Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (3).pdf/10

 fetch my ſcythe. No, anſwered they, it is good to ſleep in a whole ſkin. It is much better for thee to loſe thy ſcythe, than to marr us all.

a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham that went to fiſh; and ſome waded into the water, and ſome food on dry land. And in going home, the one ſaid to the other. We have ventured word fully in wading. I wiſh and hope that none of us did come from home to be drowned. Nay, marry, ſaid the one to the other, let us now ſee that, for there did twelve of us come out. So they, began to count themſelves, and every one told eleven. Said the one to the other, there is one of us drowned — Then they went back to the brook where they had been fighting, and fought both up and down for him that was drowned, making great lamentation. A Courtier coming by aſked them what it was they fought for and way they were ſo very ſorrowful? Oh! ſaid they, this day we went to fiſh in the brook, and twelve of us came out together, but one is drowned. Come, ſaid the Courtier, count how many there