<P_59>

<heading>

XXXIV . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.3)

<font> Of the frankelyne that wold haue had the frere gon . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.4)

</heading>

A ryche fraynklyng dwellyng in the countrey had a freer vsyng to his
howse of whom he coud neuer be ryd (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.6)

& had taryed with him the space of a senyght & neuer depart wherfore
the fraynklyng beyng wery of hym | on a tyme | as he & his wyfe & this
frere sat to geder at supper faynyd hym selfe very angry with hys wyfe
In somoche he sayd he wolde bete her . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.7)

This frere p~seyuyng wel what they me~t sayd thus .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.8)

master frankli~g I haue bene here this seuenyght when ye were fre~dys
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.9)

& I wyll tary here this fortenyght lenger (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.10)

but I wyll se you frendys agayne or I go . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,59.11)

thys man perseyuyng <P_60> that he coude no good nor wolde not depart
by none honest meanys answeryd hi~ shortly (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.12)

& sayd by god freere but thou shalte abyde here no lenger
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.13)

& toke hym by the shulders (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.14)

& thrust hym out of the dorys by vyolence . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.15)

By this ye may se that he that wyll lerne no good by example | nor good
maner to hym shewyd is worthy to be taught with open rebukes .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.16)

<heading>

XXXV . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.18)

<font> Of the good man that sayd to his wyfe he had yll fare . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.19)

</heading>

A frer Lymytour come into a pore mannys howse in the countrey
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.21)

and because this pore man thought this frere myght do hym some good he
therfore thought to make hym good chere | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.22)

But becawse hys wyfe wolde dresse hym no good mete for coste | he
therfor at dyner tyme sayde thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,60.23)

By god wyfe <P_61> bycawse thou dyddest dresse me no good mete to my
dyner | were it nat for master frere | thou sholdest haue half a dosyn
strypes . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.24)

Nay sir quod the frere I pray you spare nat for me | wherwith the wyf
was angry (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.25)

& therfore at supper she caused them to fare wors .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.26)

By thys ye may se it is good polycy for gestys yf they wyll haue any
good chere to pleas alway the wyfe of the howse .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.27)

<heading>

XXXVI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.29)

<font> Of the frere that bad hys chylde make a latyn . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.30)

</heading>

There was a frere whiche though he were well lernyd yet he was callyd
wycked of condycyons whiche had a Gentylmannys sonne to wayte vpon hym
and to teche hym to speke latyn . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,61.32)

<P_62>

Thys frere came to thys chyldes fader dwellyng in the contrey |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.34)

and becawse this frere wold haue this Gentylman to knowe that this
chylde had metly well spent his tyme for the whyle he had bene with hym
| he bad this chyld to make in latyn shortly Freres walke in the
cloyster . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.35)

This chylde halfe astonyed bycawse his master bad hym make this latyn
so shortly answered at all aduentures (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.36)

and sayd In circuitu impii ambulant . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.37)

<heading>

XXXVII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.39)

<font> Of the gentylman that askyd the frere for his beuer . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.40)

</heading>

In the terme tyme a good old gentylman beyng a lawyer cam to london to
the terme (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.42)

& as he came he hapened to ouertake a frere which was som vnthryft &
we~t alone without his beuer wherfor this ge~tylman asked this frere
where was his beuer that shold kepe hym co~pany (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.43)

and sayd it was contrary to his relygyon to go alone |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.44)

and it wolde cawse people to suppose hym to be som apostata or some
vnthryft . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.45)

By god syr quod the frere my felow co~mendeth hym vnto your mastershyp
| (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,62.46)

why <P_63> quod the gentylman I knowe hym nat | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,63.47)

than quod the frere to the gentylman ye are the more to blame to aske
for hym . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,63.48)

By this tale ye may se that he that geueth cou~sel to an vnthryft and
techeth hym his dutye shall haue oftentymes but a mocke for his labour
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,63.49)

<heading>

XXXVIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,63.51)

<font> Of the .iii. men that chase the woma~ . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,63.52)

</heading>

<P_64>

Thre gentylme~ cam into an Inne where a fayre woman was tapster wherfor
as these thre sat ther makyng mery echone of the~ kyssed her & made
good pastyme & plesure . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.55)

howbeit one spake meryly (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.56)

& sayd I can not se how this gentylwoman is able to make pastyme &
pleasure to vs all thre excepte that she were departed in thre partes .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.57)

By my trouthe quod one of theym | yf that she myght be so departed than
I wolde chose for my parte her hed and her fayre face that I myght
alway kysse her . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.58)

Then quod the seco~d I wold haue the brest and hart
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.59)

for ther lyeth her loue . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.60)

Then quod the thyrd then ther is nothyng lefet {COM:sic} for me but the
loynys buttokkys & leggys (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.61)

& I am content to haue yt for my part . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.62)

And when these ge~tylmen had passyd the tyme ther by the space of one
hour or ij they toke ther leue (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.63)

& were goynge away (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,64.64)

but or they went the thyrd man that had chosen the bely & the buttokkys
dyd kys the <P_65> tapyster (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.65)

& bad her farewel . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.66)

what quod the furst ma~ that had chosen the face & the mouth why dost
thou so | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.67)

thou dost me wronge to kys my parte that I haue chosen of her .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.68)

O quod the other I pray the be not angry (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.69)

for I $will $be {TEXT:wolbe} co~tent that thou shalt kys my part for it
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.70)

<heading>

XXXIX . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.72)

<font> Of the ge~tylma~ that taught his cooks the medesyne for the
tothake . </font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.73)

</heading>

In Essex there dwellyd a mery gentylman which had a cooke callyd Thomas
that was gretly dyseasyd with the tothake & complainyd to his mayster
there of whiche sayd he had a boke of medyci~s & sayd he wold loke vp
his boke to se whether he cowd fynde any medecyn ther for it
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.75)

& so sende one of hys doughters to his study for his boke
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.76)

and incontynent lokyd vppon yt a longe season (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.77)

& than sayde thus to hys coke . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.78)

Thomas quod he here is a medesyne for thy tothake
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.79)

& yt ys a charme (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.80)

but it wyll do you no good except ye knele on your knees and aske yt
for seynt charyte . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,65.81)

Thys <P_66> man glad to be releasyd of hys payne knelyd
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.82)

& sayd mayster for sei~t charyte let me haue that medecyne .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.83)

Then quod thys gentylman knele on your knees (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.84)

& say after me (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.85)

which knelyd dou~e and sayd after hym as he bad hym .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.86)

Thys ge~tylman began (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.87)

& sayd thus . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.88)

The sone on the sonday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.89)

The sone on the sonday quod thomas . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.90)

The mone on the monday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.91)

The mone on the monday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.92)

the trynyte on the tewsday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.93)

the trinyte on the tewsday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.94)

The wite o~ the wednysday (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.95)

the wit on the wednysday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.96)

The holy holy thursday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.97)

The holy holy thursday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.98)

And all that fast on fryday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.99)

and al that fast on fryday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.100)

Shite in thy mouthe on saterday . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.101)

This Thomas coke herynge his mayster thus mokkynge hym in an anger
start vp (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.102)

& sayd | by goddys body mokkyng churle I wyll neuer do the seruyce more
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.103)

And wente forth to hys cha~ber to get hys gere to geder to thentent to
gon thens by & by . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,66.104)

But what for the anger that he toke with hys master for the moke that
he gaue hym & what for labour that he toke to geder hys gere so shortly
to geder the payne of the tothake wente from hym incontynent that his
master com to hym & made hym tary styll & tolde hym that hys charme
<P_67> was the cause of the ease of the payn of his tothake .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,67.105)

By this tale ye may se that anger oftymys puttyth away bodely payne .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,67.106)

<heading>

XL . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,67.108)

<font> Of the ge~tylma~ that promysyd the scoler of Oxford a sarcenet
typet . </font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,67.109)

</heading>

A scholer of Oxford lately made master of arte come to the cyte of
lo~don (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,67.111)

& in polys met with the sayd mery ge~tylma~ of essex which was euer
dysposyd to playe many <P_68> mery paieantys with whome before he had
bene of famylier accoyntance (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.112)

and prayd hym to geue hym a sercenet typet . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.113)

This gentylman more lyberall of promys than of gyft grantyd hym he
sholde haue one yf he wolde come to his lodgynge to the signe of the
bulle without byshops gate in the next mornynge at vi of the cloke .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.114)

Thys scoler thanked hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.115)

& for that nyght departed to hys lodgynge in flete strete |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.116)

& in the mornynge erely as he poynted cam to hym to the sygne of the
bull | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.117)

Anon as this gentylman saw hym he bad hym go with hym in to the Cite
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.118)

& he sholde be sped anone | which incontynent went togeder tyll they
cam in to seynt laurence churche in the Jury wher the gentylman espyed
a prest raueshyd to masse & tolde the scoler that yonder is the preste
that hathe the typet for you (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.119)

& bade hym knele down in the pewe (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.120)

& he wolde speke to hym for it | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.121)

And incontynent this gentilman went to the prest
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.122)

and sayd Syr here is a scoler and kynsman of myne greatly dyseased with
the chyncowgh . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.123)

I pray yow when masse ys done gyue hym iij draughtys of your chales .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,68.124)

The prest <P_69> grau~ted hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.125)

& turned hym to the scoler (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.126)

and sayd Syr I shall serue you as son as I haue sayd masse .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.127)

the scoler the~ taryed styl (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.128)

& hard the masse trusti~g then whan the masse was done that the preste
wolde geue hym his typet of sarcenet . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.129)

Thys gentylman in the meane whyle departed out of the churche .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.130)

This prest whan masse was don put wyne in the chalice
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.131)

& cam to the scoler knelyng in the pew profferyng hym to drink of the
chales . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.132)

this scoler lokyd vpon hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.133)

& mused (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.134)

& sayd | master person wherfore profer ye me the chalyce
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.135)

mary quod the preste for the gentylman tolde me ye were dysesyd with
the chi~cough (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.136)

& prayd me therfore that for a medcyn ye myght drynk of the chalis .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.137)

Nay by seynt mary quod the skolar (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.138)

he promysyd me ye sholdd delyuer me a typet of sercenet .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.139)

Nay sayde the preste he spake to me of no typet |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.140)

but he desyryd me to gyue you drynk of the chales for the chyncough .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.141)

By goddys body quod the scoler he is as he was (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.142)

euer wont to be but a mockyng wrech | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.143)

& euer I lyue I shall quyte it hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.144)

& so departed out of the churche i~ gret a~ger .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,69.145)

By thys tale ye may perceyue it were no wysdom for a man to trust to a
man to do a <P_70> thynge that ys contrary to hys olde accustumyd
condycyons . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.146)

<heading>

XLI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.148)

<font> Of master skelton that brought the byshop of Norwich .ii.
fesantys . </font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.149)

</heading>

It fortuned ther was a gret varyau~ce betwen the bysshop of Norwhich &
one mayster Skelton a poyet lauriat . In so moch that the bysshope
co~maunded hym that he sholde nat come in at hys gatys .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.151)

This master skelton dyd absent hym selfe for a longe season
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.152)

but at the last he thought to do his duty to hym
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.153)

and studyed wayes how he myght obtayn the byshopys fauour
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.154)

and determynyd him selfe that he wold com to hi~ with some present &
humble hym selfe to the byshop (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.155)

& gat a couple of fesants (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.156)

and cam to the byshoppys place (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.157)

& requyryd the porter he myght come in to speke wyth my lorde .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,70.158)

<P_71>

this porter knowyng hys lordys pleasure wolde not suffer hym to come in
at the gatys | wherfore this master skelton went on the bak syde to
seke some other way to com in to the place . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.160)

But the place was motid that he cowd se no waye to come ouer except in
one place where there lay a longe tre ouer the motte in maner of a
brydg that was fallyn downe with wynd wherfore this master skelton went
a long vppon the tre to com ouer (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.161)

& when he was almost ouer hys fote slyppid for lake of sure fotyng
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.162)

& fell in to the motte vp to the myddl but at the last he recoueryd hym
selfe (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.163)

& aswel as he coud dryed hym selfe agayn | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.164)

& sodenly cam to the byshop beyng in his hall then lately rysen from
dyner which when he saw skelton co~mi~g sode~ly sayd to hym why thow
chatyse I warnyd the thow sholdys neuer come yn at my gatys
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.165)

& chargyd my porter to kepe the owt . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.166)

Forsoth my lorde quod skelton though ye gaue suche charge & though your
gatys be neuer so suerly kept | yet it is no more possyble to kepe me
owt of your dorys than to kepe out crowes or pyes
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.167)

for I ca~e not in at your gatys . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.168)

but I came ouer the motte that I haue bene almost drownyd for my labour
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.169)

& shewd hys clothys how euyll he was arayed which causyd many that
stode thereby to laugh a pace . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,71.170)

Then quod skelton yf it lyke your lordeshyp I haue brought <P_72> yow a
dysshe to your supper a cople of Fesantys . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.171)

Nay quod the byshop I defy the and thy Fesantys also
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.172)

And wreche as thou art pyke the out of my howse (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.173)

for I wyll none of thy gyft . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.174)

How be it with as humble wordys as he coud this skelton desyryd the
byshop to be hys good lorde & to take his lytyll gyft of hym |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.175)

But the byshop callyd hym dawe & fole often tymys
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.176)

& in no wyse wolde receyue that gyft . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.177)

This Skelton than consyderyng that the byshop callyd hym fole so oft
sayd to one of his famyliers therby that though it were euyl to be
cristynyd a fole yet it was moche worse to be confyrmyd a fole of suche
a byshop (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.178)

for the name of confyrmacyo~ must nedes abyde | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.179)

therfore he ymagynyd how he might auoyd that co~fyrmacio~
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.180)

& musyd a whyl (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.181)

& at the last sayd to the byshop thus . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.182)

if your lordshyp knew the namys of these fesa~tys ye wold be co~te~t to
take them | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.183)

why caytyf quod the byshop hastely & angerly what be theyre namys .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.184)

I wys my lorde quod skelton this Fesant is callyd alpha .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.185)

ys . primus the furst . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.186)

& this is callyd O that ys nouissimus the last .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,72.187)

& for the more playn vnderstandyng of my mi~de . If it plese your
lordshyp to take them I p~myse you This Alpha is the fyrst that euer I
gaue you & this O is the last that euer I wyl <P_73> gyue you wyl I
leue . at the which a~swer al that wer by made gret laghter .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.188)

& al they desyryd the byshop to be good lord to hi~ for hys mery
conceytys at whose request or they went the byshop was co~tent to take
hym vnto his fauour agayn . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.189)

By thys ye my {COM:sic} se that mery conceytes dothe a man moche more
good than to frete hym selfe with anger and melancoly .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.190)

<heading>

XLII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.192)

<font> Of the yeman of gard that sayd he wold bete the carter . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.193)

</heading>

A yoman of the kynges gard dwellyng in a vyllage besyde london had a
very fayre yonge wyfe . To whom a cart of the towne a tal felowe
resorted & lay with her dyuers tymes whan her husband was from home |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,73.195)

& so openly knowe~ that all the town spake therof | wherfor ther was a
yong man of the towne well accoynted with this yema~ of gard that tolde
hym <P_74> that suche a Carter had layne by his wyfe . To whome thys
yeman of garde sayd & sware by godys body that yf he met hym it shold
cost hym his lyfe . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.196)

Mary quod the yong man yf ye go streyght euyn now the hye way ye shall
ouertak hym dryui~g of a cart ladyn with hay toward london wherfore
this yeman of garde incontynent rode after this Carter | & within short
space ouertoke hym & knew hym well ynough | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.197)

& inco~tynent called the cart to hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.198)

& sayd thus . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.199)

Sirra , I vnderstand that thou dost ly euery night with my wyfe when I
am from home . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.200)

This carter beyng no thyng afrayd of the other | answered ye mary what
than | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.201)

what than quod the yeman of garde | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.202)

by goddes hart haddest thou na tolde me the trouth I wolde haue broken
thy hede . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.203)

And so the yeman of garde retourned (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.204)

and no hurte done (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.205)

nor stroke stryken nor profered . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.206)

By thys ye may se that the greatest crakers somtyme whan it cometh to
the profe be moste cowardys . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,74.207)

<P_75>

<heading>

XLIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.210)

<font> Of the pryst that sayd our lady was not so curyous a woman .
</font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.211)

</heading>

In the towne of Bottelley dwelled a mylner whiche had a good homely
wench to his doughter whom a curat of the next towne louyd | and as the
fame went had her at his plesure . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.213)

But on a tyme this curat preched of these curyous wyues now a dayes |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.214)

& whether it were for the nones or whether it come out at all
aduenturys he hapned to say thus in his sermo~ .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.215)

Ye wyues ye be so curious in all your warkes that ye wote nat what ye
mene | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.216)

but ye shold folowe our lady . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.217)

For our lady was nothynge so curyous as ye be | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.218)

but she was a good homely wenche lyke the mylners doughter of bottellay
. At which sayng all the paryshons made gret laughynge | & specyally
they that knewe that he had loued the same wenche .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,75.219)

By thys ye may se it is great foly for a man that is suspected with any
parson to prayse or <P_76> to name the same parson openly lest it bryng
hym forther in sclaunder . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,76.220)

<P_116>

<heading>

LXVII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.223)

<font> Of the penytent that sayd the shepe of god haue mercy vpon me .
</font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.224)

</heading>

A certayne confessour in the holy tyme of lente inioyned his penitent
to say dayly for his penaunce this prayer . Agnus dei miserere mei |
whiche was as moche to saye in englysshe as y=e= Lambe of god haue
mercy vpon me . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.226)

This penitens acceptynge his penau~ce departyd (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.227)

& that tyme twelfe moneth after came agayne to be confessyd of the same
co~fessoure whiche demaundyd of hym whether he had fulfyllyd his
penau~ce that he hym inioynyd y=e= last yere . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.228)

And he sayd thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.229)

ye syr I thank god I haue fulfylled it | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,116.230)

for I haue sayde thus to daye mornynge and so dayly . The shepe of
<P_117> god haue mercy vpon me . To whom the confessour sayd . Nay I
bad y=e= say Agnus dei miserere mei | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.231)

that is y=e= lambe of god haue mercy vpon me . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.232)

Ye syr quod y=e= penytent ye say trouth (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.233)

that was y=e= laste yere | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.234)

but now it is at twelfe month syth | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.235)

& it is a shepe by this tyme . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.236)

Therfore I must nedys say now y=e= shepe of god haue mercy vpon me .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.237)

By this tale ye may perceyue that yf holy scrypture be expownyd to rude
Lay people onely in the lytterall scence . Peraduenture it shal do but
lytell good . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.238)

<heading>

LXVIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.240)

<font> Of the husband that sayd he was John~ daw . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.241)

</heading>

It fourtuned dyuers to be in co~munycacyon amonge whom there was a
curat or a parysh preest & one Johan daw a paryshon of his whiche .ii.
had co~munycacyon more busy than other in this maner .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.243)

This preest thought y=t= one myght not by felynge knowe one from
another in the darke | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,117.244)

John <P_118> daw his paryshon of contrary opynyon layde with his curate
for a wager .xl. pence . Wherupon the parysh preest wyllynge to proue
his wager wente to this John dawes house in the euenynge and sodenly
gate hym to bed with his wyfe where whe~ he began to be somwhat besy .
She felynge his crowne sayde shortly with a loud voyce . By god thou
art not John daw . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.245)

That herynge her husbond answerde . Thou sayst trouth wyfe
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.246)

I am here John daw . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.247)

Therfore mayster person gyue me the money (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.248)

for you haue lost your .xl. pence . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.249)

By this tale ye may lerne to perceyue y=t= it is no wysdome for a man
for y=e= couetouse of wynnyng of any wager to put in Jeoperdy a thyng
that may torne hym to gretter dysplasure . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,118.250)

<P_120>

<heading>

LXX . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,120.253)

<font> Of the frere that stale the podyng . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,120.254)

</heading>

A frere of london there was that on a sondaye mornynge yarly in y=e=
somer seaso~ came from Londo~ to Barnet to <P_121> make a colacyon |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.256)

& was there an houre before hye masse began | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.257)

& bycause he wolde come to y=e= chyrch honestly | he went fyrst to an
alehouse there to wype his shoys & to make hymself clenely . In the
which house there were podyngis to selle | & dyuers folkys there
brekynge theyr faste & etyng podyngys . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.258)

But y=e= frere brake his fast in a secrete place in the same house .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.259)

This frere soone after came to the chyrch (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.260)

and by lycence of y=e= curat enteryd into the pulpet to make a colacyon
or sermon . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.261)

And in his sermon there he rebukyd sore y=e= maner of them that vsyd to
breke theyr fast on the sonday before hye masse
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.262)

& sayd it was called y=e= dyuyls blak brekfast .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.263)

And with that worde spekyng as he dyd cast his armys out to make his
con~tenau~ce there fell a podynge out of his sleue | which he hymself
had stole~ a lytel before in y=e= same alehous (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.264)

& when y=e= people sawe that & specyally they y=t= brake theyr fast
there y=e= same mornyng & knew wel that y=e= wyfe had compleyned how
she had one of her podynges stolyn | they laughyd so moche at the frere
y=t= he inco~tynent went downe of the pulpet for shame .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,121.265)

By this tale a man may se that whe~ a precher <P_122> doth rebuke any
synne or vyce wherin he is knowe~ openly to be gylty hymself | suche
prechyng shall lytell edyfy to the people . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,122.266)

<heading>

LXXI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,122.268)

<font> Of the frankelyns son that cam to take orders . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,122.269)

</heading>

<P_123>

A certayne skoller ther was intendynge to be made prest whiche had
nother grete wytte nor lernyng came to the bysshop to take orders |
whos folyshnese y=e= byshop perceyuyng because he was a ryche ma~nes
son wolde not very strongly oppose hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.272)

but askyd hym this small questyon . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.273)

Noe had .iij. sonnes | Sem | Cham & Japhet | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.274)

now tell me quod the bysshop wo was Japhetis father
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.275)

& thou shalt haue orders . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.276)

Then sayd ye scoler By my trouth my lorde I pray you pardo~ me .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.277)

For I neuer lernyd but lyttel of the byble . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.278)

Then quod the bysshop | go home (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.279)

& come agayn (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.280)

& soyle me this questyon (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.281)

& thou shalt haue orders . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.282)

This scoler so departed (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.283)

& came home to his fader (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.284)

& shewde hym y=e= cause of the hynderaunce of his orders .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.285)

His fader beynge angry at his folysshnes thought to teche hym y=e=
solucyon of this questyon by a famylyer example
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.286)

& called his spanyels before hym (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.287)

& sayd thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.288)

thou knowyst well Coll my dogge hath these iii. whelpys Ryg | Tryg | &
Tryboll . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.289)

Must not Coll my dog nedys be Syre to tryboll .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,123.290)

Then quod the scoler by god fader <P_124> ye saye trouth
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.291)

let me alone now | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.292)

ye shall se me do well ynough y=e= nexte tyme . wherfore on y=e= morowe
he wente to y=e= bysshop agayne (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.293)

& sayd he coud soyle his questyon . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.294)

Then sayd the bysshop Noe had .iii. sonnes Sem Cham & Japhet |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.295)

now tell me who was Japhetys fader . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.296)

Mary syr quod y=e= scholer yf it please your lordshyp Col my faders dog
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.297)

By this tale a man may lerne that it is but lost tyme to teche a fole
any thynge whych hath no wyt to perceyue it . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.298)

<heading>

LXXII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.300)

<font> Of the husbandman that lodgyd the frere in his own bed . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.301)

</heading>

It fortuned so that a frere late in the euenynge desyred lodgynge of a
poore man of the countrey | the whiche for lake of other lodgynge glad
to herborowe the frere lodgyd hym in his owne bed .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.303)

And after he and his wyfe . The frere beynge a sleepe came
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.304)

and lay in the same bedde . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.305)

And in the mornynge after the poore man rose (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.306)

and wente to the marketh leuynge the Frere in y=e= bedde with his wyfe
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.307)

And as he went he smylyd & laughyd to hymself | wherfor his neybours
demaunded of hym why he so smyled | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,124.308)

he <P_125> answerd & sayd I laugh to thynk how shamefast the frere
shall be when he waketh | whom I left in bedde with my wyfe .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.309)

By this tale a man may lerne that he that ouershotyth hymself doth
folyshly (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.310)

yet he is more fole to shewe it openly . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.311)

<heading>

LXXIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.313)

<font> Of the prest that wold say .ii. gospels for a grote . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.314)

</heading>

Somtyme there dwellyd a prest in Stretforth vpon auyne of small
lernynge whiche vndeuoutly sange masse | & often tymes twyse on one day
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.316)

So it happened on a tyme after his seco~de mas was done in shoterey not
a myle from Strethforth there mete with hym dyuers merchaunt men whiche
wolde haue harde masse | & desyryd hym to synge masse
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,125.317)

and he sholde haue a grote | whiche answerd them <P_126> & sayd Syrs I
wyll say masse no more this day | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,126.318)

but I wyl say you .ii. gospels for one grote | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,126.319)

& that is dog chepe a masse in ony place in englonde .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,126.320)

By this tale a man may se that they that be rude & vnlernyd regard by
lytell the meryt & goodnes of holy prayer . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,126.321)

<P_127>

<heading>

LXXV . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,127.324)

<font> Of the frere that prechyd what mennys sowlys were . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,127.325)

</heading>

A precher in the pulpet whiche prechyd the worde of god | & amo~g other
matters spake of mennys soullys & sayd they were so meruelous & so
subtyll y=t= a thousand soullys myght dau~ce in the space of a nayle of
a mannys fynger | amonge whiche audyence there was a mery conceyted
felowe of small deuocyon that answerde and sayd thus | mayster doctor
yf that a thousande soullys may daunce on a mannys nayle I pray you
tell then where shall the pyper stande . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,127.327)

By this tale a man may se that it is but foly to shewe or to teche
vertew to them that haue no pleasure nor mynde therto .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,127.328)

<P_128>

<heading>

LXXVI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,128.331)

<font> Of the husband that cryed ble under the bed . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,128.332)

</heading>

In londo~ there was a certayn artyfycer hauyng a wyf to who~ a lusty
gala~t made pursute to accomplyshe his pleasur .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,128.334)

This woma~ denyenge shewde the matter vnto her husbande | whiche mouyd
therwith bad hys wyfe to appoynte hym a tyme to come secretly to lye
with her all night . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,128.335)

And w=t= gret krakys & othes sware y=t= agaynst his coming he wolde be
redy harnesyd & wolde put hym in ieopardy of his lyf except he wolde
make hym a grete amendys . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,128.336)

This nyght was then appoynted at whiche tyme this courtyer came at
<P_129> his howre & entred into the chaumber set his two handsworde
{COM:two-hand_sword} downe & sayde these wordes .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.337)

Stand thou there thou sworde the deth of .iii. men .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.338)

This husbande lyenge vnder y=e= bed in harnes heryng these wordes lay
styl for fere . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.339)

The courtyer anone gat him to bed with the wyfe aboute his prepensyd
besynes | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.340)

and within an houre or .ii. the husbande beynge wery of lyenge began to
remoue hym | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.341)

the courtyar that herynge askyd the wyfe what thynge that was y=t=
remouyd vnder y=e= bed | whiche excusynge y=e= matter sayde it was a
lytell shepe that was wonte dayly to go about the hous
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.342)

& the husbande y=t= herynge anone cryed ble as it had ben a shepe .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.343)

And so in co~clusyon when y=e= courtyer saw his tyme he rose
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.344)

& kyssed the wyfe (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.345)

& toke his leue (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.346)

& departyd . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.347)

And as soone as he was gone the husbande arose |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.348)

& when the wyfe lokyd on hym somwhat abasshyd she began to make a sad
cou~tenaunce (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.349)

& sayde Alas syr why dyd ye not ryse & play the man as ye sayde ye
wolde | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,129.350)

whiche answerde and sayde why dame dydest thou not here hym say that
his sworde had ben the dethe <P_130> of .iii. men |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.351)

& I had ben a fole than yf y=t= I had put my selfe in ieopardy to haue
ben the fourth . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.352)

Then sayd the wyfe thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.353)

but syr spake not I wysely then when I sayd ye were a shepe |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.354)

yes quod y=e= husbande . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.355)

But than dyd not I more wysely dame when that I cryed ble .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.356)

By this ye may se that he is not wyse that wyll put his confydens to
moche vpon these grete crakers whiche oftymes wyll do but lytell when
it comyth to the poynt . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.357)

<heading>

LXXVII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.359)

<font> Of the shomaker that askyd the colyer what tydyngys in hell .
</font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.360)

</heading>

There was a shomaker syttynge in his shop y=t= sawe a colyer come by
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.362)

thought to deryde hym bycause he was so blake |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.363)

askyd hym , what thydynges were in hell and how the deuyll fayred .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,130.364)

To whome the colyer sayde | the deuyll fared well when <P_131> I sawe
hym last (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.365)

for he was rydynge forthe (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.366)

and taryed but for a sowter to pluk on his botis .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.367)

By this ye may se that he that vsyth to deryde other folkys is somtyme
hymselfe more derydyd and mokkyd . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.368)

<heading>

LXXVIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.370)

<font> Of saynt Peter that cryed cause bobe . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.371)

</heading>

I fynde wryte~ amonge olde gestys how god made saynte peter porter of
heuen | and that god of his goodnes soone after his passyon suffred
many men to come to the kyngdome of heuen with small deseruyng | at
whiche tyme there was in heuen a grete company of Welchemen | whiche
with theyre krakynge & babelynge trobelyd all the other . Wherfore god
sayd to saynt peter y=t= he was wery of them | & that he wolde fayne
haue them out of heuen . To whome saynt Peter sayde good lorde I
warrant you y=t= $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} shortly done | wherfore saynt
peter went out of heue~ gatys & cryed w=t= a loude voyce Cause bobe |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.373)

y=t= is as moche to say as rostyd chese | whiche thynge ye welchmen
heryng ran out of heuyn a great pace . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,131.374)

And when saynt Peter sawe them al out he sodenly went in to <P_132>
heuen (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,132.375)

and lokkyd the dore (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,132.376)

and so sparryd all the welchmen out . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,132.377)

By this ye may se that it is no wysdome for a man to loue or to set his
mynde to moche vpon ony delycate or wordly {COM:sic} pleasure wherby he
shall lose the celestyall & eternall Joye . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,132.378)

<P_133>

<heading>

LXXX . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.381)

<font> Of the parson that stall the mylners elys . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.382)

</heading>

A certayn mylner ther was which had dyuers po~dys of elis wheri~ was
good store of elys | wherfore y=e= p~son of y=e= town which lokyd like
a~ holy ma~ dyuers & many timis stale many of the~ in so moch y=t= he
had left few or none behind him | wherfore this milner seyng his elis
stolyn & wist not by who~ cam to y=e= sayd p~son & desyrid hym to curse
for the~ (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.384)

y=e= p~son sayd he wolde . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.385)

& y=e= next so~day ca~ in to y=e= pulpet w=t= book bell & ca~dell
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.386)

& p~ceiyng there were none in y=e= chirche y=t= vnderstode latyn sayd
thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.387)

he y=t= stale y=e= milners elis laudate dominum de celis
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.388)

but he y=t= stale y=e= grer elis gaudeat ipse in celis
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.389)

therw=t= put out y=e= candell , (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.390)

why syr quod ye mylner no more (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.391)

for this sauce is sharp ynough for hym . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,133.392)

<P_134>

By this ye may se that some curatys that loke full holyly be but
desemblers & ypocrytis . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.394)

<heading>

LXXXI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.396)

<font> Of the welchman that saw one xl. shyl. better than god . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.397)

</heading>

A welchman on a tyme went to chirche to here mas whiche hapenyd to come
in euyn at y=e= sacryng time (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.399)

when he had hard y=t= mas to y=e= ende he we~t home wher one of his
felowes askyd hym whether he had sene god almighty to day which a~swerd
& sayd nay but I saw one lx. s. better tha~ he .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.400)

By this ye maye se that they $that {COM:that_missing_in_original} be
euyll brought vp haue but lytyll devocyon to pray and vertew .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,134.401)

<P_136>

<heading>

LXXXIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,136.404)

<font> Of the parson that sayd masse of requie~ for Crystys sowle .
</font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,136.405)

</heading>

A certayne prest there was that dwellyd in y=e= cou~trey which was not
very lernyd . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,136.407)

Therfore on Eester euyn he se~t his boy to y=e= prest of the next town
<P_137> y=t= was .ii. myle from thens to know what masse he sholde
synge on ye morowe . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.408)

This boy came to the sayd prest (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.409)

and did his maysters erra~de to hym . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.410)

Then quod the prest tel thy mayster that he must synge to morow of the
resurrexyon | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.411)

and furthermore quod he yf thou hap to forget it tel thy mayster that
it begynneth w=t= a gret R. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.412)

and shewed hym the masse booke where it was wryten Resurrexi . &c .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.413)

This boy than wente home agayne (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.414)

and all the way as he went he clateryd styll . Resurrexi Resurrexi |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.415)

but at y=e= last he hapenyd to forget it clene (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.416)

and whe~ he came home his mayster askyd hym what masse he sholde synge
on y=e= morowe . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.417)

By my troth mayster quod the boy I haue forgoten it |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.418)

but he bad me tell you it bega~ w=t= a gret .R.
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.419)

By god quod the prest I trowe thou sayest trowth
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.420)

for now I remember well it muste be requiem eternam |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.421)

for god almyghty dyed as on yester day (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.422)

& now we must say masse for his soule . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.423)

By this ye may se that when one fole sendyth another fole on his errand
oftentymes the besynes is folyshly spede . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,137.424)

<P_138>

<heading>

LXXXIV . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.427)

<font> Of the herdman that sayd ryde apace (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.428)

ye shall haue rayn . </font> (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.429)

</heading>

A skoler of Oxenford whiche had studyed y=e= iudycyals of astronomy o~
a tyme was rydyng by y=e= way which ca~ by a herdma~ & inquyrid of hym
how far it was to y=e= next town | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.431)

syr quod y=e= herdma~ y=e= haue $not $thyder {TEXT:notthyder} past a
myle & a half , (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.432)

but syr quod he ye nede to ryde apace (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.433)

for ye shal haue a shour of rayn er ye co~e thyder |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.434)

what quod y=e= skoler y=t= is not so (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.435)

for here is no token of rayn (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.436)

for all y=e= cloudys be both fayr & clere | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.437)

by god syr quod y=e= herd ma~ but ye shall fynd it so .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.438)

The skoler then rode forth his way (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.439)

& or he had ryden half a myle forther there fel a good showre of rayn
that the skoler was well wasshyd and wete to y=e= skyn |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.440)

y=e= skoler then tournyd his horse (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.441)

and rode agayne to the herdman (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.442)

& desyred hym to teche hym that connyng . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,138.443)

nay quod y=e= herdman I wyll <P_139> not teche you my connynge for
nought | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.444)

tha~ the skoler profferyd hym .xl. shyllyngys to teche hym that
connynge | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.445)

the herde man after he had receyued his money sayde thus . Syr se you
not yo~der dun a {COM:sic} kow with the whyte face |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.446)

yes quod the skoler . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.447)

Suerly quod y=e= herdma~ whe~ she dau~syth and holdyth vp her tayle it
shal haue a showre of rayne within halfe an howre after .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.448)

By this ye may see y=t= the conyng of herdmen & shepardes as touchyng
alteracyo~s of weders is more sure than y=e= iudycyallys of Astronomy .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.449)

<heading>

LXXXV . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.451)

<font> Of hym that sayd I shall haue nere a peny . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.452)

</heading>

In a certayn town ther was a rych man that lay on his deth bed at
poynte of deth whiche chargyd his executours to dele for his soule a
certayn so~me of money in pence (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,139.454)

& on this condicyon chargyd them as y=e= wolde answere afore God that
euery pore man that came to them & tolde a trewe tale sholde haue a
peny & they that sayd a fals <P_140> thynge sholde haue none |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.455)

& in the dole tyme there came one which sayde y=t= god was a good man |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.456)

quod y=e= executours thou shalt haue a peny (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.457)

for thou sayste trouth . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.458)

Anone came another (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.459)

& said ye deuyll was a good man | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.460)

quod the executours there thou lyest (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.461)

therfore thou shalt haue nere a peny . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.462)

At last came one to y=e= executours (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.463)

& sayd thus | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.464)

ye shall gyue me nere a peny | which wordys made the executours amasyd
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.465)

and toke aduysement whether they shold gyue hym the peny or no .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.466)

By this ye may se it is wysdome for Juggys in deutefull matters of law
to beware of hasty iugement . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.467)

<heading>

LXXXVI . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.469)

<font> Of the husband that sayd his wyfe and he agreed well . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.470)

</heading>

A man askyd his neybour which was but late maryed to a wydow how he
agreyd with his wyfe (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.472)

for he said y=t= her fyrst husba~d and she coud neuer agre |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.473)

by god quod y=e= other we agre meruelous wel . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.474)

I pray the how so | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.475)

mary quod y=e= other I shall tell y=e= | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,140.476)

<P_141>

when I am mery she is mery | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.478)

& when I am sad she is sad | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.479)

for whe~ I go out of my doris I am mery to go from her
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.480)

& so is she | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.481)

& when I come in agayne I am sad (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.482)

& so is she . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.483)

<heading>

LXXXVII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.485)

<font> Of the preest that sayd comede episcope . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.486)

</heading>

In y=e= tyme of vysytacyo~ a bysshop whiche was somwhat lecherous & had
got many chylderne preparyd to come to a prestes house to se what rule
he kept which prest had a lema~ in his house called Ede & by her had
.ii. or .iii. smale chyldre~ in short space | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.488)

but agayn y=e= bysshop commyng ye prest preparyd a rome to hyde his
lema~ & his childre~ ouer in y=e= rofe of his hall |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,141.489)

& whe~ ye bysshop was come & set at dyner in y=e= same hal hauyng .x.
of his owne childre~ about hym this preste which coud speke lytell
latyn or none bad the bysshop in <P_142> latyn to ete saynge Comede
episcope . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.490)

This woma~ in the rofe of the house herynge the prest say so had wente
he had callyd her byddynge her com Edee (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.491)

& a~werd shortly (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.492)

& sayd shall I brynge my chylderen w=t= me also .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.493)

This bysshop herynge this uxor tua sicut vitis abundans in lateribus
domus tue . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.494)

The preest the~ half amasyd answeryd shortly (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.495)

and sayd Filii tui sicut nouelle olyvarum in circuitu mense tue .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.496)

By this ye may se that they that haue but small lernynge somtyme speke
truely vnaduysyd . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.497)

<heading>

LXXXVIII . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.499)

<font> Of the woman that stale the pot . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.500)

</heading>

On ashe wednysday in y=e= mornynge was a curat of a church whiche had
made good chere the nyght afore | & syttyn vp late & came to y=e=
churche to here co~fessyon to whom there came a woman |
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.502)

and amo~ge other thyngys she co~fessyd her that she had stolyn a pot .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.503)

But than because of grete watche that this preest had | he there
sodenly felle a slepe | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.504)

and whe~ this woman sawe hym not wyllyng to here her she rose vp
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.505)

& we~t her way | (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,142.506)

& anone an <P_143> other woman kneled downe to the same prest
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,143.507)

& began to say benedicite wherwith this preest sodenly wakyd wenynge
she had ben the other woman & sayd al angerly | what art thou now at
benedicite agayne (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,143.508)

tell me what dydest thou when thou hadyst stolyn the pot .
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,143.509)

<P_144>

<heading>

XC . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,144.512)

<font> Of the prest that kyllyd hys horse callyd modicum . </font>
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,144.513)

</heading>

A certayne bysshop appoynted to go on vysytacyon to a prestys house
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,144.515)

and bycause he wolde haue the preest do but lytell cost upon hym he bad
hym dresse but lytyl mete saying thus in latyn . Preparas mihi modicu~
. (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,144.516)

<P_145>

This preest which vnderstode hym not halfe wel had a horse called
modicu~ wherfore he thought to obtayne the bysshops fauour
(MERRYTAL-E1-P2,145.518)

& agaynst y=e= bysshops comyng kylled his horse that was called modicum
wherof the byssop & his serua~tes ete p~t which whe~ y=e= bisshop knew
afterward was gretly displesid . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,145.519)

By this ye may se that many a fole doth moche cost which hath but
lytyll thank for his laboure . (MERRYTAL-E1-P2,145.520)