The Summoner's Tale
Folio 107v
2 of 15 folios
To perche & eke to bigge it is no doute
5
And so be feƚƚ þat on a daie þis frere
Hadde perched att þe cherche in þis manere
And specialy aboue euery þinge
He excited þe peple in his percheinge
To trentals & for goddes saake
10
Þere wiþemen mihte holy houses maake
Þere as deuyne seruice is honoured
Nouȝt þere as is wasted & deuoured
Ne þere it nedeþ nouht for to beȝeue
As to possessioners þat maie elles leue
15
Þankede he god in wele & abundance
Trentals seide he deliuerþ fro penance
Here frendes soule as wele olde & ȝonge
If þat þei bien hastely songe
Nouht for to holde a perste Iolif & gaie
20
He sīgeþ not bot o messe on a daie
Deliuerd oute anone þe soules
Ful harde it is wiþ fleschehokes or wt oules
To kepe ȝowe fro þe peines of þe fendes blake
Nowe spede ȝowe hastely for cristes sake
25
And whan þe frere hadde seide al his entente
Wiþ qui cum patre forþe he wente
Whan folke in churche had ȝeue him what hem lest
He went his waie no longer wolde he rest
Wiþ scrippe & tipped staf tokked ful hihe
30
In euery . hous he gan to poure & pie
And beggeþ mele or chiese or elles corne
His felowe had a staf tipped wiþ horne
A peire of tables of yoory
And a pointel polisched fetusly
35
And wrote þe names alweie as he stode
Of euery folke þat ȝaue hem any goode
Askaunse þat he wolde for hem preie
Ȝeue vs a boschel wete malte or rie
A goddes kechel or a trep of chese
40
Or elles what ȝowe lest we maie nouhte chese
A goddes halpenye or a mespeny
Or ȝeue vs of ȝoure branne if ȝe haue any
A dagon of ȝoure blanket leue dame
Lo suster dere lo here .I. write ȝoure name
45
Bacon or befe or suche þinge as ȝe finde