Chap. 34. Of many merie Iestes of Munkes.

*SOmetyme there was a young Munke in an Abbey, who al∣wayes went casting his eyes to the grounde, and was very milde and lowly in behauiour. Afterwarde beyng made Priour, hee helde vp his h•ad aloft▪ and was very seuere and arrogant, which seeming strange vnto them that knew him before, & being demaunded the cause of so great alteratiō: Answered, that before he alwaies looked on the earth for the keies of y^e Abbey, if haply hee might find them: which now hauing found, he looked no more on the ground, but beare himself according to the dignitie wher∣unto he was called. An old Munke sitting in y^e quire▪ fell a sléepe, and dreamed that there came vnto him a foule long slouen with such a filthy wispe as they vse to rub horses withal, and looking grimly vpon hym, would forcibly haue wyped his face there∣with. But hee striuing to escape from him, pluckt backe his head and knocked it agaynst the wal, and so awaked. A Munke being deuout in his prayers, one asked him if he would drinke, who Page  [unnumbered] wagged his finger, signifiyng that hée would not. Then sayd the Munkes seruaunt, my master meaneth that he would drinke a cup of white wine. But when the Munke beck•ned with two fingers, signifiyng that he would haue none at all, and it was demaunded of his seruaunt what hee ment therby, hee answered that hee would also haue-a cup of red wine, so the mast•r dranke but litle and the knaue dranke vp all the residue.* A certayne Munke leading his horse to the water, saw a countrey fellowe going ouer a bridge driuing an asse before him so heauily laden, that hée could scarce mooue one foote by another, whom the coun∣trey fellowe notwithstanding beate forwarde without pitie or mercy. Then sayd the Munke, why wylt thou kyll thy beast bee∣ing laden? The fellow answered, he is not so laden, but hée wyll carrie al the pacience of your Abbey, whereat the Munke was very wrath. Then sayd the fellowe: The dumbe beast murmu∣reth not vnder his burden,* and you are out of patience for one words speaking. A certayne Frier comming vnto the gate of an Abbey, séeyng that hee could not get in, range the bell very hard, and a Munke comming to the gate, asked why hée range? then sayd the Frier, I ring for the charitie which is gone a way from the Abbey, which the Munke hearing, tooke the bell and range harder then hée had done. What meaneth this, then quod the Frier. Then quod the Munke, I ring for the pacience which is departed from your Frierie.