CCCCLXXXIV.
Mercatorum
MS. Marcatorum. vita amota
MS. ammota. computacione, a multis
approbatur.
We rede in 'Libro de Dono Timoris,' how ane Erle of Pictauence cled hym̛ dyuers tymys in pure mans clothyng whils he had sene aƚƚ maner of craftis & offes. And when̛ he had serchid̛ aƚƚ þies, he said̛ at þe merchand̛ crafte war þe beste crafte þat he fand̛, & þe beste offes, war not a thyng war, þat is [MS. it.] to say, cowntyng & rekynyng in þe end̛. For, he said̛, at evyn̛ when̛ þai come home þai made rekkenyng of þe leste peny at þai reseyvid̛, and at þai expundid̛, and he þat made not a gude rekynyng was casten̛ in prison̛ & holden̛ þer.