[80] Quietly.
+ _Of the Welcheman that delyuered the letter to the ape._ xlvi.
_5 first lines wanting._
fauoure to his seruant and commaunded his seruant shortely to br_ynge
hym an_ answere. This Welcheman came to the chefe Iustyce' place, and
at _the gate saw_ an ape syttynge there in a cote made for hym, as they
use to _apparell apes_ for disporte. This Welchman dyd of hys cappe, and
made curtsye _to the ape and_ sayd: my mayster recommendeth hym to my
lorde youre father, and sendeth hym here a letter. This ape toke this
letter and opened it, and _lokyd theron_, and after lokyd vpon the man,
makynge many mockes and moyes, _as the proper_tyes of apes is to do.
This Welcheman, because he vnde_rstood hym_ nat, came agayne to his
mayster accordynge to his commaundes, _and tolde hym he_ delyuered the
letter vnto my lorde chefe Iustyce' sonne, _who was at the gate_ in a
furred cote. Anone his mayster asked hym what _answere he broughte. The
man_ sayd he gaue hym an answere; but it was other Frenche _or Laten:
for he understode_ him nat. But, syr, quod he, ye nede nat to fere: for
I saw _in his counte_naunce so moche, that I warrante you he wyll do
your errande to my lorde his father. This gentylman in truste therof
made not a_nye further suite_, for lacke wherof his seruaunte, that had
done the felonye, within a monthe after was rayned at the kynges benche
and caste, and afterwarde hanged.
By this ye may se that euery wyse man ought to take hede, that _he
sende nat a fo_lysshe seruaunte vpon a hasty message that is a matter of
_nede_.