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Notes to the Prologue to the Sompnour’s Tale

1. Carrack: A great ship of burden used by the Portuguese; the name is from the Italian, “cargare,” to load

2. In less than half a furlong way of space: immediately; literally, in less time than it takes to walk half a furlong (110 yards).

THE TALE

 

 Lordings, there is in Yorkshire, as I guess,
 

 A marshy country called Holderness,
 

 In which there went a limitour about
 

 To preach, and eke to beg, it is no doubt.
 

 And so befell that on a day this frere
 

 Had preached at a church in his mannere,
 

 And specially, above every thing,
 

 Excited he the people in his preaching
 

 To trentals, <1> and to give, for Godde's sake,
 

 Wherewith men mighte holy houses make,
 

 There as divine service is honour'd,
 

 Not there as it is wasted and devour'd,
 

 Nor where it needeth not for to be given,
 

 As to possessioners, <2> that may liven,
 

 Thanked be God, in wealth and abundance.
 

 "Trentals," said he, "deliver from penance
 

 Their friendes' soules, as well old as young,
 

 Yea, when that they be hastily y-sung, --
 

 Not for to hold a priest jolly and gay,
 

 He singeth not but one mass in a day.
 

 "Deliver out," quoth he, "anon the souls.
 

 Full hard it is, with flesh-hook or with owls*          *awls
 

 To be y-clawed, or to burn or bake: <3>
 

 Now speed you hastily, for Christe's sake."
 

 And when this friar had said all his intent,
 

 With qui cum patre<4> forth his way he went,
 

 When folk in church had giv'n him what them lest;*      *pleased
 

 He went his way, no longer would he rest,
 

 With scrip and tipped staff, *y-tucked high:*  *with his robe tucked
 

 In every house he gan to pore* and pry,         up high* *peer
 

 And begged meal and cheese, or elles corn.
 

 His fellow had a staff tipped with horn,
 

 A pair of tables* all of ivory,            *writing tablets
 

 And a pointel* y-polish'd fetisly,**        *pencil **daintily
 

 And wrote alway the names, as he stood;
 

 Of all the folk that gave them any good,
 

 Askaunce* that he woulde for them pray.        *see note <5>
 

 "Give us a bushel wheat, or malt, or rey,*             *rye
 

 A Godde's kichel,* or a trip** of cheese,   *little cake<6> **scrap
 

 Or elles what you list, we may not chese;*           *choose
 

 A Godde's halfpenny, <6> or a mass penny;
 

 Or give us of your brawn, if ye have any;
 

 A dagon* of your blanket, leve dame,             *remnant
 

 Our sister dear, -- lo, here I write your name,--
 

 Bacon or beef, or such thing as ye find."
 

 A sturdy harlot* went them aye behind,         *manservant <7>
 

 That was their hoste's man, and bare a sack,
 

 And what men gave them, laid it on his back
 

 And when that he was out at door, anon
 

 He *planed away* the names every one,           *rubbed out*
 

 That he before had written in his tables:
 

 He served them with nifles* and with fables. --      *silly tales