boord begonne A houen alle nacions in pruce In lettowe hadde he reysed and in ruse No cristen man so eften tymes as he In granade at the sege eke hadde he be In algrith hadde he riden and in belmarie At ••artage was he and eke at satalye

Whanne they were wonne and in the grete see At many at nobil aryue hadde be he At mortal bataillis had he be fiften•• And foughte for oure feith at Tramyss••ne In l••stis thries and hath sleyn his foo This ilke worthy knyght hadde be also Som tyme with the lord of Palathie Agayn another he then man in Turkye And euermore he hadde a souerayn price And though he was worthy he was wise And of his port as meke as a ma••de He neuer yet vilayns worde sayde In al his lif to nomaner wight He was a gentil parfight knyght Forto telle you of his aray His bois were gode but he was not gay Of ••us••ian he wered a gippioun Al be smered with his habergeon̄ For he was late come ••ro his viage And sente forto do his pilgremage WIth hym ther was a semely yong squy••r A louer and a lusti bacheler With lockis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as they were leyd in presse Of twenty yer of age he was I gesse Of his stature he was of euene lenghte And wonderly deliuer & greet of strenghte And he had be som tyme in ch••ualrye In Flaundris in Artoise and in Picardye And born hym wel as of a litil space

In hope to stonden in his ladies grace Enbrowded was he as it were a mede Al ful of fressh flouris white and rede Syngynge he was or floytynge al day He was as fressh as is the moneth of may Short was his gowne with sleuys longe & wyde Wel couthe he sicte on hors & therto fair ryde He couthe song make and wel endyte Iuste and daunce portreye and eke wryte So hote he loued that be nyghter tale He slepte nomore than a nyghtyngale Curteys he was lowly and seruisabyl He carf beforn̄ his fader at the tabyl A Yeman hadde he and seruauntis nomo At that tyme for he list to ryde so And he was cled in cote and hood of grene A sheef of arowes bright and shene Vnder his ••elt he baar ful thriftely Wel coude he dresse his takyl yomanly His arowis droup••d not with fetheris lowe And in his hond he baar a mighty bowe A n••t h••d he had•••• with a broun visage Of wodemannes craft coude he al the vsage Op on his arme he bare agay bracer And by his side a swerd and a bokeler And on that other side a gay daggare Harneysed wel and sharp as poynt of spere A Cristofir on his brest ful shene An horn he baar a bawdryk grene

A forster was he sothly as I gesse THere was also a nonne a prioresse That of hir smylynge was simpil & koy Here grettest oth was be seynt loy And she was clepid dame Eglentyn̄ Ful wel she song seruise diuine Entoyned in hir boys ful semely And frensh she spak ful fetously Aftir the scole of stratforde at the bowe For frensh of Paris was to hir vnknowe At mete wel taught was she with al She lete no morsel fro hir lippis fal Ne wete hire fingres in hir sauce depe Wel coude she cary a morsel of mete That no drope fil on hir brest In curtesie was set ful mykil hir lest Hir ouerlippe wiped she so clene That in hir cup ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece whan she hadde dronke her draught Ful semely aftir hir mete she raught And sikirly she was of greet disport Of plesaunce and amyable of port And peyned here to countrefete chiere Of courte to be statly of manere And to be holde digne of reuerence But forto speke of hir conscience She was so charitable and so pietous She wolde wepe and she saw a mous Kawght in a trappe if it were deed or bledde

Of smale houndis hadde she that she fedde With cost flesh mylke and wastel beed But sore wepte she if ony of hem were ded Or if men smoot hem with yerd smert And al was conscience and tendir hert Ful semely hir wympil pynched was Her nose tretise here yen grey as glas Her mouth smal and therto softe and reed But sikirly she hadde a fair forheed It was almost a span brode I trow For hardly she was not vnder grow Ful setice was her cloke as I was waar Of smal coral aboute her harm she baar A peyre of bedis gauded al with grene And there on houg a brothe ful shene O•• whiche that first was wryte a cronn••d A And aftir that amor vincit omnia ANother Nonne with hir ther was F•••••• fair of hewe and bright of faas That was her chapeleyn and prestis thre A monk ther was fair for the maistre Whiche afore that tyme hadde be An out ryder he loued venore A manly man to be an abbot able Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stabil And when he wod men mighte his bridil here Gyngelynge & whistelinge in the wynd clere And eke as lowde as doth the chapel belle There as the lord was keper of the sell••

The rewle of saint Maure & of saint Benet Be cause he held it somwhat streyt This ilke monk lete olde thinges passe And held aftir the newe worlde the space He yaf not of the text a pullet h••nne That seith that hunters be not holy men Ne that a monk whenne that he is rechelees Is lik to a fish when it is waterlees This is to say a monk oute of a cloistre But that texte holde I not worth an oistre And I say that his opinion̄ was good What sholde he stodye and make hym wood Vp on a book alwey in cloistir to powre Or swynke with hondis and laboure As austyn dide. but hou shal the worlde be serued Let austyn haue his swynk to hym reserued Therfore he was a pricasour a right Grehoundis he hadde as mylk whit Of prykynge and of huntynge for the hare Was al his lust for no thing wolde he spare I saw his sleuys purfiled at the hond With grice and that the fynest of a lond And forto fastyn his hood vnder the chynne He h••dde of golde wrought a corious pynne And eke his face as he had be anoynt He was a lord fat and in good poynt His yen steep and rollynge in his heed That ste••yd as a furneys of leed His bootis sowpil his hors in gret astate

Now certenly he was a feir prelate He was not pale as a forpyned gost A fat swan loued he lest of ony rost His palfrey was as broun as a bery A Frere t••••r was awanton̄ & a mery A lymytour and a ful solemne man In alle the ordris four is non that so wel can So moche of daliaunce and fair langage He hadde made meny a fair mariage Of ••onge wommen at his owen cost Vntil his ordre he was an nobil post Ful ••elbel••ued and ful famulier was he W••••h frankeleyns ouer al in his contre And with worthy yemen of the toun Fo•• he hadde p••wer of confession A••d plesaunt was his absolucion ••o them that had grete contricion And sa••de hym s••lf more than a curat And of his ordre he was licenciat And an esi man to yeue penaunce Th••re he wiste to haue good pitaunce Vnto a poure ordre forto yeue Whan that a man is wel I shryue Yf he yaf he durste make a vaunt Yf that a man was repentaunt Many a man so hard is of herte He may not wepe though he sore smerte Therfore in stede of wepynge and praiers Men moste yeue siluer to the poure freris

His tipet was I fossid ful of knyuys And with pynnys to yeue faire wyuys And certeyn he hadde amery note Merily coude he synge and pleye at the rote Of tidyngis he baar vtterly the pryce Milk whit he was as the flour delyce Therto strong he was as a champioun And knew the tauernys wel in euery toun And euery osteler and tapstere Better than̄ a lazer or a beggestere Forto vnto suche a man as he Accordith not as by his faculte To haue of suche sike lazers acqueyntaunce It is not honest it may not a vaunce Forto dele with suche poraille But with riche and sellers of vitaille And ouer al there as richesse sholde aryse Curteis he was and lowly of seruise Ther was no man nowhere so vertuous He was the beste beggere in his ••ous For though a wydowe hadde not a shoo So plesaunt was his in prin••ipio Yet wolde he haue a ferthing or ••e went His purchace was bettir than̄ his rent And barke he couthe as it were a whelpe In louedayes there coude he mykyl help For there he nas lik a cloisterer With a threedbare cope as a poure frere But he was like a maister or a pope

Of dub••yl worstede was his semy cope That round was as a belle out of presse Somwhat he lispyd for his wantownesse To make his english swete vp on his tunge And in his harpynge whan he had I ••unge His yen̄ twyn••lyd in his hed a right As doon the sterris in the frosty nyght This worthy frere was callyd hubberd A Marchaunt ther was with a forkid berd In motley on high on his hors he sat Vp on his hed a flaundres beuer hat His ••eet•••• claspid fe••re and fetously His resons he spak ful solempnely S••••wynge alwey the encrece of his w••nnynge He wo••de the see were kept for ony thynge B••twixt Middelburgh and Orew••lle ••ell coude he in his eschaunges selle This worthy man his witte ful wel besette Th••r wi••••e no wight that he was in dette So esta••ly was he of gouernaunce W••th his bargayns and with his cheuesaunce For sothe he was a worthy man with alle A But soth to say I not how men hym calle Cl••rk ther was of Oxenforde also That vnto logik hadde longe I go As lene was his hors as a rake And he was not right fat I vndertake But lokyd holow and therto sobirly Ful threedbare was his ouerest courtby

For he hadde gote hym yet no benefice Ne was not wordly to haue an office For hym was leuyr to haue at his beddis hed Twenty bokys I clad in whit and reed Of Aristotle and of philosophie Thanne robis riche or fidil or sawtrie But al be that he was a philosophre Yet hadde he but litil gold in cofre But al that he mighte of his frendis haue help On bokis and on lernynge he it spent And besely gan for the soulis praye Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scolaye Of study took he most cure and hede Not o word spak he more than nede Short and quyk and high of sentence Sownyng moral vertu was his prudence And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche And ther with ful softe was his speche A Sergeante of lawe waar and wis•• was there that ofte hadde be at the {per}uyse That was also riche of excellence Discrete he was and of gret reuerence He semyd suche his wordis were so wise Iustice he was ful ofte in assise Be patent and be playn commission For his science and his high renoun Of fees and robis hadde he many on So gret a purchasour was ther nowher non Al was fee symple to hym in effect

His purchace mighte not be to hym suspect No where so besy a man as ••e ther was And yet he semyd besier than he was In teermes hadde he was & domes alle That fro the tyme of kyng william were falle Therto he coud•• endite and make a thing Ther coude no wight pynche at his writing And euery statut coude he pleyn be rote He rood but homely in a medle cote I gr••t with a s••ynt of silk with barris smale Of his ara•• telle I no lenger tale A Frankeleyn was in his companye White was his berd as the deysie And of his complexion was sanguyn Wel loued he be the morow a cup wyn To lyue in delite was euer his wone For he was Epicurices owen sone That ••••ld oppinion that pleyn delite Was verray felicite parfite An housholder and that a gret was he Saynt Iulian ••e was in his contre Hi•• breed his a•••• was alwey aftir one A bett••r vyned man was nowher none Withoute bake mete was he neuer in his hous His fissh his flessh and that so plentuous It shewde in his hous of mete and drynke Of alle deyntees that men couthe thynke Aftir the sundry seson of the yeer So chaunged he his mete and his soper

Ful many a fat partrich hadde ••e in mewe And meny a brem and luce in ste••••e Wo was his cook but his sawce were Poynant and sharp and redy al his geer His tabil dormaunt in his halle alway Was redy couered al the longe day At sessions ther was he lord and sire Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire A lace and a gipser of silk Hyng at his girdil as white as morow mylk A shereue hadde he be and a coronour Was nowhere suche a worthy vauesour AN habirdassher ther was and a carpenter A webbe a dyer and a tapiser And they where clothed alle in olyuere Of a solempne and a greet fraternite Ful fressh and newe her geer piked was Here knyuys chapid were not with bras But al with siluer wrought ful clene•• wel Here girdelis and hir powchis eueridel Wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeis To sitten in the yeld halle at the deys Enerich for the wisedom that he can Was happely forto he an aldirman For cateill hadde they ynow and rent And here wyuys wolde it wel assent And ellis certayn they were to blame Hit is ful fair to be callyd madame And go to vigillis al before

And haue a mantel rially I bore A Cook they hadde with hem for the nonys To boylle the chekens & the mary bonys And powder marchaunt tart and galingale Wel knew he a draughte of london ale He coude roste sethe boyle and frye Make mortrewys and wel bake a pye But gret harm was it as it thoughte me For on his chynne a Marmoyl hadde he And blank Manger made he with the best A Shipman was ther that woned fer bewest For ought I woot he was of dertemouth He r••od vp a rowney as he cowth In a gowne foldynge to the kne A daggar and a lace hangynge had he A ••••••te his necke vnder his arm adoun The hote somer hadde made his hewe al broun And certaynly he was a good felawe Ful many a draughte wyn he hadde drawe Fro burdeu•• ward whyle the chapman sleep Of conscience took he no keep At ful many abataylle in that lond He faught and hadde the higher hond But of his craft to reken wel his tyde His stremys and his daungers hym beside Ther was non suche from hul in to Cartage For wyse he was though he were ful of corage Hardy he was and wa••r to vndertake With many a tempest his berd hath quake

He knew alle the hauenes that ther were Fro yngelond in to the Capfenester And euery cryke in brytayne and in spayne His barge was called the Maudeleyne WIth vs there was a doctour of phisik In the worlde was ther non̄ hym lik To speke of phisik and furgerye For he was groundid in Astronomye He kepte his paciente a greet deel In hour be magik natureel Wel couthe he of fortune the accident Of his ymage for his pacient He knew the cause of euery maladye Were it of cold hete moyst or drye And were engendred of what humour He was a very parfight practesour The cause he knew and of his harm the rote Anon̄ he yaf the sikman his bote For redy alway be his apotecarye•• To sende hym drugges & his lettewaryes For eche of them made other forto wynne Her frendship was not newe to begynne Ful wel knew he the olde Estulapius And diascorid and eke Platearius Olde ypocras. haly and eke Galiene Serapion̄ rasis and eke Auicene Anorrois damascene and Constantyn Bernard Gatisden and Gilbertyn Of his diete mesurable was he

For it was of no ••uperfluyte But of greet norisshinge and digestible His stody was but litil on the bybyll In sangwen and in perce I clad with all Lyned with taffata and whit sandall And li••il he was of his disp••nce He kepte that he whan in the pestelence For gold in phisik is a cordial Therfore he loued gold in special A Good wif ther was of beside bat••e And she was s••md••••l deef: þ^• was scathe Of cloth makynge had she suche an haunt She pass••d h••m of y••••e or of gaunt In al th•• pariss••e wif was ther non That to the offrynge before hir sholde goon And if t••••: did certayn wroth was she Th••n was she oute of al charite Her kerch••uys ful f••n w••re of ground I durste swere they w••y••d thre pound That on a sunday were on hir hed Her h••syn were of fyne scarlit reed Ful streyte I teyd and shoos ful newe Bold was her face fair & reed of ••ewe She was a worthy Womman al hir lyue Hushondis at the chr••che dore hadde she fyue Withoute o••her company in youthe But her of ned••th not to speke as nowthe At acres had she been and at Iherusaleme She had passid thouron many a stronge re••e

At rome she had be and at Babiloyne At saint Iames in Galis and at Coloyne She coude moche of wandrynge in the wey Gap tothid was she sothly to sey Vp on an Ambeler ful esely she sat I wymplid wel & on hir hed an hat As brood as it were a bokeler or a targe A foot mantil aboute hir hippis large And on hir helis a peire of sporis sharpe In feleship coude she lawhe and carpe Of remedyes of loue she counde {per}chaunce For of that art she coude the daunce A Good man ther was of Religion And was a poure parson of a toun But riche he was and holy of werk He was also a lerned man & a clerk That cristis gospell is trewly wolde preche His parishons deuoutly wolde he teche Benigne he was and wonder diligent And in aduersite ful pacient And suche he was proued ofte sithes Ful loth were he to curse for his tithis But rathir wolde he yeue out of doute Vnto his poure parishons aboute Of his offringe and of his sustenaunce He coude in lityl thing haue suffisaunce Wide was his parish and housis fer a sondir But he let not for rayn ne for thundir In siknesse ner in myschief to visite

The ferrest in his parish more and lite Vp on his feet and in his hond a staf This nobil ensample vnto his sheep he yaf That first he wroughte & aftirward taughte Out of the gospell the wordis he caughte And this figure he ekyd therto That if gold ruste what sholde Iren do For a preest to be foul in whom we truste No wonder is a lowd man to ruste And shame it is yf a preest take kepe A slotty shepherde and a clene shepe Wel oughte a preest ensample to yeue Be his clennesse how his sheep sholde lyue Be sette not his benefice to hire And lete his sheep acombre in the myre And renne to london to saint Poulis And seke hym a chauntrie for soulis Othir with a bretherhede to be witholde But duolle at hoom and kepe his folde So that the wolf ne hadde the maistrye He was a sheepherde and not a mercenarye And though he holy were and vertuous He was nat to a sinfulman to despitous But in his speche discreet and benigne Ne of his techyng daungerous ne digne To drawe ••olk to heuen with fairnesse Be good ••nsampyl this was his besinesse But it 〈…〉〈…〉e ony persone obstinat Whethe〈…〉〈…〉t were of high or lowe astat

Hym wolde he snybbe sharply for the nonys A better preest I trow nowhere non̄ is He waited aftir no pompe ne reverence He hadde no spiced conscience But cristis lore and his apostelis twelue He taughte but first he folowed hym selue With him ther was a polowmā was his broder That hadde led of dung many a fother A trewe swynker and a good was he Leuynge in pees and parfit charite God loued he best with al his herte At alle tymes they he gamed or smerte And than his neyghebour right as hym self He wolde thresshe and therto digge and delf For cristis sake for euery poure wight Withoute hire if it lay in his myght His tithes payde he bothe faire and wel Of his propir swynk and his catel In a tabard he rood vp on a mere There was also a reue and eek a Millere A somp nour and a pardoner also A Mancipill and my self ther was no mo THe millere was a stout carle for the nonys Ful big he was of braun and bonys That proued wel for euer there he cam At wrastlynge alwey he wolde haue the ram He was short shuldred a thicke quarre Ther was no dore that he nolde ••eue of the barr•• Or breke it at rennynge with his hed

His berde as ony sowe or wey was reed And therto b••ood as it were a spade Vp on the cop of his nose he hade A werte and ther ou s••ood a tufte of heris Rede as the beustelis of a sowes eris His nostrellis blak were and wyde A swerd and a bokeler baar ••e be his syde His mouth as greet as is a furneys He was a Ia••geler and a ioly hardeys And that w••s most of synne & harlotryes Wel coude ••e stele corn and tolle thryes And that he hadde a thomb•• of go•••• pard•• Awhit cote and a blew ho••d weryd he A bagge py••e coude he blowe and sowne And there with he broughte out of towne A Gentyl Mancipyl was ther of the tempyl Of whiche a catour m••ghte take ensampyl ••o••to ••e ••yse in byinge of vitayl For ••••eth••r he pa••••e or took be tayl Alg••te he waytyd so on his acate That he was a•• before and in good state Now is nat that of god a fair grace That suche a lewd mannys witte shal pace The wisedom of an heep of lerned men Of maistris hadde he moo than thries ten That were of lawe ••••ert and corious Of whiche ther were a dosen in that hous Worthy to be stuardis of rente and londe Of ony lord that is in Engelond

To make hym lyue be his owen good In honour detles but he were wood Othir lyue scarsely as hym list desire And forto helpe al the shire In ony cause that myghte falle or happe And this mancipill set al her cappe A Reue ther was a slendir colerik man His berd is shaue as nygh as he can His heris were be his eris rounde I shore His top was dockid lik a prest before Ful longe were his leggis and ful lene Lik a staf ther nys no calf I sene Wel coude he kepe a garner and a bynne Ther was non auditour coude of hym wynne Wel wiste he be the droughte and be the rayn̄ The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn̄ His lordis sheep his neet and his deirie His swyne his hors his stoor and his pultrie Was hoolly in this reuys gouernynge And by his couenaunt yaf the rekenynge Seth his lord was twenty yeer of age Ther coude noman brynge hym in rerage Ther nas bailly ne noon other hyne That coude his sleyghte or his couyne They were of hym a drad as of the deth His wonynge was fair vp on an heth With grene treys shadowed was his place He coude better than his lord purchace Ful riche he was astored pryuely

His lord he coude please discretly To yeue ayen to hym of his owen good And haue thank & yet acote and an hood In yongthe he hadde lerned a good mystere He was a wel good wright a Carpentere This reue sat vpon awel good stot That was al pomel gray and highte scot A long surco••e of Perce vp on hym he hadde And by his s••de he baar a rusty bladde Of Norfolk was this reue of whiche I telle Be syde a toun men calle Baldiswelle Tuckyd he was as is a frere aboute And euer he rood the hynderest of the rowte ASompnour with vs was in that place That hadde a reed cherubyn face For sawsfleme he was with yen narow ••••ot he was and likerous as a sparow With blake browes skallid and pilled berd Of his visage children were a fe••d Ther nas qu••ksiluer litarge ne bremstone Borace ceruse ne oyle of tartre none Ne oynement that ichith or byte That mighte helpe of his welkis white Ne of his knobbis sittynge in his chekys Well l••u••d he oynous garleek and lekys And forto drynke reed wyne as red as blood Than wolde he speke & crye as he wer wood And whan he hadde wel dronke the wyn Than wolde he speke no word but latyn

A fewe termes hadde he two or thre That he hadde lerned of ••um man of degre No wondir is he herde it al the day And eke ye knowe wel that a Iay Can clepe watte as wel as the pope But who coude hym in other thingis grope Than had he spent al his philosofie A questio quid queris wolde he crye He was a gentil harlot and a kynde A better felow sholde noman fynde He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn̄ A good felow to haue his concubyn̄ A twelf monthe & excuse hym at the fulle Ful pryuely a finche eke coude he pulle And yf he fond owher a good felawe He wolde teche hym anon to haue awe In suche caas of the archedekenes cures But yf mannys soule were in his purs For in his purs he sholde punysshyd be Purs is the archedekenes helle sayde he But wel I woot he lied in dede Of cursynge owght eche man to drede For cursynge wil sle right as soyling saueth And also ware hym of significaint In daunger hadde he at his owen gise Alle the yonge girlis of the diocyse And knew of hir counseil & was of her rede A garlond he hadde set vp on his hede As greet as it were an alestalk••

A bokeler hadde he maad hym of a Cake WIth hym ther rood a gentil pardone•• Of rouncyuale his frend & his comper That streight was come fro the pope of rome Ful lowde he song com hidir lene grom This sompnour baar to hym a styf burdon Was neuer trompe of half so greet a soun This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex And smothe it hyng as doth a strike of flex By ••ounses ••yng his lockis that he hadde And there with his sholdris ouer spradde But than it lay be Culpous one and one An hood for cold wered he none For it was trussed vp on his walet Hym thoughte he rood vp on the newe get S••ss••euyld saue his cappe he rood albare ••uc••e glarynge yen hadde he as hath an hare His walet beforn hym had he in his lappe A verna••le hadde ••e sowid vp on his cappe Brecte ful of pa••do•• com f••o rome al hoot Avois he hadde as smal as hath a goot No berd hadde he ne neuer sholde haue As moche was it as it were newe shaue I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare But of his ••••aft from Berwik vnto ware Ne was ther nowher suche a pardoner For in his male he hadde a pilow beer Whiche that he sayde was our ladies veyll He sayde he hadde a gobet of the seyll

That saint Petir hadde whan that he went Vp on the se til Iesus crist hym hent He hadde a cros of laton ful of stones And in a glas he hadde piggis bones But with thise reliques whan that he fond A poure person dwellynge vp on lond Vp on a day he gat hym more mone Than the person gat in monethis thre And thus hath he feyned flateriez & Iapis He made the parson and the pepill his apis But trewli to telle at the last He was in chirche an noble ecclesiast Well coude he rede a lesson or a story But alderbest he song an offretory For wel he wiste whan that song was sunge He moste preche and file a while his t••nge To wynne siluer as he wel can Therfore he song the merier than NOw haue I tolde you shortly in a claus•• The state the aray the nombre & the caus•• Why that assembled was this companye In Sowthwerk at this gentil hostelrye That highte the Taberd faste by the belle But now is tyme to you forto telle How that we hare vs that ilke nyght Whan that we were in the hostry a light And aftir wil I telle of our viage And al the remenaunt of our pilgremage But first I you pray of your curtasye

That ye ne rekene nat my vilonye Though that I playnly speke in this matere To telle you here wordis and hir chere And though I speke here wordis propirly For this ye knowe as wel as I Who shal a ••ale telle aftir a man He moste reherce as nere as he can Eu••r•• ••••rd yf it be in his charge 〈…〉〈…〉 so rudely and so large 〈…〉〈…〉 moste telle his tale vntrewe 〈…〉〈…〉hyngis or f••yne wordis newe 〈…〉〈…〉 spare al though he were his bro••h••r 〈…〉〈…〉 wel say o word as anoth••r 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ym self ful brode in holy wat 〈…〉〈…〉 wrot no vilany is it 〈…〉〈…〉 saith who so can it rede 〈…〉〈…〉 muste be c••syn to the dede ••ls•• •• ••ray you for yeue it me 〈…〉〈…〉 I sette not folk in her degre Her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thyse t••les as they sholde stonde My 〈…〉〈…〉 short ye may w••l vnderstonde GR••t ••h••re made our o••t to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••u••••ichon̄ And to sopere sette vs anon̄ He serued is with vitayll at the beste Strong was the wyne & drynke vs liste A semely man our host was with alle Forto be a marchal in a lordes halle A large man he was with yen stepe A feyrer burgeys is ther non in chepe

Bold of his speche and wel was I taught And of manhood lacked he right nought Eke therto was he right a mery man And aftir s••pp••r to pleyn he began And spak of myrthe among other thinges Whan that we hadde made our rekenynges He sayde thus now lordynges treuly Ye be to me right welcome hertly For be my trowthe yf I shal not ly I saw not this ••••er so mery a companye At onys in th•• ••••rborow as now Feyne wolde I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you myrthe yf I wiste bow And of my my••the I am right now be thought To do you ese and it shal coste you nought Ye go to Caun••••••bury god you spede The blisful martir quyte your mede And wel ye woo•• as ye go be the weye Ye shappyn you to ••••lke and to pleye For trewly com••••••t ne myrthe is non̄ To ride be the w••••••dom as a stoon̄ And therfore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I make you disport As I sayde erst an•• do you comfort And if it liketh y••u alle be on assent Forto ston••e at m•• iugement And forto worke ••s I shal you say To morow whan y•• ••iden on the way Now be my fader so•••••• that is ded But ye be mery I shal y••u•• you my ••ed Hold vp your hond withoute more speche

Our counsel shal not longe be to seche Vs thoughte it was not worth to make vs wyse And graunted hym withoute more avyse And bad hym saye his verdit as hym list Lordynges qd he now herkeneth for the best But take it not I pray you in disdeyne This is the poynt to speke it short & pleyne That eche of you to shorte with your weye In this v••age shal telle talis tweye To Cauntirburyward I mene it so And homward he shal telle other talis to Of auerturis that whilom haue befalle And whiche of you berith hym best of alle That is to sey that tellith in this case Tales of best sentence and most solace ••hal haue a soper of oure alther cost ••ere in this place sittynge by this post Whan that ye come ayen from Caunterbury And forto make you the more mery I wil m•• self go with you and ryde Right at myn owen cost and be your gyde And who that wol my iugement with say Shortly shal paye all that is spent be the way And if ye vouchesauf that it be soo Tel me anone withoute wordis moo And I wil hertly shape me therfore This thing was graunted & othis swore With ful glad herte & preyen hym also That he wolde vouches••uf to do so

And that he wolde be our gouernour And of oure talis Iuge and reportour And sette a soper at a certayn pryce And wol be rewlid at his deuyce High and lowe and alle be on assent We be accorded to the Iugement And there vp on the wyne was set anone We dronk and to reste went we echone With oute euy lenger taryynge Amorow whan the day gan sprynge Vp roos our host and was al our cok And gadred vs alle in a flok And forth we riden lityl more than a paas Vnto the waterynge of saint Thomas And there oure hoste gan his hors areste And sayde harkeneth lordingez yf ye liste Ye woot our forward and I you recorde Yf euensong and morow song acorde Let se now who shal telle the firste tale As euyr moot I drynke wyne or ale Who so wil be rebel to my iugement Shal paye for al that is be the way spent NOw draw art or that ye further twynne Whiche shal the firste tale begynne Sire knyght quod he my maister & my lord Drawith cut for that is myn accord Cometh hithir quod he my lady Prioresse And ye sire clerk let be your shamefastnesse Ne stody not ley on hond euery man

Anon to withdrawe euery wight began And shortly to telle as it was Were it be auenture fortune or caas The soth is this the cut fil on the knyght Of whiche ful blithe & glad is euery wight And telle h•• moste as it was reson Be fo••ward and be composicion As ye haue herd what nedith wordis moo And whan this good man saw that it was soo As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that was wyse and obedie•••• To 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hi•• forward be his fre assent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s••yde sithne•• I shal begynne the game What welcom be cut a goddis name Now lat vs ryde & herkyn what I say And with that word we riden forth on the way And ••e began with right a mery chere And sayde anone his tale as ye shul here

••Here begynneth the knyghtis tale.

WHilom as olde story telleth vs Th••r was a duke that highte Theseus Of thebes he was lord and gouernour And in his tyme suche a conquerour That gretter was ther none vnder sonne Ful many a riche contre had he wonne That with his wisedom and chiualrye He conque•••••• al the regne of femenye That whilom was cleped Cithea And wedded the quene Ipolita And broughte h••r home in to his contre

With moche glorie and solempnite And eke hir yonge suster Emelye And thus with victory and melodye Lete I this worthy duke to Athenes ryde And al his oost in armes hym besyde And certis if it nere to long to here I wolde haue tolde fully the matere How wonne was the regne of femenye Be Theseus and by his cheualrye And of the grete bataille for the nonys Betwix athenes and amasones And how beseged was Ipolita The faire lady quene of Cith••a And of the feste tha•• was at hir weddynge And of the tempest at hir hom comynge But al thinge I moot as now forbere I haue god woo•• a large feld to ere And week ••••n the o••••n in the plow The remenant of my tale is long ynow I wil not lette ••k•• none of this rowte Let euery felow ••elle his tale aboute And let se now who shal the souper wynne And there I lefte I w••l agayn begynn•• THis duke of whom I make mencion Whan he was come almost in to the toun He was wa•••• as he cast his ye a syde In al his welthe and his most pryde Where that ther kneled in the high wey A companye of ladies twey and twey

Eche aftir other clothed in clothes blake But suche a d••y and suche a woo they make That in this worlde nys creature lyuynge That herde suche an other weymentynge And of this cry they wolde neuer stentyn Tyl they the reynys of his bridyl hentyn What folk be ye that at myn hom comyng Perturbe me and my feste with cryynge Qued Theseus haue ye so gret enuye Of myn honour that thus compleyne & crye Or who hath you mysboden or offended Tel me and it shal be amended And why that ye be clothed thus in blak The eldest lady of hem alle spak Whanne she hadde swowned with a dedly chere That it was rowthe to see and to here She sayde lord to whom fortune hath yeue Victory and as a conquerour to lyue Nought greueth vs your glory & your honour But we beseke you of mercy and socour Haue mercy on our woo and distresse Som drope of pyte for thy gentilnesse Vp on vs wrecchid wommen let now falle For certis lord ther is non of vs alle That she ne hath be a duchesse or a quene Now be we caytifs as it is wel sene I thanked be fortune and hir fals wheel That non astat ensureth to be weel Now certis lord to abyde your presence

Here in this temple of goddis clemence We haue be waytinge al this fourtenyght Now help vs lord seth it is in thy might I wrecched wight that wepe thus Was somtyme wif of Campaneus That starf at Thebes acursid be that day And alle we that ben in this aray And make al this lamentacion We losten alle our husbondis in that toun Whiles the sege there aboute lay And yet now the olde creon wel away That lord is now of Thebes that cyte Fulfilled of Ire and iniquyte He for despit and his tirannye To do the ded bodyes vilonye Of alle our lordis whiche that ben slawe Hath alle the bodyes on an heep I drawe And wol not suffre hem be non̄ assent Neyther to be buryed ne to be brent But makith houndis to ete hem in despyt And with that word withoute more respyt They fallen groflynge and crye pitously Haue on vs wrecchid wommen som mercy And let our sorow synke in thy hert This gentil duke of his courser stert With herte pitous whenne he herde hem speke Hym toughte his herte wolde breke Whan he saw hem so pitous and so mate That whilom were of so great astate

And in his armes he ••em alle vp hent And hem comforted in ful good entent And swore his oth as he was trewe knyght He wolde do so ferforth his myght Vp on the tiraunt Creon hym to wreke That al the pepyl of grece sholde speke How Creon was of Theseus y serued As ••e that hath his deth wel deserued And right anon withouten more abo••d His baner ••e displayde and forth he rood To Th••bes ward and al his oste besyde No ner Athenes nolde he goo ne ryde Ne take his ese nat fully half aday But on his wey that nyght he lay And sente anon I po••ita the quene And Emely hir yonge sustir shene Vnto the toun of Athenes to dwelle And forth he rideth ther is nomore to telle HE rood the statu with spere and ••••rge So shyneth in his whit baner larg•• That alle the ••eld••s gliteren vp and doun And he his baner born̄ is his penon̄ Of gold ••ul ri••he in whiche therwas I bete The Mytan whiche he wan in crete This riche duke this riche conquerour And in his oste of chiualrye the flour Tyl that he cam to Thebes and a lighte Fer in a f••ld there as he thoughte to fighte But shortly to speke of this thyng

With Creon whiche was of thebes kyng He faught and slow hym manly as a knyght In playn bataille and put his folk to fight And at a sawte he wan the cyte aftir And rente a doun wal sparre and raftir And to the ladyes he restored ageyn̄ The bodyes of her husbondis that were sleyn̄ To do obsequyes as tho was the gyse But it were al to long to douyse The gret clamour and the weymentyng That the ladyes made at the buryyng Of the bodyes and the grete honour That The••eus the nobil conquerour Doth to the ladyes when they fro hym went But shortly forto telle is myn entent When that this worthy duke this Theseus Hath Creon slayn and wan Thebes thus Stille in the felde he took al nyght his rest And dide with al the contre right as hym list He ransaked in the taas of bodyes dede Hem for to strype of harneis and of wede The pilours dide hir besinesse and cure Aftir the bataille and the discomfiture And befil that in that taas they fond Thorow girt with meny a greuous wound Two yonge knyghtis lyyng by and by Bothe in one harneis wrought ful richely Of whiche two arcite highte that one And the other highte Palamon̄

Not fully quyk ne fully ded they were But by hir ••otearmur and by hir gere The herowdes knew hem best in special Alas that they were of the blood ryal Of Thebes and of fustryn two ybore Out of the taas the pilours haue hem tore And haue hem caried in to the tent Of Theseus and he ful sone hem sent To Athenes to dwelle there in prison Perpetuel ••e nolde no raunson And whan this worthy duke hadde thus don He took his ost and hom he goth anon With laurer crowned as a conquerour And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour Terme of his lif what nedith wordis moo And in a tour with anguysh and with woo Dwellith Palamon and arcite For euermore ther may no man hem quyte THus passed yeer be yeer day be day Tyl it fyl oues in a mornynge of may That Emely that fairer was to se Than is the lily vp on the stalk tree And fressher than may with flouris newe For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe I not whiche was the feirer of hem two Er it was day as was her wont to doo She was arysen and al redy dight For may wol haue no slogard a nyght The seson pricketh euery gentyl herte

And maketh it out of his slepe to sterte And sithnes a ryse to do hir obseruauncis This makith Emely to haue remembrauncis To do honoure to may and for to ryse I clothed fressh was she to deuyse Her yelow heer was broided on a tres Be hynd her bak a long yerd I ges And in the gardyn at the sonne vprist She walked vp and doun as hir list She gadred flowris part white and rede To make a subtyl chapelet for hir led And as an aungel heuenly she songe The grete tour that was so thicke and stronge Whiche of the Castel was chief dungeoun There as the knyghtis weren in prisoun Of whiche I tolde you and telle shal Was euene ioynant to the Castel w••ll There as this Emely had her pleyyng Bryght was the sonne & cleer in that mornyng And Palamon this woful prisoner As was his wone be leue of his gailer Was risen and romed in the chambir on hy In whiche al the noble cyte he sy And eke the gardyn ful of braunchis grene There as fressh Emely the shene Was in hir walk & rom••d vp and doun This sorowful p••isoner this Palamoun Goth in the chambir to and fro And to hym self compleyned of his wo

That he was born̄ ful ofte he sayde allas And so be fyl be auenture and ••aas That thorow a wyndow thikke of many a barre Of yren greet and squaar as ony sparre He cast his yen vp on Emelia And ther with as he blente he cryde a As though he were stongyn to the hert And with that cry arcite anone vp stert And sayde cosyn myn what eileth the That art so pale and dedly on to see Why ••••yest thou who hath do the offence For goddis loue take al in pacience Our prison for it may non other be Fortune hath yeue vs this aduersite Or ell•••• som wikked aspect or disposicion Of saturne be som constillacion Hath yeue vs this al they we had sworn̄ So stood the heuene whan we were born̄ We moste endure this is the short and playn This Palamon answerd and sayde agayn Cosyn forsothe of this oppinion Thou hast a veyn ymaginacion This prison causid me not to crye But I was hurt now thurgh myn eye Vnto my hert that wol my bane be The fairnesse of a lady that I see Yonder in the gardyn romynge to and froo Is cause of my cryynge and my woo I not whether she be womman or goddesse

But venus it is sothly as I gesse And therwith al o••••••nees doun he fil And sayde venus yf it be thy wil Yow in this gardyn thus to transfygure Before me sorowful wrecche thy creature Out of this prison help that we may scape And if it be my destenye so to hape Be etern worlde to dye in prison Of our lynage haue som compassion That is so lowe I brought be tyrannye And with that word arcyte gan espye Where as the lady wente to and fro And with that sighte her beaute hurte hym so That yf Palamon were wounded sore Arcite is hurt as moche as he or more And with a sigh he sighed pitously The fressh beaute shal sle me sodenly Of hire that cometh in the yonder place And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace That I may se her at the leste wey I am but ded ther is no more to sey THis Palamon when he thise wordis herd Dispitously he loketh and ansuerd Whethir saist thow this in ernest or in play Nay quod arcite in ernest be my fay God helpe so me lust ful lityl to play This Palamon gan knytte his browis tway Hit were quod he to the no gret honour Forto be fals ne to be a traitour

To me that am thy cosyn and thy brother I sworn̄ ••ul depe and eche of vs to other That neuer forto dien in the peyn Tyl that the deth departe shal vs tweyn Neither in loue to hyndre other Ne in no euil caas my leue brother But that thou sholdest truly further me In euery caas as I sholde further the This was thyn oth and myn certayn I woot it wel thou darst it not withsayn Thus art thou of my counsel withoute doute And now thou woldist falsly be aboute To l••ue my lady whom I loue and serue And eu••r shal tyl myn herte sterue Now certis fals ••rcite thou shalt not soo I loued hir first and tolde the my woo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to my couns••••l and to my brother sworn̄ I s••••pos•• thou louedist hir here b••••orn̄ Wost thou not wel the olde clerkis sawe That who shal ••eue alouer ony lawe Loue is gretter lawe be my panne Than may be yeue to ony erthly manne And therforee positif lawe in suche degre Is broken alday for loue in eche degre Aman moste nedis loue magre his hed He may not fle it though he sholde be ded Al be she mayde widowe or wyf And eke it is not likly al thy lyf To stonde in her grace nomore shal I

For wel thou wost thy self verily That thou and I be dampned to prison Perpetually vs gayneth no raunson Ne stryue as did the houndis for the bone They faught alday and yet her part was none Ther cam a curre while that they were so wroth And ••aar awey the bone betwix hem bothe And therfore at the kyngis court my broder Eche man for hym self there is non̄ other Loue yf thou list for I loue and shal And sothly lief broder this is al Here in this prison moste we endure And euery of vs take his auenture Gret was the stryf & long betwix hem twey Yf that I hadde leyser forto sey But to the effect it happed on a day To telle it shortly as I may A Worthy duke that highte Parotheus That felow was to duke Theseus But of that story list me not to endite Duke Parotheus loued wel arcite And hadde hym knowe at thebes yeer be yeer And finally at the request and praier Of Parotheus withoute euy raunson Duke Theseus leet hym out of prison Frely to go where hym list ouer al In suche a gyse as I you telle shal This was the forward playnly to endyte Betwix duke Theseus and arcyte

That if so were that arcite were founde Euer in his lyf be day or be stounde In ony contre of this duke Theseus And ••e were caught it was acorded thus That with a swerd he sholde lese his hed T••er was non oher remedy ne reed But takith his leue & hounward hym spedde Let hym bewaar his lyf lith to wedde Hit were a gret thing to te•••••• and to wite How gre••t sorow now suffrith arcite Now is me shapyn eternally to dwelle Nought in purgatory but in helle Allas that euer lenew I parotheus For ••llis hadde I duelt with Theseus I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his prison with moo ••han hadde I be in ease and not in woo Only the sighte of hir whom that I serue T••••ugh that I neuer her grace may deserue Wol••e haue suffised right ynow for me O dere cosyn Palamon quod he Thyn is the victory of this auenture Ful bli••••ul in prison mayst thou endure In prison nay certis but in paradyse Wel hath fortune to the turned the dyse That hath the sighte of hir in myn absence For possible it is sethnes thou hast hir presence And art a knyght worthy and able That by som caas syn fortune is chaungeable Thou mayst som tyme to thy desire atteyne

But I that am exiled and bareyne Of alle grace and so in gret despeir That ther nys water erthe fyre ne eir Ne creature that of hem made is That may me helpe or comfort do I wis Wel oughte I sterue in wanhope and distres Far wel my lif my lust and my gladnes Allas why playnen men so in com̄une Of purneaunce of god or of fortune That yeueth hem ofte in meny wyse Wel better than hem self can deuyse Som men desire to haue rychesse That cause is of murdre or gret siknesse And som man wolde out of his prison feyn That in his hous of his meyne is sleyn Infynyt harmes be in this matere We woot not what thing we praye here We faren as he that dronke is as a mous A dronken man wot wel he hath an hous But he woot not whiche is the righte wey thider To a dronkyn man the wey is slidir And certis in this worlde so fare we We sekyn faste aftir felicite But we go wrong ful ofte sikirly Thus may we say alle and namely I That wente haue had a gret oppinion̄ That and I myghte scape out of prison̄ Than hadde I be in Ioye and in parfyt hele Ther now I am exiled fro myn hele

Sithnes I may not se you Emelye I ne am but ded ther is no remedye Vpon that other syde Palamon Whan that be wiste arcite was goon Suche sorow he makith that the grete tour Resouned of his yellyng and his clamour The pure feteris on his shynys grete Were of his bittir salt teris wete Allas quod he arcite cosyn myn Of al our strif god woot the fruyt is thyn Thou walkist now in thebes at thy large And of my woo you yeuest lityl charge Thou mayst say thou hast wisedom & manhede Assemble alle the folk of our kynrede And ••ake warre so sharp on this contre That by som auenture or by som trete Thou maist haue hir to lady and to wyf For whom I muste nedis lese my lyf For as by w••y of possibilite Sithnes thou art at large and of prison fre And art a lord gret is thyn auauntage More than is myn shit her in a cage For I may wepe and wayle whylis tha•• I lyue With al the woo that prison may me yeue And eke with peyne that loue me yeuyth also That doublith al my tourment and my woo Therwith the fyre of ielosye vp stert With ynne his brest and hent hym by the hert So woodly that he likly was to beholde

The box tre or the ash tre ded or colde That sayde se o cruel goddis that gouerne The worlde with bidydng of your word eterne And writen in the tabyl of the athament Your parlement and your etern̄ gaudent What is mankynde more vnto you holde Than is the sheep that ronkith in the folde For slayn is man right as anothir beest And duellith eke in prison and in arest And hath siknesse and gret aduersite And ofte tyme giltlees parde What gouernaylle is in this prescience That giltlees turmentith Innocence And yet encresith this al my penaunce That man is bounde to his obseruaunce For goddis sake to lettyn of his wil There as a beest may al his wil fulfil And whan a b••est is ded he hath no peyne But aftir his deth man may wepe & playne Though in this worlde he haue care and wo Withoute doute it may stonde so The ansuer of this lete I to deuynes But wel I woot that in this worlde gret pyne is Allas I se a serpent or a theef That many a trew man hath do myschief Goon at his large & where hym list may turne But I muste be in prison thourgh saturne And thourgh hym vnhappy and eek wood That hath destroid wel nygh al the blood

Of thebes with his wast wallis wyde And venus sletth me in that other syde For Ielosie and feer of hym and arcite Now wol I stynte of Palamon alite And lete hym in his prison stille duelle And of ••rcite forth I wol you telle The somer passed the nyghtis wax long Encrecith he doubil wyse the peynes strong Bothe of the louer and of the prisoner I ne woot who hath the wofuller myster For shortly to say of this Palamon Perpet••elly is dampned to prison In cheyn••s and in feters to be ded And arcite is exiled on his hed For ••uermore and out of that contre For neuer more shal be his lady se Yow louers axe I now this question Who hath the worse of arcite & of Palamon That one may se his lady day be day But in prison muste he dwelle alway That other where hym list may ryde or goo But se his lady shal he neuer moo Now demyth as ye list ye that can For I wil telle forth as I began Whan that arcite to Thebes come was Ful ofte aday he swelte and sayde allas For se his lady shal he neuer moo And shortly to conclude all his woo So moche sorow ne hath creature

That i•• or shal be while the world may dur•• His sleep his mete his drynk is hym beraft That lene he wax and drye as is a shaft His yen holow and grisly to be holde His hewe falow and pale as asshyn colde And solitary he was and euer a lone And waylinge as he mighte makyng his mone And yf he herde song or instrument Than wolde he wepe he might not stent So febyl were his spiritis and so lowe And chaunged so that no mā coude hym knowe His speche ne his wis though men it herde As in his gire for al the worlde it ferde Nought lik the louers maladye Of heris but rathir I lik to many Engendrid of humour malencolyk Beforn̄ in his cell fantastyk And shortly turned was al vp so doun Bothe habit and disposicion̄ Of hym this woful louer dan arcite What sholde I of his wo alday endite Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two This cruel turment this peyne and woo At Thebes in his contre as I sayde Vpon a nyght in slepe as he hym layde Hym thoughte how that the wynged Mercury Beforn hym stood and bad hym be mery His slepy zerd he baar in hond vp right An hat he baar vpon his heris bright

Araid was this god as he took kepe As he was whan argus took his slepe And saide him thus to athenes thou shalt wende There is the shape of thy woo an ende And with that word arcite awook and stert Now trewly how sore that me smert Quod he to athenes wil I fare Ne for no drede of deth shal I spare To se m•• lady that I serue In ••er presenc•• recke I not to sterue And with that word he caughte a mryrour And saw that chaunged was his colour And saw his v••sage al in anothir kynde And right anon it ran hym in his mynde That sithnes his face was disfugured Of maladye the whiche he hadde endured He m••ghte wel if that he bare hym lowe Lyue in athenes e••ermore vnknowe And s•• his lady wel nyhe day be day And right anon he chaunged his aray And clad hym as a poure laborer And a lone saue only a poure squyer That knew his priuite and his caas Whiche was disguysed pourely as he was To athenes is he gon the nexte way And to the court he wente vp on aday And at the gate he profryd his seruise To drug & to drawe & what men wolde deuyse And shortly of this mater forto seyn

He fil in office toward a chambirleyn The whiche that was dwellyng with Emelye For he was wyse and wel coude aspye Of euery seruaunt whiche that serued there Wel coude he hewe wode and watir bere For he was yong and mighty for the nonys And therto he was strong & big of bonys To do that euy wight hym coude deuyse A yeer or two he was in this seruise Page in the Chambir of Emely the brighte And Philostrat he sayde that he highte But half so wel a loued man as he Ne was ther non̄ in court of his degre He was so gentyl of condicion That thurgh al the court was his renoun They sayde that it were charite That Theseus wolde enhaunse his degre And put hym in a worshipful seruise There that he mighte his vertu excercise And thus withyn awhile his name sprong Bothe of his dedis and of his tong That Theseus hath take hym so nere That of his chambir he made hym a squyere And yaf hym gold to mayntene his degre And eke men broughte hym out of his contre Fro yeer to yeer ful pryuely his rente But honestly and slighly he it spente That no man wondred how that he it hadde And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladd••

And baar hym in pees and eke in warre Ther was noman that Thes••us hadde derre ANd in this blisse lete I now arcite And speke I wil of Palamon alite In derknesse horrible and in strong prison This s••uen yeer hath sete this Palamon For pyned what for woo and distresse Who felith dowbyl woo and heuynesse But Palamon that loue distreyueth soo That wood out of his wit he ny goth for woo And eke therto he is a prisoner Per••etuel and not only for a yeer W•••• cowde ryme in englissh propirly His matirdom forsothe it am not I Th••rfore I passe as lightly as I may I wylle not taire yow alle the day Th•• thirde n••ght as olde bokis sayn Th••t all this story tellith more and playn Were it be auenture or destyne Alas that whan a thing is shapyn it shal be That sone aftir the mydnyght Palamon Be help of a frend broke hath his prison And fleeth fro the prison as sone as he may goo For he hadde yeue his gailer drynke soo Of clarrey made of a certeyn wyne With nercotises and Epye of Thebes fyne That half þ^• night though men wolde hym shake The gayler so slep••e he mighte not awake And thus he fleyhe as faste as he may

The nyght was short & faste be the day That nedis cost he moste hym self hyde And to a groue faste besyde With dredful herte than stalketh Palamon For shortly this was his oppinion That in that groue he wolde hym hyde alday And in the night than wolde he take his way To Thebes ward his frendis forto prey On Theseus to helpe hym werrey And shortly eyther he wolde lese his liff Or wynne Emelye to his wiff This is the effect and the entent playn Now wil I turne to arcite agayn That lityl wiste how nygh was his care Tyl that fortune had brought hym in the snare The mery larke messanger of may Salueth in hir song the morow gray And fity Phebus risith vs so bright That al the orient laughith of the sight And with his stremys dryeth the greues The siluer droppis hangynge on the leuys And arcite that in the court ryal With Theseus his squyer principal Is risyn and loketh on the mery day And forto do his obseruaunce to may Remembrynge on the poynt of his desire He on his courser stirtinge lik the fire Is riden in to the feldis hym to pleye Out of the Court were it a myle or tweye

And to the groue of whiche that I you told•• By auenture his wey he gan to holde To make hym a garlond of the greuys Were it of wodebynde or of hawthorn leuys And lowde ••e song ayens the sonne shene May al thy flowris and thy grene Welcome be thou fressh faire May In hope that I som grene gete may And fro his courser with a lusty hert In to the groue ful lustely he stert And in a path he romed vp an doun Where as by auenture this Palamon Was in a bussh that noman mighte hym se Ful sore a ferd of his deth was he No thing knew he that this was arcite God woot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite But soth is sayd go sithen is many yeris That feld hath yen and wode hath eris Hit is ful faire aman to bere hym euyn For alday men mete at vnset steuyn For lityl wente arcite of his felawe That was so nygh to herkyn of his sawe Whan that arcite hadde romed al his fyll Palamon in the bush now sittith styll And arcite song al the roundel lustily In to a study he fyl sodenly As doon thise louers in hir queynte giris Now in the crop and now in the breris Now vp now doun as boket in awelle

Right as the friday sothly forto telle Now it shyneth now it rayneth fast Right so gan guerri venus ouer cast The hertis of her folk right as her day His guery thought so chaungeth his aray Selde is the friday al the woke lik Whan that arcite hadde songe he be gan to sike And he set hym doun withoute euy more Allas quod he the day that I was bore How longe Iuno thurgh thy cruelte Wilt thow werien thebes the Cyte Alas y brought is to confusion̄ The blood ryal of Cadyn and amphion̄ Of Cadimis whiche that was the firste man That Thebes bilt or first the toun began And of the cyte first was crouned kyng Of his lynage am I and of his ofspryng Be verray lyne and of stok ryal And now I am so kaytyf and so th••al That he that is my mortal enemy I serue hym and am his squyer pouerly And yet doth me Iuno welmore shame For I dar not be knowe myn owen name But there as I wont was to highte arcite Now highte I philostrat not worth amyte Allas thou fel mars allas Iuno Thus your ire hath our lynage al fordo S••ue only on wrecchid Palamon That Theseus martrith in prison

And ouer all this to sle me vtterly Loue hath his firy dart so brennyngly It stikyd thorugh my trew careful hert That shapen was erst my deth or my shert Ye sle me with your yen Emelye Ye be the cause wherfore that I dye Of al the remenaunt of myn other care Ne secte I not the mountaunce of a tare So that I coude do aught to your plesaunce And with that word he fyl doun in a traunce A longe tyme and aftirward vp stert This Palamon that thoughte thorow his hert He felt a cold swerd sodenly glide For ire he quoke he nolde no lengir abyde And whan that he hath herd arcites tale As ••e were wood with face ded and pale H•• stirt hym vp out of the bussh thicke And sayde arcite fals traitour wicke Now are thou ••ent that louest my lady so For whom that I haue this peyne and woo And art my blood and to my counceyl sworn̄ And I ful ofte haue told the here beforn̄ And hast be iapyd here duke Theseus And falsly hast chaunged thy name thus I wil be ded or ellis thou shalt dye Thou shalt not loue my lady Emelye But I wil loue h••r only and no mo For I am Palamon thy mortal fo And though I haue no wepyn in this place

But out of prison am stert be grace That thou sholdist dye of myn hond For I defie the seuerte and the bond Whiche that thou saist I haue made to the What verrey fole thynk that loue is fre And I wil loue hire magre al thy might But for as muche as thou art a knyght And woldist darrayn here be bataille Haue here my trouthe to morow I wil not faile Withoute witinge of ony other wight That here I wil be founden as a knyght And bryngen harneis right ynow for the And chees the beste and leue the worst for me And mete & drynke this nyght wil I bringe I now for the & clothis for thy beddynge And yf so be that thou my lady wynne And sle me in this wode that I am Inne Thou maist wel haue thy lady as for me This Palamon answerd I graunte hit t••e And thus they be departyd tyl amorow Whan eyther of hem hath leyd her feith to borow Occupied out of alle charite O regne that woldist haue no felow with the Ful soth is said that loue ne lordship Wil not his thankes haue ony feleship We fynde thus of arcite and Palamon Arcite is riden anon into the toun And on the morow anon or it were light Ful pryuely two harneis hath he dight

Bothe sufficient and mete to darreygne The bataylle in the feld betwix hem tweyne And on his hors alone as he was born̄ He caryed the harneis hym beforn̄ And in the groue at tyme and place set This arcite and this Palamon been met To chaunge gan the colour in her face Right as hunters the in regne of trace That stondeth at the gappe with a spere Whan huntyd is the lioun and the bere And herith hym come russhing in the greuys And b••ckith bothe bowes and eke leuys And thinkith here comyth my mortal enemy Withoute fayle he muste be ded or I For eyther I moste sle hym acte gappe Or he muste sle me yf I mys happe So fer••en they in chaunging of her hue As fer as ony of hem other knewe Ther nas no good day ne saluynge But streyght withoute wordis of rehercyng Euerich of hem helpith to arme other As frendly as he were his owen brother And aftir that with sharpe speris strong They foynen eche at other longe Thou myghtist wene that this Palamon In his fighting were a lioun And as a cruel tigre was arcite As wilde boris gan they to geder smyte That freten whit as foom for ire wood

Vp to the ancle foughte they in her blood And in this wyse I lete hem fighting duelle And forsoth I wil of Theseus telle The destenye mynyster general That excusith in the worlde ouyr al The purneaunce that god hath beforn̄ So stran̄ge it is that though þ^e worlde had sworn̄ The contrary of a thing be ye or nay Yet somtyme it shal falle vp on aday That fallith not eft in a thousand yeer For certenly our appetitys heer Be it of pees hate warre or loue Al is rewlid be the sighte aboue This mene I now be mighty Theseus That forto hunte is so desirous And namely at the grete hert in may That in his bed ther dawid hym no day That he nys clad and redy forto ryde With hunte and horn̄ and houndis be his syde For in his huntynge hath he suche delite That it is al his ioye and his appetite To be hym self the grete ••ertis ••••ne For aftir Mars he seruyth now dyane Cleer was the day as I haue told or this And Theseus with al ioye and blis With his Ipolita the faire quene And Emely I clothyd al in grene An huntyng ben they riden rially And to the groue that stood ther fast by

In whiche ther was an hert as men hym tolde Duke Theseus the streight wey hath holde And to the launde he ridith ful right For thider was the hert wont to haue his flight And ouer abrook and so forth on his way The duke wolde haue acours of hym or twey With h••undis suche as he list to comaunde And whan this duke was come to the launde Vnder the sonne he lokyd and that anon̄ He was waar of arcite and Palamon̄ That foughten breme as it were bolis two The bright suerdis wente to and fro So hidonsly that with the leste strook He semyd that it wolde haue fellyd on ook But what they were no thing he ne woot This duke with his sporis his courser smote And at a sterte he was betwix hem two And pullyd out his swerde and sayde ho Nomo•••• on peyne of lesing of your hed Be myghty mar•••• anon ye shul be ded That smy••••••h ony strook that I may se But tellith me what myster men ye be That ben so hard•• to fighte here Withoute Iuge or other officere As though it were in listis rially This Palamon answerde hastely And sayde syre what nedith wordis moo We haue the d••th deserued bothe twoo Two woful wre••••his be we and knyghtis

That ben encombred of oure lyuys And as thow art a rightful lord and Iuge Ne yeue vs neyther mercy ne refuge But sle me first for saint charite But sle my felow eke as wel as me Or ellis hym first for they thou knowe hym lite He is thy mortal fo this is arcite That fro thy lond was banysshed on his hed For whiche he hath deserued to be ded For this is he that cam to thy yate And sayde that he highte Philostrate Thus he hath iaped the many a yeer And thow hast maad hym thy chief squyer And this is he that loueth Emely For sithnes the day is come that I shal dy I make pleynly my confession̄ That I am that woful Palamon That hath thy prison broke wickedly I am thy mortal fo and he am I That loueth so hote Emely the bright That I wil dye here present in her sight Therfore I axe deth of my Iewise But sle my felow in the same wise For bothe haue we deserued to be slayn THis worthy duke ansuerde anon̄ agayn̄ And saide this is a short conclusion̄ Your owen mouth be your confession̄ Hath dampned you and I wil it recorde Hit nedith not to peyne with the corde

Ye shul be ded be myghty mars the rede The quene anon for verray wommanhede Gan forto wepe and so dede Emelye And alle the ladyes in that companye Gret pyte was it as hem thoughte alle That euyr suche a chaunce sholde be falle For gentilmen they were and of gret astat And no thing but for loue was this debaat And sawe hir blody woundis wide and sore And alle cryden bothe lasse and more Haue mercy lord vpon vs wymmen alle And on her bare knees doun they falle And wolde haue kild hem there as they stood Tyl at the laste slakyd was his mood For pyte renneth sone in gentyl herte And though he first for ire quoke and sterte He considered shortly in a clause The trespas of hem bothe and eke the cause And al though that his ire hire gilt acused Zit in his reson he hem bothe excused And thus he thoughte wel that euery man Wil helpe hym self in loue al that he can And delyuer hym self out of pryson And eke in his herte he hadde compassion Of wommen for they were euer in one And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon̄ And softe vnto hym self he sayde fy Vp on a lord that wil haue no mercy But be a lioun bothe in word and dede

To hem that ben in repentaunce and drede As wel as a proud dispitous man That wil mayntene that he first began That lord hath litil of discression̄ That in suche a caas can no diuision̄ But weyeth pryde and humbles aftir one And shortly whan his ire is thus agon̄ He gan to loke on hem with yen blake & vglye And spak thise wordis al on hye The god of loue a benedicite How mighty and how gret alord is he Agayns his might ther gayneth non̄ obstakyl He may be clepid a god for his mirakyl For he can make at his owen gyse Of euery herte as hym list deuyse Lo here this arcite and this Palamon That queyntly cam out of my prison̄ And mighte a lyuyd in thebes ryally And knowen I am her mortal enemy And that here deth lith in me also And yet hath loue magre hir yen two Brought hem hither bothe forto dye Now lokith is not this an high folye Who may be a fole but yf that he loue Behold for goddis sake that sittith aboue Se how they blede be they not wel arayd Thus hath her lord the god of loue hem payd Her wages and her fees of her seruyse And yet they wene forto be wyse

That serue loue for aught that may falle But this is yet the beste game of alle That she for whom they haue this Iolite Can hem therfore as moche thank as me She wot nomore of al this ••oot fare Be god th••n woot a Cu••kow or an hare But al muste be assayd ••oot or cold A man muste be a fool yong or old I woot it be my self ful longe agoon For in my tyme a seruaunt was I one And therfore sethnys I knowe of louys peyne And wot how fore hit can a man distreyne As he that hath be caught in this laas I yow foryeue hoolly this trespaas And at the request of the quene that knelith here And eke of Emely my ••uster dere And ye shul bothe vnto me swere That neuer ye shal my croune dere Ne make warre on me nyght ne day But be my frendes in al that ye may I yow foryeue this trespas farr and weel And they hym swar his axing eueridee•• And hym of lordship and mercy prayde And he hem grauntyd and thus he sayde TO speke of worthy linage and richesse Though that she were a quene or a princesse Eche of yow bothe is worthy doutles To wedde whan tyme is but natheles I speke as for my sustr•• Emely

For whom ye haue this strif and this Ielousy Ye woot your self ye may not wedde two At onys theygh ye fighte euer mo That one of you al be hym loth or lef He mot go pype in an Iuy lef This is to say she may not haue bothe Al be ye neuer so ielous and so lothe And for thy I you put in this degre That eche of you shal haue his dest••ne As hym his shapyn and herkyn in what wyse Lo here yonre ende of that I shal deuyse My wil is this for plat conclusion̄ Withoute ony replicacion̄ Yf that you li••••th take it for the beste That euerich of you shal go where hym liste Frely withoute raunsen or daunger And this day fifty wikes fer ne neer Euerich of you shal bringe an hundred knight••s Armed for listys vp alle rightis Alredy to darreyne here be ba••ayll And this behote I yow withoute fayll Vpon my trowthe & as I am trew knyght That whethir of you bothe hath that migh May with his hundred as I spak of now That is to sey wh••thir he or thow Sle his contrary or out of listys dryue Hym shal I yeue Emely to wyue To whom that fortune yeueth so fair a gre The listis shal I make on this place

And god so wisly on my sowle rewe As I shal euene Iuge be and trewe Ye shul non othir ende with me make That one of you shal be ded or take And yf ye thinke this is wel said Saieth your auys and holde you payd This is your ende and your conclusion Who lokith now lighty but Palamon Who spryngeth vp for ioye but arcite Who cowde telle or who coude endite The ioye that made is in this place When Theseus hadde do so fair a grace But doun a knees wente euery wight And thanked hym with al her myght And namely the Thebans ofte sithe And thus with good hope and herte blithe The•• take her leue and homward they ryde To Thebes with olde wall is wyde I trowe men wolde it deme negligent Zyf I foryete to telle the entent Of Theseus that goth so besily To make vp the listis ryally That suche an nobyl entre as it was I dar wel say in this worlde ther nas The curuyt a myle ther of was aboute Wallid with stoon and diched round aboute Round was the shappe in maner of a compas Ful of degrees the highest of sixty paas That whan aman was set in on degre

He letteth not his felow forto se Estward ther was a gate of marbil whit Westward ••uche another appositit And shortly to conclude suche a place Was non̄ in erthe in so lityl space For in the lond ther was no craftis man That gemetrie or ars metric can Ne portreture ne keruar of Images That Theseus ne yaf mete drynke & wages The entre forto make and deuyse And forto do his ryte and his sacrifice He Estward hath vp on the gate aboue In worship of venus goddesse of loue Do make an auter and an Oratory And on the westward in memory Of marce hath he maad suche anothir That coste large of gold a fothir And northward in a tour of the wal Of whit alabastre and reed coral An Oratory riche forto see In worship of dyane goddesse of chastite Hath Theseus do wrought in nobil wise But yet hadde I forgete to deuyse The nobill keruynge and the portreturis The shap the countenaunce & the figuris That weren in the Oratoryes thre First in the tempil of venus thou maist se Wrought in the wal ful petously to be holde The brokyn slepis and the sighis colde

The sakryd terys and the weymentynge The firy strokys and the desirynge That loues folkes in this worlde enduryn The othes be her couenauntis assuren Plesaunce hope desire and fool hardinesse Beaute and yongthe baudry and richesse Charmys and sorcerye lesinges and flaterye Dispence besinesse and Ielowsye That wered of yelow gold a garlond And a Cuckow sittyng on her hond Fees••is instrumentis carollis and daunsis ••ust and aray and alle the circumstauncis Of loue whiche that I rekene and shal Be ordir were peynted on the wall And mo than I can make mencion For sothly al the mounte of sitheon Th••re venus hath hir principal dwellyng Was shewd on the wal h••re portreyyng With al the ioye and al the lustinesse Nought was for••eten the Porters idelnesse Ne Narcysus the faire yore agoon Ne yet the folye of ••yng Salamon The enchauntement of Medea and hardynesse Of Iason I wil not now expresse Ne of turnus with his hard fyre corage The riche Cresus caytifs in seruage Thus may ye se that wisedom ne riches Beaute sleyghte strengthe ne hardinesse Ne may with venus holde champartye

For as she list the worlde may she gye So alle thyse folk caught were in her lase Tyl they for wo ful ofte sayde allas Suffiseth thyse ensamplis one or two And thowgh I coude rekene a thousand mo The statu of venus glorious for to se Was maad fletynge in the large se And fro the nauyl doun she was With wawis bright as ony glas A cotel in hir right hond hadde she And on her hed ful semely on to se A rose garlond fressh & wel smellyng Aboue her heed douues also fleyng Beforn̄ hir stood her sone cupido Vpon his shuldris wyngis hadde he two And blynd he was as it is of••e seen A bowe he baar and arowes cleen Why sholde I not eke telle of the wall The portreyynge that was on hit all With in the tempyl of mighty mars the rede Al was peynted the wallis in lengthe & brede Lyke to the Estris of the grysly place That hight the grete tempyl of mars in trace In that cold northern frosty regioun There as mars hath his souereyn mansion̄ First on the wal was peyntyd a forest In whiche ther dwellith neyther man ne best With knotty & knarry bareyn treys olde Of stubbis sharp & hidous to beholde

In whiche ran as a wymbyl in a swowe As though it a storm were sholde brest euery bow And downward on an hil vnder abent There stood the tempyl of marce armypotent Wrought al of burnyd steel the whiche the entre Was longe and streight and gladly forto se And ther out cam a rage and suche a veyse That it made al the gatis forto reyse The northeren light in at the dore shon For wyndow on the wal was ther non Thurgh whiche men myghte ony light disserne The doris were al of athemaundis eterne I clenchid ouerthwart and endlonge With Iren forto make it strong Euery pyler the tempyl forto susteyne Was tonne greet of yren bright and shene There saw I first the derk ymagenyng Of felony and al the compassing The cruel ire reed as ony glede The pyke purs and eke the pale rede The smyler with the kn••f vnder the cloke The shepen brennyng with the blak smoke The treson of the murdryng in the bed The opyn werris with woundis alle bled Contak with blody knyf and sharp manace Al ful of chirkyng was the sory place The sleer of hym yet saw I there His herte blood hath bated al his chere The nayl I dryue in the shode an highte

The colde deth with mouth gapynge vp right A myddyl of the tempil sat myschaunce With discomfort and sory contenaunce Yet saw I woodnesse lawghyng in his rage The hunter strangled with the wilde boris corage The sowe fretyng the child in the cradil The cook I scalded for his longe ladil Nought foryetyn was the infortune of Mars The carter ouer riden with his owen hors Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun There were also of martirs destructioun The barbour the boteler and the smyth That forged sharpe swerdis in the stith And al aboue depeynted in a tour The high conquest sittynge in gret honour With the sharp swerd ouer his hed Hangynge be a subtil twyned thred Depeynted was there the slaughtir of Iulius O grete Nero and of antomus Al be that tyme they were vnborn̄ Yet was her deth peynted there beforn̄ Be manassynge of Marce right be figure So was it shewd right be portreture As it is depaynted in the ser••lis aboue Who shal be sleyn or ded for loue Suffiseth on ensampyl in storyes olde I may not rekene alle though I wolde The statu of Mar••e vp on a carte stood Armyd and lokyd grym as he were wood

And ouer his hed ther shynen two figurys Lyke vnto the figure of virgynys That one puella hight that othir Iulius Thies god of armys was arayd thus A wolf ther stood beforn hym at his feet With yen rede and of aman he eet With subtile pensel was peyntyd this story In redowndynge of Marce and of his glory Now to the tempyl of dyane the chaste As shortly as I can I wyl me haste To ••elle yow al the descripcion ••e••••yntyd on the wallis vp and doun Of huntynge and of shamefast chastite There saw I how woful Calistope Whan that dyane greuyd was with here Was turned fro womman in to a bere And aftir was she maad the lood sterre Thus was ••t peynted I can say no ferre Her sone is eke a sterre as men may se There saw I dyane turned vntil a tre I mene not the goddesse dyane But Pen••••s doughter whiche that highte dyane There saw I atheon an hert I makyd For vengeaunce that he saw dyane al nakyd I saw how that houndis haue hym caught And fretyn hym for that they knew hym nought Yet I peynted was a lityl furthermore How athalante huntyd the wylde bore And meliager and meny other moo

For whiche Diane wroughte hym care & wo There saw I many another wonder story The whiche me list not drawe in memory This goddesse on an hert high is sete With smale houndis aboute her fete And vndernethe hir feet sh•• hadde a mone Wexynge it was and sholde wane sone In gawdy grene her statu clothed was With bowe in hond and arowes in caas Here yen cast she ful lowe a doun There pluto hath his derk regioun A womman trauelynge was here beforn̄ But for hir child so longe was vnborn̄ Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle And sayde help for thou maist best of alle Wel coude he peynte liuely that it w••oughte With meny a floreyn he thyse huwis boughte NOw ben thise listis maad & Theseus That at his grete cost hath arayd thus The templis and the auters eueridel Whan it was don̄ it likyd hym wel But stynte I wil of Theseus alite And speke of Palamon and of arcite The day approchith in here attourneyynge That euerich sholde an hundrid knightes brynge The bateylle to darreyne as I you tolde And til Theseus here couenaunt forto holde Hath euerich of hem brought an hundrid knightes Wel I armed for the werre at al rightes

And sikirly ther trowed many aman That neuyr sithnes the worlde began As forto speke of knyghthood of her hond As fer as god hath made see and lond Nas of so fewe so nobyl acompany For euery wight that loued chyualrye And wolde his thankys haue passing name He prayde that he myghte be of that game And wel was hym that therto chosyn was For yf ther fyl to morow suche a caas Ye knowe wel that euery lusty knyght That loueth paramouris and hath his might Were ••t in engelond or ellis where They wolde her thankys willen to be there To fight for a lady a benedicite Hit were a lusty s••ghte forto se And right so ferthe they with Palamon With hym ther wente knyghtis many ••on Some wolde be armed in habergeon Some in brest place and in bright gippon And some wol haue a p••••r of platis large And some wolde haue spruse sheldis & targe Some wolde be armed on his leggis wele And haue an ax and a mace of steel Ther is no newe gyse but it was hold Armed were they as I haue told Eueriche aftir his owen oppinion There maist thow se comyng with Palamon Ligurge hym self the kyng of trace

Blak was his berd & manly was his face The cerclis of his yen in hes heed They glowden̄ betwix yelow and reed And lyke a griffyn loked he aboute With kempt heris in his browis stoute His lymes grete his brawn̄ hard & strong His shuldres brode his armes round & long And as the gyse was in his contre Ful high vp on a chare of gold stood he With four white bolis in the trace In stede of Cote armure in his harnase With naylis yelow & bright as ony golde He hadde a bere skyn cool blak for olde His longe heris were kempt behynd his bak As ony rauen fethir it shoon̄ for blak A wrethe of gold arme grete of huge weyghte Vp on his hed sat. with many a stone bright Of fyn rubyes and of fyn diamantee Aboute his chare ther w••••te alauntes Twenty and mo as grete as ony steer To honte atte lioun or ellis at the deer And folowed hym with mosel faste I bounde Colers of gold and torettis filyd rounde An hundrid lordis he hadde in his rowte Armed well as knyghtis sterne & stoute WIth arcite as men in story fynde The stronge Emetrus the kyng of Inde Vp on abay stede I trappid al in steell Armed with a cloth of gold I diapred well

Cam ridynge the god of armys Marce His cote armur was of cloth of tarce Cowchid with perlis white rounde and grete His sadyl was of brent gold newe y bete A mantelet on his shuldris hangynge Bret ful of rubyys bright as fyre spryngyng His brighte cryspe heris lyke ryngys were ronne And that was yelow & glitered as the sonne His nose was high his yen bright and grym His lippis rounde his colour sanguyn A fewe frakelis in his face were spreynt Betwix yelow and somdeel blak meynt And as alioun he lokyd aboute faste Of .x••v. yeer of age I hym caste His berd was wel begonne forto sprynge His throte was as a trompe sownynge Vp on his ••ed he weryd of laurer grene A garlond fressh and lusty forto sene Vpon his hed he baar for his dedwyte An egle as ony lily whit An hundred knyghtes hadde he with hym th••re Al armed sane her hedis and al her gere Were richely arayed in alle maner thingis Trustith wel that erlis dukes and kyngis Were gadred in this nobyl companye For loue and ••ncrece of cheualrye Aboute this kyng ther ronnen on euery part Wel many tame liouns and libart And in this wyse the lordis alle and som

Been on the sunday to the cyte com Aboute prime & in the town a light This Theseus this duke this worthy knyght When he hadde brought hem in to the cyte And ynned hem euerich at his degre He festith hem and doth hem gret labour To ese hem and to do hem al honour That man ne woman ne no maner wight Of none astat so coude amende it The mynstralcye the seruise at the feste The grete giftis to the most and lest The riche aray of Theseus Paleys Ne who fat first ne last vp on the deys Or what feirest or best daunsynge Or whiche of theym can best daunce or synge Ne who most felingly speketh of loue What hawkys sitte on the perchis aboue What houndis lyen in the slour adoun Of all this make I no mencion̄ But of the effect that thynketh me best Now comyth to the poynt herken yf ye list THe sonday at night or day began to springe Whan Palamon herde the larke synge Al that it were not day be houris two Vnto the temple purposeth he to go With hool herte and with an high corage Is risen to wende on his pilgremage To the blisful Sithea benigne I mene venus honourable and digne

And in her houre he walked forth a pace Vnto the listis there the temple was And doun he knelith and with humble chere And with herte sore he sayde as ye shul here Feyrest of feyre o lady myn venus Doughter to Iouis and spouse to vlcanus That gladdest al the mounte of sitheon For that loue that thou haddest to a doun Haue pyte on my bitter teris smert And take myn humble prayer at thy hert All as I haue no lengthe forto telle The eff••ct ne the turment of myn helle M••n herte may not myn harmys be wreye I am so sorowful that I can not seye But lady bright that knowest wel My thought and seest the harmys that I fele Considere this and vewe vp on my sore As wisly as I shal for euermore Enforce my myght thy trewe seruaunt to be And holde werre lady with chastite That I make myn awwe so ye me helpe I kepe not of armys forto yelpe Ne I axe to morw forto haue victory Ne renoun in this caas ne veynglorye Of pryse of armys to blowe vp and doun But I wolde fully haue possession Of Emely and dye in thy seruise Fynd thou the manere how and what wyse I recche not but yf it may better be

To haue victory of them or they of me So that I haue my lady in myn armys For though so be þ^• mars be grete god of armys Your vertu is so greet in heuene aboue That yf yow list I shal haue my loue Thy tempyl wol I worship euermo And on an auter were I ryde or go I wil do sacrefice and firis bete And yf ye wil not so my lady swete Than praye I the to morow with a spere That arcite me thorow the herte bere Than recke I nat whan I haue lost my lif Though that arcite wynne here to his wyf This is the effect and the ende of my prayer Yeue me my lif my blissed lady dere Whan that the orison was don of palamon̄ His sacrefice he did and that anon̄ Ful petously with alle circumstaunces Alle telle I not as now his obseruaunces And al the statu of venus shoke And made a signe wherby he took That his prayer acceptid was that day For though the figure shewde delay Yet wiste he wel that grauntyd was his bone And with glad herte he wente hym hom sone The thirde hour equal that Palamon̄ Began to venus tempil forto gon VP roos the sonne & vp roos Emely And to the tempil of diane gan hye

Her maidens that with hir thider were lad Ful redely with hem fair clothis they had Theseus clothis and the ••enuaunt al That to the sacrifise longyn shal The hornes ful of methe as was the gyse There lackyd nought to don hir sacrifise Smokyng the tempyl ful of clothis feir This Emely with hert deboneir Her body with water in a welle But how she did there I dar not telle But hit be ony thing in general And yet it were a game to here it al To hym that meneth wel it were no charge But it is good aman to be at his large Her bright ••eer was kempt and vntressed al And a crowne of grene oke serial Vp on her hed set ful fair and mete Two firis on the anter gan she bete And dyde here thynges as men may be holde In state of Thebes and in bokis olde When kyndeled was the fyue with pitous chere Vnto dycine she spak as ye may here O chast goddesse of the wode grene To whom bothe heuene and erthe & see is sene Quene of the regne of pluto derk and lowe Goddesse of maydens that my hert hast knowe Ful many a yeer and wotist what I desire As keep me fro the vengeaunce of thy fyre That atheon aboughte trewly

Chast goddesse wel wotist thou that I Desire to be amaiden al my lyf Ne neuer wol I be loue ne wyf I am thou wotist yet of thy company Amaiden and loue huntyng and venory And forto wal••yn in the wodis wilde And not to be a wyf and be with childe Nought wil I knowe no companye of man Now help me lady sithnes thou may and can For the thre fourmes that thou hast in the And Palamon that hath suche loue to me And eke arcite that loueth me so sore This grace I pray the withouten more As sende loue and pees betwix hem two And fro me turne awey hert hertis so That al hir hote loue and her desire And al her besy turment and al hir fire Be queynt or turned in another place And if so be thou wilt do me no grace Or yf my destenye be shapen so That I shal nedis haue on of hem two As send me hym that most desireth me Beholde goddesse my clene chastite The bittir teris that on my ••hekis fulle Sithnes thou art a maide & keper of vs alle My maidenhed thou kepe & wel conserue And whiles I lyue a maiden wil I the serue Thise firis brenne vp on th•• auters cleer While Emely was thus in hir praiere

But sodenly she saw a sighte queynt For right anon on of the fyris queynt And quyckyd agayn and aftir that anon That oher fyre was queynt and al agon And as it queynt it made a whisshing As don̄ thyse wete brondis in her brennyng And at the brondis ende out ran anon As it were dropis blody many on̄ For whiche so sore agast was Emely That she was almost mad and gan to cry For she ne wiste what it signifyed But only for feer thus hath she cry••d And wepte that it was pyte to h••re And therwith al dyane gan appere With bowe in hond right as an hunteres And sayde doughter stynt thyn heuynesse Among the goddis an hygh•• it is affermed And by etern̄ worde writen and confermed Thow shalt be weddid vntil one of two That haue for the so moche care and woo But vnto whiche of hem may I not telle Fare wel ••or I may no lenge•• dwelle The fyris whiche on myn anter brenne Shul the declarer or thow go henne Thyn auenture of loue as in this caas And with that word the arowes in the caas Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge And forth she wente & made a vanysshinge For whiche this Emely astonyed was

And sayde what amounteth this case I put me vnder thy protection̄ Dyane and thy disposicion̄ And hom she goth anon the nexte wey This is the effect ther is nomore to sey And in the houre of Mars after this ARcite vnto the tempil walkyd is Of fyres of marce to do his sacrifise With alle the rightis of his paynem wyse With pyetous herte and high deuocion̄ Right thus to marce he sayde this orison̄ O strong god that in the regnes colde Of trace honoured art and lord I holde And hast in euery regne and euery lond Of armys al the bridil in thy hond And hem fortunest as the list best deuyse Accepte of me my pyetous sacrifise Yf so be that my thought may deserue And that my myght be worthy to serue Thy godhede that I may be on of thyn Than prey I the rewe on my pyn For that peyne and that hote fire The whiche that whilom brendist for desire Whan that thou vse dist the beaute Of feyre yong fressh venus fre And had of hir in thy armys thy wille And though the onys a tyme mys fille Whan vlcanus had caught the in his laas And fond the liggynge be his wif alas

For that sorow that was in thy hert Haue rowthe as wel vp on my peynys smert I am yong and vnkonnynge as thou wost And as I trowe with loue offendid most Than euer was ony liuys creature For she that doth me al this wo endure Ne recchith neuer whether I synke or flete And wel I woot or she me mercy hete I muste with strengthe wynne here in place And wel I wot withoute help and grace Of the may not my strengthe avayle Than help me lord to morow in my batayle For th••t fyre that whilom brent the As wel as that fyre now brennyth me And do that I to morow haue victory Myn the trauayl and thyn be the glory Thy souereyn tempyl wil I most honouren Of ony place alwey and most labowryn In thy plesaunce and in thy craftis stronge And in thy tempyl I wil my baner honge And alle the armys of my companye And euermore vntyl that I dye Eterne fyre I wol beforn̄ the fynde And eke to this avowe I wil me bynde My berd my heer that hangith long adoun That neuer yet felt offensioun Of ••asour ne of shere I wil the yeue And be thy trewe seruaunt whilis I lyue Now lord haue rowthe vp on my sorowis sore

Y••ue me the victory I axe nomore The prayer stynt & arcite the strong The ringis that on the tempil dore hong And eke the dores clatered so faste Of whiche arcite somwhat hym agaste The firis brende vp on the auters bright That it gan al the tempil forto light A sote smel anon the ground vp yaf And arcita anon his hond vp gaf And more encence in to the fire caste With other rightis and at the laste The statu of marce began his hanberk ringe And with that sown he herde a mornynge Ful lowe and dym and sayde victory For whiche he yaf to marce honour and glory And thus with ioye and hope wel to fare Arcite anon to his Inne is fare As fayn as fowle is of the bright sonne And right anon suche strif is there begonne For that grauntynge in heuene aboue Betwix venus goddesse of loue And Marce the sterne god armypotent That Iubiter was fayn it to stynte Tyl that the Pale Saturnus the colde That knew so many of auenturis olde Fond in his experience and art That he ful sone hath plesed euery part As soth is said•• eld hath gret auauntage In eld is bothe wisedom and vsage

Men may the olde out renn•• but not out rede Saturn anon to stynte strif and drede Al be it that it is ayens his kynde Of al this strif he can remedies fynde My dere doughter dere quod Saturne My cours that hath so wyde forto turne Hath more power than hath ony man Myn is the drenchynge in the see so wan Myn is the pryson in the derk cote Myn is the strangeling & hangyng be the throte The murmur and the chorlis rebellynge The groynynge and the pryue enpoysonynge I do vengeaunce and pleyn correction Whiles I dwelle in the signe of the lion Myn is the ruyne of the high halles The fallyng of the touris and of the wallis Vp on the mynour and vp on the Carpenter I slough Sampson shakynge the pyler And myne ben the maladyes colde The grete treson and the castis olde My lokynge is the fader of pestelence Now wepe nomore I shal do my diligence That Palamon that is thyn owen knyght Shal haue his lady as thou hym behight And marce shal kepe his knight yet natheles Betwix you ther muste be somtyme pees Al be ye not of on complexion That causith alday suche diuision I am thyn al redy at thy wille

Wep•• now nomore I wil thy lust fulfille Now wol I stynte of the goddes aboue Of marce and venus goddes of loue And telle you al pleynly as I can The grete effect of whiche I began GReet was the feste in actenes that day And eke the lusty seson of may Made euery wight to be in suche plesaunce That al that moneth Iuste they & daunce And spenden it in venus high seruise But be cause that they sholden arise Erly forto se the grete sight Vnto her reste wente they at nyght And on the morow when day gan sprynge Of hors and noyse harneis and claterynge Ther was in hostelries al aboute And to the Paleys ther ridith many aroute And lordis vp on stedis and Palfreys There maist thou se deuysinge of harneys So vncowthe and so riche and wel Of goldsmythrye of browderye & that subtel The sheldis bright tes••eris and trappours Gold hewed helmes hawberkis & cote armours Raymg the speris and helmes bokelyng Guydyng of sheldis with leyners lasynge There as nede is they were no thing Idyl The fomy stedes on the goldyn bridyl Alwey gnawynge and faste the armerers also With file and hamer prikyng to and fro

Yemen on sote and knaues many on With shorte staues thicke as they may gon Pipis trompis naconers and clarion̄s That in the bataylle blew blody sown̄s The paleys ful of pepyl vp an doun Here thre here. ten holdyng her question Demynge of the theban knyghtis two Sum sayde thus some sayde it shal be so Some held with hym with the blak berd Som̄ with the ballyd. some with þ^• thicke herid Some sayde he loked grym and he wolde fighte He hath a sparth of .xx. pounde of wighte Thus was the halle ful of demenynge Longe aftir that the sonne gan to spryng The grete Theseus that of his sleep is wakyd With mynstralsie & noyse that was maked Held yet the chambir of his paleys riche Tyl that the theban knyghtis bothe y liche I honoured were and in to the Paleys ••et Duke Theseus is at the wyndow set Araid as he were god in trone The pepyl preced thiderward ful sone Hym forto seen and his high reuerence And eke to harkyn his hest and his sentence An herowde on a skaffold made an O Tyl that the noyse of the pepyl was do And whan he saw the pepyl of noyse al stille Thus shewde he the mighty dukes wille The lord hath of high discression

Considered that it were destruction̄ To gentil blood to fightyn in this wyse Of mortal bataille now in this empryse Wherfore to scape that they sholde not dye He wil his firste purpos modifye Noman therfore on peyne of losyng his lif No maner shot. ne pollax. ne short knyf Vnto the listis brynge. ne thider sende Ne short swerd forto styke bytende Ne noman to drawe ne bere be his syde Ne noman shal to his felaw ryde Foynyng if hym list on fote hym self to wreke Ne noman so hardy this ordenaunce forto breke And he that is at myschief shal be take And not slayn. but brought to the stake That shal be ordeyned on eyther syde But thider he shal be force and there abyde And if so falle the cheefteyn be take On either syde or ellis sleth his make No lenger shal the turneyyng laste God spede you goth on and leith on faste With longe swerdis & maces fight your fil Goth now your wey this is the lordis wil The vois of the pepyl towchid heuene So lowde cryde they with mysde steuen God saue suche a lord that is so good He willith no destruction of blood Vp goth the trumpis and the melodye And to the listis ridith this companye

Be ordenaunce thourgh out the cyte large Hangynge with cloth of gold & not with sarge Ful like a lord this nobyl duke gan ryde Thyse two the bans on eyther syde And aftir rood the quene and Emely And aftir hem of ladyes another company And aftir hem comunes eche aftir his degre And thus they passe thurgh the cyte And to the listis come they betyme Hit is not of the day yet fully pryme When set Theseus was riche on highe Ipolita the quene and Emelie And other ladies in degrees abowte Vnto the setes passeth al the rowte And aftirward thurgh the yates of Marte Arcite and eke the hundred of his parte With baner reed is entred right anon And in that selue moment Palamon Is vnder venus estward in that place With baner and hardy chere of face In al the worlde to seke vp and doun So euene withoute variacioun Ther nere suche companyes tweye For ther was non so wyse that coude seye That ony hadde of other auauntage Of worthinesse ne estate ne of age So euen were they chosen forto gesse And in two raungis feire they hem dresse And when that her names red were euerichon

That in her noumbre gile was ther noon̄ Tho were the yatis shyt and cride was loude Doth now your deuer yong knyghtis proude The herowdes lefte hir prikyng vp and doun Now ryngyn trompis lowde and clarioun Ther is no more to sey but est and west In goth the speris ful sadly in the rest Ther shyueryn shaftis vp on sheldis thikke He felith thorow the hert spon the prik Vp springith speris twenty foot on highte Out goth the swerdis as the siluer brighte The helmes therto hewen̄ and to shrede Out brestith the blood with stoute stremys rede With mighty maces the bonys they to brest And thorow the thickest they throng & threst There stombelyn stedis strong & doun falle He rollith vnder foot as doth a balle He foyneth on his foot with his trunchon̄ And he hurte lith with his hors adoun He thorow the body is ••urt a••d sithnes take Magre his heed and brought to the stake As forward was right there he moste abide Anothir led is on that other side And somtyme doth hem Theseus to reste Hem forto refresshe and drynke yf theym liste Ful ofte aday haue the thebans two To geder y met and wrought eyther wo Vnhorsid hath eche other of hem tweye Ther is no tiger in the vale of galefeye

When that her whelpe is stole when it is lite So cruel on the hunte as is arcite For ielous herte vp on this Palamon Ne in belmarie ther is non so fel alioun That huntid is or for angir wood Ne of his pray desirith so the blood As Palamon to sle his foo arcite The ielous strokis on her helmys bite Out renneth blood on bothe her sides reed Som tyme an ende ther is of euery dede For or the sonne out of the west went The stronge kyng Emetrus gan hent This Palamon as he fought with arcite And made his sweerd depe in his flesh bite And by the force of twenty was he take And yolden and drawe to the stake And in the rescous of this Palamon The stronge kyng Ligurge is born adoun And kyng Emetrus for al his strengthe Is born out of his sadil a swerdis lengthe So hiete hym Palamon or he were ytake But al for nought he was brought to the stake His hardy herte myghte hym helpe nought He muste abyde when he was caught Be force and eke be composicion Who soroweth now but this Palamon That muste no more go ayen to fight And whan that Theseus hadde seye that sight He cryde than ho. nomore for it is done

Ne non̄ shal lenger vnto his felaw gone I wil be trewe Iuge and not party Arcite of thebes shal haue Emely That by his fortune hath her feir I wonne Anon̄ ther is anoyse of pepil begonne For ioye of this so loude and high with al That it semed that ye listys sholde fal WHat can now faire venus done aboue what saith she what doth the quene of loue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wepith so for wantyng of hir wil Til that her teris in the listys fil She sayde I am a shamed doutlees Satorne sayde doughter hold thy pees Marce hath his wil the knyght hath his bone And by my hood thou shalt be esed sone The trompe••tis with the lowd mynstralsie The he rowdes that ful lowde houle and crye Bene in her ioye for the weel of dane arcite But herkeneth me and stynti••h alite Whiche a mirakil ther be fil anone This ferce arcite hath his helm of done And on a courser forto shewe his face He pryked endlong the large place Lokyng vpward vp on this Emelye And she agayn hym cast a frendly ye For wommen forto speke of comune They folow alle the fauour of fortune And was al in his chere as in his hert Out of the ground a fire infernal s••ert

From pluto sent a••te request of saturne For whiche his hors for f••er gan to turne And l••pte a syde and found••yd as he lepe And or that arcite may take kepe He pighte hym on the pomel of his hed That in the place he say as he were ded His bres•• to brosten with his sadyl bowe As blak he lay as ony cole or crowe So was the blood ronne in his face Anon he was born̄ out of the place With herte sore to Theseus paleys Th•• was ••e coruyn out of his harnei•• And in a bed brought ful feyre and bliue For he was yet in memory and alyue And alwey cryynge aftir Emelye Duke Theseus with al his companye Is come hom to athen••s his cyte With al blis and gret solempnite Al be ••t that this auenture was falle He nolde not discomforte hem alle Men sayde eke that arcite sholde not dye He sholde be ••elid of his maladye And of another thing they were feyn That of hem alle ther was non sleyn̄ Alle were th••y sore hurt and namely one That with a spere was thrilled the brestbone The othre woundis and the broke bones Some hadde saluys made for the nones Formaces of herbes and eke sane

They dronkyn for they wolde her lyues hane For whiche this nobil duke as he wel can Comforteth and honoureth euery man And made reuell al the longe nyght Vnto the straunge lordis as it was right Ne there was holden no discomfytynge But as a Iustes or a turmentyng For sothly ther was no descomfiture For faylyng nys but auenture Ne to be lad be force vnto the stake Vn yeldyn and with twenty knyghtis take On {per}sone allone with oute mo And haried forth be arme foot and to And eke his stede dryuen forth with stauys With footmen bothe yemen and knauys Hit was a re••••••••d hym no velonye Ther may noman clepe it a cowardrye For whiche anon̄ duke Theseus let crye To styntyn al rancour and enuye The degre as wel in o side as in other And eythir side lyk as othir brothir And yaf hem giftis aftir her d••gre And fully held a feste dayes thre And conueyed the knyghtis worthily Out of his town a iourney largely And hom wente euery man the righte way Ther was no more but farwel haue good day BVt forto speke of Palamon & arcite Of Palamon wil I stynte alite

But swellith the brest of arcite and the sore Encrecith at his hert more and more The cloterid blod for ony lechecraft Coruptith and in his bowk is laft That neyther veyne blood ne ventosynge Ne drynke of herbis may be his helpynge The vertu expulsif or anymall Fro that vertu I clepyd naturall Ne may the venym voyde ne expelle The pipis and his lungis gan to swelle And euer lacert in his brest adoun He is shent with venyme and corrupcion Hym gayneth nothing forto gete his lyf He voydeth vpward and dounward laxatif Al is to brosten that regioun Nature hath in hym no dominacion And certeynly ther nature wol not wirche Fare wel fesik go bere the man to chirche This is al and som arcite muste dye For whiche he sendith aftir Emelye And Palamon that was his cosyn dere Than sayde he thus as ye shul aftir here Now may the woful spiryt in my hert Declare a poynt of alle my sorowis smert To you my lady that I loue most Right thus be quethe I the seruise of my gost To yow abouen euery creature Sithnes that my lyf may no lenger dure Alas the peyne alas the woo strong

That I for you haue suffrid and so long Alas the deth. alas my Emelye Allas the departyng of our companye Alas my hertis quene. alas my lyf My hertis lady ender of my lyf What is the worlde what axith men to hane Now with his loue now cold in his grane Alone withouten ony company Fare wel my swete foo my Emelye And softe take me in your armes tweye For the loue of god & herkenyth what I say I haue here with my cosyn Palamon̄ Had stryf and rancour many aday agoon̄ For the loue of you. and of my ielowsye And Iupiter so wisly my soule gye As in this worlde right now knowe I non̄ So worthy to be loued as Palamon To serue you and wil do al his lif And if that euer ye shul be a wif Foryetith not the gentyl Palamon And with that word his speche was ny agon̄ For fro his feet vnto his brest was com The cold of deth that hath hym ouercom And yet more ouer for in his armes two The vital strengthe is lost and al ago Saue only the intellectis withouten more That dwellith in his herte sike and sore Gan fayle whan the herte felith deth Dusshid his yen to and fayleth his breth

But o•• his lady yet caste he his ye His laste word was mercy Emelye His spirit chaungith the hous & wente there As I cam neuer I can not telle where There y stynte I am no deuynyster Of soulis fynde I not in this registre Ne me ne list the oppinions to telle Though y write mighte y note where they dwelle NOw wyl I speke forth of Emelye That soroweth and cryeth I wyl not lye Now wepith Emelye & waylith Palamon And Theseus his fustir toke anon Swownynge and bare hir fro the cors away What helpith it to tary forth the day To telle how she wepte bothe eue and morow For in suche caas wommen haue suche sorow Whan that her husbondis be fro hem ago That for the more part they sorowen so Or ellis falle in suche a maladye That at the laste certaynly they dye Infynyt ben the sorowis and the teris Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeris In al the toun for deth of this theban For hym ther wep••th bothe child and man So greet wepynge was ther non certayn Whan Ector was brought al fresh I slayn To Troye allas the pyte that was there Cra••chynge of chekys rentynge of here Why woldest thow be ded this wymmen crye

And haddest golde ynough and Emelye No man mighte glade Theseus Sauynge his olde fader Egeus That knew this worldis transmutacion As he hadde seen it chaunge vp and doun Ioye aftir woo and wo aftir gladnesse And shewde hym ensaumple and liknesse Right as ther deyde neuer man quod he That he ne loued in erthe in som degre Right so ther lyued neuer man he seyde In al this worlde that som tyme he deyde This worlde is but a thorow fare ful of wo And we be pylgryms passinge to and fro Deth is an ende of euery worldis sore And ouer al this yet sayde he mykyl more To this eff••ct ful wisely to enhorte The pepyl that they sholde hem recomforte Duke Theseus with al his besy cure Caste now where the sepulture Of good arcite may best y makyd be And eke most honourably in his degre And at the laste he took conclusion̄ That there as first arcite and Palamon Hadde for loue bataylle hem between̄ That in that selue groue swete and green̄ There as he hadde his amerous desirys His complaynt and for loue his hote firys He wolde make a fire in the whiche the office Funeral he mighte fully accomplice

And ••eet anon to hacke ••nd ••o hewe The okis olde and ••y hem on a rewe In ••ulpyns wel araid forto brenne His officers with swist feet they renne And riden anon at his comaundement And aftir this Theseus hath sent Aftir a bere and he it ouer sprad With clothis of gold the richest that he had And of the same he clothid arcite Vp on his hondis his glouys white And on his hed a crowne of laurer grene And in his hond a swerd ful bright & shene He layde hym bare the visage on the bere Ther with he wepte that pyte was to here And for the pepyl sholde se hym alle Whan it was day. he brought hym in to the halle That thorough the cryynge and the sown Tho cam this woful theban Palamoun With floterid berd. and ruggid asshy heris In clothis blak dropped al with teris And passinge other of weping Emelye The rewfullest of al the companye In as muche the seruise shuld be The more nobyl and riche in his degre Duke Theseus leet thre stedis forth brynge That trappid were in steel al gliterynge And couered with the armys of arcite Vp on the stedis grete and white Ther satyn folk of whiche one bare his sheld

Anothir a spere vpon his hondis held The thridde baar with hym his bowe turkeys Of brend gold was the caas and the harneys And riden forth a paas with sorouful chere Toward the groue as ye shul aftir here With slak paas and yen rede and weet Thorow out the cite be the maister strete That spred was al with blac wonder hye Right of the same is the strete I wrye Op on the right hond wente olde Egeus And on that othir side duke Theseus With vesselis of gold in hir hond ful fyne And ful of hony mylk. blood and wyne Eke Palamon with ful greet companye And aftir that cam woful Emelye With fire in hond as was that tyme the gyse To do the office and the funeral seruise High labour and ful greet apparelynge Was at the seruise of that fire makynge That with his grene top the heuen raughte And twenty fadom of brede the armys straugh••e This is to say the bowes were so brood Of straw first was layd meny a lood But how the fire was made vp an heyghte And as to telle you what the treys highte As ok firre birch / ash / alder holm popeler Mapil thorn / bech / aspe / box chesteyn lynd / laurer Wilow / elme / plane hasil and whipul••re How they were fellid shal not be told for me

Ne how the goddis rennyn vp a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doun Disherited of theyr habitacion̄ In whiche they woned in reste and pees Nymphes faunus and arnarides Ne how the bestis and the briddes alle Fillen for feer whan the wode gan falle Ne how the ground agast was of the light That was not wont to se the sonne bright Ne how the fyre was cowchid first with stre And than with drye stickys clouen on thre And than with grene wode and spicery And than with cloth of gold made with perry And garlondis hangynge with many a flour The mirre the encence with swete odour Ne how arcite lay among al this Ne what richesse abowte his body is Ne how that Emelye as was the gyse Put in the fyre for funeral seruise Ne how she swowned whan made was the fyre Ne what she spak ne what was her desyre Ne what iewellis men in to the fyre caste Whan that the fyre was gret & brende faste Ne how som caste her shelde and som her spere And of her vestimentis whiche that they were And cuppis ful of mylk wyne and blood In to the fyre that brent as it were wood Ne how the grekis with an huge route Thries riden al the fyre aboute Op on the lift hond with an high showtynge

And thries with here speris clateringe And thries how the ladyes gan crye Ne how that led was homward Emelye Ne how arcite is brent to asshen cold Ne how the lich wakis were y hold That ilke nyght ne how the grekis pleye The wake pleyes kepe I not to seye whiche wrastelith best naked with oyl anointed Ne who that bare hym best at the poynt I wil not telle al how they goon Hom to attenes when the pley is doon B••t shortly to the poynt than wol I w••nde To make of my long tale an ende BE proces and be lengthe of certeyn yeris Al stynt is the mornynge and the cheris Of grekis be on general assent Than semyth me there was a parlement At actenes vpon certeyn poynt and caas And among the whiche poyntis spokyn was To haue with certayn contrees aliaunce And haue fully of Thebes obeissaunce For whiche this nobil Theseus anon Leet sende aftir gentyl Palamon Vnwist of hym what was the cause and why But in his blake clothis sorowfully He cam at his comaundement an hye Tho sent Theseus for Emelye Whan they were set and pres was al the place And Theseus abiden hath a space

Or ony word cam from his wyse brest His yen be cast there as hym list And with a sad visage he sighed stille And aftir that right thus he sayde his wille The firste mouer of the cause aboue Whan he first made the cheyne of loue Greet was the effect & high was the entent Wel wiste he why and what ther of he ment For with that fair cheyne of loue he bond The fyre the eyr the watir and the lond In certeyn bondis that may not fle The same prince & the same mouer quod he Hath stablisshed in this wrecchid world a doun Certayn dayes and duracion To al that is engendrid in this place Ouer the whiche day they mow not pace Al mowe they the dayes abrigge Ther nedith non auctorite to legge For it is preued be experience But that me list to declare my sentence Than may wel men be this ordre discerne That ilke mouer stabyl is and eterne Wel may men knowe but it be a fool That euery party darreynyd fro his hool For nature hath not take his begynnyng Of one part or of a cantel of a thing But of a thing that parfyt is and stable Descendyng so tyl it be corumpabyl And therfore for his wyse purueaunc••

He hath so wel be set his ordenaunce That specifieth of thingis and progressions Sholden endure be successions And nought etern̄ withoute ony lye This maist thou vnderstonde and se at ye Lo the ook that hath so long a norisshynge Fro the tyme that he begynneth to sprynge And hath so long lif as ye may se Yet at the laste wastid is the tre Considereth how that the hard stoon̄ Vnder our feet / on whiche we trede and goon̄ Yet wastith it as it lith be the wey The brood ryuer sumtyme wexith drey The grete townes se we wane and wende Than ye se that al thing hath an ende Of man of womman se we also That nedith in one of the termys two This is to say in yongthe or ellis in age He moot be ded the kyng as shal a page Som̄ in his bed som̄ in the depe see Som̄ in the large feld as ye may se Ther helpith nought. alle gon that ilke weye Than may I say al thing mot nedes deye What makith this but Iubiter the kyng That is prince and cause of al thing Conuertynge vs alle vnto his propre wil For whiche it is darreyned soth to tell And for agayns it no creature a lyue Of no degre auaileth forto stryus

Than is it wisedom as thynketh me To make vertu of necessite And take it whilis we may not it eschewe And thynketh that to vs alle it is due And who so grucchith he doth folye And rebel is to hym that al may gye And certeinly a man hath most honour To dien in his most excellent flour Whan he is sikir of his good name Than hath he do his frend no harm ne shame And gladder may his frend be of his deth Whan with honour so vp yolden is his breth Than whan his name appallid is for age For al foryeten is than his vasselage Than is hit best as for a worthy fame To dien whan he is best of name The contrary eke for al his wilfulnesse Why grucche we why haue we heuynesse That good arcite of cheualrie the flour Departyd is with duete and honour Out of the foule pryson of this lif Why grucchid his cosyn and his wif Of his welfare that loueth hym so weel Can he hem thanke nay god woot neuer a deel That bothe his soule and eke hym offende And yet they mowe her lustis not amende What shal I conclude of this longe story But aftir wo I rede vs be mery And thonke Iupiter of al his grace

And er we departen from this place I rede we make of sowwis two O parfit ioye lastyng euer mo And loketh now where most sorow is ynne There wil I first amende and begynne Sustir quod he this is my ful assent With al the auyse of my parlement That gentyl Palamon your owen knyght That serueth you with herte and might And euer hath do syn ye first hym knew That ye shul of your grace on hym rewe And take hym for husbond and lord Lene me your hond for this is oure accord Let se now of your wommanly pyte He is a kyngis sones brother parde And though he were a poure bacheler Syn he hath serued you so meny a yeer And hadde for you so gret aduersite It mot be considered leuyth me For gentyl mercy oughte to passe right Than sayde he thus to Palamon the knyght I trow ther nedith lityl sermonynge To make you assent to this thinge Cometh hithir & takith your lady be the bonde And thus of hem bothe was made the bonde That highte matrimony or mariage Be al the counsel of the Baronage And thus with al blis and melodye Hath Palamon wedded Emelye

And god that al this worlde hath wrought Sente hym his loue that he dere had bought For now is Palamon in alle wele Lyuynge in blis in riches and in hele And Emely hym loueth so tenderly And he here seruith so gentilly That ther was no word hem betwene Of ielousie or of ony othir tene Thus endith Palamon and Emelye And god saue al this companye

¶Here endith the knyghtis tale. ¶And begynneth the Milleris prolog.

WHan that þ^e knight had thus his tale told In al the companye nas ther yong ne old That he ne sayde it was a nobyl story And worthy to be drawe in memory And namely the gentilis euerichon Our hoost lowgh and sw••or so mot I goon Thus vnbokelid wel is the male Let se now who shal telle another tale For trewly the game is wel begonne Now telle ye sir monk yf that ye konne Som what to quyte with the knyght his tale The Milward that for dronkyn was al pale So that vnnethis vp on is hors he sat He nolde auale nother hood ne hat Ne abyde noman for his curtesye But in Pilatis vois he gan crye And swoor be armys blood and bonys

I can an nobil tale forthe nonys The whiche I wol now quyte the knyght his tale Our ost saw that he was dronke of ale And sayde abyde robyn leue brothir Sum bettir man shal telle first anothir Abyde let vs worke thriftely Be cokkis soule quod he that nyl not I For I wil speke or ellis go my wey Our hoost answerd tel on a deuyl wey Thou art a fool thy witte is ouercome Now herkeneth quod the myllere alle & some But first I make a protestacion̄ That I am dronke I knowe be my soun And therfore yf I aught mys speke or say Wite it the ale of Suthwerk I you pray For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wif How that the clerk hath set the wrightis cappe The reue answerd and sayde stynt thy clappe Let be thy lewd dronkyn harlottrye Hit is synne and eke greet folye To appeire ony man or hym defame And eke brynge wyuys in suche a name Thow maist I nowgh of othir thyngis sayn This dronkyn Milward spak ful sone agayn And sayde leue brothir Oswold Who hath no wyf he is no cokeold But I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not therfore that thou art on Ther bith gode wyuys many on

Why art thou angri with my tale now I haue a wyf parde as wel as thow Yet nolde I not for the oxen in my plow Take vp on me more than ynow And deme of my self that I were one I wol beleue that I am none An husbond sholde not be inquisityf Of goddis priuitees ne of his wyf So he may fynde goddis fuson there Of the remenaunt nedith not to enquere What sholde I more say but this Millere He nolde his word for noman forbere But tolde his chorlis tale in his manere Me ouer thynketh that I shal reherce it here And therfore euery gentyl wight I pray Demeth not for goddis loue that I say Not for euyl entent but that I moste reherce Here talis al be they better or werce Or ellis falsen som of my matere And therfore who so listith not to here Turne ouer the leef and chees another tale For he shal fynde ynowe bothe grete and smale Of historial thing that towchith gentilnesse And eke moralite and holynesse Blameth not me yf that ye chese amys The Myllere is a chorle ye know wel this So is the reue and eke other mo And harlottrye they tolde bothe two Auysith you and put me out of blame

And eke men shul not make ernest of game

¶ Here begynneth the Milleres tale.

WHilom therwas dwellyng in Oxenforde A riche chuf that gestis hadde to ••orde And of his craft he was a Carpenter With hym ther was dwellinge a poure scoler Hadde lernyd art but al his fantasye Was turnyd for to lerne astrologye And coude a certeyn of conclusions To demyn by interrogacions If that men axed hym certayn houres Whether they shold haue drought or shoures Or yf that men axed hym what sholde befalle Of euery thyng I may not rekene alle This clerk was clepid hende Nicholas Of dern̄ loue he coude and of solas And therto he was sly and ful pryue And lyk amayden meke forto se A chambir hadde he in that hostelrye Alone withoute ony companye Ful fetously I dight with herbis sote And he hym self was swete as is the rote Of licorice or of ony Cetewale His almegeste his bokis grete and smale His astrologye. longinge for his art His awgrym stones lay feire a part On sheluis cowchid at his beddis hed His presse ycouered with a foldyng reed And al aboue ther lay agay saw••re

On whiche he made a nyghtis melodye So swete that al the chambir rong And Angelus ad virginem he song And aftir that he song the kyngis note Ful often blissid was his mery throte And thus this swete clerk his tyme spent Aftir his sendinge and his rent This Carpenter hadde weddid a newe wyf Whiche that he louyd more than his lyf Of .xxviij. yeer she was of age Ielous he was and held her narow in cage For she was wilde and yong & he was olde And demed hym self lik to be a Cokewolde He knew not Caton for his wit was rude That biddith aman wedde his similitude Men sholde wedde aftir hir astate For yonthe and old ben often at debate But s••then he was fallen in the snare He mus••e endure as othir folk his care As ony wesil her body gent was and smal And therto her kyrtil pynchid with all A seynt she weride y barrid al of silk A barmecloth as white as morow mylk Vp on her lendis with ful meny agore White was her smok and browdid al before And eke behynde on hir coler aboute Of coleblac silk withynne and withoute The tapettis of her white voluper Were of the same sute of the coler

Her filet brood of silk and set ful hye And sikirly she hadde a likerous ye Ful smale I pullid were her browis two And they were bent and blak as ony slo She was more blisful on to se Th••n is the newe pere genet tre And softer than is the wulle of a weder And by hir girdyl hangith a purs of leder Tarselid with grene and perlid with laton In al this worlde to seke vp and doun Ther is noman so wyse that coude thenche So gay a pupelot or so praty a wenche Ful brighter was she shynynge of her hue Than in the tour the nobyl forgid newe But of her song she was as lowde and yern As ony swalow sittynge on the bern Therto she coude skippe and make game As ony kid or calf folowyng his dame Her mouth was swete as braket or methe Or hord of appelis leyd on hey or heth Wynsynge she was as is a ioly colt Long as a mast and vpright as a bolt A broche she baar vp on hir low coler As brood as is the boos of a bokeler Here shoon were laced on hir leggis hye She was a prymerolle a piggis nye For ony lord to liggen in his bed Or yet for ony good yeman to wed Now sire and eft sire so be fyl the caas

That on a day this hend Nicholas Fil with this yonge wyf to rage & to pleye Whylis that her husbond was at Oseneye As clerkis be ful subtil and ful queynt And pryuely he caughte hir be the queynt And sayde y wis but yf I haue my wylle For dern loue of the lemman I spylle And ••••ld here harde be the shank bones And sayde lemman loue me at onys Or I wol dye al so god me saue And she sprong as a colt doth in the traue And with her hed she wrieth faste away She sayde I wol not kysse the be my fay Why let be quod she let be Nicholas Or I wyl crye out and allas So wey your hondis for your curtesie This Nicholas gan mercy forto crye And spak so fayre & profred hir so fast That she her loue graunted hym at the last And swere her oth be saynt Thomas of kent That she wolde be at his comaundement Whan that she may her leyser wel espye Myn husbond is so ful of ielosye But ye be waar wel and be pryue I wot right wel I am but ded quod she Ye muste be ful dern as in this caas Nay there of care I not quod Nicholas A clerk hadde lowdly beset his whyle But yf he coude a carpenter begyle

And thus they ben acorded and y sworn To wayte a tyme as I haue told beforn Whan Nicholas hadde do thus euerideel And thackyd here aboute the lendis wel He kiste hir swete and took his sawtrye And pleyde faste and made melodye Than fil it thus that to the parish chirche Cristis owen workis forto werche This good wyf wente on an holyday Her forhed shoon as brighte as ony day So was it wasshe when she leet her werk Now was ther of that chirche a parish clerk The whiche was y clepyd absolon Crulled was his heer and as the gold it shoon And strowtid as a fane large and brood Ful streyght and euene lay his ioly shode His rode was reed his yen gray as goos With powlis wyndowes coruen in his shoos In hosis reed he wente ful fetously I clad he was ful smal and fetously In a kirtyl or a lityl waget Ful faire and wel be the poyntis set And ther vpon he hadde agay surplis As whyte as blossom on the rys Amery child he was so god me saue Wel coude he lete blood and ek shaue And make a chartir of lond & aquytance In twenty maners coude he tryppe & daunce Aftir the scole of Oxenforde tho

And with his hondis caste to and fro And pleye songis on a smale ribible Therto he song somtyme a lowde quynybill And wel cowde he play on his geterne In al the toun nas brewe hous ne tauerne That he ne visited it with his solace There as ony gaylard tapster was But soth to say he was somdel skweymous Of fartyng and of speche daungerous This Absolon that ioly was and gay Goth with a senser on the holy day S••••singe wyuys of the parish fast And m••••y a louely loke on hem he cast And namely on this Carpentires wyf To loke on hir ••ym toughte a mery lyf She was so propir swete and eek likerous I dar wel say yf she had be a mows And ••e a cat he wolde her hen••e ••non This parishe clerk this ioly absolon Hath in his herte suche a loue longynge That of no wyf toke he n••n offrynge For curtesye he sa••••e ••e wolde non The mone whan it was nyght bright shoon And Absolon his g••terne hadde I take For paramours he thoughte forto wake And forth he goth iolif and amerous Tyl he cam to the Carpenters hous A litil aftir cock••s hadde I crowe And dressed hym vp be the shot wyndowe

That was vpon the Carpenters wal He syngith in his wis gentil and smal Now dere lady. yf thy wille be I pray you that ye wil thynke on me Ful wel accordyng to his giternyng This Carpenter herde hym synge And spak vnto his wyf and sayde anon What alison he rist thou not absolon That chauntith thus vnder our bowri•• wal And she answerde her husbond ther with al Yes god woot Iohn I here it ••••eridel This passeth forth what wil ye bet than wel From day to day this ioly absolon So woweth her that he is wo begoon He wakith al the nyght and al the day He kembith his lockis brode & makith hym gay He woweth hir be menes of brocage And swoor he wolde be hir owen page He syngeth brokyng as anyghtyngale He sent aftir pyment methe & spiced ale And wafris pypynge hoot out of the glede And for she was of toun he profrid her mede For som folk wol loue wommen for richesse And some for s••rokis and some for iolynesse Som tyme he sheweth his lus••••••esse: maistrie He pleyeth he redes vp on a staffolt hye But what auaileth hym as in this caas She loued so this lend Nicholas That absolon may blowe the buckis ••orn

He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn And thus she makith absolon her ape And al his ernest turneth in to a Iape Ful soth is this prouerbe it is no lye Men say alwey the nyght is slye Maketh oftymes leef for to be loth For though that absolon were wood or wroth Be cause that he fer was from hir sighte This nyght Nicholas stood in his lighte Now bere the wel now hend Nicholas For Absolon may wayle and synge alas And so befil that on a satirday This Carpenter was gon til Osenay And eke hende Nicholas and alison Acordid be fully to this conclusion That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle This sely ielous husbond to begyle And yf so be the game wente a right She sholde slepe in his armys al nyght For this was her desire and his also And right anon with out wordis mo This Nicholas no lenger wolde tary But doith ful softe in to his chambir carye Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye And to her husbond bad her forto sey Yf that he a••ed aftir Nicholas She sholde say she nyste where he was Of al that day she saw hym not with ye She troweth that he is in som maladye

For that no cry her mayde myghte hym calle He nolde answer for no thing myghte falle This passith forth al that satirday That Nicholas stille in his chambir lay And eet or sleep or dede what hym list Tyl sonday that the sonne goth to rest This sely Carpenter hath gret meruayl Of Nicholas or what hym myghte ayl And sayde I am adoute be seint Thomas It stondith not aright with Nicholas Got shilde that he deyde sodenly This worlde is now ful tikyl sikirly I sawe a corps to day bore to chirche That now amonday last I say hym wirche Go vp quod he vnto his knaue anon Clepe at the dore or knocke with a ston Loke how it is and tel me boldely This knaue goth hym vp ful sturdely And at the chambir dore whil that he stod He cryde and knokked as he were wood What how what dost yow Maistir Nicholay How may ye slepen al the long day But al for nought he herde not a word An hool ful lowe he fond vp on a borde There as the cat was wont yn forto crepe And at the hole he loked yn ful depe Tyl at the last he hadde of hym a sighte This Nicholas lay gapyng euyr vpright As he hadde loked on the new mone

Adoun he goth and tellith his maister sone In what aray he saw this ilke man This Carpenter to blisse hym began And sayde help vs saint frid••swyde Aman woot litil what hym shal betyde This man is fallen with his astronomye In som woodnesse or in sum agonye I thoughte ay wel how it sholde be Men sholde not knowe of goddis pryuyte I blissed be alwey alewd man That nought but only his beleue can So ••••rd anothir clerk with astronomye He walked in the ••••ldis forto prye Vpon the ••r••r••ys what ther sholde be falle Tyl 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was in a ••arlepit y falle He saw not that but yet be saint Thomas Me rewith sore of hend Nicholas He shal be ••a••yd of his studyyng If that I may be Ihesu ••••uyn kyng Gete me a staf that I may vnderspore Whyle that thow robyn heuyst of the dore He shal out of this studyyng as I gesse And to the chamb•••• dore he gan hym dresse His knaue was a strong chorle for the nonys And by the h••sp he haf it vp at onys Into the floor the dore fyl anon This Nicholas sat as stille as ony ston And euye gaped vpward in the eyr This Carpenter wende that he hadde be in despeyr

And hente hym be the sholdris mightely And shook hym herde and c••yde spetously What Nicholay what how looke adoun Awake and thynk on cristis passion I crouche the fro eluys and fro wightis Therwith the nyghtspel sayde he anon rightis On four haluys on the hous aboute And on the thresshold & on the dore withoute Ihesu crist and seynt Benedight Blisse this hous from euery wickyd wyght For nyghtis werry the wight pater noster Where wonnest thow saint Petris suster And at the laste this hend Nicholas Gan for to sighe sore and sayde alas Shal al the worlde be lost eftsones now This carpenter answerd what says thou now What thynk on god as we do men that swynke This Nicholas answerde fecte me drynke And aftir wil y speke in to the priuyte Of certayn thingis that towchen me and the I wil it telle the & non othir man certayn This carpenter goth doun & comyth agayn And broughte of mighty ale alarge quart And when eche of hem hadde dronke his part This Nicholas his dore faste shette And doun the carpenter be hym he sette He sayde Iohn myn ••oost leue and dere Thou shalt vp on thy trouthe swere me l••re That to no wight thou shalt this counsel wrey

For it is cristis counsel that y sey And yf thou telle it man thou art forlore For this vengeaunce thou shalt haue therfore That yf thou wreye me thou shalt be wood Nay cr••st forbede it for his verry blood Quod tho this sely man I am no blabbe Ne thogh I say I am not leef to gabbe Say what thou wilt I shal it neuyr telle To child ne wyf be hym that harowed helle Now Iohn quod Nicholas I wyl not lye I haue founde hit in myn astrologye As I haue loked in the mone bright That now a monday next at quartir nyght Shal falle a rayn and that so wylde & wood That half so gret was neuer noes flood This worlde he sayde in lesse than in an hour Shal al be dreynt so hidons is the shour Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese her lif This Carpenter answerd allas my wyf And shal she drenche alas my alisoun For sorow of this he fyl almust adoun And sayde is ther no remedy in this caas Yes forgod quod hend Nicholas Yf thou wilt worke aftir lore and rede Thou mayst not worke aftir thyn owen hede For this sayth Salamon that was ful trewe Worke al be counsel and thou shalt not rewe And yf thou worke wilt be good counsel I vndirtake withoute mast or sayl

Yet shal I saue here and the and me Hast thou not herd how saued was Noe Whan that our lorde hadde warned hym beforn That al the worlde with water sholde be lorn Yes quod this carpenter ful yore ago Hast thou not herd quod Nicholas also The sorow of Noe with his feleship Or that he mighte gete his wyf to ship Hym hadde leuer I dar wel vndertake At that tyme than alle his wetheris blake That she hadde had a ship her self alone And therfore wotist thou what is best to done This askith haste and of an hasti thing May men not preche ne make taryyng Anon go gete vs faste in to this in A knedynd trowgh or ellis a kemelyn For eche of vs but loke that they be large In whiche we mowe swymmen as in a barge And haue therynne vitayl sufficiaunt But for o day fy on the remenaunt The water shal a slake and go away Aboute pryme vp on the nexte day But robyn may not wite of this thy knaue Ne eke thy mayden gille I may not saue Axe not why for though thou aske me I wil not telle goddis pryuyte It suffisith the but yf thy wit be mad To haue as gret a grace as Noe had Thy wyf shal I wel saue out of doute

Go now thy wey and speed the here aboute But whan thow hast for the and her and me Y goten thyse knedyng tubbis thre Than shalt thou honge hem in the roof ful hye That noman of our pryuyte aspye And whan thou thus hast don as I haue seyd And hast our vitayl fayre in hem y leyd And eke and axe to smyte the corde a two Whan that the watir cometh that we may go And breke an hool an high vpon the gabyl Into the gardeyn ward ouer the stabyl That we may frely passe forth our way Wh••n that the grete shour is passid away Than shul we swymme as merily I vndertake As doth the whyte doke aftir the drake Than wyl I clepe how alison how Iohn Be mery for the flood wyl passe anon And thow wilt say hayl maister Nicholay Gode morow I se the wel for it is day And than shal we ••e lordis al our lif Of al the worlde as Noe and his wyf But of o thing I warne the ful right Be wel auisyd on that ilke nyght When we be entred into the ship bord That none of vs speke no word Ne clepe ne crye but be in his prayere For it is goddis owen hest dere Thy wyf and thow must hang fer a twyn For that betwix you shal be no synne

Nomore in lokynge than ther shal in dede This ordenaunce is do O god the spede To morow at nyght when folk be alle a slepe Into our knedyng tubbis wyl we crepe And sittyn there abydyng goddis grace Go now thy wey and haue ne lenger space To make of this no lenger sermonyng Men sey thus send the wyse & say no thing Thou art so wyse it nedith the not to teche God saue our lif and I the beseche This sely Carpenter goth forth his weye And to noman wold he hit bewreye But to his wyf he tolde this priuyte And she was waar and knew it bet than he What al this queynte cast was for to seye But natheles she ferde as she wolde deye And sayde alas go forth thy wey anon Help vs to scape or we be ded ••chone I am thy trewe weddid wyf Go dere spouse and help to saue our lyf Lo whiche a gret thing is affection Men may dye al day of ymaginacion So depe may impression be take This sely Carpenter begynneth ••o quake Hym thynketh verily that he may se Noes flood come walowyng as the se To drenchen alison his hony dere He wepith waylith and maketh sory chere He sighed with many a sory swongh

He goth and getith hym a knedyng trough And aftir that a tub and a kemelyn And pryuely he sent hem to his in And br••ng hem in the roof in pryuyte With his owen hond he made laddres thre To clymben be the rengis and the stalkis Into the tubbis hangyng in the balkis And hem vitaylith bothe trough and tub With breed and chese & good ale in a Iub Suffising right I now as for o day But or that he hadde maad al that aray He sente his knaue and eke his wenche also Op on his erond to london forto goo And on the sonday when it drew to nyght He shitte his dore withoute candel light And dressid al thing as it sholde be And shortly vp they clomben alle thre They sittyn stille wel a furlong waye Now pater noster clum sayde Nicholaye And clum sayde Iohn and clum sayde alison This Carpenter sayde his deuocion And stylle he sittith and biddith his praiere Awaytyng on the rayn yf he it here The ded sleep for very werynesse Fyl on this Carpenter right as I gesse Aboute curfu tyme or litil more For traueyl of his gost he gronyth sore And eft he rowtith for his hed mys lay Doun of the ladder stalkith Nicholay

And alison ful softe doun she spedde Withoute wordis mo they go to bedde Eche gan other in armes plye There was the reuel and the melodye And thus lieth alison and Nicholas In besines of myrthe and solas Tyl that the belle of laudes gan to rynge And freris in the chauncel gan to synge This parish clerk this absoson That is for loue alwey so wo be gon Vp on the monday was at Oseney With a companye hym to disport and pley And askid vpon a caas a cloisterer Ful pryuely aftir Iohn the Carpenter And he drew hym apart out of the chirche And sayde I not I saw hym here not wirche Sith satirday I trow that he be went For tymbir that our abbot hath hym sent For he is wont for tymbir for to go And dwelle at the graunge a day or two Or ellis he is at his hous certeyn Where that he be I can not sothly sayn This absolon ful ioly was and light And thoughte now is tyme to wake alnyght For sikirly y saw hym not steryng Aboute his dore syn day gan to sprynge So moot y thryue y shal or cockis crowe Pryuely knocken at his wyndow That stont ful lowe vp on his bowris wal

To alison now wol I tellen al My loue longinge for yet I shal not mys That at the leste wey I shal her kys Som maner comfort shal I haue {per}fay My mouth hath icched al this longe day That is a signe of kissinge at the leste Al nyght y mecte eke that I was at a feste Therfore y wyl go slepe an hour or tweye And al the nyght than wyl I walke & pleye Whan that the firste cok hath crowe anon Vp risith this ioly louer absolon And hym arayeth gay at poynt deuyse But first he shewith grayn and licoryse To smellen swete or he hadde kempt his heer Vnder his tong a trew loue he beer For therby wende he to haue be gracious He cometh to the Carpenteres hous And stille he stont vnder the shot wyndow Vnto his brest it raught it was so lowe And softe he knocketh with a semysoun What do ye honycombe swete alson My feyre birde my swe••e synamome Awaketh lemman com and speke tome Ful lityl thynke ye vp on my woo That for your loue y swete there I goo No wonder is though I swelte and swete I morne as doth a lamb aftir the tete I wys lemman y haue suche loue longynge That lik a turtil trewe is my mornynge

I may not ete nomore than amayde Go fro the wyndow Iacke fool she sayde As helpe me god it wol not be combame I loue another and ellis y were to blame Wel bet than the be Ihesu absolon Go forth thy wey or I wol throwe a stoon And let me slepe a twenty deuyl wey Allas quod absolon and wel awey That trew loue was euyr euel be set Than kis me syn it may be no bet For Ihesus loue and for the loue of me Wilt thou than go thy wey there with qd she Ye certis lemman quod this absolon Than make the redy quod she I come anon And vnto Nicholas she sayde stille Now pees and thou shalt lawghe al thy fille This absolon doun set hym on his knees And sayde y am a lord at al degrees For aftir this y hope ther comyth more Lemman thy grace and swete bryd thyn o••e The wyndowes she vndoth and that in haste Haue do quod she com of and spede the faste Lest that our neyghebouris the a spye This absolon gan wype his mouth ful drye Derk was the nyght as piche or cool And at the wyndow she put out her hool And absolon hym felte ne bet ne wers But with his mouth he kist her ers Ful sauerly or he were war of this

Abac he stert and thoughte it was amys For wel wyste he a womman hadde no berd He felte a thing al row and long herid And sayde fy alas what haue y do Tehe quod she and clappid the wyndow to And Absolon goth forth a sory paas A berd a berd quod hend Nicholas By goddis corpus this goth fair and weel This sely absolon herde euery deel And on his lippe he gan for angir byte And to hym self he sayde I shal the quyte Who rubbith now who frotith now his lippis With dust with cloth with sond with chippis But Absolon that saith ful ofte alas My soule betake I sayd he to sathanas But me were leuyr than al this toun quod he On this despit wrokyn forto be Alas quod he alas that I ne hadde blent His hoot loue was cold and al queynt For fro that tyme that he hadde kist her ars Of paramours set he not a cars For he was helid of his maladye Ful ofte paramours gan he diffye And wepte as doth a child that is bete A softe paas he wente hym ouer the strete Vnto a smyth men callyd dane Gerueys That in his forge smytith plow harneys He sharpith the share and the cultre bisely This Abselon knockith al esely

Of al this pley agayn no word he yaf He hadde more towh on his distaf Than geruais knew and saide frend so dere That hoot cultre in the chynmey here As lene it me I haue therwith to doon̄ And I wol bringe it the agayn ful sone Geruais answerd. certis were it gold Or in a poke noblis al vntold Thou sholdest it haue as I am trew smyth Ey cristis foot what wil ye do ther with Therfore quod absolon be as be may I shal wel telle it the to morow or day And caughte the cultre be the cold steele Ful softe out of the dore he gan stele And wente vnto the Carpenteris wal He cowghed first and knokked therwith al Vp on the wyndow. right as he did eer This alison answerd who is there That knockith so y warant it a thef Why nay quod he god woot my swete lef I am absolon thy owne derlinge Of gold quod he I haue the brought a ryng My moder yaf it me so god me saue Ful fyn it is and therto wel I graue This wol y gyue the yf thou me kysse This Nicholas was risen forto pysse And thoughte he wolde amende al the iape He sholde kisse his ers or that he scape And vp the wyndow dede he hastely

And out his ars he puttith pryuely Ouer the buttok to the shank boon And therwith spak this clerk Absolon Spek swete brid I not where thou art This Nicholas anon let fle a fart As gret as it had be a thonder dent That with the strook he was almost y blent And he was redy with his yren hoot And Nicholas amyd the ers he smoot Of goth the skyn an hond brede abowte The hoote cultre brende so his towte And for the smert he wende forto dye As he were wood for wo he gan crye Help water water help for goddis hert This Carpenter out of his slombir stert And herde one crye water as he were wood And thoughte allas now comyth the flood He set hym vp withoute wordis mo And with his axe he smoot the corde a two And doun goth al he fond neyther to selle Ne breed ne ale tyl he com to the selle Vp on the floor and there a swoun he lay Vp stert alisoun and Nicholay And cryde out and harow in the strete The neyghebours bothe smale and grete In ronnyn forto gawryn on this man That yet a swoun lay bothe pale and wan For with the fal broste hath he his arme But stonde he moste vnto his owen harm

For whan he spak he was anon bore doun With hende Nicholas and alisoun They tolde euery man that he was wood So he was agast of Noes flood Thorow fantesye that of his vanite He hadde bought hym knedyng tubbis thre And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboue And that he prayde hem for goddis loue To sittyn in the roof per companye The folk gan lawgben at his fantesye In to the roof they kykyn and they gape And turned al his harm in to a iape For what so euer this carpenter answerd It was for nought noman his reson herde With othis grete he was swore adoun That he was holde wood in al the toun For euery clerk right anon held with other They sayde the man was wood my leue brother And euery wight gan lawghe at this scrif Thus swyuyd was the carpenteris wyf For al his kepynge and al his Ielosye And absolon hath kissed her nethir ye And Nicholas is scalded in the toute This tale is doon and god saue al the route

¶Here endeth the Milleres ta••. ¶And here begynneth the reues prolog.

WAn folk hadde lawghyn at this nyce caas Of absolon and of hende Nicholas Diuers folk diuersly they sayden

But for the more part they laughte & pleyden Ne at this tale y saw noman hym greue But yf it were only Oswold the reue Be cause he was of Carpenteris craft A litil yre is in his herte y laft He gan to grucche and blame it a lyte Si••the quod he ful wel I coude the quyte With bleryng of a proud Mylleres ye Yf that me list to speke of Rebaudrye But y am olde me list not to pleye for age Gras tyme is doon my foder is forage This whyte top writith my olde yeris Myn herte also moulid is as myn heer is But yf I fare as doth an open ers That ilke fruyt is euer lenger the wers Tyl it be rotyn in mullok or in stre We olde men I drede so fare we Tyl we be rotyn can we not be rype We hopyn alwey whyle the worlde wol pype For in our wyl ther stikith euer a nayl To haue an hoore hed and a grene tayl As hath a leek for though our myght begon Our wil desirith fully euer in one For whan we may nought do than wol we speken Yet in our cold asshen old fyre is rekyn Four gledis haue we whiche I shal deuyse Auauntyng lyynge anger and couetyse Thyse four sparkelis longith vnto eld Our olde lymys mowe we not beweld

But wil shal not fayle that is soth And yet haue I alwey a coltis toth As many a yeer as it is passed henne Sen that my tappe of lif began to renne For sikirly whan I was born anone Deth drew the tappe of lif and let it gon̄ And euer seth hath so the tappe ronne Tyl that almost al empty is the tonne The streme of lif now droppith on the chymbe The sely tunge may wel rynge and chymbe Of wrecchidnesse that past is ful yore With olde folk saue dotage ther is nomore Whan that our hoost had herd this sermonyng He gan to speken as lordly as a kyng And sayde what amountith al this wit What shul we speke alday of holy writ The deuel made a reue forto preche Or of a sowter a shipman or a leche Say forth thy tale and tary not the tyme Lo depford it is halfwey to pryme Lo grenewich that many a shrewe is ynne It were al tyme thy tale forto begynne Now sires quod Oswold the reue I pray you alle that ye yow not greue Though that y answere & somdel sette his houn For leful is with force forto sown This dronkyn myllere hath told vs here How that begilid was a maister carpentere Parauenture in scorn̄ for that I am one

And be your leue I shal hym quyte anon Right in his chorlis termys w••l I speke I pray to god his necke mowe to breke He can wel in myn ye se a stalk But in his owen he can not se a balk

¶Here endeth the reuys prolog. ¶And here begynneth his tale.

AT trompynton not fer fro Cambrige Ther goth a brook and ouer that a brige Vp on the whiche brook ther stondith a mylle And this is verry soth that I you telle A myller was ther dwellyng many a day As ony pecok he was proud and gay Pipe he coude and fisshe and nettis bete And turne cuppis and wel wrastil and lepe And by his belt he baar a long pauade And of a sw••rd ful trenchant was the ••la••d A ••oly popper baar he in his pouche Ther was noman for peril durste hym touche A sheffeld thwytel bare he in his hose Round was his face & camoysid was his nose Also pilled as an ape was his skulle He was a market beter at the fulle Ther durste no wight hond vp on hym legge That he ne swoor anon he sholde abegge A thef he was for sothe of corn and mele And that a sligh and vsant forto stele His name whas I hote deynus Symkyn A wyf he hadde come of nobyl kyn

The person of the toun hir fader was With here he yaf many a panne of bras For that Symkyn sholde in his blood alye She was fostrid in a Nonnerye For Symkyn wolde no wyse as he sayde B••t yf she were wel y norisshid and amayde To saue his astat of yemanrye And she was proud and pert as a pye A ful feir sight was vp on hem two An holiday beforn hir wolde he go With his tipet ybounde aboute his hed And she cam aftir in a gite of reed And Symkyn hadde hosen of the same Ther durste no wight clepe hir but dame Was non so hardy that wente be the way That with hir durste onys rage or play But yf he wolde be slayn of Symkyn With pauade or with knyf or bodekyn For ielous folk ben parlous euermo Algatis they wolde her wyuys wenten so And eke also for she was somdele smotirlich She was as dyne as watir in a dich And ful of ho••our as a pismare Here thoughte a lady sholde hir spare What for hir kynrede and hir nortilrye That she hadde lernyd in the Nonerye A doughtir hadde they betwix hem two Of twenty yeer withoute ony mo Sauynge a child that was of half yeer age

In cradyl it lay and was a proper page This wenche thicke and wel I growe was With Camoys nose and yen grey as glas Buttokkis brode and brestis rounde & hye But right fair was her heer I wyl not lye The parson of the toun for she was feyr In purpos was to make hir his heyr Bothe of his catell and of his mesuage And straunge he made it of hir mariage His purpos was to bestowe here hye Vnto sum worthy blood of auncetrye For holy chirche godes muste be spendid On holy chirche blood that is descendid Therf••re he wolde his holy blood honoure Though that holy chirche sholde deuoure Gret sokyn hadde this myller out of doute With whete and malt of al the lond aboute And namely ther was a gret Colege Men clepith it the soler halle of Cambregge There was her whete & ek hir malt I grounde And on a day it happed in a stounde Seek lay the Mauncipyl on amalady Men wenden wisly that he sholde dy Fro whom this Myllers stale bothe whete & corn An hundrid tyme more than he did beforn For there before he stal but curteisly But now he was a theef ful outrageously For whiche the wardeyn chidde & made fare But therof set this Myllere not a tare

He crakid bost and sayde it was not so Than were ther pore clerkis two That dueldyn in this halle of whiche I sey Testyf they were and lusty forto pley And only for hir myrthe and reuelrye Vp on the wardeyn bisily they crye To yeue hem leue but a litil stounde To go to the mylle & se her corn̄ y grounde And hardely they durste ley her necke The myllere sholde not stele half a pecke Of corn be sleyghte or by force hem tene And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leue Iohn highte that on & aleyn highte that othir Of a toun were they born that highte strodir Fer in the north I can not telle where They makyn redy al hir owen gere And on her hors the sackis cast anon Forth goth aleyn the clerk and eke Iohn With good swerd and bokeler by her syde Iohn knew the wey hym nedid no gyde And at the mylle the sak adoun he leith Aleyn spak first al hayl Symond in feith How farith thy faire doughter and thy wyf Aleyn welcome quod Symkyn be my lyf And Iohn also what how what do ye here Symond quod he by god nede hath no pere Hym bus serue hym self that has no swayn Or ellis he is a fool as clerkis sayn Our mauncipyl I hope he wol be ded

Swa workis ay there wangis in his hed And therfore I is come and this aleyn To grynde our corn and cary it agayn I pray you spede vs heyn in that ye may It shal be do quod Sy••kyn be my fay What wil ye do whylis it is in hond Be god right be the hoper wol I stond Quod Iohn and se how the corn goos yn Yet saw I neuyr be my fadir kyn How the hoper waggis to and fro Ale••n answerd ••ohn wolt thou so Than wol y be benethe by my croun And se hon the mele fall is adoun In to the trowgh that shal be my disport For Iohn in faith I may be of your sort Ay is as ••lle a Myllere as is ye This myller smyled of her nyce••e And thoughte al this is don but for awyle Thay wene that noman may hem begyle But be my thrifte yet shal I blere her ye For al her sleyghte and her philosophye The more queynte crekis that they make The more shal I stele whan I take In stede of flour yet wyl I yeue hem bren The grettist clerkis be not wisest men As whilom the wolf spak to the mare Of al her art ne counte I not atare Out at the dore he goth ful pryuely When that he saw his tyme softly

He lokith vp and doun til he hath founde Thise clerkis hors where they stood bounde Behynde the mylle vnder a l••effeel And to the hors he goth faire and wel He stripith of the beidyl right anon And when the hors were loos they gan gon Toward the feld where wilde maris renne Forth with with wehy thurgh thicke & thynne This myllere goth ayen no word he seyde But doth his note & with the clerkis pleyde Til that her corn was feire & wel grounde And whan the mele is sackid and bounde This Iohn goth forth & fynt his hors aweye And gan to crye harow and wel awey Our hors is lorn aleyn for cokkys banys Step out on thy feet com thennys at anys Allas our wardeyn hath his palfrey lorn This aleyn al forgat bothe mele and corn Al was oute of mynde his husbondry What whilk wey is he gon he gan crye The wyf com rennynge ynward at a renne She said allas your hors goth to fenne With wilde maris. as faste as he may go Vnthank come on his hand that bond hem so And he that bettir sholde haue knyt the reyne Allas quod Iohn allas for cristis peyne Ley doun thy swerd and I wil myn alswa I is ful swifte. god woot as is a raa Be cockis herte he shal not a scape vs bathe

Swa workis ay there wangis in his hed And therfore I is come and this aleyn To grynde our corn and cary it agayn I pray you spede vs heyn in that ye may It shal be do quod Symkyn be my fay What wil ye do whylis it is in hond Be god right be the hoper wol I stond Quod Iohn and se how the corn goos yn Yet saw I neuyr be my fadir kyn How the hoper waggis to and fro Aleyn answerd Iohn wolt thou so Than wol y be benethe by my croun And se hon the mele fallis adoun In to the trowgh that shal be my disport For Iohn in faith I may be of your sort Ay is as ille a Myllere as is ye This myller smyled of her nycete And thoughte al this is don but for awyle Thay wene that noman may hem begyle But be my thrifte yet shal I blere her ye For al her sleyghte and her philosophye The more queynte crekis that they make The more shal I stele whan I take In stede of flour yet wyl I yeue hem bren The grettist clerkis be not wisest men As whilom the wolf spak to the mare Of al her art ne counte I not atare Out at the dore he goth ful pryuely When that he saw his tyme softly

He lokith vp and doun til he hath founde Thise clerkis hors where they stood bounde Behynde the mylle vnder a leeffeel And to the hors he goth faire and wel He stripith of the beidyl right anon And when the hors were loos they gan gon Toward the feld where wilde maris renne Forth with with wehy thurgh thicke & thynne This myllere goth ayen no word he seyde But doth his note & with the clerkis pl••yde Til that her corn was feire & wel grounde And whan the mele is sackid and bounde This Iohn goth forth & fynt his hors aweye And gan to crye harow and wel awey Our hors is lorn aleyn for cokkys banys Step out on thy feet com thennys at anys Allas our wardeyn hath his palfrey lorn This aleyn al forgat bothe mele and corn Al was oute of mynde his husbondry What whilk wey is he gon he gan crye The wyf com rennynge ynward at a renne She said allas your hors goth to fenne With wilde maris. as faste as he may go Vnthank come on his hand that bond hem so And he that bettir sholde haue knyt the reyne Allas quod Iohn allas for cristis peyne Ley doun thy swerd and I wil myn alswa I is ful swifte. god woot as is a raa Be cockis herte he shal not a scape vs bathe

Why ne had thou put the ••••pyl in to the lathe Ille hayl be god aleyn thou is a fonne These sely clerkis haue wel faste y ronne Toward the fenne bothe aleyn and eke Iohn And when the Myllere saw they were goon He h••lf a busshel of her corn hath take And ••ad his wyf go knede it in a cake And sayde I trow the clerkis were a ferd Yet can a Myllere make a clerkis berd For al her art yet let hem go her wey Lo where they goon so lat the children pley They gete hem nought so lightly be my croun Thyse sely clerkis rennyn vp and doun With kepe kepe stond stond Iossa ware derere Ga whistle thou there and I shal kepe hym here But shortly til it was verily nyght They coude not though they dede al her myght Her capil cacche he ran alwey so faste Tyl in a diche they caughte hym at the laste Wery and weet as beste is in the rayn Comyth sely Iohn and wi••h hym aleyn Allas quod Iohn the day that I was born Now are we dryuen to hething and to scorn Our corn is stole men wyl vs folis calle Bothe the ward••yn and our felowis alle And namely the Myller wel a wey Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goth be the wey Toward the Mylle and bayard in his hond The Myller sittyng be the fyre he fond

For it was nyght & ferther mighte they nought But for the loue of god they hym besought Of herberowh and of ese as for hir peny The myller sayde agayn yf ther be eny Suche as hit is yet shulle ye haue your part Myn hous is strait but ye haue lernyd art Ye can be argumentis maken a place A myle brood of twenty foot of space Let se now yf this place wol suffise Or make it romer with speche as is your gise Now Symond saide thiz Iohn be saint Cutberd Ay is thow mery and that is wel answerd I haue herd say þ^• men shal take of twa thingis Swilk as he fyndis or swilk as he bringis But specially y pray the hoost so dere Gete vs som mete & drinke & make vs chere And we wol trewly at the fulle With empti hondis men may not hawkis culle Lo here my siluer redy forto spende This myller to the toun his doughter sende For ale and breed and rostid hem a goos And bond her hors that he sholde nomore go loos And in his owen chamber he made a bed With shetes & with chalous faire I spred Not from his owen bed ten foot or twelue His doughter hadde a bed al be her selue Right in the same chambir by and by It myghte be no bet the cause why Ther was no romer herberow in the place

They soupen and spekyn of sola••e And dronkyn euyr strong ale atte beste Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste Wel hath this Myller vernysshed his hed Ful ••••le he was for dronke and nat red He ye••ith and he spekith tho••ow the nose A•• ••e were on the quacke or on the pose To bedde he goth and with hym goth his wyf As ony Iay was she light and iolyf So was her ioly whistyl wel y wet The cradyl at here beddis syde was set To rocken and to yeue the childe sowke And when that dawkyn was in the crowke To bedde wente the doughter right anone To bedde goth aleyn and also Iohn Th••r is nomore ther nedith hem no dwale This Myller hath so wysely bibbed ale That as an hors he fuortith and slepe Ne of his tayl behynde he takith no kepe His wyf bare hym a burd••n ful strong Men myghte hem here rowtyng a furlong The wenche rowted eke par company Aleyn the clerk that herde this melody He pokyd Iohn and sayde slepist thow Herdist thou euyr slyke a song or now Lo whilk a complyn is atw••ne hem alle A wylde fyre on her bodyys falle Who herde euyr swylk a ferly thing Ye they shal haue the flour of yll endyng

This longe nyght ther tyd vs no reste But yet noforce al shal be for the beste For Iohn sayde aleyn al so mot I thryue If that I may ye wenche wol I swyue Som esement hath lawe shapen vs For Iohn ther is alawe that saith thus That yf aman in o thing be agreued That in a nothir he shal be releued Our corn is stole sothly hit is no nay And we haue had an euyl fytte to day And syn I shal haue non amendement Ageyns my losse I wol haue esement Be goddis sale it shal non othir be This Iohn answerd aleyn auyse the The myllere is a perlous man he seyde And yf that he out of his slepe abreyde He mighte do vs bathe a velony Aleyn answerd I counte hym not a slye And vp he rist and to the wenche he creep This wenche lay vpright and fast sleep Til he so ny was or she myghte aspye That it hadde be to late for to crye And shortly forto telle they were attone Now playe aleyn for I wil speke of Iohn This Iohn lith stille a furlongwey or two And to hym self he made gret woo Allas quod he this is a wickyd Iape Now may I say that I is but an ape Yet hath my felow somwhat for his harm

He hath the Myllars doughter in his arme He auntrid and his nedis spedde And I ly as a draf sak in my bedde And whan this Iape is told anothir day I shal be holde a daffe a cokenay I wyl a ryse and auntre me be my feyth Vnhardy vnsely thus men seyth And vp he roos and softly he went Vnto the cradyl and in his arm it hent An bare it softe vnto his beddis feet Sone aftir the wyf hir rowtyng leet And gan awake and wente hir out to pisse And cam ayen and gan her cradyl mysse And gropid here & there but she fond non Allas quod she I hadde almost mysgon I hadde almost goon to the clerkis bed Do wey benedicite than hadde I foule sped And forth she goth til she the cradyl fond She gropith alwey serther with her hond And fond the bed•• thoughte nought but good Be cause that the Cradyl be it stood And nyste neuer where she was for it was derk But fayr & wel she crepte vnto the clerk And lith ful stille & wolde haue caught a sleep With ynne a whyle this Iohn vp leep And on this good wyf he leyeth on sore So mery a fytte hadde not she ful yore He prykith harde and sore as he were mad This ioly lyf haue thyse two clerkis lad

Tyl that the thridde cok began to synge Aleyn wext wery in the dawnynge For he hadde swonken al the longe nyght And sayde fare wel my fair swete wight The day is come I may no lenger byde Yet euermore where so y go or ryde I am thyn owen clerk sa haue I hele Now dere lemman quod she go fare wele But or thow go o thing I wol the telle When that thou wendist homward by the melle Right atte entre of the dore behynde Thow shalt a cake of half abusshel fynde That was maad of thyn owen mele Whiche that I halp my fader forto stele And gode lemman god the saue and kepe And with that word almost she gan to wep•• Aleyn vprist and thoughte or that it dawe I wil go crepe yn be my felawe And fond the cradil with his hond anon̄ Be god thoughte he al wrong haue I gon My hed is toty of my swynk to nyght That makith me that y go not a right I wote wel by the cradyl I haue mys go Here lith the myllere and his wyf also And forth he goth a twenty deuyl way Into the bed there the myllere lay He wende haue cropen yn be his felow Iohn And by the myller yn he creep anon And caughte hym be the necke & softe spak

He sayde thou swyneshede awake For cristis soule and here a nobyl game For by that lord that callyd is saint Iame As I haue thryys in this short nyght Swyuyd the mylleris doughter bolt vpright Whylis thou hast as a coward be agaste Ye false harlot hast thou so hast A fals traytour fals clerk quod he Thou shalt be ded be goddis dignite Who durste be so bolde to do suche disperage To my doughter that is of suche lynage And be the throte bolle he canghte aleyn And he hente hym dispitously agayn And on the nose he smot hym with his fist Doun ran the blod vp on his brest And in the floor with nose & mouth to broke They walowyd as piggis do in a poke And vp they goon and doun ayen anon Tyl that the Myllere sporned at a stoon And doun he fyl bacward on his wyf That w••ste no thing of this nyce stryf For she was falle in slepe a litil wight With Iohn the clerk that wakid hath al nyght And with the fal out of her slepe she breyd Help holy cros of bromehem she sayde In manus tuas to the lord I calle A wake Symond the feend is on me falle Myn herte is brokyn I am but ded There lieth on my wombe and on my hed

Help Symkyn for the fals clerkis fighte This Iohn stert vp as faste as he myghte And graspid be the wallis to and fro To fynde astaf and she stert vp also And knew the eftes bet than did this Iohn And by the wall astaf she took anon And saw a litil shymerynge of a light For at an hole yn shon the mone light And by that light she saw hem bothe two But sikirly she nyste who was who And as she saw a whit thing in her ye An whan she gan this white thing aspie She wende the clerk hadde werid a volupier And with the staf she drew ay nere and nere And wende haue hit this aleyn at the ful And smoot the myller on the pilid skul And doun he goth and cryde harow I dye The clerkis bete hym wel and let hym lye And greyden hem and eek hir hors anon And eke hir mele and on her wey they goon And atte mylle dore yet he took his cake Of half a busshel flour wel I bake Thus is the proud myller wel I bete And hath lost the gryndynge of the whete And payd for the soper eueridell Of aleyn and of Iohn that beet hym well His wyf is swyuyd and his doughtir als Lo suche it is a myllere to be fals And therto this prouerbe is sayd ful soth

Hym dare not wene well that euyl doth A gilour shal euer begyled be And god that sit in high mageste Saue al this companye grete and smale Thus haue I quyt the Myllere his tale

¶Here endith the reuys tale. ¶And begynneth the cokis prolog.

THe cook of london whyle the reue spak For ioye he toughte he clawid hym on þ^e bak A ha quod he for cristis owen passion This Myllere hath a sharp conclusion Vp on his argument of herbegage Wel sayde Salamon in his langage Ne preesse not euery man in thy hous For herborwynge be nyght is perlous Wel ought a man auisid forto be Whom that he brynge in to his pryuite I prey to god so yeue me sorow and care Syn euyr that I highte hogge of ware Herd I Myllere bet y set a werk He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk But god forbede that we stynten here And therfore yf ye vouchesauf to here A tale of me that am a poure man I wol you telle as wel as I can A lityl Iape that fyl in our cyte Our ost answerd & sayde I graunte it the Now telle on rogger loke that it be good For many a pasty hast thou lete blood

And many a iacke of douyr hast thou sold That had be twis hoot and twis cold Of many a pilgrym hast thou cristis ours For of thy persely yet fare they the wers Now tel on gentil roger be thy name But I pray the be not wroth for game A man may say ful soth in game and pley Thow saist soth sayde roger be my fey But soth pley quade pley as the flemyng saith And therfore harry bally be thy feyth Be thow not wroth ar we departen here Though that my tale be of an hostillere But natheles I wil not telle it yet But or we departe I wis thou shalt be quyt And therwith al he lowgh and made chere And sayde his tale as ye shul aftir here

¶Here endith the cokis prolog. ¶And begynneth his tale.

APrentis whilom duelt in our cyte Of craft of vitaillers was he As gaylard he was as goldsmyth in þ^• shawe Broun as a bery a proper felawe With lokkis I kembid ful fetously Daunce he coude wel and iolily Than he was clepid Perkyn reuelour He was as ful of loue and paramour As is the hyue ful of hony swete Wel was the wenche þ^• with hym mighte slepe And at euery bridale wolde he synge & hoppe

He louyd bettir the nethir ende than the shoppe For when ther ony ridyng was in chepe Out of the shoppe thyder wolde he lepe Tyl that he hadde al the sighte y seyn And daunsed wel he wolde not come ayen And gadrid hym a meyne of his sort To ho••pe & synge & make suche disport And there they secte steuene forto mete To pleyyn at the dyse in suche a strete For in the toun was ther no prentyse That fayrer coude caste a peyre of dyse Than Perkyn coude and therto he was fre Of his dispence in place of pryuyte That fond his maister wel in his chaffare For of tyme he fond his box ful bare For shortly a prentis that is a reuelour That hauntith dyse riot and paramour His maister shal it in his shoppe abye Al haue he no part of the mynstralsye For thefte and riot they be conuertibyll Al can he pleye on gitern•• or ribyble Reuel and trouthe as in a low degre They be ful wroth alday as men may se This ioly prentis with his maister stood Tyl he was neer oute of his prentishod Al were he styborn bothe erly and late And sumtyme led with reuel to Newgate Where he his vnthriftynes sore aboughte But atte laste his maister hym bethoughte

Vp on a prouerbe that saith the same word Wel bet is roten appyl oute of horde Then that he roten al the remenaunt So farith it be a riotous seruaunt It is ful lasse harm to lat hym pas Than he sholde al the seruauntis in the plas Therfore his maister yaf hym acquietaunce And had hym go with sorou & myschaunce And thus this ioly prentis hadde his leue Now let hym riot al the nyght or leue And ther is no theef withouten look That helpith hym to waste or to sowke Of that he beybe can or borow may Anon he sellith his bed and his aray Vnto a compiere of his owen sorte That louyth dyse ryot and disporte And hadde a wyf that held for contenaunce A shoppe & swyued for hir sustenaunce

¶Here endith the Cokys tale And begynneth the man of lawis prolog

OVre hoost saw that by the bright sonne The ark of his artificial day had ••onne The fourthe part and half an ••oure & more And theygh he were not depp•••••• stert in lore He wiste it was the .xviij. day Of april that is messanger to may And saw wel that the shadow of euery tre Was in lengthe of the same quantite That was the body erect that causid it

And therfore be the shadow he took his wit That phebus whiche that shon so clere & bright Degrees was .xlv. clomben on height And for that day is in latitude Hit is ten of the clocke ••e gan conclude And sodenly he plight his hors aboute Lording•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he I warne you al the route The fourthe part of this day is goon Now for the loue of god and saint Iohn Lese no tyme as ferforth as ye may Lordingis the tyme wastith bothe nyght & day And stelith fro vs what priuely slepynge And what thurgh negligence in our wakynge As doth the streme that turned neuyr agayn Descendyng fro the mounteyn in to the playn Wel can senek and many a philosophir Bewaylen tyme more than gold in cofyr For los of catell may recouered be But los of tyme shendith vs quod he It wyl not come ayen withouten drede Nomore than wol Malkynes maydenhede Whan that she hath lost it in hir wantownesse Let vs not mowlyn thus ••n Idelnesse SIre man of lawe q•• he so haue thou blis Tel vs a tale anon as forward is Ye be submyttyd thorough your fre assent To stonden in this caas at my Iugement Acquyte you now of your be heeft Than haue ye do your deuyr at the leeft

Hoost quod he depar dien Ie assent To breke forward is not myn entent Beheste his dette and I wolde fayn Plese yow / and therto wole I do my payne For suche lawe as men yeueth another wight He sholde hym self vse it be right Thus wol our text but natheles certeyn I can right now no thrifty tale seyn That Chauser they he can but lewdly On metris and on rymynge craftely Hath sayd hem in suche english as he can Of olde tyme as knoweth meny a man And yf he hath not sayd hem leue beother In o book he hath sayd hem in anothir For he hath told of louers vp an doun Mo than Ouyde made of mencion In his Epistelis that ben olde What sholde he telle hem sith they be told In youthe he made of Certes of alkyon And sith he hath spoken of euerichon These nobil wyuys and thyse nobil louers eek Who that wol his large volum seke Clepyd the sayntis lyuys of cupyde There may he see the large woundis wyde Of lucrece and of babylone tisbe The swerd of dido for the fals Enee The swerd of philles for here demophon The playnte of dyanere and of armyon Of adryane and eke of Isiphyle

The bareyn yle stondyng in ••he se The dreynt ••andir for his erro The teris of Eleyne and eke the woo Of Briseyde and of Ladomea The cruelte of the quene Medea The lityl childryn hangyng be the hals For why Iason that was of loue so fals Epymystra Penelope and alceste Her wyfhode comendynge with the beste But certeynly no word ne writith he Of that wicked ensaumpyl of Canace That loued her owen brothir synfully Of whiche cursid storyes I say fy Or ellis of Tirns appolonius How that the cursid kyng antiochus Beraft his doughter of hir maydenhede That is so horrible a tale forto rede Whan he here threw vp on the pament And therfore he ful of auisement Wolde neuer write in none of his sermons Of suche vnkind abhomynacions Ne I wol none reherce yf that I may But of my tale what sholde I do this day Me were loth be likned doutles To myses that men clepe piarydes Methamorphoseos woot what I mene But nether theles I recke not a bene They I come aftir hym the whiche hath no lak I speke in prose let hym rymes make

And with that word he with a sobir chere Began his tale as ye shul after here O Hateful harm condicion of pouert With thrist. cold & hunger so cōfoundid To asken help the shameth in thy hert Yf thou non aske with nede art thou so woundid That verry nede vnwrappith al thy woundis hid Magre thyn hed thou muste of indigence Or stele or begge or borow thyn dispence Thou blamyst crist and sayst ful bitterly He mys departiht riches temperal Thyn neyghebour thou witist synfully And sayst thou hast to lite and he hath al Parfay sayst thou one day he reken shal When that his tayl shal brenne in th•• gl••de For he not helpith the nedful in her n••de Herkenyth what is the sentence of the wyse Bet is to dyen than to haue indigence Thy self neyghbour wol the despyse If thou be poure farewel thy reuerence Yet of the wiseman take his sentence Althey that poure men be wikk Bewaar or thou come to the prik Yf thou be poure thy brother hatith the And alle thy frendis fle fro the allas O riche marchauntis ful of wele ye be O nobyl and prudent folk as in this caas Your baggis bith not fillyd with ••mbes aas But with sys synk that rennyth in your chaunc••

At Cristemasse mery mowe ye daunce Ye s••kyn lond and se for your wynnyngis And as wyse folk ye knowe al the state Of reygnes that been fadir of tidingis And talis bothe of pees and of debaat I were right now of a tale desolaat Ne were that a Marchan̄t gon is many a yere Me taughte a tale whiche ye mowe here IN Surry whylom duellyd a companye Of Chapmen riche therto sad & trewe That wyde where senten their spicerye Clothis of gold & satyn riche of hewe Her chaffare was so trusty and so newe That euery wight hath deynte of her chaffare And eke with hem to selle here ware Now fyl it that the maistris of the sort Haue shapen hem to rome forto wende Were it for chapman hood or for disport Non othir message wold they thyder sende But cam hem self to rome this is the ende And in suche place as thoughte hem auantage For her entent they takyn her herbygage Soiourned haue thyse marchantis in that toun A certeyn tyme as syl for her plesaunce But so be fyl that the excellent renoun Of the Emperours doughter dame Constan••e Reported was with euery circumstaunce Vnto thyse marchantis in suche wyse Fro day to day as y shal you deuyse

This was the comyn wis of euery man The Emperour of rome god hym se A doughter hath that sith the worlde began To rekene as wel her goodnes as her beaute Was neuer suche another as was she I pray to god in honour here ••usteyne And wolde she were of al Enrope the quene In here is high beaute withoute pryde Yonghte withoute greef or folye To alle her werkis vertu is her gyde Humbles hath slayn in here al tirannye She is a myrrour of al curtesie Her herte is verry chambir of holynesse Her hond mynyster of fredom and of almesse And al this wis is soth as god is trew But now to purpos let vs turne ay••en Thise marchan̄tis haue do fraught her shippis newe And when they haue the blisful mayde seyn Home to surry they wente a geyn And don her nedis as they dede yore And liuen wel I can s••y nomore Now fil it þ^• thyse marchauntis stood in grace Of hym that was the sow••••n of furrye For whan that they com fro ony straunge place He wolde of his benigne curtesie Make hem good chere and bisely aspye Tidyngis of sundry regnys forto lere The wondrys that they mighte se and here Among othir thingis specially

Thise marchants haue tolde of dame Cōstaūce So gret noblesse in ernest certeinly That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesaūce To haue her figure in his remembraunce And al his lust and al his besy cure Was forto loue here whilis his lif may endure Parauenture in that large book Whiche I clepe the heuen y wryte was With sterrys that he his birthe took Th••r he for loue sholde haue his deth allas F•••• in the sterrys clerer than is the glas Ys writyn god woot who so coude rede The deth of euery man withouten drede In sterrys many a wynter there beforn Was wryte the deth of Ector & Achilles Of Pompey Iulius or they were born The stryf of Thebes and of Hercules Of Sampson Turnus and Socrates The deth but mennys wittis be so dul That no man can rede it atte ful This sowdan for his pryuy counceil sent And shortly on this mater forto passe He hath to hem declared his entent And sayde hem certeyn but he mighte haue grace To haue Custaunce in a litil space He nas but ded and charged hem on hye To shapen for hym som remedy Diuers men diuers thinges saiden They argumentis casten vp and doun

Many a sotil reson forth they layden They spak of magyk and abusion But finally as in this conclusion They can not see in that non auauntage Ne in non othir wey saue in mariage Than saw they ther ynne suche difficultees Be wey of reson to speke al playn Be cause that ther was suche diuersitees Betwix her bothe lawes that they sayn They trowe that no cristen prince wolde fayn Wedden his child vnder our lawes swete That vs was taught be mahound our {pro}phete And he answerd rathir than I lese Custaunce I wil be cristened doutles I moot be heris I may non other chese I pray yow hold your argumentis in pees Sauyth my lif and be not recheles To geten here that hath my lif in cure For in this wo I may not longe endure What nedith gre••ter delectacion I say be tretyse and ••lussetrye And by the Popis mediacioun And al the chirche and al the chiualrye That in destruction of mawmetrye And in encrees of cristis lawe dere They be accorded as ye shul here How that the Sowdan and his baronage And alle his liegis shul cristened ••e And he shal haue custaunce in mariage

And ertayn gold I not what quantyte And therto founde they good ••urete The same accorde was sworn in either syde Now faire Custaunce almyghty god the gyde Now wolde sum men wene as I gesse That I sholde telle al the purueaunce That the Emperour of his grete nobles Hath shape for his doughter dame Custaunce Wel may men knowe that so gret ordenaunce May no man telle in a litil clause As was arayd for so high a cause Bisshoppis ben shapen with her forto wende Lordis and ladyes of gret renoun And other folk ynough this is the ende And notifyed is thorough out the toun That euery wight with deuocioun Sh••lde praye crist that this mariage Resceyue in gre and spede this viage The day is com of hir departyng I say that the woful•• day is come That ther may be no len••er taryynge But forward they dresse hem alle and som Custaunce that with sorow is al ouercom Ful pale arisith and dress••th her to wende For wel she woot ther is non other ende Allas what wonder it is though she wepte That shal be sent to straunge nacion Fro frendis that here so tenderly kepte And to be bounde vnder subiection

Of one she knoweth not the condicion Husbondis been alle gode and haue be yore That knowe wyuys I dar say nomore Fadir she sayde thy wrecchid child custaunce Thy yonge doughter fostred vp so softe That most you loueth with obeissaunce Ouir alle thing out take crist on lofte Custaunce your child her recomaundith ofte Vnto your grace for I shal to surrye Ne shal I neuer se you more with ye Allas vnto the barbarik nacion I muste anon acordyng to your wil But crist that deyde for our redempcion So yeue me grace his hestis to fulfille I wrecchid womman no sors though I spylle Wommen are born to thraldom & to penaunce And to be vnder mannys gouernaunce I trow at troye whan Turnus brac the wal Of Ilion nor brent was Thebes the Cyte Ne rome for the sege of hanybal That romayns hadde venguysshed tymes thre Nas herd suche tender wepynge for pyte As was in the chambir for her departynge But forth she moot whether she wepe or synge O frosty mornynge cruel firmament With thy dyurnal whele that crowdest ay And hurtelist al fro este to occidente That naturelly wolde holde another wey Thy crowdyng set the heuen in suche aray

At the begynnynge of this firste viage That cruel marce hath slayn this mariage O infortunat asc••ndant tortuous Of whiche the lord is helples falle allas Out of his angil in to the thirde hous O Marce occitaser as in this caas O feble mone vnhappy be thy paas Thow knettist the there thou art not resceyued There thou art wel fro then art thou weyuyd Imprudent Emperour of rome allas Was ther no philisophir in thy toun Is no tyme bectir than anothir in this ca••s Of viages is ther non election Namely to folk of hygh condicion Not whan a rote is of a birthe y knowe Allas we been to lewd and ellis to slowe To shippe is brought this woful fayre mayde Solempuly with euery circumstaunce Now Ih••su crist be with you alle she sayde Ther is nomore but far wel fayre Custaunce She pynyth her self to make good contenaunce And forth I lete here saylle in this manere And turne ayen I wol to my matere The moder of the sowdan welle of vicis Aspyed hath her sonys playn en••ent How he wolde lete his olde sacrificis And right anon she for her counsel sent And they be come to knowe what she ment And whan assemblid was this folk in fere

She sette her doun & sayde as ye shul here Lordinges quod she ye know wel euerichon How that my sone is in poynt forto lete The holy lawis of our alcaron Yeuen by goddis messanger Machomete But on a vowe to the grete god I hete The lif shal rathir out of my body stert Or machometis loue go out of my hert What sholde vs tidyn of this newe lawe But thraldom to our body and penaunce And aftirward in helle to be drawe For we reneyed Mahound our creaunce But lordis wille ye make assuraunce As I shal say assentyng to my lore And I shal make vs sauf for euyrmore They sworyn and assented euery man To lyue with hir and dye and by hir stonde And eueriche in the beste wyse that he can To strengthe her shal his frendis fonde As she that hath this empryse take on honde Whiche ye shul here as I shal deuyse And to hem alle she spak in this wyse We shul vs first fayne cristendom to take Cold watre ne shal vs greue but a lyte And I shal suche a feste and a reuel make That as I trow I shal the sowdon quyte For though his wyf be cristened neuyr so whit She shal haue nede to wasshe awey the rede Though she a fonte ful of water with her lede

O sowdonnes rote of iniquyte Virago thou samarian the secunde O serpent vndir femenyn beaute I lik vnto the serpent depe in helle I bound•• O feyned woman al that may confounde Vertu and Innocence thurgh thy malice I bred is in the nest of euery vice O sathan ennyous syn that day That thow were chaced from our heritage Wel knowest thow to women the olde way Thow madist one to brynge vs in seruage Thou wolt fordon this cristen mariage Thyn instrument so wel a way the whyle Makist thou of woman whan thou wilt begy••e This sowdonnesse whom I thus blame & wery Let priuely her counsel go her way What sholde I lenger in this tale tary She ridith to the Sowdan on a day And sayde to hym that she wolde renye her lay And cristendom of prestis hond fonge Repentyng her that she hethen was so longe Besechinge hym to don her that honour That she myghte haue the cristen folk to feste To plesen hem I wyl do my labour The Sowdan saith I wyl do at your heste And kneling thankid her of that requeste So glad he was he nyste what to sey She kyssid her sone and home she goth her wey Aryuyd be this cristen folk to londe

In surry with a greet solempne route And hastely this Sowdon sente his sonde First to his moder and to al the regne aboute And sayde his wyf was come withoute doute And preyde her to ryde ayens the quene The honour of his regne to sustene Greet was the prees and riche was the aray Of surriens and of Romayns met in fere The moder of the sowdon riche and gay Resceyuyth hir with al glad chere As ony moder myghte her doughter dere And to the nexte cyte there beside A softe paas solempuly they ride Nought trow I the triumphe of Iulius Of whiche that lucan makith suche a boost Was ryaller ne more corious Than was the assemble of this blisful ost But this scorpion this wicked gost The sowdonnesse for al hir flaterynge Cast vnder this ful mortally to stynge The sowdon comyth hym self sone aftir this So rially that wonder was to telle And welcomyth hir with ioye and blis And thus with ioye and blis I lete hem dw••lle The fruyt of euery tale is forto telle Men thoughte it when tyme cam for the best That reuel to stynt and men to go to reste The tyme cam this olde Sowdonnesse Ordeyneth hath this feste of whiche I tolde

And to the feste cristen men dresse In general bothe yonge and olde There may men reuel and feste beholde And deyntees mo than I can deuyse But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse O sodeyn wo that euer art successour To wordly blis spreynt with bitternes The ende of our Ioy and of our wordly labour Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse Herkyn this counsel for thy sikernesse Vp on thy glad day haue in thy mynde The vnwaar wo that comyth the behynde For shortly to telle at o word The sowdan and the cristen euerichone Been al to he wen and stiked at the borde But it were only dame Custaunce allone This olde Sowdonnes cursid crone Hath with her cursid frendis there don this dede For she her self wolde al the contre lede Ne there was Surreyn none that was conuertid That of the counsel of the Sowdan wotith That he nas al to hewen or he astertid And Custaunce haue takyn as they hotith And in a ship steerles god it wotith They haue her set and bid her lerne to saylle Out of S••rrye ayen in to Itaylle A certeyn tresour that she thyder ledde And soth to sayn vitayl greet plente They haue her yeue and clothis eek she had

And forth she ••ayled in to the salt se O my Custaunce ful of benignite O Emperours yong doughter dere He that is lord ouyr fortune be thy stere She blissid hir and with ful pitous wis Vnto the cros of crist said she O clere O woful auter holy croye Rede of the lambis blood ful of pyte That wesshist the worlde fro old iniquite Me fro the fend and fro his clawis kepe That day that I shal drenche in the depe Victorious tre of protection trewe That only were ordeyned forto bere The kyng of heuen with his woundis newe The whyte lamb that hurt was with a spere Flemer of fendis out of hym and of here Of whiche thy lymes feithfully extende Me kepe and yeue me myght to amende Yeris and dayes fleet this creature Thorow out the se of greek in to the streyte Of Marrok as it was her auenture O many a sory meel may she beyte Aftir her deth ful ofte may she wayte Or that the wilde wawes wolde her dryue Vnto the place where that she shal arryue Men myghte aske why she was not slayn And ek atte feste who myghte her body saue And I answere to that demaunde agayn Who sauyd Daniel in the horrible Caue

There euery wight were he maistir or knaue Was with the lioun fret or he a stert No wight but god that he baar in his hert God lust to shewe his wondirful miracle In here for she sholde se his mighty werkis Crist that is of euery harm triacle Be certayn menys as knowen clerkis Doth thingis that for certeyn ende ful derk is To mannys wit that for our ignoraunce Ne can not knowe his prudent purueaunce Now sith that she nas at the feste y slawe Who kepte her fro drenching in the see Who kepte Ionas in the fisshis mawe Tyl he was spowted out at nynyue Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kepte the pepyl of Ebrew fro drenching With drye foot thorugh out the see passinge Who hath the foure spiritis of tempeste That power haue to annoyen londe and see Bothe No••th and south west and Est Annoyeth neyther lond hous ne tre Sothly the comaunder of that was he That fro the tempest ay this woman kepte As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte Where myghte this woman mete & drynk haue Thre yere and more lastith her vitayl•• Who fedde the Egipcian Mary in the Caue Or in desert non but crist sauns faylle Fyur thousand folk it was a gret meruaylle

With louys fyue and fisshis two to fede God halpe her alwey in her nede She dryueth fo••th in to our occian Thorow out our wyde se til at the laste Vndir an hold that nemene I ne can Fer in Northumbirland the wawys her cast And in the sond the ship stickid so faste That thens wolde it not al that tyde The wil of crist was there she shulde abyde The constabil of the castel doun is fare To se this wrakke and al the ship he soughte And fond this doutif womman ful of care He fond also the tresour that she broughte In her langage mercy she be soughte The lif out her body forto wynne Her to deliuer out of the wo that she was ynne Amaner latyn corupt was her speche But algatis ther by was she vnderstonde The Constabil whan hym lift no lenger seche This woful womman brought he to londe She knelith doun and thankith cristis sonde But what she was she wold noman sey For foul ne fair t••ough she sholde dye She said she was so masid in the se That she forgat her mynde by her trowth The Constabil hath of hir so gret pyte And eke his wyf that wepen sore for rowth She was so diligent withoute slowthe To serue and plese euerich in that place

That al her loue that lokyn in her face The Constabyl and dame hermegild his wyf Were paynemys and that contre euery where But hermegild louyd her as her lyf And Custan̄ce hath so longe I soiourned there In orisoun with many a bittir tere Tyl Ihesus hath conuertid thorough his grace Dame hermegilde the Constablis wyf of þ^• place In al that lond no cristen durste route Alle cristen men be fled fro that contre Thorough paynemes that conquered al aboute The royame as wel by londe as by see To wales thenne fledde the Cristianite Of olde britons duellyng in that Ile Ther was no refute for the mene whyle But yet nere cristen britons so exyled That ther nas som in her priuyte Honouryd crist and hethen folk begilyd And nygh the castel suche ther dwellid thre That one of hem was blynd & myght not se But it were with thicke yen of his mynde With whiche they seen aftir men be blynde Bright was the sonne as in a somers day For whiche the Constabyl and his wyf also And Custaunce hath take the right way Toward the see a furlong wey or two To pleyen and to romen to and fro And in this walk the blynde men they mette Crokid and olde with yen faste I shette

In the name of crist cryde this briton Dame Hermegilde yeue me my sighte ageyn This lady wax afrayd of that soun Lest that her husbond shortly forto seyn Wolde here for Ihesus cristis lore haue sleyn Til custaunce made her bolde & bad her wirche The wil of criste as doughter of holy chirche The constabil wexte abasshid of that sighte And sayde what amountith al this fare Custaunce answerde sire it is cristis myght That helpith folk out of the fendis snare And so ferforth she gan our lawe declare That she the Constable or it were eue Conuerted hath and on crist made hym beleue This Constable was no thing lord of this place Of whiche I spak ther he Custaunce fonde But kepte it strongly many wyntris space Vndir alla kyng of al Northumbirlond That was ful wyse and worthy of his hond Ayens the scottis as men may wel here But turne ayen I wil to my matere Sathan that euer vs waytith to begyle Saw of Custaunce al the perfection And caste anon how he mighte quyte her while And made a yong knight dwelling in þ^e toun Loue here so hote of foul affection That verily hym toughte he shal spille But he of here onys mighte haue his wille He wowith hir but it auaylith nought

She wolde do no synne be no way And for despit he compassid in his thought To make here on shamful deth to day He waytith whan the Constabyl is away And priuely on a nyght he crepte In hermegildis chambir whylis she slepte Wery forwakid in her orisons Slepith hermegilde and Constaunce also This knyght thorough sathans temptacions Al softly is to the bed y goo And ku••te the throte of hermegild a twoo And leyde the blody knyf be dame Custaunce And wente his wey there god yeue him mischan̄••e Sone aftir comyth the Constabyl hom ayeen And eke alla that was kyng of the lond And saw his wyf dispitously sleyn For whom he wepte and wrong his hond And in the bed the blody knyf he fonde Be dame Custaunce allas what might she say For verray wo her wit was al a way To kyng alla was told al this myschaunce And the tyme and where and eke the wyse That in a ship was founde this Custaunce As here before ye me haue herd deuyse The kyngis herte of pyte gan aryse When he saw the benigne creature Falle in disese and in mysauenture For as the lomb toward his deth is brought So stant this Innocent a fore the kyng

This fals knight that hath this treson wrought Bereth hir in hond she ha••h do this thyng But natheles there was gret mornyng Among the pepyl and sayden they can gesse That she hadde not do so gret a wickednesse For they haue seye here euyr so vertuous And louyng hermegild right as her lyf Of this baar witnesse euerich in that hous Saue he that slow hermegild with the knyf This gentil kyng hath caught a gret motif Of this witnesse & thoughte he wolde enquyre Deppere in this aias and trowthe forto lere Allas custaunce thou hast no champion Ne fighte cans thou not so wel away But he that for our redempcion Bond sathan and yet lith there he lay He be thy strong champion this day For but crist open myracle kithe Withoute gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe She sette hir doun on her knees & thus she sayde Immortal god that sauedist ••usanne Fro fals blame and thou mercyful mayde Mary I mene doughtir of saint anne Before whos child aungelis syng Osanne If I begiltles of this felonye My socour be or ellis I shal dye Haue ye not se sum tyme a pale face Of hym that hath be lad in a prees Toward his deth where he getith no grace

And suche a colour in the knyghtis face chees Men myghte knowe his face in all the prees Among al the faces that was in that Route So stant Custaunce and lokith here aboute O quenes lynage whilom in prosperite Duchesse and ladyes euerichone Haue som rowthe on hir aduersite An Emperours doughter stont allone She woot not to whom to make her mone O ryal lady that stondist in this drede Fer ben thy frendes at thy greet nede This Alla hath suche compassion As gentil herte is fulfillyd of pyte That from his yen ran the watir doun Now hastely go fet a book quod he And yf that this knyght wol swere that she Hath this woman slayn yet wyl we vs auyse Whom that we wyl shal be our Iustise A briton book writen with euangelies Was fet and there on he swoor anon She gilty was and in the mene whyles An hond hym smoot vp on the necke boon That doun he fyl at onys as a stoon And bothe his yen brest out of his face In sighte of euery body of that place A boys was herd in general audience And sayde thou hast disclaundryd giltlees The doughter of holy chirche in high presence Thus hast thou doon and yet I holde my pees

Of this meruayll agast was al the prees As masid folk they stonden euerichon For drede of wreche saue Custaunce alone Greet was the drede and eke the repentaunce Of hem that hadde wrong suspection Vp on this sely Innocente Custaunce And for this mirakil in conclusion And by Custaunces mediacion The kyng and many another in that place Conuertid was thankid be cristis grace This fals knight was slayn for his vntrouthe By Ingement of the kyng alla hastely And yet hadde Custaunce of his deth gret routhe And aftir Ihesus of his mercy Made alla to wedde hir solemly This holy maiden that is so bright and shore And thus hath crist maad Custaunce a qu••••e But who was woful yf I shal nat ly Of this weddyng but donygelde and nomo The kyngis modir ful of tirannye Her thoughte her cursid herte brast a two She nolde not her sone hadde so do Her thoughte a despyt that he sholde take So straunge a creature vnto his make Me list not of the chaf ne of the s••re Make so long a tale as of the corn What sholde I telle of the ryalte Of this mariage or whiche cors goth beforn Who bloweth in a trompe or who in a horn

The fruyt of euery tale is for to sey They ••et and drank daunce synge and pley They go to bedde as it is skyl and right For though that wyuys be ful holy thyngis They muste take in pacient a nyght Suche maner of necessaries as been plesingis To folk that haue weddid hem with ringis And sey a litil her holynesse a syde As for the tyme it may non other betyde On here he begate a man child anon And to a bisshop and to his Constable eke He took his wyf to kepe when he is gon To scotlond ward his fomen forto seke Now faire Custaunce that is so humble & so meke So long is gon with childe in that stylle She kepte her chambir abydyng cristis wyll The tyme is come a man child she beer Mauricius at the fontstoone they hym calle This Constabyl doth forth come a messanger And wroot vnto this kyng þ^t clepyd was alle How that this blisful tidingis is be falle And othir thing whiche was nedeful to saye He takith his lettre and forth he goth his waye This messanger to do his auauntage Vnto the kynges moder ridith he swythe And salueth here fayre in his langage Madame quod he ye may be glad and blythe And thanken god an hundrid thousand sithe My lady the quene hath child withouten doute

To ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute Lo here the lettres sealid of this thing That I muste here in al the haste I may Yf ye wil ought to your sone the kyng I am your seruaunt bothe nyght and day Dame donegelde answerde al this tym̄ nay But here al nyght I wol thou take thy rest To morow I wol sey the what me leste This messanger drank sadly ale and wyne And stolen were his lettres priuely Out of his box whilis he slepte as a swyn And countrefetyd was ful subtilly Anothir lettre wrought ful synfully Vnto the kyng directyd of this matere Fro his Constabil as ye may aftir here The lettre spak the quene deliuered was Of so horrible a fendly creature That in the Castel non so hardy was There no while ony wighte myghte endure The modir was an elphe be auenture I comyn be charmes or be sorcerye And euery wight hateth hir in companye Wo was the kyng whan he this lettre had se••n But to no wight he tolde his sorowis sore But of his owen hond he wroot ay••••n Welcome the sonde of crist for euermore To me that am lerned in this lore Lord welcome be thy lust & thy pleasaunce My lust I put al in thy ordenaunce

Kepe this child al be it foul or fair And eke my wyf vnto myn hoom comynge Crist whan hym list may make me an heir More agreabyl than this to my likynge This lettir he selith pryuely wepynge Whiche to the messanger was y take sone And forth he goth there is nomore to doon O messanger fulfillid with dronkenes Straunge is thy breth thy lymys flateryn ay And thou bewreyest al secretnes Thy mynde is lore thou iangesist as a Iay Thy face is turned as in a newe aray There dronkenesse reygneth in ony rowte There is no counsel it is no doute O donegelde I haue non english digne Vnto thy malice and thy tirannye And therfore to the feend I the resigne Lete hym endityn of his treytory Fy mamysshe fy nay be god I ly Fy feendly spirit for I dar wel telle Though thou here walke thy spirit is in helle This messanger comyth fro the kyng agay•• And at the kyngis modr••s court he lighte And she was of this messanger ful fayn And pl••sid hym in al that euer she myghte He drank and wel his girdyl vnder pyghte He slepith and he snortith in his gyse Al nyght til the sonne gan aryse Aftir were his lettres stolen euerichon

And countrefetid lettres in this wyse The kyng Comaundith his Constabil anon Vp peyne of hongynge on high Iuyse That he ne sholde suffre in no wyse Custaunce in his regne forto abyde Thre dayes and a quartir of a tyde But in the same ship as he here fond Here and her yong sone and al her geer He sholde put and croude fro the lond And charge hir that she come neuer aftir there O my Custaunce wel may thy gost haue feer And slepyn in thy dreme be penaunce Whan donegelde cast al this ordenaunce This messanger on morow whan he wook Vnto the Castel holdith the nexte way And vnto the Constabil he the lettris took And whan that he this pitous lettre say Ful often he sayde allas and wel away Lord crist quod he hou may this worlde endure So ful of synne is many a creature O myghty god yf that it be thy wyll Sithen thou art rightful Iuge hou may it be That thou wolt suffre innocence to spylle And wicked folk regne in prosperyte O gode Custaunce alas so wo is me That I moot be thy turmentour or ellis dye On shamful deth ther is non other remedye Wepyn bothe olde and yonge in that place Whan that the kyng this cursid lettre sent

And Custaunce with a dedly & a paal face The fayre may toward the ship she went But neuer the lees she takith it in good entent The wyl of crist and knelynge on the stronde She sayde ay welcom be thy sonde He that me kepte fro the fals blame Whylis that I was on the lond amonges you He can me kepe fro blame & eke fro shame In the salt se although ye se not hou As strong as euer he was he is right now In hym I truste and in hes moder dere That is to me my sayl and eke my stere Her litil child lay wepyng in her arm And kneling pitously she sayde Pees litil childe I wol do the non harm With that the kerchief from her hed she brayde And ouer his litil yen it layde And in her arm she lullith it ful faste And in to heuene vp her yen she caste Moder quod she and mayde bright Marye Soth is that thorow womannys egement Mankynde was lost & dampnyd euer to dye For whiche thy child was on the cros to rent Thy blisful yen saw al this turment Than is ther no comparison betwene Thyn wo and my wo that man may sustene Thou saw thy childryn slayn a fore thyn yen And yet now liueth my litil child perfay Now lady bright to whom alle women crien

Thou glorye of whomanhed thou faire may Thou hauen of refut bright sterre of day Rewe on my child that of thy gentilnesse Rewest on euery synful in distresse O litil child allas what is thy gilt That neuer wroughtest synne as yet perde Why wyll thy hard fader haue the spilt O mercy and dere Constabil quod she As leet my litil child dwelle here with the And if thou darst not saue hym fro blame So kys hym onys in his fadres name Therwith she lokith bacward to the lond And saide farewel husbond routhlees And vp she goth & walkith doun the stronde Toward her ship here folowith al the prees And euer she praieth hir childe to holde his pees And takith her leue with an holy entent She blissith her and in to the ship she went Vitaylid was the ship it is no drede Habundauntly for her long space And othir necessaries that sholde nede She hadde ynow heried be goddis grace For wynd & wedir almyghty god purchace And brynge her hoom I can no bettir sey But in the see she dryueth forth the wey ALla the kyng sone aftir this Vnto his Castel of whiche I tolde Askyd where his wyf and his childe is The Constabil gan aboute his hert to colde

And pleynly al the maner he hym tolde As ye haue herd I can it telle no bettir And shewith the kyngis seel and his lettir And sayde lord as ye comaundid me On peyne of deth so haue I do certeyn This messanger turmentid was til he Must be knowe and telle plat and playn Fro nyght to nyght what place he had in layn And thus be with subtil enquerynge Imagened was be whom this gan sprynge The hond was knowen that the lettir wroot And al the venym of this cursid dede But in what wyse certeinly I not The effect is this that alla out of drede His moder slough that men may plainly rede For she traytour was to her ligeaunce Thus endid olde donegelde with a myschaunce The sorou that this alla nyght and day Makith for his wyf and his child also Th••re is no tunge that it telle may But now wol I to Custaunce go That fletith in the se with peyne and wo Fyue yeer and more as likyd cristis sonde Or that her ship approchid to ony londe Vnder an hethen castel at the laste The whiche the name not in my tixt I fynde Custaunce and eke hir child vp cast Almyghty god that saueth alman kynde Haue on Custaunce & her child ••um mynde

That fallen is in hethen lond eftsone In poynt to spille as I shal telle you sone Doun from the Castel comyth ther many awight To ganryn on this ship and on Custaunce But shortly fro the Castel on a nyght The lordis Steward god yef hym myschaunce A theef that hadde reyned our creaunce Com in to the ship allone & sayde hou she sholde His lemman be whether she wolde or nolde Tho was this wrecchid womman wo be gon Her child cryde and she pitously But blissed mary helpe her anon For with her strogeling wel and myghtely The theef fil ouer the bord al sodenly And in the se he dreynt for vengeaunce And thus hath crist vnwemmyd kept custan̄ce O foul lust of luxurye lo thyn ende Not only that thou feyntist mannys mynde But verily thou wolt his body shende Then of thy werk and thy lustis blinde Is compleynynge hou many on may men finde That nought for werk sumtyme but fole entent To do this synne be othir sleyn or shent How may this week womman haue the strengthe Here to defende ay••ns the renegat O Golias vnmesurable of lengthe How myghty Dauid made the so mate So yong of armure and so desolate How durste he loke vp on thy face

Wel may men seen it is but goddis grace Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse To sle Olefernes in his tent And to deliueren out of wrecchidnesse The pepyl of god I say to this entent That right as god spirit and vigour sent To hem and saued out of myschaunce He sente strengthe & vigour vnto Custan̄ce Forth goth her ship thorow out þ^e narou mouth Of Iuba••ter and septe driuyng ay Som tyme west and som tyme north & south And somtyme est ful meny awery way Til cristis moder y blissid be she ay Hath shapen thorow her endlees goodnesse To make an ende of al her heuynesse Now lete vs stynte of Custan̄ce but a throw And speke of romayns the Emperour That out of rome hath be lettris knowe The slaughter of cristen folk and dishonour Doon vnto his doughter be a fals traytour I mene the cursid and wickyd sowdonnesse That at the feste leet sle bothe more and lesse For whiche this Emperour hath sent anon His senatour with ryal ordenaunce And othir lordis god woot meny on On ••urryens to take high vengeaunce They brenne & sle & brynge hem to myschaun••e Ful meny a day but shortly this is the ende Homward to rome they shapen hem to wende

This senatour repayrith with victory To romeward sayling ful ryally And mette the ship as saith the story In whiche Cu••taunce sit ful pitously No thyng knew he what she was ne why She was in suche aray that she ne wol sey Of here astat though she sholde deye He bryngith hir to rome to his wyf He yaf her to here and her yong sone also And with the senatour ladde hir lyf Thus can our lady brynge out of wo Woful Custaunce and many another mo And longe tyme duellyd she in that place In holy workis euer was her grace The senatours wyf hir aunte was But for al that she knew her neuer the more I wil no lenger tarye in this caas But to kyng Alla whiche I spak of yore That had suche sorowe as I said before I wol retourne and lete I wol Custaunce Vnder the senatours gouernaunce Kyng Alla whiche that hadde his moder slayn Vp on aday fil in suche repentaunce And yf I shortly telle shal and pl••yn To rome he cometh & receyueth his penaunce And put hym in the Popis ordenaunce In high and lowe and Ihesus crist besoughte Foryeue hym the workis that he hath wro••ght The fame anon thorough rome is born

How alla kyng shal come a pilgremage By herbegeous that wenten hym beforn For whiche the senatour as was the vsage Rood hym ayens and many of his lynage As wel to shewen his magnificence As to doon ony kyng reuerence Gret chere doth this nobyl senatour To kyng alla and he to hym also Euery of hem doth to other gret honour And so be fyl that on a day or two This senatour is to kyng alla go To feste shortly and I shal not ly Custaunces s••ne wente in his company Sum men wolde say at the request of Custan̄ce This senatour hadde led this child to feste I may not telle euery Circumstaunce Be as be may there was he at the leste But s••th it is right at his moder h••ste Beforn alla duryng the mete space The child stood lokyng in the kyngis face Alla the kyng of this child hath gret wonder And to the senatour he sayde anone Whose is this fayre child that stondith yonder I not quod he be god and be saynt Iohn A moder he hath but fader hath he noon That I of woot and shortly in a stounde He tolde alla how the child was founde But god woot quod this senatour also So vertuous a liuere in alle my lif

Ne saw I neuer ne herde of mo Of wordly wymmen mayden wydow or wyf I dar wel say she hadde leuer with a knyf Thorow out her brest than be awoman wyke Ther is noman coude brynge hir to the pryk Now was this child as lik vnto Custaunce As possible is a creature forto be This alla hath the face in Remembraunce Of dame Custaunce and theron musid he Yf that the childis moder were aught she That is his wif and priuely he sighte And spedde hym fro the tabyl al that he mighte Parfay quod he the fanton is in myn hed I ought to deme of rightful Iugement That in the salt se my wyf is ded And aftirward he made his argument What woot I yf crist haue hir hidir sent My wyf be se as wel as he her sent To my contre fro thens that she went And aftir anon hoom with the senatour Goth alla for to se this wonder chaunse This senatour doth alla gret honour And hastely he sente aftir Custaunce But trust wel her lust not to daunce Whan she wiste wherfore was that sonde Vnnethis vp on her feet myghte she stonde Whan alla saw his wyf faire he her grette And wepte that it was routhe to se For atte ferste loke that he on her sette

He knew verily that it was she And for sorow as doumbe stondith as a tre So was her herte shit in her distresse Whan she remembrith of his vnkyndenesse Twys she swownyth in his owen sighte He wepte and hym excusid pitously Now god quod he and his halowis bright So wisly on my soule haue mercy That of your harm as giltles am I As is my sone Maurice so lik your face Ellis the fend me fecche out of this place Longe was the sobbyng & the bitter peyn Er that her woful herte myghte sece Gre••t was the pyte forto here hem compleyn Th••rou whiche pleyntis gan her wo encrece I pray you alle my labour to relece I may not telle her wo vntil to morow I am so wery forto speke of sorow But finally whan the soth is wist That all a giltlees is of hir wo I trow an hundred tymes they bekyste And suche a blisse is there betwix hem two That saue the ioye that lastith euer mo Ther nys noon I lik that ony creature Hath s••ye or shal whylis the worlde may dure Tho preyde she her husbonde mekely In rel••synge of her pitous peyne That he wolde pray her fader specially That by his mageste he wolde enclyne

To vouchesauf sumtyme with hym to dyne She praieth hym eek he sholde be no wey Vnto hir fader no word of here sey Sum men wolde seyn that the child Maurice Doth this message vnto the Emperour But as I gesse alla was not so nyce To hym that is so souereyn of honour As he that is of cristis folk the flour Sente ony childe but it is best to deme He wente hym self and so it may wel seme This Emperour hath grauntid gentilly To com to dyner as he hym besoughte This alla was redy he lokyd bysily Vp on this childe and on his doughter thoughte Alla goth vnto his Inne and as hym oughte Araid for this feste in euery wyse As ferforth as his kunnynge may ••uffise The morow cam alla gan hym dresse And eke his wyf this Emperour for to mete And forth they riden in ioye and in gladnesse And when she saw her fader in the strete She lightith doun and fallith hym to fete Fader quod she your yonge child Custaunce Is now ful ••ken out of your remembraunce I am your doughter Custaunce quod she That whilom ye haue sent in to furrye It am I fader that in the salt see Was put alone and dampned forto dye Now gode fader mercy I you crye

S••••d me nomore in to hethenesse But thankith my lord here of his kyndenesse Who can the piteous ioye telle all Betwix hem thre sithenes they be thus met But of my tale make an ende I shal The day goth faste I may no lenger lette Thise glad folk to dyner be y sette In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem duelle A thousand fold more than y can telle This child Maurice was sith Emperour I maad be the Pope and liuyd cristynly To cristis chirche dede he gret honour But I lete al thyse storyes passe by Of Custaunce is my tale specially In olde romaynes gestes men may wel fynde Mauricius lyf I bere it not in mynde Than kyng alla whan he his tyme say With Custaunce his holy wyf so swete To engelond ben they come the righte way Where as they liuen in ioye and in quyete But lityl whyle it lasted I you behete Ioye of this worlde but a tyme it wol abyde Fro day to nyght it chaungith as the tyde Who liueth euer in suche delite a day That ne meued is eyther in conscience Or ire or talent or ••um kynnys affray Enuye or pryde or passioun or offence I ne sey but for the ende of this sentence That lityl whyle in ioye or plesaunce

Lastith the blisse of alla with Custaunce For deth that takith of hye & lowe his rente When passid was a yeer as I gesse Out of this world this kyng alla is went For whom Custaunce hath ful gret heuynesse Now pray we to god his soule blesse And dame Custaunce finally to say Toward the toun of rome goth hir way To rome is come this holy creature And fyndeth her frendis there hole and sound Now is she scapid al her auenture And when she hir fadir hath y founde Doun on her knees fallith to grounde Wepynge in herte for tendernesse blithe She herieth god a hundred thousand sithe In vertu and in holy almes dede They liuen alle and neuer a sonder wende Til deth departed hem this lif they lede And farith now wel my tale is at an ende Now Ihesus crist that of his myght may sende Ioye aftir woo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs alle that been in this place

¶Here endith the man of lawis tale. ¶And begynneth the squyeris prolog.

OVr hoost in his stiroppis stondith anon And saide godemen herkeneth euerichon This was a thristy tale for the nonys Sire parissh preest quod he for goddis bonys Tel vs a tale as was thy forward yore

I se wel that lernyd men in lore Conne moche good be goddis dignite The Parson hym answerde benedicite What eylith the man so sinfully to swere Oure oste answerde Iankyn be ye there I smelle a lollere in the wynd quod he Now good men quod our host herkneth me Abidith for goddis digne passioun For we shul haue now a predicacion This lollare wol preche vs here sumwhat Nay be my fader soule that shal he nat Sayde the squyer he shal not here preche He shal no gospel glose here ne teche Whe leue alle in the grete god quod he He wolde sowe sum difficulte Or speynh cokyl in our clene corn And therfore o••te I warne the beforn My ioly body shal a tale telle And I shal clynke zow so mery a belle That it shal wakyn al this company But it shal not be of philosophy Ne of phisik ne termes queynte of lawe There is but litil latin in my mawe

¶Here begynneth the Squyers tale.

AT surrey in the lond of Tartarye There dwellid a kyng þ^t warrid on russy Thorow whiche ther dyde many a doughty man This nobyl kyng was clepid Cambuscan Whiche in his tyme was of so greet renoun

That ther was nowhere in no region So excellent a lord in alle thing He lackid nought that longed to a kyng As of the secte of whiche he was born He kepte his lay to whiche he was sworn And therto he was hardy wyse and riche Pitous iust and alwey y liche Soth of his worde benign•• and honorable Of his corage as ony tentir stabil Yong fressh and strong & in armys desirous As ony bacheler dwellyng in his hous A fair {per}sone he was and fortunate And kepte alwey a ryal astaat That ther was nowhere suche a man This nobil kyng this tartir Cambuscan He hadde two sonys on alphete his wyf Of whiche the eldest highte Algarsyf That othir sone was clepid Camballo A doughter hadde this worthy kyng also That yongest was and highte Canace But forto telle you of hir beaute It lith not in my tunge ne in my connyng I dar not take on me so high a thinge And also myn english eke is insufficient I muste be a clerk and a rethour excellent That knewe the colours longing to that art If I sholde discrye hir in euery part I am no suche I muste speke as I can And so be fyl this Cambuscan

Hath twenty wynter bore his dyademe As he wente fro yeer to yeer y deme He leet the feste of his natiuite Done crye thorow out saray the cyte The laste Idus of Marche aftir the yeer Phebus the sonne ful ioly was and cleer For he was in his exaltacion In martis face and in his mansion In aries the hote colerik signe Ful lusty was the wethir and benigne For whiche the foulis ayens the sonne sh••ne That for the seson and the yonge grene Wel loude song here affections Hem semyd to getyn ayen here protectiouns Agayn the swerd of wynter kene and cold And so this kyng of whiche I you told In ryal vestimentis sat on his deys With dyademe ful high in his paleys And holdith his feste solempne and riche That in this worlde was ther non it liche Of whiche yf I sholde telle al the ray Than wolde it occupye a someris day And eke it nedith not to deuyse At euery cours the ordre of her seruise I wol not telle of her strange sewis Ne of her swannys ne of her heronsewis Eke in that lond as tellen knyghtis olde Is sum mete that is ful deynte holde That in this lond men recke of it but smal

Ther is noman that may reporten al I wol not tarye you for it is pryme And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme Vnto my firste tale y wol haue my recours And so befil that aftir the thridde cours Whyle that this kyng sat in his high nobleye Herkenyng his mynstrallis here thing pleye Beforn hym at his bord deliciously In atte the halle dore sodeynly Ther cam a knyght vpon a stede bras And in his hond a brood myrrour of glas And on his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng And be his side a nakid swerd hanging And vp he ridith to the high borde In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word For meruayll of this knyght hym to be holde And bisely they wayten yonge and olde The straunge knyght that cam so sodenly Al armed saue his hed ful richely He saluyd the kyng quene & lordis alle By ordre as they sitten in the halle With so high reuerence and obeisaunce As wel in speche as in contenaunce That Gawen with his olde curtesie Though he com aye••n out of feirye Ne coude hym amende with a worde And aftir this before the high lord He with manly voys sayde his message Aftir the fourme vsed in his langage

Withoute faylle of sillabyl or lettir And for his tale sholde seme the bettir Accordyng to his word was his chere As techith art of speche hem that it lere Al be it that y can not sowne his styl Ne y can not clymbe on so high an hille Than say I thus to the comyn ••ntent Thus muche amountith that he ment If it so be I haue it in mynde He sayde the kyng of arabye and of ynde My liege lord on this solempne day Saleweth yow as he best can and may And sendith you honour at your feste Be me that am al redy at your heste This stede of bras that esely and wel Can in the space of a day naturel This is to say in .xxiiij. houris Where you liste in drougthe or in showris Bere your body to euery place To whiche your herte willith forto pase Withoute wem of you thorough out foul or fair Or yf you list to fle as high in the ayer As doth an egil whan hym list to sore This same stede shal bere you euermore Withoute harm til ye be there ye list Though that ye slepe on his ba•• or reste And turne ayeen with wringyng of a pyn He that it wroughte knoweth many a gyn He waytid many a constellacion

Or he hadde wrought this operacion And knew meny a skyl & meny abonde This myrrour eke that I haue in myn hond Hath suche a myght that men may in it se When ther shal falle ony aduersite Vnto your regne or vnto your self also And openly who is your frend or foo And ouer al this if ony lady bright Hath set her herte in ony maner wight If he be fals she shal his treson se His newe loue and al his subtilite So openly that ther shal no thing hyde Wherfore agayns this lusty someris tyde This myrrour and this ring as ye may se He sente hath to my lady Canace Your excellent doughter that is here The vertu of this ring yf ye wol here Is this yf that her list it forto were Vp on here thombe or in her purs it bere There is no foul that fleeth vnder heuyn That she ne shal vnderstonde his steuyn And knowe his menyng openly & playn And answere hym in his langage agayn And euery gras that growith vpon the rote She shal knowe and whom it wol do bote Al be his wounde neuer so deep or wyde This nakid swerd that hangith be my side Suche vertu hath what man ye smyte Thorow out his armure it wol kerue & byte

Were it as thicke as a braunchid ook And what man it woundith with the strook He shal neuer be hool til ye list of grace To stroke hym with the plat in the same place There he is hurt that is as mykyl to sayn Ye moot with the plat swerd agayn Stroke hem in the wounde and it wol close This is a verray soth withouten glose It fayleth not whylis it is in your holde And when the knyght hath thus his tale told He roood out of the halle and doun he lighte His stede whiche that shoon as the sonne bright Stont in the court stille as ony stoon This knyght in to the chambir is led anon And is vnarmed and to mete y sette The presentis be right richely kept This is to say the swerd and the myrour Been born anon in to the tour With certeyn officers ordeyned therfore And vnto Canace this ring is bore Solempuly there she sat at the tabyl But sikr••ly withouten ony fabyl The hors of bras that may not be reme••yd It stont as it were in the grounde y cleuyd For none engynys wyndas ne polyue They may hit out of the place dryue And cause why for they con not the craft And therfore in the place they haue it laft Til that the knyght haue taught hem the manere

To widen hym as ye shul aftir here Greet was the prees that swermyd to & fro To gawrin on the hors that stood so For it so high was so brood & so long So wel proporcioned to be strong Right as it were a stede of lumbardye Therwith so horsly and so quyk of ye As it a gentil polin courser were For certis from his tayl vnto his ere Nature ne art coude hym not amende In no degre as al the pepyl wende But euermore her most wonder was How that it coude go and was of bras It was of feire as al the pepyl semyd Dyuerse folk diuersly demede As meny hedes. as meny wittis ther been They mormedyn as doth a swarm of been And maken skillys aftir hir fantesie Rehersynge of the olde poetrie And sayde it was like the pegase The hors that hadde wyngis forto fle Or ellis it was the grekis hors Symon That brought grekis vnto destruction As men in thyse olde gestis rede Myn herte quod oon is euermore in drede I trow sum men of armys be therynne That shape hem this cyte forto wynne It were right good þ^• al suche thing were knowe Another rowned to his felow lowe

And sayde he lied for it was rathir lik An apparence maad be som magik As iogelours pleyn at the festis grete Of sondry thoughtis thus they iangil & trete As lewd pepyl demen alday comonly Of thingis that been maad more subtilly Than they konne in here boundis comprehende They demyn gladly to the badder ende And some of theym wondrid on the myrour That born was vp in to the maistir tour How men myghte in it suche thing••s se An other answerde and sayde it may wel be Naturelly made by composicions Of aungelis and of sly reflections And sayde that in rome was suche on They spak of alteon and of vitelon And of Aristotill that writin in her liuys Of queynte myrours and of prospectatiuis As knowe they that haue her bokis herd And othir folk haue wondrid on the swerd That wol perissh thorough euery thing And fil in speche of Thelephus the kyng And of Achilles for his queynte spere For he coude with it bothe hele and dere Right in suche wyse as men may with the swerd Of whiche right now ye haue your self herd They speken of s••ndry hardyng of metal And speken of medicines therwith al And how and whan it sholde hardid be

Whiche vnknowe is algate to me To speke than of Canaces ryng And sayde that al suche wonder thing Of craft of ringis herde they neuer non Saue that be moyses and be kyng Salamon Hadde a maner connynge of suche an art Thus seyn the pepyl and drawen hem apart But neuertheles some sayde that it was Wonder to make of fern glas And yet is glas not lik ass••en of fern But for they haue knowe it so fern Therfore secith her iangelinge & her wonder As sore wondre som be cause of the thundir On ebbe on flood on gossomer & on myste And on al thing til the cause is wyst Thus iangelyn they and demyn & deuyse Til that the kyng gan from his bord aryse Phebus hath lost the angil meredional And yet ascendyng was the b••st ryal The gentil lioun with his aldryan Whan that this tartir kyng Cambuscan Roos from his bord there he sat ful hye Beforn hym goth the lowde mynstralcye Tyl that he cam to his chambir of parementis There as they sownyn dyners instrumentis That is lik an heuen for to here Now daunsen lusty venus children dere For in the fish her lady sat ful hye And lokith on hem with a frendly ye

This nobil kyng is set vp on his trone This straunge knyght is fet to hym ful sone And on the daunce he goth with Canace There is the reuel and the Iolite That is nat abil adul man to deuyse He muste haue knowe loue and his seruise And be as festliche man as fresh may That shul you deuysen suche aray Who coude you telle the fourme of daunses So vncouthe and so fressh contenaunces And therto suche subtil lokyngis For drede of Ielosie of mennys preysinges No man but Launcelot and he is ded Therfore I passe ouer of al this lustihede I say nomore but in this iolynesse I lete hem til men to sopper hem dresse The stiward biddith spicis forto hye And ••ke the wyne in al this melodye The vsshers and the squiers ben gon The spicis and the wyne is comen anon They ete and drynke & whan this was at ende Vnto the tempyl as reson was they wende The seruise don they haue that day What nedith you to reherce here aray Eche man woot weel that a kyngis feste Hath plente to the moste and to the leste And deyntees mo than be in my knowyng And aftir sopper goth this nobyl kyng To se this hors of bras with al the route

Of lordis and of ladies hym aboute Suche wondryng was therof this hors of bras That ••ethen the grete sege of troye was There as men saw suche an hors also Ne was ther suche a wondryng as was tho But finally the kyng asked the knyght The vertu of this courser and the myght And prayde to telle hym his gouernanuce The hors anon gan to trippe and daunce Whan that this knyght leyde hond on his reyne And sayde sire ther is nomore to sayne But if yow list to riden ony where Ye muste trille a pyn that stont in his ere Whiche I shal you telle betwix vs two Ye moot nempne hym to what place also Orto what cuntre ye list to ryde And whan ye come there ye list abyde Byd hym descende and trille another pyn For there ynne lith the effect of al the gyn And he wol doun descende and do al your wil And in that place he wolde abyde stil Theygh al the worlde hadde the contrary swore He shal not thens be drawe ne bore And or if you li••t bidde hym thens goon Trille this pynne and he wol vanysshe anon Out of the sighte of euery maner wight And come ayen be it be day or nyght What that yow list clepyn hym aycen In ••uche a gyse as I shal to you seyn

Betwene me and you and that right sone Ride when you list ther is nomore to done Enfourmed whan the kyng was of the knyght And hath conceyued in his wit a right The maner and the fourme of al this thing Ful glad and blithe was this nobyl kyng Repeyryng vnto his reuel as beforn The bridyl is in to the tour yborn And kept among his iewels leef and dere T••e hors vanysshed I not in what manere Out of her sighte ye gete nomore of me But thus y lete in lust and in iolite This Cambuscan his lordis festeyng Tyl wel nygh the day be gan to sprynge THe noryce of digestiouns the sleep Gan on hem wynke & bad hem take kepe That muche mete and labour wol haue reste And with a galpyng ••••••uth he hem alle keste And sayde it was tyme to lye a doun For blood was in his domination Cherisshed blood natures frend quod he They thankyn hym galpynge by two by thre And euery wight gan drawe hym to his rest As sleep hem bad and took it for the best Here dremys shul not be told for me Ful where here heedes of fumosite That causith drewe of whiche ther is no charge They slepyn til it was pryme large The moste part but yf it were Canace

She was ful mesurable as wommen be For of her fader hadde she take her leue To go to reste sone aftir it was eue Here list not appalled forto be Ne on the morow vnfestliche for to se And slept her firste sleep and a wook For ••uche ••oye she in hir mirrour took Bothe of here ring and of hir myrrour That twenty tyme she chaungith colour And in her sleep for here impression Of hir mirrour she hadde a vision̄ Wherfore or the sonne gan vp glide She clepid vp her maistresse here beside And sayde that her lust forto aryse Thyse olde wommen that ben gladly wyse As her maistres answerde here anon And sayde Madame whethir wol ye goon Thus erly for folk been alle in r••ste I wool quod she aryse for me leste No lengir slepe but walken aboute Her maistresse clepith wommen a greet route And vp they rysen wel ten or twelue Vp risith fresh Canace her selue As rody and bright as the yong sonne That in the ram is ten degrees y ronne No higher was she whan she redy was And forth she walkith esely a paas Arayd aftir the lusty seson sote Lightly forto pl••y and walkyn on fote

Not but .v. or vj. of her meyne And in a trenche ferre in a park goth she The vapour whiche fro the erthe glode Makith the sonne to seme rody and brood But neuerthelesse it was fair of sighte That it made alle her hertis for to lighte What for the seson and the Mornynge And for the fowlis that she herde synge For right anon she wiste what they ment Right be here song and knew al here entent The knotte why that euery tale is told If it be taried til lust be colde Of hem that haue it harkened aftir yore The sauour passith and euer lenger the more For fulsamnes of prolixite And by the same reson thinkith me I sholde vnto the knotte condescende And make of hir walkyng an end•• A mydde a tre for drede as whyte as chalk As Canace was pleyynge in her walk Ther sat a fawoon ouer her hed ful hye That with a pitous voys so gan to crye That al the wode resowned of her crye And be••en hadde her self so pitouslye With bothe her wyngis til the rede blood Ran endlong the tre as she stood And euyr in one she cryde alwey & shright And with her bek her self she pyght That ther nas tigre nor cruel beste

That duellith other in wode or in forest That wolde haue wept yf he wepe coude For sorow of her shriche alwey so lowde For ther was neuer yet man on lyue Yf that he coude a faucon wel descryue Or herde of suche anothir of feirnes As wel of plumage as of gentilnes Of shap of al that mighte rekened be A fawoon peregryn than semed she Of fremd lond and euermore as she stood She swowned now & now for lak of blood Til wel nygh is she fallen fro the tre This faire kyngis doughter Canace That on her fynger baar the queynte ryng Thorow whiche she vnderstood wel euery thing That ony foul may in his leden seyn And coude answere in his leden agayn She hath vnderstonde what this faucon seyde And wel nygh ••or routhe she deyde And to the tre she goth ful hastely And on this faucon lokith ful pytously And held her lappe a brood for wel she wiste The faucon muste falle fro the twiste Whan that it swowned next for lak of blood Alonge while to wayte where she stood Til at the laste she spak in this manere Vnto the hawke as ye shul aftir here What is the cause yf it be forto telle That ye be in this furial peyne of helle

Quod Canace vnto this hauke aboue Is this sorow of deth or ellis of loue For as I trow thyse been the causis two That causith most a gentil herte wo Of other harm it reckith not to speke For your self vp on your self wolde wreke Whiche that preuyth wel that other Ire or drede Mot be encheson of your cruel dede Syn that I se non other wight you chace For loue of god so do your self grace Or what may be your help for west ne est Saw I neuy•• or now brid nor best That ferde with hym self so pitously Ye sle me with your sorow verily I haue of you so gret compassion For goddis loue com fro the tre adoun And as I am a kynges doughter trewe If that I verily the causis knewe Of your disese yf that it lay in my myght I wolde amende it or it were nyght As wis helpe me grete god of kynde And h••rbis shal I right ynowe fynde To hele ••ith your hurtis hastely Tho shright this faucon more pitously Than euer she did and fyl to grounde anon And lith aswowne as ded as ony stoon Tyl Canace hath in her lappe y take Vnto tyme she gan out of her swowne awake And aftir that she out of swoun gan brayde

Right in her hawkis leden thus she sayde That pyte rennyth sone in gentil herte Feling is simylitude in peynes smerte Is prouyd alday as men may se As wel by work as by auctorite For gentil herte kidith gentilnesse I se wel that ye haue of my distresse Compassioun my faire Canace Of verry wommanly benignyte That nature in your principlis hath set But for no hope forto fare the bet But forto obeye to your herte fre And forto make other be waar be me As by the whelp chastised is the lioun Right for that cause and that conclusioun Whyle that I haue leyser and spaas Myn harm y wil confesse er I paas And euer whyle that on her sorow tolde That othir wepte as she to water wolde Til that the faucon bad hir be stille And with a sigh thus she said her wille There y was bred allas that day And fostrid in a roche of marbyl gray So tenderly that no thing aylid me I ne wiste what was aduersite Tyl I coude fle ful hye vnder the sky Tho dwellyd a tarcelet me faste by That semed welle of al gentilnes Al were he ful of treson and falsnes

That is wrappid vnder humble chere And vnder hue of trouthe in suche manere Vnder plesaunce and vnder besy peyne That no wight wolde haue wend he coude feyne So depe in greyn he died his colours Right as a serpent hidith hym vnder flouris Til he may see his tyme forto byte Right so this god of loue this Ipocryte Doth so his s••rymoyns and his obeysauncis And kepith in semblaunce al his obseruauncis That s••wneth vnto gentilnesse of loue As in a tombe is al the feyr aboue And vnder is the corps suche as ye woot Suche was this Ipocrit bothe cold and hoot And in this wyse he seruid his entent That saue the fende noman wist what he ment Til he so longe hadde wept and compleyned And meny a yeer his seruise vnto me feyned Til that my herte to pitous and to nyce Al Innocent of his crowned malice For ferd of his deth as thoughte me Vp on his othis and his suerte Graunte hym loue vp on this condicion That euermo myn honour and my renoun Were saued bothe pryue and apert This is to seyn that aftir his desert I yaf hym al my herte and al my thought God woot and he and other wyse nought And toke his herte in change of myn for ay

But soth is said goon seth is many aday A trewe wight and a theef thinke not on And whan he saw the thing so fer agon That I grauntid hym my loue In suche agyse as y haue sayd aboue And yeue hym my trewe herte as fre As he swoor he yaf his herte to me Anon this tigre ful of doubilnesse Fil on his knees with so gret humblenesse With high reuerence and as by his chere So lik a gentil louer in manere So rauysshed as it semed for ioye That neuer Troylus ne Paris of Troye Iason certis ne non other man Syn lameth was that alder first began To louen two as writen folk beforn Ne neuer sith that first man was born To ony womman were she neuer so wyse So payntid ••e his chere at poynt deuyce As wel his wordis as his contenaunce And so I loued hym for his obeisaunce And for the trowthe I demed in his hert That y•• so were that ony thing hym smert Al were it neuer so lite and I it wiste Me thoughte I herde deth at my herte twiste And shortly so ferforth this thing is went That my wil was his willis instrument This is to sey my wil obeyed to his wil In alle thing aftir that reson fyl

Kepyng the boundis of my worship euer Ne neuer hadde y thing so leef ne leuer As hym god woot ne neuer shal nomo This lastid lenger than a yeer or two That I ••upposid of hym no thing but good But finally thus at the laste it stood That fortune wolde that he must twynne Out of that place whiche I was Inne Where me was woo it is no questioun I can not make of it discripcion For o thing dar y telle boldly I knowe what the peyne of deth is therby Suche harm I mette that he ne mighte me leue So on a day of me he took his leue So sorowfully eke that y wende verily That he hadde felt as muche sorow as I When that I herde hym speke & saw his hewe But neuerthelesse I thoughte he was so trewe And eke that he repayre sholde agayn With ynne a litil whyle soth to sayn And reson wolde eke that he moste go For his honour and ofte it fallith so That I made vertu of necessite And took it wel syn it nedes moste be As I best myghte I hid fro hym my sorow And took hym be the hond se••••t Iohn to borow And I sayde thus lo I am youris al Bothe suche as I haue be to you and shal What he answerde nedith not to reherce

Who can say bet than he that can do wers Whan he hath al sayd than hath he doon Therfore behoueth hym to haue a long spoon That shal ete with a fende thus herde I say So acte laste he muste forth his way And forth fleith til he com there hym leste When it cam hym to purpos for to reste I trow he hadde the text in mynde That al thing repeyrith to his kynde Gladith hym self thus sey men as I gesse Men loue of propir kynde newefangilnesse As briddis doon that men in cagis fede For they thou nyght & day take of hem hede And strawe her cage feyre & softe as silk And yeue hem suger hony bred and mylk Yet right anon as his dore is vp He with his feet spurneth doun his cup And to the wode he wol and wormes ete So newfangil ben they of her mete And loue noueltees of proper kynde No gentilnesse of blood may hym bynde So ferde this Tarcellet allas the day Though he were gentil born fresh and gay And goodly forto se humble and fre He saw vp on a tyme a kyte fle And sodenly he louyd this kyte so That al his loue is clene fro me go And hath his trouthe falsid in this wyse Thus hath the kyte my loue in his seruise

And I am lorn withoute remedy And with that word this faucon gan to cry And swouned eft in Canaces arm Greet was the sorow for the hawkis harm That Canace and alle her women made They nyste how they myghte the faucon glade But Canace hoom berith her in her lappe And softly in plasteris gan her wrappe There as she with her bek hadde hurt her selue Now can not Canace but herbis delue Out of the grounde and make plastris newe Of herbis precious and fyne of hewe To hele with the hauke fro day to nyght She doth her besines and al here myght And by her beddis hed she made a mewe And couered it with veluettis blewe In signe of trouthe that is in women seen And al withoute the mewe y peyntid green In whiche were pryntid al thyse false s••ulis As been thyse tidi••••is tarcellis and owlis Right for dispyt were peyntid her besyde Pies on theym forto crye and to chyde Thus lete I Canace her hauk kepyng I wol as now nomore speke of her ryng Til it come efte to purpoos forto sayn How that this faucon gat her loue agayn Repentyng as the story tellith vs Be mediacion of Cambalus The kyngis sone of whiche I zou tolde

But hens forth I wol processe holde To speken of auenturis & of batayllis That yet was neuer herd so grete meruayllis First y wol you telle of Cambuscan That in his tyme many a cyte wan And aftir wyl y speke of algarsif How that he wan Theodora to his wif For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was Ne hadde he be holpyn be the hors of bras And aftir wol I speke of Camballo That faught in listis with bretheren two For Canace or that he myghte here wynn•• And there I lefte I wol ayen begynne Appollo whirlith vp his chare so high Til that god Mercurius the sligh

Here endith the squy••ris tale. And begynneth the Marchan̄tis prolog.

WEpynge & waylinge care & other sorow I knowe I nough bothe euen & ek a morow Quod the marchaunt and so doth oth••r mo That weddid be I trow that it be so For wel I woot it fareth so be ••e I haue a wyf the worste that may be For though the feend coupled to ••ere were She wolde hym ouermacche y dar wel swere What sholde I you reherce in special Her high malice she is a shrewe at al Ther is a long and a large difference Betwix grisildis grete pacience

And of my wyf the passing cruelte Were I vnbounde also mot I the I wolde neuer efte come in the snare We weddid men lyue in sorow and care A say who so wol and he shal fynde That y say soth be saint Thomas of Inde As for the more part I say not al God shilde that it sholde so be fal A good sir oost I haue weddid be Thyse monethis two and nomore parde And yet I trow he that hath al his lif Weddid be though men wolde hym ryf Into the herte ne coude in no maner where Telle so muche sorow as I now here Coude telle of my wyues cursidnes Now quod our ofte marchaunt so god you blisse Syn ye so mykil konne ••f that art Ful h••rtely I pray you tel vs part Gladly quod he but of myn owen sore For sory herte I telle may nomore

¶Here endith the prolog. ¶And begynneth the Marchauntis tale.

SOmtyme ther was duellynge in lumbardye A worthy knyght that born was at pauy In whiche he liuyd in gret prosperyte And lx. yeer a wyfl••es man was he And folowyd his bodily delyt On women was his hool appetyt As doon thyse folis that ben seculer

And whan that he was passid lx. yeer Were it for holinesse or for dotage I can not say but suche a gret corage Hadde this knyght to be a weddid man That day and nyght he doth al that he can To aspye where he myghte weddid be Prayyng our lord grauntinge that he Myghte onys knowe that blisful lif That is betwix an husbonde and his wyf And forto lyue vnder the holy bond With whiche god first man and wom̄an bond Non other lif sayde he is worth a bene For wedlok is so esy and so clene That in this worlde it is a paradise Thus sayde this olde knyght that was so wyse And certeinly as soth as god is kyng To take a wyf it is a glorious thing And namely whan a man is old and hoor Then is a wyf the fruyt of his tresoor Than sholde he take a yong wyf & a feir On whiche he myghte engendre hym an heir And lede his lif in ioye and in solace Where as thyse bachelers syngen allas When that they fynde ony aduersite In loue whiche that is but childis vanite And trewly it sit wel to be so That bachelers haue ofte peyne and woo On brotil ground they bilde brotilnesse They fynde freelte whan they wene sikirnesse

They lyue but as a brid or as a best In liberte and vnder non areest There as a weddid man is in astaat Liueth his lif blisful and ordinate Vnder the yok of mariage I bounde Wel may his herte in ioye & blisse habound•• For who can be so buxum as a wyf Who is so trewe who is so tentif To kepe hym seek and hool and is his make For weel or woo she wol nat hym forsake She is nat wery hym to loue and serue Though he lye bedrede til he sterue And yet some clerkis sayn it is not so Of whiche Theophraste is on of tho What fors theygh Theophraste doth lye Ne take no wyf quod he for husbondrye As forto spare in housholde thyn expence A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Thy good to kepe than doth thy self wyf For she wol clayme half part al her lif And yf that thow be seek so god me saue Thy verey frendis or a trewe knaue Wol kepe the bet than she that waytith ay Aftir thy good and hath do meny a day But take no kepe of suche vanyte Do fy Theophraste and herken me A wyf is goddis ziste verily Al other maner zistis hardely

As londis rentis pasturis and com̄une Or othir yeftis meuable of fortune That passen as a shadow on a wal But drede not yf I playnly speke shal A wyf wil laste and in thy hous endure Wel lenger than the liste {per}auenture Mariage is a ful greet sacrament Who that hath no wyf is but shent He liuyth helples and is al desolat I speke of folk in seculer astat And herken why y say not this for nought The womman is for mannys help y wrought The high god whan he hadde Adam makid And saw hym allone bely nakid God of his grete goodnesse sayde than Let vs now make an help to this man Lik to hym self and than he made eue Here may ye se and here by preue That a wyf is mannys help & his comfort His paradyse terrestre and his disport So buxum and so vertuous is she They muste nedis liue in vnite O flessh they be and of o blood I gesse Not but one herte in wyl and in distresse A wyf a saynte mary benedicite How mighte aman haue ony aduersite That hath a wyf certis I can not sey The blisse that is betwix hem twey Ther may no tunge telle it or herte thynke

If he be poure she helpith hym to swynke She kepith his good & wastith it neuer a deel And al that her husbond lust she likith weel She saith not onys nay whan he saith ye Do this saith he al redy sire saith she O blisful ordre o wedlok precious Thou art so mery and ••ek so Ioyous And so comendid and approued eke That euery man that holdeth hym worth a leek Vp on his bare knees oughte al his lif Thankin his god that hym sent a wyf Or ellis praye g••d hym forto sende A wyf to laste to his liues ende For than his lif is set in sik••cnesse He may not be disceyued as y gesse So that he worke aftir his wyues rede Than may he boldely bere vp his hede They be so trewe / and therto eke so wyse For whiche yf thou wolt worche as the wyse Do alwey as the woman wol the rede Lo how Iacob as thyse clerkis rede Be good counsel of his moder rebek Bond the kiddi•• skyn aboute his nek For whiche his fadris benyson he wan Lo Iudith as the story wel telle can Be wyse counsel she goddis pepil kepte And slew hym Olofernes whyle he slepte Lo how Abigayl be good counsel that she Saued her husbonde Nabal whan that he

Shulde haue be slayn and loke hester also Be good counsel deliuered o•••• of wo The pepyl of god and made ••ardoche Of assuere enhaunced forto be Ther is no thing in gre superlatif As saith Senek aboue an humble wyf Suffre thy wyuys tunge as Caton bit She shal comaunde and thou shalt suffre it And yet she wylle obeye of curtesie A wyf is keper of thy husbondrye Wel may the seek man bewayle and wepe There as no wyf is the hous to kepe I warne the if thou wysely wilt wirche Loue wel thy wyf as crist loueth his chirche If thou louest thy self thou louest thy wyf Noman hatith his flessh but in his lif He suffrith it and therfore bidde I the Cherisshe thy wyf or thou shalt neuer the Husbonde and wyf what so men iape or pley Of wordly folk holden the right wey They been knyt ther may no harm be tide And namely on the wyuys side For whiche this Ianuary of whiche I tolde Considerith hath in his dayes olde The lusty lif the vertuous quyete That is in mariage hony swete And for his frendis on aday he sent To telle the effect of his entent With face sad he hath his tale to hem told

He sayde frendis I am hoor and old And almost god woot at n••y pittis brynke Vp on my soule somwhat moste y thinke I haue my body folily dispendid I blissid be god it shal be amendid For I wol be certeyn a weddid man And that in al the haste that I can Vnto som mayde fair and tender of age I pray you shapith for my mariage Al sodenly for I wol not abyde And I wol fonde to aspye on my side To whem y may be weddid hastely But for as muche as ye be mo than I Ye shul rather suche a thing espyen Than I and where me list best alien But o thing I warne you my frendis dere I wyl noon old wyf haue in no manere She shal not passe .xvj. yeer certayn Old flessh wolde haue yong flessh fayn Bet is a pyke than a pykerel Better than olde beef is the tender veel I wol no woman of twenty yeer of age It is but bene straw and greet forage And eke thyse olde wydowes god it woot They conne so mykyl craft of wadis boot So mykyl harm what that hem list That with hem sholde I neuer lyue in rest For sondry scolis makith subtil clerkis Woman of many a scole half a clerk is

But certeinly a yong thing may men gye Right as a man with hondis warm wexe plye Therfore I say you pleynly in a clause I wol non olde wyf haue for this cause For yf so were yf y hadde suche myschaunce That I in here coude haue no plesaunce Than sholde I lede my lif in avontrye And so streight to the deuel whan y dye Ne children sholde I non on here getyn Yet hadde I leuyr houndis hadde me etyn Than that myn heritage shulde falle In straunge hond & thus I telle you al I doute not I woot the cause why Men sholde wedde and ferthermore woot I There spekith meny men of mariage That woot nomore of it than doth my page For whiche causis men sholde take a wyf Yf he may not chast be. be his wyf Take hym a wyf with greet deuocion Be cause of lefful procreacion Of childryn to the honour of god aboue And not only for paramour ne for loue And for they sholde lecherye eschue And yelde her dette while it is newe Or for that eche man sholde helpe othir In myschief as the sustir shal the brothir And lyue in chastite ful heuenly But sires be your leue that am not I For god bethankid I dar make auaunt

I fele my lymys stark and sufficiaunt To do al that aman behoueth to do And am strong ynough to ride or goo Though I be hoor and fare as doth a tre That blesmeth or that the tre grene be A blosmed tre is neyther drye ne ded I fele me no where hoor but on myn hed My herte and my lymes is ay grene As laurer that thorow the yeer is sene And sithnys ye haue herd al myn entent I pray you that to my wyl ye assent Diuers men diuersly hym tolde Of mariage meny ensamplis olde Som blamed it some preysid it certeyn But at the laste shortly forto seyn As alday falleth altercacion Betwix frendis in disputacion Ther fyl a strif betwix his bretheren two Of whiche that on was clepid placebo Placebo sayde o Ianuary brother To you telle I this tale and to non other Ful litil nede had ye my lord so dere Counsel to ax•• of ony that is here But that ye be on so ful of sapience That you ne likith for your high prudence To weyue fro the word of Salamon This word s••yde he to vs euerichon Worke al thing be counfel thus sayde he And than shalt not thou repente the

But though Salamon spak suche a word Myn owen dere brother and my lord So wyssely god my soule brynge at reste I holde your owen counsel for the best For brother myn of me take this motyf I haue be a courtman al my lyf And yet god woot though y vnworthy be I haue stonde in ful gret degre Aboute lordis in ful gret astaat Yet hadde I neuer with non of hem debaat I neuer contraried hem trewly I woot wel that my lord can more than I What that he seith I holde it ferm & stabil I say the same or othir thing semblable A ful gret fool is ony counselour That seruith a lord of high honour That dar presume or onys thynke it That his counsel sholde passe his lordis wit Nay lordis be no folis be my fay Ye haue your self spoken here to day So high sentence so holy and so wel That I consente and conferme eueridel Your wordis and al your oppinion Be god ther is noman in this toun Ne in ytaille coude better haue sayd Crist holdith hym of this ful wel payd And trewly it is an high corage Of ony man that stept is in age To take a yong wyf for be my ••ader kyn

Your herte hongith vp on a ioly pyn Doth now in this mater as you lest For finally I holde it for the best Iustimis that ay sat ful stille and playde He right on this wyse to Placebo sayde Now brother myn quod he be pacient I pray Syn ye haue sayd herkyn what I say Senek among other wordis wyse Saith that aman ought hym right wel auyse To whom he yeuyth his good or his catel And sithnes I ought me auyse right well To whom I yeue my good awey fro me Wel more I oughte for to auyse me To whom I yeue my body for alwey I warne you wel it is no childis play To take a wyf withoute auysement Men muste enqueren this is myn assent Whether she be wyse sobir or dronklew An out goar or othir wey a shrewe A chidar or a wast••r of thy good Riche or poure or of maners wood Al be it so that noman fynde shal Noon in this worlde that trottith hool in al Ne man ne best suche as men can deuyse But neuyrthelees it ought ynow suffyse With ony yf so were that she hadde Moo good vertues than vicis ••adde And al this axed leyser to enquere For god it woot I haue wept ful meny a tere

Ful pryuely synne I hadde a wyf Preyse who so wol a weddid mannys lyf Certeyn I fynde it but cost and care And obseruauncis of alle blissis bare And yet god woot myn neyghebours aboute And namely of wommen meny a route Sayn that I haue the muste stedfast wyf And eek the mekest one that berith lyf But I woot best where wringith me my sho Ye may for me right as ye like do Auisith you ye be a man of age How that ye entren in to mariage And namely with a yong wyf & a feir Be hym that made watir erthe and heir The yongest man that is in al this route Is besy ynough to brynge it aboute To haue a wyf alone but trusteth me Ye shul not plesen hire only yeris thre This is to sayn to do hir plesaunce A wyf axeth ful meny an obseruaunce I pray you that ye be not euyl apayd Well quod this Ianuary hast thou sayd Straw for thy senek and for thy prouerbis I counte not a paner ful of herbis Of scole termes wyser men than thow As thou hast herd hath sentid right now To my purpos Placebo what sey ye I sey it is a cursid man quod he That lettith matrimony sikirly

And with that word they risyn sodenly And been assentid anon that he sholde Be weddid whan hym list and whan he wolde The fantesye and the besy coriousnesse Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse Of Ianuary aboute his mariage Many fair shap and meny fair visage Ther passith thorow his herte nyght be nyght As who so took a myrour polisshed bright And set is in a comyn market place Than sholde he se many a figure pace Be this myrour and in the same wyse Gan Ianuary in his thought deuyse Of maydens whiche duellid ther beside He wiste not where he mighte abyde For though that on haue beaute in her face Anothir stont so in the peplis grace For her sadnesse and her benignyte That of the pepyl greet voys hadde she And som were riche and hadde badde name But nathelees betwix ernest and game He atte laste appoynted hym on on̄ And leet alle othir fro his herte gon̄ And chose her on his own auctorite For loue is blynd alday and may not se And when he was in his bedde brought He portreyed in his herte and in his thought Her fressh beaute and her age tender Her myddyl smal & her armys long & slender

Her wyse gouernaunce & her gret gentilnesse Her wommanly beryng and her sadnesse And when he was on her condescendid Hym thoughte his thought mighte not be amēdid For whan he hym self concluded hadde Hym thoughte euery other mannys wit so badde That impossible it were to replye Ayens his chois this was his fantesie His frendis sente he to at his instaunce And prayde hem to do hym that plesaunce That hastely they wolde to hym com He wolde abregge her labour al and som Nedith nomore for hym to go ne ryde He was appoynted there he wolde abyde Placebo cam and eke his frendis sone And alderfirst he bad hem alle abone That non of hem non argumentis sholde make Ayens the purpoos whiche that he hadde y take Whiche was plesaunt to god sayde he And verry ground of his prosperite He sayde ther was a maiden in the toun Whiche that of beaute hadde gret renoun Al were it so she was of smal degre Suffisith hym her yowthe and her beaute Whyche mayde be sayde sholde be his wyf To lede in ese and holinesse his lif And thanke god that he myghte haue her al That no wight with his blisse parten shal And prayde hem to labour in this nede

And shapith that he faylith not to spede For than he fayde his spirit was at ese Than is quod he no thing me may displese Saue o thing prickith me my conscience The whiche I wol reherce in your presence Ye haue herd said ful long sithnis a goo Thermay noman haue parfit blissis two This is to sey in er••he and eek in heuyn For they he kepte hym fro the synnys seuyn And eke from eueriche braunche of that tre Yet is ther so parfyt prosperite And so gret ese and lust in mariage That euer I am agast now in myn age That I shal lede so mery a lif here For sithen very heuen is bought so dere With tribulacion and gret penaunce How sholde I lyue in suche plesaunce As alle weddid men doon with her wyuys Come to the blis there crist etern on lyue is This is my drede as yet my bretheren twey Assoylith me this question y you prey Iustinus whiche that hatid his foly Answerd anon right in his ••apery And for he wolde his longe tale abregge He wolde non auctorite a legge But sayde sir yf ther be non obstakyl Othir than this god of his highe mirakyl And of his mercy may so for you wirche That er ye haue your rightis of holy chirche

Ye may repente of weddid mannys lyf In whiche ye saye there is no stryf And ellis god forbede but yf he sent A wedded man grace hym to repente Wel ofter rather than a sengil man And therfore the beste rede that I can Dispeyrith you not but haue in memorye Parauenture she may be your purgatorye She may be goddis mene and goddis whippe That shal make your soule in to heuyn skippe Swifter than an arow doth out of a bowe I hope to god her aftir shul ye knowe That ther nys noon so greet felicite In mariage ne memory shal be But that hit may be your saluacion So that ye vse it as skil is and reson The lustis of your wyf temperatly And that ye plese her not to amerously And that ye kepe you eke from other synne My tale is doon for my wit is thynne Beth not agast here of my brother But lete vs wade fro this mater to another The wyf of bathe yf ye haue vnderstonde Of mariage whiche I haue in honde Declared hath ful wel in litil space Fareth now wel god haue you in his grace And with this he with his brother Hath take her leue and eche of hem of other For when they saw it muste nedis be

So they wroughte be slighte and by trete That this mayde whiche that may highte As hastely as that they myghte Shal weddid be vnto Ianuary I trowe it were you to longe to tary If I you tolde of euery es••rit and bond Be whiche she was feffed in his lond Othir forto harke of her riche aray But finally comyn is the day That to chirche bothe been they went Forto resceyue the holy sacrement Forth comyth þ^• preest with stole aboute his neck And bad hir be like Sarra or rebek In wisedom and trouthe of mariage And sayde his orisons in his vsage And crowchid hem & bad god sholde hym bles And made al siker ynow with holiues Thus been they weddid with solempnyte And at the feste si••tith he and she With other worthy folk vp on the deys Al ful of ioye and blisse is the Paleys And ful of instrumentis of and vitayl The moste deynteous of alle Itayl Beforn hym with instrumentis of suche a soun That Orpheus of Thebes or Amphioun Ne made neuer suche a melodye At euery cours cam loude mynstralsie That neuyr Ioab trompid forto here Neyther he Theomodas half so clere

At thebes whan the cyte was in doute Bachus the wyn hem shenkith al aboute And venus lowh vpon euery wight For Ianuary was becomen her knyght And wolde bothe assayen his corage In liberte eke as in mariage And with here fierbrond with her hond aboute Daunsith beforn the bayde al aboute And certeynly I dar wel sayn right this Emenius that god of weddyng is Saw neuyr in his lif so mery a weddid man Hold thow thy pees thou poete Marcian That writist vs that ilke weddyng mery Of her philogye and of hym Mercurye And of songis that the Musis song So smal and eke the penne and eke the tonge Forto discriuen of this mariage Whan tender youthe hadde weddid stouping age Ther is suche that it may not be wryte Assay you self and than may ye wyte If that I lacke or none in this mater May that sit with so benigne chere Here to be holden it semed a fairye Quene hester lokid neuyr with suche an ye On assuere so meke a loke as she I may you not deuyse al her beaute But thus muche of her beaute telle I may That she was lik the bright morow of day Fulfillyd of beaute and of plesaunce

This Ianuary is rauysshid in atraunce At euery tyme he lokid in her face But in his herte he gan her manace That night in his armys he wolde her streyne Harder than Paris euer dede Eleyne But natheles yet hadde he gret pyte That that nyght offende hir muste he And thoughte allas o tender creature Now wolde god she myghte wel endure Al my corage it is so sharp and kene I am agast she maye not sustene But god forbede y dede al my myght Now wolde god it were woxe nyght And that the nyght wolde laste euermo I wolde al this pepyl were ago And finally he doth al his labour As he best myghte sauyng his honour To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse The tyme cam that reson was to ryse And aftir that men daunsid and drank faste And spicis al aboute the hous they caste And ful of ioye and blisse is euery man Alle but a squier that highte Damyan Whiche carf before the knyght meny a day He was so rauysshed on his lady May That for the verry peyne he was nygh wood Almost he sweltid & swowned there he stood When he saw her daunce with a ring on hir hand So fressh she was and therto so likand

And to his bed he wente hym hastely Nomore of hym at this tyme speke I But there I lete hym wepe ynogh & pleyne Til fresh may wol rewe on his peyne O Perlous fire that in the bedstraw bredith O familier foo that his seruice bedith O seruaunt treytour fals holy hewe Lyk to the adder sligh & in thy bosom vntrewe God shilde vs alle from your acqueyntaunce O Ianuary dronken in pleysaunce O mariage se how that thy Dannan Thyn owen squier & thyn owen born man Entendith for to do the a velonye God graunte the thyn harm to aspye For in this worlde nys wors pestilence Than an homly foo alday in thy presence Parfourmyd hath this day his arke diurne No lenger may the body of hym seiourne The orisont as in that latitude Night with his mantel that is so derk & rude Gan forto sprede the emyspery aboute For whiche departith is the lusty route Fro Ianuary with thank on euery side Hoom to their housis lusty they ryde There as they do thingis as hem list And when they se her tyme they go to reste Sone aftir this hastely this Ianuary Wolde go to bedde he wolde no lenger tary He drynkith Ipocraas clarrey and vernage

Of spi••is hoot to encrece his corage And meny a lectuary hadde he ful fyn Suche as the cursid monk dan Constantyn Hath writen in his book of coytu To ete hem alle he wold no thing escheu And thus to his priuy frendis sayd he For goddis loue as sone as it may be Leet voyde al this hous in curteys wyse sone Men dronken and the trauers drew an•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 This brid was brought to bedde as still•• as ston So hastid Ianuary it most be don And whan the bed was with the prest blissid Out of the chambir hath euery wight hym dressid And Ianuary hath faste in armys take His fressh may his paradyse his make He lulleth here and kisseth her ful ofte With the brustillis of his berd vnsofte L••k to the skyn of a fissh sharp as brere For he was shaue al newe in his manere He rubbith her vpon her tender face And sayde thus allas I moste trespace To you my spouse and you gretly offende Or tyme com that I wyl doun descende But natheles considerith this quod he Ther is no workman what euer he be That may bothe worche wel and hastely This wolde be do at leyser parfitly It is no force how longe that we pleye I trow in wedlok couplid be we tweye

And I blissid be the yok that we been ynne For in our actis we mowe do no synne A man may do no synne with his wyf Ne hurte hym self with his owen knyf Now haue we leue to pleye vs be the lawe Thus labourith he til the day gan dawe And than he takith a sop in fyn clarre And vp right on his bedde sittith he And aftir that he sang ful lowde and clere And kissith his wyf & makith wanton chere He was al coltissh and ful of ragery And ful of Iargon as is a fleckid pye The slak skyn aboute his necke shakith While that he song so chauntid he & crakith But god woot what may thoughte in her hert Whan she hym saw vp sitting in his sherte In his nyght cappe and with his necke lene She preysith not his pleyynge worth a bene Than sayde he thus my restyng wol I take Now day is come I may no lenger wake And doun he leyde his hed & slept til pryme And aftir whan that he saw his tyme Vp risith Ianuary and fresh may She holdith hir chamber til the fourthe day As vsage is of wyuys for the beste For euery labour sumtyme must haue reste Or ellis longe may he not endure This is to say no liuys creature Be it ••ish or bryd best or man

Now wol I speke of this squyer damyan That langurith for loue as ye shul here Therfore I speke to hym in this manere I say o sely Damyan allas Answere to this demaunde in this caas How shalt thou thy lady fressh may Telle thy woo she wol alwey say nay Eke yf thow speke she wyl thy wo bewreyn God be thy help I can no bettir seyn This s••k Damyan in venus grete fier So brennyth that he dieth for desir For whiche he puttith his lif in auenture No lenger myghte he in this wyse endure But priuely a penner gan he borowe And in a lectir wroot al his sorow In maner of a compleynt or a lay Vnto his fressh and fair lady May And in a purs of silk hynge it on his shirt He hath y put and y leyd it at his herte Thus hath Ianuary wedd••d fressh may And the mone as I vnderstond that day Out of taure was in the Cankir glidyn So longe hath she in her chambir bidyn As custom is vnto thyse noblis alle A bride shal not etyn in the halle Til dayes four or thre atte leste Passid be than let hir go to feste The ferthe compleet fro noone to noone Whan that the high masse was doon

In halle sat this Ianuary and may As fresh as is the bright someris day And so be fyl that this good man Rememb••ith hym vpon this damyan And sayde saynte mary how may this be That Damyan entendith not to me Is he ay sik or how may this betyde His squiere whiche that stood hym besyde Excusid hym be cause of his siknesse Whiche lettith hym to do his besinesse Non other cause myghte make hym care That me forthinkith quod this Ianuare He is a gentil squyer be my trouthe Yf that he deyde it were harm and routhe He is wyse discret honest and secre As ony man I woot of his degre And therto manly and seruysable And forto be a thrifty man right abyl But aftir mete as sone as euer I may I wyl my self visite hym and may To do hym al the comfort that I can And for that word hym blissid euery man That of his bounte and of his gentilnesse He wolde so comforte hym in siknesse His squier for it was a gentil dede Dame quod this Ianuary take good ••ede That aftir mete ye with your wom̄en alle When ye haue be in chamber out of this hall That alle ye go to se this damyan

To do hym disport he is a gentilman And tellith that I wol hym visite Haue I no thing but restid me a lite Now with this word he gan to hym calle A squier that was marchal of his halle And tolde hym certeyn thingis what he wolde This fresh may hath streyght her wey holde With alle her women vnto this damyan Doun be his bedside anon sat she than Confortyng hym as goodly as she may This damyan whan he his tyme say In priuy wyse his purs and eke his bille In whiche that he writyn hadde al his wylle Hath put in to hir honde withouten more Saue that he sighed right wonderly sore And softly to hir right thus sayde he Mercy and that ye discouer not me For I am ded yf that this thing be kyd This bille hath she in her b••som hyd And wente hir wey ye gete nomore of me Vnto Ianuary comyn thenne is she And on his beddis side sat ful softe He takith hir and kiss••th hir ful ofte And leyd hym doun to slepe and that anon̄ She feyned as that she must goone There as ye woot euery wight most nede And when she of this byl hath take kepe She rente it vnto cloutis and atte laste In the priuy softly hath she it caste

Who studieth now but fayre fresh may And doun be Ianuary she lay That slepte til the cow hath hym wakid Anon he preyde her to strype her nakid He wolde of here he sayde haue ••um plesaunce He sayde her clothis doth hym cumbraunce And she obeyeth be she leef or loth But lest that precious folk with me be wroth How that he wroughte y dar you not telle Or whether he thoughte it paradyse or helle But I lete hem worche in her wyse Til euensong and that he muste aryse Were it be destyne or be auenture Were it be influence or be nature Other in constillacion that in suche astat The heuyn stood that tyme fortunat Was forto put a bil of venus werkis For al thing hath tyme as sayn clerkis To ony womman forto gete her loue I can not sey but grete god aboue That knoweth non acte is ca••selees He demyth al for I wol holde my pees But soth it is how that this fressh may Hath take suche impression that day Of pyte of this sik man Damyan That fro hir herte she ne dryue can The remembraunce forto do hym ese Certeyn though whom this thing displese I here recke not I hym assure

To loue hym best of ony creature Thogh he nomore hadde than his shert And alle was pyte and tender herte Here may ye here how excellent fraunchyse In women is whan they hem narow auyse Som tiraunt ther is as ther be many on That hath an herte as hard as ony stoon Whiche wolde haue leet hym sterue in the place Wel rather than haue grauntid hym grace And hem reioysen in her cruel pryde And reckid not to be an homicide This gentil may fulfilled of al pyte Right so of her hond a lec••ir made she In whiche she grauntid of her verry grace Ther lackith nought but only day and space Where that she myghte to his lust suffyse For it shal be right as he wol deuyse And whan she saw her tyme vpon aday To visite this damyan goth this fresh May And subtilly a lettir doun she thriste She takith hym by the hond & harde him twiste So secretly that noman it w••ste And ••ad hym be al hool and sorth she went To Ianuary whan he for her sent Vp risith damyan the nexte morow Al passid was his siknes and hissorow He kembith hym & proynyth hym & pikith He doth al that his lady lust and likith And eke to Ianuary he goth as lowe

As euyr dede a dogge for the bowe He is so plesaunt to euery man For craft is al who so that it can That euery wight is fayne to teche hym good And fully in his ladies grace he stood Thus lete I damyan aboute his nede And in my tale forth I wol procede Som clerkis holden that felicite Hit stont in delit and therfore he This nobil Ianuary with al his myght In honest wyse as longeth to a knyght Shoop hym to lyue ful deliciously His howsing his aray as honestly To his degre was made as a kyngis Among other of his honest thingis He hadde a gardyn wallith al with ston So feir a gardyn wot I nowher non For out of doute I verily suppose That he that wroot the romaunce of the Rose Ne coude of it the beaute wel deuyse Ne priapus ne myghte not suffise Though he be god of gardyns for to telle The beaute of the gardyn and of the welle That stood vnder a laurel alwey grene Ful ofte tyme kyng pluto and his quene Proserpina and al her feyrye Disporten hem and make melodye Aboute that welle and daunsed as men tolde This nobyl knyght this Ianuary the olde

Suche deynte hath to walkyn and to pleye That he wol suffre no wight to bere the key Saue he hym self of the smale wiket He baar alwey of siluer a cliket With the whiche whan he list vnshit And whan he wolde paye his wyf his dette In somer seson thyder wolde he go And May his wyf and no wight but they two Of thingis that were not do a bedde They in the gardeyn parf••urmed haue & sped And in this wyse meny a mery day Lyuen this Ianuary and fresh may But wordly ioye may not alway endure To Ianuary ne no wordly creature O sodeyn hap o fortune variable Lik vnto the scorpioun vnstabil That flaterst with thy hed when thou wilt stinge Thy tayl is deth thorow thyn enuenymynge O brotel ioye o thou swete poysoun queynt O thou monster that subtilly canst peynt Thy gestis vnder h••we ••f stedfastnesse That thou disceyuest bothe more and lesse Why hast thou Ianuary thus disceyued And haddist hym for thy frend resceyued And now thou hast beraft hym bothe his yen For sorow of whiche he desirith d••en Allas this Ianuary that is so fre Amyd his lust and his prosperite Is now woxen blynde and al sodenly

His deth therfore desirith he vttirly And therwith all a feer of Ielosie Lest that his wyf shal falle in som foly So brent his herte that he wolde fayn That som man bothe hym & here had sleyn For neuer after his deth ne his lyf Ne wolde he that she were loue ne wyf But euer lyue in clothis blake Sool as the turtyl that hath lost his make But atte laste aftir amonthe or twey His sorow gan to swage as I you sey For he wiste it may non other be He paciently took his aduers••te Saue out of doute may he not forgon That he ne was Ielous euermore in on Whiche ielousye was so outrageous That neyther in halle ne in other hous He nolde suffre here for to ryde ne go Ne in non other place neuyr the mo But yf that he had hond on here alwey For whiche ful o••te wepith fresh may That louyth Damyan so benignely That she muste othir deye sodenly Or ellis she muste haue hym a••te leste She waytith when her herte wold to breste Vp on that othir side this Damyan Be comyn is the so••owfullist man That euer was for neyther nyght ne day Ne myghte he speke aword with fresh may

As of his purpose of none suche mater But yf that Ianuary muste it here That hadde an hond an ere euyr mo And nathelees be writing to and fro And priuy signys wiste he what she ment And she knew of the same his entent O Ianuary what myght the auaylle Though thou mightist se as fer as ship doth sayl For as good blynd is disceyued to be As to be disceyued whan aman may se Lo argus whiche that hadde an hundrid yen For al that euer he coude poure or pryen Yet was he blent and I woot so be mo That wenyn that it is nothing so Passe ouyr is an ese I sey nomore This fressh may of whiche I spak of yore In warm wex hath printid this cliket That Ianuary baar of the smale wiket Be whiche vnto this gardyn ofte he went And damyan that knew here entent The cliket countirfetid priuely Ther is nomore to sey but hastely Som wonder be this cliket shal be tide Whiche ye shal here yf ye wil abyde O nobyl Ouyde soth sayst thou god woot What sleighte it is though it be longe & hoot That he nyl fynde it vp in som manere By pyramus and Tysbe may men here Though they were kept streyt longe ouyr al

They been accordid rownyng thorou awal Ther is non coude haue founde suche a sleighte But now to purpoos or that dayes .viij. Were passid of the moneth of Iuyl be fyl That Ianuary hath caught so greet awyl Thorough eggyng of his wyf hym forto pleye In his gardyn & no wight but they tweye That in a morow vnto this may said he Rise vp my wyf my loue my lady fre The turtelis voys I herde my spouse swete The wynter is goon with alle his raynes wete Com forth with thyn yen columbyne Now fayrer been ••hy brestis than is wyne The gardyn is closid al aboute Com forth my swete spouse out of doute Thow hast me woundid in myn herte wyf No spot in the saw I in al my lyf Com forth and leet vs take our d••sport I care for the my wyf & for my comfort Suche olde lewde wordis vs••d he On Damyan a signe made she That he sholde go beforn with his cliket This Damyan hath opened the wyket And in he stert and sat in suche manere That no wight myght it se ne here And stille he sat vnder abush anone This Ianuary so blynd is as a stone With may in his hond and no wight mo In to this fresh gardyn is he go

And clappid to the wiket sodenly Now wyf quod he here been but ye and I That art the creature that I b••st loue For by that lord that sit vs alle aboue I hadde leuyr right now dye on a knyf Than the offenden myn owen dere wyf For goddis sake think hou y the chees Not for couetyse ne other good doutlees But only for the loue I hadde to the And though that y be old & may not se Be to me trewe and I wol telle the why Certis thre thingis sholde ye wynne ther by First loue of crist and to your self honour And al myn heritage both toun and tour I ye••e it yow makith chartres as yow list This shal be do to morow or the sonne rist So wisly god my soule brynge to blis And I pray you of couenaunt ye me kis And though I be ielous wite me nought Ye be so depe pryntid in my thought That whan I consider your beaute And therwith al the vnliklih••de of me I may not certis though I sholde dy Forbere to been out of your company For verry loue this is withouten doute Now kis me wyf and lete vs rome aboute This fressh may whan she the wordis herde Benignely to Ianuary answerde But first & forward she began to wepe

I haue quod she a soule forto kepe As wel as ye and also myn honour And of my wyfhode that tender flour Whiche that I haue assured in your hond Whan that the Preest to you my body bond Wherfore I wol answere in this manere With the leue of you my lord so dere I praye to god that yf ye euer se that day That I ne sterue as foule as womman may If euer I do to my kyn that shame Or ellis I empeyre so my name That I be fals and yf I do that lak To strype me and put me in a sak And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche Why speke ye thus but men be euer vntrewe And wommen haue repreef of you ay newe Ye can non other comynycacion I leue But speke to vs of vntrust & vs repr••ue And with that word she saw where Damyan Sat in a bush and knele he began And with hir fyngris signes made she That Damyan sholde clymbe vp on a tre That charged was with fruyt & vp he went For verily he knewe al her entent And euery signe that she coude make Wel bet than Ianuary her owen make For in a lettir she hadde told hym al Of this matere how he wirche shal

And thus I lete hym sitte in the piry And Ianuary with May yong and mery BRight was the day & blew the firmament Phebus of gold / doun his bemys hath sent To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse He was that tyme in geminis as y gesse But litil fro his declinacion And cansere of Iouis exaltacion And so it fill that in a bright morow tide That in the gardy on the ferthir side Pluto that is kyng of the fairye And many a lady in his companye Folowing his wyf th•• quene Preserpina Whiche that hir rauyss••ed out of pina Whilis that she gadrid flouris in a mede In claudian ye may the stories rede How in his grisly carte he her fette This kyng of feyre adoun hym sette Vp on a benche of tur••es fa••r and grene And right anone sayde he thus to his quene My wyf quod he ther may no wight say nay The experience prouith it euery day The treson whiche that women to do men Ten hundrid thousand tellyn I can Ensamples and of your vntrouth & brotilnes O Salamon richest of alle riches Fulfilled of sapien••e and of wordly glorye Wel worthy be thy wordis in memory To euery wight that wit and reson can

Thus preysith he yet the bounte of man Among a thousand men yet fond I one But of alle wymmen fond he neuyr non Thus said þ^e kyng þ^t so knowith your wickidnes And also Thesus Sirak as I gesse Ne spekith of you but seldyn reuerence A wylde fyre and a corupt pestilence So falle on your bodies yet to nyght Ne se ye not this honourable knyght Be cause allas that he is blind and old His owen man shal make hym Cokeold Lo where he sit the lechour in the tre Now wol I graunte of my mageste Vnto this olde blynde worthy knyght That he shal haue ayen his sight Whan that his wyf wolde do hym vilonye Than shal he knowe al her harlotry Bothe in repreef of here and other mo Ye shal quod preserpina and wol ye so Now be my modris s••ris soule I swere That she shal redily excusen her And alle wom̄en after for her sake Though they be in ony gilty take With face bold they shal hem self excuse And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse For lak of answer non of hem shul dyen Al hadde he seen a thing with bothe his yen Yet shul we so visage it hardely And wepe and swere and chyde subtilly

That ye shul be as lewd as fele gees That reckith not of here auctoritees I woot wel this though this Salamon Fond of vs women mo foolis than on But though he ne fond no good woman I pray you take the sentence of the man He ment thus that in souereyn bounte Nys non but god that sittith in tryynte Ey for very god that nys but on What make ye so muche of Salamon What though he made a tempyl goddis hous What though he were riche and glorious So made he eke a tempyl of false goddis How myghte he do a thing that more bad is Parde as fayre as ye his name enplastre He was a lechour and eke an ydolaster And in his elde he verry god forsook And yf god ne hadde as saith the book Asparyd for his fadris sake he sholde Haue lost his regne rathir than he wolde I yeue right nought of al the velonye That he of women writith a butter flye I am a woman nedis y muste speke Or ellis swelle til myn herte to breke For sithen ye sey that we be Iangeleressis As euer hool I moot broke my tressis I shal not spare now for no curtesie To speke hym harm that wolde vs velonye Dame quod this Pluto be no lenger wro••h

I yeue it vp but sith I sweer myn oth That I wyl graunte hym his sighte agen My word shal stonde I say you certeyn I am a kyng it sit me not to lye And I a quene quod she of the feirye Her answer shal she haue I vndertake Lete vs nomo wordis here of make For soth I wol you no lenger tary Now lete vs turne ayen to Ianuary That in the gardyn with his fresh may Syngith ful merier than the Popingeay Yow loue y best and shal and other non So longe aboute the aleyys is he goon Tyl he was come ayens that pery Where as this damyan sittith ful mery An high among the fresh leuys grene This fresh may that is so bright and shene Gan forto sighe and sayde allas my syde Now sire quod she for aught that may betyde I muste haue of the peris that I se Or y muste dye so sore longith me To ete of the smale peris grene Help for his loue that is of heuen quene I telle you wel a womman in my plit May haue in fruyt so gret an appetit That she may dien but she of it haue Allas quod he that I ne hadde here a knaue That coude clymbe allas quod he That I am blind ye sire no force quod she

But wolde ye vouchesauf for goddis sake The pery with ynne your armys forto take For wel I woot that ye mystruste me Than sholde I clymbe wel ynough quod she So I my feet myght sette vp on your bak Certis quod he therof shal be no lak Mighte I you helpyn with myn herte blood He stoupith adoun and on his bak she stood And caughte hir be a twiste and vp she goth Ladyes I pray you be not wroth I can not glose I am a rude man And sodenly anon this damyan Gan pulle vp the smok & in he throug A greet tente a thrifty and a long She sayde it was the meriest fytte That euer in her lif she was at yet My lordis tente seruith me nothing thus He foldith twifolde be swete Ihesus He may not swyue worth a leek And yet he is ful gentil and ful meek This is leuyr to me than an euynsong And whan that Pluto saw that wrong To Ianuary yaf ayeen his sighte And made hym se as wel as euyr he mighte And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn Ne was ther noman of thing so fayn But on his wyf his thought was euyr mo Vp to the tre he cast his yen two And saw how damyan his wyf hath dressid

••n suche manere as it may not be expressid But yf I wolde speke vncurteisly And vp he yaf a roringe and a cry As doth the moder whan the child shal dy Out help allas harow he gan cry For sorow almost he gan to dy That his wyf was swyuyd in the Pery O stronge lady hore what dost thow And she answerde sire what eylith yow Haue pacience and reson in your mynde I haue yow holpyn on bothe your yen blinde Vp peril of my soule y shal not lyen As me was taught to hele with your yen Was no thing bet to make you to se Than forto strogil with aman in a tre Good woot y dede it in ful good entent Strogil quod he ye algate in it went Stif and round as ony belle It was no wonder though her bely swelle The smok on his brest lay so theche And euer me thoughte he poyntid on the brech•• God you yeue bothe a shamys deth to dyen He dide the so I saw it with myn yen And ellis I behangid be the hals Than is quod she my medicine fals For certeinly yf ye myghte se Ye wolde not sey thyse wordes to me Ye haue som glymsinge and no parfit sight I se quod he as wel as euer I myght

Thankid be god with bothe myn yen two And be my trowthe me thoughte he did so Ye may deme as ye list gode sere quod she This thank haue I for I made yow se Allas quod she that euyr I was so kynde Now dame quod he lat al passe out of mynde Comdoun my leef and yf I haue myssayde God helpe me so as y am euyl a payd But be my fader soule I wente haue seyn How that this Damyan hadde by the leyn And that thy smok he leyde vp on thy brest Ye sire quod she ye may wene as ye l••st But sire qd she aman that wakith of his sleep He may not so sodenly wel take keep Vp on a thing ne se it so parfitly T••l that he be wel adaw••d verily Right so aman that longe blynd hath be Ne may not sodenly so sone wel se First when his sighte is new comyn agayn As he that hath a day or tweyne y seyn Til that your sighte y fa••elid be awhyle Th••r may ful many a sighte yow begile Bewar I pray yow for be h••uyn kyng Ful meny a man wenyth to se a thing And yet it is al another than it semyth He that mysconce••ueth ofte mys demyth And with that word she lepte fro the tre This Ianuary who is glad but he He kisseth her and clipp••th hir ful ofte

And on her wombe he strikith her ful softe And to the Paleys hoom he hath her lad Now gode men I pray you be mery and glad Thus endith here my tale of Ianuary God blisse vs alle and his moder Mary

¶Here endith the Marchan̄tis tale. And begynneth the prolog of the wyf of Bathe.

EXperience though non auctorite Were in this worlde is right ynow for me To speke of woo that is in mariage But lordis syn y .xij. wynter was of age Thankid be god that is eternal alyue Husbondis at the chirche dore haue I had fyue If I so often myghte haue weddid be And alle were worthy men in here degre But onys me was told not longe a go I wys That crist wente neuyr but onys To weddynge in the Cane of galilee That be the same ensaumpyl taughte he me That I weddid sholde be but onys Lo whiche a sharp word for the nonys Beside awelle Ihe••us god and man Spak in repreef of the samaritan Thow hast had .v. husbondis sayd he And that ilke man that now hath the Is not thy husbond thus he sayde certeyn What he mente therby I can not sayn But that I aske why that the .v. man Was not husbond to the samaritan

How many myghte he haue in mariage But herde y neuer tellyn in myn age Of this noumbre very diffinicion Men ••owe deme and glose vp a doun Wel I woot expresse withoutyn lye That god bad vs w••xe and multiplye That gentil text can I wel vnderstonde For wel y woot that myn husbonde Sholde leue fader and moder and take to me But of noumbre no mencion ma••e he Of bigamye or of Octogamye Why sholde men speke of it velonye ••o here the wyse kyng Salamon I trow he hadde wyues mo than on As wolde to g••d it leefful were to me To haue refresshing half so ofte as he Whiche a yef••e of god had he for al his wyuy•• Noman hath such•• that now on lyue is God woot this nobyl kyng as to my witte The firste nyght hadde meny a mery fytte With eche of hem so wel was hym on lyue Blissid be god for I haue had fyue Of whiche I haue pikid out of the beste Bothe of her nethir ende and eke her cheste Diuers scolis makith diuers clerkis And diu••rs practik in many sondry werkis Makith the parfiter man to be sikerly Of fyue husbondis scoling am I Wel come the sixte when that ••uer he shal

I wol hym not forsake no thing at al When myn husbond is fro the worlde I gon Som cristen man shal wedden me anon For the apostel sayth that I am fre To wedde a goddis half where it likith me He sayth to be weddid it is no synne Bettir it is to beweddid than to blynne What reckith me though men say vilonye Of shrewde lameth and of his bigamye I woot abraham was a ful holy man And eke Iacob as fer as euer I here can And eche of them hadde mo wyuys than two And meny another man also Where can ye say in ony manere age That euer god defendid mariage Be expresse wordis I pray you tel me Or where comandid he euyr virginite I woot as wel as ye it is no drede The apostil when he spak of mayden hede He sayde that ther of precept had he noon Men may counsel awomman to be oon But counsel is no maner com̄andement He puttith that in our Iugement For hadde god comanded maydenhede Than had he dampned wedding out of drede And certis yf ther were no seed I sowe Virginite what sholde therof growe Paule durste not comaunde acte leste A thing whiche his maister yaf non heste

The dart is set vp on virginite Cast who so may who rennyth best let se But this word is not take of euery wight But there as god wol yeue it of his myght I woot wel the apostel was amayde But natheles though he wroot and sayde He wolde wel euery wight were as he Al is but counsel to virginite And forto be a wyf he yaf me leue Of indulgence so it be not to repreue To wedde me yf that my make dye Withoute excepcioun of bigamye Al were it good no woman forto towche He mente in his bed or in his cowche For paril it is fyre and tow to assembil Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble This is al and som he held virginite More parfit than wedding in freelte Freelte clepe I but yf he or she Wolde ledyn her lyf in chastite I graunte it weel I haue non enuy Though maydenhede preferre bigamy It likith hem to be cleen in body and gost Of myn estate I wyl make no bost Ful wel I knowe a lord in his hushold Hath meny a vessel of siluer and of gold Som been of tre and don her lord seruise God clepith to hym folk in sondry wyse And eche hath of god a proper yeste

Eche man as hym liste to shifte Virginite is a greet perfection And continence eek with deuocion But crist that is of perfection the welle Bad not euery wight he sholde go selle All that he hath and yeue it to the poure And in suche wyse folow hym and his lore He spak to hem that wil lyue parfitly And lordingis be your leue that am not I I wol bestowe the flour of al myn age In the actis & in the fruyt of mariage Tel me also to what conclusion Were membris maad of generacion And of so parfit wyse a wight y wrought Trust me wel they be not made for nought Glose who so wol and sey vp an doun They were made for purgacion Of vryne and of other thingis smale Was eke to knowe a female from amale And for no cause ellis say ye no The experience woot wel it is not so So that ye clerkis with me be not wroth I say thus they be made for both That is to say bothe for office and for ese Of engendernre there we god not displese Why shulde not ellis men in bokis sette That man shal yelde to his wyf her dette Where with sholde he make his payement Yf he ne vsid his sely instrument

Then were they maa•• vpon a creature To purge hym and eke to engendrur•• But I say not this as y you tolde That euery wight that hath suche harneis is holde To go and vse hem in engendrure Than sholde men of chastite take no cure Crist was a mayde and shapyn as a man And many an holy saynt sith the wor••de began Ye l••uyd they euer in parfit chastite But I nyl enuye non virginite Leet hem with bred of pured whete befed And lete vs vsen hoot harly bred And yet with harly ••••ed men telle can Our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ihesus refresshid many a man In swhich astat as god hath clepid vs I wyl {per}seuere I am not precious In wyf hood wyl I vse myn instrument As frely as my maker hath it sent If I be daungerous god yeue me sorow Whether he wyl at eue or a morow Whan that hym list com forth and pay his dette An husbond wol y haue y wol not lette That shal be bothe my dettour and my thral And I his tribulacion with al Duringe the whyle that I am his wyf The power wol I haue during al my lif Both of his propir body and nat he Right thus the apostel tolde it me And bad our husbondis forto loue vs weel

Al this sentence me liketh eueridel Vp stert the pardoner and that anon Now dame quod he be god and be saint Iohn Ye be an nobyl prechour in this caas I was aboute to wedde awyf alas What sholde I bye it my self so dere Yet hadde y leuer wedde no wyf this yere Abyde quod she my tale is not begonne Nay thou shalt drynke of another tonne Or that I go shal sauour worse than ale And when I haue told forth my tale Of tribulacion that is in mariage Of whiche I am expert in al myn age This is to sey my self haue be the whipp•• Than mayst thou chese whither thou wilt sippe Of that tonne that y shal broche Be ware of it or thow to nygh approche For I shal telle ensamplis mo than ten Who so wol not be waar be othir men Be hym shal othir men correctid be Thyse same wordis writith ptholome Reed in his almegeste and take it there Dame I wyl pray you yf your wyl were Sayde this pardoner as ye began Tel forth your ••ale spare for noman And teche vs yong men of your practike Gladly quod she sith it may you like But that y pray to al this companye Yf that y speke aftir my fantesye

As take not a greef of that I say For myn entent is but forto play Now seris than wol y telle you forth my tale As euyr I muste drynke wyne or ale I shal say soth thyse husbondis that I hadde Thre of hem were goode and two were badde Vnnethe myghte they holde the statute In whiche they were bonden vnto me Ye woot weel what I mene parde As helpe me god y laughe what thet I thynke How petously a nyght y made hem to swynke And be my faith I yaf of hem no stoore They hadde me yeue her lond and her tresor Me nedith not to do hem lenger diligence To wynne her loue or do hem reuerence They l••ued me so wel be god aboue That I ne tolde no deynte of her loue A wyse woman wyl besy hir euyr in one To gete her loue there she hath noon But sith I hadde hem holly in myn hond And aftir they hadde yeue me here lond What sholde y take kepe hem forto plese But yf it were for my pr••fit or for myn ease I held hem so a werke be my fey That many a nyght they song wel awey The bacon was fet for hem I trow That som man hath in essex at donmow I gouerned hem so wel aftir my lawe That eche of hem ful blesful was and fawe

To brynge me feire thingis fro the feyre They were ful feyn whan I spak to hem faire For god it woot I chidde hem spitously Now herke how I baar me properly Ye wyse wyues that can vnderstonde Thus sholde ye spekyn & bere hem an honde For half so boldly can ther noman Swere and lye as a woman can I say not this but ye wyues that been wyse But yf it be when they hem mys auyse A wyf yf that she can her good Shal bere hym on hond the cow is wood And take witnesse of her owen mayde Of here assent but herkenyth how I sayde Sire olde kaynard is this thyn aray Why is myn neyghebours wyf so gay She is honourith where euer she goth I sitte at hoom and haue no thrifty cloth What dost thow at myn neyghebours hous Is she so fair art thou so amerous What rownest thou with a mayde benedicite Sire olde lechour let thy Iapis be And yf that I haue a gossib or a frend With outyn gilt thou chidist as a fend If that thou walkist hoom to her hous Thou comyst hoom as dronke as a mous Thou prechist on thy benche with euyl preef Thou saist to me it is a gret myschief To wedde a poure woman for costage

And yf she be high and of riche parage Thow saist that it is a very turmentry To suffre hir pryde and hir malencoly And yf she be fair thow verry knaue Thow saist that euery harlot wol her haue She may no whyle in chastite abyde That is assaylid on euery syde Thow s••yst som folk desire vs for riches Some for our shap & some for our fairnes And some for she can othir singe or daunce And some for gentilnes or for daliaunce Som for her hondis and legges smale Thus goth al to the deuyl ••e thy tale Thow sayst men may kepe a castel wal It may so longe assaylid be ouyr al And yf she be foul thou sayst that she Coueytith euery man that she may se For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe Til she may f••nde som man her to chepe Ne non so grey goos goth ther in the lake As sayst thow be wyl withoute her make And sayst it is an hard thing forto welde A thing that noman wol his thank helde Thus sayst thou lorel whan thou gost to bedde And that no wyse man nedith forto wedde Ne noman that entendith vnto heuyn With wilde thund••r dynt and fyre leuyn I pray god moot thyn necke al to breke Tho sayst a dropping hous and eek smeke

And chidyng wyuys maken men to flee Out of her howsis atonys a benedicite What eylith suche an old man forto chyde Thow sayst we wyuys wyl our vicis hyde Til we be fast & than we wil hem shewe Wel may that be a prouerbe of a shrewe Thou sayst that men assis hors and houndis They been assayd of dyuers stoundis Basyns lauours or that men hem bye Sponys stolis and alle other husbondrye And so be pottis clothis and aray But folk of wyuys make non assay Til they be weddid to old dotard shrewis And than sayst thou wel our vicis shewis Thou sayst also that it displesith me But yf thou wolt preyse my beaute And but thou poure alday in my face And clepe me fayre dame in euery place And but thou make a feste that ilke day That y was born and me ••resh and gay And but thou do me norish and honoure And to my chamber with in my ••oure And to my fadris folk and myn alies Thus sayst thou olde chorle ful of lyes And also for that our prentice Iankyn For his crisp heris shynynge as gold fyn And for he squireth me bothe vp and doun Yet hast thou caught a fals suspecion I wyl hym not though thou were ded to morow

But tel me this why hidist thou with sorow The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me As wel it is my good as thyn parde What wenyst thou to make an idiot of our dame Now be that lord that clepid is saint Iame Thow shalt not bothe though thou were wood Be maister of my body and of my good That on thou shalt forgo magre thyn yen What nedith it of me to enquere or pryen I trow thou woldist lokke me in thy cheste Thou sholdist say gode wyf go where ye liste Take your disport I wol leue no talis I knowe you for a trewe wyf dame alis We loue noman that takith kepe or charge Where that we wol go and be at our large Of alle maner men blessid mote he be The wyse Astrologien dan Protholome That saith right thus in his almegeste Of alle men his wisdom it is the beste That reckith not who hath the world in honde Be this prouerbe thou shalt vnderstonde Haue ye ynough what dar ye recke or care How merily that other folkis fare For certis olde dotardis be your leue Ye shal haue queynte ynough at eue Be thow neuyr wroth for myn instrument Though it be somtyme to a good felaw lent For he is to gret an nygard that wyl werne A man to lighte a candel at his lanterne

He shal haue neuer the lasse light parde Haue thou ynough thou dar not pleyne the Thou sayst also yf that we make vs gay With clothing or with precious aray That it is peril of our chastite And with sorow thou most enforcen the And say thyse wordis in the Apostelis name In habit made with chastite and shame Ye women shul appareylle you quod he And nat in tressid heer and riche perre As peerlis ne with gold ne clothis riche Aftir thy thought ne aftir thy rubriche I wol not worche as moche as a gnat Thou sayst thus I walke out as a cat But who so wol senge the cattis skyn Than wyl the cat duelle in his yn And yf the cattis skyn be slight and gay She wol not duelle in his hous half aday But forth she wol or ony day bedawed To shewe her skyn and go a catirwaw••d This is to say yf I begay sir shrewe I wol renne out my borel forto shewe Sire olde fool what helpith the to espien Though thou pleye argus with his hundrid yen To be my warde corps as he may best In feith he shal not kept me but me ••est Yet coude I make his berd so mote I the Thou sayst eek that ther be thingis thre The whiche thingis troublen al the erthe

And that no wight may endure the ferthe O leue sire shrewe Ihesus short thy lif Yet prechist thow and saist an hateful wyf Rekenyd is for on of thyse myschaunsi••s Ben ther now none othir resemblaunsis That may be like your parablis vnto But yf a sely wyf be on of tho Thow liknest eke a womannys loue to helle To bareyn lond there watir may not dwelle Thow liknest vs eek also to wilde fire The more it brennyth the more it hath desire To consume euery thing that brent wold be Thow sayst right as wormys shendyn a tre Right so a wyf destroieth her husbonde This knowen they that been to wyuys bonde Lordingis right thus as ye haue vnderstonde Bare y stifly myn olde husbondis on honde And of other thinges both more and lesse And al was fals but as I took witnesse Of Iankyn our child and of myn nece also O lord the pyne I dede hem and the woo Ful giltlees ofte be goddis swete pyne For as an hors I coude both byte and whyne I coude pleyne though I were in the gilt Or ellis I hadde ofte tymes be spilt Who so comyth first to the mylle first he grynt I pleyned first so were our werrys stynt They were ful glad for to excuse hem blyue Of thing whiche they neuer agiltid her lyue

Of wenchis wolde I bere hem ful sore on hond When that for sike vnnethe myghte they stonde Yet tiklid I his herte for that he Wende that I of hym hadde so gret cheerte I swoor that al my walkyng out be nyght Was for to spye wenchis that he dight Vndir that colour hadde I meny a myrthe For al ••uche thing was gyue vs in our birthe Disceyt wepynge spynnynge god hath yeue To women kyndely whyle that they lyue And thus of o thing I may auaunte me Atte ende I hadde the bettir in eche degre Be sleyghte or force or by som maner thing Or by continuel murmur or grucchinge Namely a bedde hadde they myschaunce There wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce I wolde no lenger there abedde abyde If that I felte his arm ouer my side Til he hadde maad his raunson vnto me Than wolde I suffre hym do his nycete And therfore euery man this tale I telle Wyn who so may for al is forto selle With empty hondis men may no hawkis li••e For wynnynge wolde I as his list endure And make me then a feyned appetit And yet in bacon hadde y neuer delit That made m•• that euer I wolde hem chyde For though the Pope hadde sitten hem beside I wolde not spare hem at her owen borde

For be my trouthe I quytte hem euery word As so helpe me god omnipotent Though right now I sholde make my testament I owe hem not o word but that it is quyt I broughte it so aboute by my wit That they muste yeue it vp al for the beste Or ellis hadde we neuer be in reste For though he lokid as wilde as a lion Yet sholde he fayle of his conclusion Than wolde I say gode leef take kepe How mekely lokith wilkyn our sheep Ye sholde be al pacient and meke Com n••r my spouse lat me ba thy cheke And haue a swete spicid concience Sith ye so speke of iobbis pacience Suffrith alway syn ye can so wel preche And but ye do certeyn we wol you teche It is fe••r aman to haue his wyf in pees On of vs two muste bowe doutlees And sith a man is euer more resonable Then a woman is ye moste be sufferabil What eylith you to gruoche and grone It is for ye wolde haue my queynte a lone Why take it lo haue it euerydeel Petir I shrewe you but ye loue it weel For yf I wolde selle my bele chose I coude walke as fressh as a rose But I wol kepe it for your owen toth Ye be to blame be god I say you soth

Suche maner wordis hadde we on honde Now wol I speke of my firste husbonde My firste husbond was a reuelour Tys is to say he hadde aparamour And I was yonge and ful of ragery Stoborn & strong and pliant as a pie Welcoude he daunce and harpe smale And synge as mery as ony nychtyngale When I hadde dronke adranghte of swete wyn Metnllms the foule chorle the swyne That with a staf berafte his wif har lif For she drank wyne and I hadde be his wif He sholde not haue dauntid me so fro drinke And after wyne ou venus muste I thinke For also sikir as cold eugendrith hail A licorous month muste haue a licorons tail In vynolent {per}sone is no defence This knowen lechours be experience But lord crist whan it remembrith me Vpon my youthe and on my Iolite It tiklith so vpon my herte rote Vnto thysday it doth my herte bote That I haue had my worlde & my tyme But age allas that al wol enuenyme Hath me berafte my beaute & my pith Let go fare weel the deuil go perwith The flour is go ••her is nomore to telle The bren as I best may now muste I selle Now to beright mery now wil I fonde

Now wyl I telle of my fourthe husbonde I Sey he hadde in his herte a gret despyt•• That I ony other hadde delyt But he was quyt be god and be seynt Iose I made hym of the same wode a croce Nat of my body in no foul manere That certenly I made folk suche chere That in his owen grece I made hym frye For angir and for verry Ielousye Be god in erthe I was his verry purgatory For whiche I hope his soule be in glorye For god it woot he sat ful ofte and songe When that his sho bittirly hym wronge Th••r was no w••ght saue god and he that wyste In many wyse how sore I did hym twiste He deyde when I com fro Iherusalem And lith I graued vnder the rode beem Al is not his toumbe so curius As was the sepulcre of hym Darius Whiche that appelles wroughte subtilly It is but wast to birye hym preciously Let hym fare wel god yeue his soule good reste He is now in his grane and leyd in his cheste Now of my fyfthe husbonde wol I telle God lete her soulis neuer come in helle And y••t was the fyfthe to me the moste shrewe That fele I on my ri••bis re••w•• by rewe And euer shal vnto myn endyng day But in ••ur b••d he was ful fresh and gay

And therwith al also he coude so wel glose That though he hadde bete me on euery boon He coude wynne my loue ayeen anoon I trowe I loued hym best for that he Was of his loue so daungerous vnto me We wymmen haue yf that I shal not lye In this mater a queynte fantesye Wayte what thing we may not lightly haue Ther aftir wil we crye alday and craue Forbede vs thing and that desiren we Preese on vs and than wil we sle With daunger vtter we al our chaffare Greet prees at market makith dere ware And to greet cheep is holdyn a febyl pryce This knoweth euery woman that is wyse MY fyfthe husbonde god his soule blesse Wichiche I took for loue and no richesse He sumtyme was a clerk of Oxenforde And hadde lefte scole and wente at hoom to berde With my gossib tho duellinge in our toun God haue her soule her name was alisoun She knew my herte and eek my pryuyte Bettir than our parish prest so mot I the To here bewreyed I my counsel al For hadde myn husbond pissid ayens a wal Or do a thing that he sholde haue lost his lyff To her ••••nd also to another wyff When that he wolde haue my bele chose And to my Nece whiche that I loued weel

I wolde haue told his counsel euerydell ••nd so I did ful ofte god it woot That made his face ful ofte reed and hoot For v••rry shame and blamed hym self that he Hadde told to me so gret a priuyte And so be fyl that onys in a lente So ofte tyme I to my gossib wente For euer I loued to be gay alleway And forto walke in March aperyl and May Fro hous to hous to here sondry talis That Iankyn clerk and my gossib dame alis And I my self in to the feldis wente My husbond was at london al that lent I hadde the bettir leyser forto pleye And forto se and eke forto be seye Of lust•• folk what wiste I where my grace Was shapyn forto be or in what place Therfore I made my visitacions To vigilis and to processions To prechinge eke and to pilgremagis To pleyis of myraclis and to mariagis And w••rid vp on my gay scarlet gites Thyse wormys ne these mowthis ne thyse mytis Vpon my parel frayde hem neuer adeel And wost thow why for they were vsed wel Now wol I telle forth what happid me I say that in the feldis walkid we Til truly that we hadde suche daliaunce This clerk and I what of my purueaunce

I spak to hym and sayde how that he If I were widow he sholde wedde me For certeyn I say you for no bobance Yet was I neuer withoute purueaunce Of mariage ne of othir thingis eek I holde a mons herte not worth a leek That hath but on hool to sterte to And yf that fayle than is al I do I bare hym on hond / he hadde enchauntid me My dame taughte me forsoth that sotil••e And eke I sayde y mette of hym al nyght He wolde a shamed me as I lay vp right And al my bed was ful of very blood But yet I hope truly ye shul do me good For blood betokenyth gold / as I was taught And alwas fals I dremed of him right naught But as I folowid ay my damys lore As wel of that as of othir thingis more And now sire lete se what sholde y sayn A ha by god I haue my tale agayn Whan that my fourthe husbond was on beere I wepte algate and made a sory chere As wyuys motyn for it is the vsage And with my kercher I clerid my visage But for that I was purueyed of a make I wepte ful lityl I dar vndertake To chirche was my husbond born̄ on morow With neyghbours that for hym made sorow And Iankyn our clerk was on of tho

As helpe me god whan I saw hym go Aftir the beere me thoughte he had a peyre Of leggis and feet so clene and so feyre That al my herte I yaf vnto his hold He was I trow twenty wynter old But I was .xl. yf I shal sey the soth But yet I hadde alwey a coltis toth Gappe tothid y was but that be cam me weel I hadde the prynt of saint venus fel As helpe god I was a ful lusty on And feir and riche and yong & wel begoon And trewly as my husbondis tolde me I hadde the beste queynte that myghte be For certis I am al fully venerian In felinge and my herte is Marcian Venus me yaf my lust and likerousnesse And Marce yaf me my sturdy hardynesse Myn ascendaunt was taure and mars ther yn Allas allas that euer loue was synne In folowynge ay myn inclinacion Be vertu of my constillacion That made me that I coude not withdrawe My chambr•• of venus fro a good felaw Yet haue I a marke of Mars vp on my face And also in another priuy place For god so wisl•• be my sauacion I louyd neuer be non discress••on But euer folowid myn appetit Al were he long short black or whit

I took no kepe so that he liked me How poure he was ne eke of what degre What sholde y say but at the monthis end•• This ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hende Hath weddid me with gret solempnyte And to hym yaf I bothe lond and fee That euer was yeue me therbefore But aftirward me repentid it ful sore He nolde suffre no thing of my list Be god he smoot me onys with his fist On the cheke for y rente out of his book aleef That of the strook myn ere w••xt al deef Stiborne I was as is a lyonesse And of my tunge a very Iangelresse And walke I wolde as I doon had beforn̄ Fro hous to hous al though he had ysworn̄ For whiche he ofte tyme wolde preche And me of olde romaunce talis teche How he simplicines gallus lefte his wyf And he forsook her terme of al his lyf Not but for ones opyn he her say Lokyng out of his dore vp on aday Anothir wyf tolde he me be name But for his wyf was at a someris game Withoute his wyting he forsook her eek And than wolde he vp on his bible seke That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiast Where he comaundith and biddith fast Men shal not suffre her wyuys to royle aboute

Than wolde he say thus withouten doute Who so bildith his hous al of salowis And pryke his blynde hors ouer the falowis And suffrith his wyf to seke halowis He is worthy to be hongid on the galowis But al for nought I set nat an hawe Of alle his prouerbis ne of al his olde sawe Ne I wolde not of hym correctid be I hate hym that tellith his vicis vnto me And so do mo god woot of vs than I This made hym wood with me al vttirly I wolde not forbere hym in no caas Now wol I say soth be saint Thomas Wh•• that I rente out of his book a l••ef For whiche h•• smot me so that I was deef He hadde a book that gladly bothe nyght & day For his disport he wolde rede alway He cl••pid it Valery and Theophraste Atte whiche b••ok he lough alwey faste And eke therwas a clerk som tyme in rome A Cardinal that highte seynt Ierome That made a book aga••n Ionyn••an In whiche book therwas e••k tort••lan Crisippus Tortula and belowis That was Abbesse not fer fro Paris And parabolis of wyse Salamon Ouydes art and eek bokis many on And alle thyse were bounden in on volume And euery day and nyght was his custume

When he hadde leyser and ony vacacion Fro al other wordly occupacion To redyn on this book of wickid wyuys He knew of hem mo legendis and liuys Than be of gode wyuys in the bible For trustith wel it is an impossible That ony clerk wol speke good of wyuys But yf it be of holy fayntis lyuys Ne of non othir woman neuer the mo Who peyntyd the lyoun tel me who Begod yf women hadde wrytyn storiys As clerkis haue in her Oratorijs They wolde haue writen of men more wickidnes Than al the marke of Adam may redresse The childryn of Mercury and venus Been in her workyng ful contrarious Mercuri louith wisedom and science And venus louith riot and dispence And for her dyuers disposicion Eche fallyth in othris exaltacion That thus god woot Mercury is dissolate In pisces when venus is exaltate And venus fallith ther Mercury is reysid Therfore women of no clerk is preysid The clerk whan he is old and may nought do Of venus workis not worth his old sho Than sittith he doun and writith in his dotage That women can not kepe her mariage But now to purpos why I tolde the

That I was betyn for a book parde Vp on a nyght Ianstyn that was our syre Radde on his book as he sat be the fyre Of Eue first that for hir wickednes Was al mankynde brought to wrecchidnes For which that Ihesu crist hym self was slayn That boughte vs with his herte blood agayn Lo here expres of women may ye fynde That woman was the los of al mankynde To redde he me how Sampson loste his heris Slepinge his lemman kit hem with her sheris Thorough whiche treson lost he bothe his yen Tho radde he yf that I shal not lyen Of H••rcules and of Dyanyre That causith hym to sette hym self a fyre No thyng forgat he the sorow and the woo That Socrates hadde with his wyuys two How Exantippa cast pisse vp on his hed This sely man sat stille as he were ded He wipid his hed n•• word durste he sayn But or the thunder stynte comyth rayn Of Philip that was the quene of Crete For shrewdnesse hym toughte it swete Fy spek no more it is a grisly thing Of her horrible lust and of her likyng Of Cletemystra for her high lecherye That fasly made her husbond to dye He redde it with ful good deuocion He tolde me eke for what conclusion

Amphioraxe at Thebes loste his lif Myn husbonde hadde a legende of his wyf Eriphiden that for an ouche of gold Hath priuely vnto the grekis told Where that her husbonde hidde him in a place For whiche he hadde at thebes a s••ri grace Of lima tolde he me & of lucy They bothe made her husbondis forto dy That one for loue that other was for hate Lyma her husbonde vpon an euyn late Enpoysond him for sche was his ••o Lucia likerons loued her husbond so For he sholde algatis ou here thynke She yaf vnto hym such aloue drynke That he was ded or it was at morow And thus algate husbondis hadde sorow Thanne tolde he me how that lacyuius Compleyned how that fel man arrius That in his gardyn growde such a tre On which he saide how that his wyuis thre Hanged hem selff for her hertis despitons O leue brothir said than this arrius Zif me a plante of that blissed tre And in myn gardyn plantid shal it be Of latter date of wyuis hath he red That some haue sleyn her husbondis abed And leet her lechour swyue hem al the nyght Whilis that the corps lay in floor vpright And some haue driue nailis in her brayn

Whilis that they slepte & thus they haue hem slain Some haue yeue hem poyson in her drynke He spak more harm than herte may thynke And th••rwith al he coude mo prouerbis Than in this worlde growe gras or herbis Bettir is quod he thyn habitacion Be with a lioun or with a dragon Than with a woman vsynge forto chyde Be••tir is quod he high in his roof abyde Than with an angry wyf duellinge in his hous They be so wickid and so contrarious They haten that her husbondis loue ay H•• sayde a woman cast her shame away Whan she cast of her smok and ferther mo A fair woman but she be chast also Ys lik a goldryng on a sowys nose Who wolde leue or who wolde suppose The wo that in myn herte w••s and pyne And whan I saw that he wolde neuer fyne To redyn on his cursid book alnyght Al sodenly thre leuys haue I plight Out of his book right as he redde and eek I with my fist so took hym on the cheek That in our fyre he fyl bacward a doun And he vp stert as doth awood lioun And with his fist he smot me on the hed That in the flore I lay as I hadde be ded And whan he saw how stylle that I lay He was agast and wolde haue fled away

Til atte last I out of my swowne abreid O hast thou slayn me fals theef I seid And for my lond thus hast thou murdred me Or I be ded zit wol I onys kisse the And neer he cam & knelid faire adoun And sayde dere fuster swete alisoun As helpe me god I shal the neuir smyte That y haue do it is thy self to wite Foryeue it me and that I the beseke And zit eft sonys I hitte him on the cheke And saide theef thus muche I am be wreke Now wol I dy I may no lenger speke But atte laste wyth muche care and woo We fil accordid be our selfyn two He yaf me the bridil in my hond To haue the gouernaunce of hons & lond And a••tir of his tunge & of his hond also And made him brenne his book anon to And thanne whan I hadde gotyn vnto me The maistrie & eek the souereynte And thanne he saide myn owen trew wif Doth as you list al the terme of your lyf Kepe thin honour and eke myn astate And after that day we hadde neuer debaat God helpe me so I was to hym as kynde As eny wyff fro denmark in to ynde And also trewe and so was he to me I pray to god yat sittith in mageste So blisse his sonle for his mercy dere

Now wol I say my tale yf ye wol here THe frere lowgh whan he hadde herd al this Now dame quod he so haue I ioye and blis This is a longe preambil of a tale And when the sompnour herde the frere gale Lo quod the Sompnour for goddes armys two A frere wol entremete hym euermo Lo gode men a flye and eek a frere Wol falle in euery mannys dissh and matere What spekist thou of preambulacion What ambyl or trot go pysse or syt a doun Thou lettyst our disport in this matere Ye wolt thou so sir Sompnour quod the frere Now be my feith I shal or that I go Telle of a Sompnour suche a tale or two That alle folk shal lawghe in this place Now ellis frere y be shrewe thy face Quod this sompnour and I beshrewe me But yf I telle ta••is two or thre Of ••reris or that I come to Sidyngbourne That I shal make the forto morne For wel y woot thy pacience is goon Our o••te cryde pees and that anon And sayde let the woman telle her tale Ye faren as folk that dronke been of ale Gode dame tel forth your tale and that is best Al redy sy••e quod she right as you list Yf I haue licence of this worthy frere Yes dame quod he tel forth and I wol here

Here endith the wyff of Bathes prologe. And here begynnyth her tale.

IN olde dayes of kyng Artur Of whiche britous spekith gret honour Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrye The elf quene with her ioly companye Daunced ful ofte in meny a greue mede This was the olde oppinion as I rede I speke of many an hundrid yeris a goo But now can noman se elphis mo For now the grete charite and praiers Of limytours and eke of othir freris That serchen euery lond and euery streme As thicke as motis in the sonne beem Blissinge hallis chambris kechens and bowris Citees Burghis castellis and eek touris Shoppis bernys Shepens and deyries This makith that ther be no feyries For there as wont was to walke an elf There walkith now the limytour hym self I•• vndermelis and in mornyngis And seith his matyns and his thingis As he goth forth in his limytacion A woman may go sauely vp and doun Vnder euery bussh or vnder euery tre There is none other incubus but he And he ne wolde do hem ony dishonour And so befil that this kyng Artour Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler

That on a day com ridynge from the ryuere And happid that allone as he was born He saw a mayde walkynge hym beforn Of whiche mayde anon magre her hed Be verry force byrefte her her maydenhed For whiche oppression was suche clamour And suche pursute vnto kyng Artour That dampned was this knyght to be ded Be cours of lawe he sholde haue lost his hed Parauenture suche was the statut tho But that the quene and other ladyes mo So longe praiden the kyng of grace Til ••e his liff grauntid in that place And yaf hym to the quene al at her wille To chese whethir she wolde hym saue or spylle The quene thankid the kyng with al her might And aftir thus spak she to the knyght When she sawe her tyme vp on a day Thou stondist yet in su••he aray Th••t of thy lyf yet hast thou no ••uerte I graunte thy lyf yf thou canst telle me What thing it is that women most desiren Bewaar and keep thy necke from iren And yf thou canst not telle it anon I shal the yeue yet leue forto goon A twelfmonthe and a day to seche and to lere An answere su••fici••unt in this matere And suerte wol I haue or that thou passe Thy body forto y••ldyn in this place

Woo was this knyght and sorowful he sighith But he may not do al as hym likith And atte laste he chaas hym forto wende And come ayeen right at the yeris ende With suche answer as god wolde hym purueye And takith his leue & wendith forth his weye He sekith euery hous and euery place Where as he hopith forto fynde grace To wite what thing women loued most But he coude arryue in no cost There as he myght fynde in this matere Two creaturis accordinge in fe••e Some sayde women loued best richesse Some sayde honour som sayde Iolinesse And ofte tymes to be widow and to be wed Some sayde riche aray som sayde lust a bed Some sayde that we be in herte most esid Whan we be flaterid and plesid He goth ful nygh the soth I wol not lye A man shal best wynne vs with flaterye And with attendaunce and with besines Ben we y limyd bothe more and les And som sayde that we loue best Forto be fre and do right as vs list And that noman repreue vs of our v••ce But sey that we be wyse and no thing nyce For truly ther is non of vs alle Yf ony wight wol clawe vs on the galle That we nel kyke for he saith vs soth

Assay and he shal fynde it that it doth For be we neuer so vici••us with ynne We wol beholden wyse and cleen out of synne And som̄e sayde gret delit haue we Forto beholde stabil and eke secre And in on pur••os stedfastly to dwelle And not to bewreye that men vs telle But that tale is not worth a rake stele Parde we women can no thing hele Witnes on Myda wol ye here the tale Ouide among other thingis smale Sayde Myda hadde vnder his longe heris Growynge vpon his hed two assis eris The whiche vice he hidde as he best myghte Ful subtilly from euery mannys sighte That saue his wyf ther wyste of it nomo He l••uyd her most and trus••id her also He prayde her that to no maner creature She wolde telle of his foul diffigure She swore hym that for al the worlde to wynne She nolde do that velony ne synne To make her husbonde to haue so foul a name She wolde not it for her owyn shame But natheles she thoughte that she deyde That she so longe sholde a counsel hide She thoughte it was so sore aboute her herte That nedis som w••rd her moste a sterte And sith she durste telle it to no man Doun to the mari••e faste she ran

Til she cam there her herte was in fy••e And as a bitore blondrith in the myre She leyde her mouth vnto the watir doun Bewrey me not thou watir with thy soun Quod she to the I telle it and to no mo Myn husbonde hath longe assis eris two Now is myn herte al hool now is it oute I myght no lenger kept it out of doute Here mowe ye se though we a tyme abyde Yet out it muste we can no coun••el hyde The remenant of the tale yf ye wil here Redith Ouyde and there ye may it lere This knyght of whom my tale is specially When that he saw he mighte not come therby This is to say what woman louen most With ynne his brest so sorouful was his gost But hoom he goth he mighte not soiourne The day was come that homward moste he tourne And in his wey as happid hym to ryde In al his care vnder a forest syde Where as he saw vpon adaunce go Of ladijs .xxiiij. and yet mo Toward whiche daunce he drow ful yerne In hope that he sholde som wisdom lerne But certeinly or that he cam fully there Vanysshed was this daunce he nyste where No creature saw he that baar lyff Saue on the grene he saw sittyng a wyf A fouler wight ther mighte noman d••uyse

Agayn this knyght this olde wyf gan ryse And sayde sir knyght herforth lith no way Tel me what ye seke be your fay Parauenture it may the bettir be Thyse olde folk can muche thing quod she My leue moder quod this knyght certeyn I am but ded but yf that I can sayn What thing it is that women most desire Coude ye me wisshe I wolde quyte wel your hire Plight me thy trouthe here in my hond quod she The nexte thing that I requyre the Thou shalt it do yf it ly in thy myght And I wol telle it you or it be nyght Haue here my trouthe quod the knyght I graunte Than quod she I dar wel make auaunce Thy lyf is sauf for I wol stonde ther by Vp on my lyf the quene wol say as I Leet se whiche is the prowdist of hem alle That werith othir kerchef or calle That dar say nay that I wol the teche Le•• vs go forth withoute more speche Tho rowned she a pistil in his here And bad hym be glad and haue no fere When they be comyn to the court this knyght Sayde he kepte his day as he had hight And redy was his answer for to haue sayde Ful many a nobil wyf and many a mayde And many a widow for that they be wyse The quene her self sittyng as Iustyse

Assemblid been his answer for to here And aftirward this knight was bodin ••apere And that euery wight was comaundid silence And that the knyght sholde telle in audi••nce What thing that wordly women loue best This knyght stood not stille as doth a beest But to his question anon answerde With manly voys that al the court it herde My liege lady thenne general quod he Women desiren to haue souereynte As wel of her husbondis as of hir loue And forto ben in maistrye aboue This is your most desire though ye wil me kille Doth as you list I am at your wylle In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde Ne widow that contraried that he sayde But sayde he was worthy to haue his lyf And at that word vpstert this olde waf Whiche that the knyght saw sittynge on the grene Mercy quod she my souerein lady quene Er that your court departe as doth me right I taught this answer vnto the knyght For whiche he plighte me his trouthe there The firste thing I wolde hym require He wolde hit do yf it lay in his myght Befor this court than I pray the sir knyght Quod she that thou me take v••to thy w••f For wel thou wotist that I haue saued thy lyf If I swere fals swere nay vpon thy ••ey

The knyght answerde and sayde wel awey I woo•• right weel that suche was my behest For goddis loue chees a newe request Take al my good and lat my body go Nay than quod sbe I shrewe vs bothe two For though that I be foul old and poor I wol not for al the metal and the oor That vnder the grounde lith othir aboue But y thy wyf were and eke thy loue My loue quod he nay parde my dampnacion Allas that euer ony of my nacion So fou••e sholde euer disperaged be But al for nought the ende is thus that he Consireyned was nedis muste he wedde And take his olde wif and go to bedde Now wolde som men sayn parauenture For myn negligence I do no cure To telle you t••e ioye and al the aray That atte feste was that ilke day To whiche thing shortly I answer shal I say th••re was no feste ne ioye at al There nas but beuynes and muchel sorow For priuely he weddid here by the morow And al day aftir hidde hym as an owle So wo was hym his wif lokid so foule Gret was the wo that the knyght had in thought When he was with his wif a bedde y brought He walowith and he turnyth to and fro His ol••e wif lay simylinge euer mo

And sayde o dere husbonde benedicite Farith euery knyght with his wyf as ye Is this the lawe of kyng Artours hous Is euery knyght of his loue so daungerous I am your owen loue and eke y••ur wyf I am she whiche that saued hath your lyf And certis yet I dede you neuer vnright Why fare ye thus with me the firste nyght Ye fare lik a man hadde lost his wit What is my gilt for goddis loue tel me it And it shal be amended yf that I may Amendid qd this knyght alas nay nay It wol not be amendid neuer the mo Thow art so lothly and so olde also And therto comyn of so low a kynde That litil wonder is though I walow & wynde So wolde to god quod he myn herte wolde breste Is this quod she the cause of your vnreste Ye certeyn quod he no wonder it is Now sire qd she I coude amende al this Yf that me list or hit be daies thre So wel ye mighte bere you vnto me But for ye spekyn of suche gentilnes As is descendid out of old riches That therfore ye shulbe gentilmen Suche arrogaunce is not worth an hen Loke who is most vertuous alwey Pryuy and apert and most entendith ay To do the gentilist dedis that he can

Take hym for the grettist gentilman First wol we clayme of hym our gentilnes Not of our eldres for her olde riches For though they yeue vs al her heritage For whiche we claymen to be of here parage Yet may they bequede for no thing To none of vs her vertuous leuynge That made hem gentilmen callid to be And bad hem folowe vs in suche degre Well can the wyse Poet of Forence That hight daunte speke of this sentence Lo in suche manere ryme is dauntis tale Ful s••lde vp rysid be his braunchis smale Preuys of man for god of his goodnes Wol that of hym we cl••yme our gentilnes For of our oldris may we no thing clayme But temporel thing that may hurte & mayme Eke euery wight woot this as wel as I If gentilnes were plantid naturally Vnto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne Priuy and pert than wol they not fyne To do of gentilnes the feir office They mighte do no vilon•• or vice Take fyre and bere it in to the derkist hous Betwix this and th•• mounte of Cancasus And leet men shi••te the doris and go thenne Yet wol the fyre as fairly and brenne As twenty thousand men mighte it beholde His o••fice naturelly ay wol he holde

Vp peril of my lif tyl that it dye Here may ye se how that gentrye Is not annexed to possessioun Suche folk ne doth her operacioun Alwey as doth the fyre in his kynde For god it woot men may ful ofte fynde A lordis sone do shame and velony And he that wol haue price of his genterye For he was born of a gentil hous And hadde his eldris nobil and vertuous And nyl hem self do no gentil dedis Ne folowen the dedis of his auncetrys He is not gentil be he duk be he erle Fy vileyns sinful dedis makyn a cherle For gentilnes nys but the renome Of thyn auncetris for her high bounte Whiche is a straunge thing to thy persone Thy gentilnes comyth fro god alone Than comyth our verry gentilnes of grace It was no thing be quedyn vs with our place Thynkith how nobil as seith valerius Was that romain Tullius Hostilius That out of pouert ro••s to high noblesse Redith Senek and redith ek Boece There shul ye se expres that no drede is That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis And therfore l••ue husbonde thus I conclude Were it that myn auncetris were rude Yet may the hye god and so hope I

Graunte me grace to lyue vertuously Than am I gentil when I begynne To lyue vertuously and do awey synne And there as ye of pouerte me repreue That high god on whom hoolly we beleue In ful hertis pouerte chees to lede his lyf And syns euery man mayden or wyf May vnderstonde that Ihesus our heuyn kyng Ne wolde not chese a uicyous lynynge Glad pouert is a ful honest thyng certeyn This wol Senec and other clerkis sayn Who so that holdith hym paid of his pouert I holde hym riche and he had not a shert He that coueytith he is a ful poure wight For he wolde haue that is not in his myght But he þ^• nought hath nought coueytith to haue Is riche al though ye holde hym but a knaue Verry pouerte is an high ioye properly Iuuenal spekith therof ful merily The poure man whan he goth be the wey Before the theu••s he may synge and pley Pouert is hateful good as I ges A ful gret brynger out of besynes A greet amender eke of sapience To hym that takith it in pacience Pouerte is this al thogh it seme elenge Possessioun that noman wolde gladly chalenge Pouerte ful ofte whan a man is lowe Makith his god and eke hym self to knowe

Pouert a spectakil is as thinkith me Thorow whiche he may his very frendis se And therfore sir sith therin ye be greued Of my pouert late me nomore be repreued Now sire of elde also ye repreuyd me And certis ••ire though non auctorite Were in the book the gentil of hauour Sayn that men sholde an olde wyf do honour And clepid fader for their gentilnes And auctours shal I fynde as I ges Now there as ye say I am foul and old Than drede ye not to be made Cokeold For filthe elde and foul so mot I the Been grete wardeyns vpon chastite But natheles sith I knowe your delit I shal fulfille your wordly appetit Chees now qd she on of thyse thingis tweye To haue me olde and foul til that I deye And be to you a trewe humble wyff And neuer you displese in al my lyff Or ellis ye shal haue me yong and feyr And take your auenture of the repeyr That to your hous shal be by cause of me Or in som other place may wel be Now chees whether that ye likith This knyght auysith hym and sikith But at the laste he sayde in this manere My lady my loue and my wyf so dere I put me fully in your wyse gouernaunce

Chese it your self whiche may be more plesaunce And most honour to you and to me also I do no force whethir of the two But as you likith it suffisith to me Than I haue gote of you the maistrye quod she Syn I may chese and gouerne you as me list Ye certis wyf quod he I holde it for the best Kys me quod she we be no lengir wroth For be my trouthe quod she I wol to you be both That is to say bothe fair and eek good I pray to god that I muste sterue wood But I to you be also good and trewe As euer was wyf syn the worlde was newe And but I be to morow as fair to sene As ony lady Emperesse or quene That is betwixt the est and the west Doth with my lyf and deth as you list And so they slepte til it was morow gray And then she sayde whan it was day Cast vp the curten loke how it is And when the knyght saw verily al this That she so fair was and so yong therto For ioye he hent hir in his armys two His herte was bathid in a bath of blis A thousand tyme arowe he gan hir kis She obey••d hym in euery thing That mighte do hym plesaunce or likyng And thus they lyue vnto her lyues ende And parfyt ioye as Ihu vs sende

Husbondis meke yong and fresh a bedde And grace to our lyue hem that we wedde And eek I pray Ihesus shorte her liuys That wol not be gouerned be her wyuys And olde and angry nygardis of dispence God sende hem sone a foul verry pestilence

¶.Here endith the tale of the wyf of bathe. ¶.And begynneth the prolog of the frere.

THis nobyl limytour this worthy frere He made alwey a maner louryng chere Vp on the sompnour but for honeste No vileyns word as yet spak he But atte laste he sayde vnto the wyf of bathe Dame qd he god you euer kepe fro scathe For here ye haue touchid also moot y the In scole mater a ful greet difficulte Ye haue said muche thing right coriously But dame here as ye riden be the wey Vs nedith not to speke but of game And lete auctours be a goddis name To prechinge and to scole of clergye And yf it likith vnto this gentil companye I wolde you of a sompnour telle a game Parde ye mowe wel knowen be the name That of a sompnour may no gode be said I pray that non of you be euyl a payde A sompnour is a renner vp and doun With maundementis for fornicacion And y bete at euery townys ende

Our oste than spak a sir ye sholde be hend•• And certis a man of your astat In company we wol haue no debaat Tellith your tale and leet the sompnour be Nay quod the sompnour let hym say by me What so hym list when it comyth to my lot Be god I shal hym quyte euery grot I shal hym telle whiche a gret honour It is to be a flateryng lymytour And of many another maner cryme Whiche nedith not to reherce at this tyme And his office I shal hym telle ywis Our ost answerde pes nomore of this And aftir this he sayde vnto the frere Tel forth your tale myn owyn maister dere

¶Here endith the Freris prolog. ¶And here begynneth his tale.

WHilom ther was duellyng in my contre An archedekyn a man of high degre That boldly did ful many an execucion In punysshynge of euery fornicacion Of whi••hecraft and eke of baudrye Of diffamacion and auoutrye Of chirche reuys and of testamentis Of contract and of lak of sacrementis Of vsurye and eke of symonye also But certis lechours did he muche woo They sholde syngen yf that they were hent And smale tithers also were foule shent

If ony person wolde vpon hym pleyne There mighte asterte no pecunial peyne For smale tithis and smale offerynge He made the pepyl ful pitously to synge For or the bisshop caught hym with his hook They were in the archedekenys book And than hadde he thourgh his Iurisdiction Poure of hem to do ful correction He hadde a sompnour redy to his hond A slygher boy was non in engelond For sotilly he hadde his especial That taughte hym where he mighte auayl He knew of lechours one or two To teche hym to foure and twenty mo For though þ^e sompnour were as wood as an hare To telle his harlotrye I wol not spare For we be out of his correction They haue of vs no Iurisdiction Ne neuer shal terme of al her lyuys Petir so be women of the styuys Quod the sompnour put out of my cure Pees with myschaunce or with mys auenture Sayde our ost and leet hym telle his tale Now tel forth though the sompnour gale Ne sparith not myn owen maister dere This ••als theef the sompnour qd the frere Hadde alwey redy bawdis to his honde As ony hawk is to the lure in engelonde That tolde hym al the secre that they coude

For her acqueyntaunce was nat alwey nouthe They were alle his approwers priuely He took hym self a gret prouffit therby His maister knew not alwey what he wan Withouten maundementis of lewd men He coude sompne on peyne of cristis curs And they were glad forto fillen his purs And make hym grete festis at the nale And right as Iudas hadde pursis smale And was a theef right ••uch a thef was he His maister hadde but half his dute He was yf I shal yeue hym the laude A theef a Sompnour and eke a baude He hadde eke wenchis at his retenu That whether sir robert or sir hue Or Iacke or raaf or who so that it were That lay by hem they tolde hym in his ere Thus were the wenchis and he of on assent And he wolde fet a faynyd maundement And sompne hem to the Chapetre bothe two And pyle the man and lete the wenche go Than wolde he say frend I shal for thy sake Do stryke her out of our lettris blake The dar nomore as in this caas trauayle I am thy frend there I may the auaylle Certeyn he knew of bribours meny mo Than possible is to telle in yeris two For in this worlde nys dogge for the bowe That can an hurt dere from an hool knowe

Better than this sompnour knoweth a lechour Or avoutrer or ellis ony Paramour And for that was the fruyt of al his rent Therfore on it he sette al his entent And so befyl that onys vp on aday This sompnour was euer waytyng his pray Forto sompne an olde wyf horrible Feynynge a cause for he wolde her bridil It happid that he saw ••••••orn hym ryde Agay yeman vnder a f••rest syde A bowe he baar and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bright and kene He hadde vpon hym a kirtil of grene An hat vp on his hed with strengis blake Sire quod the sompnour heyl and wel y take Welcome quod he and euery good felaw Whithir ridist thou vnder this grene wode shaw Sayde this yoman wolt thou fare with me to day This sompnour answerde and sayde nay Here faste by quod he is myn entent To ridyn forto reyse vp al the rent That longith now to my lordis duete Art thou than a baylle ye quod he He ne durste for velonye and shame Say that he was a sompnour for the name Deperdeux quod this sompnour dere brother Thou art a baylle and I am another I am vnknowen now in this contre Of thyn acqueyntaunce thenne I pray the And eek of bretherhed yf that thou list

I haue gold and siluyr in my chist Yf that the happith to come in our shire Al shal be thyn right as thou wolt desire Gramercy quod this sompnour be my feith Euerich in other hond he leyith Forto be sworn til that they deye In daliaunce they ryde forth and pleye This sompnour whiche was ful of Iangelis As ful of venym ben thyse were••angelis And euer enquiryng vpon euery thing Broth••r quod he where is now your duellyng Anothir day yf that I shal you seche This yoman hym answerde with softe speche Broth••r quod he fer in the North cuntre Where as I hope som tyme I shal the se Er we departe y shal the so wel wis That of my hous ne shalt thou neuer mys Now brother quod this sompnour I you pray Teche me whyles ye ridith be the way Syn that ye be a baylly and so am I Som subtilte as tellith me seithfully In myn office how I may most wynne And sparith not for conscience of synne But dere brothir tel me how do ye Now be my trouthe dere brother said he As I shal telle the a faithful tale My wagis be ful stre••t and smale My lord is hard to me and daungerous And myn office is ful laborous

And therfore by extorsions I lyue For soth I take al that men wol me yeue Algate be sleyghte or be violence From yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence I can no bettir telle the feithfully Now certis quod the sompnour so fare I I spare not to take god it wot But yf it be to heuy or to hoot That I may ge••e in counsel priuely Nomore conscience of that haue I Nere myn extorsioun I mighte not liuyn Of suche iapis wol I not be shryuyn Stomak ne conscience know I none I shrewe the shrifte fadris euerichone Wel be we met be god and be saint Iame But leue brothir tel me thy name Quod this sompnour in this mene whyle This yeman gan a lityl forto smyle Brothir quod he wolt thou that y the telle I am a fend my duellynge is in helle And here I ryde aboute my purchasinge To wite if men wol yeue me ony thing To purchace is the effect of al my rent Loke how thou ridist for al the same entent To wynne good thou reckist neuer how Right so fare I for ryde wold I now Vnto the worldis ende for a pray A quod the sompnour benedicite what ye say I wende ye hadde been a yoman trewly

Ye haue a mannys shap as wel as I Haue ye than a figure determynat In helle there ye be in your astat Nay certeinly quod he there haue we noon But whan vs likith we can take vs on Or ellis make you wene we be shape Somtyme lik a man and somtyme lik an ape Or lik an aungel can I ryde or go It is no wonder thing though it be so A lowsy iogolour can disceyue the And parde yet more craft can I than he Why quod the sompnour ryde ye than or goon In sundry shap and not alwey in oon For we qd he wol vs in suche fourme make As most auayl is our prayes forto take What makith you to haue al this labour Wel many a cause leue sir sompnour Sayde this fend but al thing hath tyme The day is short and it is passid pryme And yet ne gat I no thing in this day I wol entende to wynnynge yf I may And not entende our wittis to declare For brothir myne thy wittis ben al to bare To vnderstonde though I tolde hem the But for thou axist why laboure we For sumtyme we be goddis instrumentis And meues to do his comaundementis When that hym list vpon his creaturis In diuers acte and in diuers figuris

Withoute hym we haue no might certeyn Yf that hym list to stonden there agayn And som tyme at our pray haue we leue Only the soule and not the body to greue Witnes of Iob whom we dide woo And som tyme haue we might on bothe two This is to say on soule and on body eek And somtyme we be suffrid for to seke Vp on a man and do his soule vnreste And not his body and al for the beste Whan he withstandith our temptacion It is a cause of his saluacion Al be it that it was not oure entent He sholde be saaf by goddis Iugement And somtyme we be seruaunt vnto man As to the archebisshop saint Dunstan And to the apostil seruaunt was I Yet tel me quod the sompnour feithfully Make ye your bodyes in suche wyse alway Of elementis the fend answerde nay Som tyme we faynyn and som tyme we aryse With dede bodyes in fele sondry wyse And speke as resonabil faire and wel As the Phitonysse did to Samuel And yet wol som men sayn it was not he I do no force of your diuinite But o thing warne I the I wol not iape Thou wolt wete algatis how we be shape Thou shalt here aftirward my brother dere

Come where it nedith not of me to lere For thou shalt by thyn owen experience Conne in the chayer rede this sentence Better than Virgile whyle he was on lyue Or dauid also now leet vs ryde belyue For I wol holde company with the Til it be so that thou forsake me Nay quod the sompnour that shal not betide I am a yeman that knowen am ful wyde My trouthe wol I holde to the as in this caas Fo•• though were the deuyl Sathanas Take thou thy part of that men wol the yeue And I shal myne thus may we bothe lyue And yf that ony of vs haue more than other Let hym be trewe and parte with his brothir I graunte quod the deuyl be my fey And with that word they riden forth hir wey And right at an entre of a townys ende To whiche the sompnour shoop hym forto wende Th••y sawe a carte that charged was with hey Whiche that a carter drof forth in the wey Deep was the wey for whiche the Carte stood This carter smoot and cryde as he were wood What heyt brok heyt scot spare ye for the nonys The fend quod he you fecche body and bonys As ferforth as euer ye were y folid So mykil wo as I haue for you tholid The deuyl haue bothe hors Carte and hey Quod the sompnour here shal we haue a pley

And neer the feend he drow as naught ne were Ful priuely and rowned in his ere Herkyn my brother herkyn be thy feith Herist thou not hou the carter seith Take hit anon for he hath yeue it the Both hey and carte and eek his capullis thre Nay quod the deuyl / god woot neuer a ••eel It is not his entent trust me weel Aske hym self yf that thou trowest not me Or ellis stynte awhyle and thou shalt se This carter thackid his hors on the croupe And they begonne to drawe and to stoupe Hait now quod he that Ihesu crist you bles And al his hondy work bothe more and les That was wel y twight myn owen liard boy I pray to god saue the and saint loy Now is my carte out of the slowgh parde Lo brother quod the fend what tolde I the Here may ye se myn owen dere brother The chorle spak o thing but he thoughte another Lat vs go forth aboute our viage Here wynne I no thing vpon this cariage Whan that they comyn somwhat out of the toun This sompnour to his brothir gan to roun Brother quod he here wonyth an old rebecke That hadde almost as leef to lese her necke As forto yeue apeny of her good I wol haue .xijd. though that she be wood Or I wol somone hir vnto our office

And yet god woot of hir I knowe no vice But for thou canst not as in this contre Wynne thy cost / take here ensaumple of me This sompnour clappid at the widowis gate Com out he sayde thou olde verry trate I trow thou hast som preest or frere with the Who knockith said this wyf benedicite God saue you sir what is your swete wyl I haue quod the sompnour of the a bil Vp on peyne of cursinge loke that you be To morow beforn the Archedekenys kne To answere to the court of certeyn thing Now lord quod she Ihesu crist heuene kyng So wisly helpe me as y ne may I haue be sik and that ••ul many a day I may not go so fer quod she ne ryde But I be ded so prickith it in my syde May I nat axe a libel sire sompnour And answere there be my proktour To suche thing as men wol appose me Yes quod the sompnour pay anon let se Twelf pens to me and I wol the quyte I shal no prouffit haue therby but lyte My maister hath the prouffit and not I Com of and let me ryde hastely Yeue me .xij. pens for I may no lenger tary Xij. pens quod she a lady sainte mary So wisly helpe me out of care and synne This wyde worlde though I sholde it wynne

Ne haue I not .••ijd. with in my holde Ye knowe wel that I am poure and olde Kithe your almes ou me poure wrecche Nay than quod he the foule fend me fecche If I the excuse though thou sholdist be spilt Allas qd she god woot I am not in the gilt Pay me quod he or be swete saint anne I wol anone bere awey thyn newe panne For dette whiche thou owest me of olde When that thou madist thyn husbond cokeolde I payde at hoom for thy correction Thow lixt quod she be my sauacion Ne was I neuer or now widow or wyf Sompned vnto your court in al my lyf Ne neuer y was but of my body trewe Vnto the deuyl blak and rowgh of hewe Yeue I thy body and eke my panne to And when the deuyl herde hir curse so Vp on her knees he sayde in this manere Now mabyll myn owen moder dere Is this your wyl in ernest as ye saye The deuyl quod she fette hym or he dey And panne and al but he wol hym repent Nay olde stot that is not myn entent Quod the sompnour forto repent me For ony thing that I haue had of the I wolde I hadde thy smook and euery ••loth Now brothir quod the deuyl be not wroth Thy body and this panne is myn be right

Thou shalt with me to helle yet to nyght Where thou shalt knowe of our priuyte More than a maister of diuinite And with that word the soule fend hym hent Body and soule he with the deuyl went Where that thyse sompnours haue her heritage And god that made aftir his ymage Mankynde saue and gide vs alle and som And leue that Sompnours gode men be com Lording I coude telle you quod the frere Hadde I had leue for this sompnour here Aftir the text of c••ist Poule and Iohn And of our other doctours meny on Suche poyntis as your hertis mighte agryse Al be it so nothing may I deuyse Though that I mighte a thousand wynter telle The peynys of that cursid peyne of helle But forto kepe vs fro that cursid place Wakith and praieth Ihesu of his grace So kepe vs fro the temptour Sathanas H••rkenyth this word bewaar in this caas The lioun sittith in his awayte alway To sle the Innocent yf that he may Dispose ye your hertis ay to withstonde The fend that wol make you thral and bonde He may not tempte you ouyr your might For crist wol be yo••r champioun and knyght And pray that the sompnour hym repente Of his mysdedis or that the deuyl hym hent

Here endith the Freris tale. And begynnyth the Sompnours prolog.

THis Sompnour in his stirop high stood Vp on this frere his herte was so wood That lik an aspin leef he quook for yre Lordingis quod he o thing I desire I you beseche of your curtesye Sithe ye haue herd this fals frere lye As suffrith me I may a tale telle This frere bostith that he knoweth helle And god woot that is litil wonder Freris and fendis been but litil a sunder For parde ye haue ofte tyme herd telle How that a frere rauysshed was to helle In spirit onys be auysioun And as an aungil ledde hym vp and doun To shewe hym the preuytes that were there In al the place saw he not a frere Of othir folk he saw ynowe in wo Vnto this aungil spak this frere tho Now sire quod he haue freris suche a grace That non of hem shal come in this place Yes quod the aungel many a myllioun And vnto Sathanas he ladde hym a doun And now hath Sathanas suche a tayl Bradder than of a Carik is the sayl Hold vp thy tayl thou Sathanas quod he Shew sorth thyn ars and let the frere se Where is the nest of Freris in this place

And er that a furlong wey of space Right so as bees swarme out of an hyue Out of the deuelis ars they gon dryue Twenty thousand freris on a route And thorow out helle swarmed al aboute And cam ayeen as faste as they may goon And in to his ars they crepte in euerichon He clippid ayeen his tayl and lay stylle This frere when he lokid had his wille Vp on the tormentis of this sory place His spirit god restorid of his grace Vnto his body ayeen and he awook But natheles for feer yet he quok So was the deuyl ay in his mynde Than is it his heritage of verry kynde God saue you alle saue this cursid frere My prolog wil I ende in this manere

¶Here endith the prolog. And begynneth the Sompnours tale.

LOrdingis qd he in yorkshire as I gesse Is a mersh contre that callid is holdernes In whiche ther wente a lymytour aboute To preche and eke to begge it is no doute And so be fyl that on aday this frere Hadde pre••hid in a chirche in his manere And specially abouen euery thing Excitid he the p••pil in his prechinge To trentalis and to yeue for goddis sake Where with men mighte holy housis make

There as deuyne seruyse ••s honourid Nat there it is wastid and deuouryd Ne there it nedith not to be yeuyn As to possessioners that mowe lyuyn Thankid be god in wele and habundaunce Trentals sayd he deliuereyn from penaunce Here frendis soulis as wel olde as yong Ye whan they be so hastely y song Not forto holde a prest Ioly and gay He syngeth but o masse on aday Deliuereth out anon quod he the soulis Ful hard it is with fleshook and oulis To been I clawed / or to brenne or bake Now spede you hastely for cristis sake And when this frere had said his entent With qui cum patre / forth his wey he went Whan folk in the chirche had yeue what hem lest He wente his wey no lenger wolde he rest With skippe and tippid staf y tukkid hye In euery mannys hous he gan to poure and prye And beggid mele or chese or ellis corn̄ His felaw hadde a staf I tippid with horn̄ A peyre of tablis of clene yuory And a poyntel y polysshed fetously And wroot the namys alwey as he stood Of alle the folk that yaf hym ony good A••kaunce that he wolde for hem praye Yeue vs a busshel whete mele or reye A goddis kichil or a crip of chese

Or ell••s what you list I may not chese A goddis half peny or a masse peny Or yeue vs of your braun yf ye haue ony A dagget of your blanket leue dame Our sustir dere lo here I wryte your name Bacon or chese or suche thing as ye fynde A sturdy harlot wente hym ay behynde That was hir oste and euer he baar a sak And what men yaf hym leyde it on his bak And whan he was oute atte dore anoon He planed awey the namys euerichon That he beforn hadde wryte in his tablis He seruyd hem with nyflis and with fablis Nay there thou liest Sompnour quod the frere Pees quod our ost for cristis modir dere Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al So thryue y quod the sompnour so I shal So longe he wente from hous to hous til he Cam to an hous there he was wont to be Refresshid more than in an hundrid placis Seke lay the good man whoos the place is Bedrede vp on a bench lowe he lay Deus hic quod he O Thomas good day Sayde this frere curtesly and fre Thomas god yelde you ful ofte tyme quod he I haue on this bench I fare ful weel Here haue I etyn many a mery meel And fro the benche he droof a wey the cat And le••de a doun his potent and his hat

And eke his skrippe and sette hym softe a doun His felaw was walkid in to the toun Forth with his knaue in to that osterye Where as he shoop hym that night to ly O dere maister sayde this sik man How haue ye faryn syn marche began I saw you nat this fourtenyght ne more God woot quod he labourid haue I ful sore And specially for thy saluacion Haue y said many a precious orison And for our othir frendis god hem blesse I haue this day be at your chirche at messe And said a sermon to my lewd wit Nat aftir the playn text of holy wryt For it is hard to you as I suppose And therfore telle I you al the glose Glosinge is a ful glorious thing certeyn For lettir sleth as we clerkis seyn There haue I taught hem to be charitable And spende her good there it is resonable And ther I saw our dame where is she Yonder in the yerd I trow that she be Said this man and she wol come anon Ey maister wel com be ye by saint Iohn Sayde this wyf how fare ye hertely This frere arisith vp ful coriously And here emb••asith in his armys narow And kissith here swete & chirkith as a sparow With his lippis / dame quod he right weel

As he that is your seruaunt euerideel Thankid be god that yaf you soule & lyf Yet saw I nat to day so fair awyf In al the chirche so god saue me Ye god amende the fantis sir quod she Algatis welcome ye be by my fey Gramercy dame that haue I founde alwey But of your grete goodnesse be your leue I wolde praye you that ye you not greue I wol with Thomas speke a litil word Th••se Curatouris ben not worth a tord To gropen tenderly a mannys conscience In shrifte and in preching is my diligence And study on Petris wordis and Poulis I walke aboute and clense mennys sowlis To y••lde Ihesu crist his proper rent To ••••re•••• his wordis is al myn entent Now be your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dere sire quod she Ch••dith hym wel for saint charite He is ay angry as is a pissemyre Though that he haue al that he can desire Though I hym w••ye and make hym warm And ouer hym ley my leg and myn arm He gronyth lik our boor lith in our sty Other disport of hym right noon haue I I may not plese hym in no maner caas O Thomas Ie vous d•• Thomas Thomas This makith the fend this most be amendid Ire is a thing that holy god offendith

And ther of wol I speke a word or two Now maister quod the wyf or that ye go What wyl ye dyne I wol go ther aboute Now dame quod he Ie vous dy sannz doute Haue I of a Capon but the lyuer And of your whyte breed but a shyuyr And aftir that a rostid piggis hed But y ne wolde for me that no beest were ded Than hadde I with you hoolly suffisaunce I am a man of litil sustenaunce My spirit hath his fosteryng in the bibyl My body is ay so redy and so penyble To make that my body is ful destroid I pray you dame that ye be not annoied Though I you my counsel so frendly shewe Be god I nolde haue told it but a fewe And sire quod she but o word or I goo My child is ded with ynne this wokis two Sone aftir that ye wente out of this toun His deth saw I be reuelacioun Sayde this frere at hoom in our dortoure I dar wel say that with ynne half an houre Aftir his deth I saw hym bore to blis In myn visioun so god my soule wis So dede our Sexten and our fermerer That haue be trewe freris this .xl. yeer They may now god bethanked of his loue Maken her Iubilee and walkyn al aboue And vp I roos / and al our couent eek

With many a teer trillyng on my cheek Withouten noyse and clatering of bellis Te deum was our song and no thing ellis Sone aftir to crist I bad an holy orisoun Thankynge hym of my good reuelacioun For sire and dame trustith me right weel Our orisons been more effectuel And more we se of cristis secret thingis Than borel pepil al be they kyngis We lyue in pensifnesse and in abstinence And borel folk in riches and dispence Of mete and drynke and in foul delyte We haue the worldis lust al in despit Lazar and diues liueden ful diuersly And diuers guerdoms had they ther by Who so wol praye muste faste and be clene And satte his soule and make his body lene We fare as saith the Apostil cloth and food Suffisith vs though they be not ful good The clenn••sse and the fastynge of vs freris Makith that Crist ex••eptith our praieris Lo moyses .xl. daies and .xl. nyght Fastid or that god ful of his myght Spak with hym in the mount Synay With empty wombe of fastynge many a day There resceyued he the lawe that was writyn With goddis fynger and Ely wel ye wetyn In the mounte Ore•• or he hadde ony speche With high god that is our lyuys leche

He fastid longe and was in contemplance Aaron that hadde the tempil in gouenaunce And eke the othir prestis euerichon̄ Into the tempil whan they sholde goon To prayen for the pepyl and do seruise They nolde drynke in no maner wyse No drynke that mighte hem dronke make B••t there in abstinence to praye and wake Lest that they deyden take hede what I say But they be sober that for the pepyl pray Ware that I say for it ynow suffisith Our lord Iesu as holi writ deuisith Yaf vs ensampyl of fastinge and praieris Therfore we mendicantis we poure freris Been weddid to pouerte and to continoice To charite humbilnes and pacience To persecucion for euery rightwisnes To weping misericord and to clennes And therfore mowe ye se that our praiers I speke of vs we mendicaunt freris Be to the high god more exceptable Than youris with your festis at your tubyl Fro Paradis first yf I shal not lye Was man out chasid for his glotenye And cast was out to labour certeyn But herken now Thomas what I shal sayn I haue no text of it as I suppose But I fynde a maner thing of a glose That specially our swete lord Ihesus

Spak this by freris whan he sayde thus Blissid ben they that poure in spiryt been And so forth al the gospel mowe ye seen Whethir it be liker to our professioun Or heris that swymmen in possessioun Fye on her Poompe and her glotenye And of her lewdnesse I hem deffye Me thynketh they be lik to Iomman Fat as a whale and walke lik a swan Al vinolent as a botel in the spence Her praier is of ful litil reuerence When they for soulis say the psalme of Dauid Lo buf they sey Cor meum eructauit Who folowith cristis gospel and his lore But we that humble be chast and pore Workars of goddis wordis & nat auditours Therfore right as an hauk vp on his sours Vp springith in to the eyr so praieris Of charitable and chast f••eris Makyn hem sowne to goddis eris two Thomas Thomas so moot I ryde or go And by that lord that clepid was saint Iue Ne thou our brother were sholdist þ^u nener thryue In our chapitre praye we bothe day and nyght To crist to sende the bothe helthe and myght Thy body forto welden ful hastely God woot quod he no thing ther of fele I As helpe me god as in fewe yeris Haue I spendid on many diuers freris

Ful many apound yet fare I neuer the bet Certeyn my good haue I almost beset Farwel my gold for it is al a go The frere answerd o Thomas dost thou so What nedith the dyuers freris forto seche What nedith hym that hath a parfyt leche To sechen othir lechis in ony toun Your in constaunce is your confusioun Hold ye than me and eke al our couent To preye for you be not sufficient Thomas that iape is not worth a myte Your maladye is for we haue to lyte And yeue that couent four and twenty grotis And yeue that couent half a quartir otis And yeue that frere a peny and let hym go Nay•• nay Thomas it may no thing be so What is a ferthing worth partid on twelue Lo eche thing that is onyd in hym selue Is more strong than whan it is skaterid Thomas of me thou shalt not be flaterid Thou woldist haue our labour al for nought The high god that al this worlde ha••h wrought Saith that the workman is worthy his hire Thomas of your tresour nought wol I desire As for my self but that our Couent To praye for you be ay so diligent And forto holde vp cristis owen chirche Thomas yf ye wol lerne forto wirche Of bildynge vpon chirchis mow ye fynde

Yf it be good in Thomas lif of ynde Ye lyen here ful of angir and of yre With whiche the deuyl set your herte on fire And chiden here the holy Innocent Your wyf that is here so meke and so pacient And therfore Thomas trow me yf thou list Ne stryue not with thy wyf as for the best And bere thyse word awey now be thy faith Touching such thing. lo what the wyse saith With ynne thy hous ne be thou no lioun To thy subiectis do thou noon oppression Ne make thyn acqueyntaunce not to fle And Thomas yet ••ft sones warne I the Be war of her that in thy bosom slepith Ware fro the serpent that so slily crepith Vndir the gras and styngeth ful subtilly Bewar of her and herkyn paciently That twenti thousand men haue lost her lyuys For striuyng with her lemmans & her wyuys Now syn ye haue so holy a meke wyf What nedith you Thomas to make stryf Ther nys iwys no serpent so cruell Whan a man tredith vpon his tayl ne half so fel As a woman is whan she hath caught yre Verry vengeaunce is than al her desire Ire is a synne of the grete seuyn And ful abhominabil to the kyng of heuyn And to hym self it is a destruction This euery lewd vicar or parson

Can sey how Ire engendrith homicide Ire in soth is the executour of pryde I coude of Ire say right muche sorow That my tale sholde laste til to morow And therfore pray I god bothe day and nyght That to an yrous man god sende litil myght It is gret harm and certis gret pyte To sette an yrous man in high degre ••Hylom ther was an yrous potestate Whiche hasty was in Iugement algate Vpon a day out riden knyghtis two And as fortune wolde that it was so That on of hem cam hoom that other did nought Anon the knyght before the Iuge is brought That sayde thus thou hast thy felow slayn For whiche I deme the to the deth certayn And to anothir knyght comaunded he Go lede hym to the deth I charge the And happid as they wentyn be the way Toward the place where he sholde dey The knight cam whiche that men went had be ded Then thoughte they it were the best reed To lede hem bothe to the Iuge agayn They sayden lord the knyght hath not sleyn His felaw here he stont hool a lyue Ye shal be ded quod he so mot I thryue This is to say bothe on two and thre And to the ••irste knyght right thus spak he I dampned the thou most algatis be ded

And thou also most nedis lese thyn hed For thou art cause why thy felaw deyeth And to the thridde knyght right thus he sey••th Thou hast not do that I comaundid the And thus he did hem sle al thre IRus Cambustus was eek dronkelew And ay delitid hym to be a shrew And so befil a lord of his meyne That louyd wel vertuous moralite Saide on a day betwix hem self right thus A lorde is lost yf he be aught vicious And dronkenesse is eke a foul recorde Of ony man and namely of a lorde Th••r is many an ye and meny an ere Away••ynge on a lorde he not nat where For goddis loue drynketh more temperatly Wyne makith a man to lyue wrecchidly His mynde and eek his lymys euerichon The reuerse shalt thou se qd he anon And preue it be thyn owen experience That wyn ne doth to folk such offence Ther is no wyn that bereuyth me my might Of hond of foot ne of myn yen sight And for despit he drank ••u••he the more An hundrid part than he did before And right anon this yrous cursid wrecche This knyghtis sone le••t beforn hym fecche Comaundid hym he sholde beforn hym stonde And sodenly he took his bowe in honde

And vp the streng he pullith to his here And with an arow he slough the child there Now wethir haue I a siker hond or none Quod he is al my might and mynde a goon Hath wyn bereued me myn yen sight What sholde I telle the answer of the knyght His sone was sleyn ther is no more to say Beth ware therfore with lordis for to play Syngeth Placebo and I shal yf I can But yf it be vnto a poure man To a poure man men sholde his vicis telle But not to a lord though he sholde go to helle LO Irus turrus that strong percien How destroyde he the ryuer of gysen For that an hors of his was dreynt ther ynne Whan that he wente Babilon for to wynne He made that the ryuer was so smal That men mighte ride and wade ouer al Lo what sayde he that so wel teche can Ne be no felow to an yrous man Ne with no wood man walke by the way Lest thou repente I wol no forther say Now Thomas leue brother leef thyn Ire Thou shalt me fynde as iust as a squiev•• Hold nat the deuylis knyf ay in thy herte Thy anger doth me alto sore smerte But shew to me al thy confession̄ Nay quod the sik man be saint Symon I haue be shriue this day of my curat

I haue hym tolde al myn hert It nedith nomore to speke of it sayde he But yf it list of myn humylite Yeue me than of thy good to make our cloister Sayde he for many a muskle & meny an oyster When othir men haue been ful wel at ese Haue been our food our cloister forto reyse And yet god woot vnnethe our fundement Parfourmed is ne of our chirche ful pament Ther is not a tile with ynne our wonys Be god we owe fifty pound for stonys Now help Thomas for hym that harowed helle Or ellis moste we our bokis selle And yf men lacke our predicacion Than goth the worlde al to destruccion For who so wol fro this worlde vs bereue So god me saue Thomas be your leue He wolde bereue out of this worlde the sonne For who can teche and worke as we konne And that is nat of litil tyme quod he But seth Ely was or Elyse Haue freris he that fynde I of recordr In charite y thanked be our lorde Now Thomas help for saint charite And doun anon he sittith on his kne This sik man wext nygh wood for yre He wolde that the frere hadde be a fyre With his fals dissimulacion Suche thingis as ben in my possession

Quod he that may I yeue you and non othir Ye sey me thus how that I am your brothir Ye certis qd the frere trustith me right wel I took our dame our lettir and our seel Now wel quod he and somwhat shal I yeue Vnto your holy Couent whyle y lyue And in thy hond thou shalt it haue anon̄ On this condicion and othir non That thou departe it so my dere brother That euery frere haue as moche as othir This shalt thou swere on thy professioun Withoute fraude or cauillacioun I swere it quod the frere vp on my feith And ther with al his hond in his he leith Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak Than put thy hond a doun right be my bak Seyde this man and grope wel be hynde Be nethe my buttok there shalt thou fynde A thyng that I haue hid in priuyte A thoughte this frere that shal go with me And doun his hond he launchith to the clifte In hope forto fynde there som good yefte And whan this sik man felte this frere Aboute his towel gropinge here and there Amyd his hond he let the frere a fart Ther is no Capul drawynge in a Cart That mighte haue let a fart of suche a soun The frere vp stert as doth a wood lioun A fals chorle quod he for Cockis bonys

This hast thou in despit do for the nonys Thou shalt a bye this fart yf that y may His meyne with that herdyn suche aray Com lepynge in and chasid out the frere And forth he goth with a ful heuy chere And fe••te his felow there as lay his stoor He loked as he were a wilde boor And grintith with the teth so was he wroth A sturdy paas doun to the court he goth W••••re as ther woned a man of gret honour To whom that he was alwey Confessour This worthy man was lord of that vilage This fr••re cam as he were in a rage W••••re as this lord sat etyng at his borde Vnnethe mighte t••e frere speke o worde Til atte laste he ••••yde god you se This lord gan loke and sayde benedicite What fr••re Iohn what maner worlde is this I se wel som thing ther is amys Ye l••ke as though the wode were ful of theuys Sit doun and tel me what your greue is And it shal be amendid yf I may I haue quod he had a despit to day God yelde it you a doun in your village That in this worlde th••r ny•• so poure a page That he nolde haue abhominacion Of that I haue receyued in the toun And yet it greuy••h not me half so sore As that the olde ••horl with lo••kis hore

Blassemyd hath our holy Couent eke Now maister quod the lord I you beseke No maister sir quod he but seruitour Though y haue had in scole that honour God likith not that raby men vs calle Nothir in market ne in our large halle Ne fors quod he but tel me al your greef Sir quod this frere in odious myschief This day be tyd is myn ordre and me And so {per} consequens in eche degre Of holy chirche god amende it sone Sir quod the lord ye woot what is to done Distempere you not ye be my confessour Ye be the salt of the erthe and the sauour For goddis loue your pacience now hold Tel me your greef and he anon hym told As ye haue herd beforne ye woot wel what The lady of the hous ay stylle sat Til she hadde herd what the frere sayde Ey goddis moder quod she the blissid mayde Is ther aught ellis tel me feithfully Madame quod he how thinke ye ther by How that me thinkith quod she so god me spede I say a chorl hath do a chorlis dede What sholde y say god let hym neuer the His sik hed is ful of vanite I holde hym in a maner of a fransy Madame quod he be god I shal not lye But I in ony wyse may on hym a wreke

I shal di••fame hym ouer al where y speke That fals blasfemur that chargid me To parte that wol not departid be To euery ylike moche with myschaunce The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce And in his herte he rollid vp and doun How that this chorle had dilectacion To shewe suche a probleme to the frere Neuer erst to now herde I of suche a matere I trow the deuyl put it in his mynde In ars metrik shal ther noman fynde Beforn this day of suche a questioun Who sholde make a demonstracion That euery man sholde haue lik his part As of a soun or of a souour of a fart O nyce prowd chorle I shrew his face Lo sirs quod the lord with hard grace To euery y like tel me how That a fart sholde be departid now Hit is an impossible it may not be Ey nyce chorle god lete hym neuer the The rombling of a fart and euery soun Nys but of ayer reuerberacioun And there it wastith litil and litil awey Ther is noman can deme be my fey Yf that it were departid equally What lo this chorle lo how shrewdly Vnto my confessour to day he spak I holde hym certayn a demonyak

Now ete your mete and let the chorl go pley Lete hym go hange hym self a deuyl wey Now stood the lordis squier at his bord That carf his mete and herde word be word Of al this thing of whiche I haue you said My lord quod he be not euyl a payd For I coude telle for a gowne cloth To you sire frere so that ye be not wroth How that this fart sholde euyn desid be Among your couent yf it like sithee Tel quod the lord and thou shalt haue anon A gowne cloth be god and be seynt Iohn My lord quod he when that the wedir is fair Right here before you sittyng in a chair Let bringe a cartewhele right in to this halle But so that it haue his spokis alle Xij. spokis hath a carte whele comynly And bring me .xij. freris woot ye why For .xiij. is a couent as I gesse Your confessour here for his wordynesse Shal parfourme vp the noumbir of his couent Than shul they knele doun by one assent And to euery spokis ende in this manere Ful sadly ley his nose shal a frer•• Your nobyl confessour ther 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hym saue Shal holde his nose vpright vnder the naue Than shal this chorle with bely styf & tought As ony ••abour hider be y brought And set hym on the wheel right of this cart

Vp on the nau•• and make hym l••te a fart And ye shul se vp peril of my lif The preef whiche that is demonstratif That equally the sound of it wol wende And eke the stynk out at the spokis ende Saue that this worthy man your confessour Be caus•• he is a man of gret honour Shal haue the firste fruyt as reson is The nobil vsage of freris yet it is The worthie••t man of theym shal first be seruid And certeinly he hath it weel deseruid He hath to day taught vs so muche good With prechinge in the pulpet there he stood That I ma•• vouchesauf I say for me He hadde the firste smel of fartis thre And so wolde al his couent hardely He h••rith hym so faire and so holily Th•• ••••rd th•• lady and eche man saue the frere Sayde that Iankyn spak in this matere As wel as Ouyde or Ptholome Towching the chorlis they sayde subtilite And by wyt made hym speke as he spak He nys no fool ne demoniak And Iankyn hath y wonne a newe gowne My tale is doon we be a 〈…〉〈…〉 Toune

¶Here begynneth the prolog of the clerk of Oxenford.

SIr clerk of Oxen••ord our ost sayde Ye cryde as quoy & stille as doth a mayde

Were new sponsid sittyng at the bord This day herde I of your tunge no word I trowe ye stody aboute som sophyme But Salamon sayde euery thing hath tyme For goddis sake be of good chere It is no tyme now to stody here Tel vs som mery tale be your fey For what man is entrid in to a pley He nedis moot in to the pley assente But prechith not as freris do in lente To make vs for our old synnys wepe Ne that thy tale make vs not to slepe Tel vs som mery thing of auenturis Your termys your colours and your figuris Kepe hem in store til so be that ye endite High style is when men to kyngis wryte Spekith so playn at this tyme I you pray That we may vnderstonde what ye say This worthy clerk benignely ansuerde Ost quod he I am vnder your yerde Ye haue of vs as now the gouernaunce And therfore I shal do your obeysaun••e As fer as reson askith hardely I wol you telle a tale whiche that I Lernyd at Padow of a worthy clerk As preuyd is he his wordis and his work He is now ded and leyd in cheste I pray to god yeue hys soule goode reste Fraunceys petrark the laureat poete

Highte this clerk whoos rethorik swete Enlumyned al Itayle of poetrie As Lucane did of philosophie Or lawe or other art particuler But deth that wol not suffre vs to duelle here But as it were the twynkelyng of an ye Hem bothe hath slayn and alle shal we dye But forth to telle of this worthy man That taughte me this tale as I began He first with high stile enditith Er he the dite of his tale writith A probleme in whiche discriueth he Pemounte and of Saluces the contre And spekyn of arpentyn the hilles hye That been the boundes of west lumbardye And of mount vesulus in special Wh••re that the poo out of the welle smal Takyng his first spryngynge and his cours That Estward euer encresith in his sours To Emeli ward to Ferrare and venise The whiche a long thing were to deuyse And trewly as to my Iugement Me thinkith it a thing inpertinent Saue that he wol conueye his matere But thus he begynneth his tale as ye mow here

¶Here endith the prolog. And begynneth the clerkis tale of Oxenforde

THer was in the west side of Itayle Doun at the Rote of vesulus the colde

A lusty playn habundaunt of vitayl Where meny a toun and tour thou maist beholde That founded were in tyme of fadris old And meny another delectabyl sight And saluces this noble contre hight A Markys somtyme lord was of that lond As were his worthy eldris hym before And obeysaunt ay redy to his hond Were alle his lieges bothe lasse and more Thus in delyt he lyuyd and hath do yore Beloued & drad thorugh fauouris of fortune Bothe of his lordis and eke of his comune Therwith he was to speke of lynage The gentilest baron of lumbardye A fair persone a strong and yong of age And ful of honoure and of curtesye Discret ynow his contre forto gye Saue in som thingis he was to blame And waltir was this yonge lordis name I blame hym thus that he considerid not In tyme comynge what mighte hym betyde But on his lust present was al his thought As forto hauke and hunte on euery syde Wel nygh alle other curis lete he slyde And eke he nolde and that was worst of al Wedde no wyf for aught that mighte be fal Only that poynt his pepyl baar so sore That flekmele on a day they to hym went And one of hem that wisest was of lore

Or ellis that the lord wolde best assent That he sholde telle hym what his peple ment Or ellis coude he shewe wel such matere He to the Markis sayde as ye shul here O nobil Markis your humanite Assurith vs and yeueth vs hardines As ofte as tyme is of necessite That we to you mow telle our heuynes Acceptith now lord of your gentilnes That we with pitous herte come to compleyne And lete your eris not my vois disdaigne Al haue I not to doon in this matere More than anothir man hath in this place Yet for as muche as ye my lord so dere Haue alwey shewd me fauour and grace I dar the bettir aske of you a space Of audience to shewe our request And ye my lord to do as you lest For certis lord so wel vs liketh yow And al your werk that ye haue doon and we Ne coude not our self deuisyn how We mighte lyuyn in more felicite Saue o thing lord yf your wille be That forto be a weddid man yf that ye lest Then were your pepyl in souereyn hertis rest Bowe ye your hed vnder the blisful yok Of souere••nte and not of seruise Whiche that men clepith spousayle or wedlok And thynkith lord among your wittis wyse

How that our daies passen in sondry wyse For though we slepe or wake renne or ryde Ay fleyth the tyme it wol noman abyde And though your grene yongthe flowre as yet In crepith age as stylle as ony stoon And deth manasseth euer age and smyte In eche astate for ther escapith noon And also certayn as we knowe echon That we shul dye and vncerteyn we alle Been of the day when deth shal on vs falle Acceptith than of vs the trewe entent That yet neuer refuseden your heste And we wol lord yf ye wol assent Chese you a wyf in short tyme atte leste Born of the gentillest and of the meste Of al this londe so that it oughte seme Honour to god and you as I can deme Deliuer vs out of al this besy drede And take a wyf for high goddis sake For yf so be it besalle as god forbede That thorow your deth your lyf sholde slake And that a straunge successour sholde it take Your heritage o wo were vs on lyue Wherfore we pray you hastely to wyue Here meke prayer and ••••re meke chere Made the Markis herte forto haue pyte Ye wol quod he myn owen pepyl dere To that I neuer erst thoughte constreyne me I me reioysid in my liberte

That selde tyme is founde in mariage There I was fre I muste be in seruage But natheles I se your trewe entent And truste vpon your wit and haue doon ay Wherfore of my fre wil I wil assent To wedde me as sone as euer y may But ther as ye haue profrid me to day To chese me a wyf I you relece That chois and pray you of your profir sec•• For god it woot that childryn ofte been Vnlik her worthy eldris hem before Beaute comyth al of god not of the streen Of whiche they be gendrid and y bore I truste in god and euer haue do by fore My mariage and myn astate and reste I hym betake he may do as hym leste Lete me allone in chesing of my wyf That charge vp on my bak y wol endure But I you pray and charge vpon your l••f What wyf that y take that ye me ensure To worshipe her whylis her lif may dure In word and werk bothe here & eueriwhere As she an Emperours doughter were And ferthermore this shal ye swere that ye Ayenst my chois shal ye neuer stryue For sith I shal forgo my liberte At your request as euer mot I thriue There as my herte is set there wol y wyue And but ye wol assente in such maner

I pray you spekith nomore of this matere With herty wyl they sworyn and assentyn To al this thing ther sayde no wight nay Besekyng hym of grace or that they wentyn That he wolde graunte hem a certayn day Of his sponsayll as sone as euer he may For yet alwey many of the pepyl dredde Lest the Markis wolde no wyf wedde He grauntid hem a day suche as hym lest On whiche he wolde be weddid sikirly And sayde he did al this at hir request And they with humble entent buxomly Kneling vp on her knees ful reuerently Hym thankid alle and thus they haue an ende Of here entent and hoom ayeen they wende And here vp on he took his officers And comaundid for the feste purueye And to his pryue knyghtis and squieris Suche charge yaf as hym list on hem leye And they to his comaundement obeye And eche of hem doth al his diligence To do vnto that feste high reuerence

¶.Prima pars Grisildis.

NOught fer fro that paleis honourable There as this Markis shoop his mariage Ther stood a thorp of sighte ful delectable In whiche that poure folk of that village Hadden her lestis and her herbigage And of her labour took hir sustenaunce

Aftir that the erthe yaf hem haboundaunce Among these poure men ther duellid a man Whiche was y holde pourest of alle But high god somtyme sende can In to a litil oxes stalle Ianycola men of that throwpe hym calle A doughter hadde he fair ynough to sight And Grisilde this yonge maiden hight Forto speke of vertu and of honest beaute Than was she on of the fairest vnder sonne And ful pouerly y fostrid vp was she No licorous lust was thorou her hert y ronne But ofter of the welle than of the wyn tonne She drank and for she wolde vertu plese Hit was hir list and hir most ese But though this mayde so tendir were of age Yet in the brest of hir virginite Ther was y closid ri••e and sad corage And in gret reuerence and charite Her olde poure fader fostrid she A fewe sheep spynnynge on feld she kepte She wolde not be ydil til she slep••e And whan she homward com she wolde brynge Wortis or othir herbis tymes ofte The whiche she setheth for hir lyuynge And made her bed harde and nothyng softe And ay she kepte her fadres lif on lofte With obe••saunce and diligence That childe mighte do to the fadris reuerence

Vp on Grisilde this poure creature Fil of this Markis he cast his ye As he wod on huntynge {per}auenture And when it be fyl that he mighte here aspye He not with wantoun lokyng of folye His yen cast on hir but in sad wyse Vp on her chere he wolde hym ofte auyse Com̄endynge in his herte her woman hed And eke her vertu passing ony wight Of so yong age as wel in chere as dede For though the pepyl had no gret insight He considered in vertu ful right Her beaute and disposid hym that he wolde Wedde her only yf he euyr wedde sholde The day of weddyng cam but no wight can Telle what maner woman it sholde be For whiche meruayl wondrid many a man And sayde when they were in priuyte Wol our lorde lyue yet in vanite Wol he not wedde allas the whyle Why wol he hym self and vs begyle But natheles this Markis had do make Of gemmys set in gold and in asure Brochis and ringis for grisildis sake And to her clothing took the mesure Of a mayde lik vnto her stature And eke of her other ornamentis alle That vnto suche a weddinge sholde be falle The tyme of vndryn on the same day

Approchid that the weddinge sholde be And al the Paleis put was in aray Bothe halle and chambris ech in his degre Housis of office stuffid with greet plente There maist thou se of deynteous vitaylle That may befounden as for as lastith I tayle This ryal Markis richely araid Lordis and ladies in his companye The whiche that to the feste were praid And of his retem•• the buchelrye W••th many a sown of sundry melodye Vnto the vilage of whiche I tolde In this aray the right wey they holde Grisilde of this god woot ful Innocent That for her shapyn was al this aray To fecte watir atte welle is she went And comyth hoom as sone as euer she may For wel she herde say that ilke day Tha•• the Markis sholde wedde & yf she mighte She wolde fayne haue seyn som of that sighte She thoughte she wolde with othir maidens stonde That been my felowes in our dore and se The Markesse and therfore wol I fonde To doon at hoom as sone as it may be The labour whiche longeth to me And than y may at leyser here beholde Yf she this wey vnto the castel holde And as she wolde ouer the thresshold goon The Markis cam and gan her forto calle

And she set doun her wat••r pot anone Besidis the threshold in an oxis stalle And doun vp on her knees she gan to falle And with sad contenaunce knelid stylle Til she hadde herd what was the lordis wille This thoughtful Markis spak vnto the mayde Ful sobirly and sayde in this manere Where is your fadir o Grisildis he sayde And she with reu••rence and humble chere Answerde lord he is al redy here And in she goth withouten lengir let And to the Markis she her fader fet He by the hond than took this olde man And sayde thus when he had hym a syde Ianycula I ne may ne I ne can The plesaunce lenger of my herte hyde Yf that thou vouchesauf that so betyde Thy doughter wol I take or that I wende As to my wyf vnto our lyuys ende Thow louest me I woot it wel certayn And art my feithful liege man bore And al that likith me I dar wel sayn It likith the and specially therfore Tel me that poynt that I sayde before And yf thou wolt vnto that purpos drawe To take me as for thy sone in lawe This sodeyn caas this man was stoned so That reed he wext abasshid and al quak••ng He stood vnnethe sayde he wordis mo

But only thus lord quod he my willynge Ys as ye wil nat ageyns your likynge I wol no thyng / ye be my lord so dere Right as you list gouernyth this matere Yet wol I quod this Markis softely That in your chambir I ye and she Haue a collacion and wotist thou why For I wol axe yf it here wil be To be my wyf and reule her aftir me And al this shal be do in thy presence I nyl not speke out of thyn audience And in the Chambir whyle they were aboute Her tretees whiche ye shal as after here The p••pyl cam in to the hous al withoute And wondrid hem in how honest manere And she so tentifly kepte her fader dere But vtterly Grisilde wondre mighte For neuer erst saw she such a sighte No wonder it was though she were stoned To se so greet a gest come in that place She neuer was to suche gestis y woned For whiche she lokid with ful paal face But shortly this mater forto chace These ben the wordis that the Markis sayde To this verry benigne feithful mayde Grisilde he sayde ye shulle wel vnderstonde It likith vnto your fader and vnto me That I you wedde and eke it may so stonde As I suppose that ye wil that it so be

But thyse demaundis axe I first quod he That sith it shal be doon in hasty wyse Wol ye assent or ellis you auyse I say thus be ye redy with good herte To al my lust and that I frely may As me best thinkith though ye lawghe or smerte And neuer ye to grucche nyght ne day Whan I say ye that ye say not ones nay Nothir be word ne by frownyng contenance Swere this and I you here assure affiaunce Wondring vp on thyse wordis wonderly for dr••de She sayde lord indigne and vnworthy I am to ••uche honour as ye me bede But as ye wil your self right so wil I And here I swere that neuer willyngly In word or thought I wol you disobeye Forto be ded thogh me were loth to deye This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he And forth he goth with a ful sobir chere Out atte dore and aftir cam she And to the pepyl he sayde in this manere This is my wyf quod he that stondeth here Honourith her and louith her I you pray Who so me louith ther is no more to say And for that no thing of her olde geer She sholde bringe in to his hous he had That women sholde dispoyle here there Of whiche these ladyes were not ful glad To handel her clothis where in she was ••lad

But natheles this mayde bright of hewe Fro foot to hed they clothid her newe Her heris they kempt that lay vntressid Ful rudely and with her fyngris smale A croune on her hed they haue y dressid And set hir ful of owches grete and smale Of here aray what sholde I make a tale Vnnethe the pepyl her knew for her fairnes Whan she translatid was in suche riches This markis hath her spousid with a ryng Brought for the same cause and than her set Vp on an hors snow white ful wel amblyng And to his Paleis or he lengir let With ioyful pepil that her ladde and met Conueyed her and thus the day they spend In reuel til the sonne gan descende And shortly forth this tale forto chace I say that to this newe Markesse God hath suche fauour sent of his grac•• That it ne semyd be no liklynes That she was born and fed in rudenes As in a cyte or in an oxis stalle But norisshed in an Emperours halle To euery wight she woxen is so dere And worshipful that folk there she was bore And from hir birthe knew her yeer by yere Vnnethe trowed they but durste haue swore That to Ianycul of whiche I spak before She deughter was as by coniecture

Hem thoughte she was anothir creature For that euer vertuous was she She was encrecid in suche excellence Of the wyse god set in high bounte And so discreet and feir of eloquence So benigne and digne of reuerence And coude so the peplis hertis enbrace That eche her loued that lokid in her face Not only of Saluces in the toun Publisshed was the bounte of hir name But eke beside in many a regioun Yf one sayde well another said the same So spredde of her bounte the name That men and women both yong and old Goth to Saluces vp on her to be hold This walter lowly but nat rially Weddid hath with fortunat honeste In goddis pees liuyth ful honestly At hoom and outward grace ynough had he And for he saw that vnder low degre Was honest vertu hid the pepyl hym held A prudent man and that is seen ful selde Not only this Grisilde thorow hir witt Coude al the feet of wifly humbilnes But yet whan that the ••as requiryd it The comune proffit eke coude she redresse Ther nas discorde rancour ne heuynesse In al the londe that she it coude a pees And wysely brynge hem in reste and pee••

Thogh her husbonde were absent or none Yf gentilmen or othir of that contre Were wroth she wolde brynge hem attone So wyse and ripe wordis hadde she And in Iugement so greet equyte That she from heuyn sent was as men wend Pepil to saue and euery wrong to amende Nat longe tyme aftir that this Grisilde Was weddid she a doughter had y bore Al had her leuyr bore a knaue child Glad was the Markes and the folk therfore For though amayde child cam al before S••e may vnto a knaue child atteyne Be liklihede syn she nys not bareyne

¶.Secunda pars.

THer fill as it befallith ofte tyme mo When þ^t this child had sokyn but a throw This markis in his herte he thoughte so To tempte his wyf her sadnes to knowe That he ne mighte out of his herte athrowe Forbere / wherfore he purposid on a day This maruaylous desire his wyf to assaye He hadde assaid here ynough ofte tyme before And fond her euer good what nedith it Her forto tempte alwey more and more Thogh sum man preyse it for a subtil wit But as for me y say ful euyl it sit To assay a wyf whan that it is no ned•• And put her in angwish and in drede

For which this markis wroughte in this manere He cam a lone a nyght there as she lay With sterne face and right ogly chere And sayde thus Grisilde quod he that day That I you took fro your poure a ray And put you in astaat of high noblesse Ye haue not that forgotyn as I gesse I say Grisilde the present dignite In whiche I haue put you as I trow Makith you not foryetful forto be That I you took i•• poure astat fullowe For ony weel ye muste your self knowe Take hede of euery word what I seye Ther is no wight that herith but we twey Ye woot y••••r self how that ye cam here In to this hous it is not longe ago And though to me ye be bothe leef and dere Vnto my gentils ye be no thyng so They say to hem it is gre••t shame and woo Forto be subiect and been in seruage To the that born art in so smal a vilage And namely s••th thy doughter was y bore These wordes haue they spoken doutlees But I desire as I haue don before To lyue my lif with hem in reste and pees I may not in this a••as be recheles I moot doon with thy doughter for the beste Nat as I wolde but as my pep••l leste And yet god woot this is ful loth to me

But natheles withoute your witynge I wil not do but thus I wol quod he That ye to me assente as to this thing S••••w now your pacience in your werkynge That ye me highte and swoor in your village That day that made was our mariage Whan she hadde herd al this she not ameuyd Neither in word neyther in chere ne in continance For as it semyd she was not agreuyd She saith lord al lieth in your plesaunce My child and I with hertly obeyssaunce Been your owen and ye may bothe saue & spille Your owen thing do ye aftir your wille Ther may be no thing so god my soule saue Likyng to you that may displese me Ne I desire no thing in ony wyse to haue Ne dr••de forto lese saue only ye This wyl is in myn herte and euer shal be No lengthe of tyme or deth may this deface Ne turne my corage to noon othir place ••lad was this Markis of her answeringe But yet it semyd as he were not so Al dr••••y was his chere and his lokyng Whan that he sholde out of the chambir go Sone aftir this a furlong wey or two He priuely hath told al his entent Vnto a man and to his wyf hym sent A maner of a serg••aunt was this priuy man The whiche that f••ithful oftyn founde had

In thingis grete and eke suche folk wel can Done execucioun in thingis sadde The lord knew weel that he hym louyd & drad And when this seric••unt wiste his lordis wyl In to the chambir he stalkid hym ful stylle Madame he sayde ye moot forgeue it me Though I do thing whiche I am constreyned Ye be ful wyse and ful wel knowe ye That lordis hestis may nat be fayned They may weel be bewaylid or compleyned But men muste nede vnto her lust obeye And so wol I ther is nomore to sey This child I am comandid forto take And spak nomore but out the child he hent Dispitously & gan a chere ful hidons to make As thogh he wolde haue sleyn it or he went Gresilde muste al suffre and consent And as a lamb she sittith meke and stylle And lete this cruel seriaunt do his wylle Suspecions was the fame of this man Suspect his face suspect his word also Suspect the tyme in whiche he this began Allas her doughter that she louyd so She wende he wolde haue sleyn it tho But natheles she neyther wepte ne siked Confermyd to that the Markis likid But at the laste speke thenne she began And mekely she to the seriaunt prayde So as he was a veray gentilman

That she muste hir child kisse onys or it deid•• And in her arme she the litil child leyde With ful sad face and g••n the child to blis And lullid it and aftir gan it kisse And thus she sayde in her benigne vois Farwel my child I shal the neuer se But sith I haue the markid with the holy crois Of thilke fader blissed moot thou be That for vs deide vpon the cros of tre Thy soule litil child I hym betake For this nyght shalt thou dye for my sake I trow that to a norice in this caas It ••adde be grete rowthe forto se Wel mighte a moder than haue cride allas But natheles so sad and so stedfast was she That she endurid al aduersite And to the seriaunt mekely she sayde Haue here agayn your litil yong mayde Gooth now quod she and doth my lordis heste But o thing wol I pray you of your grace That but my lorde forbad it you atte leste Burieth this litil body in som place That bestis ne foulis it to rase But he to that purpos no word wolde say But toke the childe and wente vp on his way This seriaunt cam to the lord agayn And of Grisil••is wordis and of her chere He tolde hym poynt by poynt short and pleyn And hym presentid with his doughter dere

Sumwhat this lord hath rowthe in his manere But natheles his purpos h••ld ••e stylle As lordis doon whan they wyl haue her wylle And had his seriaunt that he priuely Sholde the child softe wynde and wrappe With al the circumstaunce tendirly And carye it in a cofir or in a lappe But on peyne of his hed of forto swappe That noman sholde knowe of this enten•• Ne whens it cam ne whithir that it w••nt But at boleyn to his sustir dere That ilke tyme of Pauye was Countes He sholde it take and shewe hir this matere Besekyng here to do her besinesse This child to fostir in all gentilnes And whoos child that it is he had hym hyde From euery wight for aught that may betyde The seriaunt goth & hath fulfilled this thing But to this Markis now retorne we Ful now goth he ful faste Imagenynge Yf be his wyues chere he mighte se Or by her word perceyue that she Were chaungid but neuer yet coude he fynde But euer in on lik sad and kynde As glad as humbil as besy in seruise And eke in loue as she was wont to be Was she to hym in euery maner wyse Ne of hir doughter not oword spak she Non accident for non aduersite

Was seyn in her ne neuer her doughter name Ne nempned she in ernest ne in game

¶.Tercia pars.

IN this astat ther past be four y••er Er she with childe was but as god wolde A man child she baar be this walter Ful gracious and feir forto beholde And whan that folk it to his fadir tolde Nat only he but al his contre mery Was for this child and god they thanke & hery When it was two yeer olde and fro the breste D••artid from his norice vp on a day This Markis caughte yet anothir lest To tempte his wyf yet ofter yf he may Vnnedeles was she temptid in assay But weddid men can no mesure When that they fynde a pacient creature Wyf quod this Markis ye haue herd this My pepil berith heuy sikirly our mariage And namely sith my sone I born is Now it is wors than euer in al our age The murmur sleth myn herte and my corage For to myn ••eris comyth the vois so smerte That it ful nygh destroid hath myn hert Now say they thus when walter is agoon Than shal the blood of Ianicula succede And be our lord for other haue we noon Suche wordis saith my peple out of drede Wel oughte I of suche murmur take hede

For certeinly I drede suche sentence Though they not pleyne in myn audience I wolde lyue in pees yf that I mighte Wherfore I am disposid ful vttirly As I his sustir seruyd be nyght Right so thinke I to serue hym priuely This warne I you that ye not sodenly Out of your self for no wo sholde affraye Be pacient and ther of I you pray I haue quod she said thus and euer shal I wol no thing in no maner certeyn But as you list nothing greuith me at al. Though that my doughter & my sone be slayn At your comaundement this is forto sayn I haue had no part of children tweyn But first seeknes and aftir woo and pe••n•• Ye been our lord / doth with your owen thing Right as you list axeth no leue of me For as I lefte at hoom al my clothinge When I cam first to you right so quod she Lefte I my wyl and al my liberte And took your clothinge wherfore I you pray Doth your plesaunce I wyl your lust obey And certis yf I h••dde ony prescien••e Your wyll to knowe or ye your lust me tolde I wolde it do withoute negligence But now I woot your lust and w••a•• ••e wolde Al your plesaunce ferm and stabil I ••ol••e For wiste I that my deth mighte do you ese

Right gladly wolde I dye you to please Deth may not make no maner of comparison Vnto your loue / and when this Markis say The constaunce of his wyf he cast a doun His yen two and wondrid that she may In pacience suffir al this maner aray And forth he goth with drery contenaunce But to his herte it was ful gret plesaunce This vgle seriaunt in the same wyse That ••••r doughter caughte right so he Or wors yf men can wors deuyse Hath hent her sone that ful is of beaute And euer in one so pacient was she That she no chere of heuynes But lust hym sone and aftir gan hym bles Saue this she prayde hym yf that he mighte Her litil sone he wolde in the erthe graue His tendir lymes delicat in sighte Fro foulis and fro bestis it to saue But she non other answer of hym mighte haue He ••ente his wey as he no thing thoughte But to boleyne he it tenderly broughte This Markis wondred euer lenger the more Vpon her pacience and that she Had not knowe sothly therfore That parfitly her children loued she He wolde haue wend of som subtilte And of malice and for cruel corage That she hadde suffrid this with sad visa••e

But weel he knew that next hym self cer••eyn She louyd her children lest in euery wyse But now of women wolde I axe ful feyn Yf thyse assayes myght not suffyse What coude a sturdy husbonde more deuyse To preue her wifhood or her stedfastnes And he contym••ynge euer in his sturdynes But ther ben folk of suche maner condicion And so wilful suche assayes to make That can not stynte of here entencion But right as they were boundyn to a stake They wol not of hir firste purpos slake Right so this Markis hath fully purposid To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed He waytid as yf be word or contenaunce That she to hym was chaungid of corage But neuer coude he fynde ony variaunce She was ay in on herte and in visage And the ferther that she was in age The more trewe yf it were possibil She was to hym and the more plesibill For whiche it semyd thus that of ••em two Ther was but on will for but as walter leste The same lust was her plesaunce also And god bethankid al fyl for the beste She shewde weel for non wordly vnreste A wyf as of her self no thing ne sholde Wille in effect but as her husbond wolde The slaunder of Walter wonder wyde spradde

That of cruel herte he ful wickidly For he a poure woman weddid hadde Hath murdrid bothe his childryn priuely Suche murmur was among hem comynly No wonder is for to the peplis ere Ther cam no word but that they murdrid were For whiche there as the pepil ther before Hadde louid him wel the skandre of his defame Made hem that hym they hatid therfore To be a murdrer is an hateful name But natheles for ernest or for game He of his cruel purpos wolde not stynte To tempte his wyf was al his entent Wh••n that his doughter .xij. yeer was of age He in to the court of rome in subtil wyse Enfourm••d of his wil sente his message Comaundinge hem suche bullis to deuyse As to his cruel purpoos may suffise How that the Pope bad as for his peplis rest That he sholde wedde anothir wyf yf he list I say he bad he sholde countirfete The Popis bull is makyng mencion That he hath leue his firste wyf forto lete As by the Popis owen dispensacion To stynte the rancour of disc••nsion Betwene his pepil and hym this said the bulle The whiche they haue publisshed atte fulle The rude pepil as no wonder ne is Wende ful w••el that it hadde be right so

But whan thyse tidyngis cam to Grisildis I deme that the herte of here was ful woo But she y lik sad was euermo Disposid was this humbyl creature The aduersite of fortune al to endure Abidynge euer his lust and his plesaunce To whom that she was yeuen herte and al As to his verry wordly sufficiaunce But shortly yf I this story telle shal This Ma••kis writen hath in special A lettir in whiche he shewith his entent And secretly to boleyne he hath it sent To the erle of Pauye whiche hadde tho Weddid his suster / prayde hym specially To brynge hom aycen his children two In honourable staat al openly But o thing he hym prayde entierly That he no wight though they did enquere Sholde not telle whoos children that they were But say the mayde shal weddid be Vnto the Markis of Saluces anon And as this erle was prayd so did he For atte day set he on his wey is goon And forth he rood hastly and that anoon Toward Saluce this mayde forto gyde Here yong brothir ridyng be hir syde Araid was toward her mariage This fressh may ful of gemmys cleer H••r brother whiche .vij. y••er was of age

Araid ful fresh in her manere And thus with gret noblesse and glad chere Toward Saluces spedyng her iournay Fro day to day they riden in her way

¶.Quarta pars.

AMong al this aftir his wicked vsage This Markis is yet about to tempte more The vtterest preef of her corage Fully to haue experience and lore Yf she were as stedfast as before He on a day in open audience Ful boistously hath said here this sentence Certis Gresilde I had I now of plesaunce To haue you to my wyf for your goodnes As for your trouthe and your obeysaunce Nat for your lynage ne for your riches But now knowe I in verry sothfastnes That in gret lordship yf I me wol auyse Th••r is gret seruytut in sondry wyse I may not do as euery plowman may My p••pyl constreyneth me forto take Anothir wyf and cryen day be day And eke the peplis ran••our forto slake Concentith it that dar I wel vndertake And trewly thus much•• I wol you say Myn newe wyf is comyng be the way Be strong of herte & voyde a non her place And that dower that ye broughte me Takith it ayen I yeue you leue of my grace

Retourneth to your fadris hous quod he No man may alwey haue prosperyte With euyn herte I rede you to endure The strook of fortune or of auenture And she agayn answerde in pacience My lusty lord quod she I woot & wiste alwey How that betwixt your magnificence And my pouerte no wight can ne may Make ony comparison it is no nay I ne helde me neuer digne in no manere To be your wyf neyther your chamberere And in this hous there ye me lady made The high god take I for witnes And also wisly he my soule glade I neuyr helde me lady ne maistres But humble seruaunt to your worthynes And euer shal whyle my lif may endure Abouen euery wordly creature That ye haue so longe of your benignite Holde me in high nobles and honourey There as I was not worthy forto be That thanke I god to whom I prey Foryelde it you ther is no more to sey Vnto my fader gladly wol I wende And with hym duelle to my liuys ende There as I was forstrid of a child ful smal Tyl I be ded my lif there wol I lede A widow cleen in body herte and al For seth I yaf to you my maydenhede

I am your trewe wyf it is no drede God shilde ••uche a lordis wyf to take Another husbond or ony man to make And of your newe wyf god of his grace So he graunte you weel and presperite For I wol gladly yelde her my plac•• In whiche I was blesful wont to be For sith it liketh you my lord quod she That som tyme were al my hertis reste That y shal goon I wol go whan ye leste But there as ye me profre such dowere As I first broughte it is wel in my mynde It were my wre••chid clothis no thing feir The whiche to me now were hard to fynde O goode god / how gentil and how kynde Ye semyd by your speche and your visage The day that maad was our mariage But soth is said alwey I fynde it trewe For in effect ypreuyd it is on me Loue is not olde as when it is n••we But certis lord for non aduersite To dye in this caas it shal not be That euer in word or werk I shal repent That I you yeue my herte in hool entent My lord ye woot that in my fadres place Ye did me stripe out of my poure wede And richely ye me c••ad of your grace To you broughte y nought ellis out of drede But feith nakidnes and my maydenhede

And here ayeen my clothing I restore And eke my weddyng ryng for euermore The remenaunt of your iewell is redy th••y be With ynne your chamber I dar it safly seyn Nakid out of my fadres hous quod she I cam and nakid muste I turne ayeen Al your plesaunce folow wolde I feyn But yet I hope it be not your entent That I smokles out of your paleis went Ye coude not do so dishonest a thyng That ilke wombe in whiche your children lay Sholde before the pepyl in my walkyng Be seye albare wherfore I you pray Let me not lik a worm go by the wey Remembre you myn owen lord so dere I was your wyf thogh I vnworthy were Wherfore in guerdom of my maydenhede Whiche that I broughte and not ayen y bere As vouchesauf as yeue me to my mede But suche a smok as I was wont to were That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here That was your wyf and here I take my leue Of you myn owen lord leest that I you greue The smok quod he that thou hast vp on thy ba•• Let it be stylle and bere it forth with the But wel vnnethe that word he spak But wente his wey for routhe and pyte Be for the folk her self striped hath she And in her smok with foot and heer al bare

Toward her fadris hous is she fare The folk her folowyn wepyng in her wey And fortune euer they cursid as they goon But she fro wepyng kepte her yen dreye Ne in this tyme word spak she noon Her fadir that thyse tidinges herde anon Cursid the day and the tyme that nature Shoop hym to be a lyuys creature For oute of doute this olde poure man Was euer suspect of her mariage For euer he demyd sith it be gan That whan the lord had fulfild his corage He wolde thinke it were a disparage To his astat so lowe to light And vo••den her as sone as euer he might Ayens his doughter hastely goth he For h•• b•• noyse of folk knew her comynge And with her olde cote as it mighte be He keuerid her ful soroufully wepyng But on her body mighte he it not brynge For rude was the cloth and she more of age Be daies fele than was her mariage Than with her fader for a certeyn spaas Duellid this flour of wifly pacience That neuer by her word ne by her face Beforn the folk ne in her absence Ne shewde she that her was doon offence Ne of hir high astat no remembraun••e Ne had she as by ony maner contenaunce

No wonder was for in her grete astat Her gost was euer in pleyn humy••••te No tender mouth ne herte delicaat No pompe ne semblaunce of rialte But ful of pacient benignite Discreet and prideles and ay honourabil And ay to her husbond meke and stabil Men speke of Iob and most for his humbles As clerkis whan hem list can wel endite Namely of men but in sothfastnes Though clerkis preyse women but alite Ther can noman in humbles hem aquyte As woman can ne can be half so trewe As women ben but it be falle of newe

¶Quinta pars.

ERo Boleyne this erle of Pauye cam Of whiche the fante sprong both more & lesse And in the peplis eris al and som Was told that he a newe Markesse With hym broughte in suche pomp•• and riches That neuer was seye with mannys ye So ryal a sight in al westlumbardye The Markis whiche that shope & knew al this Or that this erle was come sente his message For that sely poure creature the Marquesse And she with humble herte and glad visage Not with no swellyng thought in her corage Cam at his heste and on her knees her set And reuerently and wisly she hym g••et

Grisilde quod he my wil is ful entierly This mayden that weddid shal be to me Rec••yued be to morow al so rially As it is possible in my hous to be And eke that euery wight in his degre Haue his astaat in sittinge and in seruise And hye plesaunce as ye can best deuyse I haue no woman sufficiaunt certeyn The chambris forto araye in ordenaunce Aftir my list and therfore wolde I fayne That ••h••n were al suche maner of gouernaunce Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce Th••ugh thyn aray be badde and euyl be seye Do thy deuoyr yet atte the leste w••y Not only lord that I am glad quod she To do ••our lust but I desire also You first to please and serue in my degre Withoute fayntynge and shal euer mo Ne for no weel ne for no maner of wo Ne shal ye gost with in my herte stynte To loue you best with al my trew entent•• And with that word she gan the hous to dighte And tab••is forto sette and beddis forto make And peyned here to do al that she mighte Prayynge the chamberers for goddis sake To haste hem and faste swepe and shake And she the m••ste seruisabil of alle Hath eu••ry chambir araid and eke his halle Aboute the vndryn gan this erle to lighte

That with him broughte thise nobil child••in twey For whiche the pepyl ran to se that sight Of here aray mightily they were beseye And than among hem alle they seye That Waltir was no fool though that hym list To chaunge his wyf for it was for the best For she is fairer as they demyn alle Than is Grisilde and more tendir of age And fairer fruyt betwen hem shal falle And more plesaunce for her high lynage Her brothir eke so fair of visage That hem to se the pepyl hath caught plesaunce Comendynge now the Markis gouernaunce O sturdy pepyl euer vnsad and vntrewe Ay vndiscreet and chaungynge as a vane Here may ye se the peple how newe Ay ful of clappinge dere ynow a Iane And changeable be right as the mane Your dome is fals your constaunce euyl preuyth A ful gret fool is he that on you leuith Thus sayden sad foll•• in that cite When that the pepyl gadrid vp and doun For they were glad right for the newelte To haue a newe lady of her toun Nomore of this now make I mencion But to Gris••lde ageyn I wil me dres And telle here constaunce and her besine Ful besi was Gresilde in euery thing That to the feste was tho appertinent

Right nought was she abasshid of her clothinge Though it were rude and somdele eke to rent But with clad chere to the yate is she went With other folk to grete the Markeses And aftir doth forth her besynes With right glad chere she his gestis receyued And so connyngly eche in his degre That no defaute noman perceyuyd But ay they wondrid what she might be That in so poure aray was forto se And coude suche honoure and reuerence And worthyly they preysen her prudence In al this mene whyle she ne stynt This mayde and eek hir brother to comende With al her herte in ful benigne entent So well that noman coude her presing amende But atte laste when that lordis wende To sictyn doun to mete he gan to calle Grisilde as she was besy in the halle Grisilde quod he as it were in his pley How likith the my wyf and her beaute Right well my lord quod she for in good fey A fairer saw I neuer than is she I prey to god yeue her good prosperyte And so hope I he wil to you sende Plesaunce ynow vnto your liues ende O thing y beseche you and warne also That ye not prik with no turmentrye This tendir mayde as ye haue do mo

For she is sostrid in her norisshinge More tenderly and to my supposinge She coude not aduersite wel endure As coude a poure fostrid creature And whan this walter saw her pacience Her glad chere and no malice at al And he so ofte hadde do to her offence And she ay constant and sad as a wal Contynuynge euer here Innocence ouer al This sturdy Markis gan his herte dresse To rewe vp on her wifly stedfastnes This is ynow Grisilde myn quod he Be now nomore agast ne euyl a payd I haue thy feith and thy benignite As wel as euer woman was a said In gret astat or pouerly araid Now knowe I dere wyf thy stedfastnes And here in armys took and gan her kysse And she for wonder took of hym no kep•• She herde not what thing be to her sayde She farid as she hadde stert out of her slep•• Til she out of hir masidnes abreyde Grisilde quod he be god that for vs deyde Thow art my wyf non other I haue Ne neuer I hadde as god my soule saue This is thy doughter whiche thou hast supposid To be my wyf that othir feithfully Shal be myn heir as I haue disposid Thou baar hym in thy body ful trewly

At boleyne haue I kept hem priuely Take hem ayeen for now maist thou nat sey That thou hast lorn none of thy childryn twey And folk that othir wyse haue sayd by me I warne hem wel that I haue don this dede For no malice ne for no cruelte But forto assay in the thy womanhede And nat to sle my childryn god forbede But forto kepe hem priuely and stille Til I thy purpos knew and al thy wylle When she this herde in swonnyng doun she fallith For pitous ioye and aftir her swonnyng She to her bothe here yonge childryn callith And in her armys ful petously wepynge Enbraced hem and tenderly kissinge Ful lik amodir with salt teris She badith bothe her visage and her eris O whiche a pitous thing it was to se Her swonn••nge and her pitous vois to here Graunt mercy lorde / god thanke it you qd she That ye haue saued me my childryn dere Now recke I neuyr to be ded euyn here Sith y stonde in your loue and in your grace No doute of deth ne whan my spirit pace O tender o dere o yonge childryn myn Your woful moder w••de ful stedfastly That cruel houndis or som foul venym Hadde etyn you but god of his mercy And your benigne fader so tenderly

Hath done you kepe and in that same stounde Al sodenly she swapt doun to g••ounde And in her swoune so sadly holdith she Her childryn two whan she gan h••m brace That with greet sleyghte and greet difficulte The childryn from here arm gon they race O many a tere of many a pitous face Doun ran of hem that stodyn there beside Vnnethe aboute here mighte they abyde Walter her gladith and her sorow slakith She risith vp and basshith from her traunce And euery wight her ioye and feste makith Til she hath caught ayeen her contenaunce Walter doth her so feithful plesaunce That it was deynte to se the chere Betwene hem two syn they be met in fere Thyse ladyes whan they her tyme sey Haue takyn here and in to chambir anon And stripen here out of her rude aray And in a cloth of gold that bright shoon With a croune o•• ••any a riche stoon Vp on her hed in to the halle they brought And there she was honoured as she ought Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende For euery man and woman doth his might This day in mirthe and reuel to spende Til on the welkyn shoon the ste••ys light For more solempnyte in euery mannys sight This ••este was and of gretter costage

Than was the reuel of hir mariage Ful many a yeer in high prosperite Lyuen thyse two in concorde and in reste And richely his doughter maried he Vnto a lord on of the worthiest Of al Itail and than in pees and reste His wyuys fader in his court he kepith Til the soule out of the body crepith His sone succedith in his heritage In reste and pees aftir his fadris day And fortunat was eke in mariage Al put he nat his wyf in gret assaye This worlde is not so strong it is no nay As it hath been in olde tymes yore And h••rkith what this auctor saith therfore This stor•• is said nat for that wyuys sholde Folow Grisilde as in high humylyte For it were importabil though they wolde But f••r that euery wight in his degre Sholde be constant in al aduersite As was Grisilde wh••rfore Petrark writith This story whiche with high stile enditith For sith a woman w••s so pacient Vnto a mortal man wel more we oughte Receyuen al in good that god vs sent For gret skillis I preue that he wrought But he ne temptid noman that he bought As saith saint Iame yf ye his pistil rede He preuyth folk but a day it is no drede

And suffrith vs as for our excercise With sharpe scorgis and aduersite Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse Nat forto knowe our wil but certis he Er we were born knew al our freelte And for our beste is al his gouernaunce Lete vs lyue than in vertuous suffraunce But o word harkenyth lordingis or I go It were ful hard to fynde now a days Grisildis in al a contre on or two For yf they were put to suche assayes The gold of hem hath so badde a layes With bras for though it be fair at ye It wolde rathir breste on two than plye For whiche here for the wyuys loue of Bathe Whoos lyf and secte mighty god mayntene In high maistrie or ellis were it s••athe I wol with lusty herte fresh and grene Sey you a song to glade you I w••••e And leet vs stynte of ernest matere Herkeneth my song that saith in this man••re GRisilde is ded and eek her pacience And bothe at onys buried in Itayle For whiche I crye in open audience No weddid man so hardy be to assayle His wyuys pacience in trust to fynde Grisildis for certeyn he shal fayle O nobil wyuys ful of prudence Leet non humylite your tungis nayle

Ne lete no clerk ••oue c••use or diligence To wryte of you a story of suche meruay•• As of Grisilde pacient and kynde Lest cheuache you swalow in entrail Felowith e••ro that holdith no silence But euyr answeringe atte countirtayl Be nat a daffid for your Innocence But sharply take on you the gouernayl Enpryntith wel that lesson in your mynde For comyn profit seith it may auaylle Ye archewyuys stondith at defence Syn ye be stronge as is a gret Camaylle Ne suffre not that men do you offence But sklender wyuys as febil in batayll Beth ••gre as a tigre is / fer in ynde Ay clappinge as a mylle I you counsayl Ne dredith hem not do hem no reuerence For though thy husbond armed be in mayl Thy wordis of thy crabbed eloquence Shal perse his brest and eke his auentayl In Ielousie I rede eke that thou hym bynde And thou shalt make hym cowche as a quayl Yf thou be fair there folk been in presence Shew thou thy visage and thyn apparaylle Yf thou be foul be fre of thy despence To gete the frendis ay do thy trauaylle Be ay of chere as light as leef on lynde And leet hym care wepe wrynge and wayl

Verba hospitis.

THis worthy clerk whan endid was his tale Our oste sayde and swoor be cockis bonys Me were leuer than a barel of ale My wyf hadde herd this legende onys This is a gentil tale for the nonys As to my purpos wyste ye my wil But thing that wil not be let it be styll

Here endith the tale of the clerk of Oxenforde And begynneth the Frankeleynes prolog.

THese olde gentil britons in her da••es Of diuers auctours maden her layes Rymed first in her owen briton tunge Suche layes with her instrumentis they sunge Or ellis reddyn hem for her plesaunce And on of hem haue I in remembraunce Whiche I shal say with as good wil as I can Bert sires be cause I am a borel man At my begynnynge first I you beseche Haue me excusid of my rude speche I lernyd neuer rethorik in certayn Thing that I speke muste be bare and pleyn I slepte neuer in the mount of {per}naso Ne lerned Mara••s Tullius ne Cit••ero Colowris knowe I noon withouten drede But suche colouris as growen in the mede Or ellis suche as men dien or peynte Colours of rethorik be to me queynte My spirit felith in no suche matere But and ye list my tale shul ye here

¶Here endith the Frankeleyns prolog ¶And here begynneth his tale.

IN armorik that callid ••is Britayne Ther was a knight þ^• louid & dede his payne To serue ladyes in his beste wyse And many a labour and meny a gret empryse He for his lady wrought or she was wonne For she was on the fairest vnder sonne And eke therto comyn of high kynrede That wel vnnethe durste the knyght for drede Telle here his wo or peyne or disires But a••te last she for his worthynes And namely for his meke obeyssaunce Hath suche appetit caught of his penaunce That she priu••ly fil of his accorde To take hym for hir husbond and for hir lorde Of suche lordship as men haue ouyr hir wyuys And forto lede in the more blisse her lyuys Of his fre wil he swoor her as he was a knyght That neuer in al his lyf by day ne by nyght Ne sholde of hym take no maistrie Ag••yns h••r wil ne kithe her Ielousie But her obeye and fo••owe her wil in al As ony louer to his lady shal Saue the name of souereynte That wolde he haue for shame of his degre She thankith hym of his humb••enesse She say••e sire of your gentilnesse Ye proser me to haue so large a reyne

Ne wolde god neuer betwix vs tweyne As in my gilt were othir werre or strif Sire I wil be your humble trewe wyf Haue here my trouthe til my herte brest Thus ben they bothe in quyete and in rest For o thyng sires sauely dar I say That frendis eueriche other muste obeye In loue and forbere eche other nedely Yf they wil lyue in pees and hold companye When maistrie is come the god of loue anon Betith her wyngis and fare wel it is goon Loue is a thing as ony thought fre For women of kynde desiren liberte And nat to be constreyned as a thrall And so doth men yf I the sothe telle shal Loke who is most pacient in loue He is at his auauntage al a boue Pacience is an high vertu certeyn For it venquyssheth as clerkis sayn Thingis that rigour shal neuer atteyne For euery word men may not chide or p••yne Lernyth to suffre or ellis so mot I goon Ye shal it lerne wh••thir ye wil or noon For in this worlde certeyn no wight is That he ne doth or saith somtyme amys I••e siknes or constillacioun Wyne woo or c••aung••nge of complexioun Causith ful ofte to do amys or spekyn On euery wrong aman may not be wrekyn

Af••ir the tyme muste be temperance To euery wight that can of gouernaunce And therfore hath this wyse worthy knyght To lyuyn in her suffraunce hir behight And she to hym ful willy gan swere That neuer sholde be defaute in here Here men may se in humble wyse acorde Thus hath she take her seruaunt and her lord Seruaunt in loue and in mariage Than was he bothe in lordship and in seruage Seruage nay but in lordship aboue Sithe he hath bothe his lady and his loue His lady certis and his wyf also The whiche lawe and loue accordith therto And when he was in his prosperite Home with his wyf he goth to his contre Not fer ••ro Padmak his dwellyng was Where as he lyuyth in blis and in solas Who coude telle but he that weddid had be The ioye the ese and the prosperite That is betwix an husbond and his wyf A yeer or more lestith this blisful lyf Til that this knyght of whiche I spak thus That of kynrede was clepid Arueragus Shoop hym to goon & duelle a yeer or twayne In Engelond that clepid was Britayne To seke in armys worship and honour For al his lust he sette in such labour And duellid there two yeer the book saith thus

Now wol I stynte of this Arueragus And speke I wol of dorigene his wyf That louyd her husbond as her lyf For his absence wepith she and sikith As doon thyse gode wyuys when h••m likith She morneth wakith waylith & pleynyth Desire of his presence so her distreyneth That al this wyde worlde she set at nought Her frendis that knew hir they thought Here to comforte in al that euer they may They prechyn here they techen here nyght and day That causeles she sleth her self allas And euery comfort possible in that caas They do to here and al her besines To auoyde her sorow and her heuynes Men mowe so longe graue in a stoon Be processe as ye knowen euerichon Til som figure ther ynne pryntid be So longe haue they conforted here tyl she Receyued hath by hope and by reson The enpryntinge of her consolacion Thorow whiche her sorow began to aswage She may not alwey duryn in suche arage And eke Arueragus in al this care Hath sent her lectris hom of his welfare And that he wol come hastely agayn Or ellis hadde this sorow ••er hert slayn And thus they her sorowes fo•• to slake Prayde her on their knees for goddis sake

To come and Rome her in company Awey to dryuen her derk fantesie And finally she grauntid that request For wel she saw it was for the best Now stood her castel faste by the se And ofte with her frendis walkid she Here forto disporte vpon the bank only Where she many shippis and bargis sy Sayling her cours where hem list to go But yet was that a parcel of her wo For to her self ful ofte allas sayd she Is ther no ship so many as I se Wolde brynge hoom my lord than were my hert Al warisshid of his bittir peynys smert Anothir tyme she wolde sitte and thinke And caste her yen dounward from the brynke But whan she saw the grisly rockis blake For verry feer wolde her herte quake That on her feet she mighte not sustene Than wolde she sit doun vp on the grene And pitously on the see with sighes olde And saith right thus with herte cold Eterne god that thorow thy purueaunce Ledist the worlde by certeyn gouernaunce In ydil as ye say ye no think make But lord this grisly rockis blake That sownen rather vnto foul confusion Of wreke than to ony maner creacion Of suche parfit god wyse and stabil

Why haue ye wrought this work vnresonab••l For by this werke North south west ne est Ther nys y ••ostrid man brid ne best It doth no good to my wit but annoieth Se ye not lorde how mankynde it destroieth An hundrid thousand bodyes of mankynde Haue rockis slayn al though they be not in mynde Syn mankynde is so fair a part of thy werk Thou it maad first lik to thyn owen merk Than semyth it ye haue do a gret charite Toward mankynde how mighte it than be That ye suche menys make it to destroien Suche menes do no good but annoien I woot wel clerkis wol say as hem list Be argumentis that al is for the best Though I ne can the causis wel knowe But that god that made the wynd to blowe As kepe my lord this is my conclusion To clerkis lete I al disputacion But wolde god that alle thyse rockis blake Were sonkyn in to helle for his sake Thyse rockis sle my herte for feer Thus wolde she say with many a pitous teer Here frendis sawe that it was no disport To romyn be the see but discomforte And shapen forto pley somwhere ellis They ledyn here by reueris and by wellis And in other places dilectablis They daunsyn and pleyn acte ches & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tablis

So on a day right on the morow tide Vnto a gardyn that was there beside In whiche that they had made her ordynaunce Of vitayl and of oth••r purueaun••e They goon and pleyn ••em al the longe day And this was in the sixte morow of May Whiche may hath peintid with her soft showris This gardyn ful of leuys and of flouris And craft of mannys hond so coriously Araid hath this gardyn trewly That neuer was ther gardyn of suche pris But yf it were the verry paradise The odour of flouris and the fressh sighte Wo••de haue maad ony herte lighte That euer was born but yf gret siknes Or to greet sorow held it in distres So ful it was of be••ute with plesaunce Anon aftir dyner gonne they daun•••• And song also saue dorigene alone Whiche made alwey her compleynt & hir mone For she ne saw hym i•• the daunce go That was her husbond and her loue also But natheles she must her tyme abyde And with good hope lete her sorowis slyde Vp on this daunce among other men Daunsid a squier befor dorigene That fressher was and Iolier of assay As to my dome than is the monthe of May He singith daunsith passing ony other ma••

That is or was syn the worlde began Therwith he was yf men sholde hym discryue On of the beste faryng men on lyue Yong strong vertuous and wyse And wel belouyd and holdyn in gret price And shortly yf I the soth telle shall Vnwytyng of this Dorigene at al This lusty squier seruaunt to venus Whiche that clepid was Aurelius He louyd her best of ony creature Two yeer or more as was his auenture But neuer durste he telle here his greuaunce Withoute the cup drank he al his penaunce He was despeyr••d no thing durste he sey Saue in his songis somdele wolde he wrey This was in general his compleynynge He said he louyd and belouyd no thing Of suche mater made he many layis Songis compleyntis rondels virayls How that he durste not his sorow telle But languyng as fier doth in helle And dye he sayde he muste as did Ekko For Narcrisus that durst not telle his wo In other maner th••n ye here now say Ne durste he not his wo to hir bewray Saue {per}auenture at festes and daunsis There yonge ••olk kepyn her obseruaunci•• It may weel ben he lokid in her face In suche a wyse as m••n that axen grace

But no thing wiste she of his entent Natheles it happid or they thens went Be cause that he was her neyghebour And was a man of worship and honour And hadde knowen hym of tymes yore They fallen in speche and so more and more In to his purpos drew Aurilius And whan he saw his tyme he said thus Madame quod he by god that this worlde made So that I wiste I mighte your herte glade I wolde that day that your Arueragus Went ouer the se that I Aurelius Had gone there I sholde neuer come ayeen For wel I woot my seruise is in veyn My guerdom is but brestyng of myn herte Madame rewe on my peynys smerte Here at your feet god wolde I were begraue For as wisly as god my sowle saue I ne haue as now no more leyser to seye Haue mercy swete or ye wol do me deye She gan to loke vp on this Aurelius Is this your wil quod she and say ye thus Neuer yet quod she wist I what ye ment Ne neuer vnderstode I your entent By that god that yaf me soule and lif Ne shal I neuer be vntrew wif In word ne in werk as fer as I haue wyt I wil be his to whom I am knyt Take this for fynal answer as of me

But aftir than in pley thus said she Aurely said she be high god aboue Yet wol I graunte to be your loue Syn I se you so pitously compleyne Loke what day fro Englond to britaigne Ye remeue al the rockis stoon be stoon That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon I say whan ye haue made this coste so clene Of rockis that ther is no stoon I seen Than wol I loue you best of ony man Haue here my trouthe in al that euer I can For I woot that it shal neuer betyde Let suche folye out of your herte a slyde What deynte sholde a man haue in his lyf Forto go loue anothir mannys wyf And her had when so that hym likith Aurilius ful sore ofte he s••kith Is ther none other grace in you quod he No by that lord that made me Wo was Aurily whan he this herde And with a sorowful herte he thus answerde Madame quod he this were impossibil Than muste I dye in sodeyn deth hor••bil And with that word he turned hym anon Tho com her other frendes many on And in the aleyes romedyn vp an doun And no thing wistyn of this conclusion And sodenly begonnen reuel newe Til the bright sonne lost his hewe

For the occident hadde re••t the sonne her light This is as muche to say as it was nyght And hoom they goon in ioye and solas Saue only wre••chid Aurilius allas He to his hous is go••n with sorowful hert He saith that he ne may from his deth astert He saith that he felith his herte cold Vnto heuyn his hondis he gan holde And on his knees hare he set hym doun And in rauynge said this orison Fer v••••ry woo out of his wit he brayde He nyste what he spak but thus he sayde With pitous herte his pleynt hath begonne And his prayer made first to the sonne He said Appollo god and gouernour Of euery planet herbe tre and flour That yeuyst aftir thy declinacion To eche of hem his tyme and his seson And thyn her••orow chaungith lowe and hye Therfore my lord cast ye your ye On wre••chid Aurily whiche am but lorn Lo lord my lady hath my deth sworn Withouten ony gilt but thy benignite Vp on my dedly herte haue som pyte But wel I woot Phebus yf ye list Ye may me helpe saue my lady best Now vouchauf that I may you deuyse How that I may be holpen and in what wyse Your blisful sustir Lucyna the shene

That of the see clif goddesse is and quene Though Neptumis haue deyte in the see Yet Emperesse aboue hym is she Ye know wel lord / right as her desire Is to be quyckened and lightnyd of your fyre For which she folowith you ful bes••ly Right so the see desirith naturelly To folow her and she that is goddes Bothe in the s••e and ryuers more and les Wherfore lord Phebus this is my request Do this mirakil or do myn herte brest That thou next at this opposicion With ynne whiche signe shal be the lioun As praieth her so greet a flood to brynge That fyue fadom at the leest it ouer spring•• The hiest rok that is in al Bretayne And leet this flood endure yeris tweyne Than certis to my lady may I sey Holdith your hest the rokkis be awey Lord Phebus this mirakil do for me Pray here that she go no faster cours than ye I say thus pray your sust••r that she go No fastir cours than y•• in y••••i•• two Than shal she ••e at euene ful alway And springe flood laste bothe nyght and day And but ye v••uchesauf in suche manere To graunte me my souereyn lady de••e Pray her to synke euery ••••k a doun Into helle her owen derk mansioun

Vnder the grounde there Pluto duellith yn Or neuer shal I my lady wyn Thy tempil in delphose wol I seke Lord Phebus se the teris on my cheke And of my payne haue som compassion And with that word in swonnynge he fil adoun And longe tyme he lay in a traunce His brothir whiche knew his penaunce Vp caught hym and to bedde hath hym brought Dispeiryd in this turment & in this thought Lete I this woful creature ly Chese he whethir he wol lyue or dy Arueragus with hele and honour As he that was of cheualrye the flour Is comyn hoom and othir worthy men A blisful herte hath now dorigen That hast thy blisful husbond in thyn armys The fresh kn••ght the worthy man of armys That louith the as his owen hertis lyf No thing list he to be ymaginatyf If ony wight hadde spoke whylis he was oute To her of loue ther of hadde he no doute He not entendith to suche matere But daunsith iustith and makith good cheer And thus in ioye and blis I lete hem duelle And of the sik Aurilius wol I telle In langour and in turment furious Two yeer and more lay this Aurilius Or ony foot he mighte on erthe goon

Comfort in this tyme hadde he noon Saue his brothir whiche was a clerk He knew al this woo and al this werk For to noon other creature certeyn Of this mater he durste no word sayn Vnder his brest he bare it more secree Than euer did Phamphilus or Galathe His brest was hool withoute forto seen But in his hert ay was the arow keen And weel I knowe of Surgeture In surgerye ful perleus is the cure But men mighte touche the arow or com therby His brother wepith and waylith priuely Tyl atte laste hym fyl in remembraunce That whylis he was at Orliaunce in Fraunce As yonge clerkis that been likorous To redyn artis that been curious Sekyn in euery halke and euery herne Particuler science forto lerne He hym remembrid that vp on a day In orliaunce in a book that he say Of magik naturel with his felow That was that tyme a bachel••r of lawe Al were he there to lerne another craft Had priuely vp on his deslie laft Suche a book as spak moche of operacions And of many dyuers coniuracions That longen to the mone and suche foly As in our dayes is not worth a flye

For holy chirche saith in our beleue Ne suffrith not illusion vs to greue And whan this book was in remembraunce Anon for ioye his herte gan to daunce And to hym self he sayde priuely My brothir warisshed shal be hastely For I am siker ther be sciences Be whiche men make diuers apparencis Whiche alle thyse subtil tregetouris pley For ofte at festis haue I herd seye That tregetouris withynne an halle large Haue made come in watir in a barge And in the halle rowen vp an doun Som tyme hath semed come a greet lioun And som tyme flouris spryngyng in a mede Som tyme wyne and grapis whyte and rede Som tyme a Castel of lyme and stone And when he likith it voidith anon Thus semyth it to many a mannys sight Now than conclude I thus yf I mighte At orliaunce som old felow fynde That hadde the monys mansions in mynde Or othir magik naturel aboue He sholde wel make my brother haue his loue For whiche apparence a clerk may make To mannys sight that al the rockis blake Of Brita••ne were voydid euerichoon And shippis be the br••nkis comyn and goon And in such•• fourme endure a woke or two

Than were my brothir warisshid of his wo Than muste she nedis holde her beheste Or ellis he shal shame her at the leste What sholde I make a lenger tale of this Vnto his brotheris bed I come he is And suche comfort he yaf hym forto goon To Orliaunce that he vp stert anoon And on his wey than onward is he fare In hope forto be lissid of his care When they were come almost to that ci••e But yf it were a two forlong or thre A yong clerk romynge hym self they meite Whiche that in latyn thriftely hem grette And aftir he sayde a wonder thing I knowe quod he the cause of your comynge And er they further ony foot wente He tolde hem al what was here entent This britoun clerk hym axid of felawys The whiche he had knowen in old dayes And he answerid hem that they ded were For whiche he wepte ful meny a tere Doun of his hors Aurilius light anon And with this magicien forth he gan goon Hoom to his hous and made hym wel at ese Hym lackid no vitayl that hem mighte plese So wel araid hous as there was oon Aurilius in his lyf saw neuer noon He shewde hym or he wente to Sopere Forestis Parkis ful of wylde dere

There saw he hertis with her hornys hye The grectist that were euer seye with ye He saw of hem an hundrid sleyn with houndis And some of arowes blede and bitter woundis He saw where woundid were thyse wilde deer The faucons vp on a fair ryuer That with her beckis gan herons sleyn To sy he knyghtis iustynge in a pleyn And aftir this he did hym suche plesaunce That ••e hym shewde his lady in a daunce In whiche hym self daunsed as hym thoughte And when this maister þ^• this magik wroughte Saw it was tyme he clappid his hondis to And farewel our reuel was al y do He rem••ued neuer out of his hous Whyle they saw all this meruayllous But in his stody there as his bokis be They sittyn stille while they saw this they thre To hym this maistir callid his squier And sayde hym thus is redy our soper Almost an hour it is I vndertake Syn I you bad our soper for to make When that thyse worthy men wente with m•• In to my stody there as my bokis be Sire quod the squier whan it likith yow It is al redy though ye wil right now Go we sope quod he ••t is for the beste Thyse armorous folk sumtyme moste haue reste And aftir soper fyl they in trete

What sum̄e sholde the maistris guerdom be To remeue alle the rockis in Britaigne And eek from geronde to the mouth of sayne He made hym straunge he swoor so god hym saue Lesse than a thousand pound he wolde not haue Ne gladly for that sum̄e he nolde not goon Aurilius with blisful herte anon Saith thus fy on a thousand pound The wyde worlde whiche men say is rounde I wolde it yeue yf I w••re lord of it This bargayn is ful dryue and ful knyt Ye shul be paid trewly be my trouthe But lokith now for noon negligence ne slouthe Ye tarye vs here no lenger than to morow Nay quod the clerk haue here my feith to borow To bedde he goth Aurilius whan hym lest And wel nygh al that nyght he hadde rest What for his bargayn and for his hope of blisse His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse Vp on the morow whan it was day To Britayne took they the righte way Aurilius and this Magicien hym beside And he descended there they wol abyde And this was as the book doth remembre The cold frosty seson of decembre Phebus hewe w••xid was lik latoun That a fore in his hoot declinacioun Shone as the buruyd gold with stremy•• bright But thenne in Capricorne adoun he light

Ther•• as he shone ful p••al I dar wel sayn The bittir frostis with the slit of rayn Destroid h••th the grene in euery yerd Iamis s••t by the fyre with dowbyl berde And drynketh of his bugil horn the wyne And aftir this ale bothe good and fyn And nowel cryeth euery lusty man Aurilius doth al that he can To wayte a tyme of his conclusion This is to say to make illusion Be suche apparent Iogelrye I can no termys of astrologie They shewde that euery wight sholde we•••• & say That of Britayne the rockis were away Or ellis they were sonkyn vnder the grounde So at the laste he hath his tyme y founde To make his Ia••e and his wre••chidnes Of suche a supersticion of cursidnes His tab••is tolentanes forth he brought Ful weel correctid it lackid nought Neythir his colet ne his expan••s yeris Ne his rotis ne his oth•••• geris And by his centris and his argumentis And his proporcinel contentis For his equacions in euery thing And by his eygth sp••ere in his workyng He knew ful we••l how fer anath was sowe Fro the hed of that fixe ari••s bowe That in the .iij. spe••e considerid is

Ful subtilly he calked al this Whan he hadde his firste mansion̄ He knew the remenaunt by proporcion̄ And knew the risinge of the mone well And in whos face and signe eueridell And knew wel the monys mansion̄ Attendant vnto his operac••on̄ And he knew also wel his other obseruauncis For suche illusions and suche myschauncis As hethen folk vseden in tho dayes For sothe no lenger makith he delayes But thorow his magik a woke or tweye It semyd that al the rockis were a weye Aurilius yet whiche that despeyrid is Wher he shal haue her loue or fare amys And waytith nyght and day on this mirakil And when he knew ther was non obstakil That v••idid were the rockis echon Doun to his maistris feet he fyl anon And sayde I woful wre••ched Aurilius Thanke you l••rd and my lady venus That me haue holpe fro m•• caris colde And to the tempil his wey hath he holde Where as he knew he sholde his lady se And when he saw his tyme anon right he With dredful herte and humbil chere Salewid hath his souereyn lady dere My right lady quod this woful man Whom y most drede and loue as I ••••st ca••

And lothest were in al this worlde displese Nere it for you I haue suche disese That I moot dye here at your foot anon Nought wolde I telle you me is wo begoon But certis or I muste dye or pleyne Ye sle me giltles for verry peyne But of my deth ye haue no routhe Thinkith now vp on your trouthe And repente you for that god aboue Or ye me sle by ••••use that I you loue For Madame wel ye woot what ye haue hight Not that I chalange ony thing of right Of you my souereyn lady but of your grace But in the gardyn yonder in suche a place Ye witen right weel what ye behetyn me And in myn hond there your trouthe plight ye To loue me best / god woot ye sayde so Al be it that vnworthy I be therto Madame I speke for the honour of you More than forto saue my hertis lif right now I haue ydo as ye comaunded me And yf ye vou••hesauf ye mowe se Sith as you ••••st haue your hest in mynde For quyck or ded trewe shul ye me fynde In you lith to do me lyue or deye But wel I woot the rock••s been aweye He takith his l••ue and she a stoned stood In al her face nas o drope of blood She wen••e neuer to come in suche a trappe

Allas quod she that euer this sholde happe For wende I neuer be possibilite That suche a meruayl mighte be That is ayens the proces of nature And hoom she goth a sorouful creature For ferry feer vnnethe might she go She wepith and waylith a day or two And swownyth that ••owthe was to se But why it was vnto noman tolde she For out of towne was goon A••ueragus But to her self she spak and sayde thus With face paal and sorouful chere In her compleynt as ye shul aftir here Allas quod she on the fortune I pleyne That vnwaar wrappid hast me in thy cheyne Fro whiche to scape knowe I no so••our Saue only deth or to grete dishonour One of thyse two behouyth me to chese But natheles yet haue I leuyr lese My lyf than of my body haue a shame Or knowe my self fals or lese my name And with my deth I may be quyt Iwis Hath ther nat many an nobil wyf or this And meny a mayde s••eyn her self allas Rathir than with her body done trespaas Yes certes thyse story•••• berith witnes When .xxx. tiraun 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ful of cursidnes Hadde sleyn cruelly Fidon atte feste They comaundid his doughtris forto a••este

And brynge hem f••rth in despit Al nakid to fulfille her delit And on her fadres blood made hem daun••e Vp on the pament god yeue hem myschaunce For whiche the woful maydens ful of drede Rathir than they wolde lese her maydenhede They been priuely stert in to a welle And dreynt hem self as the bokis telle They of m••ten leten enquire and seke Of lacedomy fifty maydens eke On whiche they wolden a done her lecherye But was ther non of al that company That she nas sleyn & that with glad entent C••••es rather to dye than to assent To be oppressid of her maydenhede Why sholde I thanne to dye be in drede Lo eke the tiraunt Aristoclides That louyd a mayde highte Stymphalides When her fader sleyn was on a nyght Vnto dianes goth she right And hente the ymage in her hondis two From whiche ymage wolde she not go No wight the hondis of here myghte arace Til she was sleyn right in the place Now sith that maydens hadde suche despit To been ••ispoylid with mannys delit Wel oughte a wyf rath••r her self to sle Than be defoylid as thinkith me What shal I say of Hasdr••••••aldis wyf

That at Cartage bereft her self h••r lyf When that she saw the romayns wyn the toun She took her childryn alle & skipped a doun In to the fyre and chaas rather to dye Than ony romayn did her vilony•• Hath not Lucrece slayn her self allas At rome for she oppressid was Of Tarquyne for her thoughte it was a shame To lyue whan she had lost her name The .vij. maydens of Millesses also Haue sleyn hem self for verey drede and woo Nather than the folk of Galele sholde hem oppresse Mo than a thousand storyes y gesse Coude I telle as touching this matere When Hellerada was sleyn his wyf so dere Her self slough and leet her blood to glide In hellaradas o••en woundis wyde And sayde my body acte leste wey Ther shal no wight defoylle it yf I may What shal I of hem mo ensamplis sayn But so many haue hem self slayn Wel rathir than they wolde defoulid be I wol conclude that is the beste for me To sle my self than be defoulid thus I wol be trewe vnto Arueragus Or ellis sle my self in som manere Right as dide demecions doughter dere Be cause she ne wolde defouled be Of Ocedasus it is ful greet pite

To rede how thy doughtris deyde allas That slough her self in suche a maner was As gret pite it was or wel more The Theban mayden that for Nichamore Her self slough right for suche maner woo And another Theban mayden right so For one of Macedone had her ouyr pressid She with her deth her maydenhede redressid What shal I sayn of Maceratis wyf That for suche a caas beraft her self her lyf How trewe eek was also Alcebades That for his loue to dien rathir chees Than forto suffre his body vnburyed to be Whiche a wyf was Alceste also quod she What saith Omere of Penelope Al grece knoweth of her chastite Parde of lacedomea is writyn thus That whan at rome was sleyn Protholomus No lenger wolde she lyue aftir his day The same of nobil Prothenna telle y may Withoute Brutus coude she neuer lyue To whom she hadde her herte al yeue The parfyt wyf of Archemecye Honourid is thorow out al Barbarye O tentquies thy verey chastite To alle wyuys may a mirrour be Thus pleyneth Dorigene a day or twey Purposinge euer that she wolde dey But natheles vp on the thridde nyght

Home comyth Ar••eragus the worthy knyght And axeth here why she w••pith so s••re And she gan wepe euer lengir the more And told hym al the caas by and by How she had promysed ignorantly The squier like as ye haue herd to fore Hit nedeth not to reherce hit ony more This husbond with glad chere in frendly wyse Answerde and sayde as I shal deuyse Is ther aught ellis Dorigene but this Nay nay she sayde god helpe me so as wis This is to mykil and it ne were goddis wyl Ye wyf quod he lat slepyn and be styll It may be wel yet {per}auenture to day Ye shal your trouthe holde be my fay For god so wisly haue mercy on me I hadde wel leuer stikid forto be For verry loue whiche I to you haue But ye sholde your trouthe kepe and saue Trouthe is the hiest thing that man may kepe But with that worde she brast anon to wepe And sayde I you forbede on peyne of deth That neuer whyle you lastith lyf or breth To no wight to telle of this mysauenture As I may lest I wol my woo endure Ne make no contenaunce of heuynes That folk of you may deme harm or g••s And forth he clepith a squier and a mayde Go forth anone with Dorig••ne he s••yde

And bryng her to suche a place anone They toke her leue and on her wey they goon But they ne wiste why she thyder wente He wolde no wight telle his entente This squier whiche hight Auril••us On Dorigene that was amerous Of auenture happid here to mete Amyd the town right in the quickest strete As she wold haue gon the wey forth right Toward the gardyn there as she hadde hight And he was in to the gardyn ward also For wel he spyed when she wolde go Out of her hous to ony maner place But thus they metyn be auenture and grace And he salueth her with glad entent And a••id of her whithirward she went And she answerde half as she were mad Vnto the gardyn as my husbond bad My trouthe forto holde allas allas Aurilius gan wonder in this caas And in his herte hadde gret compassion Of her chere and of her lamentacion And of Arueragus the worthy knyght That bad her holde that she had hight So loth him was yf she shol••e breke her trouthe And in his herte he caughte of this gret rowthe Considerynge the beste on euery side That from that lust yet were hym leuer abyde Than to do so high a folissh wre••chidnes

Ageyns fraunchecie and gentilnes For whiche in fewe wordis sayde he thus Madame say to your lord Arueragus That sith y se his grete gentilnes To you and eke I se your distres That him were leuer haue a shame & þ^t were routhe Than ye to me this sholde breke your trouthe I haue wel leuyr euyr to suffre woo Than I departe sholde the loue beetwix you two I you relece Madame in to your hond Quyt euery ••urement and euery bond That ye haue made to me as here beforn Sithen that tyme that ye were first born My trouthe y plight I shal you neuer repreue Of noon beheste and here I take my leue As of the trewest and eke the best wyf That euer yet I knew in al my lyf But euery wyf bewaar of her beheste On Dorigene remembrith acte leste Thus can a squier do a gentil dede As wel as can a knyght withouten drede She thankith hym vp on her knees bare And hoom to her husbonde is she fare And tolde hym al as ye haue herd me said And be ye sikir that he was wel a paid That it were impossible me to wryte What sholde I leng••r of this caas endite Arueragus and Dorigene his wyf In souereyn blisse ledyn forth her lyf

Neuer aftir was ther anger hem betwene He cherisshed her though she were a quene And she was trew to hym for euermore Of thyse two folk ye gete of me nomore Aurilius that his cost hath al forlorne Cursith the tyme that he was born Allas allas quod he that y behight Of purid gold a thousand pound weyght Vnto this Philosopher how shal I do I se nomore but that I am fordo Myn heritage y muste nedis selle And be a beggar here I may not duelle And shamyn al my kynrede in this place But I of hym may gete sum grace But natheles I wol of hym assay At certeyn yeris and daies to paye And thanke hym of his grete curtesie My trouthe wol I kepe I wil not lye With herte sore he goth vnto his cofyr And broughte gold vnto this Philosophir The valew of fyue hundrid pound I ges And hym besechith of his gentilnes To graunte hym day••s of the remenaunt And sayde maistir I dar wel make auaunt I faylid neuer of my trouthe as yet For sikirly my dette shal be quyt Toward you how euer that I face To go a beggyng in my kirtil bare But yf ye wolde v••uchesauf on surete

Two yeer or thre to respite me Than were I wel for ellis mot I selle Myn heritage ther is nomore to telle This Philisophre sobirly answerde And sayde thus whan he his wordis herde Haue y not holde couenaunt vnto the Yes certis wel and trewly quod he Hast thou not had thy lady as the likith No no quod he and soroufully he sikith What was the cause tel me yf thou can Aurilius anone his tale began And tolde hym al as ye haue herd before It nedith not to reherce it you nomore He sayde Arueragus of gentilnes Hadde leuer to dye in sorow and in distres Than that his wyf were of her trouth fals The sorow of Dorigene he tolde hym als How loth her were to be a wickid wyf And that she hadde leuer haue lost hir lyf And her trouthe she swoor thorou Innocence She neuer erst had herd of apparence That made me to haue in her so gret pyte And right as frely as he sent her to me As frely sent I her hom to hym agayn This is al and som th••r is nomore to seyn This Philisophir answerde leue brother Euerich of you did gentilnes to other Thou art a squier and he is a knyght But god forbede for his blisful myght

But a clerk coude do as gentil a dede As wel as ony of you it is no drede Sire I relece thy thousand pound As now thou were cropen out of the grounde Ne neuer or now thou haddist kno•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 For sire I wol not take a peny of the For al my craft ne for al my trauaylle Thou hast wel paid for my vi••aylle It is ynow farwel and haue good day And took his hors and forth he goth his way Lordingis this question than a••e I yow Whiche was the moste s••e as thinkith yow Now tellith me er ye furthir wende I can nomore my tale is at an ende

¶Here endith the Frankeleyns tale. ¶Here beg••nneth the second Nonnes prolog.

THe mynystre and norisshe of alle vicis Whiche that men clepe in engl••sh Idelnesse Whiche that is porter of the yate of delicis To es••huen and by her contrary hem to oppresse That is to say be leefful besines Wel ought we to do al our entent Lest that the fende with Idelnes vs hent For he with his thousand cordis slye Continually vs waytith to be clappe Whan he may man in Idelnes aspye He can so lightly ca••che h••m in his trappe Til that a man behent right by the lappe He nys not waa•• the fend hath hym in hond

Wel oughte vs worche & ydelnes withstond And though men drede neuer forto dye Yet se men wel be reson doutles That ydelnesse is hotyn slogardrye Of whiche ther comyth neuer no good encrees And syn that slougthe her holdith in a lees Only forto slepe and ete and drynke And to deuouryn al that othir swynke And forto put vs from suche ydelnes That cause is of so gret confusion̄ I haue here doon my feithful besines Aftir the legend and translacion̄ Right so thy glorious lyf and passion̄ Thou with thy garlond wrought of rose of lilye The mene I mayde and martir saint Cecily And thou that flour art of virginis alle Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte To the at my firste begynnynge I calle Thou comfort of vs wre••chis do me endite Thy maydens deth that whan thoro•• her merite The eterne lyf thou graunte of the fend victory As men mowe aftir rede in her story Thou mayde and moder doughter of thy sone Thou welle of mercy synful soulis to cure In whom that god of bounte chaas forto wone Thou humbil and high ouer euery creature Thou noblist so ferforth ouer nat••re That no disdeigne thy maker had of kynde His sone in blood a•••• flessh to cloth•• & wynd••

Whiche in the cloister of thy blisful entrees Toke mannys shapthe the eterne loue & p••es That of thy tryne compas lord and g••de is Whom heuyn and erthe and se withoute les Ay herien and thou virgine doutles Baar of thy body and dueldist mayd pure The creatour of euery creature Assembl••d is in the ••agnificence With mercy goodn•••• and suche pyte That thou that art ••he soune of excellen••e Not only helpist theym that praieth the But oftyn tyme o•• ••hy benignite Ful frely or that ••••n thyn help seche ••hou gos•• ••eforn ••••d art our ••oulis leche ••ow help ••hou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and meke fair mayde Me flemyd wre•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this desert of gall Think on the woman of Canane that sayde That whelpis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 som of the cromys small That from her lo••••••s table ben y falle And though th••t I vnworthy sone of Eue Be s••nful yet accepte my beleue And for that ••eith is ded withoute werkis So forto werkyn ••eue me witte and space That I be quyt from thens that most derk is O thou that art so fair and ful of grace Be myn aduocate in that high place There as withouten ende is sunge Osanne Thou cristis moder doughter dere of anne And of thy light my soule in prison l••ght

That troublid is be th•• cogitacion Of my body and also be the wight Of ertly lust and fals affection O hauyn of refut o saluacion Of hem that been in sorow and distresse Now help forto my work I wol me dresse Yet y pray you that redyn that I wryte For yef me that I do no diligence This ilke story besily to endite For bothe haue I the wordis and the ••••••tence Of hym that atte seyntis reuerence The story wroot and folowed her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 As ferforth as god wyl me grace se•••• First wolde I yow the name of saint 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Expoune as men may in her story se It is to say in englissh heuenys ly••ye For pure chastnes of virginite Or for she witnes hadde of honeste And grene of conscience and of god ••••me The swete sauour lily was her name Or Cecily is to say the wey to blynde For she ensaumpil was be good techinge Or ellis Cecily as I writyn fynde Is ioyned be a maner connynge Of heuyn and lya in her infigurynge The heuyn is set for thought of holynes And lya for her lastinge besines Cecily may eek be said in this manere Wantyng of blyndnes for her gret light

Of sapience and for her thewis clere Or ellis lo this maydens name bright Of heuyn and leos comyth of whiche be right Men mighte her wel the heuyn of p••pil calle Ensample of good & wyse workis with alle For leos pepil in englissh is forto say And right as men may in the heuyn se The sonne and mone and sterris euery way Right so men gostly in this mayden fre Sawyn of feith the grete magnanimite And eek the clerenes hool of sapience And sondry werkis bright of excellence And right so as thyse philosophris wryte That heuyn is swift & round & eke brennynge Right so was faire Cecily the whyte Ful swift and besy in euery good werkyng And rounde and hool in good {per}seuerynge And brennynge euer in charite ful bright Now haue I declared you what she hight

¶THere endith the Second Nonnys prolog. ¶And here begynneth the tale.

This maiden bright Cecili as her legende saith Was comyn of romayns of nobil kynde And from her ••••adil vp fostrid in the faith Of crist and baar his gospel in mynde She neuer seced as I writen fynde Of her praiere and god to loue and drede Besekynge hym to kepe her maydenhede And whan this mayde sholde vnto a man

I weddid be that was ful of yong age Whiche that y clepid was valerian And day was come of her mariage She ful deuout and humbil in her corage Vnder her robe of gold that sat ful feyre Hadde next her flessh I clad her in an heir And whyle that the Organs made melody To god aboue thus in her herte song she O lord my body and eek my soule gy Vnwemmyd lest I confoundid be And for his loue that vp on the tre Euery seconde and thridde day she fast Ay biddynge in her orisons ful fast The nyght cam and to bedde must she goon With her husbonde as it was the manere And priuely she sayde to hym anoon O swete and welbelouyd spouse dere Ther is a counsel and ye wol it here Whiche that right fayn I wolde to you seye So that ye swere ye wil it not bewrey Valerian gan faste to her swere That for no caas ne thing that might be He sholde neuer to none bewreyen her And than at erst to hym sayde she I haue an aungel whiche that louyth me That with gret loue wher so I wake or slepe Is redy ay my body forto kepe And yf that he may felen out of drede That ye me touche or loue in vilony

He right anon wil sle you with the dede And in your youthe thus shul ye dy And yf that ye in clene lif me gy He wol you loue as me for your clennes And shewe to you his ioye and his brightnes This Valerian correctid as god wolde Answerde agayn yf I shal triste the Lete me that aungel se and hym beholde And yf that it a ver••y aungel be Than wol I do as thou hast praid me And yf thou loue anothir man for soth Right with this swerd than wol I sle you both Cecily answerde anon right in this wyse Y••f that you list anon right the aungel shul ye se So that ye trowe on crist and you baptise Goth forth to via app••a quod she That from this toun stondith but mylis thre And to the poure folkis that there duellyn Sey hem right thus as I shal you tellyn Tel hem that I Cecili you to hem sent To shewen you good vrban the olde For secretnes and for good entent And whan that ye saint vrban haue beholde Telle hym the wordis whiche that I to you tolde And whan that he hath purgid you from synne Than shal ye se that aungel or ye twynne This Valerian is in to the place goon And right as he was taught be her lernynge He fond this holy man vrban anon

Among the saintis beriels lokynge And he anon withouten taryynge Dide his message and whan that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tolde Vrban for ioye gan his hondis vpholde The teris from his yen let he falle Almyghty lord O Ihesu crist quod he Sower of chastite counsellour of v••••••lle The fruyt of that seed of chastite That thou hast sowe in Cecily take to the Lo lik a bisy bee withoutyn gyle Thy seruaunt ay thyn owen thral Cecile For that spouse that she took but newe Ful lik a fers lioun she sendith here As meke as euer was ony lamb to ewe And with that word anon ther gan apere An old man yclothid in whithe clothis clere That hadde a book with lettir of gold in honde And gan before valerian forto stonde Valerian as ded fyl doun for drede Whan he this old man sawe standing so Whiche forthwith anone he herd hym rede O lorde of alle o feith o god withouten mo O cristendome and fadir of al also Abouyn al and ouyr al euerywhere Thyse wordis al with gold writen were When this was red then said this olde man Leuyst thou this thing or no say ye or nay I leue al thing quod valerian For sother thinge than this I dar wel say

Vnder heuyn no wight thinke may Tho ••••nysshed this olde man he ne wiste where And Pope Vrban hym cristened right dere Valerian goth hoom and fyndeth Cecily With ynne his chambir with an angel stond This aungel hadde of rosis and of lily Crownys two the whiche he bare in hond And first to Cecily as I vnderstond He yaf that on and than gan he take That other to valerian her make With body cleen and vnwemmyd thought Kepith ay weel this crownys quod he Fro Paradyse to you hem haue I brought Ne neuer mo shal they roten be Ne lese her sote sauyr trustith me Ne neuer wight ne shal se hem with ye But he be chast and hate velony And thou valerian for thou so sone Assentist to goddis counsel also Say what thou list and thou shalt haue thy bone I haue a brothir quod valerian tho That in this worlde I loue noman so I pray you that my brother may haue grace To knowe the trouthe as I do in this place The aungel sayde god likith thy request And hothe with the palme of matirdome Ye shul come in to his blisful reste And with that word Tiburce his brother com And wh••n that he the sauour vndernom

Whiche that rosis and the lilyes caste He spak vnto his brother in gret haste And sayde I wonder this tyme of the yeer Whens that this swete sauour comyth so Of rosis and of lilyes that y smelle here For thogh y hadde hem in my hondis two The sauour mighte in me no depper go The swete sauour that in my herte I fynde Hath chaungid me al in another kynde Valerian sayde two crounys haue wee Snow whit and rose reed that shyneth clere Whiche that thyn yen haue no might to see And as thou smellist thourogh my prayer So shalt thou se hem leue brother dere If it so be thou wilt withouten slowthe Beleue a right and knowe verry trowthe Tiburce answerde saist thou this to me In sothnes or in dreme I herkyn this In dremys quod valerian haue we be Vnto this tyme brother myn ywis But now at erst our duelling in trouthe is How wotist thou this qd Tiburce & in what wyse Quod Valerian that shal I the deuyse The aungel of god hath me the trouthe I taught Whiche thou shalt se yf thou wilt reneye The ydollis and be clene and ellis nought And of the mirakyl of thyse crounys tweye Seynt Ambrose in his prefas list forto seye Solempuli this nobil doctour dere

Comendith and saith in this manere The palm of martirdom forto receyue Seynt Cecile fulfilled of goddis yefte The worlde and eek her chambir gan she weyue Witnes Cecily and Tiburces shrifte To whiche god of his bounte wolde shifte Crownys two of flouris swete smellynge And his aungel hem the crownys brynge The mayde hath brought hem to blis aboue The worlde hath wist that it is worthy certeyn Deuocion and chastite wel forto loue Tho shewde hym Cecily al open and pleyn That alle ydols been but a thing in veyn For they be dombe and therto they be deef And charged hym his ydolis forto leef Who so that trow••th nat this a best he is Quod tho Tiburce yf I shal not lye And she gan kisse his brest that herde this And was ful glad be couthe trouthe aspye This day I take the for myn alye Said this blissed faire mayden dere And aftir that she sayde as ye mowe here Lo right so as the loue of crist quod she Made me thy brotheris wyf right in this wyse Anon for myn alye bere take I the Syn that thou wilt thy•• ydols dispise Go with thy b••other now and the baptise And make the cleen so that thou may beholde That angelis face whiche thy brothir of tolde

Tiburce answerde and sayde brother dere First tel me whethir I shal and to what man To whom qd he com forth with right good chere I wyl the lede vnto the pope vrban To Vrban brother myn quod va••erian Quod tho Tiburce wolt thou me thider lede Me thinketh that it were a wonder drede Ne mene ye not vrban quod he tho That is so ofte dampned to be ded And woneth in halkis alwey to and fro And dar not onys put forth his hed Men sholde hym brenne in a fire so reed Yf he were founde yf men mighte hym aspye And we also to bere hym companye And whyle we sekyn that diuinite That is hid in heuene priuely Algate b••ent in this worlde shal we be To whom Cecily answerde boldly Men mighte drede wel and skilfully This lif to like myn owen dere brother If this were liuynge only and non oth••r But there is bettir lif in other place That neuer shal belost ne drede the nought Whiche goddis sone vs tolde thorow his grace That fadris sone hath al thing wrought And al that wrought is with a skilful thought The gost that from the fader gan procede Hath soulid hym withouten ony d••ed•• By worde and by mirakil lo goddis son̄

Whan he was in this worlde declarid here That ther is other lyf there men may woon To whom answerde Tiburce o fustir dere Ne s••ydist thou right now in this manere Ther nas but o god lord in sothfastnes And now of thre how maist thou bere witnes That shal I telle quod she or that I go Right as a man hath sapiences thre Memorye engeny and intellect also So in suche beynge of dyuinyte Thre {per}sones may ther right wel be Tho gan she there ful bisily hym preche Of cristis son and of his peynes teche And many poyntis of his passion How goddis sone in this worlde was witholde To do mankynde pleyn remission That ben bounde in synnys and caris colde Alle thyse thingis she vnto Tiburce tolde And aftir this Tiburce in good entent With Valerian to Pope Vrban went That thankid god & with glad herte & light He cristned hym and made hym in that place Parfit in his lernyng goddis knyght And aftir this Tiburce gat suche grace That euery day he saw in tyme and space The aungel of god and euery maner bone That he god a••id it was sped ful sone It were ful hard be ordre forto seyn How many wondris Ihesus for hym wrought

But atte laste to telle short and pleyn The sergeauntis of the toun hem sought And hem before almache the Prefect broughte Whiche hem appo••id and knew al her entent And to the ymage of Iubiter hem sent And sayde who so wil do no sacrifise Swap of his hed this is my sentence here Anone thyse martirs that I you deuyse One Maximus that was an officere Of the Prefectis and his Councelere Hem hent and the sayntis forthledde Hym self he wepte for pyte that he hadde When Maximus had herd the sayntis lore He gat hym of the turmentours leue And hadde hem to his hous withouten more And with her prechinge or it were eue They gonne fro the turmentours forto reue And fro Maxime and fro his folk echone The fals feith to trowe in god allone Cecily cam when it was woxe nyght With preestis that hem cristned alle in fere And afterward whan day was woren light Cecily sayde hem with a ful stedfast chere Now cristis owen knyghtis leef and dere Cast al awey the workis of derknesse And arme you with armys of brightnesse Ye haue forsoth ydon a gret bataylle Your cours is doon your feith hath you conserued Goth to the croune of lif that may not faylle

The rightful Iuge whiche ye haue seruyd Shal yeue it you as ye haue it deseruyd And whan this thing was sayd as y deuyse Men ledde hem forth to do sacrifyse But when they were to the place I brought To tellen shortly the conclusion They nolde encence ne sacrifyse right nought But on here knees setten hem a doun With humbil herte and sad deuocioun And losten bothe her heddis in the p••ace Her soulis wente to the kyng of grace This Maximus that saw this thing betyde With pitous teris tolde it anon right That he her soulis saw to heuyn glide With aungelis ful of cleernes and light A••d with his word conuertid many a wight For whiche almachins did hym so to bete With whippis of led til he is lif gan lete Cecily hym ••ook and buried hym anon By tiburce and val••rian sothly With ynne her bur••ynge place vnder the stoon And aftir this Almachins hastely Bad his mymstris fecchyn openly Cecily so that she mighte in his presence Do sacrifyse and Iubiter encence But they conuertid at her wyse lore Weptyn ful sore and yaf ful credence Vnto her worde and criden more and more Crist goddis sone whiche withoute difference

To v••rry god this is our sentence That hath a seruaunt so good hym to serue This with o voys we trowen though we sterue Almachins that herde of this doynge Bad fecche Cecily that he mighte her se And alder first this was his axinge What maner woman art thou quod he I am a gentilwoman born quod she I axe the quod he though it the greue Of thy religion and of thy beleue Why than began ye your question folily Quod she that wolde two answers conclude In o demaunde ye axid lewdly Almache answerde to that ••imilitude Of whens comyth thyn answer so rude Of whens quod she whan that she was freyned Of conscience and of good feith vnfeyned Almachins sayde ne takist thou no hede Of my power and she answerd hym this Your myght quod she is ful litil to drede For euery mortal mannys power nys But lik a bladder ful of wynd ywis For with anedelis poynt when it is blowe May al the boste of it be leid ful lowe Ful wrongfully began thou quod he And in wrong is yet al thy {per}seueraunce Wost thou nat how our Princis mighty & fre Haue thus comaundid and made ordenaunce That euery cristyn wight shal haue penaunce

It is a shame that the pepyl shal So skorne and lawghe at thy folye For comynly men woot it wel ouer al That mighty god is in his heuenys hye And thyse ymagis wel thou maist aspye To the ne to hem self may do no profit For in effect they be not worth amyte This and suche other sayde she And he wax wroth & bad men sholde her lede Hoom vntil her hous and in her hous qd he Bren her in a bath of flamys rede And as he bad right so was it do in dede For in a bath they gonne her faste shittyn And nyght and day fyre they vnder bettyn The longe nyght and eke the day also For al the fyre and eek the grete hete She sat al cold and fel••d no woo It made her not a drope forto swete But in that bath her lif she moot lete For almachyns with a ful wickid entent To s••e her in the Bath his sonde to her sent Thre strokis in the necke he smoot here tho The turmentour but for no maner chaunce He mighte not smyte her necke atwo And for ther was that tyme an ordenaunce That noman sholde do to no {per}sone suche penaunce The fourthe strook to smyten softe or soxe This turmentour du••ste do no more But half ded with her necke coruyn there

He lefte her ly and on his wey is went The cristen folk whiche that aboute h••r were With shetis haue the blood vp hent Thre dayes leuyd she in this turment And neuer cesid hem the feith to teche That she had fostrid hem she gan to preche And there she yaf her meuablis and her thinge And to Pope Vrban betook hem tho And sayde I askid this of heuene kyng To haue respit thre dayes and no mo To perfourme that I before haue do Thyse soulis and that I may do wirche Here of my hous perpetuelly a chirche Saint Vrban with his dekenys priuely The body fet and biried it be nyght Among his other sayntis honestly Her hous the chirche of saint Cecily hight Seynt Vrban halowed it as he wel myght In whiche in to this day in nobil wyse Men do to crist and to his seyntis seruise

¶Here endith the Seconde Nonnes tale. And ¶Begynneth the prolog of the chauons yeman.

WHen told was the lyf of saint Cecile Or we hadde riden fully .v. myle At boughten vnder ••le vs gan a take Aman that clothid was in clothis blake And vndernethe he waar a whyte surp••ice His hakney whiche was of pomel gryce So swatte he that wonder was to se

Hit semyd that he hadde prykid my••••s thre Aboute the peytrel stood the fome ful hye He was of fome as fleckid as a pye The hakeney eek that his yeman rood vpon So swatte that vnnethis mighte it goon A male twifolde vp on his cropyn lay It semyd that he caried litil aray Al light for somer rood this worthy man And in myn herte I wonder began What that he was til that I vnderstood How that his cloke was sowid to his hood For whiche whan I hadde longe auysid me I demyd hym ••um chanon forto be His ••at hing at his bak doun by alace For he hadde riden more than trot or pace He rood ay prykynge as he were wood A clote leef he hadde l••yd vnder his hood For swoot and forto kepe his hed ••ro hete But it was ioye for to se hym swete His forhed droppid as a stillatory Were ful of planteyn or of peritory And whan he was come he gan crye God saue quod he this ioly companye To riden in this mery companye His yeman was eek ful of curtesie Faste haue I pr••kid qd he for your sake Be cause that I w••ld you ouer take And sayde siris now in the ••orow tyde Out of your hosterye I ••ow y•••• ryde

And warned here my lord and souereyn Whiche that to riden with you is ful feyn For his disport he louith daliaunce Frend for thy warnynge god yeue þ^• good chaunce Than sayde our ost certeyn it wolde seme Thy lord were wyse and so y may wel deme He is ful iocunde also dar y ley Can he ought telle a mery tale or twey With whiche he gladde may this ••ompany Who sir my lord ye sir withouten ly He can of mirthe and eke of iolite Nat but ynow also sire trustith me And ye hym knew as wel as do I Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftely He coude worke and that in sondry wyse He hath taken on hym meny a gret empryse Whiche were ful hard for ony that is here To bringe aboute but they of hym lere As homely as he ridith amongis yow Yf ye hym knew it wolde be for your prow Ye wolde not forgon his aqueyntaunce For michil good I dar ley in balaunce Al that I haue in my possession̄ He is a man of hye discrecion̄ I warne you he is a passing wyse man Wel quod our host tel me yf thou can Is he a clerk or none tel me what he is A clerk nay nay he is gretter than a clerk ywis Sayde this yeman and in wordis fewe

Oste and of his craft som what wol I shewe Sire my lorde can suche a subtilte That al his craft ye may not wite of me For al the ground to Caunterbury toun He coude all clene turne vp so doun And paue it al with siluer and with gold And when this yeman hath thus told Vnto our ost he sayde benedicite This thing is wonder meruaylus to me Syn that thy lorde is of so high prudence Be cause of whiche sholde men hym reuerence That of his worship reckith he so lyte His ouerist sloppe is not worth a myte As in effect to hym so moot I go It is al baudy and to tore also Why is thy lorde so sluttyssh I the pray And of power is bettir cloth to bey Yf that his dede a corde with his speche Tel me and that I the beseche Why quod this yeman wherto axe ye of me God helpe me so for he shal neuer the But I wol nat auowe that I sey And ther••ore kepe it se••ret I you prey He is to wyse in feith as I beleue That is ouer do it wol n••uer preue And right as clerkis sayn it is avice Wherfore in that I holde hym lewd and nyce For whan a man hath ouer gret a wytte Ful ofte it happith hym to mys vse it

So doth my lord and that me greuith s••re God it amende I can say nomore Therof no force good yeman quod our ost Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thou bost Tel hou he doth tel on now hardely Syn that he is so crafty and so sly Where duelle ye yf it be to telle tel me In the subbarbis of •• toun quod he Lurkinge in hernys and in lanys blynde Where as thyse robbers & thyse theuys bekynde Holden her fereful priuy residence As they that dar not shewe her presen•••• So fare we yf we shal say the sothe Now quod our ost lete me talke tothe Why art thou so discolourid in thy face Petir quod he god yeue it hard grace I am so vsid the hote fire to blowe That it hath chaungid my colour I trowe I am not wont in no myrour to prye But swynke sore and lerne multiplye We bloundryn euer and powryn in the fyre And for al that we faylen of our desir•• For euer we lacke our conclusion To muchel folk we do illusion And borow gold be it a pound or two Or ten or twelue or many sommys mo And make hem wene atte leste wey That of a pounde we coude make twey It is fals and ay we haue good hope

It forto do and aftir it we grope And this science is so fer vs beforn We mowe it not lerne though we hadde it sworn To ouer take it. it slit awey so faste It wol vs make beggars atte laste Whyle this yeman was thus in his talkynge This chanon drew hym nere & herde al thing Whiche this yeman spak for suspecion Of mennys speche euer had this chanon For Caton saith he that gilty is Demyth al thing to be spoke of hym ywis That was the cause he gan so nygh drawe To this yeman to herkyn al his sawe And thus he sayde to his yoman tho Hold thou thy pees and speke wordis nomo For yf thou do thow shalt it dere abye Thou sklaun drist me here in this companye And eke discuuerist that thou sholdest hyde Ye quod our ost tel on what so betyde Of al his thretyng recke thou not a myte In feith quod he nomore I do but a lyte And when this chanon saw it wold nat be But that his yeman wolde telle his priuyte He fledde awey for verry sorou and shame A ha quod the yeman here shal ryse a game For it is ernest to me be my feith That fele y well what that ony man saith And yet for al my smert and al my greef For al my sorou labour and myschyef

I coude neuer leue it in no wyse Now wolde to god my wit wolde suffise To tellyn al that longith to that art But natheles you wol I telle a part Syn that my lord is goon I wol not spare Suche thing as I knowe I wol declare

¶Here endith the prolog And begynneth the tale of the Chanons yeman.

WIth this Chanon I duellid .vij. yeer And of his science am I neuer the neer That I hadde I haue lost ther by And god woot so haue mo than I There as I was wont to be right fresh & gay Of clothinge and of other good aray Now may I were an hose vp on myn hed And there my colour was bothe fressh & reed Now it is wan and of a ledyn hewe Who so it vsith sore shal he rewe And of my swynky blent is myn ye Lo suche auauntage it is to multiplye That slidynge science hath made me so bare That I haue no good where that euer I fare And yet I am endettid so sore ther by Of gold that I borowed trewly That whyle I lyue I shal it quyte neuer Let euery man bewar by me for euyr What maner man that castith hym therto If he continue I holde his thrift y do For helpe me god ther by shal he not wynne

But enpeire his purs & make his wittis thynne And whan he thorow his madnes and foly Hath lost his owen good thorou Iepardy Than he excitith other folk therto To lese her good as he hym self hath do For vnto shrewis ioye it is and ese To haue her felowis in peyne and disese For thus was I onys lernyd of a clerk Of that no charge I wol ••peke of our werk When we be there as we shal excercise Our eluyssh craft we semyn wonder wyse Our termys been so clergial and queynte I blowe the fire til my herte queynte What sholde I telle eche proporcion Of thingis whiche we werkyn vp and doun As on .v. or .vj. vncis may wel be Of siluer or sum other quantite And b••sy me to telle you the namys Of orpement brent bonys Iren squamys That in to powder grounde be ful smal And in an erthyn pot how put is al And salt petir and also papir Beforne thyse powdris that I speke of here And wel y couerid with a lampe of glas And of muche other thing whiche þ^• there was And of the pottis and glassis enlutynge That of the eyr mi••hte passe out no thing And of the fyre esy and smert also Whiche that was maad & of the care & woo

That he hadde in our matier sublymynge And in a malgamynge and Calcenynge Of quiksiluer I clepid mercury crude For alle our slightis we can not conclude Our orpement and sublymyd mercury Our grounden litarge eke on the perfury Of eche of theym of vncis a certeyn Not helpith vs our labour is in veyn And eek our spiritis assensioun Ne our maters that liyn al fix adoun Mowe vs in our workynge onys auaylle For lost is al our labour and trauaylle And the coste a twenty deuyl wey Is lost whiche we on it leye Ther is also ful many anothir thing That is to our craft apperteynyng Though I be ordre hem reherce ne can As bool Armoniak veertgrece boras And sondry vessellis made of erthe & glas Our vrynalis and oure descensories Violis crossolettis and sublimotorijs Turokis and Alembikis eke And other suche dere ynow a leek Not nedith it to reherce hem alle Watirs ru••yfiyng and bores galle Arsenyk sal Armoniak and brymstone And erbis eek coude I telle many on As Egremoigne valerian and lunarye And other suche yf me list to tarye

Our lampes brennyng nyght and day To brynge aboute our craft yf we may Our furneys eek of calcynacion And of watirs albificacion Vnsle••kid lyme chalk gleir of an ey Powdris dyuers asshis dong pis and cley Serid pottis salt petir vitriole And dyuers fyris made of wode and cole Sal tartir alcoly and sal preparat And combust maters and coagulat Cley maad with hors donge or mānys her or oyle Of tartre alym glas berme wort and argule Rosealgar and other maters embibynge And eke of our matirs encorporynge And of our siluer cytrinacion Our sementynge and also fermentacion Our Ingottis testes and many mo I wol yow telle as me was taught also The .iiij. spiritis and the bodyes .vij. Be ordir as y herde my lord neueyn The firste spirit quicsiluer clepid is The s••cond orpement the thridde ywis Sal armomak and the fourthe brymstone The bodyes seuyn loke hem here anon Sol gold is and luna siluer we threpe Mars Iren Mercury quicsiluer we clepe Saturnus led ••nd Iu••iter is tyn And venus copir be my fadir kyn This cursid craft who wol excercise

Ho shal no good haue that he may suffise For al the good he spendith ther aboute He lese shal therof haue I no doute Who so that listith vttre his folye Let hym com forth and lerne to multiplye And euery man that hath aught in his cofre Let hym apere and wexe a phi••••sofir Prest or Chanon or ony other wight Though he sitte at his book day and nyght In lernynge of this eluysshe nyce lore Al is in veyn and parde mochil more Is to lerne alewd man this subtilte Fy spek not ther of it wol not be And can he lettrure or can he none As in effect he shal fynde it allone For bothe two be my sauacion Concludyn in multiplicacion Al liche w••el when they haue al y ••o This is to seyn they faylen bothe two Yet forgat I to make rehersayll Of watris corosiff and of lymayll And of bodijs mollificacion And also of her induracion Oylis ablacions metall fusibill To telle you al it wold passe ony bibyl That owhere is therfore as for the lest Of thyse namys now wol I me rest For as I trowe I haue told y nowe To reyse a fynde al loke he neuer so rowe

A nay let be the philosophris stoon Elixer we clepyn we sekyn fast echon For hadde we hym than were we sikir I nowe But vnto god of heuyn I make auowe For al our craft when we haue al y do And al our sleyghte he wol not come vs to He hath maad vs spende muche good For sorow therof almost we wexen wood But that good hope crepith in our herte Supposing euer though we sore smerte To be releuyd by hym aftirwarde Suche supposinge I hope is hard I warne you weel it is to seken euyr That future temps hath made me disseuyr In trust wher of al that euer they hadde Yet of that art they konne not wexe sad For vnto hem it is a bittir swete So sem••th it for ne had they but a shete Whiche that mighte wrappyn hem ynne a night And a brate to walkyn ynne be day light They wolde it selle and spende it in this craft Thay can not stynte til nothing belast And euermore where euyr that they goon Men may hem kenne be smel of brymstoon For al the worlde they st••nkyn as a goot Her sauour is so ••ammysh and so hoot That though a man a myle from hem be The sauour wol enfecte hem trustith me Lo thus by smellyng and thredbare aray

If that men list thyse folk knowe they may And yf a man wol axe hem priuely Why they be clothid so vnthriftely Right anon they wol roune in his ere And sayen yf that they aspyed were Men wolde hem sle be cause of her science Lo thus this folk betraien Innocence Pas ouer this I go my tale vnto Er that the pot be on the fyre ydo And metallis a certeyn quantite My lord hem temprith and noman but he Now is he goon I dar sey boldely For as men say he can do craftly Algate I woot wel he hath suche a name And yet ful ofte he rennyth in the blame And whyte ye how ful ofte it farith so The pot to brekith and farwel al is do The metallis been of so greet violence Our wallis mowe not make hem resistence But yf they were wrought of lym and stoon They persyn so and thorow the wal they goon And some of hem synke doun in to the grounde Thus haue we lost betyme meny a pounde And some ar skaterid al the floor aboute Some lepyn into the fire withouten doute Though þ^• the fend in our sighte him not shewe I trow that he with vs be that ilke sh••••we In helle where he is lord and sire Ne is ther more wo rancour ne Ire

Whan that our pot is broken as I haue said Euery man chit and holdith hym euyl apaid Some saide it was of the fyre makyng Some sayde nay it was of the blowynge Than was y ferd for that was myn office Straw quod he ye be lewd and nyce It was not temprid as it ought to be Nay qd the fourthe stynt and herkenyth me Be cause our fyre was nat maad of beche That is the cause and other none sitheche I can telle where on it was a longe But wel I woot gret strif is vs among What quod my lord ther is nomore to doon Of these parellis I wil be waar eftsoon I am right siker that the pot was crasid Be as be may be ye not amasid As vsage is leet swepe the floor swithe Pluk vp your hertis and be glad and blithe The mullok on an heep swepid was And on the floor cast a Canuas And al the mullok in a side y throwe And siftid and pikid many a throwe Parde quod on sumwhat of our metal Yet is there though we haue not al And though this thinge mishappid hath as now Anothir tyme it may be wel ynow We put our good in auenture A marchaunt parde may not alwey endure Tristith me wel in his prosperite

Somtyme his godis ben drenchid in the se And somtyme it comyth sauf vnto londe Pes quod my lord the next tyme I wyl fonde To brynge our craft al in another plyte And but I do sirs let me haue the wyte Ther was a defaute in som what wel I woot Anothir sayde the fyre was ouyr hoot But be it hoot or colde I dar say this That we concluden euer more amys We faylen alway of that woldyn haue And in our madnes euer more we raue And whan we be to gedir euerichone Euery man semyth as wyse as Salamon But althing whiche that shyneth as gold It is no gold as I haue here told Ne euery appyl that is fair at ye Nys not good what so euer men crye Right so it farith amongis vs He that semyth wisest be swete Iesus Is most fool when it comyth to the preef And he that semyth trewist is a theef That shal ye knowe or that I from you wonde Be that my tale be told vnto an ende Ther is a chauon of religion Amongis vs wolde enfect al a toun Though it were as gret as was nynyue Rome Alisaunder Troye or other thre His sleyghtis and his infinit falsnes Ne coude noman writen as I ges

Thogh that he mighte lyue a thousand yeer In al the worlde of falsnes nys his peer For in his termye he wil hym so wynde And speke his wordis so slily and so kynde Whan he comen shal with ony wight That he wol make hym dote anon right But it a fend be as hym self is Ful many aman hath he begilid er this And wol yf he lyue may a whyle And yet men ryde and goon meny a myle Hym forto seke and haue his aqueyntaunce Not knowynge of his fals gouernaunce And yef you list to yeue me audience I wil it telle here in your presence But worshipful chanons religious Ne demyth not that I slaundir your hous Al though my tale of a Chanon be Of euery order sum shrewe is parde As god forbede that al a Companye Sholde rewe a singuler mannys folie To sklaunder you is no thing myn entent But to correcte is that I ment This tale was not only told for you But eek for othir mo I wot wel how But among cristis apostill twelue Ther was no traitour but Iudas hym selue Than why sholde the remenant haue a blame That giltlees were be you I say the same Saue only this yf ye wol herkyn me

If ony Iudas in your couent be Remeuyth hym betymes I you rede Yf shame or los causyn ony drede And be no thing displesid I you pray But in this caas herkyn what I say IN london was a preest annueler That there ynne hadde duelt many a yeer Whiche was so plesaunt and so sernisable Vnto the wyf where as he was at table That she wolde suffre hym no thing to pay For bord ne clothing wente he neuer so gay And spending siluer hadde he right ynow Wherof no force I wol procede as now And telle my tale forth of the chanon That broughte this prest to confusion This fals Chanon cam vp on a day Vnto the prestis chambir where he lay Beseching hym to lene hym a certeyne Of gold and he wolde quyte hym ageyn Lene me a mark quod he but dayes thre At my day I wyl sauns fayle quyte it the And yf so be thou fynde me thenne fals Anothir day hange me by the hals This prest hym took a mark and þ^• as blithe And this chauon hym thankid ofte sithe And took his leue and went forth his wey And atte thridde day broughte his money And to this prest he took this gold agayn Wherof this preest was wonder glad & fayn

Certis quod he nothing anoieth me To lene a man an nobil or two or thre Or what thing were in my possessioun Whan he is so trewe of condicion That in no wyse he breke wol his day To suche a man I can not sey nay What quod this chanon sholde I be vntrew Nay that were a thing fallyn of new Trowthe is a thing that I wol euer kepe In to that day in whiche I shal crepe In to my graue or ellis crist forbede B••leuyth this as sikir as the crede G••d I thanke and in good tyme be it said That ther nas neuer man yet euyl payd For gold ne siluer that he me lente Ne neuer falshede in my herte I mente And sir quod he now of my priuyte Syn ye so goodliche haue be to me And kidith to me so gret gentilnes Somwhat to quyte with your kyndenes I wil you shew yf ye list to here I wol you teche plener the matere How I can workyn in philosophye Take good hede ye shul weel seen at ye That I wil a maistrye do or I goo Ye sir quod the preest and wol ye so Mary ther of y pray you hertely At your comaundement sir trewly Quod the chanon and ellis crist forbede

Lo how this theef coude his seruise be••e Ful soth it is that suche profrid s••ruise Stynketh as witnesseth the olde wyse And right sone I wol it verifye In this Chanon rote of al trecherye That euer more delit hath and gladnes Suche fendly thoughtis in his herte to expres How cristis pepyl he may to mischief brynge God kepe vs from his fals dissimulinge Nought wiste this prest with whom that he delte Ne of his harm comyng nothing he felte O sely preest o sely Innocent With couetyse anon thou shal be blent O graceles ful blynd is thy conceit No thing art thou waar of his disceit Whiche that this fox shapen hath to the His wylis his wrenchis thou maist not fle Wherfore to go to the conclusion That referrith to thy confusion Vnhappy man anone I wil me hye To tellyn thyn vnwit and thy folye And eke the falsnes of that other wrecche As ferforth as my connynge wol streac••e This Chanon was my lord ye wolde wene Sire in feith and be heuen quene It was another Chanon and not he That can an hundrid fold more subtilte He hath betraid folk meny a tyme Of his falsnes it duellith me to ryme

Euer whan I speke of his falshede For shame of hym my chekis wexen rede Algatis they begynnen forto glowe For reednes haue I non right wel I knowe In my visage for fumes diuerce Of metal whiche ye haue herd me reherce Consumed and wastid hath my reednes Now takith hede of this chanons cursidnes Sir quod he to the preest lete your man goon For quicsiluer that we hadde it anoon And lete hym brynge vncis two or thre And when he comyth as fast ye shul se A wondir thing whiche ye saw neuer or this Sire quod the preest it shal be do ywis He bad his seruaunt fette hym this thing And he alredy was at his biddinge And sente hym forth and cam anone ageyn With this quicsiluer shortly forto seyn And took the vncis thre to the chanon And he hem leyde wel and faire a doun And bad the seruaunt colis forto brynge That he anone mighte go to his werkynge The colis right anon were y fet And this chanon took out a crosselet Out of his bosom and shewde it to the preest This instrument quod he whiche that thou seest Take in thy ••ond and put thy self theryn Of this qui••siluer an vnce and begyn In the name of crist to wexe a philosophir

Ther be ful fewe whiche I wolde it profre To shewe hem thus muche of my science For here shulle ye se by experience That this quiksiluer I wol mortifye Right in your sighte anon withouten lye And make it as good siluer and as fyn As ther is ony in your purs or myn Or ellis where and make it malliable And ellis hold me fals and vnstabil Amongis folk for euer to apere I haue a poudre that cost me dere Shal make al good for it is cause of al My connynge whiche I you shewe shal Voidith your man and let hym be withoute And shit the dore whylis we be ther aboute Our priuyte that no man vs a spye Whylis that we worke in this phylosofie Allas as he bad fulfillid was in dede This ilke seruaunt anone out yede And his maister shitte the dore anon And to her labour spedely they goon This preest at this cursid Chanons biddyng Vpon the fyre anon set this thing And blew the fyre and bisied hym ful faste And this Chanon in to the crosselet caste A powder not I neuer where of it was I made of chalk or of erthe of glas Or somwhat ellis was not worth a flye To blynde with this preest and bad hym hye

The colis forto couchyn al aboue For in tokenyng that I the loue Quod this chanon thyn hondis two Shul werke al thing that here is do Graunt mercy quod the preest & was right glad And couchid the colis as the Chanon bad And whyle he bysy was this fendly wrecche This fals chanon the foule send hym fecche Out of his bosom toke a bechyn cole In whiche ful subtilly was made an hole And ther ynne was put of siluer ••••mayl An vn••e and stoppid was withouten fayl The hole with wex to kepe the lymayl yn And vnderstondith that this fals gyn Was nat made there but it was maad before And othir thingis that I you telle shal more Here aftir whiche that he with hym broughte Er he cam there hym to begyle he thoughte And so he dede er that they yede atwyn Til he hadde ternyd hym he coude not twynne It dullith me whan I of hym speke Of his falshede feyn wolde I me wreke Yf I wiste how but here and there He is variaunt he abideth nowhere But takith hede siris for goddis loue He took his cole of whiche I spak aboue And in his hond he bare it priuely And whylis this preest couchid besily The colis as I you tolde or this

This Chanon sayde frend ye do amys This is not cowchid as it ought to be But sone it shal amendid be Now let me medle therwith but a whyle For of you I haue pyte by sainte gyle Ye be right hoot I se how ye swete Haue here a oloth and wype alwey the weet And whylis the prest wipid his face This Chanon took his cole with sory grace And leyde it aboue vpon the mydwarde Of the crosselet and blew wel aftirward Tyl that the colis gan faste to brenne Now yeue vs drynke quod the Chanon thenne As swithe al shal be wel I vndertake Sit we doun and lete vs mery make And when that this Chanon his bechyn cole Had brought and the lymayl out of the hole Into the crosselet it fil anon doun And so it muste nedis be resoun Syn it so euene aboue couc••i•• was But therof wist the preest no thing allas He demyd al the colis liche good For of the slighte he no thing vnderstood And whan this alkamystre saw his tyme Ryse vp sire preest he said anon & stond by ••e And for I woot wel yngot haue ye non Goth walkith forth and bryng••th a chalkston̄ For I wol make of it the same shappe That an yngot is yf it may happe

And bring eek with you a b••lle or a panne Ful of watir and ye shul wel se thanne How that our besynes shal thryue •• preue And yet for ye shal haue no mysbeleue Ne wrong conceyt of me in your absence I wil not be out of your presence But go with yow and com with you agayn The chambir dore shorltly forto seyn They opened and shit and went hir wey And forth with hem they took the key And comen ayen withoute ony delay What sholde I tary al the longe day He took the chalk and shoop it in the wyse Of an Ingot as I shal you deuyse I sey he took out of his owen sleue Ateyn of siluer euyl moot he cheue Whiche that ne was but an vnce of weyghte And takith hede now of his cursid sleyghte He shoop his Ingot in lengthe and in brede Of this teyn withouten ony drede So slighly that the preest it not aspied And in his sleue agayn he gan it hyde And from the fyre he took vp his mater And in the Ingot he put it with mery cheer And in to the water vessel he it caste When that hym list and bad the preest as faste Loke what ther is put in thy hond and grope Thou shalt fynde there siluer as I hope What deuyl of helle sholde it ellis be

Shauyng of siluer yes sire parde He put his hond yn and took vp ateyne Of siluer fyne and glad in euery veyne Blithe was this preest when he sy it was so Goddis blissing and his modris also And alle halowes haue ye sire Chanon Said this preest and I here malison But and ye vouchesauf to teche it me This nobil craft and this ••ubtilte I wyl be your man in al that euer I may Quod this Chanon yet wol I make asay The seconde tyme that ye mowe take hede And be expert in this at your nede Anothir day assay in myn absence This discipline and this crafty science Lete take another vnce quod he tho Of quycsiluer withoute wordis mo And do therwith as ye haue do or this With that other whiche that siluer is The preest hym bisieth al that euer ••e can To do as this Chanon this cursid man Comaundid hym and faste blew the fyre Forto come to the effect of his desire And this Chanon right in this mene whyle Al redy was this preest forto begile And for contenaunce in his hond bare An holow sticke take kepe and beware In the ende of whiche was an vnce and more Of siluer lymayl put as said is before

Was in his cole and stoppid with wex weel Forto kepe in his limayl euery deel And whyle the preest was in his bisynes This chanon with his sticke gan it dres To hym anone and his powder cast yn As he dede erst / the deuyl out of his skyn Hym turne I prey to god for his falshede For he was euer fals in thought and dede And with his sticke aboue his crosselet That was ordeyned with that fals get He stirid the colts til al relente began The wex ayens the fyre as euery man But it a fool be woot weel it muste nede And al that in the sticke was out yede And in the crosselet hastliche fyl Now gode siris what wil ye bet than wel Whan that this preest was thus begylid ageyn Supposinge naught but trowthe soth to seyn He was so glad I can not expres In no maner his mirthe and his gladnes And to the Chanon he profrid eftsone Body and good ye quod the chanon anone Though I be poure crafty thou shalt me fynde I warne the wel yet is thermore behynde Is ther ony copir here Inne quod he Ye quod the preest sir I trow ther be Ellis go by vs sum and that as swythe Now gode sire go forth thy wey and hye the He wente his wey and with his copir cam

And the Chanon in his hond it nam And of that copir he weyed out an vnce Al to symple is my tunge to pronounce As to mynstir of my wit the dulnes Of this Chanon rote of al cursidnes He semyd frendly to hem that knew hym nought But he was fendly bothe in work and thought It werieth me to telle of his falsnes And natheles yes wol I it expres To that entent that men mowe bewar therby And for non other cause trewly He put this vnce of copir in his crocelet And on the fyre as swithe he it set And cast yn powder & made the preest to blowe And in his workynge for to stoupe lowe As he dede er and al was bu•• a Iape Right as hym list the preest he made his ape And aftir in the yngot he it cast And in the panne put it atte last Of watir and yn he put his owen hond And in his sleue as ye be forn̄ hand Herde me telle he hadde of siluer a teyne He slighly took it out this cursid heyn Vnwetynge of the preest of this fals craft And in the pannys botom he it laft And in the watir rumbelith to and fro And wondir priuely took it vp also The copir teyn nat knowynge the preest And hid it and hym hent be the brest

And to hym spak and thus he sayde in game Stoupith a doun be god ye be to blame Help me now as ye did whyle eer Put in your hond and lokith what is there This preest took vp this siluer teyn anon And than sayde the chanon leet vs goon With thyse thre teynes which þ^• we haue wrought To som goldsmyt•• to loke yf they be aught For by my feith I nolde for myn hood But yf it were siluer fyne and good And that as swithe preuyd it shal be Vnto the goldsmyth with thyse teynes thre They wente and put hem in assay To fire and hamyr might no man say nay But that they were as hem ought to be This soctid preest who was gladder than he Was neuer brid gladder ayenst the day Ne nyghtyngale in the seson of may Was neuer noon that best list to synge Ne lady lustier in carolinge Or forto speke of loue or wommanhede Ne knyght in armys done a lusty dede To stonden in grace of his lady dere Than hadde this preest this craft forto lere And to the Chanon thus he spak and sayde That for the loue of god that for vs alle deyde As I may deserue it vnto yow What shal this receyt coste tel me now Be our lord quod this Chanon it is dere

I warne you wel saue I and a frere In Engelond can no man it make No force quod he now sire for goddis sake What shal I paye tel me I you pray I wis quod he it is ful dere I say Sire at o word yf that it list you haue Ye shul paye .xl. pound so god me saue And nere the frendship that ye did or this To me sholde ye paye more ywis This preest the summe of .xl. pound anone Of noblis fet and took hem euerichone To this Chanon for this ilke receit Al his workyng was but fraude and disceit Sire preest he sayde I kepe to haue no loos Of my craft for I wol kepe it cloos And as ye loue me kepe ye it secre For yf men knewe al my subtilte Be god they wolde haue so gret enuye To me be cause of my philosophie I sholde be ded ther were non other wey God it forbede quod the prest what ye sey Yet hadde I leuer spende al the good Whiche that I haue or ellis were I wood Than that ye sholde falle in suche a myschief Weel sire haue ye wel good preef Quod this Chanon and farewel grant mercy And wente his wey and neuer the p••eest hym sy Aftir that day when that this prest sholde Makyn assay suche tyme as he wold••

Of this receyt farewel it wolde not be Lo thus beiapid and begylid was he Thus makith he his introduction To bringe folk to her destruction Considerith siris how that in eche astat Betwix men and gold ther is debaat So ferforth that vnnethis is ther noon This multipliynge blindith so many one That in good feith y trow that it be The cause grettist of suche scarsite Th••se philosophris spekyn so mistily In this craft that men can nat com therby For ony wit that men mowe haue now a dayys They mowe wel chateryn as doon Iayys And in her termys settyn her lust and peyn But to her purpoos shul they neuer atteyne A man may lightly lerne yf he haue aught To multiplye and bringe his good to naught Lo whiche a lucre is in this lusty game A mannys mirthe it wol turne vnto grame And empte also grete and heuy pursis And makyn folk forto purchace cursis Of hem that h••ue h••r good to hem lent O fy for shame tho that haue be brent Alas can the•• not ••le the fyris hete Ye that it vse I rede that ye it lete Lest that ye l••se al for be•• than neuer is late Neuer to thr••ue w••re to longe date Though ye pr••lle euer neuer shul ye it fynde

Ye be as bold as is baiard the blynde That blundrith forth and paril castith none He is as bolde to renne ayens a stone As forto go besidis in the wey So faren ye that multiplye I sey Yf that your yen can not se a right Loke that your mynde lak not his sight For though that ye loke right brood & stare Ye shul wynne neuer of that chaffare But waste al that ye mowe rappe and renne Withdraw the fyre lest it to faste brenne Medlith nomore with that art I mene For yf ye do your thrift is gon ful clene And right as swithe I wol you telle here What Philisophris did in thi•• matere Lo thus saith Arnolde of the new toun As his rosary makith mencioun He saith right thus withouten ony lye Ther may noman mercury mortif•• But yf it be by his brotheris knowlechinge Lo how that he withsayde this thinge Of philisophris fadir was hermes He saith how that the dragon doutles Ne dieth not but yf that he be sleyn With his brothir and that is f••rto s••yn Be the dragon mercury and non othe•• He vnderstondeth & brymston be his brother That out of sol and ••una were I d••awe And therfore sayde he take hede to my sawe

Leet noman bisy hym this art forto seche But he the entencion and the speche Of philosophris vnderstonde can And yf he do he is a lewd man For this science and this kunnyng sayd he Is of the secret of secretis parde Also ther was a discipil of plato That on a tyme sayde his maistir to As his book homer wol bere witnes And this was his demaunde in sothfastnes Tel me the Name of that priuy stoon And plato answerd to hym anon Take the stoon that Thitanes men name Whiche is that quod he magnacia is the same Sayde Plato ye sir is it thus This is ignotum per ignocius What is magnacia gode sire I you prey It is a watir that is maad I sey Of elementis foure quod p••ato Tel me the rote gode sir quod he tho Of that watir yf it be your wille Nay nay quod plato certeyn that I nylle The philosophris w••re sworn̄ euerichone That they sholde discuce it to noon Ne in no book it writyn in no manere For vnto god it is le••f and dere For he wol nat that it discurid be But where it likith to his deyte Man to enspire and eek vnto defende

Whan that hym likith lo this is the ende Than conclude I thus sith that god of heuyn Ne wol nat that the philisophris neuyn How that a man shal come vnto this stoon I rede as for the beste let it goon For who so makith god his aduersary As forto workyn ony thing in contrary Of his wil neuer shal he thryue Though that he multiplye terme of his lyue And there a poynt for endid is my tale God sende euery good man bote of his bale

••Here endith the tale of the Chanons yeman of multiplicacōn and begynneth the tale of the doctour of phisik.

THer was as tellith titus liuyns A knyght that clepid was virginius Fulfilled of honour and of worthynes Strong of frendis and of riches A doughter he hadde be his wyff And neuer hadde he mo in al his lif Fair was this mayde of excellent braute Abouen euery wight that men might se For nature hath with souereyn diligence Fourmed her in so greet excellence As though she wolde say lo I nature Thus can I fourme and peynte a creature Whan that me list who can me countrefete Pigmaleon not though he forge and bete Or graue or peynt for I dar wel seyn

A••pollus Zephirus sholde wirche in veyn To graue or peynte or forge or bete If they presumyd me to countirfete For he that is the fourmour principal Hath maad me his vicair general To fourme and peynte eueriche erthly creature Right as me list for al thing is in my cure Vnder the mone that may wane and wexe And for my werk no thing wol I axe My lorde and I be fully of accorde I made here to the worship of my lord So do I alle myn othir creaturis Of what colours they be or what figuris Thus semyth me that nature wolde say This mayde was of .xij. yeer age and twey In whiche that nature had suche delit For right as he can peynte a lily whit And rody as a rose with suche peynture She peyntid hath this nobil creature Er she was vp on her limys fre Were al so bright as suche colouris might be And Phebus died hadde her tressis grete Lik to the stremys of his burnyd hete And yf that excellent was her beaute A thousand fold more vertuous was she In h••r ne lackith no condicion That is to preyse ay be discrecion As wel in body as go••t•• chast was she For whi••he she flourid in virginite

With alle humyl••te and abstinence With al attem{per}aunce and pacience With me••ure eek and beryng of aray Discret she was in answerynge alwey She was as wyse as pallas dare I seyn Her facunde eek ful womanly and pleyn None countirfetid termys had she To seme wyse but aftir her degre She spak and alle her wordis more and les Sownynge in vertu and in gentilnes Shamefast she was in maydens shamfastnes Constant in herte and euer in be••ynes To dryue her out of her slogard••y Bacus hadde of her mouth no maistrye For wil and thought doth venus encr••ce As men in fyre wol caste oyl or grece And of her owen vertu vnconstreynyd She hath ful ofte tymes here syk feynyd For that she wolde fle the company•• Where lightly was to trete of foly As i•• at festis reuellis and daunsis That been occasions of daliauncis Suche thyngis make childryn forto be To sone ripe and bold as men may se Whiche is ful parlous and hath been yore For al to sone may she lerne lore Of boldnes when she is a wyf And ye maistresses in your olde lif That lordis doughtris hauen in gouernaunce

Ne ••akith of my wordis no displesaunce Thingis that been set in gouernaunce Of lordis doughtris only for two thingis Eythir forto kepe your honeste Or ellis ye haue falle in freelte And knowe wel y now the olde daunce And conne forsake fully myschaunce For euermore / therfore for cristis sake Kepe wel tho that ye haue vndertake A theef of veneson that hath forlaft His licorousnesse and al his theuys craft Can kepe a forest best of ony man Now keep hem wel for and ye wil ye can Lokith wel to no vice that ye assente L••st ye dampnyd be for your euyl entente For who so doth a treytour is certeyn And takith hede of that I shal seyn Of alle treson souereyn pestilence Is when a wight betraieth Innocence Ye fadris and ye modris also Thogh ye haue childryn one or two Youre is the charge of al her sufferaunce Whylis they been in ignoraunce Bewaar by ensamplis of your liuynge Othir he negligent in chastisinge That they ne pissh for I dar wel seye If that they do ye shul it dere abeye Vnder a shepherde softe and negligent The wolf hath meny a sheep to rent

Suffisith ensaumplis I now as h••re For I muste turne ayen to my matere This mayde of whiche I telle expres She kepte her self she nedid no maistres For in her liuynge maydens myghte rede As in a book euery word in dede That longith to amayde vertuous She was so prudent and so bownteuous For whiche out sprong on euery syde Bothe of her bounte and of her beaute wyde That thorow the lond they preysen hir echone That loued vertu saue enuye alone That sory is of othir mennys w••el And glad is of his sorow and vnhele This doctour makith this discripsion This mayde wente in to the toun Toward the tempil with her moder dere As is of yonge maydens the manere Now was ther a Iustice in the toun That gouernour was of that region And so befyl this Iugge his yen caste Vp on this mayde auising her ful faste As she cam forth by there as the Iuge stood Anone his hert chaungid al his mood So was he caught with beaute of this mayde And to hym self ful priuely he sayde This mayde shal be myn for ony man Anone the fend in to his herte ran And taughte hym sodenly be w••at sleighte

The mayden to his purpos wynne he mighte For certis by no fors ne by no mede Hym thoughte he was not abyl forto spede For she was strong of frendis and eek she Confermyd was in suche souereyn beaute That wel he wiste he might her nat wynne As forto make her with her body to synne For whiche with gret deliberacion He sente aftir a chorl in the toun The whiche he knew ful subtil and ful bold This Iuge vnto this chorl this tale hath told In secret wyse and made hym to assure H•• sholde telle it to no creature And yf he dede he sholde lese his hed When assentid was this cursid ded Glad was the Iuge and made glad chere And yaf hym yeftis precious and dere When shapyn was al this conspirasye From poynt to poynt how that his lecherye Parfourmyd shulde be ful subtilly As ye shullyn here al openly Hoom goth this chorl that highte claudius This fals Iuge that highte appius So was his name for it is no fabil But knowen for an historial thing notabil The sentence of it soth is out of doute This fals Iuge goth now faste aboute To hastyn his delyte al that he may And so be fyl sone aftir on a day

This fals Iuge as tellith vs the story As he was wont sat in his consistory And yaf his domys vp on sondry caas This fals chorle cam forth a ful gret paas And sayde lord yf it be your wille As doth me right vp on my pitous bille In whiche I pleyne vp on virginius And yf that he wil sey it is not thus I wil preue it and fynde good witnes That soth is that my bill wol expres The Iuge answerid of this in his absence I may not yeue diffinyte sentence Leet do calle hym and I wol gladly here Thou shalt haue right and no wrong here Virginius cam to here the Iustices will And right anone was red this cursid bill The sentence was therof as ye shul here To you my lord Appius so dere Shewith your poure seruaunt Claudius How that a knyght callid virginius Ayenst the lawe and ayenst al equyte Holdith expres ayens the wil of me My seruaunt whiche that is my thralle be right Whiche from myn hous was stolyn on a nyght Whylis she was ful yong I wol it preue Be witnes lord so that ye nat greue She nys nat his doughter what so he say Wherfore my lord Iustice I you pray Yelde me my thral yf it be your wi••le

Lo this was al the sentence of his bille Virginius gan vp on the chorle beholde But hastlye er ••e his tale tolde He wolde a defendid it as shulde a knyght And by witnes of many a trewe wight That al was fals that sayde his aduersary This cursid Iuge wolde no lenger tary Ne here a word more of virginius But yaf his Iugement and said thus I deme anone this chorl his seruaunt haue Thou shalt no lenger in thy hous her saue Go fet her forth and put her in our warde This chorle shal haue his thral thus I warde And when this worthy knyght virginius Thorow the assent of the Iuge apius Mus••e before his dere doughter yeuyn Vnto the Iuge in lechery to lyuyn He goth hym hoom and set hym in his halle And lete anon his dere doughter calle And with a face ded as asshis colde Vp on her humbil face he gan beholde With fadris pite stikyng thorou his herte Al wol he not from his purpos conuerte Doughter quod he virginea by thy name Ther been two weyys othir deth or shame That thou must suffir allas that I was bore For neuer thou deseruest wherfore To dien with a swerd or with a knyf O dere doughter whiche that al my lyf

I haue fostrid vp with suche plesaunce That thou ne were out of my remembraunc•• O doughter whiche that art my laste woo And in my lif my laste ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take thou thy deth for this is my sentence For loue and nat for hate thou must be ded My petous hond muste smyte of thy hed Allas that euer Apius the say Thus hath he Iuged the to day And tolde hir al the caas as ye before Haue herd it nedith to telle no more Mercy dere fa••ir quod the mayde And with that worde she bothe her armys leyde Aloute his necke as she was wont to do The teris brast out of her yen two And sayde gode fader shal I dye Is ther no grace is ther no remedy No certis dere doughter myn quod he Than yeue me leue fadir myn quod she My deth to compleyne a litil space For parde Iaffa zaf his doughter grace Forto compleyne or he her slow alas And god it woot no thing was her trespas But that she ran her fader forto se To welcome hym with gret solempnite And with that worde she fyl a swo••ne anone She risith vp and to her fader sayde Blissid be god that y shal dye a mayde

Yef me my deth or that I haue a shame Doth with your child your wil a goddis name And with that worde she praieth ful ofte That with his swerd he sholde smyte softe And with that word a swonne doun she fyl Her fadir with sorouful herte and fel Here hed of smoot and by the top it h••nt And to the Iuge he yaf it in present As he sat in his dome in consistory When that the Iuge it saw as saith the story He bad take hym and hange hym al so faste But right anone al the pepil in thraste To saue the knyght for rowthe and for pite For knowen was the fals iniquyte The pepyl anon had suspect in this thing By maner of this chorlis iangebing That it was by assent of appius They wiste wel that he was lecherous Forthwith vnto this appius they gon And cast hym in prison and that anon Where as he slow hym self and Claudius That seruaunt was vnto appius Was demyd forto be hongid vp on a tre But virginius of his grete pyte Prayde for hym that he was exilid And ellis certis had he be begilid The remenaunt were hongid bothe more & lesse That consentid were to this cursidnes Here may men se how synne hath his merite

Beth waar for noman woot how god wol smyte In no degre ne in no maner wyse The worm of conscience wol a ryse Of wickid lif though it so priuy be That noman woot of but god and he Whethir that he be lewd man or lerid He noot how sone he may be a ferid Therfore I rede you this counsel take Forsake synne or synne you forsake

¶Here endith the Phisicions tale. And begynneth the Pardoneris prolog.

OVr oste gan swere as he were wood Harow quod he be naylis and be blood This was a fals thef a curfid Iustice As shameful deth as herte can deuyse So falle on his body and on his bonys To the deuyl I betake hym attonys Allas to dere boughte she her beaute Wherfore I say that al men mow se That yeftis of fortune and of nature Been cause of the deth of meny a creature Her beaute was her deth I dar wel sayn Allas so pitously as she was slayn But here of wol I not procede as now Men haue ful ofte more harm than prow But trewly myn owen maister dere This is a pitous tale forto here But natheles passe ouer is no force I pray to god so saue thy gentil co••ps

And thyn vrynals and thy Iourdens Thyn Ipocras and thyn galtens And euery boy ful of letuary God blisse hem and our lady seynte mary So mote I the thou art a propir man And lik a prelat by saint damyan Thou hast spoke ynough I can not sey in terme But wel I wot thou makist myn herte to erme That almost I haue caught a Cardiakil Be corpus dominus but yf I haue tryakil Or ellis a draughte of corny moysty ale Or but I here anon amery tale My herte is lost for pite of this mayde Thou belamy Iohn pardoner he sayde Tel vs sum mirthis or Iapis right anon It shal be do he sayde by seynt Runyon But first quod he here at this ale stake I wol bothe drynke and ete of a Cake But right anon thyse gentils began to crye Nay let hym telle vs of no rebaudrye Tel vs sum moral thing that we mowe lere Som wit and than wol we gladly here I graunte ywis quod he but I muste thynke Vp on sum honest thing whyl••s that I drynke

¶Here endith the Pardoners prolog. ¶And begynneth the Pardoners tale.

LOrdingis qd he in chirchis when I preche I p••yne me to haue an haunten speche Criyng it out as round as goth a belle

For I can be roote al that I telle My teme is euer one and alwey was Radix malo{rum} est cupiditas First I pronounce whens that I come And than my billis shewe I alle and some Our liege lordis seal is my patent That shewe I first my body to warent That no man be so bolde ne preest ne clerk Me to distourbe of cristis holi werk And aftir that telle I forth my talis Bullis of Popis and of Cardinalis Of Patriarkis and Bisshoppis I shewe And in latyn I speke wordis a fewe To saueryn with my predicacioun And forto stere men to deuocioun Then shewe I forth my longe cristal stones I cramyd in cloutis ful of bonys Relikes they been as wenyn they echon Than haue I in laton a sholdirbon Whiche that was an holy iewis sheep Gode men say I take of my wordis keep If that this boon be wasshe in ony welle Yf kow or calf sheep or oxe swelle That ony worm hath ete or hym stonge Touche he this boon anone he shal be sound•• And yet also more ferthirmore Of pokkis and of scabbis and euery sore Shal euery sheep be hool that of this welle Drynketh a draughte take kepe of that I telle

Wol euery wight or that the cook croweth And wold do ony thing that hym oweth Fastynge drynke of this welle a draughte As that holy Iew our eldris taughte His bestis and his stoor shal multiplye And syris also it helith ielousie And though a man befalle in gelous rage Leet make with this watir his potage And neuer shal he more his wyf mystryste Though he the defaute by her wiste Al had she take prestis two or thre Here is a meteyn eek ye may se He that his hond wol put in that meteyn He s••••l haue multiplyyng of his greyn Whan ••e hath sowen be it whete or otys So that he offre pens or ellis grotis And men and women o thing warne I yow If o•••• wight be in this chirche now That hath doon synne horrible that he Dar not for shame shryuyn be Or ony woman be she yong or olde That hath ymaad her husbond Cokeolde Suche f••lk shal haue no power ne grace To offir to my relikes in this place And who so fyndith hym out of suche blame Comyth vp and offir in goddis name And I assoyle hem by the auctorite Suche as by bull was grauntid me By this gaude haue I wonne many a yeer

An hundrid mark syn I was pardoner I stonde lik a clerk in many a Pulpet And shewe lewd pepyl and doun they set I preche so as ye haue herd before And telle an hundrid Iapis more Than peyne I me to strecche forth myn necke And est and west vp on the pepyl I becke As doth a dowue sittynge vpon a bern̄ Myn hondis and my tonge gon so yern̄ That it is ioye to se my besines Of auarice and suche cursidnes Is al my prechinge to make hem fre To yeue her pens and namely vnto me For myn entent is not but forto wynne And no thing for correction of synne I recke not when that they be beried Though her soulis goon a blakeberied For certis many a predicacion Sowneth ofte tyme of euyentencion Some for plesaunce of folk and for flaterye To ben auauncid be ypocrisie And som for veynglory and som for hate For when I dar not other whyle debate Than wol I stynge hem with my tonge smerte In prechinge so that they shul not as••erte To ben diffamed falsly yf that ••e Hath trespassid othir to my bretheryn or me For though I telle not his proper name Men shal wol knowe it is the same

By symonye or by othir circumstauncis Thus quyte I folk that doth vs displesauncis Thus spit I out my venym vnder hewe Of holynes to seme holy and trewe But shortly myn entent I wol deuyse I preche of no thing but of couetyse Therfore my teme is yet and euer was Radix oīm malo{rum} est cupiditas Thus gan I preche the same wyse To suche as be vsyng the syn of aueryse But though my self be gilty in that synne Yet can I make other folk to twynne From auarice / and sore to repente But that is not my principal entente I preche no thing but for couetyse Of this mater it ought y now suffyse Than telle I of ensamplis many on Of olde storyes / longe tyme agoon For lewd pepyl louyn talis olde Whiche thingis can they weel reporte & holde What trow ye whylis that I may preche And forto wynne gold & siluer forto teche That I wil lyue in pouert wilfully Nay nay I thoughte it neuer trewly For I wol preche and begge in sondry londis I wil not do no labour with my hondis And make baskettis and lyue therby Be cause I wol not begge Idelly I wil non of the apostolis countirfete

Al were it yeuyn of the porest page Or of the porest widow in a village Al sholde her childryn sterue for famyn Nay I wol drynke the licour of the wyn And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun But herkeneth lordingis in conclusion Your likyng is that I shal telle a tale Now I haue dronke a draughte of corny ale Be god I hope I shal telle you a thing That ••••al by reson be at your likynge For though my self be a ful vicious man Amoralle tale yet I you telle can Whiche I am wont forto preche and also wynne Now holde your pees my tale I wol begynne IN flaundris sumtyme was a company Of yonge folk that hauntedyn foly As ryot hazard Stewis and tauernys And pleye the harlottis in many hernys They daunce and pleye atte dyce both day & night And etyn and drynkyn a bouen her myght Thorow whiche they doon the deuyl sacrifise With ynne the deuyll tempil in cursid wyse The superfluytees abhominabil Here othis be so grete and dampnabil That it is grisly forto here hem swere Our blissid lordis body they to tere Hem thoughte the iewis rente hym not y nough And eche of hem at othir synne lough And right anone cam the Tomble••••eris

Fetis and smale and yong frutestris Singars with harpis Bawdis wafreris Suche as been verry the deuyll officeris To kyndil and blowe the firis of lecherye That is annexid vnto glotonye The holy wryt take I to witnesse That lecherye is in wyne and in dronkenesse Lo how that dronkyn Loth vnkyndely Lay be his doughtris two vnwetyngly So dronke he was he nyste what he wroughte And therfore sore repente hym oughte Herodis who so wol the storyes seche There may ye lerne and by ensampil teche Whan he of wyne was repleet at his feste Right at his owen tabil yaf his heste To sle the Baptist Iohn ful giltlees Senek saith eke gode wordis doutles He saith he can no difference fynde Betwix a man that is oute of his mynde And a man that is dronkelew But that woodnes fallyn is in a shrew Perseuerith lenger than doth dronkenes O glotenye ful of cursidnes O cause first of our confusion O original of our dampnacion Til crist hadde bought vs with his blood ageyn Lo how dere and shortly was to seyn A bought was this cursid vilony Corupt was al this world thorou glotony

Adam our fader and his wyf also Fro paradys to labour and to woo Were dryuen for that vice it is no drede For whylis that adam fastid as I rede He was in Paradise and whan that he Ete of the fruyt defendid on the tre Anon he was out cast to woo and peyne O glotenye on the oughte vs wel to pleyne O wiste a man how meny maladies Folowith of excesse and of glotenyes He sholde be the more me••urabil Of his diete sittyng at his tabil Allas the short throte the tendir mouth Makith that est and west North and south In erthe in eyr in watir men to swynke To gete a gloton mete and drynke O Poule of this mater wel ainst thou entrete Mete vnto wombe and wombe vnto mete Shal god destroien bothe as Poule saith Allas a foul thing it is be my feith To say this worde and foulir is the dede When men so drynkith of the white and rede That of his throte he makith his pryue Thorow that cursid superfluyte The apostil wepynge saith ful petously Ther walkyn meny of whiche you told haue I I say it now wepynhe with pitous vois That they been enemyes of cristis crois Of whiche the ende is deth the wombe is her god

O wombe o bely o stynkynge ••od Fulfillid of dung and of corrupcion At eyther ende of the foul is the soun How gret cost and labour is to fynde Thyse cookis how they stampe streyne & grynde And turne substaunce in to accident To fulfille al thy licorous talent Out of the harde bonys knockyn they The mary for they caste naught awey That may go thorow the golet softe and sote Of spicery of leuys barke and rote Shal be his sause ymade by delite To make hym yet an newe appetite But certis he that ••auntith suche delicis Is ded whylis that he liuyth in the vicis A lecherous thing is wyne and dronkenesse It is ful of stryuynge and of wrecchidnesse O dronken man disfigurid in thy face Foul is thy breth ••••ul art thou to embeace And thorow thyn dronkin nose sownyth thy soun As though thou saydist ay Sampson Sampsoun And yet god woot sampson drank neuer no win Thou farist as it were a stykid swyn Thy tonge is lost and al thyn honest curis For dronkenes is verry sepulturis Of mannys wit and his discrecion In whom that drynke hath dominacion He can no counsel kepe it is no drede Now kepe you fro the whyte and fro the rede

Namely fro the whyte wyne of lepe That is to selle in fissh strete or in chepe This wyne of spayne crepith subtilly In othir wynys growyng fast by Of whiche ther risith suche fumosite That when aman hath dronkyn draughtis thre And wenyth that he be atte tonne in chepe He is in Spayne right at the toun of lepe Not at rochel ne at bordeux toun And than wol he say Sampsoun Sampsoun But herkenyth lordingis o word I you pray That al the souereyn actis dar I say Of victories in the olde testament That thorou very god that is omnipotent Were doon in abstinence and in praier Lokith the Bibil and there ye mowe it lere Lokith attilla the grete conquerour Deyde in his sleep with shame and dishonour Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenes A Capteyn sholde lyue in sobirnes And ouer al this auyse you right weel What was comaundid vnto lamuel Nat Samuel but lamuel say I Redith the Bibil and fynd it expresly Of wyne yeuynge to hem that haue Iustice Nomore of this for it may wel suffise ANd now that I haue spoke of glote••y Now wol I defende you sa••ard••y Hasardrye is very moder of lesyngis

And of disceit cursid forsweryngis also Of bataylle ofte tyme and of othir mo It is repreef and contrary vnto honour Forto beholden a Comune hasardour And euer the hyer that he is in astat The more he is holden dissolate If that a prince vse hasardrye In al gouernaunce and al polecye He is as by comune oppinion Y holde the lasse in reputacion Stillebone that was holde a wyse Embassetour Was sent in to garnathe with gret honour Fro Calidone to make hem aliaunce And whan he cam hym happith this chaunce That alle the grettist that were of that lo••d•• Ple••ynge atte hasarde he hem fonde For whiche as sone as that it mighte be He stale hym hoom ayeen to his contre And s••yde there wil I not lese my name I wol not take on me so gret defame You forto a lye to non hasardouris Sendith other wyse ambassi••touris For be my trouthe me were leuer dye Than I you to hasardouris shulde a lye For ye that been so glorious 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honouris Shal not a lye you to hasar••ouris As by my wil ne as by my trete This wyse Philosophir thus sayd he Loke thou vse no pley of dyse in thy hous

Loke eke how the kynge Emetrus Sente hym a peyre of dyse in scorn̄ For he hadde vsed hasardrye ther be forn̄ For whiche he held his glorye and his renoun At no value as of reputacioun Lordis mighten fynde othir maner pley Honest ynough to dryue the day awey NOw wol I speke of othis fals and grete A word or two as many bokes trete Greet swering is thing abhominabil And fals swering is a thing more reprouable The high god forbad swering at all Witnes of Mathew but in special Of swering saith hol•• Iheromye Thou shalt swere soth thyn othis and not lye And swere in dome and in rightwisnes But ydil swering is a cursidnes Behold and se that in the firste tabil Of high goddis hestis honourabil How that the seconde heste of hym is this Take not myn name in ydilnes amys Lo rather he forbedith suche swering Or homycidy or ony other cursid thing I say as be ordre thus it stondith This knoweth they þ^• his hestis v••derstondith Hou that the seconde heste of god is that And furthirmore I wil the telle at plat That vengeaunce shal not parte from the hous That of his othis is outrageous

Ey be goddis precyous herte & be his naylis And be his blood that is in haylis Seuyn is my chaunce and thyn is fyue & thre Ey goddis armys yf thou falsly pley with me This daggar shal thorow thyn herte go This fruyt comyth of the biochid bonys two Forsweringe Ire falsnes and homicide Now for the loue of crist that for vs dide Leuith your othis bothe grete and smale For cristis sake and herkenyth my tale Thyse ryotouris thre of whiche I telle Longe or to pryme were ronge ony belle Were set hem in a tauerne to drynke And as they sat they herde a belle clynke Before a cors was caried to his graue That on of hem gan calle to his knaue Go bet quod he and axe redily What cors is this that passith forth by And loke that thou reporte his name wel Sire quod the boy it nedith neuer a deel It was me told or ye cam here two houris He was parde an old felow of youris Al sodenly was he sleyn to nyght For dronke as he sat on his bench vpright Ther cam a pryue theef men clepe deth That in this contre al pepil sleth And with his sper he smot his herte in two And wente his wey with oute wordis mo And maistir er ye come in his presence

He hath a thousand sleyn this pestelence Me thinkith it were necessary Forto bewaar of suche an aduersary Deth is redy forto mete hym euermore Thus taughte me my dame I say nomore O seynte mary said this tauernere The child saith soth for he hath this yere Hens ouer a myle slayn in a gret village Bothe man and woman child and page I trowe his habitacion be there To been auisid gret wisedom it were Er that he did a man a dishonour Ye goddis armys sayde this riotour Is it suche peril with hym forto mete I shal hym seke by dale and eke by strete I shal hym sle be goddis digne bonys Harkyn felowis we thre been alonys Let ech of vs becomyn othris brother And ech of vs holde vp his hond to other And we wol sle this traitour deth He shal be slayn he that so many sleth Be goddis dignite or it be nyght To gedir haue thyse thre her hertis hight To lyue and dye ilke of theym with othir As though he were his owen swore brothir And vp they stert al dronke in this rage And forth they goon toward that village Of whiche the tauerner hath spoke befo••n̄ And many a grisly oth haue they sworn̄

And cristis blissid body they to rente Deth shal be ded yf that we may hym hente When they haue goon not fully a myle Right as they wolde haue goon ouer a style An old poure man with hem mette This olde man full mekely hem grette And sayde thus lordingis god you se The proudest of thyse riotours thre Answerde what charl with hard grace Why art thow al forwrappid saue thy face Why l••uyst thou so longe in so gret age This olde man gan loke in her visage And sayde thus for I can not fynde A man though I walke in to ynde Neyther in cyte ne in village That wol chaunge his yonthe for myn age And therfore muste I haue myn age still As longe tyme as it is goddis will Ne deth allas wol not haue my lyf Thus walke I lik a recheles caytiff And on the grounde whiche is my modris gate I knocke with my staf erly and late And say leue modir lete me yn Lo how I vanyssh flesh blood and skyn Allas whan shal my honys be at reste Modir with you wolde I chaunge my cheste That in my chambir longe tyme hath be Ye for an heir clout to wrappe ynne me But yet to me she wol not do that grace

For whiche ful paal & wrecchid is my face And seris to you it is no curtesie To speke to an olde man vilony But y trespasse othir in word or in dede Ye may your self in holy writ rede Ayenst an olde man hore vp on his heed Ye sholde a ryse wherfore I you rede Ne doth to non olde man harm now Nomore than ye wolde men dide to you In age yf ye sholde longe abyde And god be with you wher ye go or ryde I muste go thyder as I haue to do Nay olde chorle be god thou shalt not so Seyde this othir hasardour anon Thou partist not so lightly be seynt Iohn Thou spakist right now of that treitour deth That in this contre al our frendis sleth Haue her my trouthe thou art his aspye Tel where he is or thou shalt dye Be god and by the holy sacrement For shortly thou art one of his assent To sle vs yonge folk thou fals theef Now seris yf that it be to you leef To fynde deth turne vp this crokid wey For in that groue I hym saw last be my fey Vnder a tre and there he wol abyde For your boost he wil no thing hym hyde Se ye that Oke right there ye shul h••m fynde God saue you that boughte al man kynde

And you amende thus sayde this olde man And euery of thyse riotouris so they ran Til they cam to the tre and there they found Of floreyns fyn golde I coyned rounde Wel nye an echte busshellis as hem thoughte No lengir than aftir deth they soughte But ech of theym so glad was of that sighte For that the floreyns so fair were and brighte That doun they sat be the precyous hord The worste of hem he spak the firste worde Bretheryn quod he take kepe what I saye My wit is greet though I bourde and playe This tresour hath fortune vnto vs yeuyn In mirthe and Iolite our lif to lyuyn And l••ghtly as it comyth so wol we spende ••y goddis precyous dignyte who wende To day t••at we shulde haue so fair a grace But mighte this gold be caried fro this place Hoom to my hous or ellis vnto youris Than mighte we say that it were al ouris Than were we in high felicite But trew••y by day it ma•• not be Men wolde say that we were theuys strong And for our owen tresour don vs honge This tresour muste be caried be nyght As wisely and as s••••ly as it mighte Wherfore I rede leet loke among vs alle Draw cut let se wh••re that i•• wil falle He that ••ath the shortist cut with herte blithe

Shal renne to toun and that ful swithe To brynge vs bred and wyne ful priuely And two of vs shal kepe ful subtilly This tresour we•••• and yf he wol not tarien Whan it is nyght we wol this tresour carien Be one assent where as vs list best That on of hem broughte strawe in his fist And bad him drawe & loke on whom it wold fa••l And it fyl on the yongest of hem alle And forth toward the toun he wente anone And also sone as he was goon That on of hem spak thus vnto that othir Thou wotist well thou art my sworn b••othir Thy profit wol I telle the right anon Thou wost well that our felow is goon And here is gold and that ful gret plente That shal be departid among vs thre But natheles yf I can shape it so That it departid were among vs two Had I not doon a frendis turn to the That othir answerde y not how it mighte be I wot wel the gold shal be ouris two What shul we say what shul we do Shal it be counsell sayde the firste shrewe And I shal telle th•• in wordis fewe What we shul do and brynge it wel aboute I graunte quod that othir out of doute That be my trouthe I wol the not bewrey Now quod he thou wotist wel we be tweye

And tweyne of vs shal strenger be than on Loke when he is set and than anon A ryse as though thou woldist with hym pleye And I shal ryue hym thorough the sidis tweye Whilis thou strogelist with hym in game And with thy daggar loke thou do the same And than shal al this gold departid be My dere frend betwix me and the Than may we bothe our lustis fulfille And pleye atte dyse right at our owen wille And thus accordid be thyse shrewis tweye To sle the thridde as ye haue herd me seye This yongest whiche that wente to the toun Ful ofte in herte he rollid vp and doun The beaute of thyse floreyns newe and bright O lord quod he yf so were that I might Al this tresour wynne to my self alone Ther nys noman that liuyth vnder trone Of god that sholde lyue as mery as I And atte laste the fend our enemy Put in his herte that he sholde poyson beye With whiche he mighte sle his felowis twey For why the fend fond hym in suche liuynge That he hadde leue hym in sorow to brynge For this was vtterly his entent To sle hem bothe and neuer to repent And forth he goth no lenger wolde he tary In to the toun vnto apotecary And prayde hym that he wolde hym selle

Som poison that he mighte his rattis quelle And eek therwith was a polcat in his hawe That as he sayde his capons hadde slawe And sayde he wolde wreke hem yf he mighte Of vermyn that destroyde hem be nyghte The potecary answerd thou shalt haue A thing as wisly god my soule saue In al this worlde ther is no creature That etyn or drynkyn hath of this confecture Not but the mounteunce of a corn̄ of whete That he ne shal anon his lif forlete Ye sterue he shal and that in lasse whyle Or thou wolt go passing half a myle This poyson is so strong and so violent This cursid man hath in his hond it bent And swithe in to the strete vnto a man As faste as euer he mighte he ran And borwid hym large botellis thre And in to the tweyne the poyson pourid he The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke For al nyght he shoop hym forto swynke In cariynge of this gold. out of this place And whan this riotour with sory grace Hadde fillid ful his grete botellis thre To his felowis ayeen repayrith he What nedith it to sermone of it more For right as th••y hadde cast his deth afore Right so they haue hym sleyn right anone And when this was doon than spak that one

Now leet vs sitte & drynke & make vs mery And aftirward we wil his body bery And aftirward it happid hym {per} caas To take the botel there the poyson was And drank and yaf his felow drynke also For whiche anon they steruyn bothe two But certis I suppose that Auicenne Wroot neuer in no canoun ne in no sene More wonder sorowis of enpoysonynge Thus hadde thyse wrecchis two her endynge Thus endid ben thyse homicides two And the fals empoysoner also O cursid synne ful of cursidnes O traytours homicides o wickidnes O glotony o luxury o hasardrye Thou blashemar of crist with vilonye And othes grete of vsage and of pryde Allas mankynde how may it betyde That to thy creatour whiche that the wrought And with his precyous blood the bought Thou art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now gode men god foryeue you your trespas And ware you from the synne of auarice My holy pardoun may you alle warisshe So that ye offir nobillis or sterlingis Or ellis siluer sponys brochis or ryngis Bowith your heed vnder thyse holy bullis Comyth vp y•• wyuys offrith of your wollis Your names I entre in my roll anon

Into the blisse of heuyn shal ye goon I you assoylle be my high power You that wol offre as clene and as cleer As ye were bore lo seris thus I preche And Ihesu crist that is our soulis leche So graunte you his pardon to resceyue For that is best I wil you not deceyue But seris o word forgat I in my tale I haue relikes and pardon in my male As fair as ony man in Engelond Whiche were me yeue be the Popis hond Yf ony of you wol of deuocioun Offryn and haue myn absolucion Comyth forth anon and knelith here a doun And mekely receyueth your pardoun And ye shul haue my pardon that ies hende Or ellis takith pardon as ye wende Al newe and fressh at euery tounys ende So that ye offir alwey newe and newe Noblis or pens whiche that been gode & trewe It is an honour to euerich that is here That ye mowe haue a sufficiaunt pardonere To assoylle you in contre as ye ryde For auenturis whiche that may betyde For {per}auenture ther may falle on or two Doun of his hors and breke his ne••ke a two Loke whiche a surete it is to you alle That I am in your feleship y falle That may assoylle you bothe more and les

Whan that the soule shal from the body pas I rede that our ost here shal begynne For he is most inuolupt in synne Comyth forth sir ost and offrith right anon And thou shalt kisse the relikes euerichon Ye for a grote vnbokil anon thy purs Nay nay quod he than haue I cristis curs Let be quod he it shal not be so theche Thou woldist make me kis thyn olde breche And swere it were a relik of a seynt Though it were with thy fundement I peynt But by that cros whiche that saint Eleyn fond I wolde I hadde thy colious in my hond In stede of relikes othir of saintewary Let cutte hem of I wol helpe the hem to cary They shul be shryned in an hoggis tord This pardoner answerd not o word So wroth he was he wolde no word sey Now quod our ost I wol no lenger pley With the ne with non other angry man But right anon the worthy knyght began Wh••n that he saw that al the pepyl lough Nomore of this for it is right ynough Sir Pardoner be mery and glad of chere And ye sir ost that be to me so dere I pray you that ye kisse the pardonere And pardoner I pray the draw the nere And as we did let vs laughe and pley Anon they kissid and riden forth her wey

Here endith the Pardoneris tale. And begynneth the Shipmannys tale.

A Marchaunt somtyme was at seynt denys That riche was wherfore men held him wise A wyf he hadde of excellent beaute And compenable and reuelons was she Whiche thing causith more dispence Than worth is al the fauour and reuerence That men hem doon at festis and at daunsis Suche salutacions and countenauncis Passin as doth a shadow vp on a wal But wo is hym that paien muste for al The sely husbonde algate he must paye He muste vs bothe clothe and eek araye For his owen worship ful richely In whiche aray we daunsyn Iolily And yf that he naught paye {per}auenture Orellis list not suche spencis endure But thynkith it is wastid and y lost Than muste another paye for our cost Or lene vs golde and that is parlous This nobil Marchaunt held a nobil hous For whiche he hadde so greet repeir For his largenes and for his wyf was feir That folie is but herkenyth to my tale Among alle thyse gestis grete and smale Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold I trow that .xxx. winter he was old That euer in one was drawyng to that place

This yonge monk that was so fair of face Aqueyntid was so with the good man Sith that their first knowlage began That in his hous as familier was he As is possible ony frend to be But for asmuche as this good man And eke this monk of whiche I began Were bothe two born in on village The monk of hym claymeth for cosinage And he ayen saith not onys nay But was as glad ther of as foul of day For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce Thus been they knyt with etern allyance And eche of hem gan other forto ensure Of brotherhede whyle that her lyf may dure Fre was dane Iohn and namly of dispence As in that hous and ful of diligence To doon plesaunce and also gret costage He nat foryat to yeue the leste page Whan that he cam sum maner honest thing For whiche they were as glad of his comyng As foul is fayn whan sonne vp risith Nomore of this for it ••u••fisith But so be fyl this marchaunt on a day Shoop hym to make red•• his aray Toward the toun of B••uggis forto fare To byen there aporcioun of ware For whiche he hadde to Paris sent anon A messanger and praid hath dan Iohn

That he sholde come to saint denys and pl••y With hym and his wyf a day or tweye Er he to Briggis wente in alle wyse This nobil monk the whiche I you deuyse Hath of his abbot as hym list licence Be cause he was a man of high prudence And eke an Officer out forto ryde To se her graungis and her bernys wyde And to saint Denys comyth hym anone Who was so welcom as my lord dan Iohn Our dere cosyn ful of curtesie With hym he broughte a Iub of maluefie And eke another ful of fyn vernage And vitayl as was his vsage And thus I lete hem drynke ete and pleye This Marchaunt and this monk a day or tweye The thridde day the Marchaunt vp risith And on his nedis sadly hym auisith And vp to his countirhous goth he To rekene with hym self wel may be Of that yeer how that it with hym stood And how that he dispendid had his good And yf encresid he hadde or none His bokis and his baggis many one He leyeth beforn̄ hym on his countyng bord Ful riche was his tresour and his hord For whiche ful fast his countour he she••te And eke he wolde that noman sholde hym lette Of his accountynge for the mene tyme

And thus he sat til it was passid pryme Dan Iohn was risen in the morow also And in the gardyn walkid to and fro And sayde his thingis ful coriously This good wyf cam walking priuely Into the gardyn there as he walkid softe And hym salewid as she hath doon ofte A mayde child cam in her company Whiche as she list she may gouerne and gye For yet vnder the yerde was the mayde O dere cosyn myn dan Iohn she sayde What eylith you so rathe forto ryse Nece quod he it oughte ynough suffise Fyue houris to slepe on a nyght But it were for an old pallid wight As been thyse olde weddid men that lien & dare As in a fourme sittith a wery hare Were al for straught wit houndis grete & smale But dere nece why loke ye so pale I trow certis that our good man Hath you labourid sith the nyght began That you were nede to restyn hastely And with that word he lough ful merily And with his owen thought wext al reed This faire wyf gan shake her hed And sayde thus ye god woot quod she Nay cosyn it stondith not so with me For by that god that yaf me soule and lyf In al the r••me of Fraunce is ther no wyf

That lasse lust hath to that sory play For y may synge allas and wel a wey That I was born̄ but to no wyght quod she Dar I not telle how it stondith with me Wherfore I thinke out of this lond to wende Or ellis of my self to make an ende So ful am I of drede and of care This monk began vp on this wyf to stare And sayde allas myn nece god forbede Ye for ony sorow or for ony drede For do your self / but tel me your greef Parauenture I may in your myschief Counsel or helpe and therfor tellith me Al your annoye / for it shal secret be For on my port hose here I make myn oth That neuer in my lif for leef ne loth Ne shal I of no counsel you bewreye The same quod she to you y seye Be god and be this portose I you swere Though men wol me al to pecis tere Ne shal I neuer forto go to helle Bewrey o word of thing that ye me telle Nat for no cosynage / ne alliaunce But verily for loue / and affiaunce Thus been they swore and there vp on I kist And eche talkith to other what them list Cosyn quod she yf I hadde space As I haue none and namly in this place Than wolde I telle a legende of my lif

What I haue suffrid syn I was wyf With my husbonde al be he your cosyn Nay qd this monk by god & by saint Martyn He is nomore Cosyn to me Than is the leef that hangith on the tre I clepe hym so by seynt denys of Fraunce To haue of hym the more acqueyntaunce And of you whom I loue specially Aboue alle women sikirly This swere I you on my professioun Tellith your greef lest he come doun And hastith you and go awey anon My dere loue quod she o dan Iohn Ful leef were me this counsel to hyde But out it moot it may no lengir abyde My husbonde is to me the worste man That euer was sith the worlde began But sith I be cam a wyf it sittith not me To telle no wight our priuyte Neyther in bed ne in no place God shilde I sholde it telle for his grace A wyf sholde nat seyn of her husbonde But al honour as I can vnderstonde Saue vnto you thus muchel I telle shal As helpe me god he is not worth at al In•• no degre the value of a flye But yet me greuith most his nygardrye And well ye woot that women naturelly Desiren thingis as wel as do I

They wolde that her husbondis sholde be Hardy and wyse / riche and therto fre And buxom to his wyf and fressh a bedde But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde For his honour my self to araye A sonday next I muste nedis paye An hundrid frankis or ellis I am lore Yet were I leuer to the vnbore Than me were do disclaunder or vilony And yf my husbonde mighte it spye I nere but lost and therfore I you pray Lene me this fumme or ellis muste I dey Dane Iohn I say lene me this .C. frankis Parde I wol not fayle you my thankis If that ye list to do that I you pray For at a certayn day I wol you pay And don to you what plesaunce or seruise That I shal doon right as ye can deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as euer hadde genylioun of Fraunce This gentil monk answerde in this manere Now trewly myn owen lady dere I haue on you quod he so gret a routhe That I you swere and plight my trouth•• That whan your husbonde is to flaundris fa••e I wol deliuer you out of this care For I wyl brynge you an .C. frankis And with þ^• word he caught her by the shank••s And here enbraced harde & kiste her ofte

Goth now your wey quod he al stille & softe And lete vs dyne as sone as ye may For be my kalander it is pryme of the day Goth now and been as trewe as I shal be Now ellis god forbede sir quod she And forth she goth as ioly as a pye And bad the cokis that they sholde hye So that men mighte dyne atte none Vp to her husbonde is she goon And knockith at his countour boldly Who is there quod he Petir it am I Qu••d she what sire how longe wol ye faste How longe tyme wil ye rekyn and caste Your summys and your bokis & your thingis The deuyl haue part of all suche rekenyngis Ye haue ynough parde of goddis sonde Com doun to day and le••t your baggis stonde Ne be ye not a shamyd that dame Iohn Shal fast••nge al this longe day goon What lete vs go here amasse and go dyne Ye quod this man litil canst thou deuyne The cor••ous besin••s that we haue For of vs chapmen al so god me saue And by that lord that clepidis saint Iue Scarcely among twies ten twelue shal thryue Continuelly lastyng to their age We may wel make chere and good visage And dryue forth the worlde as it may be And kepe our astat in priu••te

Tyl we be ded or ellis that we pleye A pilgremage or goon out of the wey And therfore haue I gret necessite Vp on this queynte worlde to auyse me For euer more we muste stonde in drede Of hap and fortune in our Chapmanhede To Flaundris wol I go to morow at day And come ay••en as sone as euer I may For whiche dere wyf I the beseke As be to euery wight buxum and meke And forto kepe our good be corious And honestly gouerne wel our hous Thou hast ynough in euery maner wyse That to a thrifty housold may suffise The lackid none aray ne non vitayl Of siluer in thy purs shalt thou not fayll And with that word his countordore ••e shit And doun he goth he wolde no lenger lette But hastely amasse was there said And spedely the tablis were leid And to dyner faste they hem spedde And richely the chapman this monk fedde And aftir dynere Dan Iohn sobirly This chapman toke a part propirly And sayde hym thus / cosyn it stondith so That wel I s•• to Briggis wol ye go God and saint Augustyn spede you and gyde I pray you cosyn wisely the dir ye ryde Gouerne you also weel of your diete

Attemperly and namely in this hete Betwix vs two nedith no straunge fare Farwel cosyn god shilde you fro care And yf ony thing by day or by nyght Yf it be in my power or in my might That ye me wol comaunde in ony wyse Hit shal be do right as ye wol deuyse O thing or that ye goon yf it may be I pray you to lene it vnto me An hundrid frankis for a weke or tweye For certeyn bestis that I must beye To store with a place that is owris ••od helpe me so I wolde it were youris I shal not fayle surely of my day Nat for a thousand Frankis o myle way But lete this thing be secret I you pray Fo•• ••et this nyght this bestis muste I bey And fare now wel myn owen cosyn dere Gromercy of your cost and of your chere This nobi•• marchaunt and that anon Answ••rde and sayde o cosyn myn dan Iohn Now sikrely this is a smal request My gold is yowris whan that ye list And not only my gold but my chaffare Take that ye list god shilde that ye spare But o thing ye kn••we wel I nough Of chapmen that her money is her plough We may creaunce whyles we haue a name But goldlees forto he it is a shame

Pay it ••yen whan it lith at your ese After my might fayne wolde I you plese Thyse hundrid frankis fette he forth anon And priuely he took hem to dan Iohn No wight of al this lond wiste of this lone Sauyng this marchaunt and dan Iohn alone They drynke and speke & rome a whyle & pleye Til that dan Iohn ridith to his abbeye The morow cam & forth ridith this marchaunt To flan̄dris ward his prentis brought him auan̄t Til he com to Briggis wel and merily Now goth this marchaunt wel and besily Aboute his nedis and creaunsith and bieth He neyther pleyeth at the dys ne daunsith But as a marchaunt shortly to telle He ledde his lif and there I lete hym dwelle The sunday next that this marchaunt was a gon To saint denys is comyn dan Iohn With croune and berd al fresh & newe shaue In al this hous ther nas so litil a knaue Ne no wight ellis / but he was ful fayn That my lord dan Iohn was comyn agayn And shortly to the poynt right forto goon This faire wyf acordith with dan Iohn That for his hundrid frankis he sholde al night Haue here in his armys bolt vp right With her leggis al so brode and so wyde As of lengthe she may her self stryde And this accorde parfourmyd is in dede

In mirthe al nyght a besi lif they lede Dan Iohn fidelid on the ribibil His mynstralsie is swetter than the quynybil Til it was day that dan Iohn yede his way And bad the meyne farwel & haue good day For non of hem ne no wight in the toun Hath of dan Iohn ony suspecioun And forth he ridith hoom to his abbeye Or where hym list nomore of hym I sey This marchaunt whan that endid was the feire To seynt denys he gan agayn repaire And with his wyf he makith feste and chere And tellith here the chaffar is so dere That nedis muste he make a cheuesaunce For he was bounden in a reconysaunce To paye twenty thousand sheldis anon For whiche this marchaunt is to paris goon To borow of certeyn frendis that he hadde A certayn of frankis & some with hym he ladde And when that he was come in to the toun For chierte and greet affectioun Vnto dan Iohn he goth first hym to pleye Nat forto axe ne borowe of hym moneye But forto wite and se his welfare And forto tellyn hym of his chaffare As frendis doon when they mete in fere Dan Iohn hym makith feste & mery chere And he hym tolde ••ul specially How he hadde sped by and by

Thankid be god al hool his marchaundise Saue that he muste in alle maner wyse Makyn a cheuesaunce as for the beste And than he sholde be in ioye and reste Dan Iohn answerde certis I am fayn That ye in hele as comyn home agayn And yf that I were riche as I haue blis Of .xx. thousand sheldis sholde ye not mys For ye so kyndely this othir day Lent me gold and as I can and may I thanke you be god and be seynt Iame But natheles I took it vnto our dame Your wyf at hoom the same gold ayen Vp on your bench she woot it wel certeyn Be certeyn tokenys that I can you telle Now be your leue I may no lenger dwelle Our abbot wol out of this toun anon And in his company must I goon Grete wel our dame myn owen nece swete And farwel dere cosyn til we mete This marchaunt which þ^• was ful waar & wyse Creaunsid hath and paid eke in paris To certeyn lumbardis redy in her hond The somme of golde and gate of hem his bond And hoom he goth as mery as a popingeay For weel he knew he stood in such aray That nedis muste he wynne in that viage A thousand frankis aboue al his costage His wyf ful redy mette hym atte yate

As she was wont of old vsage algate And al that nyght in mirthe they be set For he was riche and cleerly out of det When it was day the marchaunt gan embrace His wyf al newe and kiste her in the face And vp he goth and makith it ful tough Nomore quod she be god ye haue ynough And wantownly ageyn with hym she playde Tyl a••te laste the marchaunt thus sayde Be god quod he I am a litil wroth With you my wyf al though it be me loth And woot ye why be god as I gesse That ye haue maad a maner straungenesse Betwix me and my Cosyn dan Iohn Ye sholde haue warned me or I had gon That he hadde you an hundrid frankis paid Be redy token and held hym euyl apaid For that I to hym spak of cheuesaunce Me semyd so as by his contenaunce But natheles be god our heuyn kyng I thoughte to axe of hym no thing I pray the wyf do nomore so Tel me now or I fro the go Yf ony dettour haue in myn absence Y payed the lest be thy negligence I mighte hym axe a thing that he hath paid This wyf was not a ferd ne affraid But boldly she sayde and that anon Mary I diffie that fals monk day Iohn

I kepe not of his tokenys neuer a deel He took me certeyn gold that wot I wel What euyl the dom on his monkis snowte For god it woot I wende withouten doute That he had yeue it me be cause of you To do therwith myn honour and my prow For cosinage and eke for belechere That he hath had ful ofte tymes here But seth I se it stont in suche disioynt I wol answere you shortly to the poynt Ye haue no slakker dectour than am I For I wol paye you redely Fro day to day yf so be I faylle I am your wyf skore it vp on my tayl And ellis I shal paye as sone as euer I may For be my trouthe I haue on myn aray And nat in wast bestowid it eueridel And for I haue bestowed it so weel For your honour for goddis sake I sey As be not worth and lete vs laughe and pleye Ye shal my ioly body haue to wedde Be god I wol not paye you but a bedde Forgyue it me myn owen spouse dere Turnyth hithir makith bettir chere This marchaunt saw ther was non other remedy And forto chide it were but a foly Syn that the thing may not other be Now wyf he sayde and I for yeue it the And be thy lif be nomore so large

Kepe bettir thy good this gyue I in charge Thus endith my tale and god vs sende Talyng ynough vnto our lyuys ende

¶Here endith the Shipmannys tale. Verba Hospitis.

WEl said by corpus dn̄s sayde our ost Now longe moot thou sayle by the cost Thou gentil maister gentil mariner God yeue the monk a thousand last quad yeer A ha felowes be waar of suche a Iape The monk put in the mannys hood an ape And in his wyuys eek by saint Austyn Draweth no monkes nomore to your Inne But now pas ouer and lete vs seke aboute Who shal telle a tale first of al this route Another tale and with that word he sayde As curteisly as it hadde be a mayde My lady Prioresse by your leue So that I wiste I shold you nat greue I wolde deme that ye tellyn sholde A tale next yf so were that ye wolde Now wil ye vouchesauf my lady dere Gladly quod she and sayde as ye shul here

¶Here begynneth the Prioresses prolog ¶Domine dn̄s noster quā admirabile est nomen tuū in vniuersa terra.

LOrd our lord thy name euer merueilous Is in this large worlde I spred quod she For nat only thy laude precious

Parfourmed is be men of dignyte But by the mouth of childryn thy bounte Parfourmyd is / for on thy brest sowkyng Somtyme shewd they thyn heryynge Wherfore in laude as I can and may Of the and of thy whyte lily flour Whiche that the baar and is mayde alway To telle a story I wol do my labour Not that y may encrece her honour For she her self is honoure and the rote Of beaute next her son̄ and soulis bote O modir mayde O mayde and moder fre O bussh vnbrent brennyng in Moyses sight That raueysshe dist doun from the deyte Thorou thyn humbles the gost that in the a light Of whoos vertu / when he thyn herte whit Conceyued was the fadris sapience Help me to telle it in thyn reuerence Lady thy bounte thy magnificence Thy vertu and thy grete humylite Ther may no tunge expresse in no science For somtyme lady or men praye the Thow gost beforn̄ of thy benignyte And getist vs light of thy praiere To giden vs vnto thy sone so dere My konnyng is so week o blisful quene Forto declare thyn high worthynesse That I ne may thy wit sustene But as a child of twelfmonth old of lesse

That can vnnethe ony word expresse Right so fare I and therfore I you pray Gidith my songe as I shal you say

¶Here endith the Prioresses prolog. ¶And here begynneth her tale.

THer was in asie in a gret Citee Among cristyn folk a Iurye Susteyned by a lord of that contre For foul vsurye and lucre of vilony Hateful to crist and to his company And thorow this strete men mighte ryde & wende For it was fre and opyn at euery ende A l••til scole of cristen folk ther stood Doun a••te ferther ende in whiche ther were Childryn an heep comyn of cristen blood That lerned in scole yeer by yeer Suche maner doctryne as men vsen here This is to say to syngen and to rede As smale children doon in her childhede Among thyse childryn was ther a widowis son A litil clergion .vij. yeer of age That day by day to scole was his wone And eke also wher that he saw the Image Of cristis moder had he in vsage As hym was taught to knele a doun and say His Aue maria as he goth by the way Thus hath this w••dow har litil sone taught Our blissed lady cristis moder dere To worship ay and he forgat it nought

For the s••ly child wolde alwey sone lere But ay when I remembrid me on this matere Seynt Nicholas stont euer in my presence For he so yong to crist did reuerence This litil childe his litil book lernynge As he sat in the scole at his prymere He Alma redemptoris mater herd syng As children lernyd here antiphoner And as he durste he drew hym nere and nere And herkenyd ay the wordis and the note Til he the firste vers coude al be rote Naught wiste he what this latyn was to say For he so yong and tender was of age But on a day his felow gan he pray To expoune his song and his langage Or telle hym why this song was in vsage This prayde he hym to constrew and declare Ful ofte tymes vp on his knees bare His felow whiche that elder was than he Answerde hym thus this song I haue herd sey Was makid of our blissid lady f••e Her to salue and eke her forto preye To be our help and socour whan we deye I can nomore expoune in this matere I lerne song I can but litil gramere And is this song maad in reuerence Of cristis moder said this Innocent Now certeyn I wol do my diligence To conne it al or cristmas is al y went

Though that I for my prymer be shent And sholde be bete thries in an hour I wol it conne our lady to honour His felow taughte hym homward priuely Fro day to day til he coude it al be rote And than he song it wel and boldly Fro word to word accordyng to the note Twis a day it passid thorow his throte To scoleward and homward whan he wente On cristis modir set was al his entent As I haue said thorou out the Iurye This litil child as he cam to and fro Ful merily wolde he synge and crye O alma redemptoris mater euer mo The swetnesse his herte persid so Of cristis moder that he to her prey He can not stynte of singinge by the wey Our firste foo the serpent sathanas That hath in Iues herte his waspis nest Vp swal and sayde o ebreik pepil allas Is this a thing that is to vs honest That suche aboy shal walkyn as hym list In our despit and synge of suche sentence Whiche is ayenst our lawes reuerence Fro thens forth the Iewis haue conspirid This Innocent out of this worlde to chace An homicide therto haue they hirid Right at an aley at a pryue place And as the childe gan forth by to pace

This cursid Iue hym hent and held faste And cutte his throte and in a pit hym cast I say that in a warderobe they hym threw Where as the Ines purgid her entrayl O cursid folk of herodis al newe What may your euyl entent you auayl Murdir wol out certeyn it wol not fayl And namely as the honour of god shal sprede The blood out crieth on your cursid dede Martir sowdid vnto virginite Now maist thou synge folowyng euer in on The whyte lamb celestial quod she Of whiche the grete euangelist saint Iohn In pathmos wroot whiche saith that they goon Beforn̄ this lamb & synge a song al newe That neuer fleshly woman they ne knewe This poure widow awaytith al nyght Aftir her litil child and he cam nought For whiche as sone as it was daies light With face pale and drede and besy thought She hath at scole and ellis where hym sought Tyl finally so fer she gan to espye That he last was seyn in the Iurye With modirs pyte in her herte enclosid She goth as she were half oute of her mynde To euery place where she hath supposid By liklihede her child for to fynde And euer on cristis moder meke and kynde She cryde and at the last thus she wrought

Among the cursid Iues she hym soughte She axith and she freyneth pitously Of euery Iue that duellid in that place To telle her yf her child wente aught forth by Th••y sayde nay but Ihesu of his grace Yaf in her thought with ynne a litil space That in that place aftir her son she cryde Where he was cast in a pit beside O grete god that parfourmyst thy laude By mouth of Innocentis lo here thy might This gemme of chastite this emeraud And eke of martirdom the ruby bright There he with throte I coruyn lith vpright He Alam redemptoris gan to synge So loude that al the place gan rynge The cristen folk that by the strete went In cam forto wondir vp on this thing And hastely they for the Prouost sent Whiche fonde the childe freshly yet bledyng And herieth crist that is of heuene kyng And eke his modir honour of mankynde And aftir that the Iues lete he bynde This child with petous lamentacion Vp takyn was synging this song alwey And with honour and gret processioun They carye hym in to the nexte abbey His modir swonnyng by his bere lay Vnnethe mighte the pepil that was there This sorouful rachel meue from the bere

With turment & with shamful deth echon This prouost doth thyse Iues forto sterue That of this murdir wist and that anon He nolde no suche cursidnes obserue Euyl shal he haue that euyl wol deserue Wherfore with wilde hors he did hem drawe And aftir hangid hem by the lawe Vp on his bere ay lieth this Innocent Before the hy anter whyle the high masse last And aftir that the abbot and his couent Hem spedde forto bery hym ful fast And whan they holy water on hym cast Yet spak this child whan spreynt it was He sang o Alma redemptoris in the plas This abbot whiche that was an holy man As monkes been or ellis oughte to be This yonge child to coniure he began And sayde o dere child I halouse the In the vertu of the holy trinite Tel me what is thy cause for to synge Syn that thy throte is cut to my semynge My throte is kut vnto myn neckeboon Sayde this child and as be wey of kynde I sholde a deide long tyme agoon But Ihesu as ye in bokis fynde Wol that his glory laste and be in mynde And for the worship of his moder dere Yet may I synge o alma loude and c••ere This welle of mercy cristis moder swete

I louyd alwey and aftir my konnynge And when that I my lif sholde forlete To me she cam and bad me forto synge This anteme verily in my dyinge As ye haue herd and when that I had songe Me thoughte she leyde a greyn on my tonge Wherfore y synge and synge muste certeyn In honour of that blissed mayde fre Til fro m•• tonge takyn is the greyn And aftir thus sayde she to me My litil child than wol I fecche the W••••n that the greyn is fro thy tonge I take Be not agast I wil the not forsake This holy monk this abbot of hym mene I His tunge out caughte & toke awey the greyn And ••e ••af vp the gost ful softely And when this abbot had this meruayl sayn His salt teris trillid doun as reyn And groueling he fyl to the grounde And s••ille he lay as he had be y bounde The couent eke lay vp on the pament Wepynge and ••er••ying cristis modir dere And aftir that vp they roo•• & forth they went And toke awey this martir fro his bere And in a tombe of marbil stonys clere Enclosyn they this litil body swete There he is new god leue vs forto mete O yonge hewe of lincolnn̄ slayn also With cursid Iues as it is notabil

For it is but a lityl whyle a go Prey eke for vs we sinful folk vnstabil That of his mercy / god so merciable On vs his grete mercy multiplye For reuerence of his modir Mary

¶Here endith the Prioressez tale.

WHan said was this myrakil euery man As sobir was that wonder was to se Til that our ost to iapyn began And than at erst he lokid vp on me And sayde thus what maner mā art thou qd he Thou lokist as thou woldist fynde an hare For euer vp on the ground I se the stare Approche neer and loke vp merily Now ware sirs and lete this man haue place He is shape in the wast as wel as I This were a Popet in an arm to embrace For ony woman smal and fair of face He semyth eluyssh be his contenaunce For vnto no wight doth he daliaunce Say now sumwhat syn other folk haue said Tel vs a tale of mirthe and that anon Hoste quod I ne be not euyl apaid For othir tale certeyn can I noon But of a ryme I lernyd longe a goon Ye quod he that is good ynow let vs ••ere Som deynte thing me thynkith be thy chere

.Ryme of sir Topas.

LEsten lordis in good entent

And I wol telle verament Of mirthe and of solace Of a knyght fair and gent In batayl and in turnament His name was sir Thopas I borne he was in fer contre In Flaundris al be yond the se At Popering in the place His fad••r was a man ful fre A lord he was of that contre As it was goddis grace Sir Thopas wext a doughty sweyn Whit was his face as paynemeyn His lippis rede as rose His rode is lik scarlet in greyn As I telle you in good certeyn He hadde a semely nose His heer his berd was lik saffron That to his girdil raught a doun His shoon of cordeweyn Of briggis were his hosyn broun His robe was of siclatoun That coste many a Ian He coude hunte atte wilde deer And ryde an hawkyng for ryuere With grey goschauk in honde Therto he was a greet archer Of wrastlyng was ther none his peer Ther ony ram sholde stonde

They moornyd for hym par amour Whan hem were bet to slepe But he was chast and no lechour And swete as is the Brembil flour That berith the rede hepe And so it fil vp on a day For sothe as I you telle may Sir Thopas wolde out ryde He worde vp on his hors bay And in his hond a launcegay A long swerd be his syde He prykid thorou a fair forest Ther ynne is many a wilde best Ye bothe buk and hare And as he pryked north and est I telle it you hym hadde almest Betyd a sory care Ther sprongen herbis grete and smale The licorice and the Cetuale And many a cloue gilofer And notemyg to put in ale Whethir it be moist or stale Or forto ley in Cofir The briddis synge it is no nay The sperhauke and the Popingeay That ioye was to here The throstil made eke his lay The wode dowue vp on the spray He sang ful loude and clere

Sir Thopas fil in loue longinge Al when he herde the throstil synge And prikid as he were wood Hes faire stede in his prikynge So swette that men mighte hym wrynge His sidis were al blood Sire Thopas eke so wery was For prikyng in the softe gras So fiers was his corage That doun he leyde hym in the place To make his stede ••um solace And yaf hym good forage A sainte marie benedicite What aylith this loue at me To bynde me so sore Me dremyd al this nyght parde An elf quene sholde my lady be And slepe vnder my goore An elf quene wol I haue ywis For in this worlde no woman is Worthy to be my make in toun Al othir women I forsake And to an elf quene y me take Be dale and eke be doune And to his sadil he ••lamb anone And prikid ouer st••••e and stoon An elf quen•• to aspye Til he so longe hath riden and goon That he found a priuy wone

In the contre of fairy For in that cuntre was ther noon Neythir wyf ne child one That he had of ony drede Tyl that ther cam a gret geaunt His name was sir Ol••phaunt A parlous man of dede And sayde child be termegaunt But yf thou pryke out of myn haunt Anone I sle thy stede with mace Here is this quene of fairye With harpe and pype and simphonye Duellynge in this place The child sayde al so mot I the To morow wil I mete with the When that I haue myn armure And yet I hope par ma fay Or it be fully pryme of the day For here shalt thou be slawe Sir Thopas drew a bak ful faste The geaunt at hym stones caste Ou•• of a fel staf slynge Bu•• faire ascapid sir Thopas And al was thorough goddis grace And thorough his fair berynge Yet lestenyth lordyng to my tale Meri•••• than the nyghtyngale I wil with you roun How ••ir Thopas with sidys sm••le

Prikyng ouer hill and dale Is comyn agayn to toun His mery men comaundith he To maken hym bothe game and gle For nedis must hym fighte With a geaunt with heddis thre Ful of paramour and iolyte Of som̄e that shoon so bright Com hithir he sayde my mynstralis And gestours for to telle talis Anone in myn armynge Of romauncis that been ryal Of Popis and of Cardinal And eek of loue longyng They fet hym ferst swete wyne And mede in a masselyne And ryal spiclory Of gyngerbred that was so fyn And licorice and eek comyn With sugir that is try He did next his whit lere Of cloth of layke fyne and clere A breche and eke a she••te And next his sherte an haketon And ouer that an habergeon For Persing of his herte And ouer that a fyn hanberk Was al y wrought of Iuys werk Ful strong it was of plate

And ouer that his cote armure As whit as is the lily flour In whiche he wol debate His sheld was al of gold so reed And therynne was a boris hed A karbokil be his syde And there se swoor an ale and bred How that the Ieaunt shal be ded Betyde what may be tyde His Iambedeux were of quyreboly His swerdis shethe of Iuory His helm of latoun bright His sadyl was of rewelbone His bridyl as the sonne shoon Or as the mone light His spere was of fyn Cypresse That bedith werre and no thing pees The hed ful sharp y grounde His stede was al dappyl grey It goth an ambil in the way Ful softely and rounde Lo lordis here is o fit If ye wol ony more of it To telle yet wil I fonde NOw hold your mouth pour charite Bothe knyght and lady fre And herkenyth to my spelle Of a bataylle of chyualrye And of ladyes loue drury

Anon I wil you telle Men spekyn of romauncis of price Of hornchild and of Ipotise Of beues and of sir Guy Of sir libeuy and of sir playndemour But sir Thopas berith the flour Of rial Chyualrye His gode stede he gan be stryde And forth vp on his wey he ryde As sparc••e out of bronde Vp on his crest he baar a tour And there ynne stikid a lily flour God shilde his body from shonde And for be was a knyght aunterous He nolde slepyn in none hous But liggen in his hood His bright helm was his wonger And b•• h••m lith his destrer On herbis fyn and good Hym self drank water of the welle As did the kn••ght sir precyuelle So worthily vnder w••ed NO more quod our ost for goddis dignite For thou so werry makist me Of thy verry lewdnesse That also wis my soule bles Myn eris akyn of thy drafty speche Suche another ryme the deuyl I beteche This may wel be a ryme dogerel quod he

Why so quod I why wolt thou let me More of my tale than another man Syn it is the beste ryme that I can Be god quod he ful plainly at o worde Thy drafty rymynge is not word a tord Thou dost naught ellis but spendist tyme Sir at o word thou shalt no lengir ryme Let se wher thou canst aught telle in geste Or tellen in prose sumwhat that the ••ist In whiche ther may be som mirthe or som doctrine Gladly quod I be goddis swete pyne I wol you telle a litil thyng in prose That oughte like you as I suppose Or ellis certis ye been to daungerous It is a moral tale vertuous Albe it told somtyme in sondry wyse Of sondry folk as I shal you deuyse And thus ye woot that euery euangelist That telle vs the passyon of crist Ne saith not al thing as his felow doth But natheles her sentence is al soth And al accordinge as in her sentence Al be ther in her telling difference For som of hem saith more and som lesse When they his pitous passion expresse I mene of Mark Mathew Luke and Iohn But doutles her sentence is al on Therfore lordingis I you beseche If that ye thynke I vary in my speche

As thus though that I telle somdeel more Of prouerbis than ye haue herd before Comprehendid in this litil tretis here To enforce with the effect of my matere And though I not the same wordis say As ye haue herd yet to you alle I pray Blameth me not for as in my sentence Shulle ye now here fynde no difference For the sentence of this trete lite Aftir the whiche mery tale this I write And therfore harkenyth what I shal say And lete me telle my tale I you pray

Sequitur Chawcers tale.