¶ The viij fable is of the ſerpent and of the labourer /
HE Auctor of this booke reherceth
ſuche another Fable and of ſuche
ſentence / as the precydent / that
is to wete / that men ſhold not
byleue hym / to whome / men
hath done eyylle / And ſayth that ſomtyme in
herueſt tyme a labourer wente for to ſee his
goodes in the feldes / the whiche mette on his
way a ſerpent / And with a ſtaf whiche he bare
in his hand ſmote the ſayd ſerpent / and gaf hym
ſuche a ſtroke vpon the heed / that nyghe he
ſlewe hym / ¶ And as the ſerpent felte hym
ſelf ſo ſore hurted / he wente fro the man / and
entryd in to his hole / And ſayd to the labourer /
O euylle Frende / thow haſt bete me / But I
warne the / that thow neuer byleue not hym /
to the whiche thow haſt done ony eyylle / Of
the whiche wordes the labourer made lytyl extyme
and went forthe on his waye /
¶ It befelle thenne in the ſame yere / that this labourer wente ageyne by that waye / for to goo laboure and ere his ground / To whome
