Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylliam Caxton at westmynstre in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC. lxxxiij

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frogges had grete drede and fered moche / And after they ap proched to theyr kynge for to make obeyssaunce vnto hym / ¶ And whanne they perceyued that hit was but a pyece of wood / they tyrned ageyne to Iupiter prayenge hym swetely that he wold gyue to them another kynge / And Iupiter gaf to them the He••••n for to be theyr kynge / And thenne the He∣ron beganne to entre in to the water / and ete them one after other / And whanne the frogges sawe that theyr kyng destro∣yed / and ete them thus / they beganne tendyrly to wepe / sayeng in this manere to the god Iupiter / Ryght hyghe and ryght myghty god Iupiter please the to delyuere vs fro the throte of this dragon and fals tyraunt whiche eteth vs the one af∣ter another / And he sayd to them / the kynge whiche ye haue demaunded shalle be your mayster / For whan men haue that / which men oughte to haue / they ought to be ioyeful and glad And he that hath lyberte ought to kepe hit wel / For nothyng is better than lyberte / For lyberte shold not be wel sold for alle the gold and syluer of all the world