Whereupon the shopkeeper reply'd alas good friend
should I have heeded dreams I might have proved myself
as very a fool as thou hast, for 'tis not long since
that I dreamt that at a place called Swaffham Market
in Norfolk dwells one John Chapman a pedlar who hath a
tree in his backside under which is buried a pot of
money. Now therefore if I should have made a journey
thither to day for such hidden treasure judge you
whether I should not have been counted a fool. To whom
the pedlar cunningly said yes verily I will therefore
return home and follow my business not heeding such
dreams hence forward. But when he came home being
satisfied that his dream was fulfilled he took
occasion to dig in that place and accordingly found a
large pot of money which he prudently conceal'd
putting the pot amongst the rest of his brass. After a
time it happen'd that one who came to his house and
beholding the pot observed an inscription upon it
which being in Latin he interpreted it that under that
there was an other twice as good. Of this inscription
the Pedlar was before ignorant or at least minded it
not but when he heard the meaning of it he said 'tis
very true in the shop where I bought this pot stood
another under it which was twice as big; but
considering that it might tend to his further profit
to dig deeper in the same place where he found that he
fell again to work and discover'd such a pot as was
intimated by the inscription full of old coins:
notwithstanding all which he so conceal'd his wealth
that the neighbours took no notice of it."[12]

Blomefield thought it "somewhat surprising to find such considerable
persons as Sir William Dugdale and Sir Roger Twysden to patronise or
credit such a monkish legend and tradition savouring so much of the
cloister, and that the townsmen and neighbourhood should also believe
it," but I think we shall have reason to congratulate ourselves that
so good a folk-tale was preserved for us of this age.

The next and, it appears, an independent version, is given in the
_Diary of Abraham de la Pryme_, under the date November 10th, 1699:--

"Constant tradition says that there lived in former
times, in Soffham (Swaffham), _alias_ Sopham, in
Norfolk, a certain pedlar, who dreamed that if he went