Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (6).pdf/24

24 have swam in fine ale, for I have been told so. Soon after the men of Gotham came to shrift and being seven, the priest knew not what penance to give. He said, if I enjoin you to pray, you cannot say your Paternoster. And it is but folly to make you fast, because you never eat a meal'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 another on Wednesday, and so on one after another, that one or other should fare well once in the week that he might have part of their meat. on every day during the week. And as for your alms-deeds, the priest said, ye be but beggars all, except one or two, therefore bestow your alms on yourselves.