"Therfore there is no rychesse gretter than lyberte
For lyberte is better than alle the gold of the world." - Caxton, 1484

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Of the wulf and of the dogge

Lyberte or fredome is a moche swete thynge
as Esope reherceth by this fable
of a wulf and of a dogge whiche by aduenture mette to gyder
wherfore the wulf demaunded of the dogge
wherof arte thow so fatte and so playsaunt
And the dogge ansuerd to hym
I haue wel kepte my lordes hows
& haue barked after the theues whiche came in the hows of my mayster
wherfore he and his meyny gyue to me plente of good mete
wherof I am fatte and playsaunt
and the wulf sayd thenne to hym
It is wel sayd my broder
Certaynly syth thow arte so wel atte thyn ease and farest so wel I haue grete desyre to dwelle with the
to thende that thow & I make but one dyner
wel sayd the dogge
come on with me yf thow wylt be as wel at thyn ease as I am
and haue thou no doubte of no thynge
The wulf wente with the dogge
and as they wente by the way
the wulf beheld the dogges neck
whiche was al bare of here
and demaunded of the dogge
My broder why is thy neck so shauen
And the dogge ansuerd
it is by cause of my grete coler of yron
to whiche dayly I am fasted
And at nyght I am vnbound for to kepe the hows the better
Thenne sayd the wulf to the dogge
This I myster ne nede not
For I that am in lyberte
wylle not be put in no subiection
And therfor for to fylle my bely
I wylle not be subget
yf thou be acustommed for to be bound
contynue thow in hit
and I shalle lyue as I am wonte and acustomed

therfore there is no rychesse gretter than lyberte
For lyberte is better than alle the gold of the world