fire under. By and by a Weasel was scene that drew into the house a dead
Serpent, and out of the mouth of a Shepheards dog leaped a live frog,
and immediately after one brought word that a Ram had strangled the same
dog at one bit. All these things that happened, astonied the good man of
the house, and the residue that were present, insomuch that they could
not tell what to doe, or with what sacrifice to appease the anger of
the gods. While every man was thus stroken in feare, behold, one brought
word to the good man of the house, that his three sonnes who had been
brought up in good literature, and endued with good manners were dead,
for they three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man
which was their neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next unto him
dwelled another young man very rich both in lands and goods, but bending
from the race of his progenies dissentions, and ruling himselfe in the
towne according to his owne will. This young royster did mortally hate
this poore man, insomuch that he would kill his sheepe, steale his oxen,
and spoyle his corne and other fruits before the time of ripenesse, yet
was he not contented with this, but he would encroch upon the poore mans
ground, and clayme all the heritage as his owne. The poore man which
was very simple and fearefull, seeing all his goods taken away by the
avarice of the rich man, called together and assembled many of his
friends to shew them all his land, to the end he might have but so much
ground of his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, he
found these three brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in his
adversity and tribulation.

Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wise
perswade him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause any
temperance of his tongue, but the more they went about with gentle
words to tell him his faults, the more would he fret and likewise fume,
swearing all the oathes under God, that he little regarded the presence