The end of this tale is wanting.


Of the husbande that sayde hys wyfe and he agreed well. lxxxiv.

Too imperfect to decypher.


Of the prest that sayde Comede episcope. lxxxv.

¶ In the tyme of visitacyon a bysshoppe, whiche was maryed[130] and had gote many chyldren, prepared to questyon a preest what rule he kepte, whiche preest had a leman * * * * * and by her had two or thre small chyldren. In shorte tyme before the Bysshoppes commynge, he prepared a rowme to hyde his leman and children ouer in the rofe of his hall; and whan the bysshoppe was come and discoursing with him in the same hall, hauynge x of his owne chyldren about him, the preest, who coude speke lytell lytyn or none, bad the bysshoppe in latyn * * * * Comede,[131] episcope. This woman in rofe of the house, hearing the preest say so, had went[132] he had called her, byddynge her: come, Ede; and answered him and sayde: shall I brynge my chyldren with me also? The bysshoppe, hearing this, sayde in sporte: vxor tua sicut vitis abundans in lateribus domus tuæ. The preest than, halfe amasyd, answerd and sayd: filii tui sicut nouellæ oliuarum in circuitu mensæ tuæ.

By this ye may se, that they, that have but small lernyng, som tyme speke truely unaduysed.


Of the woman that stale the pot. lxxxvi.