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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
"Thoufalse,lyingpriest!"saidheinsosternavoicethatthemanoflawshrunkaffrighted,"Iamnofalseknight,asthouknowestfullwell,buthaveevenheldmyplaceinthepressandthetourney.Hastthousolittlecourtesythatthouwouldstseeatrueknightkneelforallthistime,orseehimcomeintothyhallandneverofferhimmeatordrink?"
Thenquoththemanoflawinatremblingvoice,"Thisissurelyanillwaytotalkofmattersappertainingtobusiness;letusbemildinspeech.Whatwiltthoupaythisknight,SirPrior,togivetheereleaseofhisland?"
"Iwouldhavegivenhimtwohundredpounds,"quoththePrior,"butsincehehathspokensovilelytomyteeth,notonegroatoveronehundredpoundswillheget."
"Hadstthouofferedmeathousandpounds,falseprior,"saidtheKnight,"thouwouldstnothavegotaninchofmyland."Thenturningtowherehismen-at-armsstoodnearthedoor,hecalled,"Comehither,"andbeckonedwithhisfinger;whereuponthetallestofthemallcameforwardandhandedhimalongleathernbag.SirRichardtookthebagandshotfromituponthetableaglitteringstreamofgoldenmoney."Bearinmind,SirPrior,"saidhe,"thatthouhastpromisedmequittanceforthreehundredpounds.Notonefarthingabovethatshaltthouget."Sosaying,hecountedoutthreehundredpoundsandpushedittowardthePrior.
