A Schole of wise conceytes wherein as euery conceyte hath wit, so the most haue much mirth : set forth in common places by order of the alphabet / translated out of diuers Greeke and Latine wryters by Thomas Blage ...

61 Of the Cocke and the Foxe.

THE Foxe béeing sometyme very hungry, thought by suttletie to gette his pray amon∣gest the Hennes, which by the conduction of the Cocke were flowne into a hygher trée than he coulde clymbe: wherevppon he came to the Cocke, whome he gently saluted, and sayde: What makest thou so high? Hast thou not heard the newes of late, whiche are so good for vs? Verily (quod the Cocke) I heard nothing: but I pray thée what are they? The Foxe sayde: I am come hyther to make thée priuie of oure ioye: For there was lately a generall Coun∣sell helde of all Beastes, wherein was con∣cluded a continuall peace betwéene all Beastes: so that nowe wythoute any manner of feare, molestation, or laying awayte of any, euery one may walke where as hée lyste in safetie and quietnesse, therefore come downe and lette vs kéepe holy thys day. The Cocke per∣ceyuing the subtiltie and craft of the Foxe, sayd to him: Thy tydings are very good, which also I do lyke well: and foorthwith he stretched out hys necke, and looked a farre off, as thoughe he

sawe some straunge thing, whom the Foxe as∣ked, what he espied? The Cocke aunswered, I sée two Dogges comming amayne with open mouth: the Foxe therewith quaking for feare, bad them Adieu, for time it is for me to be gone, and foorthwith tooke him to his féete: What sir (quod the Cocke) whither runnest thou? what fearest thou? thou néedest doubt nothing, if this peace be concluded: verily (quod the Foxe) I can not tell whether these Dogges haue heard of this decrée or not. Whereby one crafte was payde with the like.