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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17400-0.txt b/17400-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..725ded5 --- /dev/null +++ b/17400-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1670 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wright's Chaste Wife, by Adam of Cobsam + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wright's Chaste Wife + A Merry Tale (about 1462) + +Author: Adam of Cobsam + +Editor: Frederick J. Furnivall + +Release Date: December 26, 2005 [EBook #17400] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: + +This e-text uses a number of characters that depend on utf-8 encoding, +particularly small and capital yogh (ȝ, Ȝ), small and capital thorn (þ, +Þ), double l with a tilde through (l̴l̴), u with a macron (ū), h with a +line through the top (ħ), r with a upwards hook attached to the +horizontal stem (r̛) and ae ligature with an acute accent (ǽ). If they +do not display properly, you may refer to transliterated (Latin-1) +version of this text. + +This e-text also uses some characters that are not in unicode. I have +rendered them following: + +{m~} for a m with a loop back over the character. +{n)} for a n with a ) attached to the right side. +{d+} for the d with a little crook attached to the top right of the d. + +There is also one instance of (on line 391 of the poem) a m with a ) +attached to the right side (rendered as {m)}), but this is probably a +typo for {m~}. I have left this as is. + +Text and letters in brackets [ ] is original. + +Obvious typos are corrected in this e-text.] + + + + +The Wright's Chaste Wife. + + +Early English Text Society + +Original Series, No. 12 + + +1865 + +Reprinted 1891, 1905, 1965 + + +Price 7_s._ 6_d._ + + + + +The + +Wright's Chaste Wife, + +OR + +"A Fable of a wrygħt that was maryde to a pore + wydows dowt_re_ / the whiche wydow havyng + noo good to geve w_i_t_h_ her / gave as for + a p_re_cyous Johel̴l̴ to hy_m_ a Rose + garlond / the whyche sche affermyd + wold nev_er_ fade while sche + kept truly her wedlok." + + +A Merry Tale, by Adam of Cobsam. + + +_From a MS. in the Library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, +about 1462 A.D._ + + +COPIED AND EDITED BY +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL. + + + _Published for_ +THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY + _by the_ +OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS +LONDON · NEW YORK · TORONTO + + +FIRST PUBLISHED 1865 + +REPRINTED 1891, 1905, 1965. + + +Original Series No. 12 + + +REPRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY +(THE CHAUCER PRESS) LTD., BUNGAY, SUFFOLK + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Good wine needs no bush, and this tale needs no Preface. I shall not +tell the story of it--let readers go to the verse itself for that; nor +shall I repeat to those who begin it the exhortation of the englisher of +_Sir Generides_, + + "for goddes sake, or ye hens wende, + Here this tale unto the ende."--(ll. 3769-70.) + +If any one having taken it up is absurd enough to lay it down without +finishing it, let him lose the fun, and let all true men pity him. +Though the state of morals disclosed by the story is not altogether +satisfactory, yet it is a decided improvement on that existing in Roberd +of Brunne's time in 1303, for he had to complain of the lords of his +day: + + Also do þese lordynges, + Þe[y] trespas moche yn twey þynges; + Þey rauys a mayden aȝens here wyl, + And mennys wyuys þey lede awey þertyl. + A grete vylanye þarte he dous + Ȝyf he make therof hys rouse [boste]: + Þe dede ys confusyun, + And more ys þe dyffamacyun. + +The volume containing the poem was shown to me by Mr Stubbs, the +Librarian at Lambeth, in order that I might see the version of Sir +Gyngelayne, son of Sir Gawain, which Mr Morris is some day, I trust, to +edit for the Society in one of his Gawain volumes.[1] Finding the +present poem also on the paper leaves, I copied it out the same +afternoon, and here it is for a half-hour's amusement to any reader who +chooses to take it up. + +The handwriting of the MS. must be of a date soon after 1460, and this +agrees well with the allusion to Edward the Fourth's accession, and the +triumph of the White Rose o'er the Red alluded to in the last lines of +the poem. The Garlond, + + It was made ... + Of flourys most of honoure, + Of roses whyte þat wyl̴l̴ nott fade, + Whych floure al̴l̴ ynglond doth glade.... + Vn-to the whych floure I-wys + The loue of God and of the comonys + Subdued bene of ryght. + +For, that the Commons of England were glad of their Yorkist king, and +loved Duke Richard's son, let Holinshed's record prove. He testifies: + + "Wherevpon it was againe demanded of the commons, if they would + admit and take the said erle as their prince and souereigne lord; + which all with one voice cried: Yea, yea.... + + "Out of the ded stocke sprang a branch more mightie than the stem; + this Edward the Fourth, a prince so highlie fauoured of the peple, + for his great liberalite, clemencie, vpright dealing, and courage, + that aboue all other, he with them stood in grace alone: by reason + whereof, men of all ages and degrees to him dailie repaired, some + offering themselues and their men to ioepard their liues with him, + and other plentiouslie gaue monie to support his charges, and to + mainteine his right." + +Would that we knew as much of Adam of Cobsam as of our White-Rose king. +He must have been one of the Chaucer breed,[2] but more than this poem +tells of him I cannot learn. + +_3, St George's Square, N.W., +23 November, 1865._ + +P.S.--There are other Poems about Edward IV. in the volume, which will +be printed separately.[3] One on Women is given at the end of the +present text. + + * * * * * + +PP.S. 1869.--Mr C.H. Pearson, the historian of the Early and Middle Ages +of England, has supplied me with the immediate original of this story. +He says: + + "The Wright's Chaste Wife is a reproduction of one of the _Gesta + Romanorum_, cap. 69, de Castitate, ed. Keller. The Latin story + begins 'Gallus regnavit prudens valde.' The Carpenter gets a shirt + with his wife, which is never to want washing unless one of them is + unfaithful. The lovers are three Knights (_milites_), and they are + merely kept on bread and water, not made to work; nor is any wife + introduced to see her lord's discomfiture. The English version, + therefore, is much quainter and fuller of incident than its + original. But the 'morality' of the Latin story is rich beyond + description. 'The wife is holy Mother Church,' 'the Carpenter is + the good Christian,' 'the shirt is our Faith, because, as the + apostle says, it is impossible to please God without faith.' The + Wright's work typifies 'the building up the pure heart by the works + of mercy.' The three Knights are 'the pride of life, the lust of + the eyes, and the lust of the flesh.' 'These you must shut up in + the chamber of penance till you get an eternal reward from the + eternal King.' 'Let us therefore pray God,' &c." + +With the Wright's Chaste Wife may also be compared the stories mentioned +in the Notes, p. 20, and the Ballad "The Fryer well fitted; or + + A Pretty jest that once befel, + How a maid put a Fryer to cool in the well" + +printed "in the Bagford Collection; in the Roxburghe (ii. 172); the +Pepys (iii. 145); the Douce (p. 85); and in _Wit and Mirth, an Antidote +to Melancholy_, 8vo. 1682; also, in an altered form, in Pills to purge +Melancholy, 1707, i. 340; or 1719, iii. 325"; and the tune of which, +with an abstract of the story, is given in Chappell's _Popular Music_, +i. 273-5. The Friar makes love to the Maid; she refuses him for fear of +hell-fire. + + Tush, quoth the Friar, thou needst not doubt; + If thou wert in Hell, I could sing thee out. + +So she consents if he'll bring her an angel of money. He goes home to +fetch it, and she covers the well over with a cloth. When he comes back, +and has given her the money, she pretends that her father is coming, +tells the Friar to run behind the cloth, and down he flops into the +well. She won't help him at first, because if he could sing her out of +hell, he can clearly sing himself out of the well: but at last she does +help him out, keeps his money because he's dirtied the water, and sends +him home dripping along the street like a new-washed sheep. + +[Footnote 1: The since printing of the Romance in the Percy Folio MS. +Ballads and Romances, (_Lybius Disconius_, ii. 404,) will probably +render this unnecessary. (1869.)] + +[Footnote 2: Chaucer brings off his Carpenter, though, triumphant, and +not with the swived wife and broken arm that he gives his befooled +Oxford craftsman in _The Milleres Tale_. (1869.)] + +[Footnote 3: In _Political, Religious, and Love Poems_, E.E. Text Soc., +1867.] + + + + + THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE. + + [_MS. Lambeth 306, leaves 178-187._] + + + Al̴l̴myghty god, maker of all_e_, +My sovereigns, Saue you my sou_er_eyns in towre & hall_e_, + And send yoū good grace! 3 + If ye wyl̴l̴ a stounde blynne, +I will tell you Of a story I wyl̴l̴ begynne, +a tale And telle you al̴l̴ the cas, 6 + Meny farleyes þat I haue herd_e_, + Ye would haue wondyr how yt ferde; + Lystyn, and ye schal̴l̴ here; 9 +of a wright Of a wryght I wyl̴l̴ you telle, +of this land, That some tyme in thys land gan dwelle, + And lyued by hys myster. 12 +who, at work, was Whether that he were yn or owte, +afraid of no Of erthely man hadde he no dowte, +earthly man. To werke hows, harowe, nor plowgh, 15 + Or other werkes, what so they were, + Thous wrought he hem farre and nere, + And dyd tham wele I-nough. 18 +At first he would Thys wryght would wedde no wyfe, +wed no wife, Butt yn yougeth to lede hys lyfe +[leaf 178, back] In myrthe and oþer melody; 21 +for wherever he Ou_er_ al̴l̴ where he gan wende, +went he was Al̴l̴ they seyd "welcome, frende, +welcome; Sytt downe, and do gla[d]ly." 24 +but at last he Tyl̴l̴ on a tyme he was wyllyng, THE WRIGHT FALLS +wished As tyme comyth of all_e_ thyng, IN LOVE, AND + (So seyth the p_ro_fesye,) PROPOSES. 27 +to have a spouse A wyfe for to wedde & haue +to look after his That myght hys goodes kepe and saue, +goods. And for to leue al̴l̴ foly. 30 +A widow near had a Ther dwellyd a wydowe in þat contre +fair daughter That hadde a doughter feyre & fre; + Of her, word sprang wyde, 33 +true and meek. For sche was bothe stabyl̴l̴ & trewe, + Meke of maners, and feyr̛ of hewe; + So seyd men in that tyde. 36 + The wryght seyde, "so god me saue, +Her the wright Such a wyfe would I haue +would like to lie To lye nyghtly by my syde." 39 +by him, He þought to speke wyth þat may, +and therefore went And rose erly on a daye +to her mother And þyder gan he to ryde. 42 + The wryght was welcome to þe wyfe, + And her saluyd al̴l̴ so blyve, + And so he dyd her doughter fre: 45 +and proposed for For the erand that he for ca{m~} +the maiden. Tho he spake, þat good yema{n)}; + Than to hym seyd sche: 48 +The mother says The wydowe seyd, "by heuen kyng, +she can only give I may geue wyth her no þing, +him as a portion (And þat forthynketh me;) 51 +a garland Saue a garlond I wyl̴l̴ the geue, + Ye schal̴l̴ neu_er_ see, whyle ye lyve, + None such in thys contre: 54 +of roses Haue here thys garlond of roses ryche, + In al̴l̴ thys lond ys none yt lyche, +that will keep its For ytt wyl̴l̴ eu_er_ be newe, 57 +colour [leaf 179] Wete þou wele w_i_t_h_owtyn fable, +while his wife is Al̴l̴ the whyle thy wyfe ys stable +true, The chaplett wolle hold hewe; 60 +but change when And yf thy wyfe vse putry, HE RECEIVES A +she is faithless. Or tolle eny man to lye her by, ROSE GARLAND + Than wolle yt change hewe, WITH HIS WIFE. 63 + And by the garlond þou may see, + Fekyl̴l̴ or fals yf þat sche be, + Or ellys yf sche be trewe." 66 +The wright is Of thys chaplett hym was ful̴l̴ fayne, +delighted with his And of hys wyfe, was nott to layne; +garland and wife, He weddyd her ful̴l̴ sone, 69 +marries her and And ladde her home wyth solempnite, +takes her home; And hyld her brydal̴l̴ dayes thre. + Whan they home come, 72 +and then begins to Thys wryght in hys hart cast, +think that when he If that he walkyd est or west +is out at work As he was wonte to done, 75 +men will try to "My wyfe þat ys so bryght of ble, +corrupt his wife. Men wolle desyre her̛ fro me, + And þat hastly and sone;" 78 +So he plans a Butt sone he hym byþought +crafty room and That a chambyr schuld be wrought +tower, Bothe of lyme and stone, 81 + Wyth wallys strong as eny stele, + And dorres sotylly made and wele, + He owte framyd yt sone; 84 +and builds it soon The chambyr he lett make fast, +with plaster of Wyth plast_er_ of parys þ_a_t wyl̴l̴ last, +Paris, Such ous know I neu_er_ none; 87 +which no one could Ther ys [ne] kyng ne emp_er_oure, +ever get out of if And he were lockyn in þat towre, +he once got into That cowde gete owte of þat wonne. 90 +it, Nowe hath he done as he þought, + And in the myddes of the flore wrought +for there was a A wondyr strange gyle, 93 +trapdoor in the A trapdoure rounde abowte +[leaf 179, back] That no man myght come yn nor owte; +middle, It was made wyth a wyle, 96 +and if any one That who-so touchyd yt eny thyng, THE WRIGHT +only touched it, In to þe pytt he schuld flyng GOES TO +down he'd go into Wythyn a lytyl̴l̴ whyle. WORK, AND 99 +a pit. For hys wyfe he made that place, LEAVES HIS +This was to stop That no man schuld beseke her of grace, WIFE AT +any tricks with Nor her to begyle. HOME. 102 +his wife. +Just then the town By þat tyme þe lord of the towne +Lord Hadde ordeynyd tymbyr redy bowne, + An halle to make of tre. 105 +sends for him to Aft_er_ the wryght the lord lett sende, +build a Hall, For þat he schuld wyth hym lende +(a job for two or Monythys two or thre. 108 +three months,) The lord seyd, "woult þou haue þi wyfe? +and offers to I wyl̴l̴ send aft_er_ her blyve +fetch his wife That sche may com to the." 111 +too. The wryght hys garlond hadde take w_y_t_h_ hy{m~}, + That was bryght and no þing dymme, + Yt wes feyre on to see. 114 +He sees the The lord axyd hym as he satt, +wright's garland, "Felowe, where hadyst þou þis hatte +and asks what it That ys so feyre and newe?" 117 +means. The wryght answerd al̴l̴ so blyue, +"Sir, it will And seyd, "syr, I hadde yt wyth my wyfe, + And þat dare me neuer̛ rewe; 120 +tell me whether my Syr, by my garlond I may see +wife is false or Fekyl̴l̴ or fals yf þat sche be, +true; Or[1] yf þat sche be trewe; 123 +and will change And yf my wyfe loue a p_ar_amoure, +its colour if she Than wyl̴l̴ my garlond vade coloure, +go wrong." And change wyl̴l̴ yt the hewe." 126 + The lord þought "by godys myght, +"I'll try that," That wyl̴l̴ I wete thys same nyght +thinks the Lord, Whether thys tale be trewe." 129 +and goes to the To the wryghtys howse anon he went, +wright's wife. He fonde the wyfe ther-in p_re_sente +[leaf 180] That was so bryght and schene; THE LORD 132 + Sone he hayled her trewly, BRIBES THE + And so dyd sche the lord curtesly: WRIGHT'S WIFE + Sche seyd, "welcome ye be;" TO LIE WITH 135 + Thus seyd the wyfe of the hows, HIM. +She asks after her "Syr, howe faryth my swete spouse +husband That hewyth vppon your̛ tre?" 138 +but the Lord "Sertes, dame," he seyd, "wele, + And I am come, so haue I hele, + To wete the wylle of the; 141 +declares his own My loue ys so vppon the cast +love for her, That me thynketh my hert wolle brest, + It wolle none otherwyse be; 144 +and prays her to Good dame, graunt me thy grace +grant him his To pley with the in some preuy place +will. For gold and eke for fee." 147 +She entreats him "Good syr, lett be youre fare, +to let that be, And of such wordes speke no mare + For hys loue þat dyed on tre; 150 + Hadde we onys begonne þat gle, + My husbond by his garlond myght see; + For sorowe he would wexe woode." 153 +but he presses "Certes, dame," he seyd, "naye; +her, Loue me, I pray you, in þat ye maye: + For godys loue change thy mode, 156 +and offers her 40 Forty marke schal̴l̴ be youre mede +marks. Of sylu_er_ and of gold[_e_] rede, + And that schal̴l̴ do the good." 159 +On this she "Syr, that deede schal̴l̴ be done; +consents if he'll Take me that mony here anon_e_." +put down the "I swere by the holy rode 162 +money. I thought when I cam hydder̛ + For to bryng[2] yt al̴l̴ to-gydder̛, + As I mott broke my heele." 165 +The 40 marks she Ther sche toke xl marke +takes Of syluer and gold styff and sterke: + Sche toke yt feyre and welle; THE 168 +and tells him to Sche seyd, "in to the chambyr wyl̴l̴ we, LORD IS +go [leaf 180, back] Ther no man schal̴l̴ vs see; DROPPED +into the secret No lenger wyl̴l̴ we spare." 171 +chamber. Vp the steyer they gan[3] hye: THROUGH +Upstairs he goes, The stepes were made so queyntly A TRAPDOOR, + That farther myght he nott fare. 174 +stumbles, The lord stumbyllyd as he went in hast, +and pops down 40 He fel̴l̴ doune in to þat chaste +feet through the Forty fote and somedele more. 177 +wright's trapdoor. The lord began to crye; + The wyfe seyd to hym in hye, + "Syr, what do ye there?" 180 +He prays the "Dame, I can nott seye howe + That I am come hydder nowe + To thys hows þat ys so newe; 183 + I am so depe in thys sure flore + That I ne can come owte att no dore; +good dame to have Good dame, on me þou rewe!" 186 +pity on him. "Nay," sche seyd, "so mut y the, +"Nay," says she, Tyl̴l̴ myne husbond come and se, +"not till my I schrewe hym þat yt þought." 189 +husband sees you." The lord arose and lokyd abowte +The Lord tries to If he myght eny where gete owte, +get out, but Butt yt holpe hy{m~} ryght nogħt, 192 +can't, The wallys were so thycke w_y_t_h_y{n)}, + That he no where myght owte wynne + But helpe to hy{m~} were brought; 195 +and then threatens And eu_er_ the lord made euyl̴l̴ chere, +the wife, And seyd, "dame, þou schalt by thys dere." + Sche seyd that sche ne rougħt; 198 +but she doesn't Sche seyd "I recke nere +care for that, Whyle I am here and þou art there, + I schrewe herre þat þe doth drede." 201 + The lord was sone owte of her þought, +and goes away to The wyfe went in to her lofte, +her work. Sche satte and dyd her dede. AND HAS 204 +Next day the Lord Than yt fel̴l̴ on þat oþer daye, TO BEAT FLAX +begs for food. Of mete and drynke he gan her p_ra_y, TO EARN HIS + There of he hadde gret nede. DINNER. 207 +[leaf 181] He seyd, "dame, for seynt charyte, + Wyth some mete þou comfort me." +"You'll get none Sche seyd, "nay, so god me spede, 210 +from me For I swere by swete seynt Iohn_e_, + Mete ne drynke ne getyst þou none +unless you sweat Butt þou wylt swete or swynke; 213 +for it," says she; For I haue both hempe and lyne, +"spin me some And a betyngstocke ful̴l̴ fyne, +flax." And a swyngyl̴l̴ good and grete; 216 + If þou wylt worke, tell me sone." +He says he will: "Dame, bryng yt forthe, yt schal̴l̴ be done, + Ful̴l̴ gladly would I ete." 219 +she throws him the Sche toke the stocke in her honde, +tools, And in to the pytt sche yt sclang + With a grete hete: 222 +the flax and hemp, Sche brought the lyne and hempe on her backe, +and says, "Work "Syr lord," sche seyd, "haue þou þat, +away." And lerne for to swete." 225 + Ther sche toke hym a bonde + For to occupy hys honde, + And bade hym fast on to bete. 228 +He does, He leyd yt downe on the[4] stone, +lays on well, And leyd on strockes wel̴l̴ good wone, + And sparyd nott on to leyne. 231 + Whan þat he hadde wrought a thraue, +and then asks for Mete and drynke he gan to craue, +his food, And would haue hadde yt fayne; 234 + "That I hadde somewhat for to ete + Now aft_er_ my gret swete; + Me thynketh yt were rygħt, 237 +for he's toiled For I haue labouryd nyght and daye +night and day. The for to plese, dame, I saye, + And therto putt my myght." 240 +The wife The wyfe seyd "so mutt I haue hele, THE STEWARD + And yf þi worke be wrought wele RESOLVES TO + Thou schalt haue to dyne." TEMPT THE 243 +gives him meat Mete and drynke sche hym bare, WRIGHT'S +[leaf 181, back] Wyth a thrafe of flex mare WIFE. +and drink Of ful̴l̴ long boundyn lyne. 246 +and more flax, So feyre the wyfe the lord gan praye +and keeps him up That he schuld be werkyng aye, +to his work. And nought þat he schuld blynne; 249 + The lord was fayne to werke tho, + Butt hys men knewe nott of hys woo + Nor of þer lordes pyne. 252 + +The Steward asks The stuard to þe wryght gan saye, +the wright after "Sawe þou owte of my lord to-daye, +his Lord, Whether that he ys wende?" 255 + The wryght answerde and seyd "naye; + I sawe hym nott syth yesterdaye; + I trowe þat he be schent." 258 +then notices the The stuard stode þe wryght by, +garland, And of hys garlond hadde ferly + What þat yt be-mente. 261 +and asks who gave The stuard seyd, "so god me saue, +it him. Of thy garlond wondyr I haue, + And who yt hath the sent." 264 +"Sir, it will tell "Syr," he seyd, "be the same hatte +me whether my wife I can knowe yf my wyfe be badde +goes bad." To me by eny other ma{n)}; 267 + If my floures ouþer fade or falle, + Then doth my wyfe me wrong wyth-all_e_, + As many a woman ca{n)}." 270 +"I'll prove that The stuard þought "by godes mygħt, +this very night," That schal̴l̴ I preue thys same nygħt +says the steward, Whether þou blys or banne," 273 +gets plenty of And in to hys chambyr he gan gone, +money, and goes And toke tresure ful̴l̴ good wone, +off And forth he spedde hem tha{n)}. AND 276 + Butt he ne stynt att no stone THINKS +to the wright's Tyl̴l̴ he vn-to þe wryghtes hows come HE HAS +house, That ylke same nygħt. SUCCEEDED 279 + He mett the wyfe amydde the gate, SO WELL. +takes her round Abowte þe necke he gan her take, +the neck, And seyd "my dere wyght, 282 +[leaf 182] Al̴l̴ the good þat ys myne +and offers her all I wyl̴l̴ the geue to be thyne +he has, to lie by To lye by the al̴l̴ nyght." 285 +her that night. Sche seyd, "syr, lett be thy fare, +She refuses, My husbond wolle wete wyth-owty{n)} mare + And I hym dyd that vnrygħt; 288 + I would nott he myght yt wete + For al̴l̴ the good that I myght gete, + So Ih_esus_[5] mutt me spede 291 +as her husband For, and eny man lay me by, +would be sure to My husbond would yt wete truly, +know of it. It ys wythowtyn eny drede." 294 +The steward urges The stuard seyd "for hym þat ys wrought, +her again, There-of, dame, drede the nogħt + Wyth me to do that dede; 297 +and offers her 20 Haue here of me xx marke +marks. Of gold and syluer styf and starke, + Thys tresoure schal̴l̴ be thy mede." 300 +She says, "Then "Syr, and I graunt þat to yoū, +don't tell any Lett no man wete butt we two nowe." +one," He seyd, "nay, wythowtyn drede." 303 + The stuard þought, 'sykerly + Women beth both queynte & slye.' +takes his money, The mony he gan her bede; 306 + He þought wele to haue be spedde, + And of his erand he was onredde + Or he were fro he{m~} I-gone. 309 +sends him up the Vp the sterys sche hym leyde +quaint stairs, Tyl̴l̴ he saw the wryghtes bedde: THE STEWARD IS + Of tresoure þought he none; SHOT THROUGH 312 +and lets him He went and stumblyd att a stone; THE TRAPDOOR, +tumble through In to þe seller̛ he fylle sone, +the trapdoor. Downe to the bare flore. 315 +"What the devil The lord seyd "what deuyl̴l̴ art þoū? +are you?" says And þou hadest falle on me nowe, +the Lord. Thowe hadest hurt me ful̴l̴ sore." 318 +[leaf 182, back] The stuard stert and staryd abowte +The steward finds If he mygħt ower gete owte +he can't get out; Att hole lesse or mare. 321 + The lord seyd, "welcome, and sytt be tyme, + For þou schalt helpe to dyght thys lyne + For al̴l̴ thy fers[e] fare." 324 + The stuard lokyd on the knygħt, +and wonders why He seyd, "syr, for godes myght, +his Lord is My lord, what do you here?" 327 +there. He seyd "felowe, wyth-owtyn oth, +"We both came on For o erand we come bothe, +one errand, man." The sothe wolle I nott lete." 330 +The wife asks what Tho cam the wyfe them vn-to, +they're doing; And seyd, "syres, what do you to, + Wyl̴l̴ ye nott lerne to swete?" 333 +the Lord says, Than seyd þe lord her vn-to, +"Your flax is 'Dame, your̛ lyne ys I-doo, +done, and I want Nowe would I fayne ete: 336 +my dinner." And I haue made yt al̴l̴ I-lyke, + Ful̴l̴ clere, and no þing thycke, + Me thynketh yt gret payne." 339 +The steward says The stuard seyd "wyth-owtyn dowte, +if he ever gets And eu_er_ I may wynne owte, +out he'll crack I wyl̴l̴ breke her brayne." 342 +her skull. "Felowe, lett be, and sey nott so, +But the wife For þou schalt worke or eu_er_ þou goo, +chaffs him, Thy wordes þou torne agayne, 345 +says he'll soon be Fayne þou schalt be so to doo, +glad to eat his And thy good wylle put þerto; +words, As a man buxome and bayne BUT IS 348 +and unless he rubs Thowe schalt rubbe, rele, and spynne, PROUD, AND +and reels, he'll And þou wolt eny mete wynne, WILL NOT +get no meat. That I geue to god a gyfte." WORK FOR 351 +"I'll die for The stuard seyd, "then haue I wondyr; HIS DINNER. +hunger first, Rather would I dy for hungyr +unhouseled," Wyth-owte hosyl̴l̴ or shryfte." 354 +answers he. The lord seyd, "so haue I hele, +[leaf 183] Thowe wylt worke, yf þou hungyr welle, + What worke þat the be brought." 357 +The Lord works The lord satt and dyd hys werke, +away, The stuard drewe in to the derke, + Gret sorowe was in hys þought. 360 + The lord seyd, "dame, here ys youre lyne, + Haue yt in godes blessyng and myne, + I hold yt welle I-wrought." 363 +and gets his food Mete and drynke sche gaue hym y{n)}, +and drink. "The stuard," sche seyd, "wolle he nott spynne, + Wyl̴l̴ he do ryght nogħt?" 366 + The lord seyd, "by swete sen Ione, +None of it will he Of thys mete schal̴l̴ he haue none +give to the That ye haue me hydder brought." 369 +steward, The lord ete and dranke fast, +but eats it all The stuard hungeryd att þe last, +up, For he gaue hym nought. 372 + The stuard satt al̴l̴ in a stody, + Hys lord hadde forgote curtesy: + Tho[6] seyd þe stuard, "geue me some." 375 +and won't give him The lord seyd, "sorowe haue þe morsel̴l̴ or sope +one crumb: That schal̴l̴ come in thy throte! + Nott so much as o crome! 378 +let him work and Butt þou wylt helpe to dyght þis lyne, +earn some for Much hungyr yt schal̴l̴ be thyne +himself. Though þou make much mone." 381 +The steward gives Vp he rose, and went therto, +in, "Bett_er_ ys me þus to doo + Whyle yt must nedys be do." 384 +asks for work; the The stuard began fast to knocke, THE STEWARD +wife throws it The wyfe þrew hym a swyngelyng stocke, IS OBLIGED +him, Hys mete þerwyth to wy{n)}; TO WORK 387 + Sche brought a swyngyl̴l̴ att þe last, AFTER ALL. + "Good syres," sche seyd, "swyngyll_e_ on fast; + For no þing that ye blynne." 390 + Sche gaue hy{m)} a stocke to sytt vppo{n)}, + And seyd "syres, þis werke must nedys be done, + Al̴l̴ that that ys here y{n)}." 393 +[leaf 183, back] The stuard toke vp a stycke to saye, +and steward and "Sey, seye, swyngyl̴l̴ bett_er_ yf ye may, +Lord are both Hytt wyl̴l̴ be the bett_er_ to spynne." 396 +spinning away Were þe lord neu_er_ so gret, +to earn their Yet was he fayne to werke for hys mete +dinner, Though he were neu_er_ so sadde; 399 + Butt þe stuard þat was so stowde, + Was fayne to swyngell_e_ þe scales owte, + Ther-of he was nott glad. 402 +while the Lord's The lordys meyne þat were att home +people cannot make Wyst nott where he was bycome, +out what has They were ful̴l̴ sore adrad. 405 +become of him. +Then the Proctor The proctoure of þe parysche chyrche rygħt +sees the wright Came and lokyd on þe wryght, + He lokyd as he ware madde; 408 + Fast þe proctoure gan hym frayne, +and asks where he "Where hadest þou þis garlond gayne? +got his garland It ys eu_er_ lyke newe." 411 +from. The wryght gan say "felowe, +"With my wife; Wyth my wyfe, yf þou wylt knowe; + That dare me nott rewe; 414 +and while she is For al̴l̴ the whyle my wyfe trew ys, +true it will never My garlond wolle hold hewe I-wys, +fade, And neu_er_ falle nor fade; 417 +but if she's false And yf my wyfe take a p_ar_amoure, +it will." Than wolle my garlond vade þe floure, + That dare I ley myne hede." 420 +The proctor thinks The proctoure þought, "in good faye THE PROCTOR +he'll test this, That schal̴l̴ I wete thys same daye TEMPTS THE + Whether yt may so be." WIFE, AND 423 +goes to the To the wryghtes hows he went, IS TRAPDOORED. +wright's wife He grete þe wyfe wyth feyre entente, + Sche seyd "syr, welcome be ye." 426 +and declares his "A! dame, my loue ys on you fast +love for her; Syth the tyme I sawe you last; + I pray you yt may so be 429 + That ye would graunt me of your̛ grace +he must have her To play w_y_t_h_ you in some p_ri_uy place, +[leaf 184] Or ellys to deth mutt me." 432 +or die. Fast þe proctoure gan to pray, +She says nay, And eu_er_ to hy{m~} sche seyd "naye, + That wolle I nott doo. 435 +as her husband Hadest þou done þat dede w_y_t_h_ me, +will know of it by My spouse by hys garlond myght see, +his garland. That schuld torne me to woo." 438 +The proctor The proctoure seyd, "by heuen kyng, + If he sey to the any þing + He schal̴l̴ haue sorowe vn-sowte; 441 +offers her 20 Twenty marke I wolle þe geue, +marks. It wolle þe helpe welle to lyue, + The mony here haue I brought." 444 +These she takes; Nowe hath sche the tresure tane, +they go upstairs, And vp þe steyre be they gane, + (What helpyth yt to lye?) 447 + The wyfe went the steyre be-syde, +and the proctor The proctoure went a lytyl̴l̴ to wyde +tumbles into the He fel̴l̴ downe by and by. 450 +cellar, Whan he in to þe seller felle, +and thinks he is He wente to haue sonke in to helle, +going to hell. He was in hart ful̴l̴ sory. 453 + The stuard lokyd on the knyght, +The steward asks And seyd "proctoure, for godes myght, +him to sit down; Come and sytt vs by." 456 + The proctoure began to stare, +he doesn't know For he was he wyst neu_er_ whare, THE PROCTOR +where he is, Butt wele he knewe þe knyght CAN'T 459 + And the stuard þat swyngelyd þe lyne. MAKE OUT +but asks what the He seyd "syres, for godes pyne, WHERE HE +Lord and steward What do ye here thys nygħt?" HAS GOT 462 +are after there, The stuard seyd, "god geue the care, TO. + Thowe camyst to loke howe we fare, + Nowe helpe þis lyne were dyght." 465 + He stode styl̴l̴ in a gret þought, + What to answer he wyst noght: + "By mary ful̴l̴ of myght," 468 +working the wife's The proctoure seyd, "what do ye in þis yn_e_ +flax; For to bete thys wyfees lyne? +[leaf 184, back] For Ih_esus_ loue, fful̴l̴ of myght," 471 + The proctoure seyd ryght as he þougħt, +he, the proctor, "For me yt schal̴l̴ be euyl̴l̴ wrougħt +will never do the And I may see arygħt, 474 +like, For I lernyd neu_er_ in lon{d+} +it's not his For to haue a swyngel̴l̴ in hond +trade. By day nor be nyght." 477 +The steward says, The stuard seyd, "as good as þoū. +"We're as good as We hold vs that be here nowe, +you, and yet And lett preue yt be sygħt; 480 +have to work for Yet must vs worke for owre mete, +our food." Or ellys schal̴l̴ we none gete, + Mete nor drynke to owre honde." 483 +The Lord says, The lord seyd, "why flyte ye two? +"And you'll have I trowe ye wyl̴l̴ werke or ye goo, +to work ere you Yf yt be as I vndyrstond." 486 +go." Abowte he goys twyes or thryes; +They eat and They ete & drunke in such wyse +drink, and give That þey geue hym ryght noght. 489 +the proctor The proctoure seyd, "thynke ye no schame, +nothing, Yheue me some mete, (ye be to blame,) +to his great Of that the wyfe ye brougħt." 492 +disgust, The stuard seyd "euyl̴l̴ spede the soppe + If eny morcel̴l̴ come in thy throte + Butt þou w_y_t_h_ vs hadest wrought." HE HAS 495 +till at last The proctoure stode in a stody TO WIND + Whether he mygħt worke hem by; AND SPIN + And so to torne hys þougħt, FOR HIS 498 + To the lord he drewe nere, DINNER. + And to hym seyd w_y_t_h_ myld[_e_] chere, + "That mary mott the spede!" 501 +he too knocks for The proctoure began to knocke, +work, The good wyfe rawte hym a rocke, + For therto hadde sche nede; 504 + Sche seyd "whan I was mayde att home, + Other werke cowde I do none + My lyfe ther-wyth to lede." 507 +gets a distaff and Sche gaue hym in hande a rocke hynde, +some winding to And bade hem fast for to wynde +[leaf 185] Or ellys to lett be hys dede. 510 +do, "Yes, dame," he seyd, "so haue I hele, + I schal̴l̴ yt worke both feyre & welle + As ye haue taute me." 513 + He wauyd vp a strycke of lyne, +and spins away And he span wele and fyne +well. By-fore the swyngel̴l̴ tre. 516 + The lord seyd "þou spynnest to grete, + Therfor þou schalt haue no mete, + That þou schalt wel̴l̴ see." 519 +Thus they all sit Thus þey satt and wrought fast +and work till the Tyl̴l̴ þe wekedayes were past; +wright comes home. Then the wryght, home came he, 522 +As he approaches And as he cam by hys hows syde +he hears a noise, He herd[7] noyse that was nott ryde + Of p_er_sons two or thre; 525 + One of hem knockyd lyne, + A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne + By-fore the swyngyl̴l̴ tre, 528 + The thyrde did rele and spynne, + Mete and drynke ther-wyth to wynne, + Gret nede ther-of hadde he. 531 + Thus þe wryght stode herkenyng; THE WRIGHT +his wife comes to Hys wyfe was ware of hys comyng, COMES HOME +meet him, And ageynst hym went sche. AND FINDS 534 + "Dame," he seyd, "what ys þis dynne? THE THREE +and he asks what I here gret noyse here wythynne; CULPRITS. +all that noise is Tel̴l̴ me, so god the spede." 537 +about. "Syr," sche seyd, "workemen thre +"Why, three Be come to helpe you and me, +workmen have come Ther-of we haue gret nede; 540 +to help us, dear. Fayne would I wete what they were." +Who are they?" Butt when he sawe hys lord there, +The wright sees Hys hert bygan to drede: 543 +his Lord in the To see hys lord in þat place, +pit, He þought yt was a strange cas, +and asks how And seyd, "so god hym spede, 546 +[leaf 185, back] What do ye here, my lord and knygħt? + Tel̴l̴ me nowe for godes mygħt +he came there. Howe cam thys vn-to?" 549 + The knyght seyd "What ys best rede? +The Lord asks M_er_cy I aske for my mysdede, +mercy: he is very My hert ys wondyr wo." 552 +sorry. "So ys myne, verame_n_t, +"So am I," says To se you among thys flex and hempe, +the wright, "to Ful̴l̴ sore yt ruytħ me; 555 +see you among the To se you in such hevynes, +flax and hemp," Ful̴l̴ sore myne hert yt doth oppresse, + By god in trinite." 558 +and orders his The wryght bade hys wyfe lett hy{m~} owte, +wife to let the "Nay, þen sorowe come on my snowte +Lord out. If they passe hens to-daye 561 +"No, bother my Tyl̴l̴ that my lady come and see +snout if I do," Howe þey would haue done w_y_t_h_ me, +says the wife, Butt nowe late me saye." 564 +"before his lady Anon sche sent aft_er_ the lady brygħt +sees what he For to fett home her lord and knyght, +wanted to do with Therto sche seyd nogħt; 567 +me." Sche told her what they hadde ment, +So she sends for And of ther purpos & ther intente THE LORD'S WIFE +the dame to fetch That they would haue wrought. SEES HIM IN 570 +her lord home, Glad was þat lady of that tydyng; THE CELLAR. +and tells her what When sche wyst her lord was lyuyng, +he and his Ther-of sche was ful̴l̴ fayne: 573 +companions came Whan sche came vn-to þe steyre aboue{n)}, +there for. Sche lokyd vn-to þe seller downe, +The lady And seyd,--þis ys nott to leyne,-- 576 +looks down into "Good syres, what doo you here?" +the cellar, "Dame, we by owre mete ful̴l̴ dere, +and says, "Good Wyth gret trauayle and peyne; 579 +sirs, what are you I pray you helpe þat we were owte, +doing?" And I wyl̴l̴ swere w_y_t_h_-owtyn dowte +"Earning our meat Neu_er_ to come here agayne." 582 +full dear: The lady spake the wyfe vn-tyll_e_, +[leaf 186] And seyd "dame, yf yt be youre wylle, +help us out, and What doo thes meyny here?" 585 +I'll never come The carpentarys wyfe her answerd sykerly, +here again." "Al̴l̴ they would haue leyne me by; +The lady asks the Eu_er_ych, in ther maner_e_, 588 +wife why Gold and syluer they me brought, +the men are there And forsoke yt, and would yt noght, +The wife says they The ryche gyftes so clere. 591 +wanted to lie with Wyllyng þey were to do me schame, +her, and offered I toke ther gyftes wyth-owtyn blame, +her gold and _And_ ther they be al̴l̴ thre." 594 +silver; The lady answerd her ano{n)}, +she took their "I haue thynges to do att home +gifts, and there Mo than two or thre; 597 +they are. I wyst my lord neu_er_ do ryght noght +The lady says she Of no þing þat schuld be wrought, +really wants her Such as fallyth to me." 600 +lord for herself, The lady lawghed and made good game +and laughs Whan they came owte al̴l̴ in-same +heartily when the From the swyngyl̴l̴ tre. 603 +three culprits The knyght seyd "felowys in fere, +come out. I am glad þat we be here, +The Lord says, By godes dere pyte; THE 606 +"Ah, you'd have Dame, and ye hadde bene wyth vs, WRIGHT'S +worked too if Ye would haue wrought, by swete Ih_es_us, WIFE SETS +you'd been with As welle as dyd we." THE 609 +us, And when they cam vp aboue{n)} CULPRITS + They turnyd abowte and lokyd downe, FREE. + The lord seyd, "so god saue me, 612 +I never had such a Yet hadde I neu_er_ such a fytte +turn in my life As I haue hadde in þat lowe pytte; +before, I can tell So mary so mutt me spede." 615 +you." The knyght and thys lady bryght, +Then the Lord and Howe they would home that nygħt, +lady go home, For no thyng they would abyde; 618 + And so they went home; +as ADAM of COBSAM Thys seyd Adam of Cobsa{m~}.[8] +[leaf 186, back] By the weye as they rode 621 +says. Throwe a wode in ther playeng, +On their way home For to here the fowlys syng +they halt, They hovyd stylle and bode. 624 +and the steward The stuard sware by godes ore, +and proctor swear And so dyd the proctoure much more, +they'll never go That neu_er_ in ther lyfe 627 +back for five and Would they no more come in þ_a_t wonne +forty years. Whan they were onys thens come, + Thys forty yere and fyve. 630 +The lady gives all Of the tresure that they brought, +their money to the The lady would geue hem ryght noght, +wright's wife. Butt gaue yt to the wryghtes wyfe. 633 +The garland is Thus the wryghtes garlond was feyre of hewe, +fresh as ever. And hys wyfe bothe good and trewe: + There-of was he ful̴l̴ blythe; 636 + I take wytnes att gret and smal̴l̴, +Thus true are all Thus trewe bene good women al̴l̴ +good women now That nowe bene on lyve, 639 +alive! So come thryste on ther hedys + Whan they mombyl̴l̴ on ther bedys MAY ALL GOOD + Ther pat_er_ n_oste_r ryue. WIVES GO 642 + TO HEAVEN! +Here then is Here ys wretyn a geste of the wryght +written a tale of That hadde a garlond wel̴l̴ I-dyght, +the Wright and his The coloure wyl̴l̴ neuer fade. 645 +Garland. Now god, þat ys heuyn kyng, +God grant us all Graunt vs al̴l̴ hys dere blessyng +his blessing, Owre hertes for to glade; 648 +and may all true And al̴l̴ tho that doo her husbondys rygħt, +faithful wives Pray we to Ih_es_u ful̴l̴ of myght, + That feyre mott hem byfalle, 651 +come to heaven's And that they may come to heuen blys, +bliss, For thy dere moderys loue ther-of nott to mys, + All_e_ good wyues all_e_. 654 +and be such Now all_e_ tho that thys tretys hath hard, + Ih_es_u graunt hem, for her reward, +true lovers as the As trew louers to be 657 +[leaf 187] As was the wryght vn-to hys wyfe +wright and his And sche to hym duryng her lyfe. +wife were. Amen, for charyte. 660 +Amen! +Here ends our tale Here endyth the wryghtes p_ro_cesse trewe +of the Garland Wyth hys garlond feyre of hewe + That neu_er_ dyd fade the coloure. 663 + It was made, by the avyse + Of hys wywes moder wytty and wyse, + Of flourys most of honoure, 666 +which was made of Of roses whyte þat wyl̴l̴ nott fade, +White Roses, Whych floure al̴l̴ ynglond doth glade, +the flowers that Wyth trewloues medelyd in sygħt; 669 +gladden all Vn-to the whych floure I-wys +England, The loue of god and of the comenys +and receive the Subdued[9] bene of rygħt. +love of God, and +of the Commons Explicit. +too. + +[Footnote 1: MS. _of_] + +[Footnote 2: _or_ hyng. ? _MS._] + +[Footnote 3: MS. _gar_] + +[Footnote 4: ? MS. this.] + +[Footnote 5: MS. _Iħc_] + +[Footnote 6: MS. _The_] + +[Footnote 7: ? MS. _hard_] + +[Footnote 8: The letter between the _b_ and _a_ has had the lower part +marked over. But it must mean a long _s_.] + +[Footnote 9: May be _subdied_; the word has been corrected.] + + + + +NOTES. + + +The two first of the three operations of flax-dressing described in +lines 526-529, p. 15, + + One of hem knocked lyne, + A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne + By-fore the swyngyl̴l̴-tre, + The thyrde did rele and spynne, + +must correspond to the preliminary breaking of the plant, and then the +scutching or beating to separate the coarse tow or hards from the tare +or fine hemp. Except so far as the _swingle_ served as a heckle, the +further _heckling_ of the flax, to render the fibre finer and cleaner, +was dispensed with, though heckles (iron combs) must have been in use +when the poem was written--inasmuch as _hekele_, _hekelare_, _hekelyn_, +and _hekelynge_, are in the Promptorium, ab. 1440 A.D. Under _Hatchell_, +Randle Holme gives a drawing of a heckle. + +The lines through the _h_'s in the MS. are not, I believe, marks of +contraction. There are no insettings of the third lines, or spaces on +changes of subject, in the MS. + +For reference to two analogous stories to that of the Poem, I am +indebted to Mr Thomas Wright. The first is that of _Constant Duhamel_ in +the third volume of Barbazan, and the second that of the Prioress and +her three Suitors in the Minor Poems of Dan John Lydgate, published by +the Percy Society, ed. Halliwell. + +In the Barbazan tale "the wife is violently solicited by three suitors, +the priest, the provost, and the forester, who on her refusal persecute +her husband. To stop their attacks she gives them appointments at her +house immediately after one another, so that when one is there and +stripped for the bath, another comes, and, pretending it is her husband, +she conceals them one after another in a large tub full of feathers, out +of which they can see all that is going on in the room. She then sends +successively for their three wives to come and bathe with her, the bath +being still in the same room, and as each is stripped naked in the bath, +she introduces her own husband, who dishonours them one after another, +one _à l'enverse_, with rather aggravating circumstances, and all in +view of their three husbands. Finally the latter are turned out of the +house naked, or rather well feathered, then hunted by the whole town and +their dogs, well bitten and beaten." + +(If any one wants to see a justification of the former half of the +proverb quoted by Roberd of Brunne, + + Frenche men synne yn lecherye + And Englys men yn enuye, + +let him read the astounding revelation made of the state of the early +French mind by the tales in the 3rd and 4th vols. of Barbazan's +Fabliaux, ed. 1808.) + +The second story, told by Lydgate, is as follows:--A prioress is wooed +by "a yonng knyght, a parson of a paryche, and a burges of a borrow." +She promises herself to the first if he will lie for a night in a chapel +sewn up in a sheet like a corpse; to the second, if he will perform the +funeral service over the knight, and bury him; to the third, if he will +dress up like a devil, and frighten both parson and knight. This the +burges Sir John does well, but is himself terrified at the corpse +getting up: all three run away from one another: the knight falls on a +stake, and into a snare set for bucks, and breaks his fore top in +falling from the tree; the merchant gets tossed by a bull; the parson +breaks his head and jumps into a bramble bush; and the prioress gets rid +of them all, but not before she has made the "burges" or "marchaunt" pay +her twenty marks not to tell his wife and the country generally of his +tricks.--_Minor Poems_, p. 107-117, ed. 1840. + + + + +GLOSSARY. + + +And, 89, 292, if. + +Bayne, 348, ready. + +Blynne, 4, cease, stop; AS. _blinnan_. + +Blyue, 44, 110, 118, speedily. + +Bonde, 226, a bund-le; Du. _bondt_, a bavin, a bush of thornes. + +Brayne, 342, scull. + +Broke, 165, enjoy. AS. _brúcan_, Germ. _brauchen_. H. Coleridge. + +Brydalle, 71, AS. _brýd-ál_, bride ale, marriage feast. + +By, 197, buy. + +Chaste, 176, chest, box, pit. + +Dowte, 14, fear. + +Dyght, 323, 379, prepare, dress. + +Fare, 148, 324, going on, wish, project. + +Fere, 604, company. + +Flyte, 484, wrangle, quarrel; AS._ flít_, strife, wrangling. + +Forthynketh, 51, repents, makes sorry; AS. _forþencan_, to despair. + +Frayne, 409, ask; AS. _fregnan_, Goth. _fraihnan_. + +Gan, 22, did. + +Geue to God a gyfte, 351, I make a vow, I promise you, I'll take my + oath. + +Hele, 140, salvation. + +Hovyd, 624, halted, stopt. + +Hynde, 508 ? natty; _hende_, gentle. + +I-doo, 335, done, finished. + +I-dyght, 644, prepared. + +In-same, 602, together. + +Layne, 68, hide, conceal. + +Lende, 107, stay; ? AS. _landian_, to land, or _lengian_, to prolong. + +Leyne, 231, lay, beat. + +Lyne, 214, AS. _lín_, flax; ? rope, 246. + +Meyne, 403, household. + +Myster, 12, trade; Fr. _mestier_. + +O, 329, one. + +Onredde, 308; AS. _unrét_, _unrót_, uncheerful, sorrowful, or _unrǽd_, + imprudent. + +Oþre, 205, second. + +Putry, 61, adultery; O. Fr. _puterie_, whoring. + +Rawte, 503, reached, gave. + +Rewe, 186, have pity. + +Rocke, 503, 508; Du. _een Rocke_, _Spinrock_, A Distaffe, or a + Spin-rock; _Rocken_, To Winde Flaxe or Wool upon a Rock (Hexham). + Dan. _rok_, O.N. _rokkr_, G. _rocken_: "a distaff held in the hand + from which the thread was spun by twirling a ball below. 'What, + shall a woman with a _rokke_ drive thee away?'" Digby Mysteries, p. + 11 (Halliwell). "An Instrument us'd in some Parts for the spinning + of Flax and Hemp." Phillips; for reeling and spinning (l. 529). + +Rought, 198, AS. _róhte_, p. of _récan_, to reck, care for. + +Ryde, 524, light, small, AS. _geryd_, levis, æquus, Lye. + +Ryue, 642, Du. _rijf_, rife, or abundant. + +Scales, 401; ? husks, bark, or rind, see _shoves_*, in _Swyngylle_, + below. + +Schent, 258, destroyed; AS. _scendan_. + +Stounde, 4, short time. + +Strycke, 514, "_Strike of Flax_, is as much as is heckled at one + Handful." Phillips. + +Swyngylle, 216, "Swingle-Staff, a Stick to beat Flax with," Phil.; AS. + _swingele_, a whip, lash. "To _swingle_, to beat; a Term among + Flax-dressers." Phillips. Though Randle Holme, Bk. III., ch. viii. + No. xxxiii., gives the _Swingle-Tree_ of a Coach-Pole (these are + made of wood, and are fastened by Iron hooks, stables (_sic_) chains + and pinns to the Coach-pole, to the which Horses are fastened by + their Harnish when there is more then two to draw the Coach), yet at + Chap, vi., § iv., p. 285, col. 1, he says, "He beareth Sable, a + _Swingle_ Hand erected, Surmounting of a _Swingle_ Foot, Or. This is + a Wooden Instrument made like a Fauchion, with an hole cut in the + top of it, to hold it by: It is used for the clearing of Hemp and + Flax from the large broken Stalks or *Shoves, by the help of the + said _Swingle_ Foot, which it is hung upon, which said Stalks being + first broken, bruised, and cut into shivers by a Brake. + S. 3, such erected in Fesse O. born by _Flaxlowe_. + S. 3, such in Pale A., born by _Swingler_." + (A drawing is given by Holme, No. 4, on the plate opposite p. 285.) + "_Swingowing_ is the beating off the bruised inward stalk of the Hemp + or Flax, from the outward pill, which as (_sic_) the Hemp or Flax, + p. 106, col. 2. + _Spinning_ is to twist the Flax hairs into Yarn or Thrid. _Reeling_ + is to wind the Yarn of the Wheel Spool on a Reel," p. 107, Col. 2. + +Take, 161, deliver. + +The, 187, thrive. + +Tolle, 62, entice (H.H. Gibbs). + +Tre, 105, wood, timber. + +Trewloves, 669, either figures like true-lovers' knots, or the + imitations of the berb or flower _Truelove_, which is given by Coles + as _Herb Paris_ (a quatrefoil whose leaves bear a sort of likeness + to a true-lovers' knot), and in Halliwell as _one-berry:_ but I + cannot find that Edward IV. had any such plants on his arms or + badge. Knots were often worn as badges, see Edmonston's Heraldry, + Appendix, Knots. On the other hand, Willement (Regal Heraldry) + notices that the angels attending Richard II. in the picture at + Wilton, had collars worked with white roses and broom-buds; and + trueloves, if a plant be meant by it, may have been Edward's + substitute for the broom (_planta genisla_). The Trewloves bear, + one, Ar. on a chev. sa., three cinquefoils, or; the other, Ar. on a + chev. sa., a quatrefoil of the field. + +Vade,[1] 125, 419, fade; Du. _vadden_ (Hexham). + +Wone, 275, store, quantity. + +Wonne, 90, 628, dwelling. + +Woode, 153, wild, mad. + +Yheue, 491, give. + +Yougeth, 20, youth, bachelor's freedom. + +[Footnote 1: The use of the flat _v_ade (l. 419, p. 12) within 2 lines +of the sharp _f_ade (l. 417), corresponds with the flat 'stow_d_e,' l. +400, p. 12, riming with 'owte,' l. 401, _badde_ with _hatte_, l. 265-6. +_Cost_, _brest_, l. 142-3, are careless rimes too.] + + + + + WOMEN. + + [_Lambeth MS_. 306, _leaf_ 135.] + + + Wome{n)}, wome{n)}, loue of wome{n)}, + make bare purs w_i_t_h_ some me{n)}, + Some be nyse as a nonne hene,[1] + Ȝit al thei be nat soo. 4 + some be lewde, + some all be schrewde; + Go schrewes wher thei goo. + + Su{m~} be nyse, and some be fonde, 8 + And some be tame, y vndirstond_e_, + And some cane take brede of a manes hande,[2] + Yit all thei be nat soo. + [Some be lewde, &c.] 12 + +[leaf 135, back] Some cane part with-outen hire, + And some make bate in eueri chire, + And some cheke mate with oure Sir_e_, + Yit all they be nat so. 16 + Some be lewde, + and sume be schreued_e_, + go wher they goo. + + Som be browne, and some be whit, 20 + And some be tender as a ttripe, + And some of theym be chiry ripe, + Yit all thei be not soo. + Sume be lewde, 24 + and some be schrewed_e_, + go wher they goo. + + Some of the{m~} be treue of love + Benetħ þe gerdel̴l̴, but nat above, 28 + And in a hode aboue cane chove, + Yit all thei do nat soo. + Some be lewde, + and some be schreud_e_, 32 + go where they goo. + + Some cane whister, & some cane crie, + Some cane flater, and some can lye, + And some cane sette þe moke awrie, 36 + Yit all thei do nat soo. + Sume be lewde, + and sume be schreued_e_, + go where thei goo. 40 + + He that made this songe full good, + Came of þe nortħ and of þe sother{n)} blode, + And some-what kyne to Roby{n)} Hode, + Yit all we be nat soo. 44 + Some be lewde, + and some be schrewed_e_, + go where they goo. + + Some be lewde, some be [s]chrwde, 48 + Go where they goo. + + Explicit. + +P.S.--This Poem was printed by Mr Halliwell in _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, vol. +i., p. 248, and reprinted by Mr Thomas Wright, at p. 103 of his edition +of _Songs and Carols_ for the Percy Society, 1847. As, besides minor +differences, the reprint has _manne_, and the original _nanne_, for what +I read as _nonne_, l. 3, while both have _withowte_ for _with oure_, l. +15, and _accripe_ for _a ttripe_, l. 21 (see Halliwell's Dictionary, +"_accripe_, a herb?"), I have not cancelled this impression. The other +version of the song, from Mr Wright's MS. in his text, pp. 89-91, +differs a good deal from that given above. + +[Footnote 1: The Rev. J.R. Lumby first told me of the proverb 'As white +as a nun's hen,' the nuns being famous, no doubt, for delicate poultry. +John Heywood has in his _Proverbes_, 1562 (first printed, 1546), p. 43 +of the Spencer Society's reprint, 1867, + + She tooke thenterteinment of the yong men + All in daliaunce, _as nice as a Nun's hen_. + +The proverb is quoted by Wilson in his _Arte of Rhetorique_, 1553 +(Hazlitt's _Proverbs_, p. 69).] + +[Footnote 2: For _honde_.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wright's Chaste Wife, by Adam of Cobsam + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 17400-0.txt or 17400-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/4/0/17400/ + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/17400-0.zip b/17400-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb111bf --- /dev/null +++ b/17400-0.zip diff --git a/17400-8.txt b/17400-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7505c28 --- /dev/null +++ b/17400-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1667 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wright's Chaste Wife, by Adam of Cobsam + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wright's Chaste Wife + A Merry Tale (about 1462) + +Author: Adam of Cobsam + +Editor: Frederick J. Furnivall + +Release Date: December 26, 2005 [EBook #17400] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: + +Letters that could not be fully displayed are "unpacked" and shown +top-to-bottom within braces: + +{GH}, {gh} for small and capital yogh. +{l~l} for double l with a tilde through. +{=u} for u with a macron. +{h-} for h with a line through the top. +{rh} for r with a upwards hook attached to the horizontal stem. +{m~} for a m with a loop back over the character. +{n)} for a n with a ) attached to the right side. +{d+} for the d with a little crook attached to the top right of the d. +{/} for an ae ligature with an acute accent. + +There is also one instance of (on line 391 of the poem) a m with a ) +attached to the right side (rendered as {m)} and looks like), but this +is probably a typo for {m~}. I have left this as is. + +Text and letters in brackets [ ] is original. + +Obvious typos are corrected in this e-text.] + + + + +The Wright's Chaste Wife. + + +Early English Text Society + +Original Series, No. 12 + + +1865 + +Reprinted 1891, 1905, 1965 + + +Price 7_s._ 6_d._ + + + + +The + +Wright's Chaste Wife, + +OR + +"A Fable of a wryg{h-}t that was maryde to a pore + wydows dowt_re_ / the whiche wydow havyng + noo good to geve w_i_t_h_ her / gave as for + a p_re_cyous Johe{l~l} to hy_m_ a Rose + garlond / the whyche sche affermyd + wold nev_er_ fade while sche + kept truly her wedlok." + + +A Merry Tale, by Adam of Cobsam. + + +_From a MS. in the Library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, +about 1462 A.D._ + + +COPIED AND EDITED BY +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL. + + + _Published for_ +THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY + _by the_ +OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS +LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO + + +FIRST PUBLISHED 1865 + +REPRINTED 1891, 1905, 1965. + + +Original Series No. 12 + + +REPRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY +(THE CHAUCER PRESS) LTD., BUNGAY, SUFFOLK + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Good wine needs no bush, and this tale needs no Preface. I shall not +tell the story of it--let readers go to the verse itself for that; nor +shall I repeat to those who begin it the exhortation of the englisher of +_Sir Generides_, + + "for goddes sake, or ye hens wende, + Here this tale unto the ende."--(ll. 3769-70.) + +If any one having taken it up is absurd enough to lay it down without +finishing it, let him lose the fun, and let all true men pity him. +Though the state of morals disclosed by the story is not altogether +satisfactory, yet it is a decided improvement on that existing in Roberd +of Brunne's time in 1303, for he had to complain of the lords of his +day: + + Also do ese lordynges, + e[y] trespas moche yn twey ynges; + ey rauys a mayden a{gh}ens here wyl, + And mennys wyuys ey lede awey ertyl. + A grete vylanye arte he dous + {GH}yf he make therof hys rouse [boste]: + e dede ys confusyun, + And more ys e dyffamacyun. + +The volume containing the poem was shown to me by Mr Stubbs, the +Librarian at Lambeth, in order that I might see the version of Sir +Gyngelayne, son of Sir Gawain, which Mr Morris is some day, I trust, to +edit for the Society in one of his Gawain volumes.[1] Finding the +present poem also on the paper leaves, I copied it out the same +afternoon, and here it is for a half-hour's amusement to any reader who +chooses to take it up. + +The handwriting of the MS. must be of a date soon after 1460, and this +agrees well with the allusion to Edward the Fourth's accession, and the +triumph of the White Rose o'er the Red alluded to in the last lines of +the poem. The Garlond, + + It was made ... + Of flourys most of honoure, + Of roses whyte at wy{l~l} nott fade, + Whych floure a{l~l} ynglond doth glade.... + Vn-to the whych floure I-wys + The loue of God and of the comonys + Subdued bene of ryght. + +For, that the Commons of England were glad of their Yorkist king, and +loved Duke Richard's son, let Holinshed's record prove. He testifies: + + "Wherevpon it was againe demanded of the commons, if they would + admit and take the said erle as their prince and souereigne lord; + which all with one voice cried: Yea, yea.... + + "Out of the ded stocke sprang a branch more mightie than the stem; + this Edward the Fourth, a prince so highlie fauoured of the peple, + for his great liberalite, clemencie, vpright dealing, and courage, + that aboue all other, he with them stood in grace alone: by reason + whereof, men of all ages and degrees to him dailie repaired, some + offering themselues and their men to ioepard their liues with him, + and other plentiouslie gaue monie to support his charges, and to + mainteine his right." + +Would that we knew as much of Adam of Cobsam as of our White-Rose king. +He must have been one of the Chaucer breed,[2] but more than this poem +tells of him I cannot learn. + +_3, St George's Square, N.W., +23 November, 1865._ + +P.S.--There are other Poems about Edward IV. in the volume, which will +be printed separately.[3] One on Women is given at the end of the +present text. + + * * * * * + +PP.S. 1869.--Mr C.H. Pearson, the historian of the Early and Middle Ages +of England, has supplied me with the immediate original of this story. +He says: + + "The Wright's Chaste Wife is a reproduction of one of the _Gesta + Romanorum_, cap. 69, de Castitate, ed. Keller. The Latin story + begins 'Gallus regnavit prudens valde.' The Carpenter gets a shirt + with his wife, which is never to want washing unless one of them is + unfaithful. The lovers are three Knights (_milites_), and they are + merely kept on bread and water, not made to work; nor is any wife + introduced to see her lord's discomfiture. The English version, + therefore, is much quainter and fuller of incident than its + original. But the 'morality' of the Latin story is rich beyond + description. 'The wife is holy Mother Church,' 'the Carpenter is + the good Christian,' 'the shirt is our Faith, because, as the + apostle says, it is impossible to please God without faith.' The + Wright's work typifies 'the building up the pure heart by the works + of mercy.' The three Knights are 'the pride of life, the lust of + the eyes, and the lust of the flesh.' 'These you must shut up in + the chamber of penance till you get an eternal reward from the + eternal King.' 'Let us therefore pray God,' &c." + +With the Wright's Chaste Wife may also be compared the stories mentioned +in the Notes, p. 20, and the Ballad "The Fryer well fitted; or + + A Pretty jest that once befel, + How a maid put a Fryer to cool in the well" + +printed "in the Bagford Collection; in the Roxburghe (ii. 172); the +Pepys (iii. 145); the Douce (p. 85); and in _Wit and Mirth, an Antidote +to Melancholy_, 8vo. 1682; also, in an altered form, in Pills to purge +Melancholy, 1707, i. 340; or 1719, iii. 325"; and the tune of which, +with an abstract of the story, is given in Chappell's _Popular Music_, +i. 273-5. The Friar makes love to the Maid; she refuses him for fear of +hell-fire. + + Tush, quoth the Friar, thou needst not doubt; + If thou wert in Hell, I could sing thee out. + +So she consents if he'll bring her an angel of money. He goes home to +fetch it, and she covers the well over with a cloth. When he comes back, +and has given her the money, she pretends that her father is coming, +tells the Friar to run behind the cloth, and down he flops into the +well. She won't help him at first, because if he could sing her out of +hell, he can clearly sing himself out of the well: but at last she does +help him out, keeps his money because he's dirtied the water, and sends +him home dripping along the street like a new-washed sheep. + +[Footnote 1: The since printing of the Romance in the Percy Folio MS. +Ballads and Romances, (_Lybius Disconius_, ii. 404,) will probably +render this unnecessary. (1869.)] + +[Footnote 2: Chaucer brings off his Carpenter, though, triumphant, and +not with the swived wife and broken arm that he gives his befooled +Oxford craftsman in _The Milleres Tale_. (1869.)] + +[Footnote 3: In _Political, Religious, and Love Poems_, E.E. Text Soc., +1867.] + + + + + THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE. + + [_MS. Lambeth 306, leaves 178-187._] + + + A{l~l}myghty god, maker of all_e_, +My sovereigns, Saue you my sou_er_eyns in towre & hall_e_, + And send yo{=u} good grace! 3 + If ye wy{l~l} a stounde blynne, +I will tell you Of a story I wy{l~l} begynne, +a tale And telle you a{l~l} the cas, 6 + Meny farleyes at I haue herd_e_, + Ye would haue wondyr how yt ferde; + Lystyn, and ye scha{l~l} here; 9 +of a wright Of a wryght I wy{l~l} you telle, +of this land, That some tyme in thys land gan dwelle, + And lyued by hys myster. 12 +who, at work, was Whether that he were yn or owte, +afraid of no Of erthely man hadde he no dowte, +earthly man. To werke hows, harowe, nor plowgh, 15 + Or other werkes, what so they were, + Thous wrought he hem farre and nere, + And dyd tham wele I-nough. 18 +At first he would Thys wryght would wedde no wyfe, +wed no wife, Butt yn yougeth to lede hys lyfe +[leaf 178, back] In myrthe and oer melody; 21 +for wherever he Ou_er_ a{l~l} where he gan wende, +went he was A{l~l} they seyd "welcome, frende, +welcome; Sytt downe, and do gla[d]ly." 24 +but at last he Ty{l~l} on a tyme he was wyllyng, THE WRIGHT FALLS +wished As tyme comyth of all_e_ thyng, IN LOVE, AND + (So seyth the p_ro_fesye,) PROPOSES. 27 +to have a spouse A wyfe for to wedde & haue +to look after his That myght hys goodes kepe and saue, +goods. And for to leue a{l~l} foly. 30 +A widow near had a Ther dwellyd a wydowe in at contre +fair daughter That hadde a doughter feyre & fre; + Of her, word sprang wyde, 33 +true and meek. For sche was bothe staby{l~l} & trewe, + Meke of maners, and fey{rh} of hewe; + So seyd men in that tyde. 36 + The wryght seyde, "so god me saue, +Her the wright Such a wyfe would I haue +would like to lie To lye nyghtly by my syde." 39 +by him, He ought to speke wyth at may, +and therefore went And rose erly on a daye +to her mother And yder gan he to ryde. 42 + The wryght was welcome to e wyfe, + And her saluyd a{l~l} so blyve, + And so he dyd her doughter fre: 45 +and proposed for For the erand that he for ca{m~} +the maiden. Tho he spake, at good yema{n)}; + Than to hym seyd sche: 48 +The mother says The wydowe seyd, "by heuen kyng, +she can only give I may geue wyth her no ing, +him as a portion (And at forthynketh me;) 51 +a garland Saue a garlond I wy{l~l} the geue, + Ye scha{l~l} neu_er_ see, whyle ye lyve, + None such in thys contre: 54 +of roses Haue here thys garlond of roses ryche, + In a{l~l} thys lond ys none yt lyche, +that will keep its For ytt wy{l~l} eu_er_ be newe, 57 +colour [leaf 179] Wete ou wele w_i_t_h_owtyn fable, +while his wife is A{l~l} the whyle thy wyfe ys stable +true, The chaplett wolle hold hewe; 60 +but change when And yf thy wyfe vse putry, HE RECEIVES A +she is faithless. Or tolle eny man to lye her by, ROSE GARLAND + Than wolle yt change hewe, WITH HIS WIFE. 63 + And by the garlond ou may see, + Feky{l~l} or fals yf at sche be, + Or ellys yf sche be trewe." 66 +The wright is Of thys chaplett hym was fu{l~l} fayne, +delighted with his And of hys wyfe, was nott to layne; +garland and wife, He weddyd her fu{l~l} sone, 69 +marries her and And ladde her home wyth solempnite, +takes her home; And hyld her bryda{l~l} dayes thre. + Whan they home come, 72 +and then begins to Thys wryght in hys hart cast, +think that when he If that he walkyd est or west +is out at work As he was wonte to done, 75 +men will try to "My wyfe at ys so bryght of ble, +corrupt his wife. Men wolle desyre he{rh} fro me, + And at hastly and sone;" 78 +So he plans a Butt sone he hym byought +crafty room and That a chambyr schuld be wrought +tower, Bothe of lyme and stone, 81 + Wyth wallys strong as eny stele, + And dorres sotylly made and wele, + He owte framyd yt sone; 84 +and builds it soon The chambyr he lett make fast, +with plaster of Wyth plast_er_ of parys _a_t wy{l~l} last, +Paris, Such ous know I neu_er_ none; 87 +which no one could Ther ys [ne] kyng ne emp_er_oure, +ever get out of if And he were lockyn in at towre, +he once got into That cowde gete owte of at wonne. 90 +it, Nowe hath he done as he ought, + And in the myddes of the flore wrought +for there was a A wondyr strange gyle, 93 +trapdoor in the A trapdoure rounde abowte +[leaf 179, back] That no man myght come yn nor owte; +middle, It was made wyth a wyle, 96 +and if any one That who-so touchyd yt eny thyng, THE WRIGHT +only touched it, In to e pytt he schuld flyng GOES TO +down he'd go into Wythyn a lyty{l~l} whyle. WORK, AND 99 +a pit. For hys wyfe he made that place, LEAVES HIS +This was to stop That no man schuld beseke her of grace, WIFE AT +any tricks with Nor her to begyle. HOME. 102 +his wife. +Just then the town By at tyme e lord of the towne +Lord Hadde ordeynyd tymbyr redy bowne, + An halle to make of tre. 105 +sends for him to Aft_er_ the wryght the lord lett sende, +build a Hall, For at he schuld wyth hym lende +(a job for two or Monythys two or thre. 108 +three months,) The lord seyd, "woult ou haue i wyfe? +and offers to I wy{l~l} send aft_er_ her blyve +fetch his wife That sche may com to the." 111 +too. The wryght hys garlond hadde take w_y_t_h_ hy{m~}, + That was bryght and no ing dymme, + Yt wes feyre on to see. 114 +He sees the The lord axyd hym as he satt, +wright's garland, "Felowe, where hadyst ou is hatte +and asks what it That ys so feyre and newe?" 117 +means. The wryght answerd a{l~l} so blyue, +"Sir, it will And seyd, "syr, I hadde yt wyth my wyfe, + And at dare me neue{rh} rewe; 120 +tell me whether my Syr, by my garlond I may see +wife is false or Feky{l~l} or fals yf at sche be, +true; Or[1] yf at sche be trewe; 123 +and will change And yf my wyfe loue a p_ar_amoure, +its colour if she Than wy{l~l} my garlond vade coloure, +go wrong." And change wy{l~l} yt the hewe." 126 + The lord ought "by godys myght, +"I'll try that," That wy{l~l} I wete thys same nyght +thinks the Lord, Whether thys tale be trewe." 129 +and goes to the To the wryghtys howse anon he went, +wright's wife. He fonde the wyfe ther-in p_re_sente +[leaf 180] That was so bryght and schene; THE LORD 132 + Sone he hayled her trewly, BRIBES THE + And so dyd sche the lord curtesly: WRIGHT'S WIFE + Sche seyd, "welcome ye be;" TO LIE WITH 135 + Thus seyd the wyfe of the hows, HIM. +She asks after her "Syr, howe faryth my swete spouse +husband That hewyth vppon you{rh} tre?" 138 +but the Lord "Sertes, dame," he seyd, "wele, + And I am come, so haue I hele, + To wete the wylle of the; 141 +declares his own My loue ys so vppon the cast +love for her, That me thynketh my hert wolle brest, + It wolle none otherwyse be; 144 +and prays her to Good dame, graunt me thy grace +grant him his To pley with the in some preuy place +will. For gold and eke for fee." 147 +She entreats him "Good syr, lett be youre fare, +to let that be, And of such wordes speke no mare + For hys loue at dyed on tre; 150 + Hadde we onys begonne at gle, + My husbond by his garlond myght see; + For sorowe he would wexe woode." 153 +but he presses "Certes, dame," he seyd, "naye; +her, Loue me, I pray you, in at ye maye: + For godys loue change thy mode, 156 +and offers her 40 Forty marke scha{l~l} be youre mede +marks. Of sylu_er_ and of gold[_e_] rede, + And that scha{l~l} do the good." 159 +On this she "Syr, that deede scha{l~l} be done; +consents if he'll Take me that mony here anon_e_." +put down the "I swere by the holy rode 162 +money. I thought when I cam hydde{rh} + For to bryng[2] yt a{l~l} to-gydde{rh}, + As I mott broke my heele." 165 +The 40 marks she Ther sche toke xl marke +takes Of syluer and gold styff and sterke: + Sche toke yt feyre and welle; THE 168 +and tells him to Sche seyd, "in to the chambyr wy{l~l} we, LORD IS +go [leaf 180, back] Ther no man scha{l~l} vs see; DROPPED +into the secret No lenger wy{l~l} we spare." 171 +chamber. Vp the steyer they gan[3] hye: THROUGH +Upstairs he goes, The stepes were made so queyntly A TRAPDOOR, + That farther myght he nott fare. 174 +stumbles, The lord stumbyllyd as he went in hast, +and pops down 40 He fe{l~l} doune in to at chaste +feet through the Forty fote and somedele more. 177 +wright's trapdoor. The lord began to crye; + The wyfe seyd to hym in hye, + "Syr, what do ye there?" 180 +He prays the "Dame, I can nott seye howe + That I am come hydder nowe + To thys hows at ys so newe; 183 + I am so depe in thys sure flore + That I ne can come owte att no dore; +good dame to have Good dame, on me ou rewe!" 186 +pity on him. "Nay," sche seyd, "so mut y the, +"Nay," says she, Ty{l~l} myne husbond come and se, +"not till my I schrewe hym at yt ought." 189 +husband sees you." The lord arose and lokyd abowte +The Lord tries to If he myght eny where gete owte, +get out, but Butt yt holpe hy{m~} ryght nog{h-}t, 192 +can't, The wallys were so thycke w_y_t_h_y{n)}, + That he no where myght owte wynne + But helpe to hy{m~} were brought; 195 +and then threatens And eu_er_ the lord made euy{l~l} chere, +the wife, And seyd, "dame, ou schalt by thys dere." + Sche seyd that sche ne roug{h-}t; 198 +but she doesn't Sche seyd "I recke nere +care for that, Whyle I am here and ou art there, + I schrewe herre at e doth drede." 201 + The lord was sone owte of her ought, +and goes away to The wyfe went in to her lofte, +her work. Sche satte and dyd her dede. AND HAS 204 +Next day the Lord Than yt fe{l~l} on at oer daye, TO BEAT FLAX +begs for food. Of mete and drynke he gan her p_ra_y, TO EARN HIS + There of he hadde gret nede. DINNER. 207 +[leaf 181] He seyd, "dame, for seynt charyte, + Wyth some mete ou comfort me." +"You'll get none Sche seyd, "nay, so god me spede, 210 +from me For I swere by swete seynt Iohn_e_, + Mete ne drynke ne getyst ou none +unless you sweat Butt ou wylt swete or swynke; 213 +for it," says she; For I haue both hempe and lyne, +"spin me some And a betyngstocke fu{l~l} fyne, +flax." And a swyngy{l~l} good and grete; 216 + If ou wylt worke, tell me sone." +He says he will: "Dame, bryng yt forthe, yt scha{l~l} be done, + Fu{l~l} gladly would I ete." 219 +she throws him the Sche toke the stocke in her honde, +tools, And in to the pytt sche yt sclang + With a grete hete: 222 +the flax and hemp, Sche brought the lyne and hempe on her backe, +and says, "Work "Syr lord," sche seyd, "haue ou at, +away." And lerne for to swete." 225 + Ther sche toke hym a bonde + For to occupy hys honde, + And bade hym fast on to bete. 228 +He does, He leyd yt downe on the[4] stone, +lays on well, And leyd on strockes we{l~l} good wone, + And sparyd nott on to leyne. 231 + Whan at he hadde wrought a thraue, +and then asks for Mete and drynke he gan to craue, +his food, And would haue hadde yt fayne; 234 + "That I hadde somewhat for to ete + Now aft_er_ my gret swete; + Me thynketh yt were ryg{h-}t, 237 +for he's toiled For I haue labouryd nyght and daye +night and day. The for to plese, dame, I saye, + And therto putt my myght." 240 +The wife The wyfe seyd "so mutt I haue hele, THE STEWARD + And yf i worke be wrought wele RESOLVES TO + Thou schalt haue to dyne." TEMPT THE 243 +gives him meat Mete and drynke sche hym bare, WRIGHT'S +[leaf 181, back] Wyth a thrafe of flex mare WIFE. +and drink Of fu{l~l} long boundyn lyne. 246 +and more flax, So feyre the wyfe the lord gan praye +and keeps him up That he schuld be werkyng aye, +to his work. And nought at he schuld blynne; 249 + The lord was fayne to werke tho, + Butt hys men knewe nott of hys woo + Nor of er lordes pyne. 252 + +The Steward asks The stuard to e wryght gan saye, +the wright after "Sawe ou owte of my lord to-daye, +his Lord, Whether that he ys wende?" 255 + The wryght answerde and seyd "naye; + I sawe hym nott syth yesterdaye; + I trowe at he be schent." 258 +then notices the The stuard stode e wryght by, +garland, And of hys garlond hadde ferly + What at yt be-mente. 261 +and asks who gave The stuard seyd, "so god me saue, +it him. Of thy garlond wondyr I haue, + And who yt hath the sent." 264 +"Sir, it will tell "Syr," he seyd, "be the same hatte +me whether my wife I can knowe yf my wyfe be badde +goes bad." To me by eny other ma{n)}; 267 + If my floures ouer fade or falle, + Then doth my wyfe me wrong wyth-all_e_, + As many a woman ca{n)}." 270 +"I'll prove that The stuard ought "by godes myg{h-}t, +this very night," That scha{l~l} I preue thys same nyg{h-}t +says the steward, Whether ou blys or banne," 273 +gets plenty of And in to hys chambyr he gan gone, +money, and goes And toke tresure fu{l~l} good wone, +off And forth he spedde hem tha{n)}. AND 276 + Butt he ne stynt att no stone THINKS +to the wright's Ty{l~l} he vn-to e wryghtes hows come HE HAS +house, That ylke same nyg{h-}t. SUCCEEDED 279 + He mett the wyfe amydde the gate, SO WELL. +takes her round Abowte e necke he gan her take, +the neck, And seyd "my dere wyght, 282 +[leaf 182] A{l~l} the good at ys myne +and offers her all I wy{l~l} the geue to be thyne +he has, to lie by To lye by the a{l~l} nyght." 285 +her that night. Sche seyd, "syr, lett be thy fare, +She refuses, My husbond wolle wete wyth-owty{n)} mare + And I hym dyd that vnryg{h-}t; 288 + I would nott he myght yt wete + For a{l~l} the good that I myght gete, + So Ih_esus_[5] mutt me spede 291 +as her husband For, and eny man lay me by, +would be sure to My husbond would yt wete truly, +know of it. It ys wythowtyn eny drede." 294 +The steward urges The stuard seyd "for hym at ys wrought, +her again, There-of, dame, drede the nog{h-}t + Wyth me to do that dede; 297 +and offers her 20 Haue here of me xx marke +marks. Of gold and syluer styf and starke, + Thys tresoure scha{l~l} be thy mede." 300 +She says, "Then "Syr, and I graunt at to yo{=u}, +don't tell any Lett no man wete butt we two nowe." +one," He seyd, "nay, wythowtyn drede." 303 + The stuard ought, 'sykerly + Women beth both queynte & slye.' +takes his money, The mony he gan her bede; 306 + He ought wele to haue be spedde, + And of his erand he was onredde + Or he were fro he{m~} I-gone. 309 +sends him up the Vp the sterys sche hym leyde +quaint stairs, Ty{l~l} he saw the wryghtes bedde: THE STEWARD IS + Of tresoure ought he none; SHOT THROUGH 312 +and lets him He went and stumblyd att a stone; THE TRAPDOOR, +tumble through In to e selle{rh} he fylle sone, +the trapdoor. Downe to the bare flore. 315 +"What the devil The lord seyd "what deuy{l~l} art o{=u}? +are you?" says And ou hadest falle on me nowe, +the Lord. Thowe hadest hurt me fu{l~l} sore." 318 +[leaf 182, back] The stuard stert and staryd abowte +The steward finds If he myg{h-}t ower gete owte +he can't get out; Att hole lesse or mare. 321 + The lord seyd, "welcome, and sytt be tyme, + For ou schalt helpe to dyght thys lyne + For a{l~l} thy fers[e] fare." 324 + The stuard lokyd on the knyg{h-}t, +and wonders why He seyd, "syr, for godes myght, +his Lord is My lord, what do you here?" 327 +there. He seyd "felowe, wyth-owtyn oth, +"We both came on For o erand we come bothe, +one errand, man." The sothe wolle I nott lete." 330 +The wife asks what Tho cam the wyfe them vn-to, +they're doing; And seyd, "syres, what do you to, + Wy{l~l} ye nott lerne to swete?" 333 +the Lord says, Than seyd e lord her vn-to, +"Your flax is 'Dame, you{rh} lyne ys I-doo, +done, and I want Nowe would I fayne ete: 336 +my dinner." And I haue made yt a{l~l} I-lyke, + Fu{l~l} clere, and no ing thycke, + Me thynketh yt gret payne." 339 +The steward says The stuard seyd "wyth-owtyn dowte, +if he ever gets And eu_er_ I may wynne owte, +out he'll crack I wy{l~l} breke her brayne." 342 +her skull. "Felowe, lett be, and sey nott so, +But the wife For ou schalt worke or eu_er_ ou goo, +chaffs him, Thy wordes ou torne agayne, 345 +says he'll soon be Fayne ou schalt be so to doo, +glad to eat his And thy good wylle put erto; +words, As a man buxome and bayne BUT IS 348 +and unless he rubs Thowe schalt rubbe, rele, and spynne, PROUD, AND +and reels, he'll And ou wolt eny mete wynne, WILL NOT +get no meat. That I geue to god a gyfte." WORK FOR 351 +"I'll die for The stuard seyd, "then haue I wondyr; HIS DINNER. +hunger first, Rather would I dy for hungyr +unhouseled," Wyth-owte hosy{l~l} or shryfte." 354 +answers he. The lord seyd, "so haue I hele, +[leaf 183] Thowe wylt worke, yf ou hungyr welle, + What worke at the be brought." 357 +The Lord works The lord satt and dyd hys werke, +away, The stuard drewe in to the derke, + Gret sorowe was in hys ought. 360 + The lord seyd, "dame, here ys youre lyne, + Haue yt in godes blessyng and myne, + I hold yt welle I-wrought." 363 +and gets his food Mete and drynke sche gaue hym y{n)}, +and drink. "The stuard," sche seyd, "wolle he nott spynne, + Wy{l~l} he do ryght nog{h-}t?" 366 + The lord seyd, "by swete sen Ione, +None of it will he Of thys mete scha{l~l} he haue none +give to the That ye haue me hydder brought." 369 +steward, The lord ete and dranke fast, +but eats it all The stuard hungeryd att e last, +up, For he gaue hym nought. 372 + The stuard satt a{l~l} in a stody, + Hys lord hadde forgote curtesy: + Tho[6] seyd e stuard, "geue me some." 375 +and won't give him The lord seyd, "sorowe haue e morse{l~l} or sope +one crumb: That scha{l~l} come in thy throte! + Nott so much as o crome! 378 +let him work and Butt ou wylt helpe to dyght is lyne, +earn some for Much hungyr yt scha{l~l} be thyne +himself. Though ou make much mone." 381 +The steward gives Vp he rose, and went therto, +in, "Bett_er_ ys me us to doo + Whyle yt must nedys be do." 384 +asks for work; the The stuard began fast to knocke, THE STEWARD +wife throws it The wyfe rew hym a swyngelyng stocke, IS OBLIGED +him, Hys mete erwyth to wy{n)}; TO WORK 387 + Sche brought a swyngy{l~l} att e last, AFTER ALL. + "Good syres," sche seyd, "swyngyll_e_ on fast; + For no ing that ye blynne." 390 + Sche gaue hy{m)} a stocke to sytt vppo{n)}, + And seyd "syres, is werke must nedys be done, + A{l~l} that that ys here y{n)}." 393 +[leaf 183, back] The stuard toke vp a stycke to saye, +and steward and "Sey, seye, swyngy{l~l} bett_er_ yf ye may, +Lord are both Hytt wy{l~l} be the bett_er_ to spynne." 396 +spinning away Were e lord neu_er_ so gret, +to earn their Yet was he fayne to werke for hys mete +dinner, Though he were neu_er_ so sadde; 399 + Butt e stuard at was so stowde, + Was fayne to swyngell_e_ e scales owte, + Ther-of he was nott glad. 402 +while the Lord's The lordys meyne at were att home +people cannot make Wyst nott where he was bycome, +out what has They were fu{l~l} sore adrad. 405 +become of him. +Then the Proctor The proctoure of e parysche chyrche ryg{h-}t +sees the wright Came and lokyd on e wryght, + He lokyd as he ware madde; 408 + Fast e proctoure gan hym frayne, +and asks where he "Where hadest ou is garlond gayne? +got his garland It ys eu_er_ lyke newe." 411 +from. The wryght gan say "felowe, +"With my wife; Wyth my wyfe, yf ou wylt knowe; + That dare me nott rewe; 414 +and while she is For a{l~l} the whyle my wyfe trew ys, +true it will never My garlond wolle hold hewe I-wys, +fade, And neu_er_ falle nor fade; 417 +but if she's false And yf my wyfe take a p_ar_amoure, +it will." Than wolle my garlond vade e floure, + That dare I ley myne hede." 420 +The proctor thinks The proctoure ought, "in good faye THE PROCTOR +he'll test this, That scha{l~l} I wete thys same daye TEMPTS THE + Whether yt may so be." WIFE, AND 423 +goes to the To the wryghtes hows he went, IS TRAPDOORED. +wright's wife He grete e wyfe wyth feyre entente, + Sche seyd "syr, welcome be ye." 426 +and declares his "A! dame, my loue ys on you fast +love for her; Syth the tyme I sawe you last; + I pray you yt may so be 429 + That ye would graunt me of you{rh} grace +he must have her To play w_y_t_h_ you in some p_ri_uy place, +[leaf 184] Or ellys to deth mutt me." 432 +or die. Fast e proctoure gan to pray, +She says nay, And eu_er_ to hy{m~} sche seyd "naye, + That wolle I nott doo. 435 +as her husband Hadest ou done at dede w_y_t_h_ me, +will know of it by My spouse by hys garlond myght see, +his garland. That schuld torne me to woo." 438 +The proctor The proctoure seyd, "by heuen kyng, + If he sey to the any ing + He scha{l~l} haue sorowe vn-sowte; 441 +offers her 20 Twenty marke I wolle e geue, +marks. It wolle e helpe welle to lyue, + The mony here haue I brought." 444 +These she takes; Nowe hath sche the tresure tane, +they go upstairs, And vp e steyre be they gane, + (What helpyth yt to lye?) 447 + The wyfe went the steyre be-syde, +and the proctor The proctoure went a lyty{l~l} to wyde +tumbles into the He fe{l~l} downe by and by. 450 +cellar, Whan he in to e seller felle, +and thinks he is He wente to haue sonke in to helle, +going to hell. He was in hart fu{l~l} sory. 453 + The stuard lokyd on the knyght, +The steward asks And seyd "proctoure, for godes myght, +him to sit down; Come and sytt vs by." 456 + The proctoure began to stare, +he doesn't know For he was he wyst neu_er_ whare, THE PROCTOR +where he is, Butt wele he knewe e knyght CAN'T 459 + And the stuard at swyngelyd e lyne. MAKE OUT +but asks what the He seyd "syres, for godes pyne, WHERE HE +Lord and steward What do ye here thys nyg{h-}t?" HAS GOT 462 +are after there, The stuard seyd, "god geue the care, TO. + Thowe camyst to loke howe we fare, + Nowe helpe is lyne were dyght." 465 + He stode sty{l~l} in a gret ought, + What to answer he wyst noght: + "By mary fu{l~l} of myght," 468 +working the wife's The proctoure seyd, "what do ye in is yn_e_ +flax; For to bete thys wyfees lyne? +[leaf 184, back] For Ih_esus_ loue, ffu{l~l} of myght," 471 + The proctoure seyd ryght as he oug{h-}t, +he, the proctor, "For me yt scha{l~l} be euy{l~l} wroug{h-}t +will never do the And I may see aryg{h-}t, 474 +like, For I lernyd neu_er_ in lon{d+} +it's not his For to haue a swynge{l~l} in hond +trade. By day nor be nyght." 477 +The steward says, The stuard seyd, "as good as o{=u}. +"We're as good as We hold vs that be here nowe, +you, and yet And lett preue yt be syg{h-}t; 480 +have to work for Yet must vs worke for owre mete, +our food." Or ellys scha{l~l} we none gete, + Mete nor drynke to owre honde." 483 +The Lord says, The lord seyd, "why flyte ye two? +"And you'll have I trowe ye wy{l~l} werke or ye goo, +to work ere you Yf yt be as I vndyrstond." 486 +go." Abowte he goys twyes or thryes; +They eat and They ete & drunke in such wyse +drink, and give That ey geue hym ryght noght. 489 +the proctor The proctoure seyd, "thynke ye no schame, +nothing, Yheue me some mete, (ye be to blame,) +to his great Of that the wyfe ye broug{h-}t." 492 +disgust, The stuard seyd "euy{l~l} spede the soppe + If eny morce{l~l} come in thy throte + Butt ou w_y_t_h_ vs hadest wrought." HE HAS 495 +till at last The proctoure stode in a stody TO WIND + Whether he myg{h-}t worke hem by; AND SPIN + And so to torne hys oug{h-}t, FOR HIS 498 + To the lord he drewe nere, DINNER. + And to hym seyd w_y_t_h_ myld[_e_] chere, + "That mary mott the spede!" 501 +he too knocks for The proctoure began to knocke, +work, The good wyfe rawte hym a rocke, + For therto hadde sche nede; 504 + Sche seyd "whan I was mayde att home, + Other werke cowde I do none + My lyfe ther-wyth to lede." 507 +gets a distaff and Sche gaue hym in hande a rocke hynde, +some winding to And bade hem fast for to wynde +[leaf 185] Or ellys to lett be hys dede. 510 +do, "Yes, dame," he seyd, "so haue I hele, + I scha{l~l} yt worke both feyre & welle + As ye haue taute me." 513 + He wauyd vp a strycke of lyne, +and spins away And he span wele and fyne +well. By-fore the swynge{l~l} tre. 516 + The lord seyd "ou spynnest to grete, + Therfor ou schalt haue no mete, + That ou schalt we{l~l} see." 519 +Thus they all sit Thus ey satt and wrought fast +and work till the Ty{l~l} e wekedayes were past; +wright comes home. Then the wryght, home came he, 522 +As he approaches And as he cam by hys hows syde +he hears a noise, He herd[7] noyse that was nott ryde + Of p_er_sons two or thre; 525 + One of hem knockyd lyne, + A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne + By-fore the swyngy{l~l} tre, 528 + The thyrde did rele and spynne, + Mete and drynke ther-wyth to wynne, + Gret nede ther-of hadde he. 531 + Thus e wryght stode herkenyng; THE WRIGHT +his wife comes to Hys wyfe was ware of hys comyng, COMES HOME +meet him, And ageynst hym went sche. AND FINDS 534 + "Dame," he seyd, "what ys is dynne? THE THREE +and he asks what I here gret noyse here wythynne; CULPRITS. +all that noise is Te{l~l} me, so god the spede." 537 +about. "Syr," sche seyd, "workemen thre +"Why, three Be come to helpe you and me, +workmen have come Ther-of we haue gret nede; 540 +to help us, dear. Fayne would I wete what they were." +Who are they?" Butt when he sawe hys lord there, +The wright sees Hys hert bygan to drede: 543 +his Lord in the To see hys lord in at place, +pit, He ought yt was a strange cas, +and asks how And seyd, "so god hym spede, 546 +[leaf 185, back] What do ye here, my lord and knyg{h-}t? + Te{l~l} me nowe for godes myg{h-}t +he came there. Howe cam thys vn-to?" 549 + The knyght seyd "What ys best rede? +The Lord asks M_er_cy I aske for my mysdede, +mercy: he is very My hert ys wondyr wo." 552 +sorry. "So ys myne, verame_n_t, +"So am I," says To se you among thys flex and hempe, +the wright, "to Fu{l~l} sore yt ruyt{h-} me; 555 +see you among the To se you in such hevynes, +flax and hemp," Fu{l~l} sore myne hert yt doth oppresse, + By god in trinite." 558 +and orders his The wryght bade hys wyfe lett hy{m~} owte, +wife to let the "Nay, en sorowe come on my snowte +Lord out. If they passe hens to-daye 561 +"No, bother my Ty{l~l} that my lady come and see +snout if I do," Howe ey would haue done w_y_t_h_ me, +says the wife, Butt nowe late me saye." 564 +"before his lady Anon sche sent aft_er_ the lady bryg{h-}t +sees what he For to fett home her lord and knyght, +wanted to do with Therto sche seyd nog{h-}t; 567 +me." Sche told her what they hadde ment, +So she sends for And of ther purpos & ther intente THE LORD'S WIFE +the dame to fetch That they would haue wrought. SEES HIM IN 570 +her lord home, Glad was at lady of that tydyng; THE CELLAR. +and tells her what When sche wyst her lord was lyuyng, +he and his Ther-of sche was fu{l~l} fayne: 573 +companions came Whan sche came vn-to e steyre aboue{n)}, +there for. Sche lokyd vn-to e seller downe, +The lady And seyd,--is ys nott to leyne,-- 576 +looks down into "Good syres, what doo you here?" +the cellar, "Dame, we by owre mete fu{l~l} dere, +and says, "Good Wyth gret trauayle and peyne; 579 +sirs, what are you I pray you helpe at we were owte, +doing?" And I wy{l~l} swere w_y_t_h_-owtyn dowte +"Earning our meat Neu_er_ to come here agayne." 582 +full dear: The lady spake the wyfe vn-tyll_e_, +[leaf 186] And seyd "dame, yf yt be youre wylle, +help us out, and What doo thes meyny here?" 585 +I'll never come The carpentarys wyfe her answerd sykerly, +here again." "A{l~l} they would haue leyne me by; +The lady asks the Eu_er_ych, in ther maner_e_, 588 +wife why Gold and syluer they me brought, +the men are there And forsoke yt, and would yt noght, +The wife says they The ryche gyftes so clere. 591 +wanted to lie with Wyllyng ey were to do me schame, +her, and offered I toke ther gyftes wyth-owtyn blame, +her gold and _And_ ther they be a{l~l} thre." 594 +silver; The lady answerd her ano{n)}, +she took their "I haue thynges to do att home +gifts, and there Mo than two or thre; 597 +they are. I wyst my lord neu_er_ do ryght noght +The lady says she Of no ing at schuld be wrought, +really wants her Such as fallyth to me." 600 +lord for herself, The lady lawghed and made good game +and laughs Whan they came owte a{l~l} in-same +heartily when the From the swyngy{l~l} tre. 603 +three culprits The knyght seyd "felowys in fere, +come out. I am glad at we be here, +The Lord says, By godes dere pyte; THE 606 +"Ah, you'd have Dame, and ye hadde bene wyth vs, WRIGHT'S +worked too if Ye would haue wrought, by swete Ih_es_us, WIFE SETS +you'd been with As welle as dyd we." THE 609 +us, And when they cam vp aboue{n)} CULPRITS + They turnyd abowte and lokyd downe, FREE. + The lord seyd, "so god saue me, 612 +I never had such a Yet hadde I neu_er_ such a fytte +turn in my life As I haue hadde in at lowe pytte; +before, I can tell So mary so mutt me spede." 615 +you." The knyght and thys lady bryght, +Then the Lord and Howe they would home that nyg{h-}t, +lady go home, For no thyng they would abyde; 618 + And so they went home; +as ADAM of COBSAM Thys seyd Adam of Cobsa{m~}.[8] +[leaf 186, back] By the weye as they rode 621 +says. Throwe a wode in ther playeng, +On their way home For to here the fowlys syng +they halt, They hovyd stylle and bode. 624 +and the steward The stuard sware by godes ore, +and proctor swear And so dyd the proctoure much more, +they'll never go That neu_er_ in ther lyfe 627 +back for five and Would they no more come in _a_t wonne +forty years. Whan they were onys thens come, + Thys forty yere and fyve. 630 +The lady gives all Of the tresure that they brought, +their money to the The lady would geue hem ryght noght, +wright's wife. Butt gaue yt to the wryghtes wyfe. 633 +The garland is Thus the wryghtes garlond was feyre of hewe, +fresh as ever. And hys wyfe bothe good and trewe: + There-of was he fu{l~l} blythe; 636 + I take wytnes att gret and sma{l~l}, +Thus true are all Thus trewe bene good women a{l~l} +good women now That nowe bene on lyve, 639 +alive! So come thryste on ther hedys + Whan they momby{l~l} on ther bedys MAY ALL GOOD + Ther pat_er_ n_oste_r ryue. WIVES GO 642 + TO HEAVEN! +Here then is Here ys wretyn a geste of the wryght +written a tale of That hadde a garlond we{l~l} I-dyght, +the Wright and his The coloure wy{l~l} neuer fade. 645 +Garland. Now god, at ys heuyn kyng, +God grant us all Graunt vs a{l~l} hys dere blessyng +his blessing, Owre hertes for to glade; 648 +and may all true And a{l~l} tho that doo her husbondys ryg{h-}t, +faithful wives Pray we to Ih_es_u fu{l~l} of myght, + That feyre mott hem byfalle, 651 +come to heaven's And that they may come to heuen blys, +bliss, For thy dere moderys loue ther-of nott to mys, + All_e_ good wyues all_e_. 654 +and be such Now all_e_ tho that thys tretys hath hard, + Ih_es_u graunt hem, for her reward, +true lovers as the As trew louers to be 657 +[leaf 187] As was the wryght vn-to hys wyfe +wright and his And sche to hym duryng her lyfe. +wife were. Amen, for charyte. 660 +Amen! +Here ends our tale Here endyth the wryghtes p_ro_cesse trewe +of the Garland Wyth hys garlond feyre of hewe + That neu_er_ dyd fade the coloure. 663 + It was made, by the avyse + Of hys wywes moder wytty and wyse, + Of flourys most of honoure, 666 +which was made of Of roses whyte at wy{l~l} nott fade, +White Roses, Whych floure a{l~l} ynglond doth glade, +the flowers that Wyth trewloues medelyd in syg{h-}t; 669 +gladden all Vn-to the whych floure I-wys +England, The loue of god and of the comenys +and receive the Subdued[9] bene of ryg{h-}t. +love of God, and +of the Commons Explicit. +too. + +[Footnote 1: MS. _of_] + +[Footnote 2: _or_ hyng. ? _MS._] + +[Footnote 3: MS. _gar_] + +[Footnote 4: ? MS. this.] + +[Footnote 5: MS. _I{h-}c_] + +[Footnote 6: MS. _The_] + +[Footnote 7: ? MS. _hard_] + +[Footnote 8: The letter between the _b_ and _a_ has had the lower part +marked over. But it must mean a long _s_.] + +[Footnote 9: May be _subdied_; the word has been corrected.] + + + + +NOTES. + + +The two first of the three operations of flax-dressing described in +lines 526-529, p. 15, + + One of hem knocked lyne, + A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne + By-fore the swyngy{l~l}-tre, + The thyrde did rele and spynne, + +must correspond to the preliminary breaking of the plant, and then the +scutching or beating to separate the coarse tow or hards from the tare +or fine hemp. Except so far as the _swingle_ served as a heckle, the +further _heckling_ of the flax, to render the fibre finer and cleaner, +was dispensed with, though heckles (iron combs) must have been in use +when the poem was written--inasmuch as _hekele_, _hekelare_, _hekelyn_, +and _hekelynge_, are in the Promptorium, ab. 1440 A.D. Under _Hatchell_, +Randle Holme gives a drawing of a heckle. + +The lines through the _h_'s in the MS. are not, I believe, marks of +contraction. There are no insettings of the third lines, or spaces on +changes of subject, in the MS. + +For reference to two analogous stories to that of the Poem, I am +indebted to Mr Thomas Wright. The first is that of _Constant Duhamel_ in +the third volume of Barbazan, and the second that of the Prioress and +her three Suitors in the Minor Poems of Dan John Lydgate, published by +the Percy Society, ed. Halliwell. + +In the Barbazan tale "the wife is violently solicited by three suitors, +the priest, the provost, and the forester, who on her refusal persecute +her husband. To stop their attacks she gives them appointments at her +house immediately after one another, so that when one is there and +stripped for the bath, another comes, and, pretending it is her husband, +she conceals them one after another in a large tub full of feathers, out +of which they can see all that is going on in the room. She then sends +successively for their three wives to come and bathe with her, the bath +being still in the same room, and as each is stripped naked in the bath, +she introduces her own husband, who dishonours them one after another, +one _ l'enverse_, with rather aggravating circumstances, and all in +view of their three husbands. Finally the latter are turned out of the +house naked, or rather well feathered, then hunted by the whole town and +their dogs, well bitten and beaten." + +(If any one wants to see a justification of the former half of the +proverb quoted by Roberd of Brunne, + + Frenche men synne yn lecherye + And Englys men yn enuye, + +let him read the astounding revelation made of the state of the early +French mind by the tales in the 3rd and 4th vols. of Barbazan's +Fabliaux, ed. 1808.) + +The second story, told by Lydgate, is as follows:--A prioress is wooed +by "a yonng knyght, a parson of a paryche, and a burges of a borrow." +She promises herself to the first if he will lie for a night in a chapel +sewn up in a sheet like a corpse; to the second, if he will perform the +funeral service over the knight, and bury him; to the third, if he will +dress up like a devil, and frighten both parson and knight. This the +burges Sir John does well, but is himself terrified at the corpse +getting up: all three run away from one another: the knight falls on a +stake, and into a snare set for bucks, and breaks his fore top in +falling from the tree; the merchant gets tossed by a bull; the parson +breaks his head and jumps into a bramble bush; and the prioress gets rid +of them all, but not before she has made the "burges" or "marchaunt" pay +her twenty marks not to tell his wife and the country generally of his +tricks.--_Minor Poems_, p. 107-117, ed. 1840. + + + + +GLOSSARY. + + +And, 89, 292, if. + +Bayne, 348, ready. + +Blynne, 4, cease, stop; AS. _blinnan_. + +Blyue, 44, 110, 118, speedily. + +Bonde, 226, a bund-le; Du. _bondt_, a bavin, a bush of thornes. + +Brayne, 342, scull. + +Broke, 165, enjoy. AS. _brcan_, Germ. _brauchen_. H. Coleridge. + +Brydalle, 71, AS. _brd-l_, bride ale, marriage feast. + +By, 197, buy. + +Chaste, 176, chest, box, pit. + +Dowte, 14, fear. + +Dyght, 323, 379, prepare, dress. + +Fare, 148, 324, going on, wish, project. + +Fere, 604, company. + +Flyte, 484, wrangle, quarrel; AS._ flt_, strife, wrangling. + +Forthynketh, 51, repents, makes sorry; AS. _forencan_, to despair. + +Frayne, 409, ask; AS. _fregnan_, Goth. _fraihnan_. + +Gan, 22, did. + +Geue to God a gyfte, 351, I make a vow, I promise you, I'll take my + oath. + +Hele, 140, salvation. + +Hovyd, 624, halted, stopt. + +Hynde, 508 ? natty; _hende_, gentle. + +I-doo, 335, done, finished. + +I-dyght, 644, prepared. + +In-same, 602, together. + +Layne, 68, hide, conceal. + +Lende, 107, stay; ? AS. _landian_, to land, or _lengian_, to prolong. + +Leyne, 231, lay, beat. + +Lyne, 214, AS. _ln_, flax; ? rope, 246. + +Meyne, 403, household. + +Myster, 12, trade; Fr. _mestier_. + +O, 329, one. + +Onredde, 308; AS. _unrt_, _unrt_, uncheerful, sorrowful, or _unr{/}d_, + imprudent. + +Ore, 205, second. + +Putry, 61, adultery; O. Fr. _puterie_, whoring. + +Rawte, 503, reached, gave. + +Rewe, 186, have pity. + +Rocke, 503, 508; Du. _een Rocke_, _Spinrock_, A Distaffe, or a + Spin-rock; _Rocken_, To Winde Flaxe or Wool upon a Rock (Hexham). + Dan. _rok_, O.N. _rokkr_, G. _rocken_: "a distaff held in the hand + from which the thread was spun by twirling a ball below. 'What, + shall a woman with a _rokke_ drive thee away?'" Digby Mysteries, p. + 11 (Halliwell). "An Instrument us'd in some Parts for the spinning + of Flax and Hemp." Phillips; for reeling and spinning (l. 529). + +Rought, 198, AS. _rhte_, p. of _rcan_, to reck, care for. + +Ryde, 524, light, small, AS. _geryd_, levis, quus, Lye. + +Ryue, 642, Du. _rijf_, rife, or abundant. + +Scales, 401; ? husks, bark, or rind, see _shoves_*, in _Swyngylle_, + below. + +Schent, 258, destroyed; AS. _scendan_. + +Stounde, 4, short time. + +Strycke, 514, "_Strike of Flax_, is as much as is heckled at one + Handful." Phillips. + +Swyngylle, 216, "Swingle-Staff, a Stick to beat Flax with," Phil.; AS. + _swingele_, a whip, lash. "To _swingle_, to beat; a Term among + Flax-dressers." Phillips. Though Randle Holme, Bk. III., ch. viii. + No. xxxiii., gives the _Swingle-Tree_ of a Coach-Pole (these are + made of wood, and are fastened by Iron hooks, stables (_sic_) chains + and pinns to the Coach-pole, to the which Horses are fastened by + their Harnish when there is more then two to draw the Coach), yet at + Chap, vi., iv., p. 285, col. 1, he says, "He beareth Sable, a + _Swingle_ Hand erected, Surmounting of a _Swingle_ Foot, Or. This is + a Wooden Instrument made like a Fauchion, with an hole cut in the + top of it, to hold it by: It is used for the clearing of Hemp and + Flax from the large broken Stalks or *Shoves, by the help of the + said _Swingle_ Foot, which it is hung upon, which said Stalks being + first broken, bruised, and cut into shivers by a Brake. + S. 3, such erected in Fesse O. born by _Flaxlowe_. + S. 3, such in Pale A., born by _Swingler_." + (A drawing is given by Holme, No. 4, on the plate opposite p. 285.) + "_Swingowing_ is the beating off the bruised inward stalk of the Hemp + or Flax, from the outward pill, which as (_sic_) the Hemp or Flax, + p. 106, col. 2. + _Spinning_ is to twist the Flax hairs into Yarn or Thrid. _Reeling_ + is to wind the Yarn of the Wheel Spool on a Reel," p. 107, Col. 2. + +Take, 161, deliver. + +The, 187, thrive. + +Tolle, 62, entice (H.H. Gibbs). + +Tre, 105, wood, timber. + +Trewloves, 669, either figures like true-lovers' knots, or the + imitations of the berb or flower _Truelove_, which is given by Coles + as _Herb Paris_ (a quatrefoil whose leaves bear a sort of likeness + to a true-lovers' knot), and in Halliwell as _one-berry:_ but I + cannot find that Edward IV. had any such plants on his arms or + badge. Knots were often worn as badges, see Edmonston's Heraldry, + Appendix, Knots. On the other hand, Willement (Regal Heraldry) + notices that the angels attending Richard II. in the picture at + Wilton, had collars worked with white roses and broom-buds; and + trueloves, if a plant be meant by it, may have been Edward's + substitute for the broom (_planta genisla_). The Trewloves bear, + one, Ar. on a chev. sa., three cinquefoils, or; the other, Ar. on a + chev. sa., a quatrefoil of the field. + +Vade,[1] 125, 419, fade; Du. _vadden_ (Hexham). + +Wone, 275, store, quantity. + +Wonne, 90, 628, dwelling. + +Woode, 153, wild, mad. + +Yheue, 491, give. + +Yougeth, 20, youth, bachelor's freedom. + +[Footnote 1: The use of the flat _v_ade (l. 419, p. 12) within 2 lines +of the sharp _f_ade (l. 417), corresponds with the flat 'stow_d_e,' l. +400, p. 12, riming with 'owte,' l. 401, _badde_ with _hatte_, l. 265-6. +_Cost_, _brest_, l. 142-3, are careless rimes too.] + + + + + WOMEN. + + [_Lambeth MS_. 306, _leaf_ 135.] + + + Wome{n)}, wome{n)}, loue of wome{n)}, + make bare purs w_i_t_h_ some me{n)}, + Some be nyse as a nonne hene,[1] + {GH}it al thei be nat soo. 4 + some be lewde, + some all be schrewde; + Go schrewes wher thei goo. + + Su{m~} be nyse, and some be fonde, 8 + And some be tame, y vndirstond_e_, + And some cane take brede of a manes hande,[2] + Yit all thei be nat soo. + [Some be lewde, &c.] 12 + +[leaf 135, back] Some cane part with-outen hire, + And some make bate in eueri chire, + And some cheke mate with oure Sir_e_, + Yit all they be nat so. 16 + Some be lewde, + and sume be schreued_e_, + go wher they goo. + + Som be browne, and some be whit, 20 + And some be tender as a ttripe, + And some of theym be chiry ripe, + Yit all thei be not soo. + Sume be lewde, 24 + and some be schrewed_e_, + go wher they goo. + + Some of the{m~} be treue of love + Benet{h-} e gerde{l~l}, but nat above, 28 + And in a hode aboue cane chove, + Yit all thei do nat soo. + Some be lewde, + and some be schreud_e_, 32 + go where they goo. + + Some cane whister, & some cane crie, + Some cane flater, and some can lye, + And some cane sette e moke awrie, 36 + Yit all thei do nat soo. + Sume be lewde, + and sume be schreued_e_, + go where thei goo. 40 + + He that made this songe full good, + Came of e nort{h-} and of e sother{n)} blode, + And some-what kyne to Roby{n)} Hode, + Yit all we be nat soo. 44 + Some be lewde, + and some be schrewed_e_, + go where they goo. + + Some be lewde, some be [s]chrwde, 48 + Go where they goo. + + Explicit. + +P.S.--This Poem was printed by Mr Halliwell in _Reliqui Antiqu_, vol. +i., p. 248, and reprinted by Mr Thomas Wright, at p. 103 of his edition +of _Songs and Carols_ for the Percy Society, 1847. As, besides minor +differences, the reprint has _manne_, and the original _nanne_, for what +I read as _nonne_, l. 3, while both have _withowte_ for _with oure_, l. +15, and _accripe_ for _a ttripe_, l. 21 (see Halliwell's Dictionary, +"_accripe_, a herb?"), I have not cancelled this impression. The other +version of the song, from Mr Wright's MS. in his text, pp. 89-91, +differs a good deal from that given above. + +[Footnote 1: The Rev. J.R. Lumby first told me of the proverb 'As white +as a nun's hen,' the nuns being famous, no doubt, for delicate poultry. +John Heywood has in his _Proverbes_, 1562 (first printed, 1546), p. 43 +of the Spencer Society's reprint, 1867, + + She tooke thenterteinment of the yong men + All in daliaunce, _as nice as a Nun's hen_. + +The proverb is quoted by Wilson in his _Arte of Rhetorique_, 1553 +(Hazlitt's _Proverbs_, p. 69).] + +[Footnote 2: For _honde_.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wright's Chaste Wife, by Adam of Cobsam + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 17400-8.txt or 17400-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/4/0/17400/ + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wright's Chaste Wife + A Merry Tale (about 1462) + +Author: Adam of Cobsam + +Editor: Frederick J. Furnivall + +Release Date: December 26, 2005 [EBook #17400] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"><b>Transcriber's note:</b><br /><br /> +This e-text uses a number of characters that depend on utf-8 encoding, +particularly small and capital yogh (ȝ, Ȝ), small and capital thorn (þ, Þ), double l with a tilde through (l̴l̴), +u with a macron (ū), h with a line through the top (ħ), r with a upwards hook attached to the horizontal +stem (r̛) and ae ligature with an acute accent (ǽ). If they do not display properly, +you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable fonts. As a first +resort, try changing your browser's default font.<br /><br /> +This e-text also uses some characters that are not in unicode. I have rendered them following:<br /> +{m~} for a m with a loop back over the character, which looks like +<img src="images/01.jpg" height="25" width="25" alt="m with a loop back over the character" title="m with a loop back over the character" /><br /> +{n)} for a n with a ) attached to the right side, which looks like +<img src="images/02.jpg" height="25" width="20" alt="n with a ) attached to the right side" title="n with a ) attached to the right side" /><br /> +{d+} for the d with a little crook attached to the top right of the d, which looks like +<img src="images/03.jpg" height="25" width="19" alt="d with a little crook attached to the top right of the d" title="d with a little crook attached to the top right of the d" /><br /> +There is also one instance of (on line 391 of the poem) a m with a ) attached to the right side (rendered as +{m)} and looks like<img src="images/04.jpg" height="25" width="23" alt="m with a ) attached to the right side" title="m with a ) attached to the right side" />), +but this is probably a typo for {m~}. I have left this as is.<br /><br /> +Text and letters in brackets [ ] is original.<br /><br /> +Obvious typos are corrected in this e-text and are shown with +<ins class = "correction" title = "like this">popups</ins> underlined in red. +</div> + + + + + +<h3>The Wright's Chaste Wife.</h3> + + +<h4>Early English Text Society</h4> + +<h4>Original Series, No. 12</h4> + + +<h4>1865</h4> + +<h5>Reprinted 1891, 1905, 1965</h5> + + +<p class="center">Price 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>The</h1> + +<h1>Wright's Chaste Wife,</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title">"A Fable of a wrygħt that was maryde to a pore</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">wydows dowt<i>re</i> / the whiche wydow havyng</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">noo good to geve w<i>i</i>t<i>h</i> her / gave as for</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 3em;">a p<i>re</i>cyous Johel̴l̴ to hy<i>m</i> a Rose</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 4em;">garlond / the whyche sche affermyd</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 5em;">wold nev<i>er</i> fade while sche</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="title"><span style="margin-left: 6em;">kept truly her wedlok."</span></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + + +<h2>A Merry Tale, by Adam of Cobsam.</h2> + + +<h4><i>From a MS. in the Library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, +about 1462 A.D.</i></h4> + + +<h3> +COPIED AND EDITED BY<br /> +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL.<br /> +</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4> +<i>Published for</i><br /> +THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY<br /> +<i>by the</i><br /> +OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS<br /> +LONDON · NEW YORK · TORONTO<br /> +</h4> + + +<h4>FIRST PUBLISHED 1865</h4> + +<h5>REPRINTED 1891, 1905, 1965.</h5> + + +<h4>Original Series No. 12</h4> + + +<p class="center"> +REPRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY<br /> +(THE CHAUCER PRESS) LTD., BUNGAY, SUFFOLK<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>Good wine needs no bush, and this tale needs no Preface. I shall not +tell the story of it—let readers go to the verse itself for that; nor +shall I repeat to those who begin it the exhortation of the englisher of +<i>Sir Generides</i>,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"for goddes sake, or ye hens wende,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here this tale unto the ende."—(ll. 3769-70.)<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If any one having taken it up is absurd enough to lay it down without +finishing it, let him lose the fun, and let all true men pity him. +Though the state of morals disclosed by the story is not altogether +satisfactory, yet it is a decided improvement on that existing in Roberd +of Brunne's time in 1303, for he had to complain of the lords of his +day:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Also do þese lordynges,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Þe[y] trespas moche yn twey þynges;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Þey rauys a mayden aȝens here wyl,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mennys wyuys þey lede awey þertyl.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A grete vylanye þarte he dous<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ȝyf he make therof hys rouse [boste]:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Þe dede ys confusyun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And more ys þe dyffamacyun.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span>The volume containing the poem was shown to me by Mr Stubbs, the +Librarian at Lambeth, in order that I might see the version of Sir +Gyngelayne, son of Sir Gawain, which Mr Morris is some day, I trust, to +edit for the Society in one of his Gawain volumes.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Finding the +present poem also on the paper leaves, I copied it out the same +afternoon, and here it is for a half-hour's amusement to any reader who +chooses to take it up.</p> + +<p>The handwriting of the MS. must be of a date soon after 1460, and this +agrees well with the allusion to Edward the Fourth's accession, and the +triumph of the White Rose o'er the Red alluded to in the last lines of +the poem. The Garlond,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It was made ...<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of flourys most of honoure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of roses whyte þat wyl̴l̴ nott fade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whych floure al̴l̴ ynglond doth glade....<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vn-to the whych floure I-wys<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The loue of God and of the comonys<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Subdued bene of ryght.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>For, that the Commons of England were glad of their Yorkist king, and +loved Duke Richard's son, let Holinshed's record prove. He testifies:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Wherevpon it was againe demanded of the commons, if they would +admit and take the said erle as their prince and souereigne lord; +which all with one voice cried: Yea, yea....</p> + +<p>"Out of the ded stocke sprang a branch more mightie than the stem; +this Edward the Fourth, a prince so highlie fauoured of the peple, +for his great liberalite, clemencie, vpright dealing, and courage, +that aboue all other, he with them stood in grace alone: by reason +whereof, men of all ages and degrees to him dailie repaired, some +offering themselues and their men to ioepard their liues with him, +and other plentiouslie gaue monie to support his charges, and to +mainteine his right."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + +<p>Would that we knew as much of Adam of Cobsam as of our White-Rose king. +He must have been one of the Chaucer breed,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> but more than this poem +tells of him I cannot learn.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>3, St George's Square, N.W.,</i></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><i>23 November, 1865.</i></span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S.—There are other Poems about Edward IV. in the volume, which will +be printed separately.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> One on Women is given at the end of the +present text.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>PP.S. 1869.—Mr C.H. Pearson, the historian of the Early and Middle Ages +of England, has supplied me with the immediate original of this story. +He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Wright's Chaste Wife is a reproduction of one of the <i>Gesta +Romanorum</i>, cap. 69, de Castitate, ed. Keller. The Latin story +begins 'Gallus regnavit prudens valde.' The Carpenter gets a shirt +with his wife, which is never to want washing unless one of them is +unfaithful. The lovers are three Knights (<i>milites</i>), and they are +merely kept on bread and water, not made to work; nor is any wife +introduced to see her lord's discomfiture. The English version, +therefore, is much quainter and fuller of incident than its +original. But the 'morality' of the Latin story is rich beyond +description. 'The wife is holy Mother Church,' 'the Carpenter is +the good Christian,' 'the shirt is our Faith, because, as the +apostle says, it is impossible to please God without faith.' The +Wright's work typifies 'the building up the pure heart by the works +of mercy.' The three Knights are 'the pride of life, the lust of +the eyes, and the lust of the flesh.' 'These you must shut up in +the chamber of penance till you get an eternal reward from the +eternal King.' 'Let us therefore pray God,' &c."</p></div> + +<p>With the Wright's Chaste Wife may also be compared the stories mentioned +in the Notes, p. 20, and the Ballad "The Fryer well fitted; or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Pretty jest that once befel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How a maid put a Fryer to cool in the well"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>printed "in the Bagford Collection; in the Roxburghe (ii. 172); the +Pepys (iii. 145); the Douce (p. 85); and in <i>Wit and Mirth, an Antidote +to Melancholy</i>, 8vo. 1682; also, in an altered form, in Pills to purge +Melancholy, 1707, i. 340; or 1719, iii. 325"; and the tune of which, +with an abstract of the story, is given in Chappell's <i>Popular Music</i>, +i. 273-5. The Friar makes love to the Maid; she refuses him for fear of +hell-fire.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tush, quoth the Friar, thou needst not doubt;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If thou wert in Hell, I could sing thee out.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>So she consents if he'll bring her an angel of money. He goes home to +fetch it, and she covers the well over with a cloth. When he comes back, +and has given her the money, she pretends that her father is coming, +tells the Friar to run behind the cloth, and down he flops into the +well. She won't help him at first, because if he could sing her out of +hell, he can clearly sing himself out of the well: but at last she does +help him out, keeps his money because he's dirtied the water, and sends +him home dripping along the street like a new-washed sheep.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The since printing of the Romance in the Percy Folio MS. +Ballads and Romances, (<i>Lybius Disconius</i>, ii. 404,) will probably +render this unnecessary. (1869.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Chaucer brings off his Carpenter, though, triumphant, and +not with the swived wife and broken arm that he gives his befooled +Oxford craftsman in <i>The Milleres Tale</i>. (1869.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> In <i>Political, Religious, and Love Poems</i>, E.E. Text Soc., +1867.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE.</h2> + +<h3>[<i>MS. Lambeth 306, leaves 178-187.</i>]</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Al̴l̴myghty god, maker of all<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">My sovereigns,</div> +<span class="i0">Saue you my sou<i>er</i>eyns in towre & hall<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>3</span><span class="i2">And send yoū good grace!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If ye wyl̴l̴ a stounde blynne,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">I will tell you a tale</div> +<span class="i0">Of a story I wyl̴l̴ begynne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>6</span><span class="i2">And telle you al̴l̴ the cas,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Meny farleyes þat I haue herd<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye would haue wondyr how yt ferde;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>9</span><span class="i2">Lystyn, and ye schal̴l̴ here;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">of a wright</div> +<span class="i0">Of a wryght I wyl̴l̴ you telle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">of this land,</div> +<span class="i0">That some tyme in thys land gan dwelle,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>12</span><span class="i2">And lyued by hys myster.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">who, at work, was afraid of no earthly man.</div> +<span class="i0">Whether that he were yn or owte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of erthely man hadde he no dowte,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span><span class="i2">To werke hows, harowe, nor plowgh,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or other werkes, what so they were,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thous wrought he hem farre and nere,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>18</span><span class="i2">And dyd tham wele I-nough.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">At first he would wed no wife,</div> +<span class="i0">Thys wryght would wedde no wyfe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Butt yn yougeth to lede hys lyfe<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 178, back]</div> +<span class='linenum'>21</span><span class="i2">In myrthe and oþer melody;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">for wherever he went he was welcome;</div> +<span class="i0">Ou<i>er</i> al̴l̴ where he gan wende,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Al̴l̴ they seyd "welcome, frende,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>24</span><span class="i2">Sytt downe, and do gla[d]ly."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span><div class="headnote">THE WRIGHT FALLS IN LOVE, AND PROPOSES.</div> +<div class="sidenote">but at last he wished</div> +<span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ on a tyme he was wyllyng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As tyme comyth of all<i>e</i> thyng,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>27</span><span class="i2">(So seyth the p<i>ro</i>fesye,)<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">to have a spouse to look after his goods.</div> +<span class="i0">A wyfe for to wedde & haue<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That myght hys goodes kepe and saue,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span><span class="i2">And for to leue al̴l̴ foly.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">A widow near had a fair daughter</div> +<span class="i0">Ther dwellyd a wydowe in þat contre<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That hadde a doughter feyre & fre;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>33</span><span class="i2">Of her, word sprang wyde,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">true and meek.</div> +<span class="i0">For sche was bothe stabyl̴l̴ & trewe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Meke of maners, and feyr̛ of hewe;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>36</span><span class="i2">So seyd men in that tyde.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght seyde, "so god me saue,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Her the wright would like to lie by him,</div> +<span class="i0">Such a wyfe would I haue<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>39</span><span class="i2">To lye nyghtly by my syde."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He þought to speke wyth þat may,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and therefore went to her mother</div> +<span class="i0">And rose erly on a daye<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>42</span><span class="i2">And þyder gan he to ryde.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght was welcome to þe wyfe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And her saluyd al̴l̴ so blyve,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span><span class="i2">And so he dyd her doughter fre:<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and proposed for the maiden.</div> +<span class="i0">For the erand that he for ca{m~}<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tho he spake, þat good yema{n)};<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>48</span><span class="i2">Than to hym seyd sche:<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The mother says she can only give him as a portion</div> +<span class="i0">The wydowe seyd, "by heuen kyng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I may geue wyth her no þing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>51</span><span class="i2">(And þat forthynketh me;)<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">a garland</div> +<span class="i0">Saue a garlond I wyl̴l̴ the geue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye schal̴l̴ neu<i>er</i> see, whyle ye lyve,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>54</span><span class="i2">None such in thys contre:<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">of roses</div> +<span class="i0">Haue here thys garlond of roses ryche,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In al̴l̴ thys lond ys none yt lyche,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">that will keep its colour</div> +<span class='linenum'>57</span><span class="i2">For ytt wyl̴l̴ eu<i>er</i> be newe,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 179]</div> +<span class="i0">Wete þou wele w<i>i</i>t<i>h</i>owtyn fable,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">while his wife is true,</div> +<span class="i0">Al̴l̴ the whyle thy wyfe ys stable<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>60</span><span class="i2">The chaplett wolle hold hewe;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but change when she is faithless.</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span><span class="headnote">HE RECEIVES A ROSE GARLAND WITH HIS WIFE.</span><span class="i0">And yf thy wyfe vse putry,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or tolle eny man to lye her by,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>63</span><span class="i2">Than wolle yt change hewe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And by the garlond þou may see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fekyl̴l̴ or fals yf þat sche be,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>66</span><span class="i2">Or ellys yf sche be trewe."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The wright is delighted with his garland and wife,</div> +<span class="i0">Of thys chaplett hym was ful̴l̴ fayne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And of hys wyfe, was nott to layne;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">marries her and takes her home;</div> +<span class='linenum'>69</span><span class="i2">He weddyd her ful̴l̴ sone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ladde her home wyth solempnite,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And hyld her brydal̴l̴ dayes thre.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>72</span><span class="i2">Whan they home come,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and then begins to think that when he is out at work</div> +<span class="i0">Thys wryght in hys hart cast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If that he walkyd est or west<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75</span><span class="i2">As he was wonte to done,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">men will try to corrupt his wife.</div> +<span class="i0">"My wyfe þat ys so bryght of ble,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Men wolle desyre her̛ fro me,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>78</span><span class="i2">And þat hastly and sone;"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">So he plans a crafty room and tower,</div> +<span class="i0">Butt sone he hym byþought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That a chambyr schuld be wrought<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>81</span><span class="i2">Bothe of lyme and stone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyth wallys strong as eny stele,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And dorres sotylly made and wele,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>84</span><span class="i2">He owte framyd yt sone;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and builds it soon with plaster of Paris,</div> +<span class="i0">The chambyr he lett make fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyth plast<i>er</i> of parys þ<i>a</i>t wyl̴l̴ last,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>87</span><span class="i2">Such ous know I neu<i>er</i> none;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">which no one could ever get out of if he once got into it,</div> +<span class="i0">Ther ys [ne] kyng ne emp<i>er</i>oure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he were lockyn in þat towre,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span><span class="i2">That cowde gete owte of þat wonne.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nowe hath he done as he þought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in the myddes of the flore wrought<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>93</span><span class="i2">A wondyr strange gyle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">for there was a trapdoor in the middle,</div> +<span class="i0">A trapdoure rounde abowte<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 179, back]</div> +<span class="i0">That no man myght come yn nor owte;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>96</span><span class="i2">It was made wyth a wyle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and if any one only touched it, down he'd go into a pit.</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE WRIGHT GOES TO WORK, AND LEAVES HIS WIFE AT HOME.</span><span class="i0">That who-so touchyd yt eny thyng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In to þe pytt he schuld flyng<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>99</span><span class="i2">Wythyn a lytyl̴l̴ whyle.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">This was to stop any tricks with his wife.</div> +<span class="i0">For hys wyfe he made that place,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That no man schuld beseke her of grace,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>102</span><span class="i2">Nor her to begyle.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="sidenote">Just then the town Lord</div> +<span class="i0">By þat tyme þe lord of the towne<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hadde ordeynyd tymbyr redy bowne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>105</span><span class="i2">An halle to make of tre.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">sends for him to build a Hall,</div> +<span class="i0">Aft<i>er</i> the wryght the lord lett sende,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For þat he schuld wyth hym lende<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">(a job for two or three months,)</div> +<span class='linenum'>108</span><span class="i2">Monythys two or thre.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "woult þou haue þi wyfe?<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and offers to fetch his wife too.</div> +<span class="i0">I wyl̴l̴ send aft<i>er</i> her blyve<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>111</span><span class="i2">That sche may com to the."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght hys garlond hadde take w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> hy{m~},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That was bryght and no þing dymme,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>114</span><span class="i2">Yt wes feyre on to see.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">He sees the wright's garland, and asks what it means.</div> +<span class="i0">The lord axyd hym as he satt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Felowe, where hadyst þou þis hatte<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>117</span><span class="i2">That ys so feyre and newe?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght answerd al̴l̴ so blyue,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Sir, it will</div> +<span class="i0">And seyd, "syr, I hadde yt wyth my wyfe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>120</span><span class="i2">And þat dare me neuer̛ rewe;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">tell me whether my wife is false or true;</div> +<span class="i0">Syr, by my garlond I may see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fekyl̴l̴ or fals yf þat sche be,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>123</span><span class="i2">Or<a name="FNanchor_1_4" id="FNanchor_1_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_4" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> yf þat sche be trewe;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and will change its colour if she go wrong."</div> +<span class="i0">And yf my wyfe loue a p<i>ar</i>amoure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than wyl̴l̴ my garlond vade coloure,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>126</span><span class="i2">And change wyl̴l̴ yt the hewe."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord þought "by godys myght,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"I'll try that," thinks the Lord,</div> +<span class="i0">That wyl̴l̴ I wete thys same nyght<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>129</span><span class="i2">Whether thys tale be trewe."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and goes to the wright's wife.</div> +<span class="i0">To the wryghtys howse anon he went,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He fonde the wyfe ther-in p<i>re</i>sente<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 180]</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE LORD BRIBES THE WRIGHT'S WIFE TO LIE WITH HIM.</span><span class='linenum'>132</span><span class="i2">That was so bryght and schene;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sone he hayled her trewly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And so dyd sche the lord curtesly:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>135</span><span class="i2">Sche seyd, "welcome ye be;"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus seyd the wyfe of the hows,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">She asks after her husband</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr, howe faryth my swete spouse<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>138</span><span class="i2">That hewyth vppon your̛ tre?"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but the Lord</div> +<span class="i0">"Sertes, dame," he seyd, "wele,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I am come, so haue I hele,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>141</span><span class="i2">To wete the wylle of the;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">declares his own love for her,</div> +<span class="i0">My loue ys so vppon the cast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That me thynketh my hert wolle brest,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>144</span><span class="i2">It wolle none otherwyse be;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and prays her to grant him his will.</div> +<span class="i0">Good dame, graunt me thy grace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To pley with the in some preuy place<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>147</span><span class="i2">For gold and eke for fee."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">She entreats him to let that be,</div> +<span class="i0">"Good syr, lett be youre fare,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And of such wordes speke no mare<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>150</span><span class="i2">For hys loue þat dyed on tre;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hadde we onys begonne þat gle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My husbond by his garlond myght see;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>153</span><span class="i2">For sorowe he would wexe woode."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but he presses her,</div> +<span class="i0">"Certes, dame," he seyd, "naye;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Loue me, I pray you, in þat ye maye:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>156</span><span class="i2">For godys loue change thy mode,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and offers her 40 marks.</div> +<span class="i0">Forty marke schal̴l̴ be youre mede<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of sylu<i>er</i> and of gold[<i>e</i>] rede,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>159</span><span class="i2">And that schal̴l̴ do the good."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">On this she consents if he'll put down the money.</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr, that deede schal̴l̴ be done;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take me that mony here anon<i>e</i>."<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>162</span><span class="i2">"I swere by the holy rode<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I thought when I cam hydder̛<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to bryng<a name="FNanchor_2_5" id="FNanchor_2_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_5" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> yt al̴l̴ to-gydder̛,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>165</span><span class="i2">As I mott broke my heele."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The 40 marks she takes</div> +<span class="i0">Ther sche toke xl marke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of syluer and gold styff and sterke:<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE LORD IS DROPPED THROUGH A TRAPDOOR,</span><span class='linenum'>168</span><span class="i2">Sche toke yt feyre and welle;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and tells him to go</div> +<span class="i0">Sche seyd, "in to the chambyr wyl̴l̴ we,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 180, back]</div> +<span class="i0">Ther no man schal̴l̴ vs see;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">into the secret chamber.</div> +<span class='linenum'>171</span><span class="i2">No lenger wyl̴l̴ we spare."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Upstairs he goes,</div> +<span class="i0">Vp the steyer they gan<a name="FNanchor_3_6" id="FNanchor_3_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_6" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> hye:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stepes were made so queyntly<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>174</span><span class="i2">That farther myght he nott fare.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">stumbles,</div> +<span class="i0">The lord stumbyllyd as he went in hast,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and pops down 40 feet through the wright's trapdoor.</div> +<span class="i0">He fel̴l̴ doune in to þat chaste<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>177</span><span class="i2">Forty fote and somedele more.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord began to crye;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wyfe seyd to hym in hye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>180</span><span class="i2">"Syr, what do ye there?"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">He prays the</div> +<span class="i0">"Dame, I can nott seye howe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I am come hydder nowe<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>183</span><span class="i2">To thys hows þat ys so newe;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I am so depe in thys sure flore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I ne can come owte att no dore;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">good dame to have pity on him.</div> +<span class='linenum'>186</span><span class="i2">Good dame, on me þou rewe!"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Nay," says she, "not till my husband sees you."</div> +<span class="i0">"Nay," sche seyd, "so mut y the,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ myne husbond come and se,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>189</span><span class="i2">I schrewe hym þat yt þought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The Lord tries to get out, but can't,</div> +<span class="i0">The lord arose and lokyd abowte<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If he myght eny where gete owte,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>192</span><span class="i2">Butt yt holpe hy{m~} ryght nogħt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wallys were so thycke w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i>y{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That he no where myght owte wynne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>195</span><span class="i2">But helpe to hy{m~} were brought;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and then threatens the wife,</div> +<span class="i0">And eu<i>er</i> the lord made euyl̴l̴ chere,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seyd, "dame, þou schalt by thys dere."<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>198</span><span class="i2">Sche seyd that sche ne rougħt;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but she doesn't care for that,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche seyd "I recke nere<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whyle I am here and þou art there,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>201</span><span class="i2">I schrewe herre þat þe doth drede."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord was sone owte of her þought,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and goes away to her work.</div> +<span class="i0">The wyfe went in to her lofte,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span><span class="headnote">AND HAS TO BEAT FLAX TO EARN HIS DINNER.</span><span class='linenum'>204</span><span class="i2">Sche satte and dyd her dede.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Next day the Lord begs for food.</div> +<span class="i0">Than yt fel̴l̴ on þat oþer daye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of mete and drynke he gan her p<i>ra</i>y,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>207</span><span class="i2">There of he hadde gret nede.<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 181]</div> +<span class="i0">He seyd, "dame, for seynt charyte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyth some mete þou comfort me."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"You'll get none from me</div> +<span class='linenum'>210</span><span class="i2">Sche seyd, "nay, so god me spede,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For I swere by swete seynt Iohn<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mete ne drynke ne getyst þou none<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">unless you sweat for it," says she;</div> +<span class='linenum'>213</span><span class="i2">Butt þou wylt swete or swynke;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"spin me some flax."</div> +<span class="i0">For I haue both hempe and lyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a betyngstocke ful̴l̴ fyne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>216</span><span class="i2">And a swyngyl̴l̴ good and grete;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If þou wylt worke, tell me sone."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">He says he will:</div> +<span class="i0">"Dame, bryng yt forthe, yt schal̴l̴ be done,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>219</span><span class="i2">Ful̴l̴ gladly would I ete."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">she throws him the tools,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche toke the stocke in her honde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in to the pytt sche yt sclang<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>222</span><span class="i2">With a grete hete:<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">the flax and hemp,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche brought the lyne and hempe on her backe,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and says, "Work away."</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr lord," sche seyd, "haue þou þat,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>225</span><span class="i2">And lerne for to swete."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ther sche toke hym a bonde<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to occupy hys honde,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>228</span><span class="i2">And bade hym fast on to bete.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">He does,</div> +<span class="i0">He leyd yt downe on the<a name="FNanchor_4_7" id="FNanchor_4_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_7" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> stone,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">lays on well,</div> +<span class="i0">And leyd on strockes wel̴l̴ good wone,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>231</span><span class="i2">And sparyd nott on to leyne.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whan þat he hadde wrought a thraue,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and then asks for his food,</div> +<span class="i0">Mete and drynke he gan to craue,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>234</span><span class="i2">And would haue hadde yt fayne;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"That I hadde somewhat for to ete<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now aft<i>er</i> my gret swete;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>237</span><span class="i2">Me thynketh yt were rygħt,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">for he's toiled night and day.</div> +<span class="i0">For I haue labouryd nyght and daye<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The for to plese, dame, I saye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>240</span><span class="i2">And therto putt my myght."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The wife</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE STEWARD RESOLVES TO TEMPT THE WRIGHT'S WIFE.</span><span class="i0">The wyfe seyd "so mutt I haue hele,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yf þi worke be wrought wele<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>243</span><span class="i2">Thou schalt haue to dyne."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">gives him meat and drink</div> +<span class="i0">Mete and drynke sche hym bare,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 181, back]</div> +<span class="i0">Wyth a thrafe of flex mare<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and more flax,</div> +<span class='linenum'>246</span><span class="i2">Of ful̴l̴ long boundyn lyne.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So feyre the wyfe the lord gan praye<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and keeps him up to his work.</div> +<span class="i0">That he schuld be werkyng aye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>249</span><span class="i2">And nought þat he schuld blynne;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord was fayne to werke tho,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Butt hys men knewe nott of hys woo<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>252</span><span class="i2">Nor of þer lordes pyne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="sidenote">The Steward asks the wright after his Lord,</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard to þe wryght gan saye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Sawe þou owte of my lord to-daye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>255</span><span class="i2">Whether that he ys wende?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght answerde and seyd "naye;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I sawe hym nott syth yesterdaye;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>258</span><span class="i2">I trowe þat he be schent."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">then notices the garland,</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard stode þe wryght by,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And of hys garlond hadde ferly<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>261</span><span class="i2">What þat yt be-mente.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and asks who gave it him.</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd, "so god me saue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of thy garlond wondyr I haue,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>264</span><span class="i2">And who yt hath the sent."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Sir, it will tell me whether my wife goes bad."</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr," he seyd, "be the same hatte<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I can knowe yf my wyfe be badde<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>267</span><span class="i2">To me by eny other ma{n)};<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If my floures ouþer fade or falle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then doth my wyfe me wrong wyth-all<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>270</span><span class="i2">As many a woman ca{n)}."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"I'll prove that this very night," says the steward,</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard þought "by godes mygħt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That schal̴l̴ I preue thys same nygħt<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>273</span><span class="i2">Whether þou blys or banne,"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">gets plenty of money, and goes off</div> +<span class="i0">And in to hys chambyr he gan gone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And toke tresure ful̴l̴ good wone,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span><span class="headnote">AND THINKS HE HAS SUCCEEDED SO WELL.</span><span class='linenum'>276</span><span class="i2">And forth he spedde hem tha{n)}.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Butt he ne stynt att no stone<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">to the wright's house,</div> +<span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ he vn-to þe wryghtes hows come<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>279</span><span class="i2">That ylke same nygħt.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He mett the wyfe amydde the gate,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">takes her round the neck,</div> +<span class="i0">Abowte þe necke he gan her take,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and offers her all</div> +<span class='linenum'>282</span><span class="i2">And seyd "my dere wyght,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 182]</div> +<span class="i0">Al̴l̴ the good þat ys myne<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he has, to lie by her that night.</div> +<span class="i0">I wyl̴l̴ the geue to be thyne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>285</span><span class="i2">To lye by the al̴l̴ nyght."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">She refuses,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche seyd, "syr, lett be thy fare,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My husbond wolle wete wyth-owty{n)} mare<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>288</span><span class="i2">And I hym dyd that vnrygħt;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I would nott he myght yt wete<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For al̴l̴ the good that I myght gete,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>291</span><span class="i2">So Ih<i>esus</i><a name="FNanchor_5_8" id="FNanchor_5_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_8" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> mutt me spede<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">as her husband would be sure to know of it.</div> +<span class="i0">For, and eny man lay me by,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My husbond would yt wete truly,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>294</span><span class="i2">It ys wythowtyn eny drede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward urges her again,</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd "for hym þat ys wrought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There-of, dame, drede the nogħt<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>297</span><span class="i2">Wyth me to do that dede;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and offers her 20 marks.</div> +<span class="i0">Haue here of me xx marke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of gold and syluer styf and starke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>300</span><span class="i2">Thys tresoure schal̴l̴ be thy mede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">She says, "Then don't tell any one,"</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr, and I graunt þat to yoū,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lett no man wete butt we two nowe."<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>303</span><span class="i2">He seyd, "nay, wythowtyn drede."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard þought, 'sykerly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Women beth both queynte & slye.'<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">takes his money,</div> +<span class='linenum'>306</span><span class="i2">The mony he gan her bede;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He þought wele to haue be spedde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And of his erand he was onredde<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>309</span><span class="i2">Or he were fro he{m~} I-gone.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">sends him up the quaint stairs,</div> +<span class="i0">Vp the sterys sche hym leyde<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE STEWARD IS SHOT THROUGH THE TRAPDOOR,</span><span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ he saw the wryghtes bedde:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>312</span><span class="i2">Of tresoure þought he none;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and lets him tumble through the trapdoor.</div> +<span class="i0">He went and stumblyd att a stone;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In to þe seller̛ he fylle sone,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>315</span><span class="i2">Downe to the bare flore.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"What the devil are you?" says the Lord.</div> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd "what deuyl̴l̴ art þoū?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And þou hadest falle on me nowe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>318</span><span class="i2">Thowe hadest hurt me ful̴l̴ sore."<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 182, back]</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard stert and staryd abowte<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward finds he can't get out;</div> +<span class="i0">If he mygħt ower gete owte<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>321</span><span class="i2">Att hole lesse or mare.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "welcome, and sytt be tyme,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For þou schalt helpe to dyght thys lyne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>324</span><span class="i2">For al̴l̴ thy fers[e] fare."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard lokyd on the knygħt,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and wonders why his Lord is there.</div> +<span class="i0">He seyd, "syr, for godes myght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>327</span><span class="i2">My lord, what do you here?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He seyd "felowe, wyth-owtyn oth,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"We both came on one errand, man."</div> +<span class="i0">For o erand we come bothe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>330</span><span class="i2">The sothe wolle I nott lete."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The wife asks what they're doing;</div> +<span class="i0">Tho cam the wyfe them vn-to,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seyd, "syres, what do you to,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>333</span><span class="i2">Wyl̴l̴ ye nott lerne to swete?"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">the Lord says,</div> +<span class="i0">Than seyd þe lord her vn-to,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Your flax is done, and I want my dinner."</div> +<span class="i0">'Dame, your̛ lyne ys I-doo,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>336</span><span class="i2">Nowe would I fayne ete:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I haue made yt al̴l̴ I-lyke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ful̴l̴ clere, and no þing thycke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>339</span><span class="i2">Me thynketh yt gret payne."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward says if he ever gets out he'll crack her skull.</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd "wyth-owtyn dowte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And eu<i>er</i> I may wynne owte,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>342</span><span class="i2">I wyl̴l̴ breke her brayne."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">But the wife chaffs him,</div> +<span class="i0">"Felowe, lett be, and sey nott so,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For þou schalt worke or eu<i>er</i> þou goo,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">says he'll soon be glad to eat his words,</div> +<span class='linenum'>345</span><span class="i2">Thy wordes þou torne agayne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fayne þou schalt be so to doo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thy good wylle put þerto;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span><span class="headnote">BUT IS PROUD, AND WILL NOT WORK FOR HIS DINNER.</span><span class='linenum'>348</span><span class="i2">As a man buxome and bayne<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and unless he rubs and reels, he'll get no meat.</div> +<span class="i0">Thowe schalt rubbe, rele, and spynne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And þou wolt eny mete wynne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>351</span><span class="i2">That I geue to god a gyfte."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"I'll die for hunger first, unhouseled," answers he.</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd, "then haue I wondyr;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rather would I dy for hungyr<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>354</span><span class="i2">Wyth-owte hosyl̴l̴ or shryfte."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "so haue I hele,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 183]</div> +<span class="i0">Thowe wylt worke, yf þou hungyr welle,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>357</span><span class="i2">What worke þat the be brought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The Lord works away,</div> +<span class="i0">The lord satt and dyd hys werke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard drewe in to the derke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>360</span><span class="i2">Gret sorowe was in hys þought.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "dame, here ys youre lyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Haue yt in godes blessyng and myne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>363</span><span class="i2">I hold yt welle I-wrought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and gets his food and drink.</div> +<span class="i0">Mete and drynke sche gaue hym y{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"The stuard," sche seyd, "wolle he nott spynne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>366</span><span class="i2">Wyl̴l̴ he do ryght nogħt?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "by swete sen Ione,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">None of it will he give to the steward,</div> +<span class="i0">Of thys mete schal̴l̴ he haue none<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>369</span><span class="i2">That ye haue me hydder brought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but eats it all up,</div> +<span class="i0">The lord ete and dranke fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard hungeryd att þe last,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>372</span><span class="i2">For he gaue hym nought.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard satt al̴l̴ in a stody,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hys lord hadde forgote curtesy:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>375</span><span class="i2">Tho<a name="FNanchor_6_9" id="FNanchor_6_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_9" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> seyd þe stuard, "geue me some."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and won't give him one crumb:</div> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "sorowe haue þe morsel̴l̴ or sope<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That schal̴l̴ come in thy throte!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>378</span><span class="i2">Nott so much as o crome!<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">let him work and earn some for himself.</div> +<span class="i0">Butt þou wylt helpe to dyght þis lyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Much hungyr yt schal̴l̴ be thyne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>381</span><span class="i2">Though þou make much mone."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward gives in,</div> +<span class="i0">Vp he rose, and went therto,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Bett<i>er</i> ys me þus to doo<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>384</span><span class="i2">Whyle yt must nedys be do."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">asks for work; the wife throws it him,</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE STEWARD IS OBLIGED TO WORK AFTER ALL.</span><span class="i0">The stuard began fast to knocke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wyfe þrew hym a swyngelyng stocke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>387</span><span class="i2">Hys mete þerwyth to wy{n)};<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sche brought a swyngyl̴l̴ att þe last,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Good syres," sche seyd, "swyngyll<i>e</i> on fast;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>390</span><span class="i2">For no þing that ye blynne."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sche gaue hy{m)} a stocke to sytt vppo{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seyd "syres, þis werke must nedys be done,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>393</span><span class="i2">Al̴l̴ that that ys here y{n)}."<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 183, back]</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard toke vp a stycke to saye,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and steward and Lord are both spinning away</div> +<span class="i0">"Sey, seye, swyngyl̴l̴ bett<i>er</i> yf ye may,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>396</span><span class="i2">Hytt wyl̴l̴ be the bett<i>er</i> to spynne."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were þe lord neu<i>er</i> so gret,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">to earn their dinner,</div> +<span class="i0">Yet was he fayne to werke for hys mete<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>399</span><span class="i2">Though he were neu<i>er</i> so sadde;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Butt þe stuard þat was so stowde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was fayne to swyngell<i>e</i> þe scales owte,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>402</span><span class="i2">Ther-of he was nott glad.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">while the Lord's people cannot make out what has become of him.</div> +<span class="i0">The lordys meyne þat were att home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyst nott where he was bycome,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>405</span><span class="i2">They were ful̴l̴ sore adrad.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="sidenote">Then the Proctor sees the wright</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure of þe parysche chyrche rygħt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Came and lokyd on þe wryght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>408</span><span class="i2">He lokyd as he ware madde;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fast þe proctoure gan hym frayne,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and asks where he got his garland from.</div> +<span class="i0">"Where hadest þou þis garlond gayne?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>411</span><span class="i2">It ys eu<i>er</i> lyke newe."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wryght gan say "felowe,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"With my wife;</div> +<span class="i0">Wyth my wyfe, yf þou wylt knowe;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>414</span><span class="i2">That dare me nott rewe;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and while she is true it will never fade,</div> +<span class="i0">For al̴l̴ the whyle my wyfe trew ys,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My garlond wolle hold hewe I-wys,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>417</span><span class="i2">And neu<i>er</i> falle nor fade;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but if she's false it will."</div> +<span class="i0">And yf my wyfe take a p<i>ar</i>amoure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than wolle my garlond vade þe floure,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>420</span><span class="i2">That dare I ley myne hede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The proctor thinks he'll test this,</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE PROCTOR TEMPTS THE WIFE, AND IS TRAPDOORED.</span><span class="i0">The proctoure þought, "in good faye<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That schal̴l̴ I wete thys same daye<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>423</span><span class="i2">Whether yt may so be."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">goes to the wright's wife</div> +<span class="i0">To the wryghtes hows he went,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He grete þe wyfe wyth feyre entente,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>426</span><span class="i2">Sche seyd "syr, welcome be ye."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and declares his love for her;</div> +<span class="i0">"A! dame, my loue ys on you fast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Syth the tyme I sawe you last;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>429</span><span class="i2">I pray you yt may so be<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That ye would graunt me of your̛ grace<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he must have her or die.</div> +<span class="i0">To play w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> you in some p<i>ri</i>uy place,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 184]</div> +<span class='linenum'>432</span><span class="i2">Or ellys to deth mutt me."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fast þe proctoure gan to pray,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">She says nay,</div> +<span class="i0">And eu<i>er</i> to hy{m~} sche seyd "naye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>435</span><span class="i2">That wolle I nott doo.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">as her husband will know of it by his garland.</div> +<span class="i0">Hadest þou done þat dede w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My spouse by hys garlond myght see,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>438</span><span class="i2">That schuld torne me to woo."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The proctor</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure seyd, "by heuen kyng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If he sey to the any þing<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>441</span><span class="i2">He schal̴l̴ haue sorowe vn-sowte;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">offers her 20 marks.</div> +<span class="i0">Twenty marke I wolle þe geue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It wolle þe helpe welle to lyue,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>444</span><span class="i2">The mony here haue I brought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">These she takes;</div> +<span class="i0">Nowe hath sche the tresure tane,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">they go upstairs,</div> +<span class="i0">And vp þe steyre be they gane,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>447</span><span class="i2">(What helpyth yt to lye?)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wyfe went the steyre be-syde,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and the proctor tumbles into the cellar,</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure went a lytyl̴l̴ to wyde<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>450</span><span class="i2">He fel̴l̴ downe by and by.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whan he in to þe seller felle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and thinks he is going to hell.</div> +<span class="i0">He wente to haue sonke in to helle,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>453</span><span class="i2">He was in hart ful̴l̴ sory.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard lokyd on the knyght,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward asks him to sit down;</div> +<span class="i0">And seyd "proctoure, for godes myght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>456</span><span class="i2">Come and sytt vs by."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The proctoure began to stare,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he doesn't know where he is,</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE PROCTOR CAN'T MAKE OUT WHERE HE HAS GOT TO.</span><span class="i0">For he was he wyst neu<i>er</i> whare,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>459</span><span class="i2">Butt wele he knewe þe knyght<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the stuard þat swyngelyd þe lyne.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">but asks what the Lord and steward are after there,</div> +<span class="i0">He seyd "syres, for godes pyne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>462</span><span class="i2">What do ye here thys nygħt?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd, "god geue the care,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thowe camyst to loke howe we fare,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>465</span><span class="i2">Nowe helpe þis lyne were dyght."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He stode styl̴l̴ in a gret þought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What to answer he wyst noght:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>468</span><span class="i2">"By mary ful̴l̴ of myght,"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">working the wife's flax;</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure seyd, "what do ye in þis yn<i>e</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to bete thys wyfees lyne?<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 184, back]</div> +<span class='linenum'>471</span><span class="i2">For Ih<i>esus</i> loue, fful̴l̴ of myght,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The proctoure seyd ryght as he þougħt,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he, the proctor, will never do the like,</div> +<span class="i0">"For me yt schal̴l̴ be euyl̴l̴ wrougħt<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>474</span><span class="i2">And I may see arygħt,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">it's not his trade.</div> +<span class="i0">For I lernyd neu<i>er</i> in lon{d+}<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to haue a swyngel̴l̴ in hond<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>477</span><span class="i2">By day nor be nyght."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The steward says, "We're as good as you, and yet</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd, "as good as þoū.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We hold vs that be here nowe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>480</span><span class="i2">And lett preue yt be sygħt;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">have to work for our food."</div> +<span class="i0">Yet must vs worke for owre mete,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or ellys schal̴l̴ we none gete,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>483</span><span class="i2">Mete nor drynke to owre honde."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The Lord says, "And you'll have to work ere you go."</div> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd, "why flyte ye two?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I trowe ye wyl̴l̴ werke or ye goo,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>486</span><span class="i2">Yf yt be as I vndyrstond."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Abowte he goys twyes or thryes;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">They eat and drink, and give the proctor nothing,</div> +<span class="i0">They ete & drunke in such wyse<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>489</span><span class="i2">That þey geue hym ryght noght.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The proctoure seyd, "thynke ye no schame,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">to his great disgust,</div> +<span class="i0">Yheue me some mete, (ye be to blame,)<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>492</span><span class="i2">Of that the wyfe ye brougħt."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stuard seyd "euyl̴l̴ spede the soppe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If eny morcel̴l̴ come in thy throte<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span><span class="headnote">HE HAS TO WIND AND SPIN FOR HIS DINNER.</span><span class='linenum'>495</span><span class="i2">Butt þou w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> vs hadest wrought."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">till at last</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure stode in a stody<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whether he mygħt worke hem by;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>498</span><span class="i2">And so to torne hys þougħt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the lord he drewe nere,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And to hym seyd w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> myld[<i>e</i>] chere,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>501</span><span class="i2">"That mary mott the spede!"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he too knocks for work,</div> +<span class="i0">The proctoure began to knocke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The good wyfe rawte hym a rocke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>504</span><span class="i2">For therto hadde sche nede;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sche seyd "whan I was mayde att home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Other werke cowde I do none<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>507</span><span class="i2">My lyfe ther-wyth to lede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">gets a distaff and some winding to do,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche gaue hym in hande a rocke hynde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bade hem fast for to wynde<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 185]</div> +<span class='linenum'>510</span><span class="i2">Or ellys to lett be hys dede.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Yes, dame," he seyd, "so haue I hele,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I schal̴l̴ yt worke both feyre & welle<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>513</span><span class="i2">As ye haue taute me."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He wauyd vp a strycke of lyne,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and spins away well.</div> +<span class="i0">And he span wele and fyne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>516</span><span class="i2">By-fore the swyngel̴l̴ tre.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lord seyd "þou spynnest to grete,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therfor þou schalt haue no mete,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>519</span><span class="i2">That þou schalt wel̴l̴ see."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Thus they all sit and work till the wright comes home.</div> +<span class="i0">Thus þey satt and wrought fast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ þe wekedayes were past;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>522</span><span class="i2">Then the wryght, home came he,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">As he approaches he hears a noise.</div> +<span class="i0">And as he cam by hys hows syde<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He herd<a name="FNanchor_7_10" id="FNanchor_7_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_10" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> noyse that was nott ryde<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>525</span><span class="i2">Of p<i>er</i>sons two or thre;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One of hem knockyd lyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>528</span><span class="i2">By-fore the swyngyl̴l̴ tre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The thyrde did rele and spynne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mete and drynke ther-wyth to wynne,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>531</span><span class="i2">Gret nede ther-of hadde he.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE WRIGHT COMES HOME AND FINDS THE THREE CULPRITS.</span><span class="i0">Thus þe wryght stode herkenyng;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">his wife comes to meet him,</div> +<span class="i0">Hys wyfe was ware of hys comyng,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>534</span><span class="i2">And ageynst hym went sche.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Dame," he seyd, "what ys þis dynne?<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and he asks what all that noise is about.</div> +<span class="i0">I here gret noyse here wythynne;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>537</span><span class="i2">Tel̴l̴ me, so god the spede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Why, three workmen have come to help us, dear.</div> +<span class="i0">"Syr," sche seyd, "workemen thre<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be come to helpe you and me,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>540</span><span class="i2">Ther-of we haue gret nede;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Who are they?"</div> +<span class="i0">Fayne would I wete what they were."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The wright sees his Lord in the pit,</div> +<span class="i0">Butt when he sawe hys lord there,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>543</span><span class="i2">Hys hert bygan to drede:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To see hys lord in þat place,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He þought yt was a strange cas,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and asks how</div> +<span class='linenum'>546</span><span class="i2">And seyd, "so god hym spede,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 185, back]</div> +<span class="i0">What do ye here, my lord and knygħt?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tel̴l̴ me nowe for godes mygħt<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">he came there.</div> +<span class='linenum'>549</span><span class="i2">Howe cam thys vn-to?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The knyght seyd "What ys best rede?<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The Lord asks mercy: he is very sorry.</div> +<span class="i0">M<i>er</i>cy I aske for my mysdede,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>552</span><span class="i2">My hert ys wondyr wo."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"So am I," says the wright, "to see you among the flax and hemp,"</div> +<span class="i0">"So ys myne, verame<i>n</i>t,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To se you among thys flex and hempe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>555</span><span class="i2">Ful̴l̴ sore yt ruytħ me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To se you in such hevynes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ful̴l̴ sore myne hert yt doth oppresse,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>558</span><span class="i2">By god in trinite."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and orders his wife to let the Lord out.</div> +<span class="i0">The wryght bade hys wyfe lett hy{m~} owte,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"No, bother my snout if I do," says the wife,</div> +<span class="i0">"Nay, þen sorowe come on my snowte<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>561</span><span class="i2">If they passe hens to-daye<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"before his lady sees what he wanted to do with me."</div> +<span class="i0">Tyl̴l̴ that my lady come and see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Howe þey would haue done w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i> me,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>564</span><span class="i2">Butt nowe late me saye."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">So she sends for the dame to fetch her lord home,</div> +<span class="i0">Anon sche sent aft<i>er</i> the lady brygħt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to fett home her lord and knyght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>567</span><span class="i2">Therto sche seyd nogħt;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sche told her what they hadde ment,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and tells her what he and his companions came there for.</div> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE LORD'S WIFE SEES HIM IN THE CELLAR.</span><span class="i0">And of ther purpos & ther intente<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>570</span><span class="i2">That they would haue wrought.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The lady</div> +<span class="i0">Glad was þat lady of that tydyng;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When sche wyst her lord was lyuyng,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>573</span><span class="i2">Ther-of sche was ful̴l̴ fayne:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whan sche came vn-to þe steyre aboue{n)},<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">looks down into the cellar,</div> +<span class="i0">Sche lokyd vn-to þe seller downe,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and says, "Good sirs, what are you doing?"</div> +<span class='linenum'>576</span><span class="i2">And seyd,—þis ys nott to leyne,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Good syres, what doo you here?"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Earning our meat full dear:</div> +<span class="i0">"Dame, we by owre mete ful̴l̴ dere,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>579</span><span class="i2">Wyth gret trauayle and peyne;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">help us out, and I'll never come here again."</div> +<span class="i0">I pray you helpe þat we were owte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I wyl̴l̴ swere w<i>y</i>t<i>h</i>-owtyn dowte<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>582</span><span class="i2">Neu<i>er</i> to come here agayne."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The lady asks the wife why</div> +<span class="i0">The lady spake the wyfe vn-tyll<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 186]</div> +<span class="i0">And seyd "dame, yf yt be youre wylle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">the men are there</div> +<span class='linenum'>585</span><span class="i2">What doo thes meyny here?"<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The wife says they wanted to lie with her, and offered her gold and silver;</div> +<span class="i0">The carpentarys wyfe her answerd sykerly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Al̴l̴ they would haue leyne me by;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>588</span><span class="i2">Eu<i>er</i>ych, in ther maner<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gold and syluer they me brought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And forsoke yt, and would yt noght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>591</span><span class="i2">The ryche gyftes so clere.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyllyng þey were to do me schame,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">she took their gifts, and there they are.</div> +<span class="i0">I toke ther gyftes wyth-owtyn blame,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>594</span><span class="i2"><i>And</i> ther they be al̴l̴ thre."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The lady says she really wants her lord for herself,</div> +<span class="i0">The lady answerd her ano{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"I haue thynges to do att home<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>597</span><span class="i2">Mo than two or thre;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wyst my lord neu<i>er</i> do ryght noght<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of no þing þat schuld be wrought,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>600</span><span class="i2">Such as fallyth to me."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and laughs heartily when the three culprits come out.</div> +<span class="i0">The lady lawghed and made good game<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whan they came owte al̴l̴ in-same<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>603</span><span class="i2">From the swyngyl̴l̴ tre.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The Lord says,</div> +<span class="i0">The knyght seyd "felowys in fere,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I am glad þat we be here,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span><span class="headnote">THE WRIGHT'S WIFE SETS THE CULPRITS FREE.</span><span class='linenum'>606</span><span class="i2">By godes dere pyte;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">"Ah, you'd have worked too if you'd been with us,</div> +<span class="i0">Dame, and ye hadde bene wyth vs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye would haue wrought, by swete Ih<i>es</i>us,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>609</span><span class="i2">As welle as dyd we."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when they cam vp aboue{n)}<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They turnyd abowte and lokyd downe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>612</span><span class="i2">The lord seyd, "so god saue me,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">I never had such a turn in my life before, I can tell you."</div> +<span class="i0">Yet hadde I neu<i>er</i> such a fytte<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As I haue hadde in þat lowe pytte;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>615</span><span class="i2">So mary so mutt me spede."<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Then the Lord and lady go home,</div> +<span class="i0">The knyght and thys lady bryght,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Howe they would home that nygħt,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>618</span><span class="i2">For no thyng they would abyde;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And so they went home;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">as <span class="smcap">Adam</span> of <span class="smcap">Cobsam</span> says.</div> +<span class="i0">Thys seyd Adam of Cobsa{m~}.<a name="FNanchor_8_11" id="FNanchor_8_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_11" class="fnanchor">[8]</a><br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 186, back]</div> +<span class='linenum'>621</span><span class="i2">By the weye as they rode<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">On their way home</div> +<span class="i0">Throwe a wode in ther playeng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For to here the fowlys syng<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">they halt,</div> +<span class='linenum'>624</span><span class="i2">They hovyd stylle and bode.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and the steward and proctor swear they'll never go back for five and forty years.</div> +<span class="i0">The stuard sware by godes ore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And so dyd the proctoure much more,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>627</span><span class="i2">That neu<i>er</i> in ther lyfe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would they no more come in þ<i>a</i>t wonne<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whan they were onys thens come,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>630</span><span class="i2">Thys forty yere and fyve.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The lady gives all their money to the wright's wife.</div> +<span class="i0">Of the tresure that they brought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lady would geue hem ryght noght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>633</span><span class="i2">Butt gaue yt to the wryghtes wyfe.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">The garland is fresh as ever.</div> +<span class="i0">Thus the wryghtes garlond was feyre of hewe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And hys wyfe bothe good and trewe:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>636</span><span class="i2">There-of was he ful̴l̴ blythe;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I take wytnes att gret and smal̴l̴,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Thus true are all good women now alive!</div> +<span class="i0">Thus trewe bene good women al̴l̴<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>639</span><span class="i2">That nowe bene on lyve,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So come thryste on ther hedys<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span><span class="headnote">MAY ALL GOOD WIVES GO TO HEAVEN!</span><span class="i0">Whan they mombyl̴l̴ on ther bedys<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>642</span><span class="i2">Ther pat<i>er</i> n<i>oste</i>r ryue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="sidenote">Here then is written a tale of the Wright and his Garland.</div> +<span class="i0">Here ys wretyn a geste of the wryght<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That hadde a garlond wel̴l̴ I-dyght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>645</span><span class="i2">The coloure wyl̴l̴ neuer fade.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">God grant us all his blessing,</div> +<span class="i0">Now god, þat ys heuyn kyng,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Graunt vs al̴l̴ hys dere blessyng<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>648</span><span class="i2">Owre hertes for to glade;<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and may all true faithful wives</div> +<span class="i0">And al̴l̴ tho that doo her husbondys rygħt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pray we to Ih<i>es</i>u ful̴l̴ of myght,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>651</span><span class="i2">That feyre mott hem byfalle,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">come to heaven's bliss,</div> +<span class="i0">And that they may come to heuen blys,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thy dere moderys loue ther-of nott to mys,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>654</span><span class="i2">All<i>e</i> good wyues all<i>e</i>.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and be such</div> +<span class="i0">Now all<i>e</i> tho that thys tretys hath hard,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ih<i>es</i>u graunt hem, for her reward,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">true lovers as the</div> +<span class='linenum'>657</span><span class="i2">As trew louers to be<br /></span> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 187]</div> +<span class="i0">As was the wryght vn-to hys wyfe<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">wright and his wife were.</div> +<span class="i0">And sche to hym duryng her lyfe.<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">Amen!</div> +<span class='linenum'>660</span><span class="i2">Amen, for charyte.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="sidenote">Here ends our tale of the Garland</div> +<span class="i0">Here endyth the wryghtes p<i>ro</i>cesse trewe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wyth hys garlond feyre of hewe<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>663</span><span class="i2">That neu<i>er</i> dyd fade the coloure.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It was made, by the avyse<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of hys wywes moder wytty and wyse,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>666</span><span class="i2">Of flourys most of honoure,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">which was made of White Roses,</div> +<span class="i0">Of roses whyte þat wyl̴l̴ nott fade,<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">the flowers that gladden all England,</div> +<span class="i0">Whych floure al̴l̴ ynglond doth glade,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>669</span><span class="i2">Wyth trewloues medelyd in sygħt;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vn-to the whych floure I-wys<br /></span> +<div class="sidenote">and receive the love of God, and of the Commons too.</div> +<span class="i0">The loue of god and of the comenys<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Subdued<a name="FNanchor_9_12" id="FNanchor_9_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_12" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> bene of rygħt.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8">Explicit.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_4" id="Footnote_1_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_4"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> MS. <i>of</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_5" id="Footnote_2_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_5"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>or</i> hyng. ? <i>MS.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_6" id="Footnote_3_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_6"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> MS. <i>gar</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_7" id="Footnote_4_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_7"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> ? MS. this.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_8" id="Footnote_5_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_8"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> MS. <i>Iħc</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_9" id="Footnote_6_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_9"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> MS. <i>The</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_10" id="Footnote_7_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_10"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> ? MS. <i>hard</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_11" id="Footnote_8_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_11"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The letter between the <i>b</i> and <i>a</i> has had the lower part +marked over. But it must mean a long <i>s</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_12" id="Footnote_9_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_12"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> May be <i>subdied</i>; the word has been corrected.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<h2>NOTES.</h2> + + +<p>The two first of the three operations of flax-dressing described in +lines 526-529, p. 15,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One of hem knocked lyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A-nothyr swyngelyd good and fyne<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By-fore the swyngyl̴l̴-tre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The thyrde did rele and spynne,<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>must correspond to the preliminary breaking of the plant, and then the +scutching or beating to separate the coarse tow or hards from the tare +or fine hemp. <ins class = "correction" title = "Exeept in original">Except</ins> so far as the <i>swingle</i> served as +a heckle, the further <i>heckling</i> of the flax, to render the fibre finer +and cleaner, was dispensed with, though heckles (iron combs) must have +been in use when the poem was written—inasmuch as <i>hekele</i>, <i>hekelare</i>, +<i>hekelyn</i>, and <i>hekelynge</i>, are in the Promptorium, ab. 1440 +<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> Under <i>Hatchell</i>, Randle Holme gives a drawing of a <ins class = "correction" title = "hcekle in original">heckle</ins>.</p> + +<p>The lines through the <i>h</i>'s in the MS. are not, I believe, marks of +contraction. There are no insettings of the third lines, or spaces on +changes of subject, in the MS.</p> + +<p>For reference to two analogous stories to that of the Poem, I am +indebted to Mr Thomas Wright. The first is that of <i>Constant Duhamel</i> in +the third volume of Barbazan, and the second that of the Prioress and +her three Suitors in the Minor Poems of Dan John Lydgate, published by +the Percy Society, ed. Halliwell.</p> + +<p>In the Barbazan tale "the wife is violently solicited by three suitors, +the priest, the provost, and the forester, who on her refusal persecute +her husband. To stop their attacks she gives them appointments at her +house immediately after one another, so that when one is there and +stripped for the bath, another comes, and, pretending it is her husband, +she conceals them one after another in a large tub full of feathers, out +of which they can see all <ins class = "correction" title = "tbat in original">that</ins> is going on in the room. +She then sends successively for their three wives to come and bathe with +her, the bath being still in the same room, and as each is stripped +naked in the bath, she introduces her own husband, who dishonours them +one after another, one <i>à l'enverse</i>, with rather aggravating +circumstances, and all in view of their three husbands. Finally the +latter are turned out of the house naked, or rather well feathered, then +hunted by the whole town and their dogs, well bitten and beaten."</p> + +<p>(If any one wants to see a justification of the former half of the +proverb quoted by Roberd of Brunne,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Frenche men synne yn lecherye<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Englys men yn enuye,<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>let him read the astounding revelation made of the state of the early +French mind by the tales in the 3rd and 4th vols. of Barbazan's +Fabliaux, ed. 1808.)</p> + +<p>The second story, told by Lydgate, is as follows:—A prioress is wooed +by "a yonng knyght, a parson of a paryche, and a burges of a borrow." +She promises herself to the first if he will lie for a night in a chapel +sewn up in a sheet like a corpse; to the second, if he will perform the +funeral service over the knight, and bury him; to the third, if he will +dress up like a devil, and frighten both parson and knight. This the +burges Sir John does well, but is himself terrified at the corpse +getting up: all three run away from one another: the knight falls on a +stake, and into a snare set for bucks, and breaks his fore top in +falling from the tree; the merchant gets tossed by a bull; the parson +breaks his head and jumps into a bramble bush; and the prioress gets rid +of them all, but not before she has made the "burges" or "marchaunt" pay +her twenty marks not to tell his wife and the country generally of his +tricks.—<i>Minor Poems</i>, p. 107-117, ed. 1840.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> +<h2>GLOSSARY.</h2> + + + +<ul><li>And, 89, 292, if.</li> + +<li>Bayne, 348, ready.</li> + +<li>Blynne, 4, cease, stop; AS. <i>blinnan</i>.</li> + +<li>Blyue, 44, 110, 118, speedily.</li> + +<li>Bonde, 226, a bund-le; Du. <i>bondt</i>, a bavin, a bush of thornes.</li> + +<li>Brayne, 342, scull.</li> + +<li>Broke, 165, enjoy. AS. <i>brúcan</i>, Germ. <i>brauchen</i>. H. Coleridge.</li> + +<li>Brydalle, 71, AS. <i>brýd-ál</i>, bride ale, marriage feast.</li> + +<li>By, 197, buy.</li> + +<li>Chaste, 176, chest, box, pit.</li> + +<li>Dowte, 14, fear.</li> + +<li>Dyght, 323, 379, prepare, dress.</li> + +<li>Fare, 148, 324, going on, wish, project.</li> + +<li>Fere, 604, company.</li> + +<li>Flyte, 484, wrangle, quarrel; AS.<i> flít</i>, strife, wrangling.</li> + +<li>Forthynketh, 51, repents, makes sorry; AS. <i>forþencan</i>, to despair.</li> + +<li>Frayne, 409, ask; AS. <i>fregnan</i>, Goth. <i>fraihnan</i>.</li> + +<li>Gan, 22, did.</li> + +<li>Geue to God a gyfte, 351, I make a vow, I promise you, I'll take my oath.</li> + +<li>Hele, 140, salvation.</li> + +<li>Hovyd, 624, halted, stopt.</li> + +<li>Hynde, 508? natty; <i>hende</i>, gentle.</li> + +<li>I-doo, 335, done, finished.</li> + +<li>I-dyght, 644, prepared.</li> + +<li>In-same, 602, together.</li> + +<li>Layne, 68, hide, conceal.</li> + +<li>Lende, 107, stay; ? AS. <i>landian</i>, to land, or <i>lengian</i>, to prolong.</li> + +<li>Leyne, 231, lay, beat.</li> + +<li>Lyne, 214, AS. <i>lín</i>, flax; ? rope, 246.</li> + +<li>Meyne, 403, household.</li> + +<li>Myster, 12, trade; Fr. <i>mestier</i>.</li> + +<li>O, 329, one.</li> + +<li>Onredde, 308; AS. <i>unrét</i>, <i>unrót</i>, uncheerful, sorrowful, or <i>unrǽd</i>, imprudent.</li> + +<li>Oþre, 205, second.</li> + +<li>Putry, 61, adultery; O. Fr. <i>puterie</i>, whoring.</li> + +<li>Rawte, 503, reached, gave.</li> + +<li>Rewe, 186, have pity.</li> + +<li>Rocke, 503, 508; Du. <i>een Rocke</i>, <i>Spinrock</i>, A Distaffe, or a Spin-rock; <i>Rocken</i>, To Winde Flaxe or Wool upon a Rock (Hexham). Dan. <i>rok</i>, O.N. <i>rokkr</i>, G. <i>rocken</i>: "a distaff held in the hand from which the thread was spun by twirling a ball below. 'What, shall a woman with a <i>rokke</i> drive thee away?'" Digby Mysteries, p. 11 (Halliwell). "An Instrument us'd in some Parts for the spinning of Flax and Hemp." Phillips; for reeling and spinning (l. 529).</li> + +<li>Rought, 198, AS. <i>róhte</i>, p. of <i>récan</i>, to reck, care for.</li> + +<li>Ryde, 524, light, small, AS. <i>geryd</i>, levis, æquus, Lye.</li> + +<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span><ins class = "correction" title = "Ry e in original">Ryue</ins>, 642, Du. <i>rijf</i>, rife, or abundant.</li> + +<li>Scales, 401; ? husks, bark, or rind, see <i>shoves</i>*, in <i>Swyngylle</i>, below.</li> + +<li>Schent, 258, destroyed; AS. <i>scendan</i>.</li> + +<li>Stounde, 4, short time<ins class = "correction" title = ", in original">.</ins></li> + +<li>Strycke, 514, "<i>Strike of Flax</i>, is as much as is heckled at one Handful." Phillips.</li> + +<li>Swyngylle, 216, "Swingle-Staff, a Stick to beat Flax with," Phil.; AS. <i>swingele</i>, a whip, lash. "To <i>swingle</i>, to beat; a Term among Flax-dressers." Phillips. Though Randle Holme, Bk. III., ch. viii. No. xxxiii., gives the <i>Swingle-Tree</i> of a Coach-Pole (these are made of wood, and are fastened by Iron hooks, stables (<i>sic</i>) chains and pinns to the Coach-pole, to the which Horses are fastened by their Harnish when there is more then two to draw the Coach), yet at Chap, vi., § iv., p. 285, col. 1, he says, "He beareth Sable, a <i>Swingle</i> Hand erected, Surmounting of a <i>Swingle</i> Foot, Or. This is a Wooden Instrument made like a Fauchion, with an hole cut in the top of it, to hold it by: It is used for the clearing of Hemp and Flax from the large broken Stalks or *Shoves, by the help of the said <i>Swingle</i> Foot, which it is hung upon, which said Stalks being first broken, bruised, and cut into shivers by a Brake.</li> +<li><span style="margin-left: 2em;">S. 3, such erected in Fesse O. born by <i>Flaxlowe</i>.</span></li> +<li><span style="margin-left: 2em;">S. 3, such in Pale A., born by <i>Swingler</i>."</span></li> +<li><span style="margin-left: 2em;">(A drawing is given by Holme, No. 4, on <ins class = "correction" title = "tbe in original">the</ins> plate opposite p. 285.)</span></li> +<li><span style="margin-left: 2em;">"<i>Swingowing</i> is the beating off the bruised inward stalk of the Hemp or Flax, from the outward pill, which as (<i>sic</i>) the Hemp or Flax, p. 106, col. 2.</span></li> +<li><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Spinning</i> is to twist the Flax hairs into Yarn or Thrid. <i>Reeling</i> is to wind the Yarn of the Wheel Spool on a Reel," p. 107, Col. 2.</span></li> + +<li>Take, 161, deliver.</li> + +<li>The, 187, thrive.</li> + +<li>Tolle, 62, entice (H.H. Gibbs).</li> + +<li>Tre, 105, wood, timber.</li> + +<li>Trewloves, 669, either figures like true-lovers' knots, or the imitations of the berb or flower <i>Truelove</i>, which is given by Coles as <i>Herb Paris</i> (a quatrefoil whose leaves bear a sort of likeness to a true-lovers' knot), and in Halliwell as <i>one-berry:</i> but I cannot find that Edward IV. had any such plants on his arms or badge. Knots were often worn as badges, see Edmonston's Heraldry, Appendix, Knots. On the other hand, Willement (Regal Heraldry) notices that the angels attending Richard II. in the picture at Wilton, had collars worked with white roses and broom-buds; and trueloves, if a plant be meant by it, may have been Edward's substitute for the broom (<i>planta genisla</i>). The Trewloves bear, one, Ar. on a chev. sa., three cinquefoils, or; the other, Ar. on a chev. sa., a quatrefoil of the field.</li> + +<li>Vade,<a name="FNanchor_1_13" id="FNanchor_1_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_13" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> 125, 419, fade; Du. <i>vadden</i> (Hexham).</li> + +<li>Wone, 275, store, quantity.</li> + +<li>Wonne, 90, 628, dwelling.</li> + +<li>Woode, 153, wild, mad.</li> + +<li>Yheue, 491, give.</li> + +<li>Yougeth, 20, youth, bachelor's freedom.</li> +</ul> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_13" id="Footnote_1_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_13"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The use of the flat <i>v</i>ade (l. 419, p. 12) within 2 lines +of the sharp <i>f</i>ade (l. 417), corresponds with the flat 'stow<i>d</i>e,' l. +400, p. 12, riming with 'owte,' l. 401, <i>badde</i> with <i>hatte</i>, l. 265-6. +<i>Cost</i>, <i>brest</i>, l. 142-3, are careless rimes too.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2>WOMEN.</h2> + +<h3>[<i>Lambeth MS</i>. 306, <i>leaf</i> 135.]</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Wome{n)}, wome{n)}, loue of wome{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">make bare purs w<i>i</i>t<i>h</i> some me{n)},<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some be nyse as a nonne hene,<a name="FNanchor_1_14" id="FNanchor_1_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_14" class="fnanchor">[1]</a><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>4</span><span class="i2">Ȝit al thei be nat soo.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">some be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">some all be schrewde;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Go schrewes wher thei goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>8</span><span class="i0">Su{m~} be nyse, and some be fonde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some be tame, y vndirstond<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some cane take brede of a manes hande,<a name="FNanchor_2_15" id="FNanchor_2_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_15" class="fnanchor">[2]</a><br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yit all thei be nat soo.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>12</span><span class="i4">[Some be lewde, &c.]<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<div class="leafinfo">[leaf 135, back]</div> +<span class="i0">Some cane part with-outen hire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some make bate in eueri chire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some cheke mate with oure Sir<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>16</span><span class="i2">Yit all they be nat so.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Some be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">and sume be schreued<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">go wher they goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span><span class='linenum'>20</span><span class="i0">Som be browne, and some be whit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some be tender as a ttripe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some of theym be chiry ripe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yit all thei be not soo.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>24</span><span class="i4">Sume be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">and some be schrewed<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">go wher they goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Some of the{m~} be treue of love<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>28</span><span class="i0">Benetħ þe gerdel̴l̴, but nat above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in a hode aboue cane chove,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yit all thei do nat soo.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Some be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>32</span><span class="i4">and some be schreud<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">go where they goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Some cane whister, & some cane crie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some cane flater, and some can lye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>36</span><span class="i0">And some cane sette þe moke awrie,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yit all thei do nat soo.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sume be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">and sume be schreued<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span><span class="i2">go where thei goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He that made this songe full good,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Came of þe nortħ and of þe sother{n)} blode,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some-what kyne to Roby{n)} Hode,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>44</span><span class="i2">Yit all we be nat soo.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Some be lewde,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">and some be schrewed<i>e</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">go where they goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>48</span><span class="i0">Some be lewde, some be [s]chrwde,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go where they goo.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8">Explicit.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>P.S.—This Poem was printed by Mr Halliwell in <i>Reliquiæ Antiquæ</i>, vol. +i., p. 248, and reprinted by Mr Thomas Wright, at p. 103 of his edition +of <i>Songs and Carols</i> for the Percy Society, 1847. As, besides minor +differences, the reprint has <i>manne</i>, and the original <i>nanne</i>, for what +I read as <i>nonne</i>, l. 3, while both have <i>withowte</i> for <i>with oure</i>, l. +15, and <i>accripe</i> for <i>a ttripe</i>, l. 21 (see Halliwell's Dictionary, +"<i>accripe</i>, a herb?"), I have not cancelled this impression. The other +version of the song, from Mr Wright's MS. in his text, pp. 89-91, +differs a good deal from that given above.</p> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_14" id="Footnote_1_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_14"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The Rev. J.R. Lumby first told me of the proverb 'As white +as a nun's hen,' the nuns being famous, no doubt, for delicate poultry. +John Heywood has in his <i>Proverbes</i>, 1562 (first printed, 1546), p. 43 +of the Spencer Society's reprint, 1867, +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She tooke thenterteinment of the yong men<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All in daliaunce, <i>as nice as a Nun's hen</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +The proverb is quoted by Wilson in his <i>Arte of Rhetorique</i>, 1553 +(Hazlitt's <i>Proverbs</i>, p. 69).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_15" id="Footnote_2_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_15"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> For <i>honde</i>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wright's Chaste Wife, by Adam of Cobsam + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT'S CHASTE WIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 17400-h.htm or 17400-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/4/0/17400/ + +Produced by David Starner, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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