girdles and their pouches every deal. Well seemed each of them a fair burgéss, To sitten in a guild-hall, on the dais. Evereach, for the wisdom that he can, Was shapely for to be an alderman. For chattels haddë they enough and rent, And eke their wivës would it well assent: And ellës certain they had been to blame. It is full fair to be y-clep’d madáme, And for to go to vigils all before, And have a mantle royally y-bore.
A Cook they haddë with them for the nones, To boil the chickens and the marrow bones, And powder merchant tart and galingale. Well could he know a draught of London ale. He couldë roast, and seethe, and broil, and fry, Makë mortrewës, and well bake a pie. But great harm was it, as it thoughtë me, That, on his shin a mormal haddë he. For blanc manger, that made he with the best.
A Shipman was there, wonned far by West: For ought I wot, be was of Dartëmouth. He rode upon a rouncy, as he couth, All in a gown of falding to the knee. A dagger hanging by a lace had he About his neck under his arm adown; The hot summer had made his hue all brown; And certainly he was a good felláw. Full many a draught of wine he had y-draw From Bourdeaux-ward, while that the chapmen sleep; Of nicë consciénce took he no keep. If that he fought, and had the higher hand, By water he sent them home to every land. But of his craft to reckon well his tides, His streamës and his strandës him besides, His herberow, his moon, and lodemanage, There was none such, from Hull unto Carthage. Hardy he was, and wise, I undertake: With many a tempest had his beard been shake. He knew well all the havens, as they were, From Scotland to the Cape of Finisterre, And every creek in Bretagne and in Spain: His barge y-cleped was the Magdelain.
With us there was a Doctor of Physic ; In all this worldë was there none him like To speak of physic, and of surgery: For he was grounded in astronomy. He kept his patiént a full great deal In hourës by his magic