<B CEFICT1A>
<Q E1 NI FICT MERRYTAL>
<N MERRY TALES>
<A X>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T FICTION>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z NARR IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^A HUNDRED MERY TALYS, FROM THE ONLY
PERFECT COPY KNOWN.
SHAKESPEARE'S JEST BOOK.
ED. H. OESTERLEY.
LONDON: JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 1866.
PP. 18.1   - 21.29       (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 22.18  - 37.14       (SAMPLE 2)
PP. 39.1   - 41.6        (SAMPLE 3)
PP. 114.1  - 115.20      (SAMPLE 4)
PP. 118.18 - 120.18      (SAMPLE 5)
PP. 126.8  - 127.4       (SAMPLE 6)
PP. 132.7  - 133.3       (SAMPLE 7)
PP. 134.15 - 136.3       (SAMPLE 8)
PP. 143.7  - 144.13      (SAMPLE 9)
PP. 145.11 - 150.3       (SAMPLE 10)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 18>
[} [\IX.\] OF HIM THAT SAYD THAT A WOMA~S TONG WAS 
LIGHTIST MET OF DEGESTIO~.}]

   A certayn artificer in londo~ there 
was which was sore syk that coud not 
well dygest hys mete/ to who~ a physyco~ 
cam to gyue hym councell & seyd y=t= he 
must vse to ete metis y=t= be light of dygestyon as 
<P 19>
small byrdys/ as sparous or swallous & especyall 
y=t= byrd y=t= ys callyd a wagtale whose fleshe 
ys meruelouse lyght of dygestyo~ because that 
byrd ys euer mouyng & styryng. The sik man 
heryng the phesicion seyd so answeryd hym & 
seyd/ Syr yf that be the cause y=t= those birdys be 
lyght of dygestyon/ Than I know a mete mych 
lyghter of dygestion tha~ other sparow swallow or 
wagtayle/ & that ys my wyuys to~g for it is neuer 
in rest but euer mouying & styrryng.
   By thys tale ye may lerne a good generall 
rule of phesyk.


[} [\X.\] OF THE WOMAN THAT FOLOWYD HER FOURTH HUSBANDYS 
HERCE & WEPT.}]

   A woman ther was whych had had 
 .iiii. husba~des. It fortunyd also that 
this fourth husband died & was 
brought to chirch vppon y=e= bere/ who~ this woma~ 
folowyd & made gret mone & wext very sory. In 
so mych that her neybours thought she wold 
sowne & dy for sorow/ wherfor one of her gossyps 
cam to her & spake to her in her ere & 
<P 20>
bad her for goddes sake to comfort her self &         
refrayne that lamentaco~n or ellys it wold hurt 
her gretly & p~auenture put her in ieoperdy of 
her lyfe. To who~ this woma~ a~sweryd & sayd/
I wys good gosyp I haue gret cause to morne if 
ye knew all/ for I haue byryed .iii. husbandys besyde 
thys man/ but I was neuer i~ the case y=t= I am 
now/ for there was not one of the~ but whe~ that 
I folowid the corse to chyrch yet I was sure 
alway of an other husba~d before that y=e= corse 
cam out of my house/ & now I am sure of no 
nother husband & therfore ye may be sure I haue      
gret cause to be sad and heuy.
   By thys tale ye may se that the olde p~uerbe 
ys trew that yt is as gret pyte to se a woman wepe 
as a gose to go barefote.


[} [\IX.\] OF THE WOMAN THAT SAYD HER WOOER CAME 
TO LATE.}]

<P 21>
   A nother woman there was that 
knelyd at y=e= mas of requie~ whyle 
the corse of her husbande lay on the 
bere in the chyrch. To whom a yonge man 
came to speke wyth her in her ere as thoughe 
hyt had bene for som matre concernyng the 
funerallys/ howe be yt he spake of no such matter 
but only wowyd her that he myghte be her husbande/ 
to whome she answeryde & sayde thus/ 
Syr by my trouthe I am sory that ye come so late/ 
for I am sped all redy/ For I was made sure yester 
day to a nother man.
   By thys tale ye may perceyue that women 
ofte tymes be wyfe and lothe to lose any tyme.

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 22>
[} [\XIII.\] OF THE HORSMAN OF YRELOND THAT PRAYD 
OCONER TO HANG VP THE FRERE.}]

<P 23>
   One callyd Oconer an yrish lorde toke 
an horseman prysoner that was one of 
hys gret enmys/ whiche for any request 
or yntrety y=t= y=e= horsman made gaue iugement 
that he shulde inco~tyne~t be ha~gyd/ & 
made a frere to shryue hym and bad hym make 
hym redy to dye. Thys frere y=t= shroue hym 
examyned hym of dyuers synes & askyd hym 
amo~g othere whyche were the grettyste synnys 
that euer he dyde/ thys horseman answeryd & 
sayde one of the grettyst actys that euer I dyde 
whyche I now most repent is that when I toke 
Oconer the laste weke in a churche and ther 
I myght haue brennyd hym church and all & because 
I had conscyence & pyte of brennyng of the 
church I taryed y=e= tyme so long y=t= oconer escaped/ 
& that same deferring of brennyng of the church 
& so long taryeng of that tyme is one of the worst 
actys y=t= euer I dyd wherof I moste repente/ Thys 
frere perceyuyng hym in that mynd sayd pece 
man in the name of god & change y=t= mynde
<P 24>
& dye in charite or els thou shalt neuer come in 
heuen/ nay quod the hors man I wyll neuer 
change y=t= mynde what so euer shall come to my 
soule/ thys frere p~ceyuyng hym thys styll to contynew
hys mi~de ca~ to oconer & seyd syr in y=e= 
name of god haue some pyte vppo~ thys mannys 
sowle & let hym not dye now tyll he be in a 
better mynde/ For yf he dye now he ys so far 
out of charyte y=t= vtterly hys soule shalle be 
dampnyd/ and shewyd hym what mynde he was 
in & all the hole matter as ys before shewyd. 
Thys horsman heryng y=e= frere thys intrete for 
hym sayd to oconer thys/ Oconer thou seeyst 
well by thys mannys reporte y=t= yf I dye now
I am out of charyte & not redy to go to heuen 
& so it ys y=t= I am now out of charyte in dede/ 
but thou seest well y=t= this frere ys a good 
man he is now well dysposyd & in charyte/ 
and he is redy to go to heuen & so am not I/ 
therfore I pray the hang vp thys frere whyle that 
he hys redy to go to heuyn and lette me tary tyl 
a nother tyme y=t= I may be i~ charyte and redy & 
mete to go to heuyn. This Oconer heryng this 
mad answere of hym sparyd the man & forgaue 
hym hys lyfe at that season.
   By thys ye may se that he that is in daunger 
of his enmye y=t= hath no pyte/ he can do no better 
<P 25>
than shew to hym the vttermoste of hys malycyous 
mynde whych that he beryth toward 
hym.

[} [\XIV.\] OF THE PREST THAT SAYD NOTHER (\CORPUS MEUS\) 
NOR (\CORPUM MEUM\) .}]

   The archdekyn of Essex y=t= had bene long 
in auctoryte in a tyme of vysytacion 
when all the preestys apperyd before 
hym callyd asyde .iii. of y=e= yo~g prestys whych 
were accusyd y=t= they coud not well say theyr 
deuyne seruyce/ & askyd of the~ whe~ they sayd   
mas whether they sayd (\corpus meus\) or (\corpu~ 
meu~\) . The furst preest sayd y=t= he sayd (\corpus 
meus\) . The seco~d sayd y=t= he sayd (\corpu~ meu~\) . 
And the~ he askyd of the thyrd how he sayd/ 
whych answeryd & sayd thus / syr because it is so 
gret a dout & dyuers men be in dyuers opynyons/ 
therfore because I wold be sure I wold not offend 
whe~ I come to y=e= place I leue it clene out & say nothyng 
therfore/ wherfore he then openly rebukyd
them all thre. But dyuers that were present 
thought more defaut in hym because he hym 
<P 26>
selfe before tyme had admyttyd them to be preestys.
   By thys tale ye may se that one ought to 
take hede how he rebukyth an other lest it torne 
most to hys owne rebuke.

[} [\XV.\] OF THE .II. FRERYS WHEROF THE ONE LOUYD NOT 
THE ELE HED NOR THE OTHER THE TAYLE.}]

   Two frerys sat at a gentylmans tabyll 
whych had before hym o~ a fastyng day 
an ele & cut the hed of the ele & layd 
it vppo~ one of y=e= Freres tre~chars/ but the Frere because 
he wold haue had of y=e= myddyll part of the 
ele sayd to the gentylman he louyd no ele heddes/ 
this gentylman also cut the tayle of y=e= ele & leyd 
it on the other Freres tre~char/ he lykywyse because 
he wold haue had of the myddyll p~te of y=e= 
ele sayd he louyd no ele taylys. Thys gentylma~ 
perceyuyng that: gaue the tayle to the Frere
y=t= sayd he louyd not the hed/ & gaue the hed 
to hym that sayd he louyd not y=e= tayle. And as 
for the myddell part of the ele he ete part him 
self & part he gaue to other folke at y=e= table/
wherfore these freres for anger wold ete neuer a 
<P 27>
mossell/ & so they for all theyr craft & subtylte 
were not onely deceyued of y=e= best mossel of y=e= 
ele/ but therof had no part at al.
   By this ye se that they that couet the best 
part somtyme therfore lose the meane part and 
all.


[} [\XVI.\] OF THE WELCHMA~ THAT SHROUE HYM FOR BREKYNG 
HIS FAST ON THE FRYDAY.}]

<P 28>
   A welchman dwellynge in a wylde 
place of walys came to hys curate in 
the tyme of lent & was co~fessyd. & 
when his confessyon was in maner at the end the 
curate asked him whether he had any other 
thyng to say y=t= greuyd his co~scye~ce/ whych fore
abasshyd answeryd no word a gret whyle/ at last 
by exortacion of hys goostly fader he sayd y=t= there 
was one thyng in his mynd that gretly greuyd 
hys co~scie~ce which he was ashamed to vtter/ for
it was so greuous y=t= he trowid god wold neuer 
forgyue hym/ to whom the curate a~sweryd & 
sayd y=t= goddys mercy was aboue all/ & bad hym 
not dyspayre in the mercy of god/ For what 
so euer it was yf he were repentau~te y=t= god 
wold forgyue him/ And so by long exortacion 
at the last he shewyd it & seyd thus/ Syr it 
happenyd onis that as my wyfe was making 
a chese vppon a fryday I wold haue sayed 
whether it had ben salt or fresh and toke a 
lytyll of the whey in my hand & put it in my 
mouth & or I was ware part of it went downe 
my throte agaynst my wyll & so I brake my fast/ 
to whom the curate sayd & if ther be no nother
<P 29>
thyng I warant god shall forgiue the. So wha~ 
he had well comfortyd hym w=t= y=e= mercy of god 
the curate prayd hym to answer a question & to 
tell hym treuth/ & when the welchman had promysyd
to tell the treuth the curate sayd that 
there were robberys and murders done nye the 
place where he dwelt & dyuers men fou~d slayne 
& askyd hym whether he were co~sentyng to any 
of them/ to who~ he answerid & sayd yes & sayd 
he was p~tee to many of them & dyd helpe to 
robbe and to sle dyuers of them. Then the 
curate askyd hym why he dyd not co~fesse him 
therof/ the welch man a~sweryd & sayd he toke 
y=t= for no synne for it was a custome amonge them 
y=t= whan any boty came of any rych merchaunt
rydyng y=t= it was but a good neybours dede one 
to help a nother when one callyd a nother/ & so 
they toke that but for good felyshyp & 
neybourhod.
   Here ye may se y=t= some haue remorse of 
conscyence of small venyall sinys & fere not to 
do gret offencys w=t=out shame of y=e= world or 
drede of god: & as y=e= co~en puerb is they stu~ble 
at a straw & lepe ouer a blok.

<P 30>
[} [\XVII.\] OF THE MERCHAU~T OF LO~DO~ THAT PUT NOBLES I~ HIS 
MOUTH I~ HIS DETH BED.}]

   A rych couetous marcha~te ther was 
y=t= dwellyd in Lo~don whych euer gaderyd 
money & coud neuer fynd in 
hys hert to spend noght vppon hym self nor 
vppon no ma~ els/ whych fell sore syk/ & as he 
lay on hys deth bed had hys purs lyeng at his 
beddys hed/ & had suche a loue to hys money 
that he put his hand in his purs & toke out thereof 
 .x. or .xii. li i~ nobles & put them in his mouth/ 
And because his wyfe and other p~ceyuyd him 
very syk and lyke to dye they exortyd hym to be 
confessyd and brought y=e= curate vnto him/ whych 
when they had causyd hym to sey Benedicite y=e= 
curat bad hym cry god mercy & shew his synnys.
Than this syk man began to sey I cry god mercy 
I haue offendyd in y=e= .vij. dedly synnys & broken 
the .x. comaundementys/ & because of the gold 
in hys mouth he mufflede so in hys speche that
the curate cowde not well vnderstande hym/ 
wherefore the curate asked hym what he hadde 
in hys mouthe that letted hys speche/ I wys 
mastere persone quod the syk man muffelynge 
<P 31>
I haue nothyng in my mouth but a lyttyll money 
because I wot not whether I shall go I thoughte 
I wolde take some spendyng money wyth me for 
I wot not what nede I shall haue therof/ And 
incontynent after that seyynge dyed before he 
was confessed of repentant that ony man could 
perceue/ and so by lykelyhode went to the 
deuyll.
   By thys tale ye may se that they that all 
theyre lyuys wylle neuer do charyte to theyr 
neyghbours/ that god in tyme of theyr dethe 
wyll not suffer them to haue grace of 
repentaunce.

[} [\XVIII.\] OF THE MYLNER THAT STALE THE NUTTYS & OF 
THE TAYLER THAT STALE A SHEPE.}]

<P 32>
   There was a certayn ryche husbandman 
in a vyllage whych loued nottes 
meruelously well & set trees of silberdys 
& other nut trees in his orchard/ & norishid 
them well all hys lyfe/ & when he dyed he made 
hys executours to make promise to bery w=t= hym 
yn hys graue a bage of nottis or els they sholde 
not be hys executours/ which executours for 
fere of losyng theyre romys fulfyllyd hys wyll 
& dyd so. It happenyd y=t= the same nyght after
that he was beryed there was a mylnere in a 
<P 33>
whyte cote came to this ma~ys garden to the~te~t 
to stele a bag of nottis/ & in y=e= way he met 
w=t= a tayler in a blak cote an vnthrift of hys      
accoyntau~ce & shewyd hym hys intent/ This 
tayler lykewyse shewyd hym y=t= he inte~dyd y=e= 
same tyme to stele a shepe/ & so they both there 
agreyd to go forthward euery man seuerally 
w=t= hys purpose & after y=t= they apoynted to make 
good chere ech w=t= other & to mete agayne in y=e= 
chyrch porch/ & he that came furst to tary for 
the other.
   This mylner when he had spede of hys nottis 
came furst to the chyrch porche & there taryed 
for hys felowe and the mene whyle satte styll 
there & knakked nottys.
   It fortuned than the sexten of the church because 
yt was abowt .ix. of the clok cam to ryng 
curfu. & when he lokyd in y=e= porch & saw one 
all in whyte knakkyng nottes/ he had went it 
had bene y=e= dede man rysen owt of hys graue 
knakkynge y=e= nottes y=t= were byryed w=t= hym & 
ran home agayn in all hast and tolde to a krepyll 
y=t= was in hys howse what he had sene. This 
crepyll thus heryng rebukyd y=e= sexten & seyd y=t= 
<P 34>
yf he were able to go he wold go thyder & co~iure 
y=e= sprite/ by my trouth quod y=e= sexten & yf thou 
darst do y=t= I wyl bere the on my nek & so they 
both agreed. The sexten toke y=e= crepul on hys 
nek & cam in to y=e= chyrchyard agayn/ & y=e= 
mylner in y=e= porch saw one comyng bering a 
thing on his bak had went it had ben y=e= taylour      
co~myng w=t= the shepe & rose vp to mete the~/ & 
as he cam towarde the~ he askeyd & seyd/ Is he 
fat/ is he fat/ y=e= sexten heryng hym sey so/ for 
fere cast the crepull down & seyd fat or lene take  
hym ther for me/ and ran away/ & the creple by 
myracle was made hole & ra~ away as fast as he 
or faster/ This mylner perceyuing y=t= they were 
 .ii. & y=t= one ran after a nother supposyng y=t= one 
had spyed y=e= tayler stelyng y=e= shepe & y=t= he had 
ron after hym to haue taken hym/ and fered y=t= 
som body also had spyed hym stelyng nottes he
for fere left hys nottes behynd hym and as secretly 
as he cowde ran home to hys myll/ And anon 
after y=t= he was gon y=e= tayler cam w=t= the stolyn 
shepe vppon hys nek to the chyrch porch to
<P 35>
seke the mylner & when he fownd ther the not 
shalys he supposyd y=t= hys felow had be ther and 
gone home as he was in dede/ wherefore he toke 
vp y=e= shepe agayne on hys nek and went to 
ward the myl/ But yet duryng this whyle the 
sexte~ which ran away went not to hys owne 
house but we~t to the p~ysh prystis cha~ber/ & 
shewd hym how the spryte of y=e= man was ryse~ 
out of hys graue knakki~g nottes as ye haue 
hard before/ wherfor y=e= prest sayd that he wold 
go co~iure hym yf the sexten wold go w=t= hym/ 
& so they both agreed/ y=e= prest dyd on hys surples 
& a stole about hys nek & toke holy water w=t= 
hym and cam w=t= the sexte~ toward y=e= church/ & 
as sone as he enteryd in to y=e= church yarde, The 
tayler w=t= the whyte shepe on hys nek intendyng 
as I before haue shewid yow to go down to y=e= 
myll met w=t= them & had went y=t= y=e= prest in hys
surples had ben y=e= mylner in hys whyte cote/ & 
seyd to hym by god I haue hym I haue hym 
meanyng by the shepe y=t= he had stolyn/ the prest 
perceyuynge the tayler all in blak & a whyte thyng 
on his nek had went it had ben y=e= deuyll beryng 
away the spryte of y=e= dede man y=t= was beryed 
& ran away as faste as he coud takyng y=e= way 
downe toward the myll/ & y=e= sexten ronnyng 
<P 36>
after hi~. This tayler seyng one folowyng hi~ had 
went y=t= one had folowed the mylner to haue don 
hym some hurt & thought he wold folow if nede 
were to help y=e= mylner. & went forth tyl he cam 
to the myll & knokked at y=e= myldore/ y=e= mylner 
beyng w=t=yn asked who was ther y=e= tayler a~swerd 
& said by god I haue caught one of them & made 
hi~ sure & tyed hym fast by y=e= leggys menynge by 
the shepe y=t= he had stolen & had the~ on hys nek 
tyed fast by the leggys. But the mylner heryng 
hym sey y=t= he had hym tyed fast by the leggys 
had wente it had be~ the constable y=t= had take~
the tayler for stelyng of the shepe & had tyed 
him by the leggys/ & ferid y=t= he had comen to 
haue taken hym also for stelyng of the nottys/ 
wherfore the mylner openyd a bak dore & ran 
away as fast as he coud. The taylour heryng 
the bak dore openyng we~t on y=e= other syde of y=e= 
myll/ & there saw the mylner ronnyng away/ & 
stode there a littyl whyle musyng w=t= y=e= shepe on    
his nek. Then was the parysh preest & the 
sexte~ standyng there vnder the mylhouse hydyng 
them for fere & saw the taylour agayn w=t= y=e= 
shepe on his nek had wend styll it had bene the       
dyuyll w=t= the spryt of the dede man on hys nek 
& for fere ran away/ but because they knew not 
<P 37>
the ground well/ the preest lepte into a dyche 
almost ouer the hed lyke to be drounyd that he 
cryed wyth a loud voyce help help. Then the 
taylour lokyd about & saw the mylner ron~e away 
& the sexten a nother way & hard the preest cry 
help: had wend it had bene the co~stable w=t= a 
gret co~pany cryeng for help to take hym & to 
bryng hym to pryson for stelyng of y=e= shepe 
wherfore he threw downe the shepe & ran away 
a nother way as faste as he coud/ & so euery 
man was afferd of other wythout cause.
   By thys ye may se well it is foly for any 
man to fere a thyng to mych tyll that he se some 
proue or cause.

<S SAMPLE 3>
<P 39>
[} [\XX.\] OF THE WOMAN THAT POWRYD THE POTAGE 
IN THE TUGGYS MALE.}]

   There was a iustyce but late in y=e= 
realme of englond called master Uauyfour 
a very homly man & rude of 
condycions & louyd neuer to spe~d mych money/ 
This master Uauyfour rode on a tyme in hys 
cyrcute in a place of the north co~trey where he
had agreed w=t= the shyryf for a certayn some of 
money for hys chargys thorowe the shyre so 
that at euery Inne & lodgyng thys master vauefour 
payd for hys own costys. It fortunyd so 
y=t= when he cam to a certayn lodgyng he co~maunded 
one Torpyn hys serua~t to se y=t= he vsed 
good husbondry & to haue suche thynges as were 
last & to cary it w=t= hym to serue hym at the next     
baytyng. Thys Torpyn doyng hys masters co~mau~deme~t 
toke y=e= brokyn brede brokyn mete & 
all sych thi~g y=t= was last & put it in hys male/
The wyfe of y=e= house p~ceyuyng y=t= he toke all 
suche fragmentys & vytayle w=t= hym y=t= was last 
<P 40>
& put it in hys male/ she brought vp y=t= podege 
y=t= was last i~ the pot & when torpyn had torned   
hys bak a lytyll syde she pouryd y=e= podege in to 
y=e= male whych ran vpon hys robe of skarlet & 
other hys garme~tys & rayed them very euyll 
that they were mych hurt therw=t=. Thys Torpyn 
sodeynly tornyd him & saw it/ reuylyd the 
wyfe therfor & ran to hys master & told hym 
what she had don/ wherfor master Uauefour
inco~tine~t callyd y=e= wyfe & seyd to her thus. 
Thou drab quod he what hast thou do~ why hast 
thou pouryd y=e= podege in my male & marryd my 
rayme~t & gere/ O syr quod y=e= wyfe I know well 
ye ar a iudge of y=e= realme/ & I perceyue by you: 
your mi~d is to do ryght & to haue that that is your 
owne/ & your mynd is to haue all thyng w=t= you 
y=t= ye haue payd for/ both brokyn brede mete & 
other thynges y=t= is left: & so it is reason that ye 
haue/ & therfore because your seruant hath taken 
the brede & the mete & put it i~ your male I 
haue therfore put in your male the podege y=t= be 
last because ye haue well & truly payd for them 
<P 41>
for yf I shuld kepe ony thyng from you y=t= ye 
haue payd for: peraduenture ye wold troble me 
in the law an other tyme.
   Here ye may se y=t= he y=t= playth the nygarde 
to mych sometyme yt torneth hym to hys owne 
losse.

<S SAMPLE 4>
<P 114>
[} [\LXVI.\] OF THE MAN THAT WOLD HAUE THE POT STAND 
THERE AS HE WOLD.}]

   A yonge man late maryed to a wyfe 
thowght it was good polycy to get the 
maystry of her in the begynnynge. 
Cam to her the pot sethynge ouer y=e= fyre all 
though the mete therin were not inough sodenly 
co~maundyd her to take the pot from the fyre. 
whyche answeryd & sayde that y=e= mete was not 
redy to ete. And he sayd agayne I wyll haue 
it taken of for my pleasure. This good woman 
loth yet to offend hym set y=e= pot besyde the fyre 
as he bad. And anone after he co~mau~ded her 
to set the pot behynde the dore/ & she sayd therto 
agayne ye be not wyse therin. But he precisely 
sayd it sholde be so as he bad. And she gentylly
<P 115>
agayne did his co~mau~dment. This man yet 
not satysfyed co~maunded her to set the pot a 
hygh vpon the hen rost/ what quod y=e= wyf 
agayne I trow ye be mad. And he fyersly 
than co~maunded her to set it there or els he 
sayd she sholde repe~t She somewhat aferde to 
moue his pacience toke a ladder and set it to 
the roost/ and we~t herself vp the ladder and toke 
the pot in her hande prayeng her husbande than 
to holde the ladder fast for slydynge/ whiche so 
dyd.
   And whenne the husbande lokyd vp and sawe 
the Potte stande there on hyght he sayde thus. 
Lo now standyth the pot there as I wolde haue 
it This wyfe herynge that sodenly pouryd the 
hote potage on his hed & sayd thus. And now 
bene the potage there as I wolde haue them.
   By this tale men may se it is no wysedome 
for a man to attempte a meke woma~s pacye~ce 
to far lest it torne to his owne hurte & damage. 

<S SAMPLE 5>
<P 118>
[} [\LXIX.\] OF THE SKOLER OF OXFORD THAT PROUYD BY 
SOUPHESTRY .II. CHEKYNS .III.}]

<P 119>
   A rych frankelyn in y=e= contrey hauynge 
by his wyfe but one chyld and no mo 
for the grete affeccyon that he had to 
his sayde chylde founde hym at Oxford to scole 
by the space of .ii. or .iii. yere. This yonge 
scoller in a vocacyon tyme for his dysport came 
home to his fader.
   It fortuned afterwarde in a nyght the fader 
y=e= moder & the sayde yonge scoller syttynge at 
supper hauynge befor them no more mete but 
onely a cople of chykyns the fader sayd this wyse. 
Sone so it is that I haue spent moch money vpon 
the to synde y=e= to scole/ wherfore I haue grete 
desyre to know what hast lernyd. To whom y=e= 
sone answerde & sayde. Fader I haue studyed 
souestrye & by that scyence I can proue y=t= these 
<P 120>
 .ii. chykyns in y=e= dysh be thre chykyns. Mary 
sayd y=e= fader that wolde I fayne se. The scoller 
toke one of y=e= chykyns in his hand & sayd. Lo 
here is one chykyn/ and inco~tynent he toke both 
y=e= chykyns in his hand ioyntly & sayd here is .ii. 
chykyns and one & .ii. maketh .iii. Ergo here 
is .iii. chykyns. Then the fader toke one of the 
chykyns to hymselfe and gaue another to his 
wyfe & sayd thus. Lo I wyll haue one of y=e= 
chykyns to my parte/ & thy moder shall haue 
another & bycause of thy good argument thou 
shalt haue y=e= thyrde to thy supper/ for thou 
getteyst no more mete here at this tyme/ whiche 
promyse the fader kept & so the scoller went       
without his supper.
   By this tale men may se that it is grete foly 
to put one to scole to lerne any subtyll scyence 
whiche hath no naturall wytte. 

<S SAMPLE 6>
<P 126>
[} [\LXXIV.\] OF THE COURTEAR THAT DYD CAST THE FRERE 
OUER THE BOTE.}]

   A courtyer & a frere happenyd to 
mete togyder in a fery bote & in 
co~munycacyon betwene them fell at 
wordys angry & dyspleasyd eche with other/ & 
fought & strogled togyder/ so that at the last y=e= 
courtyer cast the frere ouer the bote/ so was     
y=e= frere drowned. The feryma~ whiche had ben 
a man of warre the most parte of his lyfe before 
and seynge the frere was so drowned & gon sayd 
thus to the courtyer/ I beshrewe thy hart thou         
sholdest haue taryed & foughte with hym a lande 
for nowe thou hast caused me to lese an halfpeny 
for my fare.
<P 127>
   By this tale a man may se that he y=t= is ac-costumed 
in vycyous & cruel company shall lose 
that noble vertew to haue pyte & compassyon 
vpon his neyghboure. 

<S SAMPLE 7>
<P 132>
[} [\LXXIX.\] OF HYM THAT ADUENTURYD BODY & SOWLE 
FOR HYS PRYNCE.}]

   Two knyghtes there were whiche went 
to a stondyng felde w=t= theyr prynce. 
But one of them was co~fessyd before 
he went/ but the other we~t into the felde w=t=out 
shryft or repe~tau~ce/ afterward this pri~ce wa~ y=e= 
feld & had y=e= vyctorye y=t= day/ wherfore he y=t= was 
co~fessyd came to y=e= pri~ce & askyd an offyce & 
sayd he had deseruyd it for he had don good 
seruyce & adue~tured that day as far as ony man 
in y=e= felde/ to who~ the other y=t= was vnco~fessyd 
answeryd and sayd nay by the mas I am more 
worthy to haue a rewarde than he/ for he ad-uenturyd 
but his body for your sake for he durst 
not go to y=e= felde tyl he was co~fessyd/ but as for 
<P 133>
me I dyd iup~d both body lyfe & soule for your 
sake/ for I went to the felde without co~fessyon 
or repentan~ce.
<P 134>
   By this ye may se that some curatys that
loke full holyly be but desemblers & ypocrytis.

<S SAMPLE 8>
<P 134>
[} [\LXXXII.\] OF THE FRERE THAT SAYD DYRIGE FOR THE 
HOGGYS SOWLE.}]

<P 135>
   Upon a tyme certayn women in the 
countrey were appoynted to deryde 
and mokke a frere a lymytour that 
vsyd moche to vysyth them. wherupon one of 
them a lytyll before that the frere came kylled 
an hog & for dysport leyd it vnder the borde 
after the maner of a corse and tolde the frere it 
was her good ma~ and desyred hym to say dirige 
for his soule wherfore the frere and his felaw 
began Placebo and Dirige and so forth sayd the        
seruyse full deuowtly which the wyues so heryng/ 
coude not refrayne them selfe from lawghynge 
and wente in to a lytyll parler to lawgh more
at theyr plesure. These frerys somwhat suspected 
the cause and quykly or that y=e= women were 
ware lokyd vnder the borde and spyed that it 
was an hog/ sodenly toke it bytwene them and 
bare it homeward as fast they myght. The 
women seyng that ran after the frere and cryed 
come agayn mayster frere come agayne and let 
it allone/ nay by my fayth quod y=e= frere he is a      
broder of oures and therfore he must nedys be 
buryed in our cloyster/ and so the frerys gate 
the hog.
<P 136>
   By thys ye may se that they that vse to 
deryde and mok other somtyme it tornyth to 
theyr one losse and damage.

<S SAMPLE 9>
<P 143>
[} [\LXXXIX.\] OF MASTER WHYTTYNTONS DREME.}]

   Sone after one mayster Whyttinto~ had 
bylded a colege on a nyght as he slept 
he dremyd that he sad in his church 
& many folkys ther also/ & further he dremyd 
y=t= he sawe our lady in the same chyrch w=t= a glas 
of goodly oyntement in her hand goynge to one
askyng hym what he had done for her sake/ 
whiche sayd that he had sayd our ladys sauter 
euery day wherfore she gaue hym a lytyll of the 
oyle. And anon she went to another askyng 
hym what he had done for her sake which sayd 
that he had sayd .ii. ladys sauters euery day/ 
wherfore our lady gaue hym more of y=e= oy~tement 
than she gaue y=e= other. This mayster whyttento~
<P 144>
then thought that when our lady sholde come to 
hym she wolde gyue hym all the hole glas bycause 
y=t= he had bylded such a gret colege & was very 
glad in his mynd. But whe~ our lady cam to
hym she asked hym what he had suffred for her 
sake/ which wordys made hym gretly abashyd 
bycause he had nothyng to say for hym selfe/ & 
so he dremyd that for all the gret dede of
byldyng of y=e= sayd Colege he had no parte of y=t= 
goodly oyntement.
   By this ye may se that to suffer for goddys 
sake is more merytoryous than to gyue gret 
goodys.

<S SAMPLE 10>
<P 145>
[} [\XCI.\] OF THE MALTMAN OF COLBROKE.}]

   A certayne maltman of colbroke 
whiche was a very couetous wreche 
and had no pleasure but onely to get 
money came to london to sell his malt and 
broughte with hym .iiii. capons & there re-seyuyd 
 .iiii. or .v. li. for malte and put it in a      
lytell purs tyed to his cote and after wente aboute 
the strettys to sell his capons whom a pollyng 
<P 146>
felowe that was a dycer and an vnthryft had 
espyed and Imagyned how he myght begyle the 
man other of his capons or of his money and 
came to this maltman in the street berynge these 
capons in his hande and askyd hym how he wolde 
sell his capons and when he had shewyd hym the 
pryse of them he bad hym go with hym to his 
mayster and he wolde shew them to his mayster 
and he wolde cause hym to haue money for them 
wherto he agreed. This Poller wente to the 
cardynalls hat in lomberdys strete & when he 
came to the dore he toke the capons from the 
maltman and bad hym tary at the dore tyll he
had shewed his mayster and he wolde come agayn 
to hym and brynge hym his money for them. 
This poller when he had goten the capons wente 
in to the house and wente thorowe the other bak 
entre in to Cornhyll and soo toke the capons with     
hym/ and when this maltman had stond there a 
good season he askid one of the tauerners where 
the man was that had the Capons to shewe to 
his mayster/ mary quod the tauerner I can not 
tell the here is nother mayster nor man in this 
house for this entre here is a comen hye way and 
gooth in to cornhyl/ I am sure he is gone a weye 
with thy capo~s. This maltman herynge that ran 
throwe the entre in to cornhyll and askyd for a 
felowe in a tawny cote that had capons in his 
<P 147>
hand. But no man coude tell hym whiche waye 
he was gone and soo the maltman loste his capons 
and after wente in to his Inne all heuy and sade 
and toke his horse to thentent to ryde home. 
This poller by that tyme had chaungyd hys ray-ment 
and borowyd a furryd gowne and came to 
the maltman syttynge on horsbak and sayd thus/ 
good man me thought I harde the inquire euyn 
now for one in a tawny cote that had stolyn from 
the .iiii. capo~s yf thou wylt gyue me a quart of   
wyne go with me and I shall brynge y=e= to a place 
where he syttyth drynkyng with other felowes 
& had y=e= capons in his hande. This maltman
beynge glad therof grau~tyd hym to gyue hym 
the wyne bycause he semyd to be an honest man/ 
and went w=t= hym vnto the dagger in chepe. 
This poller then sayd to hym go thy way streyght 
to thend of y=t= long entre & there thou shalt se 
whether it be he or no & I wyl holde thy horse 
here tyll thou come agayn. This maltman 
thynkyng to fynde the felow with his capo~s 
we~t in & left his horse with the other at the 
dore. And as soone as he was gon in to the 
house this poller lad the horse awaye in to his
owne lodgynge. This maltman inqueryd in the 
house for his felowe with the capons but no man 
coude tell hym no tydyngs of suche man/ wher-fore 
he came agayne to y=e= dore all sad & lokyd
<P 148>
for hym y=t= had his hors to kepe/ & bycause he 
sawe hym not he askyd dyuers there for hym/ & 
some sayd they saw hym & some sayde they saw 
hym not/ but no man coude tell whiche waye 
he was gone wherfore he wente home to his 
Inne more sad tha~ he was before/ wherfore his 
host gaue hym cou~cell to get hym home & be-ware 
how he trustyd any men in londo~. This 
maltman seynge none other co~fort went hys hy 
way homewarde.
   This poller which lyngeryd alway there aboute 
the Inne hard tell that the maltman was goyng 
homewarde a fote apparelyd hym lyke a mannys 
prentyse & gat a lytell boget stuffyd full of stones
on his bake & wente before hym to charynge 
crosse & taryed tyll y=e= maltman came/ & askyd 
hym whether he wente whiche sayd to Colbroke. 
Mary quod y=e= other I am glad therof for I must goo 
to braynforde to my mayster to bere hym money 
which I haue in my boget & I wolde be glad of 
co~pany. This maltman bycause of his owne money 
was glad of his co~pany/ & so they agreed & wente 
togyder a whyle. At the last this poller went
somwhat before to knyghtbryge & sat vpon y=e= 
brydge & restyd hym with his boget on his bak/ 
& when he saw y=e= maltma~ almost at hym he let 
his boget fall ouer y=e= brydge in to y=e= water. & 
incontynent start vp & sayd to y=e= maltman alas 
<P 149>
I haue let my boget fal in to y=e= water & there is 
 .xl. li. of money therin/ yf thou wylt wade in to 
y=e= water & go seke it & get it me agayne I shall     
gyue y=e= .xii. pence for thy labour/ this maltman 
hauynge pyte of his losse & also glad to get the 
 .xii. pence plukyd of his hose cote & shyrt & 
wadyd into y=e= water to seke for the boget. And 
in y=e= mene whyle this poller gote his clothis & 
cote wher to the purs of money was tyde & lepte 
ouer the hedge & wente to westmynster.
   This maltman within a whyle after with grete 
payne & depe wadynge founde y=e= boget & came 
out of the water & sawe not his felowe there & 
sawe that his clothys & money were not there as
he left them suspectyd y=e= mater and openyd the 
boget and than founde nothynge therin but stonys 
cryed out lyke a mad man and ran all nakyd 
to london agayne and sayde alas alas helpe or 
I shall be stolen. For my capons be stolen. 
My hors is stolen. My money and clothys 
be stolen and I shall be stolen myself. And so 
ran aboute the stretys in london nakyd & mad 
cryenge alway I shall be stole. I shall be stolen. 
And so contynuyd mad durynge his lyfe & so 
dyed lyke a wretche to the vtter destruccyon of 
hym self & shame to all his kyn.
   By this tale ye may se that many a couet-ouse 
wrech y=t= louyd his good better than god and 
<P 150>
settyth his mynde inordynatly theron by the ryghte 
iugment of god oftymes comyth to a myserable
and shamfull ende. 



