N tyme paſſed men preyſyd more
the folke full of leſynges and falſhede
than the man full of trouthe /
the whiche thynge regneth gretely
vnto this daye / As we may ſee
by this prelent fable / Of the man of trouthe
and of the man lyar / whiche went to gyder
thorugh the countrey / And ſo longe they wente
to gyder by theyr journeyes / that they came in
to the prouynce of the apes / And the kynge of
thapes made them bothe to be taken and brought
before hym And he beynge in his Royal mageſte /
where as he ſatte lyke an Emperour / and alle
his Apes aboute hym / as the ſubgets ben aboute
theyr lord / wold haue demaunded / and in dede
he demaunded of the lyer / who am I / And the
leſynge maker and flaterer ſayd to hym / thow
arte emperour and kynge / the fayreſt creature
that is on earthe / ¶ And after the kynge demaunded
of hym ageyne / who ben theſe whiche
ben al aboute me / And the lyar anſuerd / Syre
they ben thy knyghtes & your ſubgettes for to
kepe