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THE MERRY TALES OF GOTHAM

to do a bad turn, but it turneth oft-tines to themſelves.

Τ Α L Ε XIII.

A Man of Gotham laid his wife a wager, that ſhe could not make him a cuckold. No! ſaid ſhe, but I can. Do not ſpare me, ſaid he, but do what you can. On a time ſhe had hid all the ſpiggots and ſauſets, and going into the buttery, let a barrel a broach, and cry'd to her ſpouſe, Pray bring me a ſpiggot and fauſet, or elſe the ale will all run out. He fought up and down but could not find one. Come here then, ſaid, ſhe, and pu thy finger in the tap-hole. Then the called a taylor with whom ſhe had made a bargain. Soon after ſhe came to her huſband, and brought a ſpiggot and fauſet, ſaying, Pull thy finger out of the tap-hole, good cuckold. Bethrew your heart for your trouble, ſaid he, make no ſuch bargain with me again.

T А L E XIV.

A Man of Gotham took a young buzzard, and invited four or five gentlemens ſervants to the eating of it; but the old wife killed an old gooſe, and ſhe and two of her goſſips ate up the buzzard, and the old gooſe was laid to the fire for the gentlemens ſervants. So when they came the gooſe was ſet before them. What is this? ſaid one of them. The goodman ſaid, a curious buzzard. A buzzard ! ſaid they, why 'tis an old gooſe, and thou art a knave to mock us, and ſo in great anger departed home. The fellow was very ſorry that he had affronted them, and took a bag and put the buzzard's