Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (10).pdf/24

24 must swim in the water. I crave thy mercy, quoth the fellow, I thought it should have swam in fine ale, for I have been told so. Soon after, the men of Gotham come to shrift, and being seven, the priest knew not what penance to give. He said, it I enjoin you to pray, you cannot say your Paternoster. And it is but folly to make you fast, because you never eat a mea's meat. Labour hard, and get a dinner on Sunday, and I will partake of it. Another man he enjoined to fare well on Monday, and another on Tuesday, and one after another, that one or other should fare well once in the week, that he might have part of their meat. And for alm-deeds, the priest said, ye be but beggars all ex- cept one or two, therefore bestow your elins on yourselves. FINIS.