DCCLXVI.
Verba aliquando inducunt ad credendum quod
non est.
Iacobus de Vetriaco tellis how som̛ tyme þer was a pure man̛ þat bare vnto þe markett att seƚƚ a lambe. So þer was in þe markett a iaper þat saw he was bod ane innocent, & he said̛ vnto his felows; "Doo as I saƚƚ teƚƚ you, & we saƚƚ hafe þis lambe from̛ yone felow." And he made þaim stand̛ in dyvers placis in sonder in þe same way, ilkone after oþer. And as þis man̛ went by þaim þe furst sayd̛ vnto þis man̛; "Man̛, wiƚƚ þou seƚƚ þat hunde?" And he ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "Skorn̛ me nott, for it is no hunde, it is a lambe." So he come vnto þe secund̛, & he axkid̛ hym̛ hif he wold̛ seƚƚ hym̛ þat hund for a peny. And he was wrothe þer-with, & said̛; "Ye doo bod skorn̛ me." So he come vnto the thrid̛, and he said̛ in þe same wise. So þis man̛ had grete merveƚƚ hereoff & waxed shamefuƚƚ. And þan̛ he come to þe iiij & þe v, & þai spirrid̛ hym̛ in þe same wyse. So þis felow began̛ to vmbethynk hym̛ what þis sulde mene, at so many men̛ sulde spyr hym̛ of þis lambe if it war a dogg, & aƚƚ acordid̛ in one þat it sulde be a dogg & no lambe. So at þe laste he agreid̛ vnto þer oppynyons & sayd̛ vnto hym̛ selfe; "God knowis þat I trowid̛ it had bene a lambe, bod becauce it is a dogg I wiƚƚ bere it no ferther." And with þat he keste it from̛ hym̛ & said̛ he wulde bere it no langer. And when̛ he had casten̛ it from̛ hym̛ he went his way, and þis iaper & his felows tuke vp̛ þis lambe & ete itt.
- ...Verba ociosa non sunt credenda. Supra de ocio, ij.