Section 21

But worfliipfdlcifawftf relygyoufe, Ne demeth not that I fclaunder your houfe 5 Although my tale of a Chanon be , Of every ordre fome fhrewe is pardc: And God forbid that al a Companye Shoulde rue a fy ngle mannes folye. To flaunder you is not my n entente, But to correct that my (Te is mcnt€ 5 This tale was not only told for you , But eke for other moe ye wotte welhowe? That among Cbrifts Apoftles twelve, There was no traytour but Iudas himfelve : Then why fhouldc the remcnant have blame • That gyltleffe were ? by you I fay the fame : Save only this, if you wol herken me $ If any Judas in your Covent be , Rcmeveth him betyme I you rede,
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Iffliaraeorlofiemaycaufcn anydrcde, And be nothing difpicfed I you pray, But in this cafe herkcnncth what I fay.
In LONDON vtz&zPrcefi annucllere, . Thattherin had dwelt many ayere, Which was foe plefauntand fofervy fable Unto the Wyfe, where he was att table 5 That fhc wolde fuffcr him nothing to pay For borde, nc clothing, went he never fo gayi And fpcnding Sylver had he right ynowc, There of no force Iwol proceed asnowe: And tell forth my tale of the Chatm, That brought' this Preefi to confufyon.
This faldc Chan$ft came uppona daye Unto this PreeSs chamber where he laye,. Befecchyng him tolcye him a certayne ©f Gold, and he wolde quyte him agen: Lcyetb me a Marke (quod he) but daycs thre^ And att my day Iwol quyte itt the5 And if it fo be, that thou fynde me falfe^ Another day bang me by the halfe.
This Preefi tokc him-a Marke and that fwytfy And this Chmon him thanked oft fyth 5 And toke his leve, and went forth his wey, And att his third day brought his money. And to this Preefi he toke this Goldayen^ Whereof this Preefi was ghddeand fayn.
Certes (quod he) nothing anoycth me To lend a man a Noble, two or thre 5 0E what thing were in my poffcffioni Whan he foe tyxt is of Condition : That in no wyfehebreke wol his day* To fuch a man I can never fay nay*
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the Qhanons Yeoman. 24*
What (quod this Cbanon) ^holdc I be untrewe, Nay i that were a thyng fal/en of newe, Trouthe is a thyng that wol ever I kepe Unto the day, in which I fhall crepe Into my Grave, or els God forbedc: Beleveth this as fykcr as your Credc: God thanke I and in good ty me be it fayd, That there was never man yett y vcl apayd ; For Gold ne Syl ver that he to me lent, Ne never falfehede in myn herte I meat.
And Sir (quod he) now of my privytc, Sens ye fo goodlych have ben to me ; Andkythetome fo great gentleneflc, Somwhattoquytewith your kyndneffej I wol you (hewe if ye wol it lere, (I (hall it (hewe to you anon right here) How I can werche xnPhjlofofbye : Takethgoodhcdeye (hall itfe with your Eye, That I woll done a Maiftrye or I goe.
Ye Sir (quod the Preeft ) and wol ye for Maryc thereof I pray youhertely.
Att your Commandement Sir truly, (Quod the Chanon) and els God forbedc, Lo how this thefc cojp the his fcrvyce bede.
Ful fothc itt is that fuch profered fervyfe Stynketh, as wittneffeth the oldc wyfe : And that ful fone I wol it veref ye, InthisCtew rote ofLall trechery, That evermore delyte hath and gladncfle: Such fendly thoughts in his herte emprcfle, How Chrifts people he may to mifchiefc bring, God kepe us from his faifc diflymuling.
What wyft this Preeft with whom that he delte,
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Ne of his harme comyng nothing he felte. O CclyPreeft, O fely Innocentc. With Govctyfc anon thou {halt be Mente: O gracelefTe fWblyndc is thy conccyte, Nothyng arte thou ware of his deceyte. Which that this foxe hath ihapen to the, Hswy lye wrenches thou mayftnotffa. Wherefore to goc to thy Conclufyon, That referrethto thy conf ufyon : Unhappy man anon I wol me hye, To tell thy n unwittene thy folye: And eke the talfenefiTe of that other wretche, As fer fort he as my connyng woi ftretche.
This Chamn was my Lord ye wold wene, Syr hofte in fayth and by the heven Qciene $ It was another Cbanon and not he, That can an hundredfold more fubtelte : He hath betrayed folke many a tyme, Gfhis falfeneffe it doleth me toryme^ Ever whan Ifpeke of his falfeheed, For fhame of him my chekes^ waxen reed: Algates they begennen for to glowe, For redneffe have I non right well I knowe In my vifage, for fumes dyverce Of Metalls which ye have herde me rehercc 3 Confumed and wafted hath my rcdncfTe, Now take heed of this Cbanom Curfedneffc. SyrYquodhe;tothe Preeft, fet your Man gor^ For Quickfilver that we it had anon 5 Andlett him bring unces two orthre. And whan he cometh as fafte ihul ye fe A wonder thyng which ye faw never er this5 Syr (quod the Prcefi) itt ihalbedonc iwys :.'
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the Qhanons Yeoman. 24.5
He badd his fervaunte fetch him this thyng, And he already was att his bydding -, And went him forth and came anon agayne With this Quickfylver fhortly for to fayne : And toke thefe unccs tfyrc^to the Chanow^ And he hemfayd well and fayreadoun: And bade the fervaunt Coles fortobryng, That he anon might go to his werkyng.
The Coles right anon were yfet, And this Chanon toke out a Croffelett Ofhisbofomc, and (hewed it to the Preefi : This Inftrument (quod he) which that thou feefc Take in thy hond, and put thy felfe therein Of this Quickfylver an uncc and begyn In the name of Cfyft to wexe a Phihfofbery There be ful fewe which I wolde it profcr $ . To fhewe him this moche of my Science, For here fhul ye fe by experience, That this Quickfylver I wol mortifye Right in your fyght anon withouten lye, And make it as good Sylver and asfyne, As there is any in your purfe or myne5 Or elfe where, and make it malliable, Or els hold me falfe and unftable y Amonges folke ever to apperc.
I have a poudre that coft me deere, Shall make all good, fork is caufe of all; My connyng, which I you fhewe (hall $ VoydetH your Man, and let him be therout, And fhette the dore, whyles we ben about Our privetie, that no man us efpy, Whyles that we Werken in our Philofophyc* Al as he bade fulfylled was indede:
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This ylke fcrvant anon out yedc, And his Maifter fhettc the dorc anon, And to her labour fpcdily they gone.
This Preeji at this curfed Chtwns byddyng, Upponthefyre anon fee thisthyng-, And blewe the fyrc and befyed him ful faftc, And this Chanon into this croflet caftc A pouder, I not wherof it was, Ymade either of Chalke, Erthe, or Glaffe Or fomwhat els, was not worthc a fly, Toblyndcwich this Preefi^md bade him hye Thefe Coles for to couchen al above The Crofflet for in token that I the love ; (Quod this Ckanori) thyn hondes two, Shal wcrke al thing that here fhalbe do $ Graunt mercy (quod the Preeft) and was ful glad, And couched coles as xhtGb&nvn bad. And why le he befy was, this fendely wretch, This falfe Chant*, the foule fendchimfetchcj Out of his bofome toke a bechen cole, In which ful fubtclly was made an hole, And therein was put of Sylvcr lymayle, An unce, and flopped was without fayle, The hole with waxc to kepe the Limaylc in.
And underftandeth that this falfe gyn Was not made there, but it was made by fore ; And other thynges that I fhall you tell more Heraf ter, that whichc he with him brought, Er he came there to begyk him he thought : And fo he did er they went a twynne Till he had turned him, coulde he not Wynne, It dulleth me whan that I of him fpeke, On his falfe hedc fayne wolde I me wreke ,
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the Qhanons Yeoman. i/^rj
If I wyftc how, but he is hcre-anthhere, Hcisfo varyaunthe bydeth no where.
Buttaketh heed Syrs nowc for Godds love, He toke his Cole of which I fpake above , Andinhishondehe bare it prively, Andwhyles the Preeft couched beflly The Coles, as I told you er this, This Chanon fayd, Frende ye done amys : This is not couched as it ought to be ; But fonc I ihall amend it (quod he) Nowe let me medle therwith but a whyle, For of you have I pyte by Sam Gyle : Ye ben right hotte, I fc wel how ye fwcte, Have here a clothe and wype away the wcte : And while the PreeH him wypedhace, This Chanon toke the Cole, I fhrewc his face : Andlaydit aboven uppon the mydwardc ©f the Croflet, andblewe wel afterwarde, Till that the Coles gonnc faftc brenne.
Nowc yeve us drinke (quod this Chance) then, As fwythe al fllall be wel T undertake, Sytte we downe and let us mery make 5 And whan this Chanons bechen Cole Was brent, al the Limayle out of the hole Into the Groflet anon fell adoun, And foe it muft needesby rcfoun, Sens it fo even above couched was, But thereof wyfte the Preeft nothing alas r He demed all the coles lyche goode, For of thefleyght nothing he underftoode. And whan this Alkamtpre fawc his ty me, Ry feth up Syr Preeft (quod he; and ftondcth byme| Aftdior I wott well yngot have I none :
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Gothc walketh forth and brynge a chalkc ftone, For I wol make it of the fame fliappe, Thatanyngottisjflmay have happc-, And bring eke with you a bolleor a panne Full of water, and you fliall fe thanne, How that our befynefle fhall happe and prevc, And yet for ye fhallhave no misbykvc, Ne wronge conceyte of me in your a&fence, I wol not ben out of your pretence : But goe with yoirand come with yonagaync
The Chamber dore fhortly to fayne, They opened and fhette and went forth her wcy , And forthe with him they carryed the key h Andcomenagen withouten any delay, What fhulde I tarry all the long day? He toke the Chalke and fliope it in the wyfe Of an yngot as I ihall you devyfe.
I fay he tokeout of his ownc fleve A teyne of Sylver, yvel mote he chevc 5 Which that was but an unce of weight, And takcth heed now of hiscarfed fle'ight, He fliope his yngot in lenght and in brede Of the teyne withouten any drede, Soflilythatthe Preeftii not afpyde, And in his fleve agayne he gan it hyde5 And from the fyre toke up his Matterc, " And into the yngot it put with mery chere : And into the water- vcflele he it cafte Whan that him lift, and bade the Preeft as fafte Looke what there is put in thyn honde,and grope Thou (haltfinde there Sylver as I hope- ~ Whatdyvel of hell fhulde it els be * Shaving of Sylver, Sylver is parde.
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He put in his hondc and toke up a Teync 'Of Silver fyne, and glad in every veyne Was this Preefi, whan he faw itt was fo, Gods bleflynge and his Mothers alfo: And al hallowes have ye Sir Chanm Saydthis Preefi^nd 1 her Malyfon. But and ye vouchfafeto tcchc me This noble Crafte, and this fubtelte 5 I wol be yours in althat ever I may.
Qpod the Chanon yet woll I make affay Thefeconde tyme, that ye mo we takeheede, And ben expert of this and in your neede Another day affay in myn abfencc, This Difciplyne and this crafty Science. -Lette take onother ounce (quod he) tho -Of Quickfylver withouten words mo, And don therwith as I have don er this, With that other which that nowe filver is.
This Preefi him befycth in all that he can, To don as this Chanw this curfed man Commanded him, and faft blew the fyre For to come to the effeft of his defyre 5 And this Cbanon right in the meane while, Allredy was, t\us Preefi efteto begyle5 And for a Countenance in his honde bare An holow fticke, take keepe and beware ; In thend of which an unce and no more Of Sylver Lymayle putte was,as before, Was in his cole, and flopped with wexe wele, For to kepen in his Lymaile every dele.
And whiles this Preefi was in his befynefle This Chanon with his ftickc gan him dreffe To him anon, and his poudre caftin,
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As he did erfta the Dy veil out of his styii Him torne, I pray to God for his falfhedc, For he was ever falfe in thought and dedc: And with his fticke above the Crofllette, That was ordeyned with that falfe iette, Heftyreth the coles tyl all relent gan The waxe agayne the fyre, as every man, But he a foole be, wote wcl it mote ncde, And al that in the hole was out yede : And into the crofflette haftely it fell.
The Preeft fuppofed nothing but well, But befyed him faft and was wonder fayne, Suppofing nought but trouthe, foth to fayne : He was fogladd that I cannot expreffc, In no manerc his mirth and his gladnefle 5 And to the Chanon he profered eft foonc Body and good : ye (quod the Chanon) anone, Though I be poore, crafty thou fhalt me fynde, I warne the yet is there more behynde 5 Is there any Copper here within fayd he?
Ye Sir (quod the PreeH) Itrowc there be.
Els go bye fome and that afwy the. Nowe good Sir go forth thy way and hythe.
He went his way and with the Coper he came3 And this Chanon in his honde it name; And of that Coper wayed out but an uncc, All to fymple is my tonge to pronounce : As to miniftre by my wytte the doubleneffe Gf this Chanon, roote of all curfydncflc : He femed freindly to hem that knew him nought* But he was fendly both in wcrke and thought, Itweryeth me to tell ofhisfalfeneffe And nathlefle, yet wall it expreffc,
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To the entent that men may beware thereby.
And for none other caufe truly. He put tWs unce of Coper into the Crosflett,
And on the fyre as fwythe he hath it feet 5
And caft in ponder, and made the Preefi toblowe
And in his workeing for to ftoupe lowe :
As he did erfte , and all nas but a jape,
Right as him lyfte, the Preeft he made his Ape 5
And afterward in the yngot he it cafte,
And in the panne put it at the laftc
Of water, and in he put his owne honde,
And in his fleve, as ye by forehonde
Herd me tell, he had a Sylver Teyne,
He flily toke it out,this curfcd heyne,
Unwetyng this Preefi of his falfe crafte,
And in the pannes botome he hath it laftc,
And in the water rombleth to and fro : And wonder prively toke up alfo The coper Teyne, not knowing this Preefty And hyddeitt, and hent him by the breft5 And to him fpakc, and thus fayd in his game, Stoupeth adowne, by God ye be to blame, Helpeth me nowe, as I did you whylere : Put in your honde, and loketh what is there.
This Preefi toke up this Sylver Teyne anoi*9. And then faid the Cbanon^ lette us gon WiththefethreTeynes which we han wrought To fome Goldfmy the, and wete if it be ought : For by my faith, I nolde for my hoode, But if it were Sylver fyne and goc de, And that as fwythe wellproved flialbe.
Unto the Goldfmy the with thefe Tcynes three. They went and put them in afTaye,
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Tofyrcand hammer, might no man fay nay, But they were as them ought for to be.
This fotted Preejl who was gladder then he, Was never Byrd gladder agenft the day, Ne Nightyngalc agenft theceafonofMay, Was never none, that lyft better to fynge, Ne Lady luftier in Carolyng : And for to fpeke of love and woman hede, Ne Knight in armesto done a herdy dede, To ftonden in grace of his Lady dere, Then had this Preejl this crafte to lere, And to the Chanon, thus he fpake and fayd For the love of God, that for us all c^yd, And as I may deferveit unto yow, What {hall this receitecoft, tcllethme nowe .?
By our Lady (quod this Chmon) idsderc, I warne yoij well; fave /and a Frere : In ENGLAND there can no man it make. No force (quod he) nowe Sir for Gods fake, What fhall I pay * tell me I you pray.
Iwys vquod he it is ful derc I fay. Syr at one word if that ye lyft it have, Ye fhall pay fortye pound, lo God me fave : Andnerethefreindfhyp that ye did er this To me, ye (hulden pay more y wys.
This Preejl the fome of forty pounde anon Of Nobles fette, and told hem everychon To this Chanon for this ilke rcceyte, All his worchyng was f raude and deceyte*
SyrP/^hefaid-, Ikepe for to have no loos Of my craft, for I wold itt were kept doos : And as ye love me kepeth it fecre. For and men knowe all my Subtelte,