_How Poor Robin served a rich Miser._
In the same town lived a rich miser who had wealth enough to have been
treasurer of the town, and wisdom answerable to a beadle of a parish.
This man, fuller of faith than good works, would neither feast the poor
nor relieve their wants, nor hold brotherly unity with any. Poor Robin
being resolved to put a trick upon him, it being then Christmas, made it
fit for his purpose; and so counterfeiting himself to be the gentleman's
man, about ten or eleven o'clock at night, just when people were in bed,
he calls at sundry men's doors, inviting them the next day to his
master's (naming the gentleman's name) to dinner. Whereupon the next day
appeared the number of two and twenty in their roast-meat apparel; but,
contrary to their expectations, finding small preparations towards a
dinner, they began to wonder wherefore he had invited them; the
gentleman as much wondered wherefore they came. At last the truth was
cleared on both sides, some laughed, and some frowned; and so they all
departed home.