With such and other curiosities, which the Knight writ as aptly
fitting his adventures, did he adorn his chamber and pass away his
tedious imprisonment.
Whilst that the Pilgrim was busy in beholding these conceits, he was
called before the judges to answer the accusation against him, and
he relating simply the truth, by the little art which he brought
with him in his speech, he plainly showed that there was no guilt in
him; his cause being recommended unto the judges by the knight, who
writ his innocence unto them, he was acquitted and brought back
again into the knight's chamber, where they ate together. Their
discourse which at the end of dinner served for their last dish
(amongst other things) fell upon their misfortunes, because that
there is nothing which more aptly, and readily doth ease the mind
than relation of our own misadventures. The master of the lodging
(who could willingly have spared that name) being entreated by the
pilgrim to relate the cause of his imprisonment, began to speak in
this manner: