Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/44

  ne for praier. After that the Richeman comprised with what engyne or what craft he myght thynke to betray this chield of his house. And this yong man after his power eschewed the faimiliarite of the Riche man. Therof the Richeman was sorowful bicause of the house that he myght nat disceive the chield, and vpon a day cam to the chield and saide: 'O goode [sir], leene me a litel part of thi court vpon a price, for in it vnder the erth x tonnes with oile wold I kepe, and nothyng shal it noye the and thow shalt have therof what sustenaunce of lif thow wilt.' The chield coarted with necesite graunted and yave hym the keyes of the hous. Forsoth the yong man in the meane tyme of his fredam frely servyng askd his mete. And so the Richeman toke the keyes and the court of that yong man strangled and digged, and v Tonnes ful of oile ther laide and v half ful. And that don [he] cald the yongman and toke hym the keyes of the house and saide: 'O yongman, myn oyle to the I commytte and in to thi kepyng I betake.' The simple yongman trowyng al the tonnes ful in to his warde and kepyng received. And after long tyme it happened that (f. 127) in that lond oile was diere. The Richeman heryng this saide to the chield, 'O my friende, com and help me to digge vp myn oile that to thy kepyng now I have comaunded,' and of his labour takyng a Reward. The yongman forsoth heryng his price and his praier graunted to the Richeman and after his power halp hym. The richeman nat foryeteful of his fraude and guyle brought men as to bie the oile. To whom whan he had brought [hem, he] opened the ground and v ful tonnes and V half tonnes ther thei founden. Perceivyng that, [he] cald the chield saieng thus vnto hym : 'Mi friende, bicause of thi kepyng I have lost myn oile; moreover that I commytted to the fraudelently thow hast taken awey; wherfor I wil that thow restore me.' This saide, wold he nold he hym to the justice he ladde, and whan he sawe the justice to hym he accused. But the yongman wist nat what he shuld say agenst it, but only askid triews and respite of a day. That the justice that was rightwis hym grauntid. Forsoth in that Citee ther dwellid such a philosophre whiche was named a grete helpdoer, a goode man, and a Religious. Forsoth the yongman heryng of his goodenes sent a messangier vnto hym and counsail of hym sought and asked saieng: 'If thei bien triewe that bien saide and told to me of the, in homly maner do me help, for and