The General Prologue
Folio 10r
5 of 21 folios
This Somenoure bare to him a stif burdoune
Was neuer trompe of halfe so grete a soune
675
This pardonere had here as ȝalowe as wax .
Bot smothe it henge as doþ a strike of flax .
Bi ounces henge his lokkes þat he hadde
And þer wiþ he his scholdres ouer spradde
But þinne it leie be culpones one & one
680
But hode for Iolyte wered he none
For it was trussed vp in his walet
Him þouht he rode al of þe newe get
Discheuele saue his cape he rode al bare
Suche glayringe yhen had he as it were an hare
685
A vernicle had he sewe vpon his cape
His walet to forne him in his lappe
Bret ful of pardon comen from Rome al hote
A voyce he had also smale as it were a gote
No berde had he ne neuer schuld haue
690
As smoþe it was as it were late schaue
I. trowe he were a geldinge or a mare
Bot of his craft fro Berwikes in to ware
Ne was þere suche a noþer pardonere
For in his male he hadde a pylowbere
695
Whiche that he seide was owre lady veyle
He seide he had a gobet of þe seile
That seint Peter had whan þat he wente
Vpon þe see tiƚƚ ihū crist him hente
He had a croyce of laton ful of stones
700
And in a glasse he hadde Pygges bones
Bot wiþe þes relikes whan þat he fonde
A pouer person dwellynge vpon londe
Vppon a daie he gat him more moneye
Than þat þe person gatte in þe Monethes tweye
705
And þus wiþ feyned flaterynge & Iapes
He maade þe persone & þe peple his Apes
Bot trewly to tellen att þe laste
He was in þe cherche a noble ecclesiaste
Wele couþe he rede a lesson or a story
710
Bot al þer best he songe a offertory
For wele he wist whan þat songe was songe
He moste preche & wele affile his tonge
To wynne siluer as he wele cowde
Þere fore he songe so merely & loude