THE FRIAR'S PROLOGUE AND TALE IN THE HENGWRT MANUSCRIPT OF THE CANTERBURY TALES
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This worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made alwey / a manere louryng cheere
Vp on the Somnour / but for hone{s}tee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
But atte la{s}te / he seyde vn to the wyf
¶ Dame quod he god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al {s}o mote I thee
In scole matere / greet difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thyng/ right wel I seye
But dame / here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat/ to speken / but of game
And lete Auctoritees / on goddes name
To prechyng/ and to scole of clergye
But/ if it like / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a Somnour telle a game
Pardee / ye may wel knowe by the name
That of a Somn|our| / may no good be {s}ayd
I praye / that noon of yow / be ypayd
A somnour / is a rennere vp and doun
With mandementz / for fornicacioun
And is ybet/ at euery townes ende
¶ Oure hoo{s}t tho spak / a sire ye sholde be hende
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And curteys / as a man of youre e{s}taat/
In compaignye / we wol no debaat/
Telleth youre tale / and lat the Somn|our| be
¶ Nay quod the Somn|our| / lat hym seye to me
What so hym li{s}t/ whan it comth to my lot/
By god / I shal hym quyten euery grot/
I shal hym telle / which a gret honour
It is / to be a flaterynge lymytour
And of / many another maner cryme
Which nedeth nat rehercen / for this tyme
And his office / I shal hym telle ywys
¶Oure hoo{s}t an{s}werde / pees namoore of this
And after this / he seyde vn to the frere
Tel forth youre tale / leeue mai{s}ter deere
¶Here endeth the prologe of the ffrere
Whilom / ther was dwellynge in my contree
An Erchedekne / a man of hy degree
That boldely / dide execucio|un|
In puny{ss}hynge of ffornicacio|un|
Of wicchecraft/ and eek of Bawderye
Of diffamacio|un| / and auoutrye
Of chirche Reues / and of te{s}tamentz
Of contractes / and eek of lakke of sacramentz
Of v{s}ure / and of Symonye al{s}o
But |cer|tes / lecchours / dide he grette{s}t wo
They sholde syngen if that they were hent/
And smale tytheres were foule y{s}chent/
If any |per|{s}o|un| / wold vp on hem pleyne
Ther myghte a{s}terte hym no pecunial peyne
ffor smale tithes |&| for smal offryng/
he made the peple ful pitu{s}ly to {s}yng/
ffor er the by{ss}chop caght hem |with| hys hooc
They were in the erchdeknys book/
And thanne had he thurgh hys Iuri{s}diccion
Power / to do on hem correccion
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He hadde a Somn|our| / redy to his hond
A slyer boy / nas noon in Engelond
ffor subtilly / he hadde his e{s}piaille
That taughte hym / wher hym myghte auaille
He koude spare / of lecchours / oon or two
To techen hym / to foure and twenty mo
ffor theigh this Somn|our| / wood were as an hare
To telle his harlotrye / I wol nat spare
ffor we been / out of his correccio|un|
They han of vs / no Iuri{s}diccio|un|
Ne neu|uer|e shullen / terme of hir lyues
¶Peter / so been wommen of the Styves
Quod the Somnour / yput out of my cure
¶Pees with my{s}chaunce / and with my{s}auenture
Thus seyde oure hoo{s}t / and lat hym telle his tale
Now telleth forth / thogh |þt| the Somn|our| gale
Ne spareth nat/ myn owene may{s}ter deere
¶This fal{s}e theef/ this Somn|our| / quod the frere
Hadde alwey / baudes redy to his hond
As any hauk/ to lure in Engelond
That tolde hym / al the secree |þt| they knewe
ffor hire aqueyntance / was nat come of newe
They weren / hi{s}e Approwours pryuely
He took hym self / a greet |pro|fit ther by
His mai{s}ter knew nat alwey / what he wan
With outen mandement/ a lewed man
He koude somne / on peyne of cri{s}tes curs
And they were glade / for to fille his purs
And make hym / grete fe{s}tes atte nale
And right as Iudas / hadde pur{s}es smale
And was a theef/ right swich a theef was he
His mai{s}ter / hadde but half his duetee
He was / if I shal yeuen hym his laude
A theef / and eek a somnour / and a baude
He hadde eek wenches / at his retenue
That wheither |þt| sir |Robert| / or sir hewe
Or Iakke / or Rauf/ or who {s}o that it were
That lay by hem / they tolde it in his ere
Thus was the wenche and he / of oon a{ss}ent/
And he wolde fecche / a feyned mandement/
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And somne hem to Chapitre / bothe two
And pile the man / and lete the wenche go
¶Thanne wolde he seye / freend I shal for thy sake
Do stryke / hir / out of oure lettres blake
Thee thar namoore / as in this cas |tra|uaille
I am thy freend / ther I thee may auaille
Certeyn / he knew of bryberyes mo
Than po{ss}ible is / to telle in yeres two
ffor in this world / nys dogge for the bowe
That kan an hurt deer / from an hool knowe
Bet than this Somn|our| / knew a sly lecchour
Or an Auouter / or a |per|amour
And for that was / the fruyt of al his rente
Ther fore on it / he {s}ette al his entente
¶And so bifel / that ones on a day
This Somnour / eu|uer|e waityng on his pray
ffor to somne an old wydewe / a Ribibe
ffeynynge a cau{s}e / for he wolde brybe
Happed / that he say / bifore hym ryde
A gay yeman / vnder a ffore{s}t syde
A bowe he bar / and arwes brighte |&| kene
He hadde vp on / a courtepy of grene
An hat vp on his heed / with frenges blake
¶Sir quod this Somn|our| / hayl / and wel atake
¶Wel come quod he / and euery good felawe
Wher ride{s}tow / vnder this grene shawe
Seyde this yeman / wiltow fer to day
¶This Somnour hym an{s}werde / and seyde nay
Here fa{s}te by quod he / is myn entente
To ryden / for to rey{s}en vp a rente
That longeth / to my lordes duetee
¶Artow thanne a Bailly{?.} / ye quod he
He dor{s}te nat/ for verray filthe and shame
Seye |þt| he was a Somn|our| / for the name
¶De{p+}dieux quod this yeman / deere brother
Thow art a bailly / and I am another
I am vnknowen / as in this contree
Of thyn aqueyntance / I wolde praye thee
And eek of bretherhede / if |þt| yow le{s}te
I haue gold / and siluer/ in my che{s}te
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If that thee happed / to come in oure shire
Al shal be thyn / right as thow wolt de{s}ire
¶Graunt |mer|cy quod this Somn|our| / by my feith
Euerich in ootheres hond / his trouthe leyth
ffor to be sworn bretheren / til they deye
In daliaunce / they ryden forth and pleye
¶This Somn|our| / which |þt| was / as ful of Iangles
As ful of venym / been thi{s}e waryangles
And eu|uer|e enqueryng/ vp on euery thyng/
Brother quod he / wher is now youre dwellyng/
Another day / if |þt| I sholde yow seche
This yeman hym an{s}werde / in softe speche
¶Brother quod he / fer in the North contree
Wher as I hope / {s}om tyme I shal thee see
Er we departe / I shal thee {s}o wel wi{ss}e
That of myn hous / ne shaltow ne|uer|e my{ss}e
¶Now brother quod this Somn|our| / I yow preye
Teche me / whil |þt| we ryden by the weye
Syn |þt| ye been a Baillyf / as am I
Som subtiltee / and tel me feithfully
In myn office / how I may moo{s}t wynne
And spareth nat/ for con{s}cience ne synne
But as my brother / tel me how do ye
¶Now by my trouthe / brother deere / seyde he
As I shal tellen thee / a feithful tale
My wages been / ful {s}treyte / and ful smale
My lord is hard to me / and daungerous
And myn office / is ful laborous
And therfore / by extorcions I lyue
ffor sothe I take / al that men wol me yeue
Algate / by sleighte / or by violence
ffro yeer to yeer / I wynne al my di{s}pence
I kan no bettre tellen / feithfully
¶Now certes quod this Somn|our| / {s}o fare I
I spare nat to taken / god it woot/
But it be to heuy / or to hoot/
What I may gete / in con{s}eil |pri|uely
No manere con{s}cience / of that haue I
Nere myn extorcio|un| / I myghte na lyuen
Ne of swiche Iapes / wol I nat be shryuen
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Stomak/ ne Con{s}cience / ne knowe I noon
I sherewe / thi{s}e Shryfte{s}fadres eu|uer|ychon
Wel be we met/ by god / and by seint Iame
But leeue brother / tel me thanne thy name
Quod this Somnour / in this mene whyle
This yeman / gan a litel for to smyle
¶Brother quod he / woltow |þt| I thee telle
I am a feend / my dwellyng/ is in helle
And here I ryde / aboute my purcha{s}yng/
To wite / wher men wolde yeue me any thyng/
My |pur|chas / is theffect of al my rente
Looke how thow ryde{s}t/ for the same entente
To wynne good / thow rekke{s}t neu|uer|e how
Right {s}o fare I / for ryde wold I now
Vn to the worldes ende / for a preye
¶A quod this Somn|our| / benedicite what sey ye
I wende / ye were a yeman trewely
Ye han a mannes shap / as wel as I
Han ye a figure thanne / de|ter|mynat
In helle ther ye been / in youre e{s}tat
¶Nay |cer|teynly quod he / ther haue we noon
But whan vs liketh / we kan take vs oon
Or ellis make yow seme / we ben shape
Som tyme / lyk a man / or lyk an Ape
Or lyk an Aungel / kan I ryde or go
It is no wonder thyng/ theigh it be so
A lou{s}y Iogelour / kan deceyue thee
And pardee yet kan I / moore craft than he
¶Whi quod this Somnour / ryde ye thanne or goon
In sondry shap / and nat alwey in oon
¶ffor we quod he / wol vs swiche formes make
As moo{s}t able is / oure preyes for to take
¶What maketh yow / to han al this labour
¶fful many a cau{s}e / leue sir Somnour
Seyde this feend / but alle thyng hath tyme
The day is short / and it is pa{ss}ed pryme
And yet/ ne wan I no thyng/ in this day
I wol entende / to wynnyng / if I may
And nat entende / oure wittes to declare
ffor brother myn / thy wit is al to bare
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To vnder{s}tonde / al thogh I tolde hem thee
But for thow axe{s}t/ why labouren we
ffor som tyme / we been goddes In{s}trumentz
And meenes / to doon his comandementz
Whan that hym li{s}t / vp on his creatures
In di|uer|s art/ and in di|uer|{s}e figures
With outen hym / we han no myght |cer|tayn
If that hym ly{s}t/ to {s}tonde ther agayn
And som tyme / at oure preyere / han we leue
Oonly the body / and nat the soule greue
Witne{ss}e on Iob / whom |þt| we diden wo
And som tyme / han we myght of bothe two
This is to seyn / of soule and body eke
And som tyme / be we suffred for to seke
Vp on a man / and do his soule vnre{s}te
And nat his body / and al is for the be{s}te
Whan he with {s}tandeth / oure temptacio|un|
It is / a cau{s}e / of his sauacio|un|
Al be it/ that it was / nat oure entente
He sholde be sauf/ but |þt| we wolde hym hente
And som tyme / be we |{s}8|uant/ vn to man
As to the Erchebi{ss}ho|pre| / Seint Dun{s}tan
And to the Apo{s}tles / seruant eek was I
¶Yet tel me / quod the Somn|our| feithfully
Make ye yow newe bodyes / thus alway
Of Elementz{?} / the feend an{s}werde nay
Som tyme we feyne / and som tyme we ary{s}e
With dede bodyes / in ful {s}ondry wy{s}e
And speke as renably / and faire and wel
As to the Phitoni{ss}a / dide Samuel
And yet wol som men seye / it was nat he
I do no fors / of youre dyuynytee
But o thyng warne I thee / I wol nat Iape
Thow wolt algates wite / how we be shape
Thow shalt her afterwardes / my brother deere
Come there / thee nedeth nat of me to lere
ffor thow shalt/ by thyn owene experience
Konne in a chayer / rede of this sentence
Bet than Virgile / whil he was on lyue
Or Dant al{s}o / now lat vs ryde blyue
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ffor I wol holde / compaignye with thee
Til it be so / that thow for{s}ake me
¶Nay quod this Somn|our| / that shal nat bityde
I am a yeman / knowen is ful wyde
My trouhte wol I holde / as in this cas
ffor theigh thow were / the deuel Sathanas
My trouthe wol I holde / to thee my brother
As I am sworn / and ech of vs til oother
ffor to be trewe brother / in this cas
And bothe we goon / abouten oure purchas
Taak thow thy part/ what |þt| men wol thee yeue
And I shal myn / thus may we bothe lyue
And if that any of vs / haue moore than oother
Lat hym be trewe / and parte it with his brother
¶I graunte quod the deuel / by my fey
And with that word / they ryden forth hir wey
And right at the entryng/ of the townes ende
To which this Somnour / shoop hym for to wende
They saye a Cart/ that charged was |with| hey
Which that a Cartere / droof forth in his wey
Deep was the wey / for which the Carte {s}tood
This Carter smoot/ and cryde as he were wood
Hayt Brok/ hayt Scot/ what spare ye for the stones
The feend quod he / yow fecche body and bones
As ferforthly / as euere were ye foled
So muchel wo / as I haue with yow tholed
The deuel haue al / bothe hors / and Cart/ and hey
¶This Somn|our| seyde / heer shul we han a pley
And neer the feend he drogh / as noght ne were
fful pryuely / and rowned in his ere
Herkne my brother / herkne by thy feith
Here{s}tow nat/ how |þt| the Cartere seith
Hent it anon / for he hath yeue it thee
Bothe hey / and Cart/ and eek his caples thre
¶Nay quod the deuel / god woot/ neuer a del
It is nat his entente / tru{s}t thow me wel
Axe hym thy self / if thow nat trowe{s}t me
Or ellys stynt a while / and thow shalt se
¶This Cartere / taketh his hors {^}{{vp}} on the croupe
And they bigonne / drawen and to stoupe
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Heyt now quod he / ther |Iesu| cri{s}t yow ble{ss}e
And al his handes werk/ bothe moore and le{ss}e
That was wel twight/ myn owene lyard boy
I pray god saue thee / and Seint loy
Now is my Cart/ out of the slow pardee
¶Lo brother quod the feend / what tolde I thee
Heere may ye se / myn owene deere brother
The Carl spak o thyng/ but he thoghte another
Lat vs go forth / abouten oure viage
Heere wynne I no thyng vp on cariage
¶Whan that {^}{{they}} coomen / {s}om what out of towne
This Somnour / to his brother gan to rowne
Brother quod he / here woneth an old rebekke
That hadde almoo{s}t/ as leef to le{s}e hir nekke
As for to yeue a peny / of hir good
I wol han .xij. pens / thogh that she be wood
Or I wol somne hir / vn to oure office
And yet god woot/ of hir knowe I no vice
But for thow can{s}t nat/ as in this contree
Wynne thy co{s}t/ taak heer en{s}ample of me
This Somnour / clappeth at the wydwes gate
Com out quod he / thow olde viritrate
I trowe thow ha{s}t/ {s}om frere / or pree{s}t with thee
¶Who clappeth seyde this wyf / benedicitee
God saue yow sire / what is youre swete wille
¶I haue quod he / of somonce a bille
Vp peyne of cur{s}yng/ looke that thow be
To morn / bifore the Erchedeknes knee
Tan{s}were to the court/ of |cer|teyn thynges
¶Now lord quod she / cri{s}t |Iesu| kyng of kynges
So wi{s}ly helpe me / as I ne may
I haue been syk/ and that ful many a day
I may nat go so fer quod she / ne ryde
But I be deed / so priketh it in my syde
May I nat axe a libel / {s}ir Somnour
And an{s}were there / by my procutour
To swich thyng/ as men wole oppo{s}en me
¶Yis quod this Somnour / pay anoon lat see
Twelf pens to me / and I wol thee acquyte
I shal no |pro|fit han ther by / but lyte
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My Mai{s}ter hath the profit / and nat I
Com of / and lat me ryden ha{s}tily
Yif me .xij. pens / I may no lenger tarye
¶Twelf pens quod she / now lady Seinte Marie
So wi{s}ly help me god / out of care and synne
This wyde world / thogh that I sholde wynne
Ne haue I nat .xij. pens / with Inne myn hoold
Ye knowen wel / that I am poure and oold
Kythe youre alme{ss}e / on me poure wrecche
¶Nay thanne quod he / the foule feend me fecche
If I thexcu{s}e / theigh thow shul be spilt/
¶Allas quod she / god woot I haue no gilt/
¶Pay me quod he / or by the swete Seinte Anne
As I wol bere awey / thy newe panne
ffor dette / which thow owe{s}t me of oold
Whan |þt| thow made{s}t / thyn hou{s}bonde cokewold
I payde at hom / for thy correccio|un|
¶Thow lyxt quod she / by my sauacio|un|
Ne was I ne|uer|e er now / wydwe ne wyf/
Somoned vn to youre court/ in al my lyf /
Ne ne|uer|e I nas / but of my body trewe
Vn to the deuel / blak/ and row of hewe
Yeue I thy body / and my panne al{s}o
¶And whan the deuel / herde hir cur{s}en so
Vp on hir knees / he seyde in this manere
Now Mabely / myn owene moder deere
Is this youre wyl in erne{s}t / |þt| ye seye
¶The deuel quod she / so fecche hym or he deye
And panne and al / but he wol hym repente
¶Nay olde stot/ that is nat myn entente
Quod this Somnour / for to repente me
ffor any thyng/ that I haue had of thee
I wolde I hadde thy smok / and euery clooth
¶Now brother quod the deuel / be noght wrooth
Thy body and this panne / been myne by right
Thow shalt |with| me to helle / yet to nyght/
Wher thow shalt knowen / of oure pryuetee
Moore / than a mai{s}ter of dyuynytee
And with that word / this foule feend hym hente
Body and soule / he with the deuel wente
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Wher as that Somnours / han hir heritage
And god / that made after his ymage
Mankynde / saue / and gyde vs alle and some
And leue thi{s}e Somn|our|s / good men to bicome
¶Lordynges / I koude han told yow / quod this frere
Hadde I had ley{s}er / for this Somn|our| heere
After the text / of cri{s}t/ Poul and |Iohan|
And of oure othere doctours / many oon
Swiche peynes / that youre hertes myghte agry{s}e
Al be it {s}o / no tonge may {^}{{it}} deuy{s}e
Thogh that I myghte / a thou{s}and wynter telle
The peynes / of thilke cur{s}ed hous of helle
But for to kepe vs / fro that cur{s}ed place
Waketh / and preyeth |Iesu| for his grace
So kepe vs / fro the temptour Sathanas
Herketh this word / beth war as in this cas
The leo|un| sit/ in his awayt alway
To sle the Innocent/ if that he may
Di{s}po{s}eth ay youre hertes / to with{s}tonde
The feend / that yow wolde maken thral and bonde
He may nat tempte yow / ouer your myght /
ffor cri{s}t/ wol be youre champion and knyght/
And prayeth / that this Somn|our|s hem repente
Of hir my{s}dedes / er that the feend hem hente
¶Here endeth / the freres tale
{{Folio 73v}}
¶The prologe of the ffreres tale
This worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made alwey / a manere louryng cheere
Vp on the Somnour / but for hone{s}tee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
But atte la{s}te / he seyde vn to the wyf
¶ Dame quod he god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al {s}o mote I thee
In scole matere / greet difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thyng/ right wel I seye
But dame / here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat/ to speken / but of game
And lete Auctoritees / on goddes name
To prechyng/ and to scole of clergye
But/ if it like / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a Somnour telle a game
Pardee / ye may wel knowe by the name
That of a Somn|our| / may no good be {s}ayd
I praye / that noon of yow / be ypayd
A somnour / is a rennere vp and doun
With mandementz / for fornicacioun
And is ybet/ at euery townes ende
¶ Oure hoo{s}t tho spak / a sire ye sholde be hende
{{Folio 74r}}
And curteys / as a man of youre e{s}taat/
In compaignye / we wol no debaat/
Telleth youre tale / and lat the Somn|our| be
¶ Nay quod the Somn|our| / lat hym seye to me
What so hym li{s}t/ whan it comth to my lot/
By god / I shal hym quyten euery grot/
I shal hym telle / which a gret honour
It is / to be a flaterynge lymytour
And of / many another maner cryme
Which nedeth nat rehercen / for this tyme
And his office / I shal hym telle ywys
¶Oure hoo{s}t an{s}werde / pees namoore of this
And after this / he seyde vn to the frere
Tel forth youre tale / leeue mai{s}ter deere
¶Here endeth the prologe of the ffrere
Whilom / ther was dwellynge in my contree
An Erchedekne / a man of hy degree
That boldely / dide execucio|un|
In puny{ss}hynge of ffornicacio|un|
Of wicchecraft/ and eek of Bawderye
Of diffamacio|un| / and auoutrye
Of chirche Reues / and of te{s}tamentz
Of contractes / and eek of lakke of sacramentz
Of v{s}ure / and of Symonye al{s}o
But |cer|tes / lecchours / dide he grette{s}t wo
They sholde syngen if that they were hent/
And smale tytheres were foule y{s}chent/
If any |per|{s}o|un| / wold vp on hem pleyne
Ther myghte a{s}terte hym no pecunial peyne
ffor smale tithes |&| for smal offryng/
he made the peple ful pitu{s}ly to {s}yng/
ffor er the by{ss}chop caght hem |with| hys hooc
They were in the erchdeknys book/
And thanne had he thurgh hys Iuri{s}diccion
Power / to do on hem correccion
{{Folio 74v}}
He hadde a Somn|our| / redy to his hond
A slyer boy / nas noon in Engelond
ffor subtilly / he hadde his e{s}piaille
That taughte hym / wher hym myghte auaille
He koude spare / of lecchours / oon or two
To techen hym / to foure and twenty mo
ffor theigh this Somn|our| / wood were as an hare
To telle his harlotrye / I wol nat spare
ffor we been / out of his correccio|un|
They han of vs / no Iuri{s}diccio|un|
Ne neu|uer|e shullen / terme of hir lyues
¶Peter / so been wommen of the Styves
Quod the Somnour / yput out of my cure
¶Pees with my{s}chaunce / and with my{s}auenture
Thus seyde oure hoo{s}t / and lat hym telle his tale
Now telleth forth / thogh |þt| the Somn|our| gale
Ne spareth nat/ myn owene may{s}ter deere
¶This fal{s}e theef/ this Somn|our| / quod the frere
Hadde alwey / baudes redy to his hond
As any hauk/ to lure in Engelond
That tolde hym / al the secree |þt| they knewe
ffor hire aqueyntance / was nat come of newe
They weren / hi{s}e Approwours pryuely
He took hym self / a greet |pro|fit ther by
His mai{s}ter knew nat alwey / what he wan
With outen mandement/ a lewed man
He koude somne / on peyne of cri{s}tes curs
And they were glade / for to fille his purs
And make hym / grete fe{s}tes atte nale
And right as Iudas / hadde pur{s}es smale
And was a theef/ right swich a theef was he
His mai{s}ter / hadde but half his duetee
He was / if I shal yeuen hym his laude
A theef / and eek a somnour / and a baude
He hadde eek wenches / at his retenue
That wheither |þt| sir |Robert| / or sir hewe
Or Iakke / or Rauf/ or who {s}o that it were
That lay by hem / they tolde it in his ere
Thus was the wenche and he / of oon a{ss}ent/
And he wolde fecche / a feyned mandement/
{{Folio 75r}}
And somne hem to Chapitre / bothe two
And pile the man / and lete the wenche go
¶Thanne wolde he seye / freend I shal for thy sake
Do stryke / hir / out of oure lettres blake
Thee thar namoore / as in this cas |tra|uaille
I am thy freend / ther I thee may auaille
Certeyn / he knew of bryberyes mo
Than po{ss}ible is / to telle in yeres two
ffor in this world / nys dogge for the bowe
That kan an hurt deer / from an hool knowe
Bet than this Somn|our| / knew a sly lecchour
Or an Auouter / or a |per|amour
And for that was / the fruyt of al his rente
Ther fore on it / he {s}ette al his entente
¶And so bifel / that ones on a day
This Somnour / eu|uer|e waityng on his pray
ffor to somne an old wydewe / a Ribibe
ffeynynge a cau{s}e / for he wolde brybe
Happed / that he say / bifore hym ryde
A gay yeman / vnder a ffore{s}t syde
A bowe he bar / and arwes brighte |&| kene
He hadde vp on / a courtepy of grene
An hat vp on his heed / with frenges blake
¶Sir quod this Somn|our| / hayl / and wel atake
¶Wel come quod he / and euery good felawe
Wher ride{s}tow / vnder this grene shawe
Seyde this yeman / wiltow fer to day
¶This Somnour hym an{s}werde / and seyde nay
Here fa{s}te by quod he / is myn entente
To ryden / for to rey{s}en vp a rente
That longeth / to my lordes duetee
¶Artow thanne a Bailly{?.} / ye quod he
He dor{s}te nat/ for verray filthe and shame
Seye |þt| he was a Somn|our| / for the name
¶De{p+}dieux quod this yeman / deere brother
Thow art a bailly / and I am another
I am vnknowen / as in this contree
Of thyn aqueyntance / I wolde praye thee
And eek of bretherhede / if |þt| yow le{s}te
I haue gold / and siluer/ in my che{s}te
{{Folio 75v}}
If that thee happed / to come in oure shire
Al shal be thyn / right as thow wolt de{s}ire
¶Graunt |mer|cy quod this Somn|our| / by my feith
Euerich in ootheres hond / his trouthe leyth
ffor to be sworn bretheren / til they deye
In daliaunce / they ryden forth and pleye
¶This Somn|our| / which |þt| was / as ful of Iangles
As ful of venym / been thi{s}e waryangles
And eu|uer|e enqueryng/ vp on euery thyng/
Brother quod he / wher is now youre dwellyng/
Another day / if |þt| I sholde yow seche
This yeman hym an{s}werde / in softe speche
¶Brother quod he / fer in the North contree
Wher as I hope / {s}om tyme I shal thee see
Er we departe / I shal thee {s}o wel wi{ss}e
That of myn hous / ne shaltow ne|uer|e my{ss}e
¶Now brother quod this Somn|our| / I yow preye
Teche me / whil |þt| we ryden by the weye
Syn |þt| ye been a Baillyf / as am I
Som subtiltee / and tel me feithfully
In myn office / how I may moo{s}t wynne
And spareth nat/ for con{s}cience ne synne
But as my brother / tel me how do ye
¶Now by my trouthe / brother deere / seyde he
As I shal tellen thee / a feithful tale
My wages been / ful {s}treyte / and ful smale
My lord is hard to me / and daungerous
And myn office / is ful laborous
And therfore / by extorcions I lyue
ffor sothe I take / al that men wol me yeue
Algate / by sleighte / or by violence
ffro yeer to yeer / I wynne al my di{s}pence
I kan no bettre tellen / feithfully
¶Now certes quod this Somn|our| / {s}o fare I
I spare nat to taken / god it woot/
But it be to heuy / or to hoot/
What I may gete / in con{s}eil |pri|uely
No manere con{s}cience / of that haue I
Nere myn extorcio|un| / I myghte na lyuen
Ne of swiche Iapes / wol I nat be shryuen
{{Folio 76r}}
Stomak/ ne Con{s}cience / ne knowe I noon
I sherewe / thi{s}e Shryfte{s}fadres eu|uer|ychon
Wel be we met/ by god / and by seint Iame
But leeue brother / tel me thanne thy name
Quod this Somnour / in this mene whyle
This yeman / gan a litel for to smyle
¶Brother quod he / woltow |þt| I thee telle
I am a feend / my dwellyng/ is in helle
And here I ryde / aboute my purcha{s}yng/
To wite / wher men wolde yeue me any thyng/
My |pur|chas / is theffect of al my rente
Looke how thow ryde{s}t/ for the same entente
To wynne good / thow rekke{s}t neu|uer|e how
Right {s}o fare I / for ryde wold I now
Vn to the worldes ende / for a preye
¶A quod this Somn|our| / benedicite what sey ye
I wende / ye were a yeman trewely
Ye han a mannes shap / as wel as I
Han ye a figure thanne / de|ter|mynat
In helle ther ye been / in youre e{s}tat
¶Nay |cer|teynly quod he / ther haue we noon
But whan vs liketh / we kan take vs oon
Or ellis make yow seme / we ben shape
Som tyme / lyk a man / or lyk an Ape
Or lyk an Aungel / kan I ryde or go
It is no wonder thyng/ theigh it be so
A lou{s}y Iogelour / kan deceyue thee
And pardee yet kan I / moore craft than he
¶Whi quod this Somnour / ryde ye thanne or goon
In sondry shap / and nat alwey in oon
¶ffor we quod he / wol vs swiche formes make
As moo{s}t able is / oure preyes for to take
¶What maketh yow / to han al this labour
¶fful many a cau{s}e / leue sir Somnour
Seyde this feend / but alle thyng hath tyme
The day is short / and it is pa{ss}ed pryme
And yet/ ne wan I no thyng/ in this day
I wol entende / to wynnyng / if I may
And nat entende / oure wittes to declare
ffor brother myn / thy wit is al to bare
{{Folio 76v}}
To vnder{s}tonde / al thogh I tolde hem thee
But for thow axe{s}t/ why labouren we
ffor som tyme / we been goddes In{s}trumentz
And meenes / to doon his comandementz
Whan that hym li{s}t / vp on his creatures
In di|uer|s art/ and in di|uer|{s}e figures
With outen hym / we han no myght |cer|tayn
If that hym ly{s}t/ to {s}tonde ther agayn
And som tyme / at oure preyere / han we leue
Oonly the body / and nat the soule greue
Witne{ss}e on Iob / whom |þt| we diden wo
And som tyme / han we myght of bothe two
This is to seyn / of soule and body eke
And som tyme / be we suffred for to seke
Vp on a man / and do his soule vnre{s}te
And nat his body / and al is for the be{s}te
Whan he with {s}tandeth / oure temptacio|un|
It is / a cau{s}e / of his sauacio|un|
Al be it/ that it was / nat oure entente
He sholde be sauf/ but |þt| we wolde hym hente
And som tyme / be we |{s}8|uant/ vn to man
As to the Erchebi{ss}ho|pre| / Seint Dun{s}tan
And to the Apo{s}tles / seruant eek was I
¶Yet tel me / quod the Somn|our| feithfully
Make ye yow newe bodyes / thus alway
Of Elementz{?} / the feend an{s}werde nay
Som tyme we feyne / and som tyme we ary{s}e
With dede bodyes / in ful {s}ondry wy{s}e
And speke as renably / and faire and wel
As to the Phitoni{ss}a / dide Samuel
And yet wol som men seye / it was nat he
I do no fors / of youre dyuynytee
But o thyng warne I thee / I wol nat Iape
Thow wolt algates wite / how we be shape
Thow shalt her afterwardes / my brother deere
Come there / thee nedeth nat of me to lere
ffor thow shalt/ by thyn owene experience
Konne in a chayer / rede of this sentence
Bet than Virgile / whil he was on lyue
Or Dant al{s}o / now lat vs ryde blyue
{{Folio 77r}}
ffor I wol holde / compaignye with thee
Til it be so / that thow for{s}ake me
¶Nay quod this Somn|our| / that shal nat bityde
I am a yeman / knowen is ful wyde
My trouhte wol I holde / as in this cas
ffor theigh thow were / the deuel Sathanas
My trouthe wol I holde / to thee my brother
As I am sworn / and ech of vs til oother
ffor to be trewe brother / in this cas
And bothe we goon / abouten oure purchas
Taak thow thy part/ what |þt| men wol thee yeue
And I shal myn / thus may we bothe lyue
And if that any of vs / haue moore than oother
Lat hym be trewe / and parte it with his brother
¶I graunte quod the deuel / by my fey
And with that word / they ryden forth hir wey
And right at the entryng/ of the townes ende
To which this Somnour / shoop hym for to wende
They saye a Cart/ that charged was |with| hey
Which that a Cartere / droof forth in his wey
Deep was the wey / for which the Carte {s}tood
This Carter smoot/ and cryde as he were wood
Hayt Brok/ hayt Scot/ what spare ye for the stones
The feend quod he / yow fecche body and bones
As ferforthly / as euere were ye foled
So muchel wo / as I haue with yow tholed
The deuel haue al / bothe hors / and Cart/ and hey
¶This Somn|our| seyde / heer shul we han a pley
And neer the feend he drogh / as noght ne were
fful pryuely / and rowned in his ere
Herkne my brother / herkne by thy feith
Here{s}tow nat/ how |þt| the Cartere seith
Hent it anon / for he hath yeue it thee
Bothe hey / and Cart/ and eek his caples thre
¶Nay quod the deuel / god woot/ neuer a del
It is nat his entente / tru{s}t thow me wel
Axe hym thy self / if thow nat trowe{s}t me
Or ellys stynt a while / and thow shalt se
¶This Cartere / taketh his hors {^}{{vp}} on the croupe
And they bigonne / drawen and to stoupe
{{Folio 77v}}
Heyt now quod he / ther |Iesu| cri{s}t yow ble{ss}e
And al his handes werk/ bothe moore and le{ss}e
That was wel twight/ myn owene lyard boy
I pray god saue thee / and Seint loy
Now is my Cart/ out of the slow pardee
¶Lo brother quod the feend / what tolde I thee
Heere may ye se / myn owene deere brother
The Carl spak o thyng/ but he thoghte another
Lat vs go forth / abouten oure viage
Heere wynne I no thyng vp on cariage
¶Whan that {^}{{they}} coomen / {s}om what out of towne
This Somnour / to his brother gan to rowne
Brother quod he / here woneth an old rebekke
That hadde almoo{s}t/ as leef to le{s}e hir nekke
As for to yeue a peny / of hir good
I wol han .xij. pens / thogh that she be wood
Or I wol somne hir / vn to oure office
And yet god woot/ of hir knowe I no vice
But for thow can{s}t nat/ as in this contree
Wynne thy co{s}t/ taak heer en{s}ample of me
This Somnour / clappeth at the wydwes gate
Com out quod he / thow olde viritrate
I trowe thow ha{s}t/ {s}om frere / or pree{s}t with thee
¶Who clappeth seyde this wyf / benedicitee
God saue yow sire / what is youre swete wille
¶I haue quod he / of somonce a bille
Vp peyne of cur{s}yng/ looke that thow be
To morn / bifore the Erchedeknes knee
Tan{s}were to the court/ of |cer|teyn thynges
¶Now lord quod she / cri{s}t |Iesu| kyng of kynges
So wi{s}ly helpe me / as I ne may
I haue been syk/ and that ful many a day
I may nat go so fer quod she / ne ryde
But I be deed / so priketh it in my syde
May I nat axe a libel / {s}ir Somnour
And an{s}were there / by my procutour
To swich thyng/ as men wole oppo{s}en me
¶Yis quod this Somnour / pay anoon lat see
Twelf pens to me / and I wol thee acquyte
I shal no |pro|fit han ther by / but lyte
{{Folio 78r}}
My Mai{s}ter hath the profit / and nat I
Com of / and lat me ryden ha{s}tily
Yif me .xij. pens / I may no lenger tarye
¶Twelf pens quod she / now lady Seinte Marie
So wi{s}ly help me god / out of care and synne
This wyde world / thogh that I sholde wynne
Ne haue I nat .xij. pens / with Inne myn hoold
Ye knowen wel / that I am poure and oold
Kythe youre alme{ss}e / on me poure wrecche
¶Nay thanne quod he / the foule feend me fecche
If I thexcu{s}e / theigh thow shul be spilt/
¶Allas quod she / god woot I haue no gilt/
¶Pay me quod he / or by the swete Seinte Anne
As I wol bere awey / thy newe panne
ffor dette / which thow owe{s}t me of oold
Whan |þt| thow made{s}t / thyn hou{s}bonde cokewold
I payde at hom / for thy correccio|un|
¶Thow lyxt quod she / by my sauacio|un|
Ne was I ne|uer|e er now / wydwe ne wyf/
Somoned vn to youre court/ in al my lyf /
Ne ne|uer|e I nas / but of my body trewe
Vn to the deuel / blak/ and row of hewe
Yeue I thy body / and my panne al{s}o
¶And whan the deuel / herde hir cur{s}en so
Vp on hir knees / he seyde in this manere
Now Mabely / myn owene moder deere
Is this youre wyl in erne{s}t / |þt| ye seye
¶The deuel quod she / so fecche hym or he deye
And panne and al / but he wol hym repente
¶Nay olde stot/ that is nat myn entente
Quod this Somnour / for to repente me
ffor any thyng/ that I haue had of thee
I wolde I hadde thy smok / and euery clooth
¶Now brother quod the deuel / be noght wrooth
Thy body and this panne / been myne by right
Thow shalt |with| me to helle / yet to nyght/
Wher thow shalt knowen / of oure pryuetee
Moore / than a mai{s}ter of dyuynytee
And with that word / this foule feend hym hente
Body and soule / he with the deuel wente
{{Folio 78v}}
Wher as that Somnours / han hir heritage
And god / that made after his ymage
Mankynde / saue / and gyde vs alle and some
And leue thi{s}e Somn|our|s / good men to bicome
¶Lordynges / I koude han told yow / quod this frere
Hadde I had ley{s}er / for this Somn|our| heere
After the text / of cri{s}t/ Poul and |Iohan|
And of oure othere doctours / many oon
Swiche peynes / that youre hertes myghte agry{s}e
Al be it {s}o / no tonge may {^}{{it}} deuy{s}e
Thogh that I myghte / a thou{s}and wynter telle
The peynes / of thilke cur{s}ed hous of helle
But for to kepe vs / fro that cur{s}ed place
Waketh / and preyeth |Iesu| for his grace
So kepe vs / fro the temptour Sathanas
Herketh this word / beth war as in this cas
The leo|un| sit/ in his awayt alway
To sle the Innocent/ if that he may
Di{s}po{s}eth ay youre hertes / to with{s}tonde
The feend / that yow wolde maken thral and bonde
He may nat tempte yow / ouer your myght /
ffor cri{s}t/ wol be youre champion and knyght/
And prayeth / that this Somn|our|s hem repente
Of hir my{s}dedes / er that the feend hem hente
¶Here endeth / the freres tale