The Clerk's Tale

Lord Walter likes being single and hunting.
People plead to lord that he marry a worthy woman and have kids before he dies.
There's a poor woman, Griselda, he's seen when he's gone hunting.
He asks her father for her hand, and then asks her to submit to him. She does.
They marry.
She has a daughter.

Lord Walter wants to test Griselda's faithfulness.
He tells her the other nobles don't like her.
She submits.
His sergeant takes her daughter away, presumably to be killed.
Griselda prays she get a burial so her body doesn't get ripped to shreds by wild animals.
Sergeant feigns not hearing.
Daughter secretly sent to Lord Walter's sister.

Griselda has a son.
Lord Walter wants to test her.
He tells her that the nobles aren't happy about her having a lowly heir.
She submits.
His sergeant takes her son away, presumably to be killed.
Griselda prays he get a burial so his body doesn't get ripped to shreds by wild animals.
Sergeant feigns not hearing.
Son secretly sent to Lord Walter's sister.
People are pissed.

Lord Walter wants to test Griselda some more.
He says the people want him to marry again, and the Pope orders it.
She submits, save that she at least get to wear her smock when she's sent home.
She pledges her future chastity.
She walks home in smock.
People cry.
Father says, "I told you so."

Lord Walter orders his daughter and son to be brought back from sister's place.
He makes plans to marry the twelve year old daughter.
She arrives.
Festivities are planned.
Lord Walter goes to Griselda's house.
He asks her if she would be so kind to prepare the wedding chamber, since she knows so well how he likes it.
She says she would be happy to.

People are happy because new wife will be more beautiful than old one. (Fickle people.)

Lord Walter brings son, daughter, and Griselda into a room together.
Griselda wishes Lord Walter all the happiness in the world.
He says the test is over.
He points out her son.
He points out her daughter.
She hits him rejoices.
Everyone's happy.
Daughter isn't scarred by the experience.
The people forgive everything.

Chaucer can be very weird.