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A quaint conceite of a Cutler & a cutpursse.
A Nippe hauing by fortune lost his Cuttle boung or hauing not one fit for his purpose, wente to a cunning Cutler to haue a newe made, and prescribed the Cutler such a me∣thod and forme to make his knife and the fashion to be so stronge, giuing such a charge of the finenes of the temper and well setting of the edge, that the Cutler wondred what the gentlemā would do with it, yet because he offred so largely for the making of it, the Cutler was silent and made fewe questions onely he appointed him the time to come for it, and that was three daies after: Well, the time beeing expired, the Gentleman Nip came, and seeing his knife liked it passing well, and gaue him his money with aduantage. The Cutler desirous to know to what vse hee woulde put it, saide to the Cutpurse thus, sir quoth he I haue made many kniues in my dayes, and yet I neuer sawe any of this forme, fa∣shion, temper or edge, & therefore if without offence I pray you tell me how or to what will you vse it? While thus he stood talking with the Nippe, he spy∣ing the pursse in his aprone, had cut it passing cun∣ningly, and then hauing his purchase close in his hand, made answer, in faith my freend to dissemble is a folly, tis to cut a pursse withall and I hope to haue good hansell, you are a merry gentlemā quoth the Cutler, I tell true said the Cutpursse and away he goes. No sooner was he gone from the stalle, but there came an other and bought a knife and should haue single money againe, the Cutler thinking to put his hand in his bagge, thrust it quight through at the bottom, all his money was gone, & the pursse