'I will not let it go free,' cried Manawyddan. 'I caught it robbing me, and it shall suffer the doom of a thief.'
'Lord!' said the scholar, 'sooner than see a man like thee at such a work, I would give thee a pound which I have received as alms to let it go free.'
'I will not let it go free, neither will I sell it.'
'As thou wilt, lord,' answered the scholar, and he went his way.
Manawyddan was placing the cross-beam on the two forked sticks, where the mouse was to hang, when a priest rode past.
'Good-day to thee, lord; and what art thou doing?'
'I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me.'
'What manner of thief, lord?'
'A creature in the form of a mouse. It has been robbing me, and it shall suffer the doom of a thief.'
'Lord,' said the priest, 'sooner than see thee touch this reptile, I would purchase its freedom.'