The man’s answer gave him a surprise. He said, I will tell you who I am. I am a devil. I live in hell.
I thought you were a man like me, said the summoner. You look like a man.
We can look like anything we want to, answered the devil. There are good reasons why we have this power. Now – let us go on our traveis.
They started off. They saw a man with a cart which was so heavy that his horses could not pull it along. He was hitting the horses and shouting at them.
The devil take you he cried. The devil take you and the cart,too!
The summoner said to the davil, Did you hear that? Why don’t you go and take his horses and cart? He says that you can take them.
The devil answered, you cannot believe all that you hear. Wait and see what happens.
The horses pulled harder and harder; the cart began to move. Good horses! The carter shouted. Well done, Brock! Well done, Scottle! God save you all!
What did I tell you? Said the devil. He said one thing but he meant something else. There is nothing for me here. We must go on.
When they had left the town behind, the sum-moner said to the devil, You didn’t do very well with the man and his horses. Now I’m going to get some money from this poor old woman. Watch carefully and see how I do it.
He went to the old woman’s door. Come on out! He cried. I’m sure you’re doing something bad!
Who is that? Said the old woman. Oh God be with you,sir
The summoner said, Go to see the bishop. People are saying some bad things about you. You must say if they are true. If they are true,you must pay money to the bishop.
The old woman began to cry. Be kind to me, good sir, she said. I am ill; I cannot get so far. Can I not pay you?
Yes,but you must pay me at once, said the summoner. It will cost you twelve pennies. Be quick!
Twelve pennies! Cried the old woman. Oh, help me, God! I don’t have that much money. What can I do?
If I let you go free, may the devil come and take me away! Said the summoner. Come on, pay up!
But I have di=one nothing bad, said the poor woman.
Pay up, or I will take your cooking-pot. You were untrue to your husband. You know that you were!
I was never untrue to my husband. I loved him too much. As for you and my cooking pot may the blackest devil in hell carry you off, and the cooking-pot,too!
Now the devil can do as I say, she answered. He can carry him off – clothes, cooking-pot, and all!
The summoner was still shouting at her. He was very angry. Will I get no money at all from this old woman?
Why are you so angry? Asked the devil. You and the pot are mine. She gave them to me. Tonight you will be in hell with me. There you can learn all that you want to know about us devils and how we do our work.
The devil sprang at the summoner and caught him. Then he carried him down to hell, where there is a place kept for summoners. It is always very full!
The friar had finished. He looked at all the pilgrims and said, Think about my story, and may God keep us all from the devil who tries to catch us and take us down to hell!
The summoner then told his story about the friar. But it was not a nice story. So I have not put it in this book.