The Marvellous Adventures and Rare Conceits of Master Tyll Owlglass

Owlglass was a man that, with all his endeavours, could never grow rich, the which is a marvel, considering how it is that so many knaves prosper right well; and here was one that in honesty could never be approached, and yet was poor. Now he took counsel within himself, and said: “I have heard it said, that peradventure if one turneth shepherd, by the cunning of the patriarch Jacob one may grow rich.” And he also had heard it said, that in the Duke of Brunswick’s service all men grew rich in no long season. So he gat him unto the duke; and when that he had come unto him he spake unto him, saying: “Most gracious duke, do thou, with thy marvellous goodness, appoint me that I shall be a shepherd in thy service for some years; for I would fain have money, that in mine old age I may live; and for my service I desire no other recompence.” And the duke did grant the post unto him for ten years. Then was Owlglass an excellent shepherd; and when that he heard that in any part of the duke’s country there was good grazing land, then wrote he straightway letters unto that land, and told the people thereof that he would bring thither his master’s cattle to graze. And in great terror did the farmer boors assemble, and did, for fear that the cattle should eat up all their substance, make collection, and send unto him five and twenty pieces of gold to go elsewhere. Then thought Owlglass: “A most fair thing is this;” and wrote unto another city, and thence also came money unto him; and this went forward so long, until the duke himself asked Owlglass how that his post prospered. “Truly,” quoth he, “I have a fair inheritance thereby, and a coat of delicate workmanship; for there is no office so little, that by it one may not have profit.” “Nay,” answered the duke; “I must unto this see myself.” Hence comes it that dukes, princes, kings, emperors, and all their lackeys, do continually take into their own hands the work and labour of lesser men; for the duke said unto Owlglass, he himself would do this thing; and Owlglass answered him, saying: “No office is so little, that the hangman may not from it draw an inheritance. For the great be in marvellous peril alway.”

The Ninety and Sixth Adventure

How that without money Owlglass bought a pair of shoes

Now it fortuned, that on a time Owlglass was at Erfurt, and there went through the Shoemaker’s street; and a woman called loudly unto him, that he should come unto her and buy a good pair of shoes. Then came he straightway unto her, and took a shoe, and put it on his foot; then took he up its fellow, and put it upon the other foot, and said unto her: “Lo! they do suit me marvellous well,” and therewith ran off. Then made the woman a great outcry, and said: “Stop me yonder thief, ye good folk!” And they would have held him. “Nay,” said he, “good people, now do we run for a wager; therefore let me go, and then shall I win a pair of shoes.” Thus came he off with the pair of shoes; but so ill made were they, that he gave them unto the servant at the inn where that he lay.

The Ninety and Seventh Adventure

How that Owlglass sold unto the furriers at Leipzig a live cat, the which was sewed into the skin of a hare; and how rare sport came thereof

In no long space of time was Owlglass ever ready with a knavish device. This proved he to be a great truth when that he was at Leipzig, among the furriers on Easter Even when altogether they held their feast. And it came to pass that most willingly would they have had some kind of game to make them a hunt therewith. Of this heard Owlglass, and in his knavery he bethought him: “The furrier at Berlin gave thee nought for thy labour, therefore shall these men pay thee thy pains.” With that departed he into his inn, where he lay, and there found he that the host had a fine fat cat. This took Owlglass, and under his frock he carried it off; and then gat he him to the cook and besought him that he should give unto him the skin of a hare. For therewith would he play off a knavery of great and merry conceit. The cook gave unto him the skin which he demanded of him; and then he took needle and thread and sewed up the cat therewith in the skin. After did our master put on a boor’s frock, and gat him to the town-house, and stood over against it. But his hare held he concealed under his coat until that a furrier came by. Then said Owlglass to the furrier: “Would his honour buy a good hare?” and then shewed it unto him, where that he held it under his frock. And the furrier and Owlglass conferred together; and they agreed that he should give unto him four silver bits for the hare, and six pennies for the old sack, in the which Owlglass had put the hare. Then the furrier carried the hare into the house of their alderman, and they rejoiced with great merriment, and were content in that they had got such a good live hare, for the furrier was right proud of getting such an one. Then did all the furriers feel and punch the hare to see how fat he was; and not that year, did they all agree had they seen such an one—the which was very true! And at the time they would hold their games, they fetched dogs and let the hare run in the garden, for they would have a hunt.

HOW OWLGLASS SOLD PUSS.

Now when that the hare could run no more, it leaped up into a tree, and cried out Miaow, for most willingly would it again have been at home. And when that the furriers beheld this, they cried aloud: “Brethren, brethren, come let us pursue the wicked knave, which hath beguiled us, and strike him dead!” And so would it have been if Owlglass had not put on other clothes, so that they knew him not. But now, my worshipful masters, hence came the proverb: “The cat hath leaped up into the tree.” Yet were the furriers beguiled, and so remained.

The Ninety and Eighth Adventure

How that Owlglass hired himself unto a boor

It came to pass on a time that Owlglass served a boor; and the boor did desire that they twain should, with a horse and cart, get them unto the forest to cut wood. And Owlglass sate upon the horse’s back, while his master sate behind him upon the shafts of the cart. Then ran a hare across the road whither they journeyed; and the master, when that he beheld it, said: “Lo! my man, turn we back again upon this day; for it is a most evil fortune when that a hare doth run across the way. To-day will we do some other thing.” So they gat themselves home again.

On the next day departed they as before unto the forest; and Owlglass spake unto his master, and said unto him: “A wolf hath run across the road, master; what shall we do?” “Ha! sayest thou so?” quoth the boor. “Drive forth, drive forth; great good fortune is it when that a wolf doth cross thy road.” So Owlglass drave the horse into the forest; and when that they gat thither, they took the horse out of the traces, and left the cart standing, while they gat them to their labour. And when that they had done, the boor despatched Owlglass, and bade him fetch the horse and cart, that they might load and get them home once more.

Now when that the excellent Owlglass came before the forest, he beheld the horse lying dead, and the wolf was inside thereof devouring him with great appetite. And at this sight was Owlglass secretly glad, and ran back and said unto the boor: “Come hither, boor come hither! the good fortune is within the horse!” Thereat said the boor unto him: “What dost thou mean?” Yet Owlglass hastened him, and said: “Do thou lose no time; but get thee forward, or thou wilt have lost the good fortune.” When that they came thither, lo! the wolf lay within the carcase of the horse, and eagerly tore and devoured him. Then said Owlglass: “Boor! an if ye had gone into the forest yesterday, when that the hare crossed our path, would your horse have been whole! But I crave not to abide with one that on signs and omens setteth his trust. Farewell!” And so departed.

The Ninety and Ninth Adventure

How that Owlglass gat him to the High School of Paris

Once Owlglass gat him as far as Paris, that learned city, at a season when the examination for licentiate was going forward. And he went in and stood over against the one who on the stool sate and looked upon him. Then the learned doctor said unto him: “What wouldst thou have! Dost thou desire to say aught unto me?” Then Owlglass took counsel within himself, and said: “Yea, most learned, I have a most difficult question I would desire resolved. Thus: Is it better for a man to do that which he knoweth, or to learn that which he knoweth not? Make the doctors the books, or the books the doctors?” And at this question marvelled everyone, and disputed thereupon; and the greater number thought that it was better that a man should do that which he knoweth, than that he should first learn that which he knoweth not. Then said Owlglass: “Then what fools must all of ye here be, in that ye ever crave to learn that which ye know not, and what ye know, that do none of ye.” Then departed he with great scorn of pedants and scholars.

The Hundredth Adventure

How Owlglass would fain have been an innkeeper at Rouen, but was beguiled by a one-eyed man, and again, in turn, cozened him

In the town of Rouen, it fortuned that there was a certain tax to be taken from those who desired to keep an inn, which was named the Sign-tax, for to set up a sign you must give a crown, and of this tax a one-eyed man was the receiver. Owlglass thought to keep an inn, but could never have permission from this man to put up a sign unless he would give him a piece of gold, for that they had had a quarrel at some time before. But at last he was obliged to give a piece of gold, and he set his mind to make the receiver sorry for having taken it. So soon, therefore, as he might set up a sign, Owlglass had a one-eyed man painted, to whom another man was giving a piece of gold, and underneath he had written, “Au Borgne qui prend.”[11 - To the one-eyed man who takes.] Those who beheld that sign, and who knew the story, laughed much thereat; and when it came unto the ears of the tax-receiver, he was very angry, and went and laid his complaint before the judge. Owlglass was cited to come to answer the complaint, the which he did at once, and confessed that he had set up the sign in shame of the man who had so cheated him; upon which the judge commanded the other to be sworn, who then said it was true he had taken so much money, and offered to return it. This he was ordered to do; and Owlglass was commanded to alter his sign, but all that he did was to paint out the p in the writing, which thus read: “Au Borgne qui rend;”[12 - To the one-eyed man who returns.] for in sooth it was not easy to discover in the painting whether the man was giving or taking the gold-piece. Thus Owlglass satisfied justice, and the judge would not hear the second complaint.

The Hundred and First Adventure

How in Berlin Owlglass was an officer, and collected taxes of the boors

When, unto his shame, Owlglass forgat his noble and virtuous estate, and became a tax-officer, he was on a time sent forth unto a village, to demand money of a boor, who either loved not to pay money, or was poor and could not. And as Owlglass with his little lance went forth, the following matter came to pass. For as an evil and wicked office bringeth shame unto the mind, so also leadeth it every man into bad company; therefore marvel ye not when that I say unto ye that the Devil, that prince of evil and darkness, encountered Owlglass as he ran. And his high estate had the devil put off, and appeared in the likeness of a boor, yet did Master Owlglass perceive right well who it was. Then ’gan they to confer together, and walked together on the way. The boor said unto him: “Thou goest about to receive money, let us now make fellowship; for I go to find a concealed treasure, and of that will I give thee half, and do thou the same with me.”

Now Owlglass had heard it said of old time, that the devil knoweth full well of many a hidden treasure, so he agreed with him, and they departed together. And it came to pass, that as they went through a village, they heard a child crying and screaming. Then came its mother by, and said unto it: “Hold thy peace, wilt thou? May the foul fiend take thee!” Thereat said Owlglass unto the devil: “Lo! hearest thou, there hast thou a child given unto thee?” The devil said: “My good friend, the mother meaneth not that she saith; I dare not take it, for it is but spoken in choler.” Then went they forward unto the field, and came unto a herd of swine; and lo! a great fat sow had departed from the herd, and the swineherd pursued it, and cried aloud, as he ran: “May the devil take thee!” That heard Owlglass, and for as much as he loved bacon, would fain have received his share, and said unto the devil: “Lo! dost thou not hear? Now hast thou a fat sow given unto thee. Put forth thine hand and take it, for it is thine. With thee will I have no further fellowship.” Then said the devil: “Worthy Master Owlglass, what could I do with a sow? Nor hath he any grave intent to give it unto me; and if that I took it, the poor swineherd would have to pay for it. Nay, I will await something better than this.” For the devil was tenderhearted; but Owlglass thought upon the treasure.

Thereafter came they unto the court-yard of the boor of whom Owlglass was to receive the money; and he stood in the barn and thrashed the corn. When that he looked up and beheld Owlglass, he opened his mouth, and spake unto him, saying: “Art thou there again? The devil take thee, for I would fain never see thee again.” Thereat said the devil unto Owlglass: “Now dost thou see? He meaneth this thing most devoutly; do thou, therefore, come with me, for of a truth have I found my treasure, the which was hidden.” But Owlglass answered, and said unto the devil: “Nay, but now will we reckon with each other; for I said unto thee that I would no longer have fellowship with thee, and now do I fulfil my saying; therefore do thou nothing contrary to law.” Therewith cited he the devil before the judge, and bade him hold his hand not to touch him, for was he not a government officer? I know not, my good masters, whether the devil,—who is contrary unto all law, and existeth contrary thereunto,—had no great love for judges, or whether they were so steeped in evil-doing that even the foul fiend held them in contempt; yet most true it is, that he came not unto Owlglass his citation. Thereafter grew Owlglass greater in virtue, and left off his evil ways, and laid down his office.

The Hundred and Second Adventure

How that in his latter days Owlglass became a pious monk, and what came thereof

Unto all men is there appointed a time when that their manifold and heavy sins sit upon their remorse-laden souls, and they groan for mercy, and writhe under the pangs of repentance. And though Owlglass had, throughout his life, been a virtuous man (as I have clearly manifested unto ye, my masters!) yet after he had journeyed hither and thither in all lands, there came unto him a gallows-repentance; and he bethought him how that he unto a convent might depart, taking the vows of poverty, and there end his days, and cast forth all that old leaven of his evil-doings, and be a pious and a good man henceforth, so that his soul should not be lost. Therefore he gat him unto the Abbot of the convent at Marienthal, and entreated of him that he would receive him as a brother, and unto the convent would he in his testament give all that he had. Now, the which was not a most marvellous thing, the abbot with such fools was greatly contented, and therefore spake he unto Owlglass, and said: “For that thou hast yet some gear of valuable treasure, art thou welcome unto me. But, seest thou, some office must thou have, for among our fraternity is no one without somewhat to do; every one among us hath an employment, and therefore must thou too labour.” And Owlglass answered, and said: “Yea, reverend father, that would I cheerfully do.” Thereat said the abbot: “Then, with God’s grace, as thou lovest not much labour, do I receive thee, and be thou our gatekeeper. So wilt thou stay within thy chamber, and wilt have neither sorrow nor great work, only to fetch thy provision and beer from the cellar, and to lock and unlock the gate.” And the pious Owlglass said: “Reverend father abbot! God give you guerdon therefore, that ye do so kindly consider the infirmities of a poor old man, borne down with the weight of his sins and broken with sickness, of a truth will I perform everything that ye do enjoin me.” Then said the abbot: “Behold, do ye now receive of me the keys, but let not every one enter herein, or will the convent soon grow poor, for the robbers will waste our substance, and eat up all our provision; therefore do thou let but few in, scarcely more than the third or fourth.” And Owlglass answered, and said: “Yea, reverend sir, I will do your bidding as ye command me.” Then did he never let more than the fourth person enter into the convent, it recked not whether they belonged unto the convent or no.

And a complaint came unto the abbot of this action of Owlglass, and he called him and spake unto him after this wise: “What a vile and doubly condemned knave art thou, that thou wilt not let such enter in that unto the convent do belong.” “Reverend Lord Abbot,” answered Owlglass, “lo! unto the fourth have I let them enter, according as thou didst signify unto me. Thy words have I fulfilled with great diligence.” “Like unto a knave hast thou fulfilled those words of mine,” said the abbot, and would fain have again been free of him. Then the abbot appointed another door-keeper, for he marked well that Owlglass would not hold from his ancient beguilings. And he gave unto him another office, and bade him count the monks in order as they gat them down unto matins, and he spake unto him, saying: “And behold, if thou dost overlook one of them then must thou get thee hence.” Then said Owlglass to the abbot: “Verily is this a heavy business; yet an if none other hath command to do it, must I fulfil it as well as may be.”

Thereafter brake he privily by night some boards from the staircase, by the which the monks came down unto the chapel. Now the Prior of that convent was an old man and a pious, and ever was he the first the which entered into the chapel to be at matins. And he came unto the stairs and sought the steps the which by Owlglass had been broken away, and found them not, but fell through and brake his leg. Then cried he out with a loud voice, so that all the other monks ran with great haste unto that place to see what had come to pass, and fell one after the other over the prior. Then did Owlglass get him unto the abbot, and said unto him: “Most reverend sir! I have fulfilled mine office as thou wouldst have from me.” Therewith gave Owlglass unto the abbot the piece of wood, the tally on the which he had nicked down the number of the monks as he stood thereby. And the abbot said unto him: “Like unto a most vile knave hast thou fulfilled my command; get thee now straightway forth from this place.” So Owlglass departed, and put from him his monk’s frock, and came unto Möllen, where he thereafter lay sick and died.

The Hundred and Third Adventure

How that when at Möllen Owlglass lay sick, his mother came unto him

In sickness and in health hath a man but one ever kind friend, who in him can see no fault, whose good counsel abideth within his heart, and bitter sore is it when he followeth not the words spake unto him with such noble and truthful intent; yet such was the action of Owlglass. For when that in his youth his mother would have restrained him from his knavery, would he not be persuaded. Now at Möllen lay he grievously sick, and not one of his noble friends, unto the which he had caused such great laughter, cared to come nigh unto him; yet came his mother, who with fear and trembling had, in her solitude and desolate home, marked the courses of our noble master; and she besought him, saying: “Soon wilt thou depart unto the land of darkness and shadow, the which men traverse with shuddering, quaking with fear for the evil they have done, for of a truth is no man good, no man worthy of grace! Therefore do thou, I pray of thee, bequeath unto me of thy substance, that in my old age and decrepitude I may have some comfort; for I perish of sadness and sorrow, the which killeth more than an empty stomach, and destroyeth more than the bitterness of winter frost.”

And, as he lay sick before her, did his evil youth rise up against him, and proclaim him a cunning and deceitful knave. Then took he his mother’s hand between his twain, and opened his mouth and said unto her: “Lo! evil gotten riches reward not any man, neither canst thou on them place thy comfort. Now in this world is it a rule, the which none doth, that of him which hath anything should you take of his substance, and to him that hath not allot ye a part. Yet is my good fortune so great that my treasure is hidden where no man can find it. If that thou canst discover aught that is mine take it and use it freely. But an if thou findest it not, be not grieved, for my treasure is subtle and lieth most privily concealed.” Then understood his mother the words which he spake unto her, and cared not any more to receive from him aught that by guile and cunning he had received of others. Yet may we perceive, in another place, what that treasure was, and how eagerly men strove thereafter.

The Hundred and Fourth Adventure

How that when Owlglass was sick unto death, he made confession of three things, the which it sorely troubled him he had not done

Sorrow and trouble had Owlglass for his manifold wickedness; but the mood in which he spake unto his mother, remained not upon him any while. For as the tree falleth so doth it lie, and in so much joyous company hath Master Owlglass spent his life, that now at the end of it can he not send forth the remembrance of it, and a smack of his ancient knavery cometh back unto him. When those which were around him perceived that he was near unto his end, they besought and moved him to confess his transgressions unto the priest. And that would he not do until an old nun of marvellous wisdom came and entreated him. Then he opened his mouth and spake unto her, saying: “Nay, but I die not sweetly, for death is bitter indeed, and unto me cometh with a face of woe; and why should I confess unto any man in secret? For what I have done,—knowing that in my manhood I have perfected many and divers things,—is perceived by me to be noised abroad over many lands and countries, and unto not a few is it well known, and of me converse they continually; and unto the end of time shall the inheritance of my life come unto others that arise after me. Of a truth do I not think so scurvily of the world. But an if I have done therein any good, it shall not be remembered; and if man receive it not, then will the Almighty Lord record it within the glorious book he hath of his creatures. And yet of my evil doings will there be constant report, so that without confession shall they be multiplied. Three sorrows have I, the which I have not done and performed, and the which could have been accomplished by me.”

HOW OWLGLASS REBUKED THE PRIEST’S COVETOUSNESS.

And the holy nun answered him, and said: “Dear heart! be ye content; for an if it might be an evil thing that ye would do, have ye in the thought concerning it wrought more than half thereof. But what be these things, evil or good?” And Owlglass answered, and said: “The first of these things is, that when I beheld a man walking in the street, and his coat hung below his mantle, I followed after him, and I thought that the coat would have fallen from off him; then would I fain have rolled it up, and did I not do it. For when that I approached unto him, I was grievously vexed that I could not cut off his coat as far as it hung down beneath the mantle. And this thing, the which I did not, troubled me most sorely. Unto this add I the second thing, the which is, that when I behold a man who sitteth, and with a knife thrust between his jaws, doth pick his teeth, then would I gladly jerk the knife into his wizen, for that thereby he might not again mar his teeth. And the last thing that I have not done is, that when a pack of old women sate conferring together, and gossiping away the character, conduct, and interests of those which be fools enow to look upon them with awe and reverence, I could not sew their mouths up, hath troubled me sorely.” Then said the old nun unto him: “Meanest thou that, and wouldst thou do it unto me?” “Yea,” quoth the dying knave. “Then would I give unto thee thy viaticum, and assoilzie thee,—and that thou shouldst get thee unto the foul fiend, the which owneth thee, and all like unto thee!” “Nay,” answered Owlglass, “an if thou dost this, thou dost condemn the whole human race, for be we not every one of us fools or knaves?” But she tarried no longer with him, the which he deemed not civil, for with others, until that he was bidden to depart, remained he always.

The Hundred and Fifth Adventure

Saith, How that to a greedy priest Owlglass confessed his sins, and paid him handsomely for his pains

And it came to pass, that when the nun had departed from him, he still thought that with this world he would leave not a moment without profit; therefore when that they brought a priest unto him, lost he not any time in rehearsing unto him his sins, and likewise giving unto him such a lesson as in this true and veracious chronicle will now be set forth. For the greed of priests be very great, and ever delight they in clutching from the poor such money as would otherwise fill their ill-lined bodies with good meat and drink, and cover their pinched limbs with a fair doublet. So when that this priest came unto Owlglass, perceived he that an adventurous man had our master been, and in his time had made not a little provision for his purse, and could, therefore, pay unto his confessor a goodly sum. And unto him did he therefore speak, beseeching him to think of the peace of his soul, and that he should pay money for masses, the which should be said and sung for him. Thereunto answered Owlglass, that it was well said of him, and he bade him to come again that afternoon, and he would make provision therefor.

Then departed the priest, and came not again until even; and our good master made preparation, and gat a large vessel and filled it with pitch; and on the top of the pitch laid he some crown-pieces, and ducats, and other money, so as to hide the pitch from the eyes of the priest. Then confessed Owlglass his sins, and the priest gave him absolution, and then would have received the money of him. And Owlglass said unto him: “Lo! in yonder vessel lieth store of treasure, put in thine hand and pluck forth a handful; but do thou see that thou dip not too deep.” Yet was the priest greedy, and hearkened not unto the words of Owlglass, but dipped his hand deep into the vessel, and behold! when he brought it forth again was it with pitch all defiled. Thereat was Master Owlglass greatly benefited, so that strength returned unto him, and he rose up from his bed and said unto him: “Dost thou not see! I required of thee that thou shouldst not dip too deep into the vessel; but thou wouldst not hearken unto my words, for on the top lay the treasure, the which was thine.” And he laughed and made sport of the priest’s greed. Then was the priest wroth, and departed, and would with such a knave have no more to do.

The Hundred and Sixth Adventure

How that Owlglass in three parts did divide all that belonged unto him; and the one part gave he freely unto his friends, and another thereof humbly to the town council of Möllen, and the third part unto the priest there

Now when that Owlglass lay sick, every day grew he weaker, and knew that his death was approaching; therefore he made his will, and in three parts did he divide his wealth,—the one part gave he unto his friends, and the other unto the town council of Möllen, to pay the debts which lay upon the town, and the third part unto the priest of that place. But he made one stipulation, and caused them to promise that they would bury him in the holy earth of the churchyard, and after a Christian wise sing and say a mass and vigil for his sinful soul; and then, after four weeks, should they open the chest in the which lay his treasure, and the which chest was with three most excellent locks shut, and unto each gave Owlglass one key, and they accepted the trust of him, and then bidding them all farewell and enjoyment of the wealth he left unto them, he gently gave up the ghost, and so from this world departed one of the best and noblest men the which Germany had ever seen; nor since that time hath there been any like unto him in rarity of wit or subtlety of heart. And though there be no lack of fools and knaves who chouse and cozen, yet do none of them perform such chousing and cozening to the glory and advantage of true wisdom, in manner and form as did Owlglass.

And after the four weeks were gone by, and all things had been duly accomplished according to the promise made unto him, came the council and the priest and the friends of Owlglass to open the treasure, and enter upon the enjoyment thereof. And, behold! when they opened the chest, found they nought but stones. Then grew they angry, and strove together; and each believed that the other had from the chest taken the treasure. But it was not so; for of a truth understood they not until afterward, that all treasure is indeed of no greater account than stones. For a lusty frame and a cheerful heart be the best of riches.

The Hundred and Seventh Adventure

How that at Möllen Owlglass died, and the swine did cast down the coffin when that the good priests sang the vigil

Now after that time that Owlglass had given up the ghost, the people entered in unto the hospital where he lay, and took him, and put him in a coffin, and set it upon tressels. Then came the good priests to sing a vigil round his coffin, and they lifted up their voices and sang. But as they sang came the swine of the master of that hospital, and entered in unto the room where lay Owlglass, and they ran underneath the coffin, and cast it down. Then came the nuns and monks, and much folk likewise, and would have driven forth the swine, but that could they not do; and the swine leaped and ran, and upset the nuns and monks, so that it was a most lamentable sight to look upon. Afterwards gat the swine forth into the street, and the nuns entered in, and laid Owlglass within his coffin again; and they bare him forth unto the graveyard to bury him.