Cn · Austin, University of Texas, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center HRC Pre-1700 MS 143
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Cn/
[4r]
Here mouthe full small and therto softe and rede
But sikirly she had a faire forhede
For hardly she was not vndergrowe
It was almoste a span̄ brode as y trowe
Full fetise was here Cloke · as y was ware
Of small corall a boute here arme she bare
A pen[…] bedys gaudid all with grene ·
And thereon̄ hynge a broche of golde full shene
On̄ which was first writen̄ a crowned · A ·
And aftur · Amor · vincit om̄inia
A nother Nonne with hure had she
That was hure Chapleyne · and prestis the
A Monke there was · a faire for the Mastrie
A monke
An̄ oute Rider that loved well venerie
Amanly man̄ to be an̄ Abbot able
Full many a deynte hors had he in his stable
And when̄ he rode men̄ myght his bridell here
Gynglyng in a whistlyng wynde as clere
And eke as lowde as doith the Chapell Belle
There as this lorde was keper of the Selle
The rule of Seynte Maury or of Seynt Beneit
Bycause it was olde and somdell streit
This ilke Monke lete olde thynges pace
And hilde aft̉er the newe worldis space
Distinctive final sigma s on "worldis" mandates word separation
He gave not of that texte a Pullyd hen̄
That seith that hunters ben̄ none holy men
Ne that a Monke · whan̄ he is rechelesse
Ys likenyd to a Fysshe that is waterlesse
This is to sayne · a Monke oute of his Cloystre
But that Texte hilde he not worth an̄ Oystre
And y saide his opynioıı̄un was good
What shulde he stodye and make hym̄ self wood
Vppon̄ a boke in Cloystre all day to poure
Or swynke with his hondys and laboure
As Austyn̄ haue bid the · hou shall the worlde be served
Let Austyn̄ haue his swynke to hym̄ reservid
Therefore he was a praunsoure a right
Greihoundys had he that weren̄ full light
On̄ prikkyng · and huntyng · for the hare
Was all his lust for nothyng wolde he spare
I sawe his slevis purfilid at the honde
With grice · and that the fynest in the londe
And for to fasten̄ his hode vnde his Chyn̄
He hadde of golde wrought a full curious pyn̄
A love knot in the grettir ende there was
His hede was balled · that shone as eny glas
And eke his face · as he · had be anoynte
He was a lorde full fatte · and in gode poynte
Hys yeen̄ stepe were · and rollyng in his hede
That stemed as a furneys of lede
His botys souple · his hors in grete state
Nowe certayne he was a faire prelate
He was not pale · as it were a payned goste
A fatte Swan̄ lovid he · best of eny roste
His Palfraye was as broun̄ as a berye
¶ A Frere there was eke a wantoıı̄un and a merye
A Frere
A lymytoure and a full solempne man̄
In the ordres ·iiijᵒʳ· is none so well that can̄
So moche of dalyaunce and faire langage
He had made full many a faire mariage
Of yonge wymmen̄ at his owne cost
Vnto his ordre he was a noble post
Full well belovid and famylier was he
With Frankelens oủere all in his Contre
And with worthy wymmen̄ of the toun̄
For he had pouere of Confessyoun̄
As he saide hym̄ self more than a Curate
For of his ordre he was licenciate
Full swetely harde he Confessioun̄
And plesaunt was his absolucioun̄
He was an̄ easy man̄ to yeve penaunce
There as he wist to haue agood petaunce
For vnto a pore ordre for to geve
Is signe that a man̄ is well shreve
For yif he gave he durst make a vaunte
He wist well that aman was repentaunte
For many a man̄ is so harde of harte
He may not wepe all though hym sore smarte
Therfore in stede of penaunce and prayer
Men moste geve silvir to the pore fryers
His Tipet was ay farshed full of knyvis
And pynnys for to geve faire wyvis
And certeynly he had a mery note
Well coude he synge and pley on̄ Rote
Of yeddynges he bare vttirly the prise
His necke was white · as floure delise
Therto he was stronge · as a Champioun̄
He knewe the Taủernys · well in eủery Toun̄
And eủery hostler and Tapsterre
Better than̄ a laser or Beggesterre
For vnto suche a worthy man̄ as he
Accordith not as to his facalte
To haue with seke lazers acquayntaunce
It is not honest it may not avaunce
For to dele with suche poraile
But all with the Riche and Sellers of vitaile
And oủere all there profite shulde a rise
Curtays he was and lowly of servise
There was noman̄ […] nowhere so vertuous
He was the best Begger in his hous
For though a widowe had not but a sho
So plesaunte was his In Principio
Yet wolde he haue a ferthyng or he went
His purchas was well bettre than̄ his Rent
And rage he couth as it had ben a whelpe
In love days there coude he moche helpe
For there he was not like a Cloysterere
With a threde bare Cope as ys a scolere
But he was like a Mastere or a pope
Of double worsted was his semy Cope
Rounde as eny Belle · oute of the presse
Som̄what he lispyd · for his wantounesse
To make his Englisshe swete on̄ his tonge
And in his harpyng · whan̄ that he had songe
His yeen̄ twynklyd in his hede aright
As doith the sterres in the frosty nyght
This worthy lymytoure was clepid hubbard
A Marchaunte there was with a forked bard
A Merchaunte
In motle and high vppon̄ an̄ hors he sate
And on̄ his hede a Flaundrisshe beủere hatte
His botes claspid faire and fetously
His resons he spake full solempnely
Sownyng alway the encres of his wynnyng
He wolde the See were kepte for eny thyng
Betwene Middilburgh and Orwell
Well coude he in Eschaunges Rentes sell
This worthy man̄ full well his witte bisette
There wist no wight that he was in dette
So stedfastly did he with his goủernaunce
With his bargeynes and with his chevisaunce
Forsothe he was a worthy man̄ with alle
But sothe to sayne y not what men̄ hym̄ calle
A Clerke there was of Oxonford also
That vnto logik had longe y go
A Clerke of Oxonford
And lene was his hors as it were a Rake
And he was not right fatte y vndertake
But lokid holowe · and therto sobirly
Full threde bare was his oủerest courtby
For as yit he hadde gete hym̄ none benefise
He was not worldly to haue an̄ offise
For hym̄ was leủere to haue atte his beddes hede
xxᵗⁱ · bokys clad in blacke and rede
Of Aristotle and of his Philophie
Then̄ riche Robys · Fidell · or sawtrie
But all be it though · he were a Philosophre
Yit had he but litle golde in his cofre
But all that he from̄ his frendys hente
On̄ bokys and on̄ lernyng he it spente
And besily gan̄ for the soulys praye
Of them̄ that gave hym̄ wherewith to scolaye
Of stodye toke he moste cure and hede
Not a worde spake he more than̄ was nede
And that was seyde in forme and reủerence
And shorte and quyk and full of high sentence
Sownyng in morall vertue was his speche
Gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
A Seriaunte of lawe there was ware and wis
A Seriaunte of lawe
That full often̄ had bene atte parvise
That was full riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of gre reủerence
He semed such his wordis were so wise
Iustise had he be full oftyn̄ in assise
Bothe bi patent · and pleyne commyssioıı̄un
For his science and his high renown̄
Of Fees and Robes had he many one
So grete a purchasoure was nowhere none
All was Fee symple to hym̄ in effecte
His purchasyng myght not be in suspecte
Nowhere so esy aman̄ there nas
And yit he semed bisier than̄ he was
In termys had he cas and domys alle
That fro the tyme of kynge willᵃam were falle
Therto coude he endite and make a thynge
There coude noman̄ pynche at his writynge
And eủery statute coude he playne by rote
He rode but homly in a medley cote
Girt with a seint of silke with barres smale
Of his aray telle y no lengre tale
¶A Franklyn̄ was in this companye
A Frankelyn
White was his berde · as is the daisye
Of his complexioıı̄un he was sangwyn̄
Well loved he by the morowe a soppe in wyn
To lyve in delite was eủere his wone
For he was Epicurious owne sonne
That hilde opynyoıı̄un that pleyne delite
Was verraye · Felitite parfite
An̄ householdre and that a grete was he
The grettist on of all his Contre
His brede his ale · was alway aftur one
A better vyned man̄ was nowhere none
Withoute Bakemete was neủere his house
Off fysshe and flesshe and that so plenteuouse
It snewed in his house of mete and drynke
Of all deyntees that eny man̄ can̄ thynke
Aftur the sondry seasons of the yere
So chaunged he his mete and his soper
Full many a fatte partriche had he in mue
And […] many a Breme and many a luce in Stue
Woo was his Coke but yif his sause were
Poynaunt and sharpe and redy all his gere
His table dormant in his halle alway
Stode redy coủeryd all the longe day
Atte the cessions there was he lorde and Syre
Full oftyn tyme he was knyght of the Shyre
And an hanlaas and a Gipsiere all of silke
Hynge at his girdill as white as morowe mylke
A Shiref had he be and a Coıı̄unntoure
Was nowhere suche a worthy vauasoure
An habirdassher · and a Carpentere
An habirdassher
A wever · a Dyer · and a Tapicere
A Carpenter
And they · were clothid all in one lyủereye
A Wever a
Of a solempne and a grete fraternytye
Dyer a Capiere
Full fresshe and newe here gere piked was
Here knyvis were not chapid with bras
But all with silvyr wrought full clene and well
Here Girdyls and here pouches eủery delle
Well semed eche of them a faire Burgeys
To sitte in the yelde hall vppon̄ the deys
Eủeryche for the wisedom̄ that he can̄
Was shaply to be an̄ aldreman̄
For catell had they ynough · and rente
And eke here wivys wolde it well assente
And elles certayne they weren̄ to blame
It is full faire to be clepid Madame
And go to vigiles all a fore
And haue a mantell roially bore
¶A Coke they hadde with hem̄ for the nonys
A Coke
To boyle the Chykenys with the mary bonys
And pouder Marchant tarte and galyngale
Well coude he knowe a draught of london̄ ale
He coude roste · sithe · boyle · and frye
Make mortrewes and well bake a pye
But grete harme was it as thought me
That on his shynne a mormall had he
And Blaumangere made he with the best
A Shipman there was that w[…]d ferre by west
A Shipman
For ought that y wote he was of dertmouth
He rode vppon̄ a Rouncy as well as he couth
In a gowne of faldyng vnto the kne
A dagger hangyng with a lace had he
A boute his necke vnder his arme a doun̄
The hote Some had made his hewe al broun̄
And certeynly he was a good felawe
Full many a draught of wyne had he drawe
From Burdeuxwarde while the Chapmen̄ slepe
Of nyce conscience toke he no kepe
Yif that he faught . and had the higher hande
By watere he sente it home from eủery lande
But to rekyn̄ well of his crafte the tydes
The stremes and the strondes hym̄ besides
His herborowe his mone and his lodes manage
There was none suche from hull of Cartage
Doctore
Hardye he was and wise y vndertake
With many a tempest . had his berde be shake
He knewe all the havyns as they were
Fro Goutlonde to the Cape of Fenestere
And eủery kryke fro Brutaygne in to Spayne
His Barge was clepid the Magdeleyne
¶ With vs there was a doctor of Phisike
A Doctor of phisike
In all this worlde was none hym̄ like
To speke of phisik and of surgery
For he was groundid in Astronomye
He kepte his pacient . a full grete dell
In houris by his magik naturell
Well coude he fortune the ascendent
Of his ymagis . for bi his pacient
He knewe the cause of eủery maladye
Whether it were colde hote moyst or drye
And whereof it engendrid and of what humoure
He was a verrey parfite practisoure
The cause he knewe . and of his harme the Rote
Anon̄ he gaf the sikman̄ his Bote
Full redy had he all his Appoticaries
To sende hym̄ dreigges . and his lettuaries
For eche of them̄ made other for to wynne
Here Frenship was not newe to begynn
Well knewe he the olde Esculapius
And Diastorides and eke Rufus
Olde ypocras and Galien̄
Serapioıı̄un Basis and Auicien̄
Amerois Damastien̄ and Constantyn̄
Bernardus Gatisden̄ · and Gilbertyn̄
Of his diet mesurable was he
For he was of none suꝑperfluyte
But of grete norisshyng and digestible
His stody was but litle on̄ the bible
In Sangwyn̄ and in peers clad with all
Lyvid with Taffitta and Sendall
And yet he was but easy of dispence
For he kepte that he wan̄ in the pestlence
For golde in phisike is accordiall
Therfore he lovid golde in speciall
A good wyf the was · of beside Bathe
The Wif the Bathe
But she was somdele deef · and that was scathe
Of Clothe makyng · she had suche an̄ haunte
That she passed hem̄ of ypres and of Gaunte
In all the parisshe wif was ther none
That to offryng a fore hure shulde gone
And yif ther did certayne so wroth was she
That she was oute of alle cherite
Here kerchefs weren̄ of fyne grounde
I durst swere they weyd a pounde
That on̄ the sonday were vppon̄ here hede
Here hosyn were of fyne scarlet rede
Full streite tyed and shone moyst and newe
Bolde was hure face faire and rede of hewe
She was a worthy womman̄ all hure lyve
Husbondes atte the Churche dore had she fyve
Withoute other compaignye in hure youthe
But thereof nedith nedith not to speke of noughte
And thrise had she be at Ierlm̄Ierusaleme
She had passed many a straunge streme
At Rome had she be and at Babiloyne
In Galice at Seynte Iames and at Coleyne
She coude of moche wandryng by the wey
Gaptothed was she the sothe to sey
Vppon̄ an AmblereVppon̄ an Amblere easely she satte
Well y wympled and on̄ hure hede an̄ hatte
As brode at it were a bokelere or a targe
A fote mantell a boute hure heppis large
And on̄ hure fete a peyre of sporys sharpe
In felauship͒ coude she laugh and carpe
The remedyes of love the coude ꝑperchaunce
For of that arte she knewe the olde daunce
A good man̄ there was of Religyoun̄
That was a ꝑpersoıı̄un of a poure toun̄
A parson
But riche he was of holy thought and werke
He was also a lerned man d and a Clerke
That Cristes gospell truly wolde teche
His parisshynes deuoutly wolde he preche
Benygne he was and wondre diligent
And in adủersite full abidyng and pacient
For which he was preysed often̄ sithis
Full lothe were hym̄ to curse for his tithis
But rather wolde hem̄ yeve oute of doute
Vnto his pore parisshenes a boute
Of his offryng and eke of his substaunce
He coude haue yn litle thyng suffisaunce
Wyde was his parisshe and houses ferre a sondre
But he ne lette not for Reyne ne for thondre
In sekenesse and in myschief to visite
The ferthest in his parisshe moche and lite
Vppon̄ his fete · and in his hande a staff
This noble ensample to his shepe he yaff
That furst he wrought and afturwarde taught
Oute of the gospell he tho wordys raught
And this figure he added eke therto
That yif golde rustyd · what shulde Iron do
For yif apreste be foule on̄ whom̄ we trust
No wondre is though a lewid man̄ rust
And shame it is yif a preste take kepe
A shetyn̄ Shepherd and a clene shepe
Well aught a preste ensample for to yeve
By hys clennesse hou his shepe shulde leve
He sette not his benefice for to hire
Ant lette his shepe accombred be in the myr
Ne renne to londoıı̄un to seynte Poules
To seche hym̄ a Chauntry there for Soules
Or be with a Brotherhood witholde
But dwell atte home · and kepe well his folde
So that the wolf make it not myscarye
He was a Shepherde · and not a mersionarye
And though he holy were and vertuouse
He was not with symple men̄ dispitouse
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne
But in his speche discrete and benygne
To drawe folke to heven̄ by fairenesse
By good ensample this was his bisynesse
But and he knewe eny ꝑpersone obstynate
Whether he were of high or lowe estate
Hym̄ wolde he snebbe sharpely for the nonys
A bettre preste y trowe nowhere none ys
He waytith aft̉er no pompe ne reủerence
Ne made hym̄ a spiced conscience
But Cristis lore and his a Postels twelf
He taught but furst he did it hym̄ self
With hym̄ there was a plough man̄ his brothere
A ploughman̄
That had lad of dunge many a fothere
A true Swynker and a good was he
Lyvyng in pees and ꝑperfite Charite
God lovid he best · with all his hole herte
At all tymes though he gamed or smerte
And than̄ his nyghtboure right as hym̄ self
He wolde thresshe and eke dike and delf
For cristis sake for eủery poure wight
Withoute hire yif it lay in his myght
His tythis payde he full faire and wele
Bothe of his ꝓpropre swynke and of his catele
In a Tabard he rode vppon̄ a meere
¶ There was also a Reve · and a Mellere
A myllere
A Sompnoure and a Pardonere also
A Manciple ⁊and my self there were nomo
The Miller was a stoute carle for the nonys
Full bigge he was of body and of bonys
That previd well · for wher eủere he cam̄
At the wrastlyng he wolde haue the Ram̄
he was thertoHe was shorte shuldrid brode · and a thicke knarre
There was no dore but he wolde lift of harre
Or breke it at a rennyng with his hede
His berde · as eny Sowe or fox was rede
And therto brode as it were a spade
Vppon̄ the coppe · of the nose he hadde
A werte and theruppon̄ stode a tufte of heris
Redde as the brystillys of a Sowes erys
His nose thrillys blacke were and wide
A Swerde and a Buklere he bare by his side
His mowth was as grete as a furneis
He was a Iangler and a Golyardeis
And that was moste synne and harlotries
Well coude he stele corn̄ and stele thries
And yit he had a thombe of gold ꝑparde
A white Cote and a blewe hode wered he
A Bagpipe well coude he blowe and sowne
And therewith all he brought vs oute of towne
¶ A gentill Manciple there was of a Temple
A gentill Mancipill
Of which all Catours myght take an example
For to be wise in beyng of Vitaille
For whethir he payde or toke by taille
Ay wayted he so in his accate
That he was ay bifore and in good estate
Nowe is not that of god a full faire grace
That suche a lewede mannys witte shall pace
The wisedom̄ of an̄ hepe of lerned men̄
That mastres haue hadde mo than̄ thrise ten̄
That of lawe weren̄ experte and curyouse
Of which there were · an̄ · xijelf · in an house
Worthy to be Stuardys of Rente and londe
Of eny lorde that is in Englonde
To make hym̄ lyve by his ꝓpropre good
In honoure doutlesse but yif he were wood
Or lyve as scarsly as hym̄ lust desire
And able to helpe all a Shire
In many cas that myght falle or happe
And yit this Manciple set theire althir cappe
The Reve was a sclendre colerikman
A Reve
His berde was shave as nygh as eủere he can̄
His here was by his eeris full rounde shorn̄
His toppe was dockid like a preste biforn̄
Full longe were his leggis and full lene
Like a staff there was no calf sene
Well coude he kepe a Garner and a bynne
There was none Auditor couth on hym̄ wynne
Well wist he by the drought and by the reyne
The yeldyng of his corne and of his greyne
His lordys shepe his Neete his deyrie
His swyne his hors his store and his pultrie
Was hooliche in this Reves goủernyng
And by his couenaunt he yave the rekenyng
Sith that his lorde was · xxᵗⁱ · yere of Age
There coude noman̄ brynge hym̄ a in a rerage
There was no Balyf herde ne other hyne
That he ne knewe here sleight and here covyne
They were drad of hym̄ as of the dethe
His wonnyng was faire vppon̄ an̄ hethe
With grene trees shadowed was his place
He coude better then̄ his lorde purchace
Full riche he was storid privelye
His lorde he coude please full subtellye
To yeve and lene hym̄ of his owne good
And haue a thanke and yit a gowne and a hood
This Reve sate vppon̄ a well good stotte
All pomell gray · and he hight Scotte
Lerned he had in youth a good mystere
He was a good wright and a Carpentere
A longe surcote of peers a bove he hadde
And by his side he bare a lusty bladde
Of Nor Folke was this Reve of which telle
Besides a Towne men̄ clepe Bladwelle
Tukkyd he was as is a Frere a boute
And eủere he rode hyndrest of the route
A Sompnoure there was with vs in tha place
A Sompnoure
That hadde a fyre rede cherubyns face
Full sausefleme he was with yeen̄ narowe
As hote he was and lecherous like a sparowe
With scalled browes blake and pilled berde
Of his visage children̄ were sore aferd
There was neytherThere was neyther litarge · quyk silủere · ne Brymston̄
Borace Ceruse ne Oyle of tartre noon̄
Ne oygnement that well can̄ clense and bite
That hym̄ myght helpe of his welkes white
Ne of the knobbes sittyng in his chekes
Well lovid he garlyk oynyouns and lekes
And for to drynke stronge wyne as red as blode
Than̄ wolde he · speke and crie as he were wode
And whan̄ that he well dronke the wyne
Than̄ wolde he speke no worde but latyne
A fewe termys had he tweyne or thre
That he had lerned oute of som̄ decre
No wondre ys he herde it all the day
And eke he knowe well hou that a Iay
Can̄ clepe watte as well as can̄ the pope
But who so clo coude in other thynges hym̄ grope
Than̄ had he spendid all his Philosophye
Ay questio quid Iuris wolde he crye
He was a gentill harlot and a kynde
A betre felawe shulde men̄ nowhere fynde
He wolde suffre for a quarte of wyne
A good felawe to haue his Concubyne
Twelvemoneth and excuse hym̄ at the full
Well prively eke a fynche coude he pull
And yif he founde owhere a good felawe
He wolde teche hym̄ to haue none awe
In suche case of this archedekyns curs
But yif a mannys soule hynge in his purs
For with his purs he shulde pyned be
Purs is the Archedekyns helle quod he
But well y wote he lieth right in dede
Of cursyng owith eủery man gilty to drede
For curs wolle sle right as a soylyng savith
And also a ware hym̄ of a sygnifycavith
In daungere had he atte his owne gyse
Alle the yonge gyrles of the diocise
And knewe here counsaille and was all here rede
A Garlonde he had sette vppon̄ his hede
As grete as it were for an̄ ale stake
A Bokelere had he made of a Cake
With hym̄ there rode a gentill Pardonere
A pardonere
Of Rouncivale his felawe and his compere
That streight was comen̄ fro the Courte of Rome
Full loude he songe com̄ hither love com tome
This Sompnoure bare to hym̄ a stif Burdoıı̄un
Was neủere Trumpe of half so grete a sown̄
This pardonere had here · as yelowe as eny wex
But smothe hynge it as doith a strike of flex
By ouncis hynge his lokkys that he hadde
And therewith his shurdres it oủere spradde
But thynne it lay by culpons on̄ and on̄
And an̄ hode for Iolyte wered he non̄
For it was trussed vppe in his walette
Hym̄ thought he rode all of the newe Iette
Disshevele saue his hat he rode all bare
With glaryng yeen̄ as hath an̄ hare
A vernacle had he sewed on̄ his Cappe
His walet lay be forn̄ hym̄ in his lappe
Fret full of pardoıı̄un come fro Rome all hote
A voyce he hadde as small as hath a gote
No berde he hadde ne neủere shulde haue
As smothe it was · as it were newe shaue
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare
But of his Crafte fro Berwik vnto ware
Ne was there suche another Pardonere
For in his male he a feyre pelowe bere
Which as he saide than̄ was oure lady veile
He saide he had eke a gobet of the seile
That seynte Petyr had when̄ that he went
Vppon̄ the See · there IħuIhesu Criste hym̄ hent
He had a Crosse of latoıı̄un full of stonys
And in a glas he had many piggis bonys
But with thise reliquys whan̄ that he fonde
A pore parsoıı̄un dwellyng vplonde
Vppon̄ a day he gate hym̄ more money
Than̄ did the parsoıı̄un in monethis twey
And thus with his feyned flatrye and Iapys
He made the parsoıı̄un and the peple his Apys
But truly to telle of hym̄ at the laste
he was inHe was in churche a noble eccłiasteecclesiaste
Well coude he rede a lessoıı̄un or a storye
But alther beste he songe an̄ affertorye
For well he wist · whan̄ that songe was sunge
He moste preche and well file his tunge
To wynne silvir · as he full well coude
Therfore he songe so mery and so loude
¶ Nowe haue y tolde you sothely l in a clause
The state · the aray · the nombre and the cause
Why that assembled was all this companye
In Southwerke at that Ientill hosterye
That hight the Tabarde · fast by the belle
But nowe it ys tyme to you for to telle
Howe that we bare vs that ylke nyght
When̄ we were in that hosterye alyght
And aftur woll y tell of oure viage
And all the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage
But furst y pray you of youre curtesye
That ye arette it nat to my vylonye
That that y pleynly speke in this matere
To telle you here wordys and here chere
Ne though y speke not here wordes propirly
For this ye knowe as well a y
Who so shall telle a tale aftir aman̄
He moste reherce it as nygh as eủere he can̄
Eủery worde yif it be in his charge
Speke he neủere so rudely ne so large
Or ellys he mot telle his tale vntrewe
Or feyne thynges or fynde wordes newe
He may not spare all though it were his brothere
He mote aswell say one · worde as a nothere
Criste spake hym̄ self full brode in holy writte
And well ye wote no vylany is ytte
Eke Plato seith who so can hym̄ rede
The wordes moste be Cosyn̄ to the dede
Also y pray you to for yeve it me
Though y haue not sette folke in here degree
Here in this tale · as that they shulde stonde
My wit is short yᵉe may well vnderstonde
Grete chere made oure hoste vs eủerychone
And to souper · sette we vs anon
He servid vs with vitaile at the beste
Stronge was the wyne And well to drynke vs leste
A semely man̄ oure · hoste was with alle
For to be a Marchall yn an̄ halle
A large man̄ he was with yeen̄ stepe
A fairer Burgeys was ther none in Chepe
Bolde of his speche wise and well y taught
And of Manhode lakkid hym right naught
Eke he was therto right a mery man̄
And aftur sopere playe he began̄
And speke of myrthe amonge other thyng
Whan̄ that we had made oure rekenyng
He seide lo lordyngis truly
Ye be to me right welcom̄ hertly
For by my trouth yif that y sha nat lye
I sawe nat this yere so mery accompanye
Attones in this herborowgh as ys nowe
Fayne wolde I do you myrth and y wist howe
And of a myrthe y am right nowe bethought
To don̄ you ease · And it shall cost you nought
Ye go to Caunterbury god you spede
That blisfull Martir there quyte youre mede
And well y wote as ye gone by the wey
Ye shapen̄ you to talkyn̄ and to pley
For truly comfort ne myrth is it none
To ride by the way as dom̄ as a stone
And therfore wolde y make you disporte
As y seide erst · and do you som̄ comforte
And yif you like all by on̄ assent
To stonde this tyme at my Iugement
And for to werkyn̄ as y shall you sey
To morowe when̄ ye ride by the wey
Nowe by my faders soule that ys dede
But ye be mery y woll yeve you my hede
Holde vp youre handys withouten̄ more speche
Oure counsaile was not longe forto seche
Vs thought it was nought worth to make it uyce
And grauntid hym̄ withoute more advice
And bade hym̄ sey all his verdite as hym̄ leste
Lordynges quod he nowe herknyth for the beste
But take it not I pray you at disdayne
xxxThis is the poynt to speke it shorte and pleyne
That eche of you to shorte with youre wey
In this viage shall telle tales twey
To Caunterbury warde y mene it so
And homward he shall telle other two
Of aventuris that som̄tyme haue befalle
And which of you berith hym̄ beste of alle
That is to say that tellith yn̄ this case
Tales of moste scentence and solase
Shall haue a Sopere at oure althir cost
Here in this place sittyng by the post
When that we commyn̄ a geyn̄ fro Caunterburye
And forto make you the more myrye
I will my self goodly with you ride
Right at myn̄ owne cost and be youre gide
And who so will my Iugement with sey
Shall paie for all that we spende by the wey
And yif ye vouchesafe it be so
Telle me anon̄ withoute wordis mo
And y woll erly shape me therfore
This was grauntid . and oure othes swore
With full glad harte . and praied hym̄ alsoo
That he wolde vouchesaf so to doo
And that he wolde be oure goủernoure
And of oure tales Iuge and reportoure
And sette a Sopere at a certeyne prise
And we will ruelid be at youre devise
In hygh and lowe and thus by one assent
We be accordid to youre Iugement
And thereuppon̄ the wyne was fet anon̄
We drunke and wente to rest eủerychon̄
Withoute eny lenger tareyng
Amorowe when̄ that the day gan̄ spryng
Vp rose oure hoste and was all oure althir cokke
And gadred vs to gedre on̄ a flokke
And furth we riden̄ a softe pase
Vnto the watryng of seynte Thomase
And there oure hoste gan his Bridell to areste
And seide lordes herkenyth yif ye leste
Y knowe oure forward yif ye it recorde
Yif evissong and morowe songe accord
Latte se who shall telle the furst tale
As so eủere mot y drynke wyne or ale
Who so be rebell to my Iugement
Shall paie for all that is by the wey spent
Nowe drawith Cutte or we ferther twyn̄
For he that hath the shortist shall be gyn̄
Sir knyght quod he my Master and my lorde
Nowe drawith Cut for this for this is myn̄ accorde
Comth nere quod . he my lady prioresse
And ye Sir Clerke let be youre shamfastnesse
Ne studieth nought ley hande to eủery man̄
And to drawe eủery wight began
And shortly to telle as it was
Were it by adventure or sorte or cas
The sothe is the Cutte felle to the knyght
Of which full gladde was eủery wyght
And tell he moste his tale as it was reasoıı̄un
By forward and by composicyoıı̄un
And that ye haue harde what nedeth wodes moo
And whan̄ this gode man̄ sawe it was soo
As he that wise was and obedient
To kepe his forward by his fre assent
And seide sith y shall begynne the game
Welcom̄ be the Cutte in goddis name
Now lette vs ride and herkenyth what y sey
Nowe with that worde we riden̄ furth on̄ oure wey
And he began̄ with right a mery chere
His tale anon̄ and seide on̄ this manere
Iamqꝫue domos patrias Scithice post asꝑpera gentes Prelia
laurigero ⁊etc̉etera
laurigero ⁊etc̉etera
Explicit
Nowe begynneth the knyght his tale
Whilom̄ as olde stor[…]es tellen̄ vs
There was a Duke that hight Theseus
Of Athenes he was lorde and goủernoure
And in his tyme