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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
BelowthesesatthehighcellarerofEmmet,andotherschiefamongthebrethren.
Jestandlaughterpassedaround,andallwasasmerryasmerrycouldbe.Thewizenedfaceofthemanoflawwastwistedintoawrinkledsmile,forinhispouchwerefourscoregoldenangelsthatthePriorhadpaidhiminfeeforthecasebetwixthimandSirRichardoftheLea.Thelearneddoctorhadbeenpaidbeforehand,forhehadnotovermuchtrustintheholyVincentofEmmet.
QuoththeSheriffofNottingham,"Butartthousure,SirPrior,thatthouhastthelandssosafe?"
"Ay,marry,"saidPriorVincent,smackinghislipsafteradeepdraughtofwine,"Ihavekeptaclosewatchuponhim,albeithewasunawaresofthesame,andIknowrightwellthathehathnomoneytopaymewithal."
"Ay,true,"saidthemanoflawinadry,huskyvoice,"hislandissurelyforfeitifhecomethnottopay;but,SirPrior,thoumustgetareleasebeneathhissignmanual,orelsethoucanstnothopetoholdthelandwithouttroublefromhim."
"Yea,"saidthePrior,"sothouhasttoldmeerenow,butIknowthatthisknightissopoorthathewillgladlysignawayhislandsfortwohundredpoundsofhardmoney."
Thenupspakethehighcellarer,"Methinksitisashametosodriveamisfortunateknighttotheditch.IthinkitsorrowthatthenoblestestateinDerbyshireshouldsopassawayfromhimforapaltryfivehundredpounds.
