THE SHIPMAN'S TALE IN THE HENGWRT MANUSCRIPT OF THE CANTERBURY TALES
{{Folio 204r}}
¶Here bigynneth the Shipmannes tale
A Marchant whilom / dwelled at Seint Denys
That riche was / for which men helde hym wys
A wyf he hadde / of excellent beautee
And compaignable / and reuelous was she
Which is a thyng/ that cau{s}eth moore di{s}pence
Than worth / is al the cheere and reuerence
That men hem doon / at fe{s}tes and at daunces
Swiche salutacions / and contenances
Pa{ss}en / as dooth a shadwe vp on the wal
But wo is hym / that payen moot for al
The sely hou{s}bonde / algate he moot paye
He moot vs clothe / and he moot vs arraye
Al for his owene wor{s}hip / richely
In which array / we dauncen iolily
And if |þt| he noght may / |per|auenture
Or ellis / li{s}t no swich di{s}pen{s}e endure
But thynketh / it is wa{s}ted and ylo{s}t/
Thanne moot another / payen for oure co{s}t/
Or lene vs gold / and that is |per|ilous
This noble Marchant/ heeld a worthy hous
ffor which / he hadde alday / {s}o greet repair
ffor his large{ss}e / and for his wyf was fair
That wonder is / but herkneth to my tale
Amonges alle hi{s}e ge{s}tes / grete and smale
¶Ther was a Monk/ a fair man and a bold
I trowe / a thritty wynter / he was old
That euere in oon / was drawyng/ to that place
This yonge Monk/ that was {s}o fair of face
Aqueynted was so / with the goode man
Sith that/ hir fir{s}te knewliche bigan
That in his hous / as famulier was he
As it is po{ss}ible / any freend to be
And for as muchel / as this goode man
And eek this Monk / of which |þt| I bigan
Were bothe two yborn / in o village
The Monk/ hym claymeth / as for co{s}ynage
{{Folio 204v}}
And he agayn / he seith nat ones nay
But was as {`,}glad ther of / as fowel of day
ffor to his herte / it was a gret ple{s}ance
Thus been they knyt/ with eterne alliance
And ech of hem / gan oother/ for ta{ss}ure
Of bretherhede / whil |þt| hir lyf may dure
¶ffree was daun |Iohan| / and manly of di{s}pence
As in that hous / and ful of diligence
To doon ple{s}ance / and al{s}o greet co{s}tage
He nat forgat/ to yeue the lee{s}te page
In al that hous / but after hir degree
He yaf the lord / and sith al his meynee
Whan |þt| he cam / {s}om manere hone{s}te thyng/
ffor which / they were as glad of his comyng/
As fowel is fayn / whan |þt| the sonne vp ri{s}eth
Namoore of this as now / for it suffi{s}eth
¶But {s}o bifel / this Marchant/ on a day
Shoop hym / to make redy his array
Toward the town of Brugges / for to fare
To byen there / a porcion of ware
ffor which he hath / to Parys sent anon
A me{ss}ager / and preyed hath daun |Iohan|
That he sholde come / to Seint Denys and pleye
With hym / and with his wyf/ a day or tweye
Er he to Brugges wente / in alle wi{s}e
¶This noble Monk/ of which I yow deuy{s}e
Hath of his Abbot/ as hym li{s}t licence
By cau{s}e he was a man / of heigh prudence
And eek an Officer / out for to ryde
To {s}een hir granges / and hir bernes wyde
And vn to Seint Denys / he comth anon
Who was {s}o welcome / as my lord Daun |Iohan|
Oure deere co{s}yn / ful of curtei{s}ye
With hym broghte he / a Iubbe of Malue{s}ye
And eek another/ ful of fyn vernage
And volatil / as ay was his v{s}age
And thus I lete hem / ete and drynke and pleye
This Marchant/ and this Monk / a day or tweye
¶The thridde day / this Marchant vp ari{s}eth
And on his nedes / sadly hym auy{s}eth
{{Folio 205r}}
And vp / in to his Countour hous goth he
To rekene with hym self / wel may be
Of thilke yeer / how |þt| it with hym {s}tood
And how |þt| he / de{s}pended hadde his good
And if that he / encre{ss}ed were or noon
Hi{s}e bokes / and his bagges / many oon
He leyth biforn hym / on his Countyng bord
fful riche was his tre{s}or / and his hord
ffor which ful fa{s}te / his Countour dore he shette
And eek he nolde / |þt| no man sholde hym lette
Of his acountes / for the mene tyme
And thus he sit / til it was pa{ss}ed |pri|me
¶Daun |Iohan| was ri{s}en / in the morwe al{s}o
And in the gardyns / walketh to and fro
And hath his thynges seyd / ful curtei{s}ly
¶This goode wyf / cam walkyng |pri|uely
In to the gardyn / ther he walketh softe
And hym salueth / as she hath doon ofte
A mayde child / cam in hir compaignye
Which as hir li{s}t/ she may gouerne and gye
ffor yet/ vnder the yerde was the mayde
¶O deere co{s}yn myn / Daun |Iohan| she sayde
What eyleth yow / so rathe for to ry{s}e
¶Nece quod he / it oghte ynow suffi{s}e
ffyue houres / for to slepe / vp on a nyght/
But it were / for an old apalled wight/
As been thi{s}e wedded men / |þt| lye and dare
As in a forme / sit a wery hare
Were al for{s}traught/ |with| houndes grete |&| smale
But deere Nece / why be ye so pale
I trowe |cer|tes / that oure goode man
Hath yow laboured / sith the nyght bigan
That yow were nede / to re{s}ten ha{s}tily
And with that word / he lough ful myrily
And of his owene thoght/ he weex al reed
¶This faire wyf / gan for to shake hir heed
And seyde thus / ye god woot al quod she
Nay co{s}yn myn / it stant nat {s}o with me
ffor by that god / that yaf me soule and lyf
In al the Reawme of ffrance / is ther no wyf
{{Folio 205v}}
That la{ss}e lu{s}t hath / to that sory pley
ffor I may synge / allas and weilawey
That I was born / but to no wight/ quod she
Dar I nat telle / how |þt| it stant with me
Wher fore I thynke / out of this land to wende
Or ellis / of my self / to make an ende
So ful am I / of drede/ and eek of care
¶This Monk bigan / vp on this wyf to stare
And seyde / allas / my Nece god forbede
That ye / for any sorwe / or any drede
ffordo your self / but telleth me you|re| grief
|per|auenture / I may in youre me{s}chief/
Con{s}eille / or helpe / and therfore telleth me
Al youre anoy / for it shal been secree
ffor on my Porthors / I make an oth
That ne|uer|e in my lif / for lief / or loth
Ne shal I / of no con{s}eil / yow biwreye
¶The same agayn to yow / quod she I seye
By god / and by this Porthors / I swere
Thogh men me wolde / al in to peces tere
Ne shal I ne|uer|e / for to gon to helle
Biwreye a word / of thyng |þt| ye me telle
Nat for no co{s}ynage / ne alliance
But verraily / for loue and affiance
Thus been they sworn / and her vp on they ke{s}te
And ech of hem / tolde oother what hem le{s}te
¶Co{s}yn quod she / if |þt| I hadde a space
As I haue noon / and namely in this place
Thanne wolde I telle / a legende of my lyf
What I haue suffred / sith I was a wyf
With myn hou{s}bonde / al be he youre co{s}yn
¶Nay quod this Monk/ by god and Seint Martin
He is namore / co{s}yn vn to me
Than is this leef/ |þt| hangeth on the tree
I clepe hym so / by Seint Denys of ffrance
To han / the moore cau{s}e of aqueyntance
Of yow / which I haue loued specially
Abouen alle wommen / sikerly
This swere I yow / on my |pro|fe{ss}io|un|
Telleth youre grief / le{s}t |þt| he come adoun
{{Folio 206r}}
And ha{s}teth yow / and goth awey anon
¶My deere loue quod she / o my daun |Iohan|
fful lief were me / this con{s}eil for to hyde
But out it moot/ I may namoore abyde
¶Myn hou{s}bonde is to me / the wor{s}te man
That euere was / sith |þt| the world bigan
But sith I am a wyf / it sit nat me
To tellen no wight/ of oure |pri|uetee
Neither abedde / ne in noon oother place
God shilde / I sholde it tellen for his |gra|ce
A wyf ne shal nat seyn / of hir hou{s}bonde
But al honour / as I kan vnder{s}tonde
Saue vn to yow / thus muche I tellen shal
As help me god / he is noght worth at al
In on degree / the value of a flye
But yet/ me greueth moo{s}t his nygardye
And wel ye woot/ |þt| wommen naturelly
A womman wolld haue
her hu{s}band, to be
hardye, wy{s}e Ryche,
¶No|ta|
free, buxom / that
is to {s}aye gentell
and to be fre{s}he
in bed / the{s}e /
{s}yxe things a
woman dothe
de{s}yre as Mr.
Chaucer dothe wryte
De{s}iren thynges .vj. as wel as I
They wolde / |þt| hir hou{s}bondes sholde be
¶Hardy and wi{s}e / and riche / and ther to free
And buxom vn to his wyf / and fre{ss}h abedde
But by that ilke lord / that for vs bledde
ffor his honour / my self for to arraye
A sonday next/ I moot nedes paye
An hundred frankes / or ellis am I lorn
Yet were me le|uer|e / |þt| I were Vnborn
Than me were doon / a sclaundre / or vileynye
And if myn hou{s}bonde eek / myghte it e{s}pye
I nere but lo{s}t/ and ther fore I yow preye
Lene me this s|om|me / or ellis moot I deye
Daun |Iohan| I seye / lene me thi{s}e hundred frankes
Pardee / I wol noght/ faile yow my thankes
If |þt| yow li{s}t/ to doon / that I yow praye
ffor at a |cer|teyn day / I wol yow paye
And doon to yow / what ple{s}ance and seruy{s}e
That I may doon / right as yow li{s}t deuy{s}e
And but {.}I{.} do / god take on me vengeance
As foul / as e|uer|e hadde Genelo|un| of ffrance
¶This gentil Monk/ an{s}werde in this manere
Now trewely / myn owene lady deere
I haue quod he / on yow so gret a routhe
That I yow swere / and plighte yow my trouthe
{{Folio 206v}}
That whan youre hou{s}bonde / is to fflandres fare
I wol deliuere yow / out of this care
ffor I wol brynge yow / an hundred frankes
And with that word / he caughte hi|re| by the flankes
And hi|re| embraceth harde / and ki{s}te hi|re| ofte
Goth now youre wey quod he / al {s}tille and softe
And lat vs dyne / as {s}oone / as |þt| ye may
ffor by my chilyndre / it is Pryme of day
Goth now / and beth as trewe as I shal be
¶Now ellis / god forbede sire quod she
And forth she goth / as iolif as a pye
And bad the Cokes / |þt| they sholde hem hye
So |þt| men myghte dyne / and that anon
Vp to hir hou{s}bonde / is his wyf ygon
And knokketh at his Countour/ boldely
qi la.
¶Who {^}{{ys}} ther quod he / Peter it am I
Quod she / what sire / how longe wol ye fa{s}te
How longe tyme / wol ye rekene and ca{s}te
Youre sommes / and youre bokes / and youre thynges
The deuel haue part/ on alle swiche rekenynges
Ye haue ynogh pardee / of goddes sonde
Com doun to day / and lat youre bagges {s}tonde
Ne be ye nat a{s}hamed / that daun |Iohan|
Shal fa{s}tynge / al this day elenge gon
What lat vs heere a ma{ss}e / and go we dyne
¶Wyf quod this man / litel kan{s}tow deuyne
The curious bi{s}yne{ss}e / that we haue
ffor of vs chapmen / al{s}o god me {s}aue
And by that lord / that clepid is Seint Yue
Scar{s}ly amonges .xij. x. shul thryue
Continuelly / la{s}tyng vn to oure age
We may wel make cheere / and good vi{s}age
And dryue forth the world / as it may be
And kepen oure e{s}tat/ in pryuetee
Til we be dede / or ellis that we pleye
A pilgrymage / or goon out of the weye
And ther fore / haue I gret nece{ss}itee
Vp on this queynte world / tauy{s}e me
ffor euere mo / we mote {s}tonde in drede
Of hap and ffortune / in oure chapmanhede
{{Folio 207r}}
¶To fflandres wol I go / tomorwe at day
And come agayn / as {s}oone as e|uer|e I may
ffor which my deere wyf / I thee bi{s}eke
As be to euery wight/ buxom and meke
And for to kepe oure good / be curious
And hone{s}tly / gouerne wel oure hous
Thow ha{s}t ynow / in euery mane|re| wi{s}e
That to a thrifty hou{s}hold / may suffi{s}e
Thee lakketh noon array / ne no vitaille
Of siluer in thy purs / shaltow nat faille
And with that word / his Countour dore he shette
And doun he goth / no lenger wolde he lette
But ha{s}tily / a ma{ss}e was ther seyd
And spedily / the tables were yleyd
And to the dyner / fa{s}te they hem spedde
And richely this Monk/ the chapman fedde
¶At after dyner / daun |Iohan| sobrely
This chapman took a part/ and |pri|uely
He seyde hym thus / co{s}yn it standeth so
That wel I se / to Brugges wol ye go
God and Seint Au{s}tyn / spede yow and gyde
I pray yow co{s}yn / wy{s}ly |þt| ye ryde
Gouerneth yow al{s}o / of youre diete
Atemprely / and namely / in this hete
Bitwix vs two / nedeth no strange fare
ffarewel co{s}yn / god shilde yow fro care
And if |þt| any thyng/ by day or nyght
If it lye in my power/ and my myght/
That ye me wol comande / in any wi{s}e
It shal be doon / right as ye wol deuy{s}e
¶O thyng er |þt| ye goon / if it may be
I wold {`,}preye yow / for to lene me
An hundred frankes / for a wyke or tweye
ffor |cer|teyn be{s}tes / |þt| I mo{s}te beye
To store with a place / that is oures
God help me so / I wolde it were youres
I shal nat faille / {s}eurely of my day
Nat for a thou{s}and frankes / a myle way
But lat this thyng be secree / I yow preye
ffor yet to nyght/ thi{s}e be{s}tes moot I beye
{{Folio 207v}}
And fare now wel / myn owene co{s}yn deere
Grant |mer|cy / of youre co{s}t/ and of youre cheere
¶This noble Marchant/ gentilly anon
An{s}werde and seyde / o co{s}yn myn daun |Iohan|
Now sikerly / this is a smal reque{s}te
My gold is youres / whan |þt| it yow le{s}te
And nat oonly my gold / but my chaffare
Tak what yow li{s}t/ god shilde |þt| ye spare
But o thyng is / ye knowe it wel ynow
Of Chapmen / that hir moneye is hir plow
We may creance / whil we han a name
But goldlees for to been / it is no game
Pay it agayn / whan it lyth in youre e{s}e
After my myght/ ful fayn wol I yow ple{s}e
¶Thi{s}e hundred frankes / he fette forth anon
And |pri|uely / he took hem to daun |Iohan|
No wight in al this world / wi{s}te of this lone
Sauyng/ this Marchant/ and daun |Iohan| allone
They drynke / and speke / and rome a while |&| pleye
Til that daun |Iohan| / rideth to his Abbeye
¶The morwe cam / and forth this Marchant rydeth
To fflandres ward / his Prentys wel hym gydeth
Til he cam / in to Brugges murily
Now goth this Marchant/ fa{s}te and bi{s}ily
Aboute his nede / and byeth and crea|un|ceth
He neither / pleyeth at the dees / ne daunceth
But as a Marchant/ shortly for to telle
He let his lyf / and ther I lete hym dwelle
¶The sonday next / the Marchant was agon
To Seint denys / ycomen is daun |Iohan|
With crowne and berd / al fre{ss}h |&| newe shaue
In al the hous / ther nas {s}o litel a knaue
Ne no wight ellis / |þt| he nas ful fayn
That my lord daun |Iohan| / was come agayn
And shortly / to the poynt/ right for to gon
This faire wyf/ acorded with daun |Iohan|
That for thi{s}e hundred frankes / he sholde al nyght/
Haue hire in his armes / bolt vpright/
And this acord / |per|fourned was in dede
In myrthe al nyght/ a bi{s}y lyf they lede
{{Folio 208r}}
Til it was day / that daun |Iohan| wente his way
And bad the meynee / fare wel haue good day
ffor noon of hem / ne no wight in the town
Hath of daun |Iohan| / right no su{s}pecioun
And forth he rydeth hom / til his Abbeye
Or where hym li{s}t/ namoore of hym I seye
¶This Marchant/ whan |þt| ended was the faire
To Seint Denys / he gan for to repaire
And with his wyf / he maketh fe{s}te and cheere
And telleth hi|re| / that chaffare is so deere
That nedes / mo{s}te he make a cheuy{ss}ance
ffor he was bounden / in a recony{ss}ance
To paye/ twenty thou{s}and sheeld anon
ffor which / this Marchant/ is to Parys gon
To borwe / of |cer|teyne freendes / that he hadde
A |cer|teyn frankes / and s|om|me |with| hym he ladde
And whan |þt| he was come / in to the town
ffor greet chiertee / and greet affeccioun
Vn to daun |Iohan| / he fir{s}t goth / hym to pleye
Nat for to axe / or borwe of hym moneye
But for to wite / and {s}een of his welfare
And for to tellen hym / of his chaffare
As freendes doon / whan they been met yfeere
Daun |Iohan| / hym maketh fe{s}te / and murye cheere
And he hym tolde agayn / ful specially
How he hadde / wel yboght/ and |gra|ciou{s}ly
Thanked be god / al hool his marchandi{s}e
Saue |þt| he mo{s}te / in alle maner wy{s}e
Maken a cheuy{ss}ance / as for his be{s}te
And thanne / he sholde been / in ioye and re{s}te
¶Daun |Iohan| an{s}werde / certes I am fayn
That ye in heele / ar comen hom agayn
And if |þt| I were riche / as haue I bli{ss}e
Of twenty thou{s}and sheeld / sholde ye nat my{ss}e
ffor ye {s}o kyndely / this oother day
Lente me gold / and as I kan and may
I thanke yow / by god / and by Seint Iame
But nathelees / I took vn to oure dame
Yowre wyf at hom / the same gold agayn
Vp on youre bench / she woot it wel certayn
{{Folio 208v}}
By |cer|teyn toknes / that I kan yow telle
Now by youre leue / I may no lenger dwelle
Oure Abbot/ wol out of this town anon
And in his compaignye / moot I gon
Greet wel oure dame / myn owene Nece swete
And fare wel deere co{s}yn / til we meete
¶This Marchant/ which |þt| was ful war and wys
Creanced hath / and payed eek in Parys
To |cer|teyn lombardes / redy in hir hond
The somme of gold / and gat of hem his bond
¶{.}i{.} obligacionem
And hoom he gooth / murye as a Papyniay
ffor wel he knew / he {s}tood in swich array
That nedes mo{s}te he wynne / in that viage
A thou{s}and frankes / abouen al his co{s}tage
¶His wyf ful redy / mette hym at the gate
As she was wont/ of old v{s}age algate
And al that nyght/ in myrthe they bi{s}ette
ffor he was riche / and cleerly out of dette
¶Whan it was day / this Marchant gan embrace
His wyf al newe / and ki{s}te hi|re| on hir face
And vp he goth / and maketh it ful tough
Namoore quod she / by god ye haue ynough
And wantownely agayn / with hym she pleyde
Til at the la{s}te / this Marchant seyde
¶By god quod he / I am alitel wroth
With yow my wyf / al thogh it be me looth
And woot ye why / by god as |þt| I ge{ss}e
That ye han maad / a manere strangene{ss}e
Bitwixen me / and my co{s}yn Daun |Iohan|
Ye sholde han warned me / er I had gon
That he yow hadde / a hundred frankes payed
Be redy tokne / and heeld hym yuele apayed
ffor that I to hym / spak of cheuy{ss}ance
Me semed so / as by his contenance
But nathelees / by god oure heuene kyng/
I thoghte nat/ to axe of hym no thyng/
I pray thee wyf/ ne do namoore so
Tel me alwey / er that I fro thee go
If any dettour / hath in myn ab{s}ence
Ypayed thee / le{s}t thurgh thy necligence
{{Folio 209r}}
I myghte hym axe / a thyng/ |þt| he hath payed
¶This wyf / was nat afered ne afrayed
But boldely she seyde / and that anon
Marie I diffye / the fal{s}e Monk/ daun |Iohan|
I kepe nat of his toknes / ne|uer| a del
He took me |cer|teyn gold / this woot I wel
What yuel thedam / on his Monkes snowte
ffor god it woot/ I wende with outen dowte
That he hadde yeue it me / by cau{s}e of yow
To doon ther with / myn honour / and my prow
ffor co{s}ynage / and eek for bele cheere
That he hath had / ful ofte tymes heere
¶But sith I se / it stant in this di{s}ioynt/
I wole an{s}were yow / shortly to the poynt/
Ye han mo slakker dettours / than am I
ffor I wol paye yow / wel and redily
ffro day to day / and if {s}o be I fayle
I am youre wyf / score it vp on my tayle
And I shal paye / as {s}oone as euere I may
ffor by my trouthe / I haue on myn array
And nat in wa{s}t/ bi{s}towed e|uer|y del
And for I haue / bi{s}towed it {s}o wel
ffor youre honour / for goddes sake I seye
As be nat wrooth / but lat vs laughe |&| pleye
Ye shal / my ioly body han to wedde
By god / I wol noght paye yow but abedde
fforgyue it me / myn owene spou{s}e deere
Turn hiderward / and maketh bettre cheere
¶This Marchant/ saugh / ther was no remedye
And for to chide / it nere but folye
Syn that the thyng/ may nat amended be
Now wyf he seyde / and I foryeue it thee
But by thy lyf/ ne be namoore {s}o large
Keep bet thy good / this yeue {^}{{I}} thee in charge
Thus endeth my tale / and god vs sende
Taillynge ynough / vn to oure lyues ende
¶Here endeth / the Shipmannes tale
{{Folio 204r}}
¶Here bigynneth the Shipmannes tale
A Marchant whilom / dwelled at Seint Denys
That riche was / for which men helde hym wys
A wyf he hadde / of excellent beautee
And compaignable / and reuelous was she
Which is a thyng/ that cau{s}eth moore di{s}pence
Than worth / is al the cheere and reuerence
That men hem doon / at fe{s}tes and at daunces
Swiche salutacions / and contenances
Pa{ss}en / as dooth a shadwe vp on the wal
But wo is hym / that payen moot for al
The sely hou{s}bonde / algate he moot paye
He moot vs clothe / and he moot vs arraye
Al for his owene wor{s}hip / richely
In which array / we dauncen iolily
And if |þt| he noght may / |per|auenture
Or ellis / li{s}t no swich di{s}pen{s}e endure
But thynketh / it is wa{s}ted and ylo{s}t/
Thanne moot another / payen for oure co{s}t/
Or lene vs gold / and that is |per|ilous
This noble Marchant/ heeld a worthy hous
ffor which / he hadde alday / {s}o greet repair
ffor his large{ss}e / and for his wyf was fair
That wonder is / but herkneth to my tale
Amonges alle hi{s}e ge{s}tes / grete and smale
¶Ther was a Monk/ a fair man and a bold
I trowe / a thritty wynter / he was old
That euere in oon / was drawyng/ to that place
This yonge Monk/ that was {s}o fair of face
Aqueynted was so / with the goode man
Sith that/ hir fir{s}te knewliche bigan
That in his hous / as famulier was he
As it is po{ss}ible / any freend to be
And for as muchel / as this goode man
And eek this Monk / of which |þt| I bigan
Were bothe two yborn / in o village
The Monk/ hym claymeth / as for co{s}ynage
{{Folio 204v}}
And he agayn / he seith nat ones nay
But was as {`,}glad ther of / as fowel of day
ffor to his herte / it was a gret ple{s}ance
Thus been they knyt/ with eterne alliance
And ech of hem / gan oother/ for ta{ss}ure
Of bretherhede / whil |þt| hir lyf may dure
¶ffree was daun |Iohan| / and manly of di{s}pence
As in that hous / and ful of diligence
To doon ple{s}ance / and al{s}o greet co{s}tage
He nat forgat/ to yeue the lee{s}te page
In al that hous / but after hir degree
He yaf the lord / and sith al his meynee
Whan |þt| he cam / {s}om manere hone{s}te thyng/
ffor which / they were as glad of his comyng/
As fowel is fayn / whan |þt| the sonne vp ri{s}eth
Namoore of this as now / for it suffi{s}eth
¶But {s}o bifel / this Marchant/ on a day
Shoop hym / to make redy his array
Toward the town of Brugges / for to fare
To byen there / a porcion of ware
ffor which he hath / to Parys sent anon
A me{ss}ager / and preyed hath daun |Iohan|
That he sholde come / to Seint Denys and pleye
With hym / and with his wyf/ a day or tweye
Er he to Brugges wente / in alle wi{s}e
¶This noble Monk/ of which I yow deuy{s}e
Hath of his Abbot/ as hym li{s}t licence
By cau{s}e he was a man / of heigh prudence
And eek an Officer / out for to ryde
To {s}een hir granges / and hir bernes wyde
And vn to Seint Denys / he comth anon
Who was {s}o welcome / as my lord Daun |Iohan|
Oure deere co{s}yn / ful of curtei{s}ye
With hym broghte he / a Iubbe of Malue{s}ye
And eek another/ ful of fyn vernage
And volatil / as ay was his v{s}age
And thus I lete hem / ete and drynke and pleye
This Marchant/ and this Monk / a day or tweye
¶The thridde day / this Marchant vp ari{s}eth
And on his nedes / sadly hym auy{s}eth
{{Folio 205r}}
And vp / in to his Countour hous goth he
To rekene with hym self / wel may be
Of thilke yeer / how |þt| it with hym {s}tood
And how |þt| he / de{s}pended hadde his good
And if that he / encre{ss}ed were or noon
Hi{s}e bokes / and his bagges / many oon
He leyth biforn hym / on his Countyng bord
fful riche was his tre{s}or / and his hord
ffor which ful fa{s}te / his Countour dore he shette
And eek he nolde / |þt| no man sholde hym lette
Of his acountes / for the mene tyme
And thus he sit / til it was pa{ss}ed |pri|me
¶Daun |Iohan| was ri{s}en / in the morwe al{s}o
And in the gardyns / walketh to and fro
And hath his thynges seyd / ful curtei{s}ly
¶This goode wyf / cam walkyng |pri|uely
In to the gardyn / ther he walketh softe
And hym salueth / as she hath doon ofte
A mayde child / cam in hir compaignye
Which as hir li{s}t/ she may gouerne and gye
ffor yet/ vnder the yerde was the mayde
¶O deere co{s}yn myn / Daun |Iohan| she sayde
What eyleth yow / so rathe for to ry{s}e
¶Nece quod he / it oghte ynow suffi{s}e
ffyue houres / for to slepe / vp on a nyght/
But it were / for an old apalled wight/
As been thi{s}e wedded men / |þt| lye and dare
As in a forme / sit a wery hare
Were al for{s}traught/ |with| houndes grete |&| smale
But deere Nece / why be ye so pale
I trowe |cer|tes / that oure goode man
Hath yow laboured / sith the nyght bigan
That yow were nede / to re{s}ten ha{s}tily
And with that word / he lough ful myrily
And of his owene thoght/ he weex al reed
¶This faire wyf / gan for to shake hir heed
And seyde thus / ye god woot al quod she
Nay co{s}yn myn / it stant nat {s}o with me
ffor by that god / that yaf me soule and lyf
In al the Reawme of ffrance / is ther no wyf
{{Folio 205v}}
That la{ss}e lu{s}t hath / to that sory pley
ffor I may synge / allas and weilawey
That I was born / but to no wight/ quod she
Dar I nat telle / how |þt| it stant with me
Wher fore I thynke / out of this land to wende
Or ellis / of my self / to make an ende
So ful am I / of drede/ and eek of care
¶This Monk bigan / vp on this wyf to stare
And seyde / allas / my Nece god forbede
That ye / for any sorwe / or any drede
ffordo your self / but telleth me you|re| grief
|per|auenture / I may in youre me{s}chief/
Con{s}eille / or helpe / and therfore telleth me
Al youre anoy / for it shal been secree
ffor on my Porthors / I make an oth
That ne|uer|e in my lif / for lief / or loth
Ne shal I / of no con{s}eil / yow biwreye
¶The same agayn to yow / quod she I seye
By god / and by this Porthors / I swere
Thogh men me wolde / al in to peces tere
Ne shal I ne|uer|e / for to gon to helle
Biwreye a word / of thyng |þt| ye me telle
Nat for no co{s}ynage / ne alliance
But verraily / for loue and affiance
Thus been they sworn / and her vp on they ke{s}te
And ech of hem / tolde oother what hem le{s}te
¶Co{s}yn quod she / if |þt| I hadde a space
As I haue noon / and namely in this place
Thanne wolde I telle / a legende of my lyf
What I haue suffred / sith I was a wyf
With myn hou{s}bonde / al be he youre co{s}yn
¶Nay quod this Monk/ by god and Seint Martin
He is namore / co{s}yn vn to me
Than is this leef/ |þt| hangeth on the tree
I clepe hym so / by Seint Denys of ffrance
To han / the moore cau{s}e of aqueyntance
Of yow / which I haue loued specially
Abouen alle wommen / sikerly
This swere I yow / on my |pro|fe{ss}io|un|
Telleth youre grief / le{s}t |þt| he come adoun
{{Folio 206r}}
And ha{s}teth yow / and goth awey anon
¶My deere loue quod she / o my daun |Iohan|
fful lief were me / this con{s}eil for to hyde
But out it moot/ I may namoore abyde
¶Myn hou{s}bonde is to me / the wor{s}te man
That euere was / sith |þt| the world bigan
But sith I am a wyf / it sit nat me
To tellen no wight/ of oure |pri|uetee
Neither abedde / ne in noon oother place
God shilde / I sholde it tellen for his |gra|ce
A wyf ne shal nat seyn / of hir hou{s}bonde
But al honour / as I kan vnder{s}tonde
Saue vn to yow / thus muche I tellen shal
As help me god / he is noght worth at al
In on degree / the value of a flye
But yet/ me greueth moo{s}t his nygardye
And wel ye woot/ |þt| wommen naturelly
A womman wolld haue
her hu{s}band, to be
hardye, wy{s}e Ryche,
¶No|ta|
free, buxom / that
is to {s}aye gentell
and to be fre{s}he
in bed / the{s}e /
{s}yxe things a
woman dothe
de{s}yre as Mr.
Chaucer dothe wryte
De{s}iren thynges .vj. as wel as I
They wolde / |þt| hir hou{s}bondes sholde be
¶Hardy and wi{s}e / and riche / and ther to free
And buxom vn to his wyf / and fre{ss}h abedde
But by that ilke lord / that for vs bledde
ffor his honour / my self for to arraye
A sonday next/ I moot nedes paye
An hundred frankes / or ellis am I lorn
Yet were me le|uer|e / |þt| I were Vnborn
Than me were doon / a sclaundre / or vileynye
And if myn hou{s}bonde eek / myghte it e{s}pye
I nere but lo{s}t/ and ther fore I yow preye
Lene me this s|om|me / or ellis moot I deye
Daun |Iohan| I seye / lene me thi{s}e hundred frankes
Pardee / I wol noght/ faile yow my thankes
If |þt| yow li{s}t/ to doon / that I yow praye
ffor at a |cer|teyn day / I wol yow paye
And doon to yow / what ple{s}ance and seruy{s}e
That I may doon / right as yow li{s}t deuy{s}e
And but {.}I{.} do / god take on me vengeance
As foul / as e|uer|e hadde Genelo|un| of ffrance
¶This gentil Monk/ an{s}werde in this manere
Now trewely / myn owene lady deere
I haue quod he / on yow so gret a routhe
That I yow swere / and plighte yow my trouthe
{{Folio 206v}}
That whan youre hou{s}bonde / is to fflandres fare
I wol deliuere yow / out of this care
ffor I wol brynge yow / an hundred frankes
And with that word / he caughte hi|re| by the flankes
And hi|re| embraceth harde / and ki{s}te hi|re| ofte
Goth now youre wey quod he / al {s}tille and softe
And lat vs dyne / as {s}oone / as |þt| ye may
ffor by my chilyndre / it is Pryme of day
Goth now / and beth as trewe as I shal be
¶Now ellis / god forbede sire quod she
And forth she goth / as iolif as a pye
And bad the Cokes / |þt| they sholde hem hye
So |þt| men myghte dyne / and that anon
Vp to hir hou{s}bonde / is his wyf ygon
And knokketh at his Countour/ boldely
qi la.
¶Who {^}{{ys}} ther quod he / Peter it am I
Quod she / what sire / how longe wol ye fa{s}te
How longe tyme / wol ye rekene and ca{s}te
Youre sommes / and youre bokes / and youre thynges
The deuel haue part/ on alle swiche rekenynges
Ye haue ynogh pardee / of goddes sonde
Com doun to day / and lat youre bagges {s}tonde
Ne be ye nat a{s}hamed / that daun |Iohan|
Shal fa{s}tynge / al this day elenge gon
What lat vs heere a ma{ss}e / and go we dyne
¶Wyf quod this man / litel kan{s}tow deuyne
The curious bi{s}yne{ss}e / that we haue
ffor of vs chapmen / al{s}o god me {s}aue
And by that lord / that clepid is Seint Yue
Scar{s}ly amonges .xij. x. shul thryue
Continuelly / la{s}tyng vn to oure age
We may wel make cheere / and good vi{s}age
And dryue forth the world / as it may be
And kepen oure e{s}tat/ in pryuetee
Til we be dede / or ellis that we pleye
A pilgrymage / or goon out of the weye
And ther fore / haue I gret nece{ss}itee
Vp on this queynte world / tauy{s}e me
ffor euere mo / we mote {s}tonde in drede
Of hap and ffortune / in oure chapmanhede
{{Folio 207r}}
¶To fflandres wol I go / tomorwe at day
And come agayn / as {s}oone as e|uer|e I may
ffor which my deere wyf / I thee bi{s}eke
As be to euery wight/ buxom and meke
And for to kepe oure good / be curious
And hone{s}tly / gouerne wel oure hous
Thow ha{s}t ynow / in euery mane|re| wi{s}e
That to a thrifty hou{s}hold / may suffi{s}e
Thee lakketh noon array / ne no vitaille
Of siluer in thy purs / shaltow nat faille
And with that word / his Countour dore he shette
And doun he goth / no lenger wolde he lette
But ha{s}tily / a ma{ss}e was ther seyd
And spedily / the tables were yleyd
And to the dyner / fa{s}te they hem spedde
And richely this Monk/ the chapman fedde
¶At after dyner / daun |Iohan| sobrely
This chapman took a part/ and |pri|uely
He seyde hym thus / co{s}yn it standeth so
That wel I se / to Brugges wol ye go
God and Seint Au{s}tyn / spede yow and gyde
I pray yow co{s}yn / wy{s}ly |þt| ye ryde
Gouerneth yow al{s}o / of youre diete
Atemprely / and namely / in this hete
Bitwix vs two / nedeth no strange fare
ffarewel co{s}yn / god shilde yow fro care
And if |þt| any thyng/ by day or nyght
If it lye in my power/ and my myght/
That ye me wol comande / in any wi{s}e
It shal be doon / right as ye wol deuy{s}e
¶O thyng er |þt| ye goon / if it may be
I wold {`,}preye yow / for to lene me
An hundred frankes / for a wyke or tweye
ffor |cer|teyn be{s}tes / |þt| I mo{s}te beye
To store with a place / that is oures
God help me so / I wolde it were youres
I shal nat faille / {s}eurely of my day
Nat for a thou{s}and frankes / a myle way
But lat this thyng be secree / I yow preye
ffor yet to nyght/ thi{s}e be{s}tes moot I beye
{{Folio 207v}}
And fare now wel / myn owene co{s}yn deere
Grant |mer|cy / of youre co{s}t/ and of youre cheere
¶This noble Marchant/ gentilly anon
An{s}werde and seyde / o co{s}yn myn daun |Iohan|
Now sikerly / this is a smal reque{s}te
My gold is youres / whan |þt| it yow le{s}te
And nat oonly my gold / but my chaffare
Tak what yow li{s}t/ god shilde |þt| ye spare
But o thyng is / ye knowe it wel ynow
Of Chapmen / that hir moneye is hir plow
We may creance / whil we han a name
But goldlees for to been / it is no game
Pay it agayn / whan it lyth in youre e{s}e
After my myght/ ful fayn wol I yow ple{s}e
¶Thi{s}e hundred frankes / he fette forth anon
And |pri|uely / he took hem to daun |Iohan|
No wight in al this world / wi{s}te of this lone
Sauyng/ this Marchant/ and daun |Iohan| allone
They drynke / and speke / and rome a while |&| pleye
Til that daun |Iohan| / rideth to his Abbeye
¶The morwe cam / and forth this Marchant rydeth
To fflandres ward / his Prentys wel hym gydeth
Til he cam / in to Brugges murily
Now goth this Marchant/ fa{s}te and bi{s}ily
Aboute his nede / and byeth and crea|un|ceth
He neither / pleyeth at the dees / ne daunceth
But as a Marchant/ shortly for to telle
He let his lyf / and ther I lete hym dwelle
¶The sonday next / the Marchant was agon
To Seint denys / ycomen is daun |Iohan|
With crowne and berd / al fre{ss}h |&| newe shaue
In al the hous / ther nas {s}o litel a knaue
Ne no wight ellis / |þt| he nas ful fayn
That my lord daun |Iohan| / was come agayn
And shortly / to the poynt/ right for to gon
This faire wyf/ acorded with daun |Iohan|
That for thi{s}e hundred frankes / he sholde al nyght/
Haue hire in his armes / bolt vpright/
And this acord / |per|fourned was in dede
In myrthe al nyght/ a bi{s}y lyf they lede
{{Folio 208r}}
Til it was day / that daun |Iohan| wente his way
And bad the meynee / fare wel haue good day
ffor noon of hem / ne no wight in the town
Hath of daun |Iohan| / right no su{s}pecioun
And forth he rydeth hom / til his Abbeye
Or where hym li{s}t/ namoore of hym I seye
¶This Marchant/ whan |þt| ended was the faire
To Seint Denys / he gan for to repaire
And with his wyf / he maketh fe{s}te and cheere
And telleth hi|re| / that chaffare is so deere
That nedes / mo{s}te he make a cheuy{ss}ance
ffor he was bounden / in a recony{ss}ance
To paye/ twenty thou{s}and sheeld anon
ffor which / this Marchant/ is to Parys gon
To borwe / of |cer|teyne freendes / that he hadde
A |cer|teyn frankes / and s|om|me |with| hym he ladde
And whan |þt| he was come / in to the town
ffor greet chiertee / and greet affeccioun
Vn to daun |Iohan| / he fir{s}t goth / hym to pleye
Nat for to axe / or borwe of hym moneye
But for to wite / and {s}een of his welfare
And for to tellen hym / of his chaffare
As freendes doon / whan they been met yfeere
Daun |Iohan| / hym maketh fe{s}te / and murye cheere
And he hym tolde agayn / ful specially
How he hadde / wel yboght/ and |gra|ciou{s}ly
Thanked be god / al hool his marchandi{s}e
Saue |þt| he mo{s}te / in alle maner wy{s}e
Maken a cheuy{ss}ance / as for his be{s}te
And thanne / he sholde been / in ioye and re{s}te
¶Daun |Iohan| an{s}werde / certes I am fayn
That ye in heele / ar comen hom agayn
And if |þt| I were riche / as haue I bli{ss}e
Of twenty thou{s}and sheeld / sholde ye nat my{ss}e
ffor ye {s}o kyndely / this oother day
Lente me gold / and as I kan and may
I thanke yow / by god / and by Seint Iame
But nathelees / I took vn to oure dame
Yowre wyf at hom / the same gold agayn
Vp on youre bench / she woot it wel certayn
{{Folio 208v}}
By |cer|teyn toknes / that I kan yow telle
Now by youre leue / I may no lenger dwelle
Oure Abbot/ wol out of this town anon
And in his compaignye / moot I gon
Greet wel oure dame / myn owene Nece swete
And fare wel deere co{s}yn / til we meete
¶This Marchant/ which |þt| was ful war and wys
Creanced hath / and payed eek in Parys
To |cer|teyn lombardes / redy in hir hond
The somme of gold / and gat of hem his bond
¶{.}i{.} obligacionem
And hoom he gooth / murye as a Papyniay
ffor wel he knew / he {s}tood in swich array
That nedes mo{s}te he wynne / in that viage
A thou{s}and frankes / abouen al his co{s}tage
¶His wyf ful redy / mette hym at the gate
As she was wont/ of old v{s}age algate
And al that nyght/ in myrthe they bi{s}ette
ffor he was riche / and cleerly out of dette
¶Whan it was day / this Marchant gan embrace
His wyf al newe / and ki{s}te hi|re| on hir face
And vp he goth / and maketh it ful tough
Namoore quod she / by god ye haue ynough
And wantownely agayn / with hym she pleyde
Til at the la{s}te / this Marchant seyde
¶By god quod he / I am alitel wroth
With yow my wyf / al thogh it be me looth
And woot ye why / by god as |þt| I ge{ss}e
That ye han maad / a manere strangene{ss}e
Bitwixen me / and my co{s}yn Daun |Iohan|
Ye sholde han warned me / er I had gon
That he yow hadde / a hundred frankes payed
Be redy tokne / and heeld hym yuele apayed
ffor that I to hym / spak of cheuy{ss}ance
Me semed so / as by his contenance
But nathelees / by god oure heuene kyng/
I thoghte nat/ to axe of hym no thyng/
I pray thee wyf/ ne do namoore so
Tel me alwey / er that I fro thee go
If any dettour / hath in myn ab{s}ence
Ypayed thee / le{s}t thurgh thy necligence
{{Folio 209r}}
I myghte hym axe / a thyng/ |þt| he hath payed
¶This wyf / was nat afered ne afrayed
But boldely she seyde / and that anon
Marie I diffye / the fal{s}e Monk/ daun |Iohan|
I kepe nat of his toknes / ne|uer| a del
He took me |cer|teyn gold / this woot I wel
What yuel thedam / on his Monkes snowte
ffor god it woot/ I wende with outen dowte
That he hadde yeue it me / by cau{s}e of yow
To doon ther with / myn honour / and my prow
ffor co{s}ynage / and eek for bele cheere
That he hath had / ful ofte tymes heere
¶But sith I se / it stant in this di{s}ioynt/
I wole an{s}were yow / shortly to the poynt/
Ye han mo slakker dettours / than am I
ffor I wol paye yow / wel and redily
ffro day to day / and if {s}o be I fayle
I am youre wyf / score it vp on my tayle
And I shal paye / as {s}oone as euere I may
ffor by my trouthe / I haue on myn array
And nat in wa{s}t/ bi{s}towed e|uer|y del
And for I haue / bi{s}towed it {s}o wel
ffor youre honour / for goddes sake I seye
As be nat wrooth / but lat vs laughe |&| pleye
Ye shal / my ioly body han to wedde
By god / I wol noght paye yow but abedde
fforgyue it me / myn owene spou{s}e deere
Turn hiderward / and maketh bettre cheere
¶This Marchant/ saugh / ther was no remedye
And for to chide / it nere but folye
Syn that the thyng/ may nat amended be
Now wyf he seyde / and I foryeue it thee
But by thy lyf/ ne be namoore {s}o large
Keep bet thy good / this yeue {^}{{I}} thee in charge
Thus endeth my tale / and god vs sende
Taillynge ynough / vn to oure lyues ende
¶Here endeth / the Shipmannes tale