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WHen that good Frydaye was come, the men of Gotam dyd caste theyr heads together what they shuld doe with theyr whyte hearyng, and theyr red hearyng, and their sprottes, and salt fyshe, One con∣sulted with the other, and agre∣ed that all such fysh should be cast into their pōd or poole (the whi∣che was in the myddle of theyr towne,) that it myghte increase
againste the nexte yeare. Euerye man that had any fishe lefte, dyd cast it into the poole, the one sayd I haue thus manye whyte hea∣ringes, the other sayde, I haue thus many sprots, another sayde I haue thus many red hearings, the other said I haue thus much salte fyshe. Let all go together in to the poole or pond, and we shall fare like Lordes next lent. At the beginninge of the next lent, folo∣winge, the men dyd drawe theyr ponde to haue theyr syshe: & there was nothing but a great Ele.
(A sayde they all) a mychiefe on this Ele, for he hathe eate vp all our fyshe. What shal we do wyth hym sayde the one to the other. Kill hym said another. Chop him al to peces said another. Nay not so said other, let vs drowne him: be it sayd all.
They wente to another poole or pond by, and dyd cast in the Eele into the water. Lye theare sayde they and shift for thy selfe, for no helpe thou shalte haue of vs. And theare they lefte the Eele to bee drowned.