Canon Yeoman’s Tale In Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Canon and his Yeoman have joined a man they see leave an inn. In this story, the Yeoman starts by telling the host of their occupation and attempts at alchemy. The story the Yeoman is about to tell focuses mainly on one occasion when a Canon had dealings with a priest. After explaining to their host the debt he is now in, the Yeoman tells …showed first 75 words of 656 total…

…showed last 75 words of 656 total…the secrets he has been taught, so that it may be shared with others. The Canon’s Yeoman refers to alchemy: “…it will turn a man’s mirth to grief, empty large and heavy pocket books, and make folks buy curses against those to whom they lent their money.” (329) The Canon’s Yeoman finishes his story with one last attack on alchemy, and insists that no one will ever prosper from trying to transmute metals.