the deuyll indede that is at the gate syttynge vpon an _horse laden with_ soules; and be lykelyhode he is come for your soule. Purpos _ye_ to _let him have your_ soule and if he had your soule I wene he shulde be _gon_. _The gentyl_man, than, meruaylously abasshed, called his chaplayne _and sayd: let a can_dell be light, and gette holy water; and [he] wente to the gate _with as manye ser_uantes as durste go with him; where the chaplayne with _muche con_iuracyon sayd: in the name of the father, sonne and holy _ghost, I commande_ and charge the in the holy name of God to tell me _wherefore thou_ comeste hyther. + This John Adroynes in the deuylls _apparell_, seying them begynne to coniure after such maner, sayd: nay, _feare not_ me; for I am a good deuyll; I am John Adroynes your neyghboure in this towne and he that playde the deuyll to day in the playe. I _bryng_ my mayster a dosen or two of his owne conyes that were stolen in _dede_ and theyr horse and theyr haye, and [I] made them for feare to ronne _awaye_. Whanne they harde hym thus speke by his voyce, [they] knewe him well, and opened the gate and lette hym come in. And so all the foresayd feare was turned to myrthe and disporte. By this tale ye may se that men feare many tymes more than they nede, whiche hathe caused men to beleue that sperytes and deuyls haue ben sene in dyuers places, whan it hathe ben nothynge so. FOOTNOTES: [9] This story is merely the latter portion of the seventh novel of the Seventh Day of the Decameron; but Boccaccio tells it somewhat differently. It may also he found in the _Pecorone_ of Ser. Giovanni Fiorentino, and in _A Sackful of Newes_. 1673 (a reprint of a much older edition). In the latter there are one or two trifling particulars not found here. [10] A rabbit-warren. [11] Net, Fr. _haie_. [12] In orig. _and because_. [13] _i.e._ ere, before. + _Of the ryche man and his two sonnes._ iv. + There was a ryche man whiche lay sore sycke in his bedde to _deth_. _There_fore his eldest sonne came to hym, and besechyd him to gyue _him hys_ blessyng, to whome the father sayde: sonne, thou shalt haue Goddes blessyng and myne; and because thou hast ben euer good of condicyons, I _giue and_ bequethe the all my lande. To whome he answered and sayd: nay father, I truste you shall lyue and occupy them your selfe full well by Goddes grace. Sone after came another sonne to him lyke wyse and desyred his blessyng, to whome the father said: my sonne, thou hast been euer kynde and gentyll; I gyue the Goddes blessyng and myne; and I bequethe the all my mouable goodes. To whome he answered and said: nay father, I trust you shall lyue and do well and spende and vse your goodes _yourself_ * * * * _8 Lines wanting._ --_By this tale_ men may well perceyue that yonge people that * * * * * * * theyr frendes counsell in youthe in tymes * * * * * full ende. + _Of the cockolde who gained a ring by his iudgment._ v.