THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
There be eleven pilgrims seated at this board on which is set a
warden pie and a venison pasty, each of which may truly be divided
into four parts and no more. Now, mark ye, five out of the eleven
pilgrims can eat the pie, but will not touch the pasty, while four will
eat the pasty but turn away from the pie. Moreover, the two that
do remain be able and willing to eat of either. By my halidame, is
there any that can tell me in how many different ways the good
Franklin may choose whom he will serve ? " I will just caution the
reader that if he is not careful he will find, when he sees the answer,
that he has made a mistake of forty, as all the company did with the
exception of the Clerk of Oxenford—who got it right by accident,
through putting down a wrong figure.
Strange to say, while the company perplexed their wits about
this riddle the cook played upon them a merry jest. In the midst
of their deep thinking and hot dispute what should the cunning
knave do but stealthily take away both the pie and the pasty. Then,
when hunger made them desire to go on with the repast, finding
there was nought upon the table, they called clamorously for the
cook.
" My masters," he explained, " seeing you were so deep set in the
riddle, I did take them to the next room where others did eat them
with relish ere they had grown cold. There be excellent bread
and cheese in the pantry."
16.—
The Sompnour's Puzzle.
The Sompnour, or Summoner, who, according to Chaucer, joined
the party of pilgrims, was an officer whose duty was to summon
delinquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts. In later times he
became known as the apparitor. Our particular individual was a
somewhat quaint, though worthy, man. " He was a gentle hireling
and a kind ; A better fellow should a man not find." In order that
the reader may understand his appearance in the picture, it must be
explained that his peculiar headgear is duly recorded by the poet.
" A garland had he set upon his head, As great as if it were for an
ale-stake."
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