The Tale

Lordings, there is in Yorkshire, as I guess, A marshy country callëd Holderness, In which there went a limitour about To preach, and eke to beg, it is no doubt. And so befell that on a day this frere Had preached at a church in his mannére, And speciálly, above every thing, Excited he the people in his preaching To trentals, and to give, for Goddë’s sake, Wherewith men mightë holy houses make, There as divinë service is honoúr’d, Not there as it is wasted and devoúr’d, Nor where it needeth not for to be given, As to possessioners, that may liven, Thanked be God, in wealth and abundánce. “Trentals,” said he, “deliver from penánce Their friendës’ soulës, as well old as young, Yea, when that they be hastily y-sung⁠— Not for to hold a priest jolly and gay, He singeth not but one mass in a day. Deliver out,” quoth he, “anon the souls. Full hard it is, with flesh-hook or with owls To be y-clawed, or to burn or bake: Now speed you hastily, for Christë’s sake.” And when this friar had said all his intent, With qui cum patre forth his way he went, When folk in church had giv’n him what them lest; He went his way, no longer would he rest, With scrip and tipped staff, y-tucked high: In every house he gan to pore and pry, And begged meal and cheese, or ellës corn. His fellow had a staff tipped with horn, A pair of tables all of ivory, And a pointel y-polish’d fetisly, And wrote alway the namës, as he stood, Of all the folk that gave them any good, Askauncë that he wouldë for them pray. “Give us a bushel wheat, or malt, or rey, A Goddë’s kichel, or a trip of cheese, Or ellës what you list, we may not chese; A Goddë’s halfpenny, or a mass penny; Or give us of your brawn, if ye have any; A dagon of your blanket, levë dame, Our sister dear⁠—lo, here I write your name⁠— Bacon or beef, or such thing as ye find.” A sturdy harlot went them aye behind, That was their hostë’s man, and bare a sack, And what men gave them, laid it on his back. And when that he was out at door, anon He planed away the namës every one, That he before had written in his tables: He served them with nifles and with fables.⁠—