that he came by it honestly. The Earl told him. that if he would not tell him he would put him to the rack. Fortunatus determined to chuse rather to die than reveal the virtues of his purse.—Upon this he was put to the rack, when they again demanded how he came by so many fair crowns. He said, after that I wandered three days in yonder wood, I found a purse with six hundred crowns in it. Then said the Earl, thou vagabond, the money is mine, and thy body and goods forfeit. Gracious Lord, answered he, I wist not that it was your jurisdiction. Then said the Earl, this shall not excuse thee for today I will take, from thee thy goods, and to morrow thy life.
Then Fortunatus complained to himself that he had not made choice of Wisdom before Riches.
Now Fortunatus humbly begged his life of the Earl, and was willing to lose all his goods; the Earl being moved to save his life, at the intreaty of some of his men, delivered him his purse with the crowns in it, and charged him never more to come into his jurisdiction.
