¶ The xiiij fable is of a yonge theef and of his moder

[illustration]

HE whiche is not chastysed at the begynnynge is ••uyll and peruers at the ende / As hit appiereth by this fa∣ble of a yonge child whiche of his yongthe began••e to stele / and to be a theef / And the theftys whiche he maad / he broughte to his moder / and the moder toke them gladly / & in no wyse she chastysed hym / And after that he had done ma ny theftys / he was taken / and condempned to be hanged / And Page  [unnumbered] as men ledde hym to the Iustyce / his moder folowed hym and wepte sore / And thenne the child prayd to the Iustyce / that he myght saye one word to his moder / And as he approuched to her / made semblaunt to telle her somme wordes at her ere / & with his treth he bote of her nose / wherof the Iustyce blamed hym / And he ansuerd in this manere / My lordes ye haue no cause to blame me therfore / For my moder is cause of my deth For yf she had wel chastysed me / I had not come to this sha me and vergoyne / For who loueth wel / wel he chastyseth / And therfore chastyse wel youre children / to thende / that ye falle not in to suche a caas