swearing like this, the summoner began to nudge the other. 'There is
something for you,' he said; 'that carter is giving you horses and
waggon. Why don't you take them?' 'Wait,' said the yeoman, 'he does
not mean what he says,' Just at this moment the horses by a great
effort pulled the waggon free. 'God bless you, my good horses!' said
the carter. 'Gee-up! Heaven be praised, we are clear.' 'There,' said
the yeoman, 'you see men do not always mean what they say. We have to
be sure.'

"Before long they came to the cottage where the widow lived. 'Just
watch how _I_ manage affairs,' said the summoner, and he began to
knock on the gate and shout, 'Come out, come out, you wicked old
woman!' The widow opened the door at length and came hobbling out.
'What witchcraft were you doing inside?' asked the summoner. 'I swear
it was nothing good. I have here an order for you to answer in the
archdeacon's court for your manner of life. To-morrow you must appear
and answer for your sins.' The poor old woman fell on her knees. 'How
can I come?' she said--'and I just risen from a bed of sickness. Let
me send someone to answer for me.' 'Not so.' said the summoner.
'Either you appear yourself or you give me twelve pence to get the
charge withdrawn. I should be doing you a _great_ favour, for the
archdeacon is no mild man to such hardened sinners as you.' The old
woman began to cry. 'I cannot give you twelve pence, nor six, I am
too poor. I am innocent of any crime; I practise no witchcraft. I
cannot come to court, I am too weak.' 'Stop that!' said the summoner;
'if you do not pay what I ask I will take your brass pan. You owe it
me already for crimes of long standing.' At this the woman wept more
and more. 'A curse on you.' cried she, 'may the fiend fly away with
you and the pan too!'