er asked hym what _answere he broughte. The
man_ sayd he gaue hym an answere; but it was other Frenche _or Laten:
for he understode_ him nat. But, syr, quod he, ye nede nat to fere: for
I saw _in his counte_naunce so moche, that I warrante you he wyll do
your errande to my lorde his father. This gentylman in truste therof
made not a_nye further suite_, for lacke wherof his seruaunte, that had
done the felonye, within a monthe after was rayned at the kynges benche
and caste, and afterwarde hanged.

By this ye may se that euery wyse man ought to take hede, that _he
sende nat a fo_lysshe seruaunte vpon a hasty message that is a matter of
_nede_.

FOOTNOTES:

[81] This, to save space, is printed like prose in the orig.; but it was
evidently meant to be verse.

+ _Of hym that solde ryght nought._ xlvii.

+ A _certaine_ felowe there was whiche profered a dagger to sell to a
fellowe, _the_ which answered hym and sayd, that he had ryght nought _to
giue_ therfore; wherefore the other sayde that he shulde haue hys dagger
_upon_ _c_ondycyon that he shulde gyue and delyuer vnto hym therefore
_within iii_ dayes after ryghte nought, or els forty shyllynges in
money: wher_on the_ other was contente. Thys bergayne thus agreed, he
that shulde del_yuer_ his ryght noughte toke no thoughte, vntyll suche
tyme that the day apoynted drewe nye. At the whiche tyme he began to
ymagen, howe he myght _delyuer_ this man ryght nought. And fyrst of all
he thought on a feder, a straw, a pynnes poynte, and suche other; but
nothynge could he deuyse but that it was somwhat; wherfore he came home
all sadde and pencyfe for sorowe of losynge of his xl. shyllynges, and
coulde nother slepe nor take reste, wherof hys wyfe, beynge agreued,
demaunded the cause of his heuynes; which at the last after many denayes
tolde her all. Well, syr, quod she, lette me here with alone and gette
ye forthe a-towne; and I shall handell this matter well
ynoughe. This man folowynge his wyfes counsell wente forthe of the

_5 lines wanting._

Therfore, syr, quod she, put your hande in yonder potte, and take your
money. This man beynge glad thrust his hande in it, supposyng to haue
taken xl shyllynges of money, and thrust his hande thoroughe it vp to
the elbowe. Quod the wyfe than: syr, what haue ye there? Mary, quod he,
ryghte nought. Syr, quod she, than haue ye youre bergayne, and than my
husbande hathe contented you for his dagger accordynge to his promyse.

B