THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
have been so planted, that they would make so many as fifteen
straight rows, with four trees in every row thereof. Can ye show
me how this might be ? Many have doubted that 'twere possible
to be done." The illustration shows one of many ways of forming
the twelve rows. How can we make fifteen ?
22.—The Franklin's Puzzle.
" A Franklin was in this company ; White was his beard as is
the daisy." We are told by Chaucer that he was a great house-
holder and an epicure. "Without baked meat never was his
house. Of fish and flesh, and that so plenteous, It snowed in his
house of meat and drink, Of every dainty that men could bethink."
He was a hospitable and generous man. " His table dormant in
his hall alway Stood ready covered all throughout the day." At
the repasts of the Pilgrims he usually presided at one of the tables,
as we found him doing on the occasion when the cook propounded
his problem of the two pies.
One day at an inn just outside Canterbury, the company called
on him to produce the puzzle required of him, whereupon he placed
on the table sixteen bottles numbered 1, 2, 3, up to 15, with the
last one marked 0. " Now, my masters," quoth he, " it will be
fresh in your memories how that the good Clerk of Oxenford did
show us a riddle touching what hath been called the magic square.
Of a truth will I set before ye another that may seem to be some-
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