Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/42

  faire wordis and speche besought hym to yielde hym his money. Whiche that the disceivour herying blamed hym and saide that if he any more cam or spak therof he shuld suflfre grevous peyne as he was worthy. He heryng the threatis and manacis of hym that disceived hym went his wey and bigan to sorowe; and in his goyng ageyne met with anold womman clad in heremytal clothyng,—this freal and fieble old wif supportyng hirsilf with hir staf, remoevyng the stones out of their place, [and] praisyng god that no passyngby hurt nat their feete at hem. The whiche seeyng the man wepyng, knewe hym for a straunger [and] moeved with pitee cald hym in to help [hym] and what was hym bifalle asked hym. And he bi order told. Forsoth the womman heryng the wordis of the man saide: 'Friend, if the wordis bien triewe that thow hast saide, I shal do the help.' And he: 'In what maner, goode womman and and goddis seruaunt?' Quod she than and saide: 'Bryng me a man of thi lond and cuntrey to whom thow maist trust in word and deede.' Than said he: 'I shal bryng [hym].' And sofurth to the felaw of hym that was disceived comaunded x cofres preciously to be peynted with dyvers colours withoutfurth, wele locked and bounden with irn and silver, and filled ful of smale stones, and bryng hem vnto the house of his host. And he so dide. The womman whan she sawe al thing arraied and redy as she bad, 'Now,' quod she, 'seeke x men the whiche shuln go with me to the house of hym that hath deceived the, and with thi felaw beryng the cofres oon after another afer comyng. And as soone as the first is comen in to the house and hath rested, com thow and aske thi money, and somoche I trust in god that thi money shalbe to the Restored.' And he, as the old womman bad hym, he dide; whiche nat foryeteful [when] taken to the house of the disceivour, with the felaw of the disceived cam and saide: 'Suche a man of Spayne [whiche] was hosted with me and wold go to Mehe asked and sought bifore the money whiche he hath in x cofres, to what goode man he myght saufly comm'ende it to kepe til he come ageyne. Also I beseche the as of my cause in thi warde thow kepe, and forwhi I have herd and also knowe the a goode man to be feithful and triewe, I wil nonother but only the this money to be commendid vnto.' And while they spaken thus cam he beryng the first cofre so as he was