Crickets, which beyng fewe in number, he was almoſt ſtarued for hunger. But one day ſtanding by the riuers ſide all ſadde and malincholy, loe there commeth a great Crabbe wyth hir legges ſpred abrode to the bankes ſide which ſayde: Sir Fowle how doe you? in faith quoth he, naught at home: for we haue yll newes abrode. I pray you what are they ſayde the Crabbe? Certayne fiſhers ſayde he that within fewe dayes with ſome engines and deuifes will drie vp this Lake and take vp all the fiſh. But I pore wretch, that yet other while had one, how ſhall I doe? I would I might ſaue them (ſince I am like to loſe them) for the benifite that I haue had ſo long time, and that I might take them out of the Lake, & flying carie them to ſome other ſurer place. The Crabbe hearing ſo yll newes, called to Parliament all the Fiſties of the Lake, and told them this matter. The fiſhes foreſeeing the daunger at hande, had preſent recourſe vnto the wylde Fowle for counſell, to tell him howe it ſtoode wyth them: and ſayde vnto him. If this be true, out of all doubt we are in great daunger: therefore giue us the beſt counſell thou canſt, as well for the loue thou beareſt to this Lake, as for the ſeruice we looke to do to thee, honeſvt Fowle. The Paragone that knew there was good paſture and a
