Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (9).pdf/17

 ( 17 ) fhe, for if you live till the next year, ye will be a fool. T A L E XVII. THERE was a man of Gotham who would be married, and when the day of marriage was come, they went to church. The prieft faid, Do you fay after me. The man faid, Do you fay after me.The prieft faid, Say not af- ter me fuch words, but fay what I tell you ; thou doft play the fool to mock holy Scriptures concerning matrimo- ny. Then the fellow faid, thou doft play the fool to mock the holy Scriptures concerning matrimony.The prieft could not tell what to fay, but anfwer- ed, What fhall I do with this fool? And the man faid, what fhall I do with this fool ? So the prieft took his leave and would not marry them. But he was infruced by others how to do, and was afterwards married- And thus The breed of the Gothamites has been nerpe nated to this day. T A L E XVIII. THERE was a Scotfman who dwelt t Gotham, and he took a houfe a lit- e diftance from London, and turn- ed it in to an inn; and for his fign he