POE M S By MR. GA Y. TAL E S. AN ANSWER TO THE SOMPNER'S PROLOGUE OF CHAUCER. IN IMITATION OF CHAUCER'S STYLE. THE Sompner leudly hath his prologue told, And faine on the Freers his tale japing and bold; How that in Hell they fearchen near and wide, And ne one Freer in all thilke place espyde: But lo! the devil turn'd his erfe about, And twenty thousand Freers wend in and out. By which in Jeoffry's rhyming it appears, The devil's belly is the hive of Freers. Now liftneth lordings! forthwith ye fhall hear, What happen'd at a house in Lancashire. A mifere that had londs and tenement, Who raketh from his villaines taxes and rent, Owned a house which emptye long yftood, Now there spreaden a rumour that everich night Now it fo hapt, there was not ferre away, With water now besprinkled hath the floore, He |