¶ The xvi fable is of the knyght and of the ſeruaunt / the wiche fond the Foxe
Any ben that for theyr grete lesynges
ſuppoſen to put vnder alle the
world / but euer at laſt theyr lesynges
ben knowen and manyfeſted
/ as hit appiereth by this
fable of a knyght whiche ſomtyme wente with
an archer of his thurgh the lande / And as they
rode / they fonde a Fox And the knyght ſayd
to the archer in good soothe I ſee a grete Foxe /
And the archer beganne to ſaye to his lord / My
lord / merueylle ye therof / I haue ben in a Regyon
where as the Foxes ben as grete as an oxe / And
the knyght anſuerd In good ſoothe theyr ſkynnes
were good for to make mantels with / yf ſkynners
myght haue them / And as they were rydynge /
they felle in many wordes and deuyſes / And
thenne by cauſe the knyght perceyued wel the
leſynge of his Archer / he beganne to make
preyers and orysons to the goddes / for to make his
Archer aferd / And ſayd in this manere / O Jupiter
god almyghty / ¶ I preye the / that this daye
thow wylt kepe vs fro all leſynges / ſo that we may