"Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure." And the priest went his way.
Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as he was about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue with his sumpter-horses, and his attendants. And the bishop himself came towards him. And he stayed his work. "Lord bishop," said he, "thy blessing."
"Heaven's blessing be unto thee," said he. "What work art thou upon?"
"Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.
"Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?"
"Yes," answered he. "And she has robbed me."
"Ay," said he, "since I have come at the doom of this reptile, I will ransom it of thee. I will give thee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let it loose, and thou shalt have the money."
"I declare to Heaven that I will not set it loose."
"If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give thee four and twenty pounds of ready money to set it free."
"I will not set it free, by Heaven, for as much again," said he.