The Friar's Tale
Folio 103r
1 of 11 folios
Ȝe han sayd mochel þing right wel I say
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But dame right as we ryden by þe way
Vs needeþ nouȝt but for to speke of game .
And lete auctorites in goddes name
To preching and to scoles of clergie /
But if it like to þis companye /
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I wil ȝow of a sompnour telle a game
Par de ȝe may wel knowe by þe name
That of a sompnour may no good be sayd
I pray ȝow þat noon of ȝow be euel a payd
A Sompnour is a renner vp and doun
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Wiþ maundemētz for fornicaciou~
And is y bete at euery tounes eende /
Our oste spak / a sir ȝe schold been heende /
And curteys as a man of ȝour estaat
In company we wol haue no debaat
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Telleþ ȝour tale and let þe sompnor be
Nay quoþ þe sompnour let him say to me
What so him list whan it comeþ to my lot
By god I schal him quyten euery grot
I schal him telle which a gret honour
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Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour
And his offis I schal him telle I wis
Oure host answerd and sayd þe sompnor þis
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And after þis he sayd vnto þe frere
Telleþ forþ ȝour tale my maister deere
Whilom þer was duellyng in my countre
An erchedeken a man of gret degre
That boldely did execuciou~
In punyschyng of fornicaciou~
5
Of wicchecraft and eek of Bauderye
Of diffamacioun and auoutrie
Of chirchereues and of testamentes
Of contractes and of lak of sacraments
And eek of many anoþer cryme
Which neediþ not to reherse at þis tyme
Of vsur and of Symony also
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But certes lecchours did he grettest woo