THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
what of a like kind, albeit there be little in common betwixt them.
Here be set out sixteen bottles in form of a square, and I pray you so
place them afresh that they shall form a magic square, adding up to
thirty in all the ten straight ways. But mark well that ye may not
remove more than ten of the bottles from their present places, for
therein layeth the subtlety of the riddle." This is a little puzzle that
may be conveniently tried with sixteen numbered counters.
23.—
The Squire's Puzzle.
The young Squire, twenty years of age, was the son of the Knight
that accompanied him on the historic pilgrimage. He was un-
doubtedly what
in later times
we should call
a dandy, for,
"
Embroidered
was he as is a
mead, All full
of fresh flowers,
white and red.
Singing he was
or fluting all the
day, He was as
fresh as is the
month of May."
As will be seen
in the illustra-
tion to No. 26,
while the Hab-
erdasher was propounding his problem of the triangle, this young
Squire was standing in the background making a drawing of some
kind, for "He could songs make and well indite, Joust and eke
dance, and well portray and write."
The Knight turned to him after a while and said, " My son, what
is it over which thou dost take so great pains withal ? " and the
Squire answered, " I have bethought me how I might portray in one
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