The Cook’s Prologue
THE COOK’S PROLOGUE The cook from London, while the reeve yet spoke, Patted his back with pleasure at the joke. “Ha, ha!” laughed he, “by Christ’s great suffering, This miller had a mighty sharp ending…
Epilogue To The Merchant’s Tale
EPILOGUE TO THE MERCHANT’S TALE Eh! By God’s mercy!” cried our host. Said he: “Now such a wife I pray God keep from me! Behold what tricks, and lo, what subtleties In women are. For…
The Squire’s Tale
THE SQUIRE’S TALE At Sarai, in the land of Tartary, There dwelt a king who warred on Russia, he, Whereby there died full many a doughty man. This noble king was known as Cambinskan, Who…
The Manciple’s Tale Of The Crow
THE MANCIPLE’S TALE OF THE CROW When Phoebus once on earth was dwelling, here, As in the ancient books it is made clear, He was the lustiest of bachelors In all this world, and even…
Battle of Cocherel, 16th May 1364
Battle of Cocherel, 16th May 1364 The Battle of Cocherel was fought between the armies loyal to the Kings of France and Navarre. The commanders on the day were Bertrand du Guesclin for the French…
1685: Archaeological Dig at Cocherel
In 1685 building work was commissioned near the village of Cocherel. As work was being prepared for extending and improving the navigation of the River Eure, a number of bones were discovered. Knowing that a…
Triumphal Entry into Rouen, 19 January 1419
The Siege of Rouen lasted from July 1418 to January 19th 1419. Henry Vs army had adopted the method of starving the city into submission. Thousands of people were forced from inside the walls but…
La Hire
Etienne de Vignolles (La Hire) La Hire was the common name for Etienne de Vignolles. Born in 1390 he became one of the best known and respected of French military commanders of the 1420s and…
The Summoner’s Prologue
THE SUMMONER’S PROLOGUE High in his stirrups, then, the summoner stood; Against the friar his heart, as madman’s would, Shook like very aspen leaf, for ire. “Masters,” said he, “but one thing I desire; I…
The Parson’s Tale
THE PARSON’S TALE State super vias et videte et interrogate de viis antiquis, que sit via bona; et ambulate in ea, et inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris, &c.; Our sweet Lord God of Heaven, Who will…