Below is the famous late fifteenth century poem depicting the tools of a carpenter engaged in debate. I was determined to find it when i read a blog post by Christopher Schwarz that mentioned this poem in passing as being included in an older book by Roy Underhill. For a helpful introduction to the poem, click here. Below is the brief forward by James Orchard Halliwell from his 1844 edition of the poem, included in the volume Nugae Poetica: Select Pieces of Old English Popular Poetry, Illustrating the Manners and Arts of Fifteenth Century. I think the title of his book is longer than his little blurb on our poem, but here it is for your enjoyment.
Addendum: Since scrolling all the way down for the footnotes is a royal pain, they're included after every relevant page, but i decided to leave the entire list at the bottom, as well.
1 Shype-Ax. Most likely an ax used for chipping or trimming. See MED, “chip-ax.”
3 Clene hose and clene schone. The sense of these lines appears to be “I will earn you food and drink, but you’ll have to work harder to earn yourself clothing.”
6 Thall. “Thou will.” See MED, “thou.”
7 longys the crafte. Crafte may here refer to the profession of carpenters in general, or the local craft guild of carpenters more specifically.
9 Belte. An “allet maul, hammer; also, a bat or club.” See MED, “betel.”
13 Twybyll. A “kind of ax with two cutting edges; formerly used for cutting mor tices”; see OED, “twibill,” 1.
17 Wymbyll. A name applied to several different kinds of boring tools; see OED, “wimble.”
22 twenti pounde. This is an outlandish sum, perhaps double the amount of an ex perienced master carpenter’s yearly wages.
31 Groping-Iren. A chisel or gouge.
43 ale-wyffe. Brewing ale was a common household industry for women.
48 twenti merke. A mark was two-thirds of a pound; since the Whetstone is speaking of yearly wages, this boast seems more plausible.
53 Adys. An adze is an ax-like tool with a curved blade, used for cutting away wood.
77 seven pens drynke. Seven pence, the rough equivalent of a carpenter’s daily wages, would purchase up to seven gallons of ale (depending on its strength), a comic ally extravagant amount.
79 Lyne and the Chalke. Strings coated in chalk are still used by carpenters for drawing lines on wood to be cut.
87 Prykyng Knyfe. MED and OED quote only this line; if not an awl, this tool is likely to be some other instrument for marking wood.
93 Persore. “An awl, a gimlet, an auger”; see MED, “percer(e).” Lines 100–04 sug gest that this is a drill.
106 schyreff of the toune. Sheriffs originally had considerable local authority in admin istering the royal legal system, but by the later Middle Ages, their impor tance had waned. Nevertheless, the job was typically held by minor gentry, and being ap pointed sheriff would be an honor considerably beyond the hopes of carpenters.
107 Skantyllyon. A gauge, used for measuring the depth of mortises (recesses made in wood for joinery).
77 seven pens drynke. Seven pence, the rough equivalent of a carpenter’s daily wages, would purchase up to seven gallons of ale (depending on its strength), a comic ally extravagant amount.
79 Lyne and the Chalke. Strings coated in chalk are still used by carpenters for drawing lines on wood to be cut.
87 Prykyng Knyfe. MED and OED quote only this line; if not an awl, this tool is likely to be some other instrument for marking wood.
93 Persore. “An awl, a gimlet, an auger”; see MED, “percer(e).” Lines 100–04 sug gest that this is a drill.
106 schyreff of the toune. Sheriffs originally had considerable local authority in admin istering the royal legal system, but by the later Middle Ages, their impor tance had waned. Nevertheless, the job was typically held by minor gentry, and being ap pointed sheriff would be an honor considerably beyond the hopes of carpenters.
107 Skantyllyon. A gauge, used for measuring the depth of mortises (recesses made in wood for joinery).
120 drynke never peny. A penny’s worth of ale might vary between one-third and one gallon.
139 Brode-Ax. Salzman describes this as “made with a chisel edge, beveled only on one side, which enabled it to follow a marked line accurately” (Building in England, p. 342).
139 Brode-Ax. Salzman describes this as “made with a chisel edge, beveled only on one side, which enabled it to follow a marked line accurately” (Building in England, p. 342).
145 Twyvete. Uncertain. OED suggests that this is a double-edged axe, via an etymology endorsed by Wilson (“Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools,” p. 406). Salzman argues plausibly that the tool is a mallet (Building in England, p. 344).
162 a knyght. Though late medieval knighthood was a marker of wealth rather than birth, carpenters would have been extremely unlikely to rise to this rank. The Windlass’s disbelief in lines 167–68 is entirely justified.
163 Wyndas-Rewle. A windlass is an axle or roller used for winding or moving.
179 The devyles dyrte. This expression appears in the Towneley Plays, in the Play of the Buffeting, ed. England, p. 233, line 170. The sense of the insult is “something wretched or excremental.”
183 This seven yere. The customary duration of an apprenticeship.
199 Nother the mayster ne the man. I.e., “neither the master nor his apprentices and journeymen.”
221 Draught Nayle. Uncertain. MED and Salzman suggest that this is a punch for countersinking nails (Building in England, p. 345). Wilson argues that the etymol ogy favors the interpretation of the phrase as a nail-drawer (“Debate of the Carpen ter’s Tools,” p. 468).
279 hym that it dud make. See the introduction to this item.
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: FOOTNOTE
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: EXPLANATORY NOTES
Title No title or incipit. Halliwell, the poem’s first editor, gave the poem this title, which has been favored in subsequent references. The text begins one-quarter down the page of fol. 23r, with no space separating it from the previous item.
1 Shype-Ax. Most likely an ax used for chipping or trimming. See MED, “chip-ax.”
3 Clene hose and clene schone. The sense of these lines appears to be “I will earn you food and drink, but you’ll have to work harder to earn yourself clothing.”
6 Thall. “Thou will.” See MED, “thou.”
7 longys the crafte. Crafte may here refer to the profession of carpenters in general, or the local craft guild of carpenters more specifically.
9 Belte. An “allet maul, hammer; also, a bat or club.” See MED, “betel.”
13 Twybyll. A “kind of ax with two cutting edges; formerly used for cutting mor tices”; see OED, “twibill,” 1.
17 Wymbyll. A name applied to several different kinds of boring tools; see OED, “wimble.”
22 twenti pounde. This is an outlandish sum, perhaps double the amount of an ex perienced master carpenter’s yearly wages.
31 Groping-Iren. A chisel or gouge.
43 ale-wyffe. Brewing ale was a common household industry for women.
48 twenti merke. A mark was two-thirds of a pound; since the Whetstone is speaking of yearly wages, this boast seems more plausible.
53 Adys. An adze is an ax-like tool with a curved blade, used for cutting away wood.
77 seven pens drynke. Seven pence, the rough equivalent of a carpenter’s daily wages, would purchase up to seven gallons of ale (depending on its strength), a comic ally extravagant amount.
79 Lyne and the Chalke. Strings coated in chalk are still used by carpenters for drawing lines on wood to be cut.
87 Prykyng Knyfe. MED and OED quote only this line; if not an awl, this tool is likely to be some other instrument for marking wood.
93 Persore. “An awl, a gimlet, an auger”; see MED, “percer(e).” Lines 100–04 sug gest that this is a drill.
106 schyreff of the toune. Sheriffs originally had considerable local authority in admin istering the royal legal system, but by the later Middle Ages, their impor tance had waned. Nevertheless, the job was typically held by minor gentry, and being ap pointed sheriff would be an honor considerably beyond the hopes of carpenters.
107 Skantyllyon. A gauge, used for measuring the depth of mortises (recesses made in wood for joinery).
120 drynke never peny. A penny’s worth of ale might vary between one-third and one gallon.
139 Brode-Ax. Salzman describes this as “made with a chisel edge, beveled only on one side, which enabled it to follow a marked line accurately” (Building in England, p. 342).
145 Twyvete. Uncertain. OED suggests that this is a double-edged axe, via an etymology endorsed by Wilson (“Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools,” p. 406). Salzman argues plausibly that the tool is a mallet (Building in England, p. 344).
162 a knyght. Though late medieval knighthood was a marker of wealth rather than birth, carpenters would have been extremely unlikely to rise to this rank. The Windlass’s disbelief in lines 167–68 is entirely justified.
163 Wyndas-Rewle. A windlass is an axle or roller used for winding or moving.
179 The devyles dyrte. This expression appears in the Towneley Plays, in the Play of the Buffeting, ed. England, p. 233, line 170. The sense of the insult is “something wretched or excremental.”
183 This seven yere. The customary duration of an apprenticeship.
199 Nother the mayster ne the man. I.e., “neither the master nor his apprentices and journeymen.”
221 Draught Nayle. Uncertain. MED and Salzman suggest that this is a punch for countersinking nails (Building in England, p. 345). Wilson argues that the etymol ogy favors the interpretation of the phrase as a nail-drawer (“Debate of the Carpen ter’s Tools,” p. 468).
279 hym that it dud make. See the introduction to this item.
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: TEXTUAL NOTES
1 MS: Initial T is two lines tall.
4 wheresoever. MS: wherasever.
8 nothyng. MS: nothnyng.
12 clothe and fede. MS: clothe fede.
41 dey and nyght. MS: dey nyght.
82 thryve. MS: thryv.
124 hym owght. MS: hy owght.
183 prentys. MS: puntys.
224 mayster. MS: maystys.
237 wyrke not. MS: wyrke no.
245 Groping Iren. MS: iren is added above the rest of the line.
268 off. MS: of.
279 gest. MS: yet. Wilson’s emendation.
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: FOOTNOTE
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: EXPLANATORY NOTES
Title No title or incipit. Halliwell, the poem’s first editor, gave the poem this title, which has been favored in subsequent references. The text begins one-quarter down the page of fol. 23r, with no space separating it from the previous item.
1 Shype-Ax. Most likely an ax used for chipping or trimming. See MED, “chip-ax.”
3 Clene hose and clene schone. The sense of these lines appears to be “I will earn you food and drink, but you’ll have to work harder to earn yourself clothing.”
6 Thall. “Thou will.” See MED, “thou.”
7 longys the crafte. Crafte may here refer to the profession of carpenters in general, or the local craft guild of carpenters more specifically.
9 Belte. An “allet maul, hammer; also, a bat or club.” See MED, “betel.”
13 Twybyll. A “kind of ax with two cutting edges; formerly used for cutting mor tices”; see OED, “twibill,” 1.
17 Wymbyll. A name applied to several different kinds of boring tools; see OED, “wimble.”
22 twenti pounde. This is an outlandish sum, perhaps double the amount of an ex perienced master carpenter’s yearly wages.
31 Groping-Iren. A chisel or gouge.
43 ale-wyffe. Brewing ale was a common household industry for women.
48 twenti merke. A mark was two-thirds of a pound; since the Whetstone is speaking of yearly wages, this boast seems more plausible.
53 Adys. An adze is an ax-like tool with a curved blade, used for cutting away wood.
77 seven pens drynke. Seven pence, the rough equivalent of a carpenter’s daily wages, would purchase up to seven gallons of ale (depending on its strength), a comic ally extravagant amount.
79 Lyne and the Chalke. Strings coated in chalk are still used by carpenters for drawing lines on wood to be cut.
87 Prykyng Knyfe. MED and OED quote only this line; if not an awl, this tool is likely to be some other instrument for marking wood.
93 Persore. “An awl, a gimlet, an auger”; see MED, “percer(e).” Lines 100–04 sug gest that this is a drill.
106 schyreff of the toune. Sheriffs originally had considerable local authority in admin istering the royal legal system, but by the later Middle Ages, their impor tance had waned. Nevertheless, the job was typically held by minor gentry, and being ap pointed sheriff would be an honor considerably beyond the hopes of carpenters.
107 Skantyllyon. A gauge, used for measuring the depth of mortises (recesses made in wood for joinery).
120 drynke never peny. A penny’s worth of ale might vary between one-third and one gallon.
139 Brode-Ax. Salzman describes this as “made with a chisel edge, beveled only on one side, which enabled it to follow a marked line accurately” (Building in England, p. 342).
145 Twyvete. Uncertain. OED suggests that this is a double-edged axe, via an etymology endorsed by Wilson (“Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools,” p. 406). Salzman argues plausibly that the tool is a mallet (Building in England, p. 344).
162 a knyght. Though late medieval knighthood was a marker of wealth rather than birth, carpenters would have been extremely unlikely to rise to this rank. The Windlass’s disbelief in lines 167–68 is entirely justified.
163 Wyndas-Rewle. A windlass is an axle or roller used for winding or moving.
179 The devyles dyrte. This expression appears in the Towneley Plays, in the Play of the Buffeting, ed. England, p. 233, line 170. The sense of the insult is “something wretched or excremental.”
183 This seven yere. The customary duration of an apprenticeship.
199 Nother the mayster ne the man. I.e., “neither the master nor his apprentices and journeymen.”
221 Draught Nayle. Uncertain. MED and Salzman suggest that this is a punch for countersinking nails (Building in England, p. 345). Wilson argues that the etymol ogy favors the interpretation of the phrase as a nail-drawer (“Debate of the Carpen ter’s Tools,” p. 468).
279 hym that it dud make. See the introduction to this item.
Item 16, THE DEBATE OF THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS: TEXTUAL NOTES
1 MS: Initial T is two lines tall.
4 wheresoever. MS: wherasever.
8 nothyng. MS: nothnyng.
12 clothe and fede. MS: clothe fede.
41 dey and nyght. MS: dey nyght.
82 thryve. MS: thryv.
124 hym owght. MS: hy owght.
183 prentys. MS: puntys.
224 mayster. MS: maystys.
237 wyrke not. MS: wyrke no.
245 Groping Iren. MS: iren is added above the rest of the line.
268 off. MS: of.
279 gest. MS: yet. Wilson’s emendation.
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