A thief he was, for sooth, of corn and meal, And that a sly, and used well to steal. His name was hoten deinous Simekin. 1231 A wife he haddë, come of noble kin: The parson of the town her father was. With her he gave full many a pan of brass, For that Simkin should in his blood ally. She was y-foster’d in a nunnery: For Simkin wouldë no wife, as he said, But she were well y-nourish’d, and a maid, To saven his estate and yeomanry: And she was proud, and pert as is a pie. 1232 A full fair sight it was to see them two; On holy days before her would he go With his tippét 1233 y-bound about his head; And she came after in a gite 1234 of red, And Simkin haddë hosen of the same. There durstë no wight call her aught but Dame: