[The Tale of the Cambridgeshire Miser-Parson.]
yn Chambryg-shyrë, yn a toune, [A tale.]
y herd telle of a persoune:
Shortly to tellë, at þe laste,
hys deþ euyl [euyl O, om. H.] down hym kaste.
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Men sente aftyr twey freres,
Þat perauenture were hys cunseylers;
Þese frerès cam, and by hym sate,
and askéd hym of hys state.
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Þis persone lay, and loked furþ [forth O.]
vn-tyl a cofre yn þe florth.
Þarto þe frere ȝaf godë tente
whyderward hys yȝen [eȝen O.] glente;
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Þarto he loked euer [eure O.] anone,
And lay styllë as a stone;
Þan asked þe ton [to O.] frere,
"what ys yn þys cofre here?"
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Þe personë spak no þyng,
But ȝaf a gretë syghyng.
Þe freres kalled men hem to,
Þat cofre for to vn-do:
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Þe persones men come echone:
"Key," þey seyd, [seyde þey had O.] "hadd þey none."
Þe lyd vp sone þey wraste,
And brak þe lok [lokes O.] at þe laste;
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And þere þey fonde þe cofre ful
Sperd wyþ þe deuylys mul
Of florens and of goldrynges,
And of many ouþer þynges
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Þat were of syluer, vesseles,
And gold and ouþer Iuweles.
Þe wrecche saw hys tresoure sperd, [spred O.]
