ne for praier. After that the Richeman comprised with what
engyne or what craft he myght thynke to betray this chield of his
house. And this yong man after his power eschewed the faimiliarite
of the Riche man. Therof the Richeman was sorowful bicause of
the house that he myght nat disceive the chield, and vpon a day cam
to the chield and saide: 'O goode [sir], leene me a litel part of thi
court vpon a price, for in it vnder the erth x tonnes with oile wold
I kepe, and nothyng shal it noye the and thow shalt have therof
what sustenaunce of lif thow wilt.' The chield coarted with necesite[1]
graunted and yave hym the keyes of the hous. Forsoth the
yong man in the meane tyme of his fredam frely servyng askd his
mete. And so the Richeman toke the keyes and the court of that
yong man strangled and digged, and v Tonnes ful of oile ther laide
and v half ful. And that don [he] cald the yongman and toke hym
the keyes of the house and saide: 'O yongman, myn oyle to the
I commytte and in to thi kepyng I betake.' The simple yongman
trowyng al the tonnes ful in to his warde and kepyng received. And
after long tyme it happened that (f. 127) in that lond oile was diere.
The Richeman heryng[2] this saide to the chield, 'O my friende, com
and help me to digge vp myn oile that to thy kepyng now I have
comaunded,' and of his labour takyng a Reward. The yongman forsoth
heryng his price and his praier graunted to the Richeman and
after his power halp hym. The richeman nat foryeteful of his
fraude and guyle brought men as to bie the oile. To whom whan
he had brought [hem, he] opened the ground and v ful tonnes and
V half tonnes ther thei founden. Perceivyng that, [he] cald the
chield saieng thus vnto hym : 'Mi friende, bicause of thi kepyng I
have lost myn oile; moreover that I commytted to the fraudelently
thow hast taken awey; wherfor I wil that thow restore me.' This
saide, wold he nold he hym to the justice he ladde, and whan he
sawe the justice to hym he accused. But the yongman wist nat what
he shuld say agenst it, but only askid triews and respite of a day.
That the justice that was rightwis hym grauntid. Forsoth in that
Citee ther dwellid such a philosophre whiche was named a grete
helpdoer, a goode man, and a Religious. Forsoth the yongman
heryng of his goodenes sent a messangier vnto hym and counsail of
hym sought and asked saieng: 'If thei bien triewe that bien saide
and told to me[3] of the, in homly maner do me help, for and for-
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WESTERN RESERVE STUDIES
