"When that Aprillé with his showerés soote [= sweet]
The drought of March hath piercéd to the roote,
Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages,
And palmers for to seeken strangé strands,
To ferme [=ancient] halwes [=shrines] knowthe [= known] in sundry lands
And specially from every shirés end
Of Engéland, to Canterbury they wend,
The holy, blissful martyr for to seek
That them hath holpen when that they were sick."
CHAUCER: Canterbury Tales.