The Canon's Yeoman begins his tale about a priest in London who was visited by a false clerk requesting a loan. Within two days, the loan is repaid and the clerk desires to illustrate his method of repayment. The priest could not believe the avarice involved in such an action.
The canon has the priest tell his servant to gather three ounces of quicksilver and coal. The canon quickly made it appear as if he had created silver within his crucible. The priest then exchanged the fake silver for real money if he promised to never reveal the unlawful method. The Canon's Yeoman concludes the tale with a warning to the pilgrims that all fraud, such as this one, will wind up in punishment one way or another.
