He had a Summoner ready to his hand, who worked under this strict archdeacon with equal severity. A slyer fellow was there none in England; and most cunningly he watched the people in secret, so as to find out how best to catch them tripping. I shall not spare this Summoner here, though he be mad as a hare with it all; for Summoners have no jurisdiction over us Friars, you know, and never will have, all the days of their lives. We are out of their power! [“So are other refuse of the people[114] besides Friars!” interrupted the angry Summoner, when he heard that. “Peace, with bad luck to you!” cries mine host, also getting angry; “and let the Friar tell his story. Now tell on, master, and let the Summoner gale!”[115]] This false thief--this Summoner--used to find out, in all sorts of underhand ways, what people did, right or wrong, by spying in secret, and by keeping people to spy for him. And when he found out anybody doing wrong, he would threaten to summon them before the court, and they used to bribe him with money to let them off. If they were too poor to bribe him, he would make the archdeacon punish them; but if they had enough money to give him, he did not care how many bad things they did, and never told the archdeacon. This was very unjust and wicked, as it encouraged people to do wrong; and the Summoner grew quite rich in this evil way, for he kept all the money himself, and did not give it to the archdeacon. He was, you see, a thief as well as a spy; For in this world nys dogge for the bowe[116] That can an hurt dere from an hol y-knowe, whole No dog on earth that’s trainëd to the bow Can a hurt deer from an unhurt one know, better than this cunning man knew what everybody was about,-- And for that was the fruyt of al his rent, because Therfore theron he set all his entent. thereon, purpose And so bifel, that oones on a day befell, once This Sompnour, ever wayting on his pray, Rod forth to sompne a widew, an old ribibe,[117] Feynyng a cause, for he wolde han a bribe. And happede that he say bifore him ryde saw A gay yeman under a forest syde. A bowe he bar, and arwes bright and kene; He had upon a courtepy of grene; short cloak An hat upon his heed with frenges blake. head Sir, quoth this Sompnour, heyl and wel overtake. overtaken Welcome, quod he, and every good felawe. fellow Whider ridestow under this grene schawe? ridest thou, wood (Sayde this yiman) wiltow fer to-day? This Sompnour him[118] answerd and sayde, Nay: Here faste by, quod he, is myn entent purpose To ryden, for to reysen up a rent raise That longith to my lordes dueté. duty