“What!” said the fellow, “can you run to the market alone? I will now send one after the other.” Then laying down the wallet, and taking out the cheese, he tumbled them down the hill, one after the other, and some ran into one bush and some into another, so at last he said— “I do charge you to meet me in the market–place.” And when the man came into the market to meet the cheese, he stayed until the market was almost done, then went and inquired of his neighbours and other men if they did see his cheese come to market. “Why, who should bring them?” said one of his neighbours. “Marry, themselves!” said the fellow. “They knew the way well enough,” said he. “A vengeance on them, for I was afraid, to see my cheese run so fast, that they would run beyond the market. I am persuaded that they are by this time almost at York.” So he immediately takes a horse, and rides after them to York, but was very much disappointed. But to this day no man has ever heard of the cheese. TALE FOURTH. When that Good Friday was come the men of Gotham did cast their heads together what to do with their white herrings, red herrings, their sprats, and salt fish. Then one counselled with the other, and agreed that all such fish should be cast into the pond or pool, which was in the middle of the town, that the number of them might increase against the next year. Therefore every one that had got any fish left did cast them into the pond. Then one said— “I have as yet gotten left so many red herrings.” “Well,” said the other, “and I have left so many whitings.” Another immediately cried out— “I have as yet gotten so many sprats left.” “And,” said the last, “I have got so many salt fishes. Let them all go together into the great pond without any distinction, and we may be sure to fare like lords the next year.” At the beginning of the next Lent they immediately went about drawing the pond, imagining they should have the fish, but were much surprised to find nothing but a great eel. “Ah!” said they, “a mischief on this eel, for he hath eaten up our fish.” “What must we do with him?” said one to the other. “Kill him!” said one to the other. “Chop him into pieces,” said another. “Nay, not so,” said the other, “but let us drown him.” “Be it accordingly so,” replied they all. So they immediately went to another pond, and did cast the eel into the water. “Lie there,” said these wise men, “and shift for thyself, since you can expect no help from us.” So they left the eel to be drowned. TALE FIFTH. On a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham that went a–fishing; and some did wade in the water, and some did stand upon dry land. And when they went homeward, one said to the other— “We have ventured wonderful hard this day in wading, I pray God that none of us may have come from home to be drowned.” “Nay, marry,” said one to the other, “let us see that, for there did twelve of us come out.”