The Summoner's Tale
Folio 112v
12 of 15 folios
This schalt þou swere on þi professione
Wiþ oute fraude or cauellacione
.I. swere it qd þis frere vpon my feiþe
430
And þere wiþ al his honde in his he leiþe
Lo here my feiþe in me schal be no lakke
Þan put þine honde doune be my bakk
Seide þis man & grepe wel be hinde
Be neþe my buttok þere schaltow finde
435
Aþinge þat .I. haue hid in piuete
A þouht þis frere þat schal go wiþ me
An doune his honde he launceþ in to þe clift
He hoped þere for to finden a ȝift
And þan ful besi was þis frere
440
Aboute his tonele gropeinge here & þere
Amiddes his honde he lete þe frere afart
Þare is no capel draweinge in þe cart
Þat myht haue latt a fart of suche a sowne
Þe frere vp stert as it were a fers lyone
445
A fals cherle qd he for kokes bones
Þis hastow for spite done for þe nones
Þou schal abye þis fart if þat .I. maie
His meignȝe whiche þat herden þis affray
Cam lepeinge inn & chased owte þe frere
450
And forþe he goþe wiþ aful angry chiere
An fette his felawe þere as leie here store
He loked as it were a wilde bore
He grenteþ his teþ so was he wroþe
A stordy pas doune to þe courte he goþe
455
Where as þere wonned a man of grete honoure
To whome þat he was al weie confessoure
This worþi man was lorde of þat vilage
Þis frere cam as þouhe it were in a rage
Where as þis lorde satte eteinge att his borde
460
Vnneþ miht þe frere speke a worde
Til att þe last he seide god ȝow se
Þis lorde gan loke & seide benedicite
Qd he Frere Iohñ what manere werlde is þis
.I. see wele þat sum þinge is amys
465
Ȝe loken as þe wode were ful of þeues
Sitteþ anone & tel me whate ȝoure greues
And it schal bene amended if þat .I. maye
.I. haue qd he a dispite to daye