3Jeft
A HUNDRED MERY TALYS,
FROM THE ONLY PERFECT
COPY KNOWN.
EDITED,
WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES,
BY
DR. HERMAN OESTERLEY.
LONDON:
JOHN RUSSELL SMITH,
SOHO SQJUARE.
1866.
INTRODUCTION,
E editor of the following pages,
while engaged in the compofition
of a new catalogue of the profe
works of fi&ion preferved in the
Royal Library of the' Univerfity in Gottingen,
met with a perfect copy of the " C. Merry Tales,"
printed by John Raftell in 1526. He poftponed,
nowever, all refearches regarding it until the
time when the advancement of his work fhould
require. In the mean time this copy came under
the notice of Dr. Carl Goedeke, the eminent
judge of early literature, who at once recognized
' as l!l-^^--^!!li^i^2-iZ Shakefpeare in
ch_ Ado_. About . Nothing. ""^ This caufed
my learned colleague, Prof. F. W. Unger, to
give a bibliographical account of the difcovery
in the " Serapeum" (No. 9, May I5th, 1864,
p. 142). About this time, Mr. Hazlitt's reprint
iv INTRODUCTION.
from the fragmentary but until this time only
known copy reached us, 1 and notice was given
of it in the " Gottinger gelehrte Anzeigen "
(23 St. June 8th, 1864, p. 917) by Prof,
linger, thus again drawing the attention of
literary men to the perfect copy preferved in
our library.
The original of Mr. Hazlitt's edition was dif-
covered by the Rev. J. J. Conybeare in i8i5, 2
and reprinted the fame year in S. W. Singer's
" Jeft Book." 3 It was printed without date,
1 " Shakefpeare Jeft Books j reprints of the early and very
rare Jeft Books fuppofed to have been ufed by Shakefpeare.
i. A Hundred Mery Talys. n. Mery Tales and Quicke
Anfweres. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by W.
Carew Hazlitt. London, Willis and Sotheran, 1864, 8."
2 Collier, " Shakefpeare," Lond. 1842, vol. ii. p. 208,
note 8, gives erroneoufly the year 1835 as the date of the
difcovery and reprint.
3 " Shakefpeare Jeft Book. Part I. Tales and quicke
Anfweres very mery and pleafant to rede, with a Preface
and a Gloflary. Part n. A C mery Talys, with a Preface
and Gloflary. Part in. Supplement to the Tales and
quicke Anfweres, being Mery Tales, wittie Queftions and
quicke Anfweres, very pleafant to be readde." Chifwick,
1814-16, 8vo. Three parts in i vol., 250 copies printed,
with an " Addrefs to the Reader," by the editor, S. W.
Singer, Efq. Of this edition hardly a (ingle copy has ever
come to Germany. See " Biographical Memoir of Ed-
mond Malone" [by James Bofwell], Lond. 1814, privately
INTRODUCTION. v
but with the mark of John Raftell 4 on the
reverfe of the laft leaf, twenty-four leaves in
folio, black letter. 5 Many leaves of this copy,
from having been ufed as pafteboard to another
book, were mutilated, and though feveral copies
* had been employed in fafhioning the pafteboard,
and fo a comparatively large fragment was
faved, yet many deficiencies remained. Befides
a quantity of fmaller gaps throughout the whole
book, in twenty-fix 6 of the tales feveral lines
are wanting, and fix 7 are too much damaged to
decypher.
The original of the prefent edition is perfect.
It was printed by John Raftell in 1526, black
letter, twenty-eight leaves in folio, though only
printed ; " Retrofpe6Hve Review," N. S. No. 8, Aug,
1854, vol. ii. p. 3135 "London Magazine," edited by
Taylor and Hefley, 1823-24.
4 See, about this early Englifli printer, James Ames,
"Typographical Antiquities," augmented by W. Herbert,
Lond. 1785-90, 4to. vol. i. p. 326.
5 Lowndes, " The Bibliographer's Manual," part v.
p. 1 200, mentions the i8mo. fize. For further particulars,
fee Mr. Hazlitt's edition, Introduction, p. iii. feq.
6 Viz. Nos. 3, 4, 22, 24, 42, 46, 47, 49, 52, 53, 55, 59,
60, 63, 64, 67, 69, 74, 77, 81, 83, 87, 91, 94, 96, 100.
7 Viz. Nos. 26, 35, 72, 78, 84, 95, correfponding to
Nos. 28, 36, 74, 80, 86, 99 of this edition.
vi INTRODUCTION.
twenty-fix numbered, including title and table.
It contains E iii by fignatures, the firft meet in
fours, the remainder in fixes. The front of the
firft leaf is without fignature and bears in xylo-
graphic frame-work the title, " A .C. mery
talysj" on the back of the leaf begins " the
kalender" or the table of the tales, which is
continued on the fecond leaf A ii. Then follow
folios i to 26, 1 containing the text of the tales.
The ftories are without headings or numbers,
generally with a moral attached and a break in
type between each. The firft letter of each
ftory is printed feparately, moft of them in a
fquare for illumination. The text finifhes upon
the firft page of the laft leaf with the word
"Finis;" on the reverfe follows the Colophon
and the mark of John Raftell in large frame
work, and under it : Cum preuilegio Regali.
According to an entry in the Library's Manual
of the year 1768* this copy has been purchafed
at an auction of books in Liineburg, December,
1 Fol. 2 and 26 bear erroneoufly the numbers 26 and
refp. 21.
2 " Manuale," 1768. Angekommen d. 13 Jan. p. 6.
Aus der Auflion eines Vorraths von Buchern, welche am
7 Dec. 1767 u. f. zu Liineburg in Peterfens Haufe an den
Meiftbietenden follen verkauft werden, p. 9, 145, No. 2.
"AC mery talys." Lond. 1526, (Ace. f. 536.8.)
INTRODUCTION. vii
1767; but I have been unfuccefsful in tracing
its hiftory further back.
The differences between this impreffion and
the one edited by Singer and reprinted by Mr.
Hazlitt are very confiderable. Our edition has
four tales which are not contained in the undated
copy, viz. Nos. 2, 7, 91 and 98 ; for which at
the end of the latter three new ftories are added,
Nos. 97, 99 and 100. No. 98 is wanting in
the table as well as in the text of Mr. Hazlitt's
edition, and as he does not give any reafon of
this ftriking deficiency, nor even mention it, I
am unable to decide whether it arifes from a
negligence of the original compiler, from a la
cuna in the only preferved copy, or from an
error of the later editors ; the lefs, as Mr. Singer's
reprint is faid to be nearly an accurate facfimile
of the original, and Mr. Hazlitt profefles to have
rigidly adhered even to the old orthography.
Again, in Mr. Hazlitt's edition the morals of
Nos. 54, 79 and 96 are wanting, correfponding
to Nos. 35, 81 and 100 of the prefent edition;
and further is No. 43 of our original No. 33 of
the undated copy.
For fmaller variations I may firft refer to the
kalender or table. In the beginning the headings
are entirely different, but afterwards, with the
exception perhaps of Nos. 44 and 66 (Nos. 42
viii INTRODUCTION.
and 64 in Haz. ), only very trifling alterations of
Tingle words occur.
The variations of the two editions in fingle
phrafes and expreilions of the text are numerous,
and they are, after careful collation, noted under
the text, excepting thofe, however, which have
arifen from the interpolations of the later edi
tors.
Finally, the difference of orthography and
punctuation might be mentioned, but for the
capricioufnefs of the orthography in both edi
tions, and for the thorough modernizing of the
punctuation in Mr. Hazlitt's edition, the only one
at my command.
The queftion, which of the two copies re
covered up to the prefent moment is the original
and older edition (and there is very little hope
of ever difcovering a third copy), will be very
difficult to prove to an abfolute certainty. By
the want of any authentic indication, the inquiry
is thrown back on a mere circumftantial proof;
but I think the reafons to be given hereafter will
be ftrong enough to produce a firm convidtion
of the priority of our original.
The nrft argument in favour of the edition of
1526 is founded on the fele&ion and difpofition
of the tales. When a reprint of a collection of
a hundred tales like the one in queftion is being
INTRODUCTION. ix
prepared, and the removing of four (lories feems
defirable, it is unlikely enough, that the three or
four laft pieces fhould be caft off; but it is much
more unlikely that the number required to com
plete a hundred fhould be inferted in entirely
. chance places. This, however, would have been
the cafe in the Nos. 2, 7, 91 and 98 of our edi
tion, if it had been a revifion of the undated
copy. On the other hand, it is quite natural
firuply to throw out the tales confidered as un-
ferviceable (which, as before mentioned, would
hardly be placed together, but be fcattered through
out the work) and to fubjoin the additions at the
end. This has been the cafe, if the undated
edition is the refult of a revifion : Nos. 2, 7, 91
and 98 of the original edition have been fup-
preffed, and in their ftead Nos. 97 to 100 of the
later impreflion are added. I muft fay, that this
mode of revifion, in a work where the difpolition
of the matter is entirely arbitrary, feems to me
more natural than even putting the new ftories
in the place of the old ones. The fubftance of
the tales in difcuflion can be of no moment for
the queftion, for indeed, the one is about as in-
fipid as the other, and moreover, the tafte of our
anceftors in regard to jefts and popular tales was
fo very different from ours, that it is next to
impoffible at prefent to decide which of them
x INTRODUCTION.
might be confidered more palatable to the public
at that time.
The tranfpofition of a Tingle tale to another
place 1 can, of courfe, be no conclufive argument
either for one view or for the other, whereas the
want of the morals in the undated copy is of con-
fequence, if it really be found in the original and
not be produced by a defecl:, which is not quite
evident in Mr. Hazlitt's reprint. As our copy
contains twenty-eight leaves and the undated one
only twenty-four, therefore the arrangement of
the type in each muft have been quite different ;
the abfence of thefe morals might have arifen
from a defire of faving fpace, and thus furnim
a new evidence for the priority of the dated
edition.
The variations in the table favour my opinion
in an equal manner. Wherever any effential
differences occur in the headings, they are equal
to as many emendations in the undated copy, 2
and thefe improvements evidently bear witnefs
to the later appearance of the revifed edition ;
the more, as there is no trace of a third edition
earlier than both, of which the undated copy
might poffibly be a revifed impreflion, ours being
only a later and unrevifed reprint.
1 No. 43 to No. 33 of the undated edition.
2 See the headings of Nos. i to 6, 44 and 66.
INTRODUCTION. xi
This might, indeed, have been the cafe for the
alterations of the text ; but under the circum-
ftances it is too improbable to be advanced as an
objection, and I may fairly put it out of the queftion.
Among the very large quantity of variations in the
text, there are, of courfe, many entirely irrelevant
in the decifion of the queftion, as they cannot be
confidered as improvements. The greater part,
neverthelefs, proves that the undated edition is
the product of a revifion. In the firft place
the mifprints are important. The typographical
errors of our edition, about fifty or fixty, have
all been corre&ed in Mr. Hazlitt's original, in
which, however, there are about twenty new
mifprints. The moft remarkable of thefe is
P- 35> 1- J 3 f Mr. Hazlitt's reprint, where
evidently from the repetition of the words "tyed
faft by the leggys " in three confecutive lines
(at the top of fol. vi verfo of our original) more
than a line of our text has been omitted, the
paflage ending with the firft repetition of thofe
words being left out. As it would be impoffible
to enumerate all the pafiages which go to prove
my propofition, I mention only fome of the moft
ftriking inftances. Fol. I verfo, 1. 39, the words
"his neck," accidentally omitted in ours, are fup-
plied in Mr. Hazlitt's edition ; fol. 2 verfo, 1. 10,
"for that that" Hazl. "becaufe;" fol. 10,
xii INTRODUCTION.
1. 38, "by vyolence" Hazl. "of the houfe ;"
fol. ii verfo, 1. 16, "thy" Hazl. "your;"
fol. 14, 1. 27, " vp through" Hazl. " throughe
it," &c ; but efpecially fol. 21, 1. 3 and 4, a
very corrupt paflage of our text has been cor-
re&ed in Mr. Hazlitt's edition, p. 102, 1. 8;
fol. 23, 1. 2, the words " fayde in fporte" are
omitted, but have been inferted in the undated
copy.
On the other hand, I feel obliged to mention
that a few of the variations in the undated copy
cannot well be confidered as corrections from
our text, but rather feem to indicate the reverfe ; 1
this, however, is eafily enough accounted for by
the fat that alterations are not always improve
ments : indeed, in one inftance 2 the very cor
ruption of the text proves its being a revifed
edition.
The orthography in both editions is too varied
and unfettled to be of any moment for our
queftion, although the frequent ufe of written
numbers in the undated copy inftead of the
fimple cypher, and perhaps the employing of
the word " pence" for our abbreviation d. feem
to ftrengthen my argument. On the whole, all
J F. e. fol. 12, 1. 34; fol. 12 verfo, 1. 27; fol. 16 verfo,
1. 235 fol. 20, 1. 21, &c.
2 Fol. 20 verfo, 1. 9 j fee the notes.
INTRODUCTION. xiii
the orthography proves is that only a few years
elapfed between the appearance of the two edi
tions.
Thefe are the arguments I have to prefent ;
although each taken fmgly may not be confidered
conclufive, the whole will form as unexception
able a proof of the priority of our edition as can
be expected, and this proof is the more cogent,
as there is nothing worth mentioning to be
offered in favour of the other edition.
The notes added to the prefent edition do not
in any way pretend to contain all that might be
collated in regard to the fources and imitations
of the " C Mery Talys." It has certainly been
my endeavour to make this collection of parallels
as entire as poffible, but, of courfe, it was only
the material at my command which I could call
into requifition ; and although this material was
uncommonly copious, I have no doubt in a com
plete collection, efpecially of Englifh Jeft Books,
much more might have been gathered. How
ever, many of the Merry Tales bear too unmif-
takeably the ftamp of originality to leave any
hope of tracing their origin farther, and a large
number we may fafely fuppofe have never been
transferred to the collections of a later period.
This forms the effential diftin&ion between the
prefent and moft of the other Englifh Jeft Books,
xiv INTRODUCTION.
ours being the only one (within my knowledge,
at leaft) containing tales upon the origin or dif-
femination of which authentic information cannot
be obtained.
It only remains for me to exprefs my fin-
cereft thanks to my learned friend, Dr. Carl
Goedeke, for the highly valuable affiftance he
has furnifhed me in the accomplifhment of my
work.
CONTENTS.
Page
I. Of the mylner that fayd he harde neuer but of
ii commaundernens and .ii. dowtys .... i
ii. Of the cytefen that callyd the preft fyr John &
he callyd him mafter raf 2
in. Of the wyfe that mayd hyr hufbande to go fyt
in the herber in the nyght while her prentys
lay with her in her bed 3
iv. Of hym that playd the deuyll and came thorow
the waren & mayd theym that ftale the connys
to ronne away 7
v . Of the fyk man that bequethyd hys thyrd fon a
lytyll ground with the galows 1 1
vi. Of the gentylman that loft his ryng in the gentyl-
womans bed, & a nother gentylman found it
after in the fame bed 13
vn Of the hufband man that afked for mafter pyfpot
the phyfyfyon 14
P III. Of the fcoler that bare his flioys to cloutyng . 17
ix. Of hym that fayd that a womans tong was
lightift met of degeftion ....... 1 8
x. Of the woman that folowyd her fourth huf-
bandys herce & wept 19
xvi CONTENTS.
Page
xi. Of the woman that fayd her wooer came too
late 20
xn Of the mylner with the golden thombe ... 22
xiu. Of the horfman of yrelond that prayd Oconer
to hang vp the frere 22
xiv. Of thepreft that fayd nother corpus meus nor
corpum meum 25
xv. Of the .ii. frerys wherof the one louyd not the
ele hed nor the other the tayle 26
xvi. Of the welchman that fhroue hym for brekyng
his faft on the fryday 27
xvn. Of the merchaunt of london that put nobles in
his mouth in his deth bed 30
xvin. Of the mylner that ftale the nuttys & of the
tayler that ftale a fliepe 31
xix. Of the .iiii. elementys where they fhulde fone
be found 37
xx. Of the woman that powryd the potage in the
Juggys male 39
xxi. Of the weddyd men that cam to heuyn to
clay me theyr herytage 41
xxn. Of the merchaunte that chargyd hys fonne to
fynde one to fynge for hys fowle .... 42
xxin. Of the mayd wafhyng clothys and anfwered
the frere 4.4.
xxiv. Of the .ill. wyfe men of gotam 45
xxv. Of the gray frere that anfweryd his penytent . 47
xxvi. Of the gentylman that bare the fege borde on
his nek 47
xxvu. Of the marchauntys wyfe that feyd me wolde
take a nap at fermon 51
xxvni. Of the woman that feyd & me lyftyd a
nother yere me wolde haue a kokoldis hat
of her owne 52
CONTENTS. xvii
Page
xxix. Of the gentylman that wyfhyd his toth in
the gentylwomans tayle 53
xxx. Of the welchman that confeflyd hym how he
had llayn a frere 54.
xxxi. Of the welchman that cowde not get but a
lytyll male 55
xxxn. Of the gentyll woman that fayd to a gentyl
man ye haue a berde a boue & none be-
nethe 57 -
xxxin. Of the frere that fayd our lord fed .v. M.
peple with .ij. fyfliys 58
xxxiv. Of the frankelyne that wold haue had the
frere gon 59
xxxv. Of the good man that fayd to his wyfe he
had yll fare 60
xxxvi. Of the frere that bad hys chylde make a
laten 61
xxxvii. Of the gentylman that afkyd the frere for
his beuer 62
xxxvin. Of the .in. men that chafe the woman . . 63
xxxix. Of the gentylman that taught his cooke the
medefyne for the tothake 65
XL. Of the gentylman that promyfyd the fcoler
of Oxford a farcenet typet 67
XLI. Of matter fkelton that brought the byfhop of
Norwich .ii. fefantys 70
XLII. Of the yeman of gard that fayd he wold
bete the carter 73
XLIII. Of the pryft that fayd our lady was not fo
curyous a woman 75
XLIV. Of the fole that wold go to the deuyll . . 76
XLV. Of the plowmannys fonne that fayd he law
one make a Gofe to kreke fweetly . . .77
b
XV111
CONTENTS.
Page
XLVI. Of the maydys anfwere that was with chylde 78
XLVII. Of the feruant that rymyd with his mafter . 79
XLVIII. Of the welchman that delyueryd the letter
to the ape 8 1
XLIX. Of hym that fold ryght nought .... 83
L. Of the frere that told the iii. chylders for-
tunys 86
LI. Of the boy that bare the frere hys mafters
money . 88
LII. Of Phylyp fpencer the bochers man ... 89
LIII. Of the courtear and the carter 91
LIV. Of the yonge man that prayd his felow to
tech hym his pater nofter . . . . . 91
LV. Of the frere that prechyd in ryme expownyng
the aue maria 93
LVI. Of the curat that prechyd the artycles of
the Crede 96
LVJI. Of the frere that prechyd the .x. comaunde-
mentys 100
LVIII. Of the wyfe that bad her hufband etc the
candell furft 103
LIX. Of the man of lawys fonnys anfwer . . . 104
LX. Of the frere in the pulpit that bad the woman
leue her babelyng 104.
LXI. Of the welchman that caft the fkot in to the
fee 1 06
LXII. Of the man that had the dome wyfe . . . 107
LXIII. Of the proftor of arches that had the lytell
wyfe 1 09
LXIV. Of the .ii. nonnys that were fhryuyn of one
preft . . 110
LXV. Of the efquyer that fholde haue bene made
knyght 112
CONTENTS. xix
Page
LXVI. Of the man that wold haue the pot ftand
there as he wold 114
LXVII. Of the penytent that fayd the fhepe of god
haue mercy vpon me 116
LXVIII. f Of ^e hufband that fayd he was John
daw 117
LXIX. f Of the fkoler of oxford that prouyd by
. foupheftry .ii. chekyns .iii 1 1 8
LXX. ^[ Of the frere that ftale the podyng . . 120
LXXI. Of the frankelyns fon that cam to take
orders 122
LXX ii. Of the hufbandman that lodgyd the frere
in hys owne bed 124
LXXIII. Of the preft that wold fay .ii. gofpels for a
grote 125
LXXIV. Of the courtear that dyd caft the frere ouer
the bote .... 126
LXXV. Of the frere that prechyd what mennys
fowlys were 127
LXXVI. Of the hufband that cryed ble vnder the
bed 128
LXXVII. Of the fhomaker that afkyd the colyer what
tydyngys in hell 130
LXXVIII. Of feynt Peter that cryed caufe bobe . . 131
LXXIX. Of hym that aduenturyd body & fowle for
hys prynce 132
LXXX. Of the parfon that ftall the mylners elys . 133
LXXXI. Of the welchman that faw one .xl. Ihyl.
better than god 1 34.
LXXXII. Of the frere that fayd dyrige for the hoggys
fowle 134.
LXXXIII. Of the parfon that fayd mafle of requiem
for Cryftys fowle . . 136
xx CONTENTS.
Page
LXXXIV. Of the herdman that fayd ryde apace ye
(hall haue rayn 138
LXXXV. Of hym that fayd I fhall haue nere a peny 1 39
LXXXVI. Of the hufband that fayd his wyfe and he
agreed well 140
LXXXVII. Of the preeft that fayd comede epifcope . 14.1
LXXXVIII Of the woman that ftale the pot . . . 14.2
LXXXIX. Of mafter whyttyntons dreme .... 143
xc. Of the preft that kyllyd hys horfe callyd
modicum 144
xci. Of the maltman of Colbroke .... 145
xcn. Of the welchman that ftale the englyfh-
mans cok 150
xcin. Of hym that brought a botell to a preft . 150
xciv. Of the endytement of Jhefu of Nazareth . 151
xcv. Of hym that prechyd agaynft theym that
rode on the fonday 152
xcvi. Of the one brother that founde a purs . 153
xcvn. Of the anfwere of the matters to the mayd 155
xCVin. Of a certayn aldermans dedys of london . 155
xcix. Of the northern man that was all hart . 158
c. Of the burnyng of old John 158
A HUNDRED MERY TALYS.
I. Of the mylner that fay d be harde neuerbut of
ii commaudemens and .Ii. dowtys.
CERTAYN Curat in the contrey
there was thatpreched in the pulpit of
the ten commandementys. Seyng
that there were ten comaudemetes
that euery man ought to kepe/ & he that brake
any of the/ comytted greuous fyn/ 1 how be it he
fayd that fomtyme it was dedly fyn & fomtyme
venyall/ But when it was dedly fyn & when
venyall/ there were many douts therin. And
a mylner a yong ma a mad felow that cam
feldom to church/ 2 & had ben at very fewe fer-
mons or none in all his lyfe anfwerd hym tha
fhortly this wyfe. I meruel matter parfon that
ye fay ther be fo many comaudemetis & fo
many doutys. For I neuer hard tell but of ii.
1 greuous fyn'] Hazl. fyn. * churcli\ Orig. reads chnrch.
B
2 A HUNDRED
comandemets that is to fay comande me to you
and comaude me fro you. Nor I neuer herd tell
of mo 1 doutis but twayn that ys to fay dout 2 the
candell and dout the fyre. At which anfwere all
the people fell a laughynge.
IT By this tale a man may well pceyue that
they that be brought vp without lernyng 3 or good
maner (hall neuer be but rude and beftely all
though they haue good naturall wyttys.
II. Of the cytefen that callyd the preft fyr John
& he called hi majler raf.
Wanting in Hazlitt's edition.
|N a tyme there was a Joly Citefyn
walkyng in the cotrey for fport which
met with a folyfh preft/ & in diryfyo in
comunycacio cald hym fyr John, this preft
vnderftonding his mockyng calde him mafter
rafe/ why quod the cytefyn dofte thou call me
mafter rafe/ mary quod the preft why callyft
me fyr John. Then quod the cytefen I call the
fyr John becawfe euery folyfh prefte moft
comonly is calde fir John/ Mary quod the preft
& I call the mafter rafe becaufe eueryproud
1 mo] Hazl. more. 2 dout] i. e. fear.
3 'vp without lernyng] Orig. reads vpwith out leryng.
MERT
Cocold moft comenly is callyd mafter Rafe. At
the which anfwer all that were by laught a pace
becaufe dyuers there fuppofyd the fame cytefen to
be a cokcold in dede.
IF By thys tale ye may fe that he that delyteth 4
to deryde & laughe other to fkorne is fomtyme
hym felfe more derydyd.
in. Of the wyfe that mayd hyr hujbande to gofyt
in the herber in the nyght whyle herprentys lay with
her in her bed.
The fources as well as the imitations of this ftory are
very numerous. It feems to be modelled after Boccaccio, "II
Decamerone," giorn. vii.nov. 7, or perhaps after the "Cent
Nouvelles Nouvelles," nouv. 88. But its real origin is a
French fabliau, either "La bourgeoife d'Orleans," in Le-
grand d' Aufly," Fabliaux ou Contesdu xn. etdu xm.fiecle,"
Paris, 1779, torn. iii. p. 411 (alfo in Barbazan-Meon,
"Fabliaux et Contes," Paris, 1808, p. 161)5 or "Raymond
Vidal," in Raynouard, " Choix des Poefies originales des
Troubadours," Paris, 1816-1819, torn. iii. p. 398. Likewife
it is contained in " Poggii facetiae," s. 1. & a. fol : " de mu-
liere quae virum defraudavit," fol. v. verfo; in Mone's
" Anzeiger fur Kunde des deutfchen Mittelalters," iv. 453 ;
" Der Herr und der Schreiber j" in Von der Hagen, " Ge-
fammtabenteuer," No. 27 j " Frauenbeftaendigkeit," Bd.
ii. Stuttgart & Tubingen, 1 8 505 and in "Grimm," Deutfche
Sagen, Bd. ii. Berlin, 1818, p. 186 ; " Kaifer Heinrich
verfucht die Kaiferin."
4 delyteth} Orig. reads delyteh.
4 A HUNDRED
The following are more or leis exaft imitations of thefe
different fources : Henr. Bebelii " Facetiae, additamenta
Hermotimi," in Nicod. Frifchlini "Facet. Sele&iores," Am-
ftelod. 1660, p. 313 ; Job. Gaftius, " Convivalium fermo-
num," Bafil, 1 549, torn. i. p. 1 98 ; Ser Giovanni Fiorentino,
" II Pecorone," giorn. iii. nov. 2 ; Celio Malefpini, " Du-
cento novelle," nov. 61 j Ludov. Domenichi, " Facetie," p.
204; Matteo Bandello, "Novelle," tom.ii. nov. 25 j "Conti
da ridere," torn. i. p. 139" d'un uomo che fu cornuto, battuto
e contento 5" Timoneda, " Alivio de Caminantes," p. i.
No. 69, reprinted in " Bibl. de Aut. Efpan." vol. Jii. p. 1 7 5 j
" Romanzero general," Madrid, 1614, p. ix. fol. 344 j H.
Eftienne (Henr. Stephanas) "Apologie pour Herodote,
augm. de remarques par Le Duchat," La Haye, 1735,
torn. i. chap. 15, p. 279; Dancourt, " Oeuvres," Paris,
1729 ; torn. ii. No. i, "Le tuteur ;" " Roger Bontems en
belle humeur," Cologne, 1731, torn. i. p. 55: "D'un
homme qui fut cocu, battu et content j" " Contes a rire,
ou Recreations Franyaifes," ed. 1787, torn. ii. p. 130 ; La-
fontaine, Contes : " Le Cocu battu et content," liv. i. c.
35 B.Waldis, " Efopus," iv. 8ij Joh. Pet. de Memel,
" Luftige Gefellichaft " (imperfe6l copy of the Library
in Gottingen), No. 2, f. 26 ; Philander, " Der Kurzweilige
Zeitverkiirzer," s. 1. 1702, No. 481, p. 3235 A. F. E.
Langbein, Schw'anke : " Der Kammerdiener," ed. 1765,
Bd. i. p. 29; "A Sackful of Newes," London, 1673,
reprinted in Mr. Hazlitt"s " Shakefpeare Jeft-Books," 2nd
feries, Lond. 1864, p. 169.
WYFE ther was which had apointed
her pretys to com to her bed in the
night which feruat had long woyd her
to haue his plefure which acordlge to the apoTtmct
MERT TALTS. 5
ca to her bed fyde i the night her hufbad liyng
by her & when fhe pceyuyd hym ther fhe caught
hi by the had & hyld hym faft & incotinet
wakened her hufbod & fayd/ Sir it is fo ye haue
a fals & an vntru feruat to you which is william
your prentys & has loge woyd me to haue his
plefur/ & becawfe I coud nat auoyde his impor
tunate requeft I haue appoityd hym this night
to met me in the garde i the herber & yf ye wyll
aray your felf in myn aray & go theder ye fhall
fe the ,pfe therof & then ye may rebuke hym as
ye thike beft by your dyfcrecyon/ this hufbad
thus aduertifed by his wyfe/ put vpo hym his
wyues raymet 1 & went to the herber and when
he was gone thyder the prentys ca in to bed to
his maftres wher for a feafo they wer both con-
tet and pleafyd ech other by the fpace of an hour
or .ij. but when fhe thought tyme couenyet fhe
fayd to the prentyfe Now go thy way in to the
herber & mete hym & take a good wafter 2 in thy
had & fay thou dydys it but to <pue whether I
woldbe a good woma or no & reward hym as
thou thynkyft beft. This prentys doig after his
maftres cocell wet to 3 the herber wher he founde
his mafter i his maftres appel & fayd A thou
' rayment} Orig. reads raymtc.
2 iv ajler\ i. e. cudgel.
3 went to] Hazl. went in to.
6 A HUNDRED
harlot art thou come hether/ now I fe well yf I
wold be fals to my mafter thou woldeft be a
ftrog hore but I had leuer thou wer hagyd tha I
wold do him fo traterous a dede therfore I mail
gyve the fome punifhment as thou lyke an hore
haft deferuyd/ & therwith lapt hi well about the
molds & bak and gaue hym a dofe or .ii. good
ftrypys the mafter felyng hym felfe sowhat to
fmart fayd pefe wyllia myne own true good
feruat for godys fake hold thy hadys for I a thi
mafter & not thi maftres/ na hore quod he thou
lyeft thou art but an harlot & I dyd but to <pue
the/ & fmote hi agayn. Alas man quod the
mafter I befeche the nomore for I am not me for
I am thy mafter fele for I haue a berd/ and ther
with he fparyd his had & felt hys berd. Alas
mafter 1 quod the prentys I crye you mercy &
then the mayfter went vnto hys wyfe & fhe
afkyd hym how he had fped & he afwerd I
wis 2 wyfe I haue bene fhrewdly betyn how be it
I haue caufe to be glad for I thanke god I haue
as trew a wyfe & as trew a feruant as any man
hath in englond.
^[ By this tale ye may fe that it is not wyfdome
for a man to be rulyd alway after hys wyues
councell.
1 Alas mafter] Hazl. good mayfter.
2 / wis] i. e. I know.
MERT TALTS. 7
iv. Of hym that playd the deuyll and came
thorow the waren & ?nayd theym that Jtale the
connys to ronne away.
|T fortunyd that in a market towne in
the counte of Suffolk there was a ftage
play i the which playe on callyd John
adroyns wich dwelyd i a nother vyllage ij. myle
fro thes playd the deuyll. And whe the play was
done this John adroyns i the euenyng departyd
fro the fayd market towne to go home to his
owne houfe & be caufe 3 he had there no chage
of clothige he went forth i his deuylls apell
whiche i the way comyng homward ca thorow a
waren. of conys belogyng to a getylma of the
vyllage wher he hym felfe dwelt, at which tyme
it fortunyd a preft a vycar of a church therby
with ij. or iij. other vnthryfty felowes had brought
with the a hors a hey & a feret to thetet ther to
get conis & whe the feret was in the yerth &
the hey 4 fet ouerthe path way when 5 thys John
adroyns mold com. this preft & this 6 other felowes
faw hym com i the deuyls raymet cofyderig that
they were i the deuyls feruyfe & ftelig of cones
& fuppofynge it had ben the deuyll in dede for
3 <f be caufe} Hazl. becaufe. 4 a hey\ i. e. a net.
5 nvherin] Hazl. where. 6 & this] Hazl. and his.
8 A HUNDRED
fere ran away, this John adroyns i the deuyls
raymet & be caufe it was fowhat dark faw not
the hey but wet forth i haft & ftoblid therat &
fell down & wyth 1 the fall he had almoft broke
his nek. 2
But whe he was a lytyll reuyuyd he lokyd
vp & fpyed it was a hay to chach connys &
lokyd further/ & faw that they ran away for fere
of hym/ & faw a horfe tyed to a bufh laden with
connys whych they had taken/ & he toke the
horfe & the haye & lepe 3 vpo the horfe & rode to
the gentylmanny s place that was lorde of the waren/
to the entente to haue thanke for takynge fuche a
pray. And when he cam/ knokyd at the gatys. To
whome anone one of gentylmannys feruauntys
afkyd who was there/ and fodeynly openyd the
gate/ and aflbne as he perceyuyd hym in the
deuyls raymente was fodenly abafhyd/ and
fparryd the dore agayn/ & went in to his mayf-
ter/ and fayd & fware to hys mayfter that the
deuyll was at the gate/ and wolde come in. The
gentylman heryng hym fay fo callyd another of
hys feruauntys & bad hym go to the gate to
knowe who was there. This feconde feruaiit
Gf <wyth Hazl. that with.
2 The words his nek in orig. accidentally are omitted.
3 lepe} Hazl. lept.
MERT TALYS. 9
cam to the gate durft not open it/ but afkyd with
lowd voyce who was there, thys John Adroyns 4
in the deuyls apperell anfwerd with a hye voyce
and fayd/ Tell thy mafter I muft nedys fpeke
with hym or 5 I go. This fecod feruaiit heryng
. that anfwer fuppofynge alfo it had bene the deuyll/
went in agayn to his mafter and fayd thus/
mayfter yt is the deuyll in dede that ys at the
gate/ and fayth he muft nedys fpeke with you or
he go hens. The gentylma then began a lyttvll
to bafhe and callyd the fteward of hys howfe/
whyche was the wyfyft feruaunt that he had and
bad hym to go to the gate and to brynge hym
fure worde who was there. This fteward be
caufe he thaught he wold fe furely who was there
came to the gate and lokyd thorow the chinys of
the gate in dyuers placys/ and faw well that yt
was the deuyll and fat vpon an horfe and hang-
ynge aboute the faddell on euery fyde fawe the
cony heddys hengynge down/ than he came to
his mayfter aferde in greate hafte and fayd/ By
goddys body yt is the deuyll in dede that is at the
gate fyttyng vpon an horfe laden all wyth
fowllys/ and by lykelyhede/ 6 he is com for your
4 Adroyns] Orig. reads Androyns.
5 or] i. e. ere, before.
6 by lykelykede] Hazl. be lykelyhode.
10 A HUNDRED
foule 1 purpofely/ and lakkyth but your foule/ &
yf he had your fowle I wene 2 he {hold be gone.
This gentylman tha merueloufly abafhyd callyd
vp 3 his chapleyn/ and made the holy candell to be
lyght/ and gat holy water and wente to the gate
wyth as many of hys feruauntys as durfte go with
hym/ where the chaplayn with holy wordys of
coniuracyon fayde/ In the name of the fader/
fonne and holy gooft/ I coniure the and charg
the in the holy name of god to tell me why and
wherfore thowe commyfte hyther.
This John Androynys in the deuyllys apparell
heryng theym begynne to coiure after fuche maner
fayd/ Nay nay be not a ferd of me for I am a good
dyuell I am John Adroyns your neghboour dwel^
lyng in thys towne 4 and he that played the dyuell/
to day in the play/ I haue braught my mayfter a
dofen or ii. 5 of hys owne connyes that were ftolyn
in hys waren and theyr horfe & theyr hay/ and
made theym for fere to ronne away/ and when
they 6 herde hym thus fpeke by hys voyce they
knew hym well ynoughe 7 and openyd the gate
1 foule] in orig. fonle. 2 / wene~\ I fuppofe.
3 callydvp] Hazl. called.
4 dwellyng in thys towne] Hazl. in this towne.
5 .] Hazl. two.
6 and when they] Hazl. whanne they.
7 they knew hym well ynoughe] Hazl. knewe him well.
MERT TALYS. n
and let hym come in/ And fo all the forfayd
fere and dred 8 was tornyd to myrth and dyfporte.
^[ By this tale ye may fe that me fear many
tymes more than they nede which hath caufyd
me to beleue that fpyryttys & deuyls haue bene
fene in dyuers placys when it hath bene nothynge
fo.
v. Of the fyk man that bequethyd hys thyrd fon
a lytyll ground with the galows.
HER was a riche man which lay fore
feke in his bed lyke to dy 9 wherfore his
eldyft fon cam to hym & befechyd
hym to gyue hym his blyflyng to whom the fader
fayd fon thou {halt haue goddys bleflyng & myne
and for that that 10 thou haft ben euer good of
codycyons I gyue & bequeth the all my land/
to whom he anfwered & fayd nay fad I truft
you mal lyue & occupy them your felfe full well
by goddys grace. Sone after came his ij. fone 11 to
hym lyke wyfe & defyred his bleflyng/ to whom
the fad fayd becaufe 12 thou haft be 13 euer kynde
8 fere and dred\ Hazl. feare.
9 lyke to dy} Hazl. to (deth).
to for that that} Hazl. becaufe.
11 his ij. fone} Hazl. another fonne.
12 becaufe'} Hazl. my fonne. l3 be] Hazl. ben.
12 A HUNDRED
& gentyll 1 & I geue the goddys bleflynge & myn
and alfo 2 I bequeth the all my mouable goodys/
to whom he anfwerd and fayd/ nay fader I truft
ye (hall lyve & do well & fpend and vfe your
goodys your felfe by goddys grace. Anon after
the iij. fone cam to hym & defyred his bleflyng
to whom the fader anfwerd & fayd by caufe
thou haft bene euyll & ftoborne of condycyons
& wolde neuer be ruled after my coufell I haue
nother land nor goodys onbequethyd but onely
a lytell vacant ground wher a galows ftandyth
which now I geue and bequeth to the/ and
goddys curfe withall/ to whom the fonne an
fwerd as hys bretherne dyd & fayd nay fader I
truft ye (hall lyue and be in good helth and haue
yt and occupy it your felfe by goddys grace. But
after that the fader dyed & this thyrd fon
cotynuyd ftyll hys vnthryfty condycyons where
fore yt was hys fortune afterwarde for hys de-
feruyng to be hangyd on the fame galows.
If By this tale men may wel perceyue that
yong people that wyll not be rulyd by theyr
frendys councell in youth in tymys come to a
fhamfull ende.
1 gentyll &] Hazl. gentyll.
2 and alfo] Hazl. and.
MERT TJLTS. 13
vi. Of the gentylman that loft his ryng In the
gentylwomans bed^ & a nother gentylman found it
after in the fame bed.
This tale is taken from the " Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles,"
nouv. 62. It is imitated by Celio Malefpini in " Ducento
novelle," nov. 2, and by Decker and Webfter in " Northward
Hoe," 1 60 f, aft. i, fc. i. See Webfter's Works, ed. by
A. Dyce. London, 1830, vol. iii. p. 139.
iWO getylmen of accoyntaiice wer
appoyntyd to ly with a getyll 3 woma in
one nyght 4 the one not knowjge of
the other at dyuers tymis. This fyrft at 5
his houre appoyntyd ca/ & in the bed ther he
fortunid to lefe a ryng/ the .ij. 6 gentylma when he
was gone cam/ & fortunyd to fynd the fame
rynge/ & when he had fped hys befynes departyd/
& .ij. or .iii. 7 dayes after the furft getylman feyng
hys ryng on the others fynger chalengyd yt 8 of
hym & he 9 denyed yt hym & bad hi tell wher he
had loft it & he feyd i fuch a gentylwomans
3 getyll'} Orig. reads geyll.
4 in one nyghf\ Hazl. both in one nyght.
5 at] Orig. reads ad.
6 the ij.'] Hazl. the feconde.
7 ij. or Hi.] Hazl. two or thre.
8 chalengyd yf\ Hazl. and chalenged it.
9 he] Orig. reads he &.
14 A HUNDRED
bed/ than quod the other & ther founde I yt/
& the one fayd he wolde haue yt/ the other fayd
he fhulde not/ tha they agreyd to be iuggid by
the next ma that they mote/ 1 & it fortunid theym
to mete with the hufbad of the fayd gentyll
woma & defyryd hym of his beft Jugemet
fhowyng hym all hole 2 mater/ then quod he by
myiugemet he that owd 3 the fhetys fhould haue
the ryng/ the quod they & for your good iugemet
you (hall haue the ryng.
vn. Of the hujband man that ajkyd for rnajler
pyfpot the phyfyfyo.
Wanting in Hazl. B. Waldis, " Efopus," iv. 23. In
Jafander, " Der Teutfche Hiftorien Schreiber," Frankf.
et Leipz. 1730, No. 128, p. 246, a fimilar ftory is related:
a peafant afks for Dr. Lindwurm (Dragon) inftead of Dr.
Drachen, &c. Jt. No. 27 ; Jt. Taylor, " Wit and Mirth,"
p. 101.
[N a vyllage in fuflex there dwellyd a
hufbandma whofe wyfe fortunyd to
fall fyk. Thys hufbandman came to
the preeft of the church and defyryd hys councell
1 mote] Hazl. dyd mete.
2 all hole] Hazl. all the hole.
3 o^wd] Hazl. ought.
MERT TALYS. 15
what thyng was beft to help his wyfe/ whych
anfweryd hym & fayd y* in bredftrete in londo
there was a connyng Phefycyon whofe name is
callyd mafter Jordayne/ Go to hym & fhew
hym that thy wyfe is fyk and Jmpotent & not
able to go & fhew hym her water and befeech
hym to be good mafter to the/ and praye hym to
do hys cure vppon her : and I warrant he wyll
tech the fome medfyne that fhall help her. Thys
hufbandman folowyng hys councell ca to london
& alkyd of dyuers men which was the way to
good ale ftrete 4 fo y* euery man y* hard hym
laught hym to fcorne. At the laft on y 1 harde
hym afkyd him whether it were not bred ftrete
that he wold haue/ By god quod the hufbandma
ye fay treuth : for I wyft well it was other brede
or drink : So whe they had taught hym the
way to bred ftrete & was eteryd into y e ftrete he
afkyd of dyuers men where one mafter Pyfpot
dwellyd whych fayd they knew no fuch ma &
laught at hym apace. At laft one afkyd him
whether it were not mafter Jordayn y e phyfycio.
ye y e fame quod y e hufbandma for I wot well a
iordayn & a pyfpot is all one. So whe they
had fhewyd hym hys houfe he wet thyder &
ca to hym & dyd hys erad thys & fayd/ Syr if it
4 ftrete\ Orig. reads ftrere.
16 A HUNDRED
pleafe your mafhyp I vnderftand ye ar callyd a
conyng confufyon : So it is my wyfe is fyk &
omnypotent & may not go & here Ihaue brought
you her water I befech you do your corage vppon
her & I fhall gyue your maftiyp a good reward.
The phefycio pfeynyng by the water y* me was
weke of nature bad hym get her mete y 1 were
reftoratyue & fpecyally if he coud let her haue a
poudgarnet & to let her not ouercome , her
ftomak w* mych mete tyll me haue an apetyte.
Thys hufbadma herd him fpeke of a poundgar-
net & an apetite had wend he had fpoken of a
pound of garlyk and of an ape & fhortly bought
a pound of garlyk & after went to the ftylyard &
bought an ape of one of the marchantys & brought
both home to hys wyfe and tyed the ape w* a
cheyn at hys beddys fete/ & made hys wyfe to
etc the pound of garlyk whether me wolde or
no/ whereby me fell in fo great a lafk that it
purgyd all the corrupcio out of her body :
whereby & by refo y* the ape that was tyde ther
made fo many mokkys fkyppys & knakkys that
made her oftymys to be mery & laugh that
thankyd be god (he was fhortly reftoryd to helth.
^[ By thys tale ye may fe that oft tymys me-
defyns taken at aduenturys do as mich good to the
Pacyent as medefyns geuen by the folempne
coucell of conyng phyfycyons.
MERT TALTS. 17
vin. Oftbefcoler that bare his Jhoys to cloutyng.
A fimilar affe&ation in " Neuvermehrte luftige Pennal-
Poffen," s. 1. & a. 8vo. fign. E. 6.
N the vnyuerfyte of Oxonford there was
a fkoler y l delytyd mich to fpeke elo
quent englifti & curious termis/ And
ca to y e cobler wyth hys fhoys whych were
pikid before as they vfyd y* fefon 1 to haue them
cloutyd & fayd thys wyfe/ Cobler I pray the fet
me .ii. tryangyls & .ii. 2 ferny cercles vppon my
fubpedytals & I fhall gyue the for thy labor/ This
cobler 3 becaufe he vnderftode hym not half well 4
afwerid fhortly & fayd/ Syr youre eloquence
paffith myne itelligence/ but I promyfe you yfye 5
meddyll wyth me/ the clowtyng of your fhone
fhall cofte you .iij. 6 pence.
1F By thys tale me may lerne y 1 it is foly to
ftudy to fpeke eloquetly before them that be
rude & vnlernyd.
1 as they vfyd that fefon] Hazl. (as they ufed that tyme).
2 y] Hazl. two.
3 This cobler'] Hazl. The cobeler.
4 halfwit] Hazl. halfe.
5 XI Hazl. he.
6 iij] Hazl. thre.
i8 A HUNDRED
ix. Of him that fay d that a womas tong was
llghtijl met of degejlio.
The fource of this tale is Johannes de Bromyard,
" Summa praedicantium," s. 1. & a. fol. Litt. L. v. 21,
Exempl. i. : t( Patet per hiftoriam qua fertur infirmum
refpondifle medico dicenti : quod comederet de parte pifcium
caude propinquiori : quia fanior erat pars : quia plus moue-
batur: ergo inquit infirmus : lingua uxoris mee faniffima
eft, quia continue mouetur." Reprinted from a MS. in
the Britifh Mufeum in Th. Wright, " Latin Stories from
MSS. of the 1 3th and i4th Centuries," London, 1842;
(Percy Society, vol. viii.), No. 132: "De Linguis Muli-
erum."
Another verfion is found in Vincentii Bellovacenfis, " Spe
culum Morale," Duaci,i624, fol.86: "Narratvrdequodam,
quod cum ipfe in mari haberet vxorem fuam fecum lingua-
lam, grauem ad tolerandum : cum imminente tempeftate
clamatum eflet a nautis, quod grauiorade naui proiicerentur,
ille exhibuit vxorem dicens quod in tota naui non erat
aliquid grauius lingua eius." It is imitated in H. Bebelii,
" Facetiae, opufcula," s. 1. & a. (circa 1512), 4. fign. Cc,
verfo : " De quodam in tempeftate maris deprehenfo (de
alio)," and repeated in Joh. Gaftius, " Convivalium Sermo-
num," torn. i. p. 281, Bafil, 1549.
CERTAYN artificer in londo there
was which was fore fyk that coud not
well dygeft hys mete/ to who a phy-
fyco cam to gyue hym councell & feyd y 1 he
muft vfe to etc metis f be light of dygeftyon as
MERT TALYS. 19
fmall byrdys/ 1 as fparous or fwallous & efpe-
cya.ll" y i byrd y l ys callyd a wagtale whofe fleme
ys merueloufe lyght of dygeftyo becaufe that
byrd ys euer mouyng & ftyryng. The fik man
heryng the pheficion feyd fo anfweryd hym &
4eyd/ Syr yf that be the caufe y l thofe birdys be
lyght of dygeftyon/ Than I know a mete mych
lyghter of dygeftion tha other fparow fwallow or
wagtayle/ & that ys my wyuys tog for it is neuer
in reft but euer mouying & ftyrryng.
IF By thys tale ye may lerne a good generall
rule of phefyk.
x. Of the woman that folowyd her fourth hu/bandys
herce fcf wept.
WOMAN ther was whych had had
.iiii. hufbades. It fortunyd alfo that
this fourth hufband died & was
brought to chirch vppon y e bere/ who this woma
folowyd & made gret mone & wext very fory. In
fo mych that her neybours thought {he wold
fowne & dy for forow/ wherfor one of her gof-
fyps cam to her & fpake to her in her ere &
1 as fmall byrdyi\ Hazl. and fmall byrdys.
2 efpecyair\ Hazl. efpecyally.
20 A HUNDRED
bad her for goddes fake to comfort 1 her felf &
refrayne that lamentacon or ellys it wold hurt
her gretly* 2 & pauenture put her in ieoperdy of
her lyfe. To who this woma afweryd & fayd/
I wys good gofyp I haue gret caufe to morne if
ye knew all/ for I haue byryed .iii. hufbandys be-
fyde thys man/ but I was neuer i the cafe y' I am
now/ for there was not one of the but whe that
I folowid the corfe to chyrch yet I was fure
alway 3 of an other hufbad before that y e corfe 4
cam out of my hoftfe/ & now I am fure of no
nother hufband & therfore ye may be fure I haue
gret caufe to be fad and heuy.
1T By thys tale ye may fe that the olde puerbe
ys trew that yt is as gret pyte to fe a woman wepe
as a gofe to go barefote.
xi. Of the woman that fayd her wooer came
to late.
This tale is taken from H. Bebelii, "Facetiae, opufcula,"
s. 1. & a. 4. fign. Ggii : " De quadam muliere citiflime nu-
bente poft obitum primi viri : quidam caupo erat ad pontem
aeni ; vulgo Ifbruck,qui cum ad medium annum valetudinarius
1 to comfort] Hazl. comfort.
2 hurt her gretly] Hazl. hurt her.
3 / was fure airway] Hazl. I was fure.
4 before that the corfe] Hazl. before the corfe.
MERT TALYS. 21
vitam tandem cum morte commutaflet, vxor eius funus
profecuta miferabiles edebat eiulatus, obftinateque lachry-
mabat, adeo vt ducere earn cogeretur feruus fuus, qui earn
pro virili parte confolabatur. Cum vero ipfa quereretur
ie neminem habere cum quo cauponam adminiftraret (vt
moris eft mulieribus multa conquerentibus) famulus fua in
homines merita, qualiter quoque notus efTet declarando,
appellauit earn de coniugio. Ilia inter eiulandum dixit.
Ah nimis fero petifti, paulo enim ante alteri promifi."
Imitated in " Uncafing of Machivils Inftruftions to his
Sonne," 1613, fign. C, 3, and in J. W. Kirchhof, " Wen-
dunmuth," Frankf. 1573, i. No. 34.6, fol. 333. Joh. Pet.
de Memel, " Luftige Gefellfchaft," ed. 1695, No. 524,
goes even farther, the wife was already engaged before the
death of her hufband.
NOTHER woman there was that
knelyd at y e mas of requie whyle
the corfe of her hufbande lay on the
here in the chyrch. To whom a yonge man
came to fpeke wyth her in her ere as thoughe
hyt had bene for fom matre concernyng the
funerallys/howe be yt he fpake of no fuch matter
but only wowyd her that he myghte be her huf-
bande/to whome flic anfweryde & fayde thus/
Syr by my trouthe I am fory that ye come fo late/
for I am fped all redy/ For I was made fure yefter
day to a nother man.
11 By thys tale ye may perceyue that women
ofte tymes be wyfe and lothe to lofe any tyme.
22 A HUNDRED
xu. Of the mylner with the golden thombe.
See Brand's "Popular Antiquities," 184.9, vol. iii. p. 3 8 7>
Hazlitt's edition, p. 23, note 2, and p. 125, note to p. 23.
MERCHANT that thought to deride
a myllner feyd vnto y e mylner fyttyng
among company. Sir I haue hard fay
that euery trew mylner that tollythe trewlye hath
a gyldeyn thombe/ the mylner anfwered & feyd
it was trewth/ 1 Then quod the merchaunt I pray
the let me fe thy thomb/ & when the mylner
fhewyd hys thomb the merchaunt fayd I can not
perceyue y l thy thombe is gylt/ but yt ys but 2 as
all other mennys thobis be/to whom the mylner
anfweryd & feyd/ Syr trothe yt ys that my thob
is gylt how be it 3 ye haue no power to fe it/ for
ther is a properte euer incidet therto y* he y l ys
a cokecold (hall neuer haue power to fe yt.
xin. Of the horfman of yrelond that prayd
Oconer to hang vp the fr ere.
A very fimilar ftory in " Neuvermehrte luftige Pennal-
Poffen," s. 1. & a. 8vo. fign. C, 5 verfoi and in Jacob Frey,
1 tre<wth~\ Hazl. true. s but it is but} Hazl. but it is.
3 Aow be /'/] Hazl. but.
MERY TALTS. 23
" Die Gartengefellfchaft," s. 1. & a. (1556), Cap. 125, fol.
122 : " Einen Dieb wolt man henken, der bat den Pfarr-
herrn, er folt das Nachtmahl fur ihn eflen," ed. Frankf.
1590, fol. 97.
|NE callyd 4 Oconer an yrifti lorde toke
an horfeman pryfoner that was one of
hys gret enmys/ whiche for any re-
queft or yntrety y* y e horfman made gaue iuge-
ment that he fhulde incotynet be hagyd/ &
made a frere to fhryue hym and bad hym make
hym redy to dye. Thys frere y* fhroue hym
examyned hym of dyuers fynes & afkyd hym
amog othere whyche were the grettyfte fynnys
that euer he dyde/ thys horfeman anfweryd &
fayde one of the grettyft a&ys that euer I dyde
whyche I now moft repent is that when I toke
Oconer the lafte weke in a churche and ther
I myght haue brennyd hym church and all & be-
caufe I had confcyence & pyte of brennyng of the
church I taryed y e tyme fo long y l oconer efcaped/
& that fame deferring of brennyng of the church
& fo long taryeng of that tyme is one of the worft
a&ys y l euer I dyd wherof I mofte repente/ Thys
frere perceyuyng hym in that mynd fayd pece
man 5 in the name of god & change y 1 mynde
4 One callyd] Hazl. One whiche was called.
5 pece man} Hazl. peace.
24 A HUNDRED
& dye in charite or els thou (halt neuer come in
heuen/ nay quod the hors man I wyll neuer
change y l mynde what fo euer {hall come to my
foule/ thys frere pceyuyng hym thys ftyll to con-
tynew hys mide ca to oconer & feyd fyr in y e
name of god haue fome pyte vppo thys mannys
fowle & let hym not dye now tyll he be in a
better mynde/ For yf he dye now he ys fo far
out of charyte y l vtterly hys foule fhalle be
dampnyd/ and fhewyd hym what mynde he was
in & all the hole matter as ys before fhewyd.
Thys horfman heryng y e frere thys intrete for
hym fayd to oconer thys/ Oconer thou feeyft
well by thys mannys reporte y l yf I dye now
I am out of charyte & not redy to go to heuen
& fo it ys y l I am now out of charyte in dede/
but thou feeft well y l this frere ys a good
man he is now 1 well dyfpofyd & in charyte/
and he is redy to go to heuen & fo 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* I may be i charyte and redy &
mete to go to heuyn. This Oconer heryng this
mad anfwere of hym fparyd the man & forgaue
hym hys lyfe at that feafon.
^1 By thys ye may fe that he that is in daunger
of his enmye y l hath no pyte/ he can do no better
1 he is now] Hazl. and he is now.
MERT TALTS. 25
than 2 fhew to hym the vttermofte of hys ma-
lycyous mynde whych that he beryth toward
hym.
xiv. Of the preft that fay d nother corpus meus
nor corpum meum.
HE archdekyn of Effex y l had bene'long
in au&oryte in a tyme of vyfytacion
when all the preeftys apperyd before
hym callyd afyde .iii. of y e yog preftys whych
were accufyd y l they coud not well fay theyr
deuyne feruyce/ & alkyd of the whe they fayd
mas whether they fayd corpus meus or corpii
mea. The furft preeft fayd y e he fayd corpus
meus. The fecod fayd y* he fayd corpii meii.
And the he afkyd of the thyrd how he fayd/
whych anfweryd & fayd thus/ fyr becaufe it is fo
gret adout & dyuers men be in dyuers opynyons/
therfore becaufe I wold be fure I wold not offend
whe I come to y e place I leue it clene out & fay no-
thyng therfore/ wherfore he 3 then openly rebukyd
them all thre. But dyuers that were prefent
thought more defaut in hym becaufe he hym
2 than] Hazl. but.
3 vuherfore he} Hazl. wherfore the bysfhoppe.
26 A HUNDRED
felfe before tyme had admyttyd them to be
preeftys.
f By thys tale ye may fe that one ought to
take hede how he rebukyth an other left it torne
moft to hys owne rebuke.
xv. Of the .//. frerys wherofthe one louyd not
the ele hed nor the other the tayle.
iWO frerys fat at a gentylmans tabyll
whych had before hym o a faftyng day
an ele & cut the hed of the ele & layd
it vppooneofy 6 Freres trechars/butthe Frere be-
caufe he wold haue had of y e myddyll part of the
ele fayd to the gentylman he louyd no ele heddes/
this gentylman alfo cut the tayle of y e ele & leyd
it on the other Freres trechar/ he lykewyfe be-
caufe he wold haue had of the myddyll pte of y e
ele fayd he louyd no ele taylys. Thys gentylma
perceyuyng that : gaue the tayle to the Frere l
y l fayd he louyd not the hed/ & gaue the hed
to hym that fayd he louyd not y e tayle. And as
for the myddell parte of the ele he etc part him
felf & part he gaue to other folke at y e table/
wherfore thefe freres for anger wold etc neuer a
1 to the Trere\ Hazl. to hym.
MERT T4LTS. 27
moflell/ & fo they for all theyr craft & fubtylte
were not onely deceyued of y e beft moflell of y e
ele/ but therof had no part at al.
1F By this ye fe that they that couet the beft
part fomtyme therfore lofe the meane part and
all.
xvi. Of the welchma that Jhroue bymfor brekyng
his f aft on the fry day.
This tale is found in Poggii, " Facetiae, Opera," Bafil,
1538, fol. p. 439: " De quodam paftore fimulatim con-
fitente : Paftor ouium ex ea regni Neapolitan! ora, quse
olim latrociniis operam dabant femel confeflbrem adijt, fua
peccata didlurus. Cum ad facerdotis genua procubuiflet,
parce mihi (inquit ille lachrimans) pater mi, quoniam gra-
viter deliqui. Cum juberet dicere quid eflet. Atque ille
faepius id verbum interalTet, tanquam qui nepharium admi-
fiflet falus. Tandem hortatu facerdotis, ait fe cum cafeum
faceret, ieiunij tempore, expreflura Ia6tis guttas quafdam
quas non fpreuiflet in os defilijfle. Turn facerdos qui mores
illius patrias noflet fubridens, cum dixifTet ilium delinquifle
qui quadragefimam non feruaflet, quasfivit numquid aliis
obnoxius eflet peccatis ? Abnuente paftore, rogauit num
cum alijs paftoribus quenquam peregrinum ut mos eflet
illius regionis tranfeuntem fpoliaflet, aut peremiflet? 833-
pius inquit, uterque in re cum reliquis fum verfatus. Sed
iftud ait apud nos ita eft confuetum, ut nulla confcientia
fiat," &c.
28 A HUNDRED
WELCHMAN dwellynge in a wylde
place of walys came to hys curate in
the tyme of lent & was cofeflyd. &
when his confeflyon was in maner at the end the
curate afked him whether 1 he had any other
thyng to fay y* greuyd his cofcyece/ whych fore
abafshyd anfweryd no word a gret whyle/ at laft
by exortacion of hys gooftly fader he fayd y 1 there
was one thyng in his mynd that gretly greuyd
hys cofciece which he was afhamed to vtter/ for
it was fo greuous y* he trowid god wold neuer
forgyue hym/ to whom the curate afweryd &
fayd y l goddys mercy was aboue all/ & bad hym
not dyfpayre in the mercy of god/ For what
fo euer it was yf he were repentaute y i god
wold forgyue hym/ And fo by long exortacion
at the laft he fhewyd it & feyd thus/ Syr it
happenyd onis that as my wyfe was making
a chefe vppon a fryday I wold haue 2 fayed
whether it had ben fait or frem 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 agaynft my wyll & fo I brake my faft/
to whom the curate fayd & if ther be no nother
' whether] Hazl. and.
2 I wold kaue'] Hazl. I wolde fayne haue.
MERY rALTS. 29
thyng I warant god {hall forgiue the. So wha
he had well comfortyd hym w* y e mercy of god
the curate prayd hym to anfwer a queftion & to
tell hym treuth/ & when the welchman had pro-
myfyd to tell the treuth/ the curate fayd that
there were robberys and murders done nye the
place where he dwelt & dyuers men foiid flayne
Sc afkyd hym whether he were cofentyng to any
of them/ to who he anfwerid & fayd yes & fayd
he was ptee to many of them & dyd helpe to
robbe and to fle 3 dyuers of them. Then the
curate afkyd hym why he dyd not cofefle him
therof/ the welch man afweryd & fayd he toke
y l for no fynne for it was a cuftome amonge them
y l whan any boty came of any rych merchaunt
(ydyng y* it was but a good neybours dede one
3 help a nother when one callyd a nother/ & fo
hey toke that but for good felyfhyp & ney-
ourhod.
fl Here ye may 4 fe y l fome haue remorfe of
onfcyence of fmall venyall fmys & fere not to
o gret ofFencys w*out fhame of y e world or
arede of god : & as y e coen |)uerb is they ftuble
at a ftraw & lepe ouer a blok.
3 tojle] Orig. reads tofle.
4 ye may~\ Hazl. maye ye.
30 A HUNDRED
xvn. Of the merchant of To do that put nobles i his
mouth i his deth bed.
RYCH couetous marchate ther was
y e dwellyd in Lodon whych euer ga-
deryd money & coud neuer fynd in
hys hert to fpend noght 1 vppon hym felf nor
vppon no ma. els/ whych fell fore fyk/ & as he
lay on hys deth bed had hys purs lyeng at his
beddys hed/ & had fuche a loue to hys money
that he put his hand in his purs & toke out therof
.x. or .xii. li I nobles & put them in his mouth/
And becaufe his wyfe and other pceyuyd him
very fyk and lyke to dye they exortyd hym to be
confefTyd and brought y e curate vnto him/ whych
when they had caufyd hym to fey Benedicite y e
curat bad hym cry god mercy & fhew his fynnys. 2
Than this fyk man began to fey I cry god mercy
I haue offendyd in y e .vij. dedly fynnys & broken
the .x. comaundementys/ & becaufe of the gold
in hys mouth he mufflede fo in hys fpeche that
the curate cowde not well vnderftande hym/
wherefore the curate afked hym what he hadde
in hys mouthe that letted hys fpeche/ I wys
maftere perfone quod the fyk man muffelynge
1 noght\ Hazl. ought.
2 Jbe-iv his fynnys \ Hazl. fliewe to hym.
MERT TALTS. 31
I haue nothyng in my mouth but a lyttyll money
becaufe I wot not whether I {hall go I thoughte
I wolde take fome fpendyng money wyth me for
I wot not what nede I mail haue therof/ And
incontynent after that feyynge dyed before he
was confeffed or repentant that ony man could
perceue/ and fo by lykelyhode went to the
deuyll.
1F By thys tale ye may fe that they that all
theyre lyuys wylle neuer do charyte to theyr
neyghbours/ that god in tyme of theyr dethe
wyll not fuffer them to haue grace of repent-
aunce.
xvin. Of the mylner that ft ale the nutty s & of
the tayler thatftale a Jhepe.
The fource of this tale is perhaps the fabliau Etula, in
Legrand d'Auffy, " Fabliaux," torn. iii. p. 77 j better in
Sinner, " Catalogus Codicum MSS." torn. iii. p. 379,
No. 14. It is alfb related in the " Scala Celi (liber ifte
vocatur Scala Celi, Ulme, Joh. Zainer, 14.80, fol.), de
furto, quinto," fol. 101 verfo : " Legitur quod cum duo
latrones convenifTent ut furarentur nuces et alter carnes ;
perveniens ad fores ecclefiae qui furatus fuerat nuces incepit
frangere et comedere eas ibi. Cujus fonitum audiens ille,
qui cuftodiebat ecclefiam, credens, quod daemon ingreffus
eft clauftrum et cuidam claudo, qui ire non potuit et forti
32 A HUNDRED
ruftico videnti nunciavit. Et dum ingrem" fuiflent eccle-
fiam, latro comedebat nuces, credens quod eflet focius fuus,
qui portaret arietem, incepit clamare : Eftne bene pinguis
quern portas ? Tune rufticus territus qui portabat claudum,
credens quod eflet daemon : Nefcio li eft pinguis vel macer,
fed nunc relinquo eum vobis. Et projefto claudo ad ter-
ram tibiam aliam fibi frigit." Alfo in Joh. de Bromyard,
" Summa prsedicantium," Litt. O, ii. 6.
Imitations are: J. Pauli, " SchimpfF und Ernft," Straff-
burg, 1535, fol. No. 76, fol. 155 G. Wickram, " Der
Rollwagen," s. 1. 1557, No. 67, (Frankf. 1590, fol. 72:
" Wie zween Dieb einem Pfaffen das Podagram vertri-
ben"), reprinted in Wackernagel, " Deutfches Lefebuch,"
Wickram 5 Hans Sachs, ff Gedichte,' 1 vol. ii. 1. 4., fol. 73,
Niirnberg, 1 591, fol. : "Die zwen diebifchen Bachanten
in dem Toden Kercker."
HERE was a certayn ryche hufband-
man in a vyllage whych loued nottes
merueloufly well & fet trees of filberdys
& other nut trees in his orchard/ & norifhid
them well all hys lyfe/ & when he dyed he made
hys executours to make promife to bery w 4 hym
yn hys graue a bage of nottis or els they fholde
not be hys executours/ which executours for
fere of lofyng theyre 1 romys fulfyllyd hys wyll 2
& dyd fo. It happenyd y l the fame nyght after
that he was beryed there was a mylnere in a
1 of lofyng theyri\ Hazl. of lefynge of theyre.
2 rwyll\ Hazl. mynde.
MERY TALTS. 33
vvhyte cote came to this mays garden to thetet 3
to ftele a bag of nottis/ & in y e way he met
w l a tayler in a blak cote an vnthrift of hys
accoyntaiice & fhewyd hym hys intent/ This
tayler lykewyfe fhewyd hym y* he intedyd y e
fame tyme to ftele a fhepe/ & fo they both there
agreyd to go forth ward euery man feuerally
w l hys purpofe & after y l they apoynted to make
good chere ech w l other & to mete agayne in y e
chyrch porch/ & he that came furft to tary for
the other.
This mylner when he had fpede of hys nottis
came furft to the chyrch porche & there taryed
for hys felowe and the mene whyle fatte ftyll
there & knakked nottys.
It fortuned than the fexten of the church be-
caufe yt was abowt .ix. of the clok cam to ryng
curfu. 4 & when he lokyd in y e porch & faw one
all in whyte knakkyng nottes/ he had went 5 it
had bene y e dede man ryfen owt of hys graue
knakkynge y e nottes y l wer byryed w' hym &
ran home agayn in all haft and tolde to a krepyll
y l was in hys howfe what he had fene. This
crepyll thus heryng 6 rebukyd y e fexten & feyd y*
3 to thentent] \. e. to the entent.
4 curfu] i. e. evening-bell.
5 went] i. e. weened.
6 thus heryng} Hazl. thus herynge hym.
D
34 A HUNDRED
yf he were able to go he wold go thyder & coiure
y e fprite/ by my trouth quod y e fexten & yf thou
darft do y 4 I wyl bere the on my nek & fo they
both agreed. The fexten toke y e crepul on hys
nek & cam in to y e chyrchyard agayn/ & y e
mylner in y e porch faw one comyng bering a
thing on his bak had went it had ben y e taylour
comyng w l the fhepe & rofe vp to mete the/ &
as he cam towarde the he afkeyd & feyd/ Is he
fat/ is he fat/ y e fexten heryng hym fey fo/ for
fere caft the crepull down & feyd fat or lene take
hym ther for me/ 1 and ran away/ & the creple by
myracle was made hole & ra away as faft as he
or fafter/ This mylner perceyuing y l they were
.ii. 2 & y l one ran after a nother fuppofyng 3 y'one
had fpyed y e tayler ftelyng y e fhepe & y l he had
ron after hym to haue taken hym/ and fered y*
fom body alfo had fpyed hym ftelyng nottes 4 he
for fere left hys nottes behynd hym and as fecretly
as he cowde ran home to hys myll/ And anon
after y l he was gon y e tayler cam w l the ftolyn
fhepe vppon hys nek to the chyrch porch 5 to
1 ther for me\ Hazl. as he is.
2 ./Y.J Hazl. two. 3 fuppofyng} Hazl. thoughte.
4 and fered that fom body alfo had fpyed hym ftelyng nottes}
Hazl. and fearyng that one had fpyed hym alfo ftelynge
the nuttes.
5 chyrch porch'] Hazl. churche.
MERT TALYS. 35
feke the mylner & when he fownd ther the not
fhalys he fuppofyd y l hys felow had be ther and
gone home as he was in dede/ wherefore he toke
vp y e fhepe agayne on hys nek and went 6 to
ward the myl/ But yet duryng this whyle the
fexte which ran away went not to hys owne
houfe but wet to the pyfh pryftis chaber/ &
fhewd hym how the fpryte of y e man was ryfe
out of hys graue knakklg nottes as ye haue
hard before/ wherfor y e preft fayd that he wold
go coiure hym yf the fexten wold go w hym/
& fo they both agreed/ y e preft dyd on hys furples
& a ftole about hys nek & toke holy water w l
hym and cam w l the fexte toward y e church/ &
as fone as he enteryd in to 7 y e church yarde, The
tayler w 4 the whyte fhepe on hys nek intendyng
as I before haue fhewid yow to go down to y e
myll met w* them & had went y l y e preft in hys
furples had ben y e mylner in hys whyte cote/ &
feyd to hym by god I haue hym I haue hym
meanyng by 8 the fhepe y l he had ftolyn/ the preft
perceyuynge the tayler all in blak & a whyte thyng
on hys nek had went it had ben y e deuyll beryng
away the fpryte of y e dede man y l was beryed
& ran away as fafte as he coud takyng y e way
downe toward the myll/ & y e fexten ronnyng
6 and went] Hazl. went. 7 in to] Hazl. in.
8 by] i. e. thereby.
36 A HUNDRED
after hi. This tayler feyng one folowyng hi had
went y l one had folowed the mylner to haue don
hym fome 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*yn afked who was ther y e tayler afwerd
& faid by god I haue caught one of them & made
hi fure & tyed hym faft by y e leggys menynge by
the mepe y l he had ftolen & had the on hys nek
tyed faft by the leggys. 1 But y e mylner heryng
hym fey y* he had hym tyed faft by the leggys
had wente it had be the conftable y l had take
the tayler for ftelyng of the fhepe & had tyed
him by the leggys/ & ferid y l he had comen to
haue taken hym alfo for ftelyng of the nottys/
wherfore the mylner openyd a bak dore & ran
away as faft as he coud. The taylour heryng
the bak dore openyng wet on y e other fyde of y e
myll/ & there faw the mylner ronnyng away/ &
ftode there a littyll whyle mufyng w 1 y e fhepe on
his nek. Then was the paryfh preeft & the
fexte ftandyng there vnder the mylhoufe hydyng
them for fere & faw the taylour agayn w* y e
mepe on his nek had wend ftyll it had bene the
dyuyll w 1 the fpryt of the dede man on hys nek
& for fere ran away/ but becaufe they knew not
1 menynge by the Jbepe . . . by the leggys.] Wanting in
Hazl.
MERT TALYS. 37
the ground well/ the preeft lepte into a dyche
almoft ouer the hed lyke to be drounyd that he
cryed wyth a loud voyce help help. Then the
taylour lokyd about & faw the mylner rone away
& the fexten a nother way & hard the preeft cry
help : had wend it had bene the coftable w' a
gret copany cryeng for help to take hym & to
bryng hym to pryfon for ftelyng of y e fhepe
wherfore he threw downe the fhepe & ran away
a nother way as fafte as he coud/ & fo euery
man was afferd of other wythout caufe.
1T By thys ye may fe well it is foly for any
man to fere a thyng to mych tyll that he fe fome
proue or caufe.
xix. Of the .ii'ri. elemetys where they foulde
fone be found.
A fubftantially fimilar ftory occurs in " Tre hundrede
udvalgte hiftorier, &c." 4th edit. Copenh. 1781, p. 19?
(a translation of Pauli's " Schimpff und Ernft ") ; reprinted
in R.Nyerup, " Almindelig Morfkabs laefning," Copenh.
1816, p. 254. Alfo in H. Sachs, " Gedichte," buch i.
thiel 3, Nuremberg, 1558, fol. f. 255 : " Ein gefprech der
vier Element mit Fraw Warheit."
N y e old world when all thyng coud
fpeke y e .iiii. elementys met togeder
for many thyngys whych they had to
38 A HUNDRED
do becaufe they muft medyll alway one with a
nother : & had comunicacio to geder of dyuers
matters/ & becaufe they coud not conclude all
theyr maters at y* feafon they appoyntyd to breke
comunycacyon for y tyme & to mete agayn a
nother tyme/ therfore ech one of the fhewyd to
other wher theyre moft abydyng was & where
theyr felows fhuld fynd them if nede fhuld re-
quyre : & furft y e yerth fayd brethern ye know
well as for me I am pmanet alway & not re-
mouable therfor ye may be fure to haue me
alway whan ye lyft. The water feyd yf ye lyfte
to feke me ye flialbe fure euer 1 to haue me vnder
a toft of grene rufhys or ellys in a womans eye.
The wynde fayd yf ye lyft to feke me 2 ye fhalbe
fure euer to haue me amonge afpyn leuys or els
in a womans tong. Then quod the fyre yf any
of you lyft to feke me : ye mall euer 3 be fure to
fynd me in a flynt ftone or els in a womans
hart. i
If By thys tale ye may lerne afwell the pro-
pertes of y e .iiii. elementys as ther properte 4 of
a woman.
1 euer~\ wanting in Hazl.
2 to feke me\ Hazl. to ipeke wyth me.
3 euer~\ wanting in Hazl.
4 properte'] Hazl. properte is.
MERT rALYS. 39
xx. Of the woman that powryd the potage
In the Tuggys male.
HERE was a iuftyce but late in y e
realme of englond called matter Ua-
uyfour a very homly man & rude of
condycions & louyd neuer to fped mych money/
This mafter Uauyfour rode on a tyme in hys
cyrcute in a place of the north cotrey 5 where he
had agreed w l the fhyryf for a certayn fome of
money for hys chargys thorowe the fhyre/ fo
that at euery Inne & lodgyng thys mafter vaue-
four payd 'for hys own coftys. It fortunyd fo
y l when he cam to a certayn lodgyng he co-
maunded one Torpyn hys feruat to fe y l he vfed
good hufbondry 6 & to faue fuche thynges as were
laft & to cary it w 1 hym to ferue hym at the next
baytyng. Thys Torpyn doyng hys mailers co-
maudemet toke y e brokyn brede brokyn mete &
all fych thig y r was laft & put it in hys male/ 7
The wyfe of y e houfe pceyuyng y l he toke all
fuche fragmentys & vytayle w l hym y l was laft
5 in a place of the north contrey} Hazl. in the northe
contrey.
6 hujbondry\ i. e. economy.
7 in hys mayle~] Hazl. in his mayfters cloth fak. [Hazl.
has cloth fak for male throughout the whole tale.]
40 A HUNDRED
& put it in hys male/ 1 me brought vp y i podege
y 1 was laft I the pot & when torpyn had torned
hys bak a lytyll fyde 2 me pouryd y e podege in to
y e male whych ran vpon hys robe of fkarlet &
other hys garmetys & rayed 3 them very euyll
that they were mych hurt therw'. Thys Tor
pyn fodeynly tornyd him & faw it/ reuylyd the
wyfe therfor & ran to hys matter & told hym
what fhe had don/ wherfor mafter Uauefour
incotinet callyd y e wyfe & feyd to her thus.
Xhou drab quod he what haft thou do why haft
thou pouryd y e podege in my male & marryd my
raymet & gere/ O fyr quod y e wyfe I know well
ye ar a iudge of y e realme/ & I perceyue by you :
your m~d is to do ryght & to haue that that is 4 your
owne/ & your mynd is to haue all thyng w l you
y l ye haue payd for/ both brokyn brede mete 5 &
other thynges y 1 is left : & fo it is reafon that ye
haue/ & therfore becaufe your feruant hath taken
the brede & the mete 6 & put it i your male I
haue therfore put in your male 7 the podege y l be
laft becaufe ye haue well & truly payd for them
1 hys male} Hazl. the cloth fake.
* Jyde\ Hazl. afyde. 3 rayed] i. e. defiled.
4 that that is] Hazl. that is.
5 brokyn brede mete'} Hazl. broken mete.
6 the brede and the mete] Hazl. the broken mete.
7 therfore put in your mali\ Hazl. therin put.
MERT TALYS. 41
for yf 8 I fliuld kepe ony thyng from you y 1 ye
haue payd for : peraduenture ye wold troble me
in the law an other tyme.
1[ Here ye may fe y* he y l playth the nygarde
to mych fometyme yt torneth hym to hys owne
loffe.
xxi. Of the weddyd ?nen that cam to beuyn to
clayme tbeyr herytage.
A correfponding tale in Fernan Caballero, " Elia, 6 la
Efpana treinta aiios ha,"Madrid,i857,page93. (Tranilated
into German by H. Wolf, Paderborn, 1860, p. 116.)
CERTAYNE weddyd man there was
whyche whan he was dede ca to heuen
gatys to faynt Peter & fayd he ca to
claym his herytage 9 which he had deferuyd.
Saynt Peter afkyd hym what he was/ & he fayd
a weddyd ma/ anon Seynt peter openyd y e gatys
& bad hym come in 10 & fayd he was worthy to
haue hys herytage becaufe he had had much
trobyll & was worthy to haue a crowne of glory.
Anon after y l there cam a nother man that claymyd
8 foryf] Hazl. Yf.
9 his herytage] Hazl. hys bad heretage.
10 come in] Hazl. to come in.
42 A HUNDRED
heuyn/ & fayd to Seynt Peter he had had .ii.
wyuys/ to whom Seynt peter afweryd and fayd
come in for thou art worthy to haue a doble
crown of glory/ for thou haft had doble troble/
at y e laft there cam a thyrd * claymyng heuen &
fayd to Saynt peter that he had had .iii. wyuys
& defyryd to come in/ what quod Seynte Peter
thou haft bene onys in troble & therof delyueryd/
and then wyllyngly woldyft be trobyld agayn &
yet agayn therof delyueryd/ & for all y* couldeft 2
not beware y e thyrde tyme/ but entereft wyll-
yngely in trobyll agayne therefore go thy way
to hell for thou fhalte neuer come in heuen for
thou arte not worthy.
IF Thys tale is a warnyng to them that haue 3
bene twyfe in parell to beware how they come
therin the thyrd tyme.
xxn. Of the mercbaunte that chargyd hys fonne
tofynde one to fynge for hys fowle.
This ftory originates in Job. de Bromyard, " Summa
Prsedicantium," Litt. E, viii. 17: " Sicut patet de illo
qui moriens, vxore executrice fafta : bouem pro anima lua
legauit vt fertur, vxor vero bouem et gallum fimul ad forum
1 a thyrd} Hazl. the thyrd. 2 couldeft} Hazl. coulde.
3 haue} in orig. houe.
MERT TALTS. 43
ducens: utrumque fimul vendidit hac conuentione : quod
emptor pro gallo marcam anglicanam et pro boue obolum
daret, quod cum faftum fuiflet : obolum pro anima dedit
marito." The fame ftory in Ropertus Holkot, " Super
Libros Sapientiae," Reutlingen, 1489, fol. 1 1 1 . Imitated in
Pauli, " SchimpiF und Ernft," Strastburg, 1535, No. 438,
fol. 715 in Gerlach, " Eutrapeliarum libri in." Lips.
1656, lib.i. No. 656, p. 157; in J.P. de Memel, " Luttige
Gefellfchaft," ed. 1695, No. 622, p. 2635 and in " Ein
reicher Vorrath Anmuthiger Ergoetzlichkeiten," ed 1702,
No. 142, p. 94.
RYCH merchant of london there was
which had but one fonne y* was fome-
what vnthryfty therefore his fader vp-
pon hys deth bed called hym to hym & feyd he
knew well y* he had ben vnthrifty howbeit yf he
knew he wold amend hys condicios he wolde
make hym his executoure & leue hym his goodys
fo y l he wold promyfe 4 to praye for his fowle :
& to fynde 5 one dayly to fyng for hym/ whyche
thyng to performe hys fon there made a faythfull
promyfe. After y* thys ma made hym hys exe
cutoure & dyed/ But after that hys fone kept
fuch ryot y l in fhort tyme he had wafted & fpend
all & had nothynge left but a hen & a cok that
was hys faders. It fortunyd than that one of hys
4 promyfe} Hazl. promyfe him.
5 & to fynde\ Hazl. and fo fynde.
44 A HUNDRED
Frendys came to hym & fayd he was fory y* he
had waftyd fo mych & afkyde hym how he wolde
pform hys pmyfe made to hys father y l he wold
kepe one to fing for him.
Thys yong man afweryd & fayd by god yet I
wyll performe my promyfe/ for I wyll kepe thys
fame cok alyue ftyll and he wyll krowe euery
daye and fo he fhall fynge euery day for my
faders fowle/ & fo I wyll performe my promyfe
well ynough.
If By thys ye may fe that it is wyfdome for a
man to do good 1 dedys hym felf whyle he is here
& not to truft to the prayer and promys of hys
executours.
xxui. Of the mayd wa/hyng dot hys and anfwered
the frere.
HERE was a mayde ftode by a ryuers
fyde in her fmok wafhynge clothys.
And as (he ftoupyd oft tymys in her
fmokke 2 cleuyd betwene her butokkes/ By whome
there came a frere feynge her and fayde in fport.
Mayd mayde take hede for Bayard bytys on the
1 good~\ orig. reads goodys.
2 oft tymys in her fmokke] Hazl. ofttymes, her fmocke.
MERT TJLTS. 45
brydyll. Nay wys matter frere quod the mayden
he doth but wype hys mouth and wenyth ye wyll
come & kyfle hym.
IF By thys ye may fe that a womans 3 aniwer
is neuer to feke.
xxiv. Of the .Hi. wyfe men of got am.
The fame ftory in " Merie Tales of the Mad Men of
Gotam." The firft tale in " Shakefpeare Jeft Books,"
iii. p. 4.
CERTAYN man there was dwellynge
in a towne callyd Gotam which went
to a fayre .iii. myle of 4 to by ihepe/ &
as he cam ouer a brydge he met w 1 one of hys
neybours & told him whether he went/ & he
afkyd hym whych way he wold bryng the/ whych
fayd he wold brig the ouer the fame brydge/
nay quod the other ma but thou (halt not/ by god
quod he but I wyll/ y e other agayn faid he fhuld
not/ & he agayn faid he wold bryng them ouer
fpyte of his teth & fo fell at wordys/ & at the
Jaft to buffertys that eche one knokkyd other
well about the heddys w l theyre fyftys. To
3 a womans] Hazl. womans.
4 iii. myle of\ Hazl. iii. myle for.
46 A HUNDRED
whom there cam a thyrd man which was a
mylner wyth a fak of mele vppo a horfe a ney-
bour of theyrs & partyd them & l afkyd the what
was the caufe of theyr varyaunce/ whych then
fhewyd hym the matter & caufe as ye haue
harde/ Thys thyrd man the mylner thought
to rebuke 2 theyr folyfhnes with 3 a famylyer ex
ample & toke hys fak of mele from his hors
bak & openyd it & pouryd all the mele in the
fak ouer the bridge into the ronyng riuer wherby
all the mele was loft & fayd thus. By my trouth
neybors becaufe ye ftryue for dryuyng ouer the
brydge thofe fhepe which be not yet bought nor
wot not wher they be/ me thynkyth therfore
there is euyn as mych wyt in your heddys as
there is mele 4 in my fak.
11 Thys tale fhewyth you that fome man
takyth vppo hym to (hew other men wyfdome
when he is but a fole hym felf.
1 partyd them 6f ] Hazl. paciently.
2 to rebuke] Hazl. for to rebuke.
3 theyr folyfhnes with] Hazl. them by.
4 is mele] Hazl. is mele now.
MERT TJLTS. 47
xxv. Of the gray fr ere that anfweryd bis
penytent.
A correfponding tale, fee in J. Frey, " Die Garten-
gefellfchaft," s. 1. & a, cap. 30, fol. 36 verfo : " Von
einem Landfknecht, der .einem alten Miinch beichtet,""
ed. Frankf. 1590, fol. 29 verfo.
MAN there was 5 that came to confefle
hym felf 6 to a gray frere & fhroue him
that he had layne with a yong gentil-
woma/ y e frere than afkyd hym in what place/
& he faid it was in a goodly chaber all nyght
log in a fofte warme bed/ The frere heryng that
fhruggyd in hys clothys & fayd/ now by fwete
feynt fraunces then waft thou verye well at
eafe.
xxvi. Of the gentylman that bare the fege horde
on his nek.
CHANDELER belg a wydower dwel-
llg at holborne brige in lodo had a
fayre doughter/ whom a yog gentyl
man of dauys Inne woyd gretly 7 to haue hys plea-
fure of her/ whych by long fute to her made at
5 there ivas\ orig. reads there man.
6 hjmfelf] Hazl. hym. 7 gretly\ Hazl. fore.
48 A HUNDRED
y e laft graiityd him & poyntyd hym to coe vppo
a night to her faders houfe in y e euenyng & fhe
wold conuey him into her chaber fecretly whych
was an inner chamber wythin her faders chaber/
fo accordig to y e poitmet all thig was pformyd
So y l he lay w* her all nyght & made good chere
tyll about .iiii. 1 a clok i y e mornig/ at which
time it fortunyd this yog getylma fell a coughig/
whych ca vppo hym fo fore y* he coud not refrayn.
Thys yong wench 2 then fering her fader that lay
in the next chaiiber bad hym go put hys hed in
the draught left y 1 her fader fhuld here him :
which after her councell rofe in hys fhyrt & fo
dyd/ but the becaufe of the fauor of the draught
it caufyd hym to cough mich more & louder
that y e wechis fader hard hym 3 & afkyd of hys
doughter what man was that y* coughid 4 i her
chaber/ fhe anfweryd & fayd no body. But euer
thys yog ma coughid ftyll more & more whom
the fader heryng feyd/ by goddys body here thou
lyeft I wyll fe who hys there & rofe out of hys
bed.
Thys wench perceyuyng 5 her fader ryfyng cam
1 ..] Hazl. foure.
2 Thys yong *wencti\ Hazl. Thys wench.
3 hard hyni\ Hazl. herde it.
4 what man <was that that coughid~\ Hazl. what man it
was that coughed.
5 perceyuyng} Hazl. perceyued.
MERT TALTS. 49
to the gentylma & fayd take hede fyr to your felf
my fader corny th. 6 Thys gentylman fodely ther-
wyth abafhyd wolde haue pullyd hys bed out of the
drawght hole whych was very ftreyte for hys hed
that he pullyd the fege bord vp therwyth/ &
hangyng about hys nek ran vppon the fader beyng
an old man & gaue hym a gret fall/ & bare hym
down & hurt hys arme/ & openyd the dorys &
ra into y e ftrete wyth y e draught horde about hys
nek toward dauys Inne as faft as he coud.
This wech for fere ra out of her faders houfe
& ca not there a moneth after. Thys gentylman
as he ran vppon holborne brydge met w* a colyers
cart laden w* colys where there was .ii. or .iii. 7
fkyttyfh horfys/ which when they faw thys gentyl
man ronyng ftart afyde & threw down y e cart
wyth colys/ & drew it afyde & brake y e cart rope/
wherby the colys fell out fome in one place fome
in an other/ & after the horfys brake theyr trafys
& ran fome toward fmythfeld, & fome toward
newgate that the colyer ra after them & was a
howre & more or he coud get his horfe to geder
agayn/ By whych tyme the people of the ftrete
were ryfen and ca to y e ftrete & faw yt ftrawyd
wyth colys euery one for hys part gaderyd vp the
6 my fader corny tk] Hazl. for my fader comyth.
7 .. or .Hi.] Hazl. two or thre.
E
50 A HUNDRED
colys : that y e moft part of the colys were gone
or the colyer had got hys horfys.
But duryng thys whyle the getylman wet
thorow feynt andrews chyrchyard toward dauys
Inne/ & there met wyth the fexte comyng to
church 1 to rig to morow mas : whych when he
faw the gentylman in the churchyarde in hys
fhyrt w* the draght bord about hys nek/ had wed
it had ben a fpryt : & cryed alas alas a fpryt &
ran bak agayn to hys houfe almoft at y e barrys
& for fere was almoft out of hys wyt y* he was
y e worfe halfe a yere after.
Thys gentlman than becaufe dauys Inne gatys
were not open went on the bak fyde & lept ouer
the garden wall/ but in lepyng the fege bord 2 fo
trobled hym that 3 he fell down in to the garden
& had almoft broke his nek & there ley 4 ftyll tyll
y the pricipall cam in to the gardyn/ whych
when he faw hym ly there had wend fom man
had be flayne & there caft ouer y e wall & durft
not come nye him tyll he had callyd vp hys
company/ whych when many of the gentylmen
wher come to gether/ lokyd well vppo him and
knew hym & after releuyd hym/ But the borde
1 comyng to church~\ Hazl. commynge to attend.
2 fege bord\ Hazl. draught-bord.
3 that} in orig. thot.
there ley\ Hazl. there he lay.
MERT rALTS. 51
y t was about hys nek caufyd his hed fo to fwell
that they coud not get it of tyll they were fayne 3
to cutte it of with hatchettys. Thus was the
wench well Japyd/ 6 & for fere (he ran fro her
fader/ her faders arme was hurt the colyar loft his
colys the fexte was almoft out of his wyt/ & the
gentylman had almoft broke his nek.
xxvu. Of the marcbautys wyfe that fey d Jhe wolde
take a nap at fermon.' 1
To take a nap at fermon or at church is quite a common
faying in Germany, fo common, indeed, that a technical
term " Kirchenfchlaf " has been given to this particular
kind of nap.
MARCHANTYS wyfe ther was in
bowe paryfh in london fome what
ftept 8 in age to who her mayd cam
on a fonday in lent after dyner & fayd/ mayftres
quod flie they ryng at feynt Thomas of acres for
ther (hall be a fermo prechyd anon/ to whom the
mayftres anfwerd & fayd mary goddys blyflyng on
thy hart 9 for warnyng me therof & becaufe I flept
5 fayne'} Hazl. mynded.
6 Japyd} i. e. mocked.
7 at fermon} Hazl. at a fermon.
8 flept} Hazl. flepte.
9 on thy hart} Hazl. haue thy harte.
52 A HUNDRED
not well all this night I pray the brynge my
ftole with me for I wyll go thyder to loke
wether I can take a nap there whyle the preft
is prechyng.
IF By this ye may fe that many on goth to
churche as moche for other thyngys as for de-
uocyon.
xxvin. Of the woman that feyd & Jhe lyffyd a
nother yere Jbe wolde haue a kokoldls bat of her
owne.
Too imperfeft to decipher in Hazl.
I HER was a certayn company of women
gatheryd to geder in comunycacion one
happenyd thus to fay her pyggys after
they were farowyd dyed and wolde not lyue and
ope olde wyfe of her accoyntance heryng her fay
fo bad her get a cockoldys Hat and put the pyggys
therm a whyle after they were farrowyd and they
iholde lyue/ whych wyfe intendyng to do after
her counfell came to one of her gofTyppys and
fhewyd her what medecyne was taught 1 her for
her pyggys & prayd her to lend her her hufbandys
hat/ whych anfweryd her angerly and fayd I wold
1 taught] orig. reads thaugh.
MERT TALYS. 53
thou knewyft it Drabbe I haue none for my huf-
bande is no cookold for I am a good woman and
fo lyke wyfe euery wyfe anfweryd her in lyke
maner that me departyd frome many of them in
anger and fkoldynge/ But whan me fawe me
coude get none (he came agayne to her gofiyppys
all angerly and fayd I haue gone round aboute to
borrow a cookoldys hat and I can get none
wherefore yf I lyue another yere I wyll haue
one of myn own and be out of my neyghbours
daunger.
1T By this tale a man may lerne that it is more
wyfdome for a man to truft more to his owne
ftore than to his neyghbours gentylnes.
xxix. Of the gentylman that wyjhyd his toth in
the gentylwomans tayle.
GENTYLMAN & a gentylwoman
fat togeder talkyn whiche gentylman
had gret payn in one of his teth. &
hapnyd to fay to the getylwoman 2 thus. I wys
maftres I haue a toth i my hed which greuyth
me very fore wherfore I wold yt were in your
tayle. She heryng hym faying fo. anfweryd thus
in orig. gentylwomau.
54 A HUNDRED
In good fayth fyr if your toth were in my tale it
coud do yt but lytyll good/ but if there be any
thynge in my tale that can do your toth good
I wold yt were in your toth.
1T By this ye may fe that a womans anfwer is
feldome to feke.
xxx. Of the welchman that confeffyd hym how
be badjlayn a frere.
|N the tyme of lent a welchman cam to
be confeflyd of hys curat whych in hys
cofeflyon fayd that he had kyllyd a
frere/ to who the curat fayd he coude not aflbyle
hym/ yet quod the welchma yf thou kneweft all
thou woldeft aflbyle me well enough/ & when
the curat comandyd hym to {hew hym all the
cafe he fayd thus/ mary ther wer ii freres & I
might haue flayn them both yf I had lyfi but
I let one fkape therfore mafter curat fet the tone
agaynft the tother & then the offence ys not fo
great but ye may aflbyle me well ynough.
11 By this ye may fe that dyuers menne haue
fo euyll &c large cofcyens that they thynke yf they
do one good dede or refrayne from the doynge J
1 from the doynge'] Hazl. from doynge.
MERT TALTS. 55
of one euyll fynne that yt ys a fatysfaccyon 2 for
other fynnis and offencys.
xxxi. Of the welchman that cowde not get but
a lytyll male.
j HERE was a company of getylmen in
northatonmyre whych went to hunte
for deere in the porlews in the gollet
befyde ftony ftratford/ Among which gentylmen
ther was one which had a walche man to his
fyruaunte a good archer/ whiche when they came
to a place where they thought they mold haue
game/ they made a ftondyng and poyntyd thys
welchman to ftand by a tre nygh the hye way
and bad hym in any wyfe to take hede that he
(hot at no 3 rafkall 4 nor medle nat without it
were a male & yf it were a male to fpare not/
wel quod this welchman let me alone. And
whan this walchman had ftande there a whyle he
fawe moche dere comynge/ as well of Auntelere
as of Rafcall/ but eur he let them go and toke
no hede to theym.
2 a fatysfaccyon} Hazl. fatysfaccyon.
3 to take hede that he Jhot at no] Hazl. to fhote at no.
4 rajkatt] \. e. lean beaft.
56 A HUNDRED
And within an howre after he faw come ryd-
yng in the hye way a man of the countrey which
had a boget hangynge at hys fadyll bowe. And
whan this walche man had efpyed hym he bad
hym ftand &! began to drawe his bow and bad
hym deliuer that lyttyll male that hynge at his
fadell bowe/ Thys man for fere of hys lyfe was
glad to delyuer hym his boget/ & fo dyd & than
rode his way & was glad he was fo efkapyd.
And whan this man of the countrey was gon
thys welchman was very glad & went inconty-
nent to feke his mafter & at laft 1 founde 2 hym
with his company/ and wha he fawe hym he
come to hym & fayd thus/ Mafter by cottys plut
& her nayle I haue ftande yonder thys two
howrys and I cowd fe neuer a male but a lytell
male that a man had hangyng at his fadell bow/
& that I haue gotten/ & lo here it is/ and toke
his mafter the boget whych he had taken awey
from the forfayd man/ for the whyche dede bothe
the mafter & the feruant were afterwarde in
great trouble.
^T By thys ye may lerne yt ys gret foly for a
mafter to put a feruant to that befynes wherof
he can nothing fkyll 3 and wherin he hath nat
be vfyd.
1 at lafi\ Hazl. at the lafte. 2 founde] in orig. fonude.
3 flyll\ i. e. know, fignify.
MERY TALTS. 57
xxxn. Of the gentyll woman that fay d to a gentyl-
man ye baue a berde a boue vff none benetbe.
YONGE gentylman of the age of .xx.
yere fome whate dyfpofyd to myrth
and game 4 on a tyme talkyd with a
gentylwoman 5 which was ryght wyfe and alfo
mery. this gentyll woman as (he talkyd with hym
happenyd to loke vppon hys berde/ whiche was
but yong and growen fome what 6 vppon the
ouer lyppe and but lyttyll growen beneth as all 7
yonge mennys berdys comonly vfe to growe
fayd 8 to hym thus. Syr ye haue a berde aboue
and none beneth. and he herynge her fay fo/
fayd in fporte/ maftres ye haue a berde benethe
and none aboue/ mary quod fhe/ then fet the tone
agaynft the tother/ which anfwere made the
gentylman fo abafhyd that he had not one worde
to anfwer.
4 game\ Hazl. gaye.
5 gtHtyhvomati] orig. reads geutylwoman.
6 grow en fome 'what'] Hazl. ibmewhat growen.
7 as all] Hazl. as all other.
8 fayd] Hazl. and fayd.
58 A HUNDRED
xxxin. Oftkefrere that fayd our lord fed .v. M. 1
peple with .ijs fyjhys.
HERE was a certayn white frere which
was a very glotton and a great nyggyn
whyche had an vngracyoufe boy that
euer folowyd hym and bare hys cloke/ and what
for the frerys 3 glottony & for his chorlyfhnes the
boy where he went coude fkant get mete inough
for the frere wolde eet almofte all hym felfe.
But on a tyme the frere made a fermon in the
cotrey wherin he touchyde very many myracles
whiche cryft dyd afore his pafTyon amonge whiche
he fpecyalli reherfyde the myracle that cryfte
dyd in fedynge fyue thoufande people wythe
fyue louys of brede and with iij lyttell fyfhys
and thys frerys boy which caryd not gretely for
hys mafter herynge hym fay fo and confyderyng
that his mafter was fo great a churle and glotton
anfwered with a loude voyce that all the church
hard & fayd by my trouth mayfter/ Then there
were no fryers there, whiche anfwere made all
the people to fall on fuche a lawghynge that for
fhame the frere wente out of the pulpet. and as
<v. M.] Hazl. fyue M. 2 //.] Hazl. iii.
3 freryi} in orig. fterys.
MERT TALTS. 59
for the frerys boy he than departyd out of the
church that the frere neuer faw hym after.
f By thys ye may fe that it is honefty for a
ma that is at mete to depart with fuche as he
has to them that be prefent.
xxxiv. Of the frank elyne that wold haue bad
the frere gon.
RYCHE fraynklyng dwellyng in the
countrey 5 had a freer vfyng to his
howfe of whom he coud neuer be ryd
& had taryed with him the fpace of a fenyght
& neuer depart 6 wherfore the fraynklyng beyng
wery of hym/ on a tyme/ as he & his wyfe &
this frere fat to geder at fupper faynyd hym felfe
very angry with hys wyfe In fomoche he fayd he
wolde bete her. This frere pfeyuyng wel what
they met fayd thus, mafter franklig I haue bene
here this feuenyght when ye were fredys & I
wyll tary here this fortenyght lenger but I wyll fe
you frendys agayne or I go. 7 thys man perfeyuyng
4 A wanting in orig.
5 in the countrey'} Hazl. countie.
6 & neuer depart] Hazl. and wold never depart.
7 <"] Hazl. depart.
60 A HUNDRED
that he coude no good nor wolde not depart by
none honeft meanys anfweryd hi fhortly & fayd
by god freere but thou fhalte abyde here no lenger
& toke hym by the fhulders & thruft hym out of
the dorys by vyolence. 1
IT By this ye may fe that he that wyll lerne
no good by example/ nor good maner 2 to hym
fhewyd is worthy to be taught with open re
bukes.
xxxv. Of the good man that fayd to his wyfe
he had yll* fare.
A parallel ftory is found in the " Complete London
Jefter," ed. 1771, p. 73.
FRER Lymytour 4 come into a pore
mannys howfe in the countrey and be-
caufe this pore man thought this frere
myght do hym fome good he therfore thought to
make hym good chere/ But becawfe hys wyfe
wolde drefle hym no good mete for cofte/ he
therfor at dyner tyme fayde thus/ By god wyfe
1 by <vyolence~\ Hazl. of the houfe.
2 nor good maner'] Hazl. in a maner.
3 ytt] Hazl. euyll.
4 Lymytour] i. e. begging-friar.
MERT TALTS. 61
bycawfe thou dyddeft drefle me no good mete to
my dyner/ were it nat for mailer frere/ thou
fholdeft haue half a dofyn ftrypes. Nay fir
quod the frere I pray you fpare nat for me/
wherwith the wyf was angry & therfore at
foupper me caufed them to fare wors.
1F By thys ye may fe it is good polycy for
geftys yf they wyll haue any good chere to pleas
alway the wyfe of the howfe. 5
xxxvi. Of the frere that bad hys chylde make
a la ten.
Too imperfeft to decipher in Hazl.
For an analogous account of the refults of inftru&ion in
Latin, fee Bonaventure des Periers, " Les Contes ou les
Nouvelles Recreations," &c. Nouv.Ed. par De la Monnaye,
torn. i. Nouv. 23, Amfterd. 1735, p. 233 : " Du jeune
fils qui fit valoir le beau Latin que fon Cure lui avoit
monftre."
HERE was a frere whiche though he
were well lernyd yet he was callyd
wycked of condycyons whiche had a
Gentylmannys fonne to wayte vpon hym and to
teche hym to fpeke latyn.
5 The moral is wanting in Hazl,
62 A HUNDRED
Thys frere came to thys chyldes fader dwellyng
in he contrey/ and becawfe this frere wold haue
this Gentylman to knowe that this chylde had
metly well fpent 1 his tyme for the whyle he had
bene with hym/ he bad this chyld to make iri
latyn fhortly Freres walke in the cloyfter. This
chylde halfe aftonyed bycawfe his mafter bad
hym make this latyn fo fhortly anfwered at all
aduentures and fayd In circuitu impii ambulant.
xxxvu. Of the gentylman that afkyd the frere
for his better.
N the terme tyme a good old gentyl
man beyng a lawyer cam to london
to the terme & as he came he hapened
to ouertake a frere which was fom vnthryft &
wet alone without his beuer wherfor this getyl-
man afked this frere where was his beuer that
fhold kepe hym copany and fayd it was 2 contrary
to his relygyon to go alone/ and it wolde cawfe
people to fuppofe hym to be fom apoftata or fome
vnthryft. By god fyr quod the frere my felow
comendeth hym vnto your mafterfhyp/ why 3
1 fpent'] orig. reads fpeut. 2 was] in orig. waa.
3 *why~\ in orig. who.
MERY TALTS. 63
quod the gentylman I knowe hym nat/ than
quod the frere to the gentylman ye are the more
to blame 4 to afke for hym.
fl By this tale ye may fe that he that geueth
coiifel to an vnthryft 5 and techeth hym his dutye
fhall haue oftentymes but a mocke for his la
bour.
xxxvin. Of the .ni. Q men that chafe the woma.
The allotment of the two parts of a woman occurs in an
old German poem, " Die Theilung." See Von der Hagen,
" Gefammtabenteuer," vol. i. Stuttg. & Tubing. 1850,
No. 18:
" 1475. Here wie habt ir iuch bedaht ?
ift iuwer wille volbraht,
Welch teil ir nemen welt ? "
rait ziichten antwurt* ir dir helt :
" fo wil ich, vrouw', an dirre ftunt
1480 iu die rede tuon kunt,
Und will es lenger niht verdagen,
ich wil es uf genade fagen : ,
Das oberfte teil fol wefen mm." &c.
Alfo in Don Juan Manuel, " El Conde Lucanor," No. 41,
where the vice (el mal) leaves the upper half of a fervant
girl to the virtue (el bien) and keeps the lower part for
4 to blame'] Hazl. fole.
5 an 'vnthryft} Hazl. any vnthryft.
6 7.] Hazl. thre.
64 A HUNDRED
herfelf. Imitated in one of G. E. Leffing's poetical tales,
"Die Theilung;" fee Schriften, Berlin, 1838, vol. i.
p. 210 j alfo in " Lyrum Carum," 256.
HRE gentylme cam into an Inne where
a fayre woman was tapfter wherfor
as thefe thre fat ther makyng mery
echone 1 of the kyfTed her & made good paftyme
& plefure. howbeit one fpake meryly & fayd I
can not fe how this gentylwoman is able to make
paftyme & pleafure to vs all thre excepte that
me were departed in thre partes. By my trouthe
quod one of theym/ yf that me myght be fo de
parted 2 than I wolde chofe for my parte her hed
and her fayre face that I myght alway kyfle her.
Then quod the fecod I wold haue the breft and
hart for ther lyeth her loue. Then quod the
thyrd then ther is nothyng lefet for me but the
loynys buttokkys & leggys & I 3 am content to
haue yt for my part. And when thefe getylmen
had pafiyd the tyme ther by the fpace of one
hour or ij they toke ther leue & were goynge
away but or they 4 went the thyrd man that had
chofen the bely & the buttokkys dyd kys the
1 echcne} Hazl. eche.
2 be fo departed} Hazl. be departed.
3 ? /] Hazl. I.
4 they\ orig. reads thye.
MERT rALTS. 65
tapyfter & bad her farewel. what quod the furft
ma that had chofen the face & the mouth why
doft thou fo/ thou doft me wronge to kys my
parte that I haue chofen of her. O quod the
other I pray the be not angry for I wolbe 5 cotent
that thou malt kys my part for it.
xxxix. Of the getylma that taught his cooke the
medefyne for the tothake.
N EfTex there dwellyd a merygentylman
which had a cooke callyd Thomas that
was gretly dyfeafyd with the toth ake
& complainyd to his mayfter there of whiche
fayd he had a boke of medycis & fayd he wold
loke vp his boke to fe whether he cowd fynde
any medecyn ther 6 for it & fo fende one of hys
doughters to his ftudy for his boke and incon-
tynent lokyd vppon yt a longe feafon & than
fayde thus to hys coke. Thomas quod he here
is a medefyne for thy 7 tothake & yt ys a charme
but it wyll do you no good except ye knele on
your knee 8 and afke yt for feynt chary te. Thys
5 l^wolbe} Hazl. I am. 6 ther'] Hazl. therin.
7 thy~\ Hazl. your. 8 knee] Hazl. knees.
66 A HUNDRED
man glad to be releafyd of hys payne knelyd &
fayd mayfter for feit charyte let me haue that
medecyne. Then quod thys gentylman knele
on your knees & fay after me which knelyd
doiie and fayd after hym as he bad hym.
Thys getylman began & fayd thus. The fone
on the fonday. The fone on the fonday quod
thomas. The mone on the monday. The mone
on the monday. the trynyte on the tewfday. the
trinyte on the tewfday. The wite 6 the wednyf-
day the wit on the wednyfday. The holy holy
thurfday. The holy holy thurfday. And all that
faft on fryday. and al that faft on fryday. Shite
in thy mouthe on faterday. This Thomas coke
herynge his mayfter thus mokkynge hym in an
anger 1 ftart vp & fayd/ by goddys body mok-
kyng churle I wyll neuer do the feruyce more.
And wente forth to hys chaber to get hys gere
to geder to thentent to gon thens by & by. But
what for the anger that he toke with hys mafter
for the moke that he gaue hym & what for
labour that he toke to geder hys gere fo mortly to
geder the payne of the tothake wente from hym
incontynent that his mafter com to hym & made
hym tary ftyll 2 & tolde hym that hys charme
J in an anger] Hazl. in anger.
2 tary fall] Hazl. to tarry ftyll.
MERT TALTS. 67
was the caufe of the eafe of the payn of his
tothake. 3
11 By this tale ye may fe that anger oftymys
putty th away bodely payne. 4
XL. Ofthegetylma that promyfyd the fcoler of
Oxford a farcenet typet.
Similar tales in Legrand cTAuffy, fabliaux : " Les trois
Aveugles de Compiegne," torn. iii. p. i ; Pellbartus,
" Pomerium quadragefimale," Aug. Vind. 1502, fol. i.
fermo 38 c. Benecke, " Beitraege zur Kenntnifs der alt-
deutfchen Sprache und Literatur, Bd. 2, Gottingen, 1832 :
" Der Pfaffe Amis," V. 2043-2472 ; Sozzini, Nov. i j
Franco Sacchetti, No. 140 ; Giov. Franc. Straparola,
" XIII. Piacevoli Notti," No. 1 3, fair. 2. Alfo in " Nou-
veaux Contes a rire," Cologne, 1702 : " Le Rotifleur Fi-
loute," p. 261 ; and in " Scoggin's Jefts," 1626 : " How
Scogin deceived the Draper," repr. 1864, p. 137.
SCOLER of Oxford lately made mafter
of arte come to the cyte 5 of lodon & in
polys met with the fayd mery getylma
of eflex which was euer dyfpofyd to playe many
3 his tothake] Hazl. the tothake.
4 bodely payne] Hazl. the bodely payne.
5 come to the cyte] Hazl. cam in to the cyte.
68 A HUNDRED
mery paieantys with whome before he had bene of
famylier accoyntance and prayd hym to geue hym
a fercenet typet. This gentylman more lyberall
of promys than of gyft grantyd hym he fholde
haue one yf he wolde come to his lodgynge to
the figne of the bulle without byfhops gate in the
next mornynge at vi of the cloke. Thys fcoler
thanked hym & for that nyght departed to hys
lodgynge in flete ftrete/ & in the mornynge erely
as he poynted cam to hym to the fygne of the
bull/ Anon as 1 this gentylman faw hym he bad
hym go with hym in to the Cite & he fholde be
fped anone/ which incontynent went togeder tyll
they 2 cam in to feynt laurence churche 3 in the
Jury wher the gentylman efpyed a preft rauefhyd
to mafic & tolde the fcoler that yonder is the
prefte that hathe the typet for you & bade hym
knele down in the pewe & he wolde 4 fpeke to hym
for it/ And incontynent this gentilman went to
the preft and fayd Syr here is a fcoler and kynf-
man of myne greatly dyfeafed with the chyn-
cowgh. 5 I pray yow when mafle ys done gyue
hym iij draughtys of your chales. The preft
1 Anon as\ Hazl. And as.
2 they] in orig. fhe j Hazl. he.
3 churche] in orig. churhe.
4 wolde] Hazl. ihold.
5 chyncowgh] i.e. hooping-cough.
MERY TALTS. 69
granted hym & turned hym to the fcoler and
fayd Syr I (hall ferue you as fon as I haue fayd
mafle. the fcoler the taryed ftyl & hard the mafic
truftig then whan 6 the mafle was done that the
prefte wolde geue hym his typet of farcenet. Thys
gentylman in the meane whyle departed out of
the churche. This preft whan mafle was don
put wyne in the chalice & cam to the fcoler
knelyng in the pew profFeryng hym to drink of
the chales. this fcoler lokyd vpon hym & mufed
& fayd/ mafter perfon 7 wherfore profer ye me
the chalyce mary quod the prefte for the gentyl
man tolde me ye were dyfefyd with the chicough
& prayd me therfore that for a medcyn ye myght
drynk of the chalis. Nay by feynt mary quod
the fkolar he promyfyd me ye moldd delyuer me
a typet of fercenet. Nay fayde the prefte he fpake
to me of no typet/ but he defyryd me to gyue
you drynk of the chales for the chyncough. By
goddys body quod the fcoler he is as he was euer
wont to be but a mockyng wrech/ & euer I lyue
I mail quyte it hym & fo departyd out of the
churche i gret ager.
^ By thys tale ye may perceyue it were no
wyfdom for a man to truft to a man to do a
6 then <whan\ Hazl. that whan.
7 mafter perfon'] Hazl. why, mafter parfon.
70 A HUNDRED
thynge that ys contrary to hys olde accuftumyd
condycyons.
XLI. Of mafter Jkelton that brought the by/hop
of Norwich .u. fefantys.
The fame ftory, with very little alteration, in " Certain
Merrie Tales of Skelton, Poet Laureat," 1567. See Skel-
ton's Works, ed. A. Dyce, London, 1843, P liiij com
pare " Scoggin's Jefts : " " How Scogin was new chriftened,
and confirmed a Knave by the French bifhop," repr. 1864,
p. 130-
|T fortuned ther was a gret varyauce
betwen the byfshop of Norwhich &
one mayfter Skelton a poyet lauriat. In
fo moch that the byfshope comaunded hym that
he fliolde nat come in at hys gatys. 1 This mafter
fkelton dyd abfent hym felfe for a longe feafon
but at the Jaft he thought to do his duty to hym
and ftudyed wayes how he myght obtayn the
byfhopys fauour and deter mynyd him felfe that
he wold com to hi with fome prefent & humble
hym felfe to the byfhop & gat a couple of fefants
and cam to the byfhoppys place & requyryd the
porter he myght come in to fpeke wyth my lorde.
1 in at hys gatys} Hal. in his gatys.
MERT TALYS. 71
this porter knowyng hys lordys pleafure wolde
not fuffer hym to come in at the gatys/ wherfore
this mafter fkelton went on the bak fyde to feke
fome other way to com in to the place. But
the place was motid that he cowd fe 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 mafter
fkelton went a long vppon the tre to com ouer &
when he was almoft ouer hys fote flyppid for
lake of fure fotyng & fell in to the motte vp to the
myddyl but at the laft he recoueryd hym felfe
& afwel as he coud dryed hym felfe agayn/ &
fodenly cam to the byfhop beyng in his hall then
lately ryfen from dyner which when he faw fkelton
comlg fodely fayd to hym why thow chatyfe I
warnyd the thow fholdys neuer come yn at my
gatys & chargyd my porter to kepe the owt.
Forfoth my lorde quod fkelton though ye gaue
fuche charge & though your gatys be neuer fo
fuerly kept/ yet it is no more poflyble to kepe
me owt of your dorys than to kepe out crowes
or pyes for I cae not in at your gatys. but I
came ouer the motte that I haue bene almoft
drownyd for my labour & fhewd hys clothys
how euyll he was arayed which caufyd many
that ftode thereby to laugh a pace. Then quod
fkelton yf it lyke your lordefhyp I haue brought
72 A HUNDRED
yow a dyfshe to your fupper a cople of Fefantys.
Nay quod the byfhop I defy the and thy Fefantys
alfo And wreche as thou art pyke the out of my
howfe for I wyll none of thy gyft. How be it
with as humble wordys as he coud this fkelton
defyryd the byfhop to be hys good lorde & to
take his lytyll gyft of hym/ But the byfhop callyd
hym dawe 1 & fole often tymys & in no wyfe wolde
receyue that gyft. This Skelton than confyder-
yng that the byfhop. callyd hym fole fo oft fayd
to one of his famyliers therby that though it were
euyl to be criftynyd a fole yet it was moche
worfe to be confyrmyd a fole of fuche a byfhop
for the name of confyrmacyo muft nedes abyde/
therfore he ymagynyd how he might auoyd that
cofyrmacio & mufyd a whyl & at the laft fayd to
the byfhop thus, if your lordfhyp knew the namys
of thefe fesatys ye wold be cotet to take them/
why caytyf quod the byfhop haftely & angerly
what be theyre namys. I wys my lorde quod
fkelton this Fefant is callyd alpha, ys. primus 2
the furft. & this is callyd O that ys nouiffimus
the laft. & for the more playn vnderftandyng of
my mide. If it plefe your lordfhyp to take them
I pmyfe you This Alpha is the fyrft that euer I
gaue you & this O is the laft that euer I wyl
1 dawe] i. e. fool.
2 J s - primus] Hazl. which is in primys.
MERT TALTS. 73
gyue you wyl I leue. at the which 3 afwer al
that wer by made gret laghter & al they defyryd
the byfhop to be good lord to hi for hys mery
conceytys at whofe 4 requeft or they went the
bymop was cotent to take hym vnto his fauour 5
agayn.
^[ By thys ye my fe that mery conceytes dothe
a man moche more good than to frete hym felfe
with anger and melancoly.
XLII Of the yeman of gar d that fay d he wold
bete the carter.
YOMAN of the kynges gard dwellyng
in a vyllage befyde london had a very
fayre yonge wyfe. To whom a cart
of the towne a tal felowe reforted & lay with her
dyuers tymes whan her hufband was from home/ 6
& fo 7 openly knowe that all the town fpake therof/
wherfor ther was a yong man of the towne well
accoynted with this yema of gard that tolde hym
3 the which} Hazl. which.
4 <whofe\ Hazl. which.
5 fauour] orig. reads fauonr.
6 was from home} Hazl. was on garde.
7 & fo\ Hazl. and this was fo.
74 A HUNDRED
that fuche a carter had layne by his wyfe. To
whome thys yeman of garde fayd & fware by
godys body that yf 1 he met hym 2 it {hold coft
hym his lyfe. Mary quod the yong man yf ye
go ftreyght euyn now the hye way ye fhall ouer-
tak hym dryulg of a cart 3 ladyn with hay toward
london wherfore this yeman of garde 4 incontynent
rode after this carter/ & within fhort fpace ouer-
toke hym & knew hym well ynough/ & inco-
tynent called the cart to hym & fayd thus. Sirra
I vnderftand that thou doft ly euery night with
my wyfe when I am from home. This carter
beyng no thyng afrayd of the other/ 5 anfwered ye
mary what than/ what than quod the yeman of
garde/ by goddes hart haddeft thou na tolde me
the trouth 6 I wolde haue broken thy hede. And
fo the yeman of garde retourned and no hurte
done nor ftroke ftryken nor profered.
1F By thys ye may fe that the greateft crakers
fomtyme whan it cometh to the profe 7 be mofte
cowardys.
1 thatyf} Hazl. if.
2 met hym] Hazl. mette with hym.
3 of a cart] Hazl. a cart.
4 of garde] Hazl. of the garde.
5 of the other} Hazl. of him.
6 trouth\ Hazl. truth.
7 profe] orig. reads profe.
MERT TALTS. 75
XLIII. Ofthepryjl that fay d our lady was not fo
curyous a woman.
N the towne of Bottelley dwelled a
mylner whiche had a good homely
wench to his doughter whom a curat 8
of the next towne louyd/ and as the fame went
had her at his plefure.
But on a tyme this curat preched 'of thefe
curyous wyues now a dayes/ & whether it were
for the nones 9 or whether it come out at all
aduenturys he hapned 10 to fay thus in his fermo.
Ye wyues ye be fo curious in all your warkes
that ye wote nat what ye mene/ but ye mold
folowe our lady. For our lady was nothynge fo
curyous as ye be/ but me was a good homely
wenche lyke the mylners doughter of bottellay.
At which fayng all the paryflions made gret
laughynge/ & fpecyally they that knewe 'that he
had loued 11 the fame 12 wenche.
^[ By thys ye may fe it is great foly for a man
that is fufpe&ed with any parfon to prayfe or
6 a curat] Hazl. the curate.
9 for the nones] i.e. for the purpofe.
10 hapned] Hazl. had penyd.
11 he hadlcued] Hazl. he louyd.
12 the fame] Hazl. that fame.
76 A HUNDRED
to name the fame parfon openly left it bryng hym
forther in fclaunder.
XLIV. Of the fole that wold go to the deny II*
This tale is taken from Joh. de Bromyard, " Summa
Praedicantium," Litt. P, xii. 39 : " De quodam domino,
qui fatuum fuum infirmum frequenter cum per ilium tran-
firet, confortari folebat. dicendo : Spera in deo : ibis ad
coelum. Cui ille femper refpondit: nolo illuc ire : a quo
cum uno die quereret: quare nollet illuc ire. Refpondit:
quia volo ire ad infernum, quare inquft : quia inquit. diligo
te : & ficut fui tecum in vita, ita volo tecum effe in morte.
& poft mortem : & quia tu ibis ad infernum : ita volo ego
ratione focietatis. Cui dominus. quomodo fcis. quod ego
illud vadam : quia inquit. tota patria loquitur fie. dicentes.
quod tu es peflimus homo, et ideo ibis ad infernum : Et in
veritate : qui malus homo fuit prius. ex verbis illius com-
punftus : optime fe poftea correxit." Repeated in Pauli,
" SchimpfF und Emit," Strafb. 1535, No. 43: "Von
einem Narren der nit zu Gott faren wolt."
FOLK there was that dwellyd with a
getylma i the contray whiche was
callyd a great tyraunt and an e<5tor-
cyoner. But this fole louyd his mafter mer-
ueloufly becaufe he cheryfyd hym fo well. It
1 Hazl. Of the fole that faide he had leuer go to hell
than to heuen.
MERT TALYS. 77
happenyd vppon a feafone one of the gentylmans
feruauntys fayde to the fole. as they talkyd of
fermon matters/ by my trowth Jak quod he
wolde to god that thou and I were both of vs
in heuyn. Nay by lady quod the fole I wyll
not go to heuyn for I had leuer go to hell/ than
the other afkyd hym why he had leuer go to
hell. By my trouth quod the fole for I wyll go
with my mafter & I am fure my mafter (hall go
to hell/ For euery man feyth he (hall go the
deuyll in hell therefore I wyll go thyther with
hym.
XLV. Of the plow mannys fonne that fay d he faw
one make- a Gofe to kreke fweetly.
HERE was a certayn ploughmannys
fonne of the contrey of the age ofe .xvi.
yeres that neuer come moche among
company but alwey wet to plough and hufbandry/
on a tyme this yong lad wet to a weddynge with
hys fader where he fee one lute vppon a lute.
And when he came home agayne 3 at nyght his
moder afkyd hym what fport he hade at weddynge.
This lad anfweryd and fayd by my trouth moder
2 make} Hazl. to make. 3 home agayne] Hazl. home.
78 A HUNDRED
quod he ther was one that brought in a gofe
betwene hys arm ys 1 and tykled her fo vppo the
nek that (he crekyd the fwetlyeft that euer I hard
gofe creke in my lyfe.
XLVI. Of the maydys anfwere that was
with chylde.
|N 2 a marchauntys houfe in london there
was a mayd whiche was gotten 3 with
chylde to whome the maftres of the
houfe came & chargyd 4 her to tell her who was
the fader of the chylde. To whome the mayden
anfweryd forfoth no body/ why quod the mayftres
yt ys not poflyble but fome mane mufte be 5 the
fader thereof. To whome the mayd fayd/ 6 why
maftres why may not I 7 haue a chylde without a
man afwell as a hen to lay 8 eggys wythout a
cok.
f Here ye may fe it is harde to fynde a woman
wythout an excufe.
1 brought in a gofe betnvene hys armys] Hazl. brought a
gofe in his armes.
2 /] Hazl. At. 3 gotten] Hazl. great.
4 & chargy<f\ Hazl. and that commanded.
5 mufte be\ Hazl. is. 6 fayd] Hazl. anfwered.
7 not I] Hazl. I not.
8 a hen to lay~\ Hazl. hennys lay.
MERT rALTS. 79
XLVII. Oftheferuant that rymyd with bys
mafter.
In John Pet. de Memel, ed. 1695, No. 62, the fame ftory
occurs ; the German verfes are the more draftic, as the
fervant's anfwer has no rhyme :
Ich heiffe Sylvefter
Und fchlaf bei deiner Schwefter.
Der knecht antwortete :
Junker ich heifs Hans,
Und fchlaf bei Eurer Frau.
GENTYLMAN there was dwellynge
nygh kyngfton vppon Temys. ryd-
ynge 9 in the contrey wyth hys fer-
uaunte which was not the moft quyckyft felow
But rode alway fadly by hys mayfter and hade very
few wordys. Hys mayfter fayde to hym John quod
he why rydyft fo fadly 10 I wold haue the tell me
fom mery talys to pafle 11 the tyme with, by my
trouth mafter quod he I can tell no talys/ why
quod the mafter 12 caft 13 not fyng. no by my
trouth quod hys feruaunt 14 I cowd neuer fyng in
9 rydynge} Hazl. and rydynge.
10 fo fadly} Hazl. thou fo fadly.
11 paffe] Hazl. beguyle.
12 ^why quod the mafter} Hazl. Then fayd his mayfter.
lj can/f] Hazl. canft thou.
14 quod his feruaunt} Hazl. quod he.
Bo A HUNDRED
all my lyfe/ why quod the mafter 1 canft thou
ryme than/ 2 By my trouth mailer 3 quod he I can
not tell but yf ye wyll begynne to ryme I wyll
folow as well as I can. by my trouthe quod the
mafter that is well fayd* than 5 I wyll begyn to
make a ryme let me fe howe well thou canft
folowe/ fo the mafter mufyd a whyle c and than
began to ryme thus. Many mennys fwannes
fwymmys in temmys and fo do myne.
Then quod the feruaunt. And manny men lye 7
by other mennys wyues and fo do I by thyne/
what doft horfon 8 quod the mafter/ by my trouth
mafter nothynge quod he but make vp the ryme.
but quod the mafter I charge the tell me why
thou fayft fo/ forfothe mafter quod he for nothynge
in the worlde but to make vp your ryme. Then
quod the mafter yf thou do it 9 for nothyng ellys
1 why quod the majler} Hazl. quod the mayfter.
2 ryme than} Hazl. ryme.
3 By my trouth mafter . . . I cannot tell} Hazl. No by
my trouthe ... I can not.
4 well fay d} Hazl. well.
5 fayd than] Hazl. therfore.
6 fo the majler mufyd a ivhjle} Hazl. thy mafter meane-
whyle.
7 And manny men lye} Hazl. And many a man lyeth.
8 horfon} Hazl. thou, horefon.
9 do it} Hazl. doift.
MERT TJLTS. 81
I am content/ 10 So the mafter forgaue hym his
faynge all though he had fayd trewth. 11
XLVIII. Of the welchman that delyueryd the letter
to the ape.
The origin of this tale is again Joh. de Bromyard,
" Summa praedicantium," Litt. J. viii. 6: " Quidam
aulam cuiusdam nobilis intrans : videnfque fymiam de
fefta filiorum veftitum : quia dorfum ad eum habebat :
filium credidit efle domini : cui cum reverentia qua debuit
loqueretur : inuenit efle fymiam fuper eum chachinantem :
cui ille malediceris inquit : credidi quod fuifles iankyn
filius domini mei." Reprinted in Th. Wright, " Latin
Stories," &c. Lond. 1842, No. 129, "Filius domini.''
Imitated in " Jack of Dover," 1604.5 " The foole of
Hampshire j" "Percy Society," vol. iii. p. 30. It. in
" Lyrum Carum," 141.
KNYGHTE in Myddylfex had a fer-
uaunt which had commytted a felony
wherof he was endyted/ and becaufe
the terme drew nye he fered he fholde be fhortly
arayned therof & in ieoperdye of his lyfe. wherfor
in all the hafte fent a letter by a walchma a fer-
uaunt of hys vnto the kynges Juftyce of the
10 content] orig. reads concent.
11 he had fayd tre*vatK\ Hazl. he fayd trouthe perad-
uenture.
82 A HUNDRED
kynges bench requyrynge hym to owe his lawfull
fauour to hys feruant and comaunded hys feruant
fhortly to brynge hym an anfwere/ This walche
man came to the chefe Juftyce place and at the
gate fawe an ape fyttynge there in a cote made
for hym as they vfe to apparel apys for dyfport/
This walchman dyd of hys cap & made curtefy
to the ape and fayd my mailer recomendeth hym
to my lorde your fader & fendeth hym here a
letter. Thys ape toke thys letter and opened it
and loked theron/ and after loked vpon the man
makyng many mockes and mowes as the pro-
perte of apys is to do/ this welchman becawfe
he vnderftode hym nat came agayn to his mafter
accordyng to his comaundement and fayde he
had delyuered the letter vnto my Lorde chefe
Juftyces fonne whiche fat at the gate in a furred
cote/ Anone his mafter afked hym what anfwere
he had whiche fayd he gaue hym an anfwere but
it was outher Frenche or Latyn for he vnder
ftode hym nat/ but fyr quod he ye nede nat to
fear for I fawe by his countenance fo moche that
I warant you he wyll do your errand furely 1 to
my lorde hys fader. Thys gentylman in truft 2
therof made none other labour. For lacke
wherof hys feruant that had done the felony
1 your errand furely] Hazl. your errand.
2 t ru fi\ orig. reads trnft.
MERT TALTS. 83
within two dayes 3 after was rayncd at the
kynges benche & caft and afterwarde hangyd.
1T By this ye may fe that euery wyfe man
ought to take hede that he fende no folyfshe
feruant vpon a hafty meffage that is a mater of
weyght.
XLIX. Ofhym that fold ryght nought.
Such difficult tafks or enigmatical queftions are of very
frequent occurrence in the literature of the middle ages.
Generally known is the one taken from Juftini, " Hiftor.
Philipp." lib. 18, cap. 3; repeated in "El libro de los
enxemplos," No. 347 ; reprinted in " Bibl. de Aut. Efpan."
torn. 51, Madr. 1860, and in Joh. Gallenfis, " Summa
colleftionum," pars ii. dill, i, cap. 4. s. 1. 1493, fol. In
another, firft mentioned by Ratherius, (d. 974) " Sermo 3
de o&avis pafchae," d'Achery, " Spicilegium," ed. 1723,
fol.i. 395, (fee Haupt, "Zeitfchrift f. deutfches Alterthum,"
vol. viii. p. 2 1 ), a man has to come to his prince half riding,
half walking, and to bring with him his friend and his enemyj
he comes with his right foot in the ftirrup, walking with the
left, and brings with him his dog as hisbeft friend and his wife
(whom he makes denounce him as a murderer) as his worft
enemy. This is repeated, with many alterations, in the
" Gefta Romanorum," cap. 124; " Altdeutfche Blatter/'
ed. by Haupt and Hoffmann, Leipzig, 1836, vol. i. pp. 149,
154; "Scala celi," 505 Pauli, " Schimpff und Ernft,"
3 two dayes\ Hazl. a month.
84 A HUNDRED
1535, No. 400, fol. 75; Hans Sachs, Niirnberg, 1591,
fol. vol. ii. p. 4, fol. 59, " Der Hecker mit den drei feltza-
men ftucken;" Die Schildburger, cap. ai, in von der
Hagen, Narrenbuch, Halle, 1811, p. 129; Ferd. Wolf,
" Ueber die neueften Leiftungen der Franzofen fiir die
Heraufgabe ihrer National-Heldengedichte," Wien, 1833,
p. 135 j Cf. Wurdtwein, " Diocefis Moguntina in Archi-
diaconatus diftin&a," Mannhemii, 1749, torn - i P 4^8,
and Loifeleur Deflongchamps, " Fables Indiennes," torn,
ii. p. 125 ; " Cento Novelle Antiche," nov. 100, Torino,
1802, p. 183; and together with many fimilar jokes in
" Salomon and Markolph" (in von der Hagen, Narrenbuch,
p. 236, feq.) Finally, Grimm's " Kindermaerchen,"
Goettingen, 1856, No. 94 (cf. vol. iii. p. 170) contain
a fimilar tale, " Die kluge Bauerntochter ; " a girl has to
come to the king not clothed, not naked ; not riding, not
driving ; not in the way, not out of the way. She wraps a
large fifhing-net round her and comes dragged in the rut
by a rope tied to the tail of an afs.
CERTAYNE felow there was which
proffered a dagger to fell to a felowe
of his whiche anfwered hym and fayde
that he had right nought to geue hym therfor.
wherfor the other fayd that he {hold haue his
dagger vpon condycyon that he fhoulde geue and
delyuer vnto hym therfore within vi. dayes after
right nought/ or els xl. fhilynges in money/
wherto this other was content. Thys bargayn
thus agreyd he that fholde delyuer thys ryght
nought toke no thought vntyll fuche tyme that
MERT TALTS. 85
the day apoynted drewe nye. At the whiche
tyme he began 1 to Immagyne how he myght
gyue hym 2 right nought. And fyrft of all he
thought on a feder/ a ftrawe/ a pynnes poynte/
and fuche other. But no thynge coud he de-
uyfe but that it was fomwhat/ wherfor he come
home al fad & penfyfe for forow of lefynge of
xl. fhyllynges/ & coud nouther flepe nor take
reft/ wherof his wyfe beynge agreuyd demanded
the cawfe of his heuynes/ whiche at the laft after
many denayes tolde her all, well fyr quod fhe
Jet me herewith alone & gete ye furthe a towne/
and I mall handle this 3 well ynough. This man
folowynge his wyues councell went forthe of the
towne & let his wyfe fliyft.
This woman than henge vp an yerthen pot
wherof the botom was out vpon the wall by a
corde. And whan thys other man come and
afked for the good man fhe fayd that he was nat
within/ But Syr quod me I know your erand
wel ynough/ For I wote well ye wold haue of
myn hufbonde xl. fhyllynges becaufe he can nat
delyuer to you this day right nought/ Therfore
fyr quod me put your hande into yonder potte
and take your money/ this man beyng glad thruft
1 he began] in orig. be began.
8 hyni\ Hazl. this man.
3 this} Hazl. this matter.
86 A HUNDRED
his 1 hand in 2 fuppofyng to haue taken xl. fhyl-
lynges of money & thruft his hand vp thrugh 3 vp
to the elbow/ quod the wyfe than Syr what haue
ye there. Mary quod he Ryght nought. Syr
quod {he than haue ye your bargeyn & than my
hufbond hath contentyd you for his dagger ac-
cordynge to his promyfe.
11 By this ye may fe that often tymes a womans
wyt at an extremyte is moche better than a
mannys.
L. Ofthefrere that told the V. 4 cbylders
fortunys.
In Joh. Pet. de Memel, "Luftige Gefellfchaft," 1695,
No. 253, p. 1 10, a friend gives the following reply to the
queftion of a father about the employment his three fons
mould undertake: " If the one was a beggar, the other a
thief and the third a murderer, they would all be well off
for life," meaning thereby the fame profeflions the friar
recommends in our tale. It. in Moncaut, " Contes popu-
laires," 50 5 " Luftigmacher," 2, 50.
HERE was a certayn limytour which
went a limytige to a certeyn vyllage
wherin dwelled a certayn ryche man
of whome he neuer cowde gette the valew of an
1 his] orig. reads hir. 2 in] Hazl. in it.
3 vp thrugh} Hazl. thoroughe it. 4 Mi.] Hazl. thre.
MERT rALTS. 87
halfpeny/ yet he thought he wolde go thyder
agayn to aflay 5 them. And as he went thyder-
ward the wyfe ftondynge at the dore perceyu-
ynge him comynge a farre of thought that he
wolde come thyder and by & by ran in & bad
her chyldren ftandyng at the dore that yf the
frere afked for her fay (he was nat within. The
frere faw her ron in and fufpecled the cawfe and
come to the dore and afked for the wyfe/ the
fhyldren as they were byddyn/ fayde that fhe was
not within/ than ftode he ftyl lokyng on the
chyldren/ and at the laft he called to hym the
eldeft & bad hym let hym fe his hande/ and
whan he had fene his hande O Jhefu quod he
what fortune for the is ordeyned/ Than called he
the feconde fonne to fe his hande/ and his hande
fene the frere fayde/ O lord what a defteny is
for the 6 preparyd. Than loked he in the thyrd
fones hand/ fuerly quod he thy deftenys is hardeft
of all/ & therwith wente he his way. The wyfe
herynge thefe thynges fodenly ran out and called
the frere agayne/ and firft made hym to come in/
and after to fyt downe and fet before hym the
beft mete that flie had/ and whan he had well
etyn & dronken fhe befought hym to tell her the
deftenyes of her chyldren/ which at the laft after
5 to affay] Hazl. and aflay e.
6 is for the} Hazl. for the is.
88 A HUNDRED
many denayes tolde her that the fyrft fholde be a
beggar. The fecond a thefe. The third an
homycyd/ whiche fhe heryng fell downe in a
fowne & toke it greuoufly. The frere conforted
her and fayd/ that though thefe were theyr for
tune yet there myghte be remedy had. Than
fhe befought hym of his counfell. Than fayd
the frere ye muft make the eldeft that fhalbe a
begger a frere. and the fecond that fhalbe a thefe
a man of law/ & the third that fhalbe an homy-
cyde/ a phifycyon.
If By this 1 ye may lerne that they that wyll
come to the fpeche' or Prefence of any parfon for
theyr owne cawfe they muft fyrft endeuer theyme
felfe to fhewe fuche maters as thofe parfons mofte
delyte in.
Li. Of the boy that bare the frere hys maftcrs
money.
CERTAYN frere had a boy that euer
was wont to bere this freres money
MitMiiMmii and on a tyme whan the boy was farre
behynde his mafter as they two walked togeder
by the way there met a man the frere whiche
knewe that the boy bare the frerys money and
fayde. How Mayfter frere/ (hall I byd thy boy
1 this} Hazl. this tale.
MERT TALTS. 89
hye hym apace after the/ Ye quod the Frere
Than went y e man to y e boy & fayd Tyre thy
mayfter byddyth y e gyueth me xl. d. 2 I wyll not
quod the boy then called the man with a hye
voyce to y e frere & fayd fyr he fayth he wyll not/
then quod the frere bete hym/ & when the boy
herde his mayfter fay fo he gaue the man .xl.
pens.
1T By this ye may fe it is foly for a man to fay
ye or nay to a matter except he knowe fuerly
what the matter is.
LII. Of Phylyp fpencer the backers man.
(Gerlach), " Eutrapeliarum," lib. ii. No. 58, p. t6,
relates a very fimilar ftory j the butcher's name is David,
and his fervant cries out to the friar, " You can have no
more meat until you pay your bill." The fame in
" Roger Bontems en belle Humeur," Cologne, 1731, tom.i.
p. 119, " Naivete (Tun Valet :" " Point d' Argent point de
Tripes :" and in " Nouveaux Contes a rire et Aventures
plaifantes de ce Temps," 3 e edit. Cologne, 1702, p. 102:
" Sans Argent point de Tripes/ 1
CERTAYN bocher dwellyng in faynt
Nicholas flefhamels in london callyd
Poule had a feruaut callyd Peter. This
Peter on a fonday was at y e chirche heryng
2 .xl. d.~\ Hazl. xl pens.
90 A HUNDRED
mafTe & one of his felawes whofe name was
Phylip fpencer was fent to call hym at the co-
maundement of his mayfter. So it happened at
the tyme that the curat prechyd. And in his
fermon touched many au&orytees of the holy
fcrypture. Amonge all the wordes of the pyftell
of faynt Poule ad philippenfes/ that we be 1 not
onely bound to beleue in cryft but alfo to fuffer
for cryftys fake & fayd thefe wordes in y e pulpet/
what fayth Poule ad philippenfes to this. This
yoge man y 1 was called Philip fpencher had went
he had fpoken of hym anfwered fhortely & fayd/
.mary fyr he bad Peter come home & take his
parte of a podyng for he fholde go for a calfe
anone. The curat heryng this was abafhyd &
all the audyence made grete laughter.
1T By this tale 2 ye may lerne 3 that it is no
token of a wyfe man to gyue a fodayne anfwere
to a queftio before that 4 he knowe fuerly what
the matter is.
' that we be] Hazl. ho we be.
2 this tale] Hazl. this.
3 ferae] Hazl. fe.
4 before that] Hazl. before.
MERT TALTS. 91
LIU. Of the courtear and the carter.
A correfponding tale in " Scoggin's Jefts:" "How
Scogin told thofe that mocked him, that hee had a wall
eye." Reprint. 1864, p. 106.
HER came a courtyer by a carter the
whiche in deryfyon preyfed the carters
bak legges and other members of his
body merueloufly whofe geftyng the carter per-
ceyued & fayd he had another property than y e
courtyer efpyed in hym/ & whan the courtyer
had demanded what it fholde be/ he loked afyde
ouer his (holder vpon the courtyer & fayd thus/
lo fyr this is my properte.
I haue a wall eye in my hed/ for I neuer loke
ouer my {holder this wyfe but I lyghtly efpye a
knaue.
^ By this tale a man maye fe that he that vfed
to deryde and mocke other folkys/ is fomtyme
hym felfe more deryded & mocked.
LIV. Of the yonge man that prayd his felow to
tech hym his pater nofter.
In the " Nouveaux Contes a rire," &c. Cologne, 1702,
p. 248, " D'un Homme a qui on apprit a prier a Dieu," a
92 A HUNDRED
correfponding tale occurs ; the prieft ufes a very effeftive
means of teaching the Pater nofter to a niggard pawn
broker : he bids him lend money to all the people he
mould fend him. So he firft fends a man called " Pater
nofter," living at a place called u Qui es in coelis," then
another of the name of " Sanftificetur," coming from
" Nomen tuum," &c.
YONG ma of y e age of .xx. yere rude
& vnlernyd in y e tyme of let ca to his
curat to be cofeflyd 1 whiche whe he
was of his lyfe ferched & examyned coude not
fay his Pater nofter/ wherfore his cofeffour ex-
orted hym to lerne his Pater nofter/ & fhewed
hym what an holy & goodly prayer it was/ &
the efFet therof/ & the vii petycyons therin
coteyned. The fyrft petycyo begynneth. Pater
nofter. &c. y f is to faye. O fader halowyd be
thy name amoge me in erth as amoge augels in
heuen. The ii. Adueniat. &c. Let thy kyng-
dome come & regne thou amonge vs men in erth
as amonge augels in heuen. The .iii. Fiat. &c.
Make vs to fulfyl thy wyll here in erth as thy
augels in heuen. The .iiii. Pane noftru. &c.
Gyue vs our dayly fuftenauce alwaye & helpe vs
as we gyue & helpe 2 them y f haue nede of vs.
The .v. Dimitte. &c. Forgyue vs our fynnes
1 confejjytl\ orig. reads tofeflyd.
2 gyue & helpe] Hazl. haue and helpe.
MERT TALTS. 93
done to the as we forgyue them y* trefpas agaynfte
vs. The .vi. Et ne nos. Let vs not be ouer-
come with euyll temptacyo. The .vii. Sed libera.
&c. But delyuer vs fro all euyll amen.
And then his confe flour after this expofycyo to
hym made inioyned hym in penaiice to faft euery
fryday brede & water 3 tyll he had his Pater nofter
well & fuffycyetly lerned. This yonge man
mekely acceptyng his penaunce fo departed &
came home to one of his copanyons & fayd to
his felow. fo it is that my goftly fader hath gyuen
me in penaiice to faft euery fryday brede & water
tyll I can fay my Pater nofter/ therfore I pray
y e teche me my Pater nofter/ & by my trouth
I ihall therfore teche the a fonge of Robyn hode
that mall be worth .xx. of it.
f By this tale ye maye lerne to knowe the
effecT: of the holy prayer of the Pater nofter.
LV. Of the fr ere that prechyd in ryme expownyng
the aue mar la.
The latter portion of this tale is repeated in " Scoggin's
Jefts," 1626, Mr. Hazlitt's reprint, p. 76.
3 brede Gf <water\ Hazl. on brede and water.
94 A HUNDRED
CERTAYN frere there was whiche
upo our lady day the Anniicyacyon
made a fermon in the whyte frerys in
London/ and began his anteteme 1 this wyfe/
Aue maria gracia plena dominus tecii/ &c.
Thefe wordes quod the frere were fpoken by
the aungel Gabryel to our lady when fhe co-
ceyued Cryft/ whiche is as moche to fay in our
moder togue as all heyle Mary well thou be y e
fone of god is w l the. And further more the
aiigell fayd/ thou fhalte conceyue and bere a fone.
And thou malt call his name Jefum/ and Elyza-
beth thy fwete cofyn/'fhe mail conceyue the
fwete faynt John. And fo procedyd ftyll in
his Sermon in fuche fond ryme that dyuers &
many gentylmen of the court that were there
bega to fmyle & laugh. The frere y l perceyu-
ynge fayd thus Mayfters I pray you harke I mall
tel you a narracio.
There was ones a yong preeft y 1 was not all
the beft clark fayd mafic & rede a colecl: thus
Deus qui viginti filij tui &c. Where 2 he fholde
haue fayd vnigeniti filij tui. &c.
And after whe mas was done there was fuche
a gentylma as one of you are 3 now y t had herde
1 anteteme} Hazl. antetexte. 2 Wheri\ Hazl. wherfore.
3 are\ orig. reads at.
MERT TALTS. 95
his maffe came to y e preeft & fayd thus. Syr
I pray you tell me how many fonnys had god
almyghty/ quod y e preeft why afke you y*. Mary
fyr quod y e gentylman I fuppofe he had .xx.
fonnys/ for ye fayd ryght now. Deus qui viginti filii
tui. The preeft perceyuyng how y l he derydyd
hym anfwerde hym fhortly & fayd thus. How
many fonnys fo euer god almyghty had/ I am fure
y* thou art none of them for thou fkornyft y e
worde of god. And foo fayd the frere in the
pulpet. No more ar ye none of y e chyldere of
god. For ye fkorne & laugh/ at me now y*
preche to you the worde of god. which wordys
made the gentylmen and all the other people
laughe moche more tha they dyd before.
H By this tale a man may lerne to perceyue
well y l the beft the wyfyft & y e s moft holyeft
matter y l is by found pronunciatyon & vtter-
auce may be marryd/ nor mail not 4 edyfye to
y e audyece. Therfore euery proces wolde be
vtteryd with wordys & cotenaiice couenyent to
the matter.
Alfo yet by this tale they that be vnlernyd in
y e latyn tongue maye knowe the fentence 5 of the
aue maria.
nor Jhall nof\ orig. reads nor fhall nor.
fentence] Hazl. feftence.
4 nor
5
96 A HUNDRED
LVI. Of the curat that prechyd the artydes of
the Crede.
The " Miracle-play" alluded to in this ftory is not con
tained in the colle<5Hon of pageants known under the name
of " Ludus Coventriae," (publifhed by the Shakefpeare
Society : " Ludus Coventrias j a Collection of Myfteries,"
edited by J. O. Halliwell, London, 1841), and reprefented
at Coventry on the Feaft of Corpus Chrifti, as the twelve
Articles of the Creed are not mentioned in any of them.
According to Collier, " The Hiftory of the Englifh Dra
matic Poetry," vol. ii. Lond. 1831, p. 138, the MS. pre-
ferved in the Britifh Mufeum (" Bibl. Cotton. Vefpas."
D. viii.) was written at leaft as early as the reign of Henry
VII, and therefore it may well be that at the time the
" Hundred Mery Talys" were compiled, or, at any rate, the
prefent tale was written, another feriesof " Myfteries" was
performed at Coventry on that occafion. This fuppofition
is confirmed by a notice from the " MS. Annals, Codex
Hales," quoted by Th. Sharp in his " Diflertation on the
Pageants or Dramatic Myfteries anciently performed at
Coventry," Coventiy, 1825, 4-to. p. u: " 1519-20. New
Plays at Corpus Chrifti Tyde which were greatly com
mended."
There is, however, another colle6tion of " Myfteries,"
the " Chefter Plays, formerly reprefented by the trades of
Chefter at Whitfuntide," (edited as one of the publications
of the Shakefpeare Society, by Th. Wright, vol. i. Lond.
1843; v l- " Lond. 1847,) which has in the play No. 22,
"The Emiflion of the Holy Ghoft," (vol. ii. p. 134,) the
very verfes alluded to in the prefent tale. As this work
is not in everybody's hands I think myfelf juftified in
quoting the verfes in full :
MERT TALTS. 97
Petrus.
I beleeve in God omnipotente,
That made heaven and eirth and firmament,
With fteadfafte harte and trewe intente,
And he is my comforte.
Andreas.
And I beleeve more I be lente,
In Jefu his fonne from heavenfente,
Vereye Chrifte that us hath kente,
And is our elders lore.
Jacobus Major.
And I beleeve, with bofte,
In Jefu Chrifte, in mighteft mofte,
Confeveith through the holye ghofte,
And borne was of Marye.
Johannes.
And I beleeve, as I cane fee,
That under Pilate fuffred he,
Skourged and nayled on roode tree,
And buryed was his fayer bodye.
Thomas.
And I beleeve, and fouth can tell,
That he ghoftlye wente to helle:
Delivered his that their did dwell,
And rofe the thirde daie.
Jacobus Minor.
And I beleeve fully this,
That he fteyed up to heaven blefle,
And on his fathers righte hande is,
To raigne for ever and aye.
H
A HUNDRED
Philippus.
And I beleeve, with harte fteadfafte,
That he will come at the lafte,
And deeme mankinde as he has cafte,
Bouth the quicke and the dead.
Barthelemewe.
And my beleffe ftialbe mofte
In vertue of the holye ghofte,
And through his helpe, without bofte,
My life I thinke to leade.
Maihieus.
And I beleeve, through Godes grace,
Suche beleffe as holye chourch has,
That Godes bodye graunted us was
To ufe in forme of bredde.
Symon.
And I beleve with devocion
Of fynne to have remiffion,
Through Chriftes bloode and paflion,
And heaven, when I am dead.
Jude.
And I beleeve, as all we mon,
In the generall refurrexcion
Of eiche bodye, when Chrifte is borne
To deme bouth good and evill.
Matheus.
And I beleeve, as all we maye,
Everlaftinge life after my daye
In heaven to have ever and aye,
And fo overcome the devill."
MERT TALTS. 99
In a third colle&ion, the " Towneley Myfteries," which
might poffibly have contained correfponding verfes, " The
Emiflion of the Holy Ghoft" is loft by a lacuna in the
MS.
[N a vyllage in warwyck {here there
was a paryfhe preeft & thoughe he
were no gret clark nor graduat of y e
vnyuerfyte/ yet he prechyd to his paryfhons vpo
a fonday/ declaryng to the y e .xii. artycles 1 of the
Crede. fhewynge them that the fyrft artycle was
to beleue in god the fader almyghty maker of
heuen & erth. The fecond. To beleue in Jefu
Cryfte his onely fone our lorde coequall with y e
fader in all thynges perteynyng to y e deyte. The
thyrd that he was coceyuyd of the holy good
Borne of the vyrgyn Mary. The fourth that he
fuffred deth vnder ponce pylate/ & that he was
crucyfyed dede & beryed. The fyft that he
defcendyd to hel & fet 2 out y e good fowlys y*
were in fayth & hope/ & that he 3 y e thyrd day
rofe from deth to lyfe. The fyxth he aflendyd
in to heuen to y e ryht fyde of god y e fader wher
he fyttyth. The feuenth y* he fhall come at the
day of dome to Judge both vs that be qvik &
1 the .xii. artycles] Hazl. xii. artycles.
2 fet] i. e. fetched.
3 and that he] Hazl. and than.
ioo A HUNDRED
them that be dede. The eyght to beleue in the
holy gooft equall god w l the fader & the fone.
The nynth in holy chyrche 1 Catholyke & in the
holy comunyo of fayntys. The tenth In y e re-
myfiyon of fynnes. The leuynth In the refur-
reccyo generall of y e body and foule. The
twelfth In euerlaftynge lyfe that god fhall re
ward the that be good. And fayd to his parymons
further y l thefe artycles ye be bounde to beleue
for they be trew & 2 of au6toryte. And yf you
beleue not me/ the for a more fuerte & fuffycyet
au&oryte/ go your way to couentre/ and there ye
(hall 3 fe them all playd in corpus crifti playe.
11 By redyng of this tale they y l vnderftode no
latyn may lerne to knowe the .xii. articles of the
fayth.
LVII. Of the frere that prechyd the
.x. comaundementys.
The divifion of the Decalogue followed in this tale is
taken from Exodus xx j it was adopted by the Council of
Trent and ufed by the whole Latin Church. Luther ap
proved of it, and it is ftill in ufe with the entire Lutheran
denomination. The divifion now employed by the Church
of England is the lame which has always been ufed by the
1 holy chyrche} Hazl. the holy churche.
2 treiv 6f] Hazl. trewe.
3 Jhall~\ orig. reads ye ye fhall.
MERT TALTS. 101
Greek Church. It was ftrongly recommended by Calvin
in 1536, adopted by Bucer and the Tetrapolitans, and is
to be found in any Englifh formulary fince 1537. Mr.
Hazlitt's conjefture for the lacuna in his edition, p. 82, is
therefore inadmiffible j and this is more clearly mown by
the faft, that in his interpolation either the feventh or
eighth commandment is omitted. To judge from the un
damaged pafTages, however, there muft have been fome
difference between Mr. Hazlitt's original and mine : the
text of the mutilated copy cannot have read but thus : The
eighth, not to bearfalfe ^witnefs againft thy neighbour. THE
NINTHANDTENTH, not to couete nor defy re no mannes goodes
<vnlefully. Thou Jhalt not defyre thy neighbours wyfe, &c.,
this being exaftly the form, which was nearly exclufively
ufed fince its acceptation by the Council of Trent Cate-
chifm. It is likewife found in Mafkell's and Biftiop
Hilfey's Primers.
The feven deadly fins have always been the fame, but
their divifion is fometimes different. See Mr. Hazlitt's
edition, p. 8 3, note 2, and Mafkell's " Prymer," in " Monum.
Ritual. Eccles. Anglic." vol. ii. p. 178, London, 1846.
LIMITOUR of the gray frerys in
London whiche prechyd in a certayn
vyllage in the countrey in the tyme of
his lymitacyo/ & had but one fermo 4 which he
had lerned by hart y* was 5 of y e declaryng of the
.x. comaudemetes. The fyrft to beleue in one
god/ & to honour hym aboue all thynge. The
4 Gf had but one fermon] Hazl. and had prechyd a
fermon. 5 that was] Hazl. that.
102 A HUNDRED
fecod to fwere not in vayn by hym nor none
other 1 of his creatures. The thyrde to abftayne
from worldly operacyo on y e holy day thou &
all thy feruantys of who thou haft charge. The
fourthe to honor thy paretys & helpe the in theyr
necefTyte. The fyfth to fie no man in dede nor
wyll nor for no hatred 2 hurte his body nor good
name. The fyxt to do no fornycacyo a&uall/
nor by no vnlefull thought to defyre no flefhly
deleclacyo. The feuenth to ftele nor depryue no
manes goodes by thefte robbery extorcyo/ vfery/
nor dyfceyt. The eyght to here no falfe wyt-
nefle to hurt another/ nor to tell no lyes/ nor to
fay nothyng agaynft trewthe. The nynth to couet
nor defyre no manys goodes vnlefull. The tenth
to couet nor to defyre 3 thy neyghbours wyfe for
thyn owne appetyte vnlefully.
And becaufe this frere had preched this fermon
fo oftyn/ one y l had hard it before told the frerys
feruaut y l his mayfter was callyd frere John .x.
comaudementes wherfor this feruaut {hewed y e
frere his mayfter therof/ and aduyfed hym to
preche fome fermon of fome other matter/ for it
greuyd hym to here his mayfter fo deryded/ & to
1 none other] Hazl. none.
2 hatred^ Hazl. orig. reads hated.
3 The tenth to couet nor to defyre~\ Hazl. thou fhalt not
defyre.
MERT TALTS. 103
be called frere John .x. comaildemetys/ for euery
man knoweth what ye wyll fay as foone as euer
ye begyn bycaufe ye haue preched it fo oft.
Why than quod y e frere I am fure thou knoweft
well which be y e .x. comaiidementys y t haft harde
the fo oft declaryd/ ye fyr quod the feruaiit y 4 I
do. Then quod the frere I praye the reherfe
the vnto me now. Mary quod y e feruaiit thefe
be they. 4 Pryde Couetyfe Slouth Enuy wrath
Glotony and Lechery.
1F By redynge this tale ye maye lerne to
knowe the .x. comaundementes and the .vii.
dedely fynnes.
LVIII. Of the wyfe that bad her hujband ete
the candellfurji.
This tale is imitated by John Cotgrave, " Wits Inter
preter, the Englifh Parnaffus," 1662, p. 282.
HE hufbande fayde to his wyfe thus/
wyfe 5 by this candell I dremed this
nyght that I was a cokolde. 6 To
whome (he anfwered and fayd hufbonde. By
4 thefe be they] Hazl. they be thefe.
5 to hys f wyfe thus I c wyfe y &c.] Hazl. to his wyfe thus
wyfe, &c. 6 a cokolde'} Hazl. cocke colde.
io 4 A HUNDRED
this brede ye are none. The fayd he/ wyfe etc
the brede. She anfwerd & fayd to her hufbande/
then etc you the candell for you fware fyrft.
IF By this a man may fe that a womans anfwere
is neuer to feke.
LIX. Of the man of lawys fonnys anfwer.
WOMAN demaudyd a queftyon of a
yong 1 chyld fonne vnto a ma of lawe
of what craft his fader was/ which
chyld fayd his fader was a crafty man of lawe.
fl By this tale a man may perceyue that fome-
tyme peraduenture yoge Innocentys fpeke truely
vnduyfed.
LX. Ofthefrere in the pulpit that bad the woman
hue her bakelyng.
N a certayn paryfh chyrche in London
after the olde lawdable & accuftomyd
maner there was a frere mynor all
though he were not the beft clark nor coude not
' yong] Hazl. little.
MERT TALTS. 105
make the beft fermon/ yet by the lycerice of the
curat he there preched to the paryfhons. 2 Among
the whiche audyence there was a wyfe at that
tyme lytyll dyfpofyd to contemplacyo talkyd with
a gofyp of hers of other feminyne tales/ fo loud
that the frere hard & fomwhat was perturbyd
therwith. To whom therfore openly the frere
fpake & fayd. Thou woman there in the tawny
gow/ 3 hold thy peace & leue thy babelyng thou
troblyft the worde of god.
This woman there with fodeynly abafhyd by-
caufe y e frere fpake to her fo openly y* al y e people
her beheld anfweryd fhortly & fayd/ I befhrewe
hye hard 4 that babelyd more of vs two. At y e
whyche feyng y e people dyd laugh bycaufe they
felt but lytyll fruyte in his fermon.
1[ By this tale a man may lerne to be ware
how he openly rebukyth any other & in what
audyence left it tourne 5 to his owne reprofe.
2 paryfhons\ orig. reads paryfhous.
3 S 0fW "\ Hazl. gowne.
4 hye hard] Hazl. his harte.
5 tourne~\ Hazl. come.
io6 A HUNDRED
LXI. Of the welchman that caft the Jkot in to
the fee.
|N the rayne of the moft myghty and
vy&oryous Prynce kynge Henry the
.viii. cruell warre began betwene Eng-
lyfshe men Frenfhemen/ & Skottys. The Eng-
lyfshemen were fo myghty vpon y e fe that none
other people of other realmys were able to refyft
the/ wherfore they toke many grete enterpryfys/
& many fhyppys/ & many pryfoners of other
remys y 1 were theyr enmys. Among the which
they happenyd on a feafon to take a fkottys fhyp.
& dyuers fkottys they flew & toke pryfoners.
Among whom ther was a welchma that had one
of the fkottys pryfoner & bad hym that he (hold
do of his harnes/ which to do the Skot was very
loth/ howbeyt for fere at y e laft he pullyd it of
w* an yuyll wyll/ & fayde to y e welchma/ yf thou
wilt nedys haue my harnes take it there/ & caft
it ouer the bord in to the fe. The welchman
feyng that fayd. By Cottes blut & her nayll.
I mail make her fat 1 it agayn. And toke hym
by y e legges & caft hym after ouer the bord in
to the fe.
IT By this tale a man maye lerne y l he that is
1 fat] i.e. fetch.
MERT TJLTS. 107
fubget to another ought to forfake his owne
wyll/ & folow his wyll & comaudement y* fo
hath fubieccyon ouer hym/ left it torne to his
gretter 2 hurt & damage.
LXII. Of the man that had* the dome vuyfe.
The fame ftory in the " Scolehoufe of Women," 1542.
Reprinted in (Utterfon's) " Seleft Pieces of Early Popular
Poetry," vol. ii. p. 73-74, Lond. 1825.
[HERE was a man that maryed a woman
whiche hath grete ryches & bewte/
how be it fhe had fuche an impedyment
of nature that flic was dome and coude not fpeke/
whiche thynge made hym full ofte to be 4 ryght
pefyfye & fad/ wherfore vpon a daye as he walkyd
alone ryght heuy in hart thynkig vpo his wyfe.
Ther came one to hym & afkyd hym what was
the caufe of his heuynes/ which anfweryd that
it 5 was onely bycaufe his wyfe was borne dome.
To who this other fayd. I fhall fhewe y e foone
a remedy & a medycyn therfore that is thus.
Go take an afpen lefe & lay it vnder her togue
this nyght fhe beyng a flepe/ & I warrant the y l
2 gretter} Hazl. great. 3 had~} orig. reads bad.
4 full ojte to be} Hazl. to be. 5 it] in orig. is.
io8 A HUNDRED
fhe fhall fpeke on the morow/ whiche man beyng
glad of this medycyne preparyd therfore/ & ga-
theryd afpen leues. Wherfore he layd .iii. 1 of
them vnder her toge whe fhe was a flepe. And
vpon y e morowe whe he hym felf wakyd he de-
fyrous to know how his medycyne wroughte
beyng in bed w* her demaunded 2 of her how fhe
dyd/ & fodenly fhe anfweryd & fayd. I befhrewe
your hart for wakynge me fo erly/ & fo by vertew
of y l medycyne fhe was reftored to her fpeche.
But in coclufyon her fpeche fo increfyd day by
day & fhe was fo curft of codycyo that euery day
fhe braulyd & chyde 3 with her hufbande fo moche
y l at y e laft he was more vexyd and had moche
more troble & dyfTeafe with her fhrewed wordes
then he had before whan fhe was dome.
Wherfore as he walked another tyme alone
he happened to mete agayne with the fame per-
fon that taught hym the fayde medycyne. And
fayde to hym this wyfe.
Syr ye taught me a medycyne but late to make
my dome wyfe to fpeke. Byddyng me laye an
afpen lefe vnder her tonge when fhe flepte. And
I layd .iii. afpen leues there, wherfor now fhe
1 ./.] Hazl. thre.
3 demaunded} Hazl. he demaunded.
3 chyde] i. e. made an inceflant noife.
4 alone} Hazl. abrode.
MERT TALTS. 109
fpeketh. But yet me fpeketh fo moche and fo
fhrewdly that I am more wery of her now than
I was before when fhe was dome.
Wherfore I praye you teche me a medycyne
to modyfye her that fhe fpeke not fo moche.
This other anfweryd and fayd thus. Syr I am
a deuyll of hell. But I am one of them that
haue leeft power there. Albeyt yet I haue power
to make a woman to fpeke. But yet yf 5 a woman
begyn ones to fpeke/ I nor all the dyuels in helle
that haue the moft 6 power be not able to make
a woman to be ftyll/ nor to caufe her to leue her
fpekynge.
1F By this tale ye may note that a man oftymes
defyreth and coueteth to moche 7 that thynge that
oft torneth to his dyfplefure.
LXIII. Oftheproffor of arches that had the
lytell wyfe.
This tale may be taken from Ottomarus Lufcinius,
" Joci ac Sales mire Feftivi," s. 1. 1524, 8vo. No. 50,
fign. D 3, everfo: " Mulier parva minus malum," where it
is told of Ariftoteles 5 it was appropriated byjoh. Gaftius,
" Convivalium Sermonum," lib. i. p. 313, Bafil, 1549:
5 But yet yf] Hazl. but and if.
6 the moft] Hazl. the more.
7 to moche] Hazl. moche.
no
A HUNDRED
" De uxore parva," and alfo by E. Walgemuth, " 500
Frifche und verguldete Haupt-Pillen," s. 1. 1669, ii. No. 30,
p. 56. In the " Nouveaux Contes a rire," &c. Cologne,
1702, it is told of Leonidas of Lacedemon, and is likewife
contained in the "Complete London Jeftes," t i77i, p. 65 ;
Certayne Conceyts, 14; Conceits, 81 $ repr. in Shakefp.
"Jeft Books," iii. pp. 8, 24. Item, Lyrum Carum, 87;
Schreger, 17, 114, p. 567.
NE afkyd a pro&oure of Arches lately
before maryed why he chafe hym fo
lytell a wyfe/ whiche anfwerede becaufe
he had a text faynge thus. Ex duobus mails
minus malum 1 eft eliendum/ that is to faye in
englyfshe. Amonge euyll thynges the left is to
be chofen.
LXIV. Of the .ii." nonnys that were Jhryuyn
of one preft.
|N the tyme of lente there cam two
nonnys to faynt Johns in london by-
caufe of the greate pardon there to be
confeflyd. Of y e whiche nonnys the one was a
yonge lady & the other was olde. This yonge
lady chofe fyrft her ConfefToure/ and confeflyd
her that fhe had fynned in Lechery. The con-
1 minus malum] Hazl. minus malis.
2 the ..] Hazl. ii.
MERT TALYS. in
feflbure afked w* whom it was. She fayde it was
with a lufty Gallat. He demaiidyd where it was.
She fayd in a pleafaunt grene herber. He afkyd
further whe it was. She fayd in y e mery moneth
of May. Then fayd y e confeflbur this wyfe.
A fayre yong lady/ with a lufty gallant/ in a
pleafaunt herber/ in y e mery 3 moneth of May/
ye dyd but your kynde. Now by my trouth god
forgyue you & I do.
And fo fhe departed and incotynent the olde
none met with her afkynge her how fhe lyked
her confeflbur/ whiche fayde that he was* the
beft goftly fader y* euer fhe hadde And the moft
eafyft in penaunce geuynge.
For cofort wherof this other nonne went to
the fame confeflbur. And fhroue her lykewyfe
that fhe had fynned in Lechery. And he de-
maunded with whom/ which fayde with an olde
Frere/ he afkyd where. She fayd in her olde
cloyfter. He afkyd what feafon. She fayd in
lent. Then the confeflbur fayd thus.
An olde hore to lye with an olde frere/ in the
olde cloyfter/ in the holy tyme 5 of Lent. By
cokkys body yf god forgyue the yet wyll I neuer
forgyue the.
3 In the mery] Hazl. and in the mery.
4 that he was] Hazl. he was.
5 in the holy tyme] Hazl. and in the holy tyme.
ii2 A HUNDRED
Whiche wordys caufyd her to departe all fad
and fore abasfhyd.
1T By this tale men may lerne that a vycyoufe
a&e is more abhomynable in one perfon than in
an other/ in one feafon than in an other and in
one place than in an other.
LXV. Of the efquyer that Jholde haue bene
made knygkt.
{HEN the moft noble and fortunate
prynce Edwarde of Englonde made
warre in Fraunce with greatte puyf-
faunce and Armye of People.
Whome the Frenche kynge with a nother
grete hoft incounteryd. And when bothe y e
hoftis fhulde Joyne & the trumpettis began to
blow/ a yong fquyer of englonde rydyng on a
lufty courfer of whiche horfe the noyfe of y e
trupettys fo prykkyd y e courage y 1 the fquyer
coude not hym retayne/ fo that agaynft his wyll
he ran vpon his enemys whiche fquyer feynge
none other remedy fet his fpere in the reft/ and
rode trough the thykkyft of his enemys/ & in
conclufyon had good fortune and fauyd hymfelfe
alyue without hurt/ & the englyfh hoft folowyd
& had the vy6iory. And after when y e felde
MERT TALTS. 113
was done 1 this kyng Edwarde called the fquyer/
& bad hym knele downe for he wolde make hym
knyght/ becaufe y t2 he valyauntly was y e man 3 y*
day which with the moft couragyoufe ftomak
aduenturyd fyrft vpon theyr enemy s. To whom
y e fquyre thus anfwerde. Yf it lyke your grace
to make any body knyght therfore/ 1 befeche you
to make my horfe knyght & not me/ for certes
it was his dede & not myne/ & full fore agaynft
my will.
Whiche anfwere the kynge herynge refraynyd
to promote hym to the order of knyghthode/
reputynge hym in maner but a cowarde/ 4 & euer
after fauoryd hym the lefle. 5
fl By this tale a man may lerne how it is
wyfdome for one that is in good credence to
kepe hym therin/ and in nowyfe to dyfable hym-
felfe to moche.
1 done] Hazl. wonne.
2 becaufe thai} Hazl. becaufe.
3 man\ orig. reads men.
4 but a conuarde~\ Hazl. but for a cowarde.
5 the le/e] Hazl. the lefle therfore.
ii4 A HUNDRED
LXVI. Of the man that wold haue the potjland
there as he zvold. 1
The fame ftory is related in the " Scole-houfe of Wo
men," 1 542 ; vide " Sele6l Pieces of Early Popular Poetry,"
Lond. 1825, vol. ii. p. 77-78, " All though the mete therin
were not inough, fodenly comaundyd her.' 1 '' Mr. Hazlitt
confiders this paflage very corrupt: but the ufe of the
word "ynough" in No. 92 mows, plainly enough,that his
fuppofltion is falfe.
YONGE man late maryed to a wyfe
thowght it was good polycy to get the
mayftry of her in the begynnynge.
Cam to her the pot fethynge ouer y e fyre all
though the mete therin were not inough fodenly
comaundyd her to take the pot from the fyre.
whyche anfweryd & fayde that y e mete was not
redy to etc. And he fayd agayne I wyll haue
it taken of for my pleafure. This good woman
loth yet to offend hym fet y e pot befyde the fyre
as he bad. 2 And anone after he comauded her
to fet the pot behynde the dore/ & flie fayd therto
agayne ye be not wyfe therin. But he precifely
fayd it fholde be fo as he bad. And ihe gentylly
1 Hazl. Of hym that wolde gette the mayftrye of his
wyfe. 2 bad'] in orig, had.
MERT TALTS. 115
agayne did his comaiidement. This man yet
not fatysfyed comaunded her to fet the pot a
hygh vpon the hen roft/ what quod y e wyf
agayne 3 I trow ye be mad. And he fyerfly
than comaunded her to fet it there or els he
fayd me iholde repet 4 She fomewhat aferde to
moue 5 his pacience toke a ladder and fet it to
the rooft/ and wet herfelf vp the ladder and toke
the pot in her hande prayeng her hulbande than
to holde the ladder faft for flydynge/ whiche fo
dyd.
And whenne the hufbande lokyd vp and fawe
the Potte ftande there on hyght 6 he fayde thus.
Lo now ftandyth the pot there as I wolde haue
it This wyfe herynge that fodenly pouryd the
hote potage on his hed & fayd thus. And now
bene the potage there as I wolde haue them.
1F By this tale men may fe it is no wyfedome
for a man to attempte a meke womas pacyece
to far left it torne to his owne hurte & damage.
3 ivhat quod the <wyf agayne"] Hazl. What ! quod the
wyfe.
4 repent] Hazl. repent it.
5 moue] in orig. mone.
6 on hyght\ orig. reads an hyght.
n6 A HUNDRED
LXVII. Of the penytent that fay d the Jhepe of god
haue mercy vpon me.
In G. Wickram, " Der Rollwagen," Frankf. 1590,
fol. 47, verfo : u Von einem einfaeltigen Bawren der da
beichtet vnd kundt nicht beten," this ftory has been ampli
fied : until St. John's Day the penitent fays, " the lamb of
God have mercy upon me ;" afterwards, " the fheep of
God;" and later in the year, about the beginning of
autumn, "the wether of God." In Kirchhof, " Wend-
unmuth," Frankf. 1573, i. fol. 255, verfo : " Ein Schaefer
lehrnet betten," he fays, " the wether of God," after the
prieft has reproved him for faying " the fheep of God."
Item in Nafr-eddin's " Schwanke," 1857; No. 105^.43;
cf. No. 115, p. 47.
CERTAYNE confeflbur in the holy
tyme of lente inioyned his penitent to
fay dayly for his penaunce this prayer.
Agnus dei miferere mei/ whiche was as moche
to faye in englyfshe as y e Lambe of god haue
mercy vpon me. This penitens acceptynge his
penaiice departyd & that tyme twelfe moneth
after came agayne to be confeflyd of the fame
cofeflbure whiche demaundyd of hym whether
he had fulfyllyd his penaiice that he hym inioynyd
y e laft yere. And he fayd thus/ ye fyr I thank
god I haue fulfylled it/ for I haue fayde thus to
daye mornynge 1 and fo dayly. The fhepe of
1 mornynge'] Hazl. in the mornynge.
MERY TJLTS. 117
god haue mercy vpon me. To whom the
confeflbur fayd. Nay I bad y e fay Agnus dei
miferere mei/ that is y e lambe of god haue mercy
vpon me.
Ye fyr quod y e penytent ye fay trouth that was
y e lafte yere/ but now it is at twelfe month 2
fyth/ & it is a fhepe by this tyme. Therfore
I muft nedys fay now y e fhepe of god haue
mercy vpon me.
fl By this tale ye may perceyue that yf holy
fcrypture be expownyd to rude 3 Lay people onely
in the lytterall fcence. Peraduenture it fhal do
but lytell 4 good.
LXVIII. ^[ Of the hufband that fayd he was
John daw.
T fourtuned dyuers to be in comuny-
cacyon amonge whom there was a
curat or a paryfh preeft & one Johan
daw a paryfhon of his whiche .ii. had comuny-
cacyon more bufy than other in this maner.
This preeft thought y 1 one myght not by felynge
knowe one from another in the darke/ John
2 at t c welfe month'] Hazl. a twelfemonthe.
3 rude} Hazl. the.
4 but Ijttel] Hazl. lytell.
n8 A HUNDRED
daw his paryfhon of contrary 1 opynyon layde
with his curate for a wager .xl. pence.
Wherupon the paryfh preeft wyllynge to proue
his wager wente to this John dawes houfe in the
euenynge and fodenly gate hym to bed with his
wyfe where whe he began to be fomwhat befy.
She felynge his crowne fayde fliortly with a loud
voyce. By god thou art not John daw. That
herynge her hufbond anfwerde. Thou fayft
trouth wyfe I am here John daw. Therfore
mayfter perfon gyue me the money for you haue
loft your .xl. pence.
f By this tale ye may lerne to perceyue y* it
is no wyfdome for a man for y e couetoufe of
wynnyng of any wager to put in Jeoperdy a
thyng that may torne hym to gretter dyfpla-
fure.
LXIX. If Oftbejkoler of oxford that prouyd by
foupheftry .//. chekyns Ml.
In Ottom. Lufcinius, " Joci ac Sales, &c." 1524, No. 36,
three eggs are proved to be five ; fee " Certayne Concey ts
and Jeafts," 1614, No. 32, in "Shakefpeare Jeft-Books," iii.
p. 14 j in Job. Manlius, "Loci Communes," Bafil. 1590,
p. 451, three eggs to be fix j repeated in Joh. Pet. de Memel,
1 of contrary} Hazl. of the contrary.
MERT T4LTS. 119
"Luftige Gefellfchaft," 1695, No. 609. Cammerer, "Fa-
bulae ^Efopicae," Lips. 1570, p. 384, has a ftory where two
eggs are made fix ; in Gerlach, " Eutrapeliarum," lib. i.
No. 871, p. 227, (Lips. 1656,) four eggs are made feven.
Similar ftories in Mart. Montanus, " Gartengefellfchaft,"
Strafsb. s. a. 14; in "Scoggin's Jefts," 1626, Mr. Hazlitt's
reprint, p. 625 and in "Joake upon Joake," 1721. Com
pare Cenac Moncaut, " Contes Populaires de la Gafcogne,"
Paris, 1 86 1, p. 5; Reinh. Koehler in " Jahrbuch fiir Ro-
manifche und Englifche Literatur," ed. by Ebert, vol. v.
fafc. i, p. 4.
RYCH frankelyn in y e contrey hauynge
by his wyfe but one chyld and no mo
for the grete afteccyon that he had to
his fayde chylde founde hym at Oxford to fcole
by the fpace of .ii. or .iii. yere. This yonge
fcoller in a vocacyon tyme for his dyfport came
home to his fader.
It fortuned afterwarde in 2 a nyght the fader
y e moder & the fayde yonge fcoller fyttynge at
fupper hauynge before them no more mete but
onely a cople of chykyns the fader fayd this wyfe.
Sone fo it is that I haue fpent moch money vpon
the to fynde y e to fcole/ wherfore I haue grete
defyre to know what haft lernyd. To whom y e
fone anfwerde & fayde. Fader I haue ftudyed
foueftrye & by that fcyence I can proue y 1 thefe
2 in] Hazl. on.
120 A HUNDRED
.ii. chykyns in y e dyfh be thre chykyns. Mary
fayd y e fader that wolde I fayne fe. The fcoller
toke one of y chykyns in his hand & fayd. Lo
here is one chykyn/ and incotynent he toke both
y e chykyns in his hand ioyntly & fayd here is .ii.
chykyns and one & .ii. maketh .iii. Ergo here
is .iii. chykyns. Then the fader toke one of the
chykyns to hymfelfe and gaue another to his
wyfe & fayd thus. Lo I wyll haue one of y e
chykyns to my parte/ & thy moder mall haue
another & bycaufe of thy good argument thou
{halt haue y e thyrde to thy fupper/ for thou
getteyft no more mete here at this tyme/ whiche
promyfe the fader kept & fo the fcoller went
without his fupper.
IT By this tale men may fe that it is grete foly
to put one to fcole to lerne any fubtyll fcyence
whiche hath no naturall wytte.
LXX. U Ofthefrere that ft ale the podyng.
The fame ftory is found in Tarlton's " Jefts and News
out of Purgatory," 1590, edited by J. O. Halliwell, Lond.
184.4, (Shakefpeare Society,) p. 82.
FRERE of london there was that on a
fondaye mornynge yarly in y e fomer
feaso came from Londo to Barnet to
MERT TALTS. 121'
make a colacyon/ 1 & was there an houre before
hye mafic began/ & bycaufe he wolde come to
y e chyrch honeftly/ he went fyrft to an alehoufe
there to wype his (hoys & to make hymfelf
clenely. In the which houfe there were podyngis
to felle/ & dyuers folkys there brekynge theyr
fafte & etyng podyngys. But y e frere brake his
faft in a fecrete place in the fame houfe.
This frere foone after came to the chyrch and
by lycence of y e curat enteryd- in to the pulpet
to make a colacyon or fermon. And in his
fermon there he rebukyd fore y e maner of them
that vfyd 2 to breke theyr faft on the fonday
before hye mafic & fayd it was called y e dyuyls
blak brekfaft. And with that worde fpekyng as
he dyd caft his armys out to make his contenauce
there fell a podynge out of his fleue/ which he
hymfelf had ftole a lytel before in y e fame alehous
& when y e people fawe that & fpecyally they y*
brake theyr faft there y e fame mornyng & knew
wel that y e wyfe had compleyned how fhe had
one of her podynges ftolyn/ they laughyd fo
moche at the frere y l he incotynent went downe
of the pulpit 3 for fliame.
IT By this tale a man may fe that whe a precher
1 colacyon} i.e. homily.
2 vfyd] Hazl. met.
3 ofthepulpef] Hazl. out of the pulpet.
122 A HUNDRED
doth rebuke any fynne or vyce wherin he is
knowe openly to be gylty hymfelf/ fuche prech-
yng fhall lytell edyfy to the people.
LXXI. Of the frankelyns fon that cam to take
orders.
To folve the fame problem a wife afks her hufband who
had been the father of the miller's three fons, whereupon
this miller is proved to be the father of Shem, Ham, and
Japheth, (Joh. Pet. de Memel, Luftige Gefellfchaft,"
1695, i.) In Gerlach, " Eutrapeliarum," lib. i. No. 665,
p. 159, the queftion is, who was the father of Zebedee's
children, and the anfwer : our neighbour, Mafter Melcher,
the miller j in "Scoggin's Jefts," (repr. p. 68,) the fcholar
fays, " Tom Miller of Ofeney was Jacob's father." Alfo
in " Die Sutorio Magiftrale feltzame Metamorphofis (der
Pedantifche Jrrthum, &c." Rapperfweil, 1673), and in
Balthafar Schupp (Wackernagel's " Lefebuch," iii. 795.)
A very fimilar ftory can be heard to this day in Ger
many : A waiter in the Weidenbufch Hotel in Frankfort
o. M. propofes the following riddle to a Pruflian Lieu
tenant : " It is not my brother, it is not my lifter, and yet
it is my mother's child." The lieutenant guefles and
gueffes, until at laft the waiter tells him that it is he him-
felf. On the following day the lieutenant puts the fame
riddle at an evening party. The whole company declares:
" That is yourfelf, Lieutenant ! " " No, Ladies and
Gentlemen, it is the waiter at the Weidenbufch Hotel."
MERT TALTS. 123
CERTAYNE fkoller ther was in-
tendynge to be made preft 1 whiche
had nother grete wytte nor lernyng
came to the byfshop to take orders/ whos folyfh-
nefle y e byfhop perceyuyng becaufe he was a ryche
manes fon wolde not very ftrongly oppofe 2 hym
but afkyd hym this fmall queftyon. Noe had
.iij. fonnes/ Sem/ Cham & Japhet/ now tell me
quod the byfshop wo was Japhetis father & thou
(halt haue orders. Then fayd y e fooler By my
trouth my lorde I pray you pardo me. For I
neuer lernyd but lyttel of the byble. Then quod
the bysfhop/ go home & come agayn & foyle me
this queftyon & thou malt haue orders,
This fcoler fo departed & came home to his
fader & fliewde hym y e caufe of the hynderaunce
of his orders.
His fader beynge angry at his folyfshnes thought
to teche hym y e folucyon of this queftyon by a
famylyer example & called his fpanyels before
hym & fayd thus/ thou knowyft well Coll my
dogge hath thefe iii. whelpys Ryg/ Tryg/ &
Tryboll. Muft not Coll my dog 3 nedys be Syre
to tryboll. Then quod the fcoler by god fader
1 prefl\ Hazl. a preeft.
2 oppofe] in orig. appofe.
3 Coll my dog\ Hazl. all my dogges.
124 A HUNDRED
ye faye trouth let me alone now/ ye (hall fe me
do well ynough y e nexte tyme. wherfore on .y e
morowe he wente to y e byfshop agayne & fayd
he coud foyle his queftyon. Then fayd the
byfshop Noe had .iii. fonnes Sem Cham &
Japhet/ now tell me who was Japhetys fader.
Mary fyr quod y e fcoler yf it pleafe your lordfhyp
Col my faders dog.
1F By this tale a man may lerne that it is but
loft tyme to teche a fole any thynge whych hath
no wyt to perceyue it.
LXXII. Of the hujbandman that lodgyd thefrere
in bys owne bed.
IT fortuned fo that a frere late in the
euenynge defyred lodgynge of a poore
man of the countrey/ the whiche fo
lake of other lodgynge glad to herborowe th
frere lodgyd hym in his owne bed. And after
he and his wyfe. The frere beynge a fleepe
came and lay in the fame bedde.
And in the mornynge after the poore man
rofe and wente to the marketh leuynge the Frere
in y e bedde with his wyfe. And as he went he
fmylyd & laughyd to hymfelf/ wherfor his ney-
bours demaunded of hym why he fo fmyled/ he
;
MERT TALTS. 125
anfwerd & fayd I laugh to thynk how fhamefaft
the frere fhall be when he waketh/ whom I left
in bedde with my wyfe.
IT By this tale a man may lerne that he that
ouerfhotyth hymfelf doth folylhly yet he is more
fole to fhewe it openly.
LXXIII. Of the preft that wold fay .n. gofpels
for a grote.
A very curious inftance of a corruption proving an
edition to be a revifion of an older text. Mr. Hazlitt reads
" fhorte fpace," and there can be no doubt, that our reading,
"fhoterey," is the original and older one, as a village,
Shottery, is fituated, exaftly as our ftory mentions, not a
mile from Stratford-on-Avon (Weft), between this place
and Bordon Hill.
there dwellyd a preft in
Stretforth vpon auyne of fmall lern-
ynge whiche vndeuoutly fange mafic/
& often tymes twyfe on one day. So it happened
on a tyme after his fecode mas was done in
fhoterey 1 not a myle from Strethforth there mete
with hym dyuers merchaunt men whiche wolde
haue harde mafle/ & defyryd hym to fynge mafic
and he fholde haue a grote/ whiche anfwerd them
^ flioterey} Hazl. fhorte fpace.
126 A HUNDRED
& fayd Syrs I wyll fay mafic no more this day/
but I wyl fay you .ii. gofpels for one grote/ &
that is dog chepe a mafic in ony place in eng-r
londe.
1[ By this tale a man may fe that they that be
rude & vnlernyd regard but lytell the meryt &
goodnes of holy prayer.
LXXIV. Of the courtear that dyd caft the fr ere
ouer the bote.
Too imperfeft to decypher in Hazl.
COURTYER & a frere happenyd to
mete togyder in a fery bote & in
comunycacyon betwene them fell at
wordys angry & dyfpleafyd eche with other/ &
fought & ftrogled togyder/ fo that at the laft y e
courtyer caft the frere ouer the bote/ fo was
y e frere drowned. The feryma whiche had ben
a man of warre the moft parte of his lyfe before
and feynge the frere was fo drowned & gon fayd
thus to the courtyer/ I bemrewe thy hart thou
fholdeft haue taryed & foughte with hym a lande
for nowe thou haft caufed me to lefe an halfpeny
for my fare.
MERY rALTS. 127
11 By this tale a man may fe that he y t is ac-
coftumed in vycyous & cruel company {hall lofe
that noble vertew to haue pyte & compaflyon
vpon his neyghboure.
LXXV. Of the frere that prechyd what mennys
fowlys were.
PRECHER in the pulpet 1 whiche
prechyd the worde of god/ & amog
other matters fpake of mennys foullys
& fayd they were fo meruelous & fo fubtyll y*
a thoufand foullys myght daiice in the fpace of a
nayle of a mannys fynger/ amonge whiche au-
dyence there was a mery conceyted felowe of
fmall deuocyon that anfwerde and fayd thus/
mayfter doctor yf that 2 a thoufande foullys may
daunce on a mannys nayle I pray you tell then 3
where mail the pyper flande.
fl By this tale a man may fe that it is but foly
to fhewe or to teche vertew to them that haue
no pleafure nor mynde therto.
1 in the pulpet] Hazl. in pulpet.
2 yfthat\ HazJ. yf.
3 you, tell then] Hazl. you than.
128 A HUNDRED
LXXVI. Of the hujband that cryed ble vnder
the bed.
This tale, the origin of which perhaps may go back to
Oriental fources, (fee Theodor Benfey, " Pantfchatantra,"
Leipzig, 1859, v l- " P- 258,) is taken from the " Cent
Nouvelles Nouvelles," nov. 4. j it is repeated in Celio Ma-
lefpini, " Ducento Novelle," nov. 15, and in " Les joyeufes
Adventures et nouvelles Recreations," Paris, 1682, p. 35,
5 to , devis 9.
|N londo there was a certayn artyfycer
hauyng a wyf to who a lufty galat
made purfute to accomplyme his plea-
fur. This woma denyenge (hewde the matter
vnto her hufbande/ whiche mouyd therwith bad
hys wyfe to appoynte hym a tyme to come
fecretly to lye with her all night. And w l gret
krakys & othes fware y* agaynft his coming he
wolde be redy harnefyd & wolde put hym in
ieopardy of his lyf except 1 he wolde make
hym a grete amendys. This nyght was then 2
appoynted at whiche tyme this courtyer came at
1 agaynft hys coming . . . of his lyf except"} This paflage
is apparently corrupt in orig., it reads: agaynft his lyf ex
cept coming ... in jeopardy of his comyng, he wolde,
&c.
3 then} orig. reads them.
MERT TALTS. 129
his howre & entred into the chaumber 3 fet 4 his
two handfworde 5 downe & fayde thefe wordes.
Stand thou there thou fworde the deth of .iii. 6
men.
This hufbande lyenge vnder y e bed in harnes
heryng thefe wordes lay ftyl for fere. The
courtyer anone gat him to bed with the wyfe
aboute his prepenfyd befynes/ and within an
houre or .ii. 7 the hufbande beynge wery of
lyenge began to remoue hym/ the courtyar that
herynge afkyd the wyfe what thynge that was
y l remouyd vnder y e bed/ whiche excufynge y e
matter fayde it was a lytell fhepe that was wonte
dayly to go about the hous & the hufbande y l
herynge anone cryed ble as it had ben a fhepe.
And fo in coclufyon when y e courtyer faw his
tyme he rofe & kyflfed the wyfe & toke his leue
& departyd. And as foone as he was gone the
hufbande arofe/ & when the wyfe lokyd on hym
fomwhat abaffhyd fhe began to make a fad cou-
tenaunce & fayde Alas fyr why dyd ye not ryfe
& play the man as ye fayde ye wolde/ whiche
anfwerde and fayde why dame dydeft thou not
here hym fay that his fworde had ben the dethe
3 into the chaumber\ Hazl. in at the chamber.
4 fef] Hazl. and fet.
5 two handfiuorde} Hazl. two-hande fworde.
6 Mi.] Hazl. thre. 7 .'.] Hazl. two.
K
130 A HUNDRED
of .iii. men/ & I had ben a fole than yf y* I had
put my felfe in ieopardy to haue ben the fourth.
Then fayd the wyfe thus/ but fyr fpake not I
wyfely then when I fayd ye were a fhepe/ yes
quod y e hufbande. But than dyd not I more
wyfely dame when that I cryed ble.
1T By this ye may fe that he is not wyfe that
wyll put his confydens to moche vpon thefe grete
crakers whiche oftymes wyll do but lytell when
it comyth to the poynt.
LXXVII. Of the Jhomaker that afkyd the colyer
what tydyngys in hell.
A correfponding tale in Lyrum Carum, 125.
HERE was a momaker 1 fyttynge in
his mop y l fawe a colyer come by
thought to deryde hym bycaufe he
was fo blake/ afkyd 2 hym what thydynges were
in hell 3 and how the deuyll fayred. To whome
the colyer fayde/ the deuyll fared well* when
1 There was aJJiomaker} Hazl. A fouter.
2 ajkyd\ Hazl. and afked.
3 what thydynges were In hell] Hazl. what newes from
hell.
* fqydel the deuyll fared well] Hazl. anfwered hym he
was well.
MERT TALTS. 131
I fawe hym laft for he was rydynge forthe and
taryed but for a fowter 5 to pluk on his botis.
IT By this ye may fe that he that vfyth to
deryde other folkys is fomtyme hymfelfe more
derydyd and mokkyd.
LXXVIII. Offeynt Peter that cryed caufe bobe.
FYNDE wryte amonge olde geftys
how god made faynte peter porter of
heuen/ and that god of his goodnes
foone after his pafTyon fufrred many men to come
to the kyngdome of heuen with fmall deferuyng/
at whiche tyme there was in heuen a grete com
pany of Welchemen/ whiche with theyre krak-
ynge & babelynge trobelyd all the other. Wher-
fore god fayd to faynt peter y* he was wery of
them/ & that he wolde fayne haue them out of
heuen. To whome faynt Peter fayde good lorde
I warrant you y l fhalbe fhortly done/ 6 wherfore
faynt peter went out of heue gatys & cryed w l a
loude voyce Caufe bobe/ y l is as moche to fay as
roftyd chefe/ whiche thynge y e welchmen heryng
ran out of heuyn a great pace. And when faynt
Peter fawe them al out he fodenly went in to
5 fo^wter] i.e. cobbler. 6 fliortly done] Hazl. done.
i 3 2 A HUNDRED
heuen and lokkyd the dore and fo fparryd all the
welchmen out.
f By this ye may fe that it is no wyfdome for
a man to loue or to fet his mynde to moche vpon
ony delycate or wordly pleafure wherby he mall
lofe the celeftyall & eternall Joye.
LXXIX. Of bym that aduenturyd body &fowle
for bys prynce.
WO knyghtes there were whiche went
to a ftondyng felde w l theyr prynce.
But one of them was cofeflyd before
he went/ but the other wet into the felde w'out
mryft or repetaiice/ afterward this price wa y e
feld & had y c vy&orye y l day/ wherfore he y l was
cofeflyd came to y e price & afkyd an offyce &
fayd he had deferuyd 1 it for he had don good
feruyce & aduetured that day as far as ony man
in y e felde/ to who the other y l was vncofeflyd
anfweryd and fayd nay by the mas I am more
worthy to haue a rewarde than he/ for he ad-
uenturyd but his body for your fake for he durft
not go to y e felde tyl he was cofeflyd/ but as for
1 he had deferuyd} Hazl. that he had 'deferred.
MERT TALTS. 133
me I dyd iupd both body lyfe & foule for your
fake/ for I went to the felde without cofeflyon
or repentance.
LXXX. Of the parfon that ftall the mylners elys.
Too imperfeft to decypher in Hazl.
In Reginald Scot, " Difcovery of Witchcraft," 1584,
London, 1651, 4to. p. 191, the fame ftory is related.
CERTAYN mylner ther was which
had dyuers podys of elis when was
good ftore of elys/ wherfore y e pfon
of y e town which lokyd like a holy ma dyuers &
many timis ftale many of the in fo moch y l he
had left few or none behind him/ wherfore this
milner feyng his elis ftolyn & wift not by who
cam to y e fayd pfon & defyrid 2 hym to curfe
for the y e pfon fayd he wolde, & y e next soday
ca in to y e pulpet w* book bell & cadell & pcei-
yng there were none in y e chirche y l vnderftode
latyn fayd thus/ he y 1 ftale y e milners elis laudate
dominum de celis but he y* ftale y e grer elis
gaudeat ipfe in celis/ therw 1 put out y e candell.
why 3 iyr quod y e mylner no more for this fauce
is fharp ynough for hym.
2 defyrid] in orig. deftrid. 3 *why\ in orig. who.
134 A HUNDRED
11 By this ye may fe that fome curatys that
loke full holyly be but defemblers & ypocrytis.
LXXXI. Of the welchman that faw one .xL JhyL
better than god.
WELCHMAN on a tyme went to
chirche to here mas whiche hapenyd
to come in euyn at y e facryng time
when he had hard y* mas to y e ende he wet
home wher one of his felowes afkyd hym whether
he had fene god almighty to day which afwerd
& fayd nay but I faw one Jx. s. better tha he.
11 By this ye maye fe that they be euyll
brought vp haue but lytyll devocyon to pray
and vertew. 1
LXXXII. Ofthefrere that fayd dyr'ige for the
hoggys f ovule.
A correfponding tale is found in the " Nouveaux Contes
a rire," &c. Cologne, 1702, p. 13: " Cochon adroitement
vole par des Bohemiens," where a family of thieves fteal a
hog, kill it, and upon fearch being made for it, cover it
with a cloth and weep as for their father.
1 The moral is wanting in Hazl.
MERT TALTS. 135
JPON a tyme certayn women in the
countrey were appoynted to deryde
and mokke a frere a lymytour that
vfyd moche to vyfyth them, wherupon one of
them a lytyll before that 2 the frere came kylled
an hog & for dyfport leyd 3 it vnder the horde
after the maner of a corfe and tolde the frere it
was her good ma and defyred hym to fay dirige
for his foule wherfore the frere and his felaw
began Placebo and Dirige and fo forth fayd the
feruyfe full deuowtly which the wyues fo heryng/
coude not refrayne them felfe from lawghynge
and wente in to a lytyll parler to lawgh more
at theyr plefure. Thefe frerys fomwhat fufpe&ed
the caufe and quykly or that y e women were
ware lokyd vnder the borde and fpyed that it
was an hog/ fodenly toke it bytwene them and
bare it homeward as faft they myght. 4 The
women feyng that ran after the frere and cryed
come agayn mayfter frere come agayne and let
it allone/ nay by my fayth quod y e frere he is a
broder of cures and therfore he muft nedys be
buryed in our cloyfter/ and fo the frerys gate
the hog.
3 before that] Hazl. before.
3 leyd] in orig. feyd.
4 as faft they myght] Hazl. as faft as they might.
136 A HUNDRED
1T By this ye may fe that they that vfe to
deryde and mok other fomtyme it tornyth to
theyr one lofle and damage.
LXXXIII. Oftheparfon that fay d majje ofrequie
for Gryftys fowie,
This tale is taken from Henr. Bebelii, " Facetiae, Opuf-
cula," s. 1. & a. 4to. fign. A a 4, " Fabula," (or in Frifch-
lini, "Facet." i. No. 7, p. 37, " De infcitia cuiusdam
facerdotis fabula perfaceta") : "Nefciebat quidam facerdos
iatis infulfus, quid eflet cantandum in officio diuino die
refurreftionis chriftianae, mifit itaque aedituum ad vicinum
facerdotem, qui cum dixiflet, Refurrexi, asdituus literarum
ignarus, tantum meminit re, quod faepius repetiuit, quo
audito facerdos ille fimplex et rudis, bene eft, dixit requiem
cantandum eft, quoniam diem depofitionis (vt vocant) Jefu
Chrifti celebrari convenit, nam in triduo mortuus eft."
It is repeated in " Der Wegkiirzer, das dritte theil des
Rollwagens," &c. Frankf. 1590, fol. 15 <verfo$ and in
" Scoggin's Jefts," 1626, p. 74, (repr. 1864, p. 75,) " How
the Prieft faid Requiem aternam on Eafter day."
CERTAYNE preft there was that
dwellyd in y e coutery which was not
very 1 lernyd. Therfore on Eefter
euyn he fet his boy to y e preft of the next town
1 'very] Hazl. very well.
MERT TALYS. 137
y t was . ii. myle from thens to know what maffe
he fholde fynge on y morowe. This boy came
to the fayd preft and did his mayfters errade to
hym. Then quod the preft tel thy mayfter that
he muft fynge to morow of the refurrexyon/ and
furthermore quod he yf thou hap to forget it tel
thy mayfter that it begynneth w' a gret R. and
mewed hym the mafle booke where it was wryten
Refurrexi. &c. This boy than wente home
agayne and all the way as he went he clateryd
ftyll. Refurrexi Refurrexi/ but at y e laft he hap-
enyd to forget it clene and whe he came home
his mayfter afkyd hym what mafle he fholde
fynge on y e morowe. By my troth mayfter
quod the boy I haue forgoten it/ but he bad me
tell you it bega w l a gret .R. By god quod the
preft I trowe thou fayeft trowth for now I re
member well it mufte be requiem eternam/ for
god almyghty dyed as on yefter day 2 & now we
muft fay mafle for his foule.
1F By this ye may fe that when one fole fendyth
another fole on his errand oftentymes the befynes
is folyfhly 3 fpede.
2 as on yefter day} Hazl. upon Good Fryday.
3 isfolyjtily] Hazl. folyhly.
138 A HUNDRED
LXXXIV. Of the berdman that fay d ryde apace
ye Jhall haue rayn.
In "Joe Miller's complete Jeft Book," London, 184.5,
No. 425, p. 128, the fame ftory is told of Newton. See
" Scoggin's Jefts," 1796, p. 47: "How Scogin gave a
Cowheard forty millings to teach him his cunning in the
weather." Mr. Hazlitt's reprint, p. 115.
SKOLER of Oxenford whiche had
ftudyed y e iudycyals of aftronomy 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/ fyr quod y e herdma ye haue
notthyder paft a myle & a half/ but fyr quod
he ye nede to ryde apace for ye fhal haue a fhour
of rayn er ye coe thyder/ what quod y e fkoler y 1
is not fo for here is no token of rayn for all 1 y e
cloudys be both fayr & clere/ by god fyr quod
y e herd ma but ye fhall fynd it fo. The fkoler
then rode forth his way & or he had ryden half
a myle forther there fel a good fhowre of rayn
that the fkoler was well wasfhyd and wete to y 6
fkyn/ y e fkoler then tournyd his horfe and rode
agayne 2 to the herdman & defyred hym to teche
hym that connyng. nay quod y e herdman I wyll
1 for all] Hazl. for. a rode agayne'] Hazl. rode.
MERT TALYS. 139
not teche you my connynge for nought/ tha the
fkoler profFeryd hym .xl. fhyllyngys to teche hym
that connynge/ the herde man after he had re-
ceyued his money fayde thus. Syr fe you not yoder
dun a kow 3 with the whyte face/ yes quod the
fkoler. Suerly quod y e herdma whe (he daiifyth
and holdyth vp her tayle it fhal haue a ftiowre of
rayne within halfe an howre after.
IF By this ye may fee y* the conyng of herdmen 4
& fhepardes as touchyng alteracyos of weders
is more fure than y e iudycyallys of Aftronomy.
LXXXV. Of hym that fay d I Jhall haue nere
a peny.
N a certayn town ther was a rych man
that lay on his deth bed at poynte of
deth whiche chargyd his executours
to dele 5 for his foule a certayn some of money
in pence & on this condicyon chargyd them as
y e wolde anfwere afore God 6 that euery pore
man that came to them & tolde a trewe tale
fholde haue a peny & they that fayd a fals
3 ko--w] Hazl. ewe.
4 herdmen} orig. reads herdman.
5 to dele} i. e. to give.
6 afore God} in orig. afore. God
140 A HUNDRED
thynge fholde haue none/ & in the dole 1 tyme
there came one which fayde y l god was a good
man/ quod y e executours thou (halt haue a peny
for thou fayfte trouth. Anone came another &
faid y e deuyll was a good man/ quod the exe
cutours there thou lyeft therfore thou {halt haue
nere a peny. At laft .came one to y e executours
& fayd thus/ ye {hall gyue me nere a peny/ which
wordys made the executours amafyd and toke
aduyfement whether they {hold gyue hym the
peny or no.
H By this ye may fe it is wyfdome for Juggys
in deutefull matters of law to beware of hafty
iugement.
LXXXVI. Of the hufband that fayd his wyfe and
he agreed well.
Too imperfeft to decypher in Hazl.
MAN afkyd his neybour which was
but late maryed to a wydow how he
agreyd with his wyfe for he faid y l her
fyrft hufbad and me coud neuer agre/ by god
quod y e other we agre meruelous wel. I pray
the how fo/ mary quod y e other I mall tell y e /
1 dole] i.e. grief.
MERT TALTS. 141
when I am mery me is mery/ & when I am fad
{he is fad/ for whe I go out of my doris I am
mery to go from her & fo is me/ & when I come
in agayne I am fad & fo is fhe.
LXXXVII. Of the preeft that fay d comede eptfcope.
From the " Margarita Facetiarum,' 1 Argent. 152, fign.
O vi.
Another verfion of this tale is related in " Scoggin's
Jefts:" How the Prieft was complained on for keeping a
young wench in his houfe," (repr. 1864, p. 78.)
|N y e tyme of vyfytacyo a bysfhop
whiche was fomwhat lecherous &
had got many chylderne preparyd to
come to a preftes houfe to fe 2 what rule he kept
which preft had a lema in his houfe called Ede
& by her had .ii. or .in. fmale chyldre in fhort
fpace/ but agayn y e bysfhop commyng y e preft 3
preparyd a rome to hyde his lema & his childre
ouer in y e rofe of his hall/ & whe y e bysfhop was
come & fet at dyner in y e fame hal hauyng .x. of
his owne childre about hym this prefte which coud
fpeke lytell latyn or none bad the bysfhop in
2 to come to a preftes houfe to fe'] Hazl. to queftion a
preeft.
3 the preft} Hazl. he.
142 A HUNDRED
latyn to etc faynge Comede epifcope. This
woma in the rofe of the houfe herynge the preft
fay fo had wente he had callyd her byddynge her
com Edee & afwerd fhortly & fayd (hall I brynge
my chylderen w t me alfo. This bysfhop herynge
this 1 vxor tua ficut vitis abundans in lateribus
domus tue. The preeft the half amafyd anfweryd
fhortly 2 and fayd Filii tui ficut nouelle 3 olyuarum
in circuitu menfe tue.
IT By this ye may fe that they that haue but
fmall lernynge fomtyme fpeke truely vnaduyfyd.
LXXXVIII. Of the woman that ft ale the pot.
IN afhe wednyfday in y e mornynge was
a curat of a church whiche had made
good chere the nyght afore/ & fyttyn
vp late & came to y e churche to here cofeflyon
to whom there came a woman/ and amoge other
thyngys fhe cofeflyd her that me had ftolyn a
pot. But than becaufe of grete watche that this
preeft had/ he there fodenly felle a flepe/ and
whe this woman fawe hym not wyllyng to here
her me rofe vp 4 & wet her way/ & anone an
J herynge this} Hazl. hering this, fayde in fporte.
2 anpwerydjhortly\ Hazl. anfwerd.
3 nouelli] orig. reads nouelle.
4 rofe <vp] Hazl. rofe.
MERT TALTS. 143
other woman kneled downe to the fame preft
& began to fay benedicite wherwith this preeft
fodenly wakyd wenynge 5 fhe had ben the other
woman & fayd al angerly/ what art thou now at
benedicite agayne tell me what dydeft thou when
thou hadyft ftolyn the pot.
LXXXIX. Ofmajler whyttyntons dreme.
JONE after one mayfter Whyttinto had
bylded a colege on a nyght as he flept
he dremyd that he fad in his church
& many folkys ther alfo/ & further he dremyd
y* he fawe our lady in the fame chyrch w l a glas
of goodly oyntement in her hand goynge to one
afkyng hym what he had done for her fake/
whiche fayd that he had fayd our ladys fauter 6
euery day wherfore fhe gaue hym a lytyll of the
oyle. And anon fhe went 7 to another afkyng
hym what he had done for her fake which fayd
that he had fayd .ii. ladys fauters euery day/
wherfore our lady gaue hym more of y e oytement
than fhe gaue y e other. This mayfter whyttento
5 ivakyd ivenjnge~] Hazl. awaked, and wenynge.
6 fauter] i.e. Pfalter.
7 Jbe 'went] in orig. fe went.
144 A HUNDRED
then thought that when our lady fholde come to
hym (he wolde gyue hym all the hole glas bycaufe
y 1 he had bylded fuch a gret colege & was very
glad in his mynd. But whe our lady cam to
hym {he afked hym what he had fuffred for her
fake/ which wordys made hym gretly abamyd
bycaufe he had nothyng to fay for hym felfe/ &
fo he dremyd 1 that for all the gret dede of
byldyng of y e fayd Colege he had no parte of y*
goodly oyntement.
H By this ye may 2 fe that to fuffer for goddys
fake is more merytoryous than to gyue gret
goodys.
xc. Of the prefl that kyllyd hys horfe callyd
modicum.
CERTAYNE bysfhop appoynted to
go on vyfytacyon to a preftys hous 3
and bycaufe he wolde haue the preeft
do but lytell 4 coft vpon hym he bad hym drefle 5
but lytyl mete faying thus in latyn. 6 Preparas
1 he dremyd] Hazl. him informed.
2 may] orig. reads mnay.
3 preftys hous\ Hazl. preefte^s.
4 lytell] in orig. lyiell.
5 bad hym drej/e~\ Hazl. told him to prepare.
6 thus in latyn] Hazl. thus.
MERT TALYS. 145
mihi modicu. This preeft which vnderftode
hym not halfe wel had a horfe called modicu
wherfore he thought to obtayne the bysfhops
fauour & agaynft y e bysfhops comyng kylled his
horfe that was called modicum wherof the byflbp
& his feruates etc j)t which whe y e bisfhop knew
afterward was gretly difplefid.
U By this ye may fe that many a fole doth
moche coft which 7 hath but lytyll thank for
his laboure.
xci. Of the maltman of Colbroke.
Wanting in Hazl.
Similar trickeries are of very frequent occurrence ; fee
f. i. Kirchhof, " Wendunmuth," Frankf. 1573^0.313-17,
fol. 302 'verfo.
CERTAYNE maltman of colbroke
whiche was a very couetous wreche
and had no pleafure but onely to get
money came to london to fell his malt and
broughte with hym .iiii. capons & there re-
feyuyd .iiii. or .v. li. for make and put it in a
lytell purs tyed to his cote and after wente aboute
the ftrettys to fell his capons whom a pollyng
Hazl. at dyners, whiche.
L
146 A HUNDRED
felowe that was a dycer and an vnthryft had
efpyed and Imagyned how he myght begyle the
man other of his capons or of his money and
came to this maltman in the ftreet berynge thefe
capons in his hande and afkyd hym how he wolde
fell his capons and when he had fhewyd hym the
pryfe of them he bad hym go with hym to his
mayfter and he wolde (hew them to his mayfter
and he wolde caufe hym to haue money for them
wherto he agreed. This Poller wente to the
cardynalls hat in lomberdys ftrete & when he
came to the dore he toke the capons from the
maltman and bad hym tary at the dore tyll he
had mewed his mayfter 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 houfe and wente thorowe the other bak
entre in to Cornhyll and foo toke the capons with
hym/ and when this maltman had ftond there a
good feafon he afkid one of the tauerners where
the man was that had the Capons to fhewe to
his mayfter/ mary quod the tauerner I can not
tell the here is nother mayfter nor man in this
houfe for this entre here is a comen hye way and
gooth in to cornhyl/ I am fure he is gone a weye
with thy capos. This maltman herynge that ran
throwe the entre in to cornhyll and afkyd for a
felowe in a tawny cote that had capons in his
MERT TALTS. 147
hand. But no man coude tell hym whiche waye
he was gone and foo the maltman lofte his capons
and after wente in to his Inne all heuy and fade
and toke his horfe 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 fyttynge on horfbak and fayd thus/
good man me thought I harde the inquire euyn
now for one in a tawny cote that had flolyn from
the .iiii. capos yf thou wylt gyue me a quart of
wyne go with me and I mail brynge y e to a place
where he fyttyth drynkyng with other felowes
& had y e capons in his hande. This maltman
beynge glad therof graiityd hym to gyue hym
the wyne bycaufe he femyd to be an honeft man/
and went w l hym vnto the dagger in chepe.
This poller then fayd to hym go thy way ftreyght
to thend of y l long entre & there thou malt fe
whether it be he or no & I wyl holde thy horfe
here tyll thou come agayn. This maltman
thynkyng to fynde the felow with his capos
wet in & left his horfe with the other at the
dore. And as foone as he was gon in to the
houfe this poller lad the horfe awaye in to his
owne lodgynge. This maltman inqueryd in the
houfe for his felowe with the capons but no man
coude tell hym no tydyngys of fuche man/ wher-
fore he came agayne to y e dore all fad & lokyd
148 A HUNDRED
for hym y l had his hors to kepe/ & bycaufe he
fawe hym not he afkyd dyuers there for hym/ &
fome fayd they faw hym & fome fayde they faw
hym not/ but no man coude tell whiche waye
he was gone wherfore he wente home to his
Inne more fad tha he was before/ wherfore his
hoft gaue hym coiicell to get hym home & be
ware how he truftyd any men in londo. This
maltman feynge none other cofort 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
prentyfe & gat a lytell boget ftufFyd full of ftones
on his bake & wente before hym to charynge
crofTe & taryed tyll y e maltman came/ & afkyd
hym whether he wente whiche fayd to Colbroke.
Mary quod y e other I am glad therof for I muft goo
to braynforde to my mayfter to bere hym money
which I haue in my boget & I wolde be glad of
copany. This maltman bycaufe of his owne money
was glad of his copany/ & fo they agreed & wente
togyder a whyle. At the laft this poller went
fomwhat before to knyghtbryge & fat vpon y e
brydge & reftyd hym with his boget on his bak/
& when he faw y e maltma almoft at hym he let
his boget fall ouer y e brydge in to y e water. &
incontynent ftart vp & fayd to y e maltman alas
MERT rALTS. 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 feke it & get it me agayne I (hall
gyue y e .xii. pence for thy labour/ this maltman
hauynge pyte of his lofle & alfo glad to get the
.xii. pence plukyd of his hofe cote & fliyrt &
wadyd into y e water to feke 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 weftmynfter.
This maltman within a whyle after with grete
payne & depe wadynge founde y e boget & came
out of the water & fawe not his felowe there &
fawe that his clothys & money were not there as
he left them fufpeclyd y e mater and openyd the
boget and than founde nothynge therin but ftonys
cryed out lyke a mad man and ran all nakyd
to london agayne and fayde alas alas helpe or
I (hall be ftolen. For my capons be ftolen.
My hors is ftolen. My money and clothys
be ftolen and I mail be ftolen myfelf. And fo
ran aboute the ftretys in london nakyd & mad
cryenge alway I mail be ftole. I fhall be ftolen.
And fo contynuyd mad durynge his lyfe & fo
dyed lyke a wretche to the vtter dyftruccyon of
hym felf & mame to all his kyn.
tf By this tale ye may fe that many a couet-
oufe wrech y l louyd his good better than god and
150 A HUNDRED
fettyth his mynde inordynatly theron by the ryghte
iugment of god oftymes comyth to a myferable
and fhamfull ende.
xcn. Of the welchman that Jl ale the englyjh-
mans cok.
WELCHEMAN dwellynge in eng-
londe fortuned to ftele an englysfh
mans cok & fette it on y e fyre to feth
wherfore this englyfhman fufpe&yng y e welchma
cam in to his houfe l & fawe y e cok fetyng on y e
fyre & fayd to y e welchma thus. Syr this is my
cok. Mary quod y e welchma & yf it be thyne
y e fhalt haue thy parte of it/ nay quod y e eng-
lyfhma y l is not ynough. By cottes blut & her
nayle quod y e welchma yf her be not ynough
now her wyll be ynough anone for her hath a
good fyre vnder her.
i
xciii. Of hym that brought a botell to a preft.
RTAYNE of y e vycars 2 of poulys
dyfpofyd to be mery on a fondaye at
hye mafic tyme fent another mad felowe
1 in to his houfe'} Hazl. to his houfe.
2 of the vycars] Hazl. vycars.
MERT rALYS. 151
of theyr accoyntauce vnto a folysfhe dronken
prefte to gyue hym a botell/ whiche man met
with the prefte vpon the top of y e ftayrys by y e
chaucell dore & fpake to hym & fayde thus. Syr
my mayfter hath fend you a hotel to put your
drynke in bycaufe ye can 3 kepe none in your
braynes. This prefte therwith beyng very angry
all fodenly toke the botell & with his fote flange 4
it downe into y e body of the chyrche vpon the
gentylmens hedes.
xciv. Of the endytemet ofjhefu of Nazareth.
CERTAYNE Jury in the counte of
Myddelfex was inpaneld for y e kynge
to inquere of all indytementes murders
& felonyes. The perfons of this panel were
folyfhe couetous & vnlerned/ for who fo euer
wolde gyue the a grote they wolde affyne &
veryfy his byll whether it were true or fals w f out
any other profe 5 or euidece/ wherfore one y 1 was
a mery coceytyd felowe perceyuyng theyr fmale
cocyence & grete couetoufnes put in a byll in-
tytuled after this maner. Inquiratur pro dno regi
3 ye can} Hazl. he can.
4 flange\ i. e. projeft out.
5 any other prof e\ Hazl. any profe.
152 -A HUNDRED
fi Jefus nazarenus furatus eft unii afinu ad equi-
tandum in egiptu/ & gaue the a grote and defyryd
y l it myght be veryfyed. The fayd Jury whiche
loked all on the grote & nothyng on y e byll as
was theyr vfe wrote billa vera on y e bak therof
which byll when it was prefentyd into y e court
whe y e Jugys loked theron they fayd opely
before all y e people lo fyrs here is y e meruelouft
verdyt y r euer was prefentyd by any 1 inqueft for
here they haue indyted Jefu of Nazareth for
ftelyng of an affe which whe y e people hard it/
it made the both to laugh & to woder at y e
folyfhnes & fliaful piuri of the of the equefte.
1F By this ye may fe it is grete parell to en-
panell any iurorous 2 vpon any equeft whiche be
folyfh & haue but fmall concyence.
xcv. Of bym that prechyd agaynfl theym that
rode on the fonday.
The fame ftory is found in Frifchlini, " Facetiae," Lips.
1600 (or 1602), p. 2, De facerdote jeiunium Quadrage-
fimale defendente : " Quidam ineptus, ne dicam impius
Sacerdos, cum jeiunium Quad ragefim ale et difcrimen cibo-
rum defenderet, et poenam omnibus contemptoribus et hge-
reticis comminatus eflet, ad erroris fui patrocinium etiam
1 anf\ Hazl. an.
2 iurorous] orig. reads iurroous.
MERT TALTS. 153
Chrifti et Apoftolorum exemplo abutebatur. Quid enim,
inquit, de Chrifto et Apoftolis eius dicam ? qui nefcio qua
voluptate deliniti, cum pafchatis fefto non expe&ato, die
Jouis proxime antecedente, agnum deuorafient, Chriftus
ftatim altera poft die in crucem aftus eft: Apoftolorum
vero, qui vna comederant, nemo ficca morte perijt."
|N a certayn paryfh a frere prechyd/
and in his fermon he rebuked them
y* rode on y e fonday/ euer lokyng vpon
one man y* was botyd & fpurryd redy to ryde.
This man parceyuyng y l all y e people notyt hym
fodenly half in anger anfwerde y e frere thus/ why
prechyft thou fo moch agaynft them y* ryde on
y e fonday for cryfte hymfelfe dyde ryde on palme
soday/ as thou knowyft well it is wryten in holy
fcrypture. To who y e frere fodely anfwerd &
fayd thus/ but I pray y e what ca therof was he
not hagid on y e fryday after/ which herynge all
y e people in y e church fell on laughing.
xcvi. Of the one brother that founde a p
urs.
Repeated in "Joe Miller's Complete Jeft Book," London,
1845, No. 671, p. 205 j and in Joh. Val. Meidinger,
" Praft. Franzoefifche Grammatik," 23rd edit. (1818),
p. 551. Comp. " Waldis, ^Efopus," 4, 4.
154 A HUNDRED
i
[HERE was a certayne man that had
two fonnys vnlyke of condycyons. For
the eldyft was lufty and quyk and vfyd
moche to ryfe erly and walke in to the feldys/
than was the yonger flowe and vnlufty and vfyd
to lye in bed 1 as longe as he myght. So on a
daye the elder as he was wonte rofe erly and
walkyd in to the feldys and there by fortune he
founde a purs of money and brought it home to
his fader. His fader when he had it wente
ftreyght to his other fone yet lyenge then in his
bed & fayd to hym. O thou flogarde quod he
feyft thou not thyne elder 2 broder how he by his
erly ryfyng had found a purs with money whereby
we fhalby gretely holpen all oure lyfe/ whyle
thou fluggynge in thy bed doft 3 no good but
flepe. He then wyft not what to fay but an-
fweryd fhortly and fayd fader quod he yf he that
hath loft the purs and money had lyne in his bed
that fame tyme that he loft it as I do now my
broder had founde no purs nor money to daye.
1F By this ye may fe that they that be accuf-
tomyd in vyce and fyn wyl alway fynd one excufe
or other to cloke there with theyr vyce and
vnthryftynes.
1 in bed} Hazl. in his bed. 2 elder] Hazl. eldeft.
3 doft'] Hazl. doft thou.
MERT TALTS.
155
xcvu. Of the anfwere of the mafters to the
mayd.
CERTAYN wyfe ther was whiche
was fomwhat fayre and as all women
be y* be y e fayre 4 was fomwhat proude
of her bewty/ & as me and her mayd fat togeder
me as one that was defyrous to be preyfyd fayd to
her thus. I fayth Jone how tynkyft thou am
I not a fayre wyfe/ yes by my trouth mayftres
quod me ye be the fayreft that euer was except
our lady/ why by Cryft quod y e mayftres though
our lady were good yet me was not fo fayre as
men fpeke of.
1[ By this ye may fe it is harde to fynde a
bewtyoufe woman without pryde.
xcviu. Of a certayn aldermans dedys of london.
Wanting in Hazl.
CERTAYNE alderman of London
there was lately dyfceafed whiche now
mall be nameles whiche was very co-
uetoufe as well before he was maryed as after/ for
when he was bacheler euer when his hofen were
the fayre'] Hazl. fayre.
156 A HUNDRED
broken fo that he coude were them no longer for
fhame then wolde he cutte them of by the knee
and putte on a payre of ledder bufkyns on his
bare leggys whiche wolde lafte hym a two or
thre yere. Furthermore it was his maner when
he was a bacheler euery nyght where that he
was to borowe a candels ende to brynge hym
home whiche he wolde alway put in a cheft that
he had at his chamber. So that by that tyme he
was maryed/ he had a chefte of candels endis
that wayd two or thre hondred weyghte.
Sone after that he was maryed to a ryche
wydowe and than folkys thought he wolde be
better than he was before. But fo it happenyd
that a gentylman gaue hym a pafty of an harte
whiche euery day he caufed to be fette on the
table for feruyce/ how be it he wolde neuer for
nygynfhyp let it be openyd/ fo that it was a
moneth or vi. wekys or euer it was touched.
At whiche tyme it fortuned a man of his ac-
coynetaunce beynge there often and feynge this
pafty neuer to be openyd fayde fyr by my trouth
I wyll tame your pafty/ whiche openyd y e pafty
and incontynent lepte out .iii. or .iiii. myce vpon
other gentylmens trechows whiche had crept in at
an hole vndernethe the bottam and hadde etyn
vp all the mete therin. Alfo this alderman was
of fuche condycyon y l he wolde here .ii. or .iii.
MERT rALTS. 157
maflys euery daye/ and whan any pore folke
came to begge of hym he wolde rebuke them
and fay that they dyde lette hym in heryng of
them fo that he wolde neuer gyue peny in almys.
And on a tyme as he fat at faynt Thomas of
Acres herynge mafic he fawe a yonge begynner
a dettour of his that owyd hym .xx. li. whiche as
fone as he fawe hym he commaunded one of his
feruauntes to get a fergyaunt & to areft hym
whiche yonge man immedyatly after was areftyd/
and whan he was in the counter he defyred dyuers
of his frendys to intrete with this Alderma for
dayes of payment whiche men in the mornynge
after came to this Alderman knelynge at mafic
& intretyd hym for this man defyrynge hym to
take dayes of paymet whiche anfweryd them
thus. I praye you treble me not now for I haue
harde one mafic all redy & I wyll here an other
or I medle with worldly matters. But yf ye
haue the money here I wyll take the now or
elles I pray you fpeke to me no more/ and fo
thefe men coude get no other anfwer. And this
Alderman kept this yonge man ftyll in pryfon
tyll at the lafte he there dyed. And fo he caufyd
lykewyfe dyuers other to dye in pryfon and wolde
neuer forgyue them/ wherfore afterward this al
derman dyed fodenly wherfore dyuers & many
were glad of his deth.
158 A HUNDRED
xcix. Of the northern man that was all hart.
NORTHEN man there was whiche
wente to feke hym a feruyce. So it
happenyd that he came to a lordys
place whiche lord than had war w 1 another lord.
This lord tha afkyd this northe ma yf y* he durft
fyght/ ye by goodys byes quod y e northe ma y* I
dare for I is al hart, whervpon the lorde re-
tayned hym in to his feruyce. So after it hap 7
penyd y 1 this lorde fholde go fyght with his
enmyes w l whom alfo wet this northe man
which fhortly was fmyte in y e hele w 1 an arow
wherfore he incotynetly fell downe almoft dede
wherfore one of his felaws fayd art thou he y* art
all hart and for fo lytyll a ftroke in the hele now
art almoft dede. To whom he anfweryd & fayd
by goddes fale I is hard hed/ leggys/ body helys
& all/ therfore ought not one to fere when he
is ftryken in y e hart.
c. Of the burnyng of old "John.
The fame ftory is related in Kirchhof, " Wendunmuth,"
Frankf. 1573, No. 348, fol. 333 irerfo, " Von einem hul-
zern Johannes;" and in C. F. Gellert's " Fabeln," buch
iii. " Die Wittwe," Leipzig, 1836, p. 165.
MERT TALTS. 159
jN a certayn towne there was a wyfe
fomwhat agyd that had beryed her
hufband whofe name was callyd John/ 1
whom fhe loued fo tenderly in his lyfe that after
his deth fhe caufyd an ymage of tymber to be
made in vfage and perfon as lyke to hym as coude
be/ whiche ymage all day longe lay vnder her bed
and euery nyght fhe caufyd her mayde to wrap
it in a fhete & lay it in her bed & callyd it olde
John. This wyfe alfo had a pretyfe whofe name
was John/ whiche John wolde fayn haue weddyd
his mayftres not for no grete pleafur but onely
for her good bycaufe fhe was rych/ wherfor he
imaginyd how he might obtayn his purpofe &
fpake to y e mayde of y e hous & defyryd her to
lay hym in his mayftres bed for one nyght in
ftede of the py&ure/ & promyfed her a rewarde
for her laboure/ which mayd ouer nyght wrappyd
y e fayd yog ma in a fhete & layd hym in his
mayftres bed as fhe was wot to lay y e pycl:ure.
This wydow was wont euery nyght before fhe
flept & dyuers tymes whe fhe wakyd to kys the
fayd py&ure of old John/ wherfore y e fayd nyght
fhe kyflyd y e fayd yong ma beleuyng that fhe had
kyft y e pyclure/ & he fodely ftart & toke her in
his armys and fo well plefed her then/ that olde
1 was callyd John] Hazl. was John.
160 A HUNDRED
John from thes forth was clene out of her mynde
& was cotent y* this yonge John fholde lye w*
her ftyll all y* nyght & y e py&ure of olde John
fholde lye ftyl vnder y e bed for a thyng of nought.
After this in y e mornynge this wydow intendyng
to plefe this yog John which had made her fo
good paftyme all the nyght bad her mayd go
dreffe fome good mete for theyr brekefaft to feft
therwith her yog John/ this mayd wha me had
loge fought for wood to dres y e fayd mete told
her maftres y l me coud fynd no wood y l was dry
except onely y e picture of old John y* lyeth vnder
y e bed/ the quod y e wyf agayn/ fath 1 hym down
& lay hym on y e fyre for I fe well he wyll neuer
do me good nor he wyll neuer do better feruyce
though I kepe hym neuer fo longe. So the mayd
by her comaundemet drefiid y e brekfaft/ & fo olde
John was caft out for nought & brent & from
thens forth yong John occupyed his place.
11 By this tale ye may fe it is no wyfdome for
a ma to kepe longe or to chyryfhe that thyng
y 1 is able to do no pleafure nor feruyce. 2
1 fath\ i. e. fetch.
2 The moral is wanting in Hazl.
^ FlNIS.
MERT TALTS.
161
Thus endeth the booke of a .C. mery
talys. Empryntyd at London at the fygne of
the Merymayd At Powlys gate next
to chepe fyde. f The yere
of our Lorde .M. v. C.
.xxvi. IfThe.xxii.
dayofNoueber.
JOHANNES RASTELL.
IT Cum preuilegio
Regali.
M
CHISWICK PRESS: PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AI^D WILKINS,
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.
PR Hundred merry tales
2953 Shakespeare's jest book
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