EGYPTIAN STORIES. 
131 
judge of the dead, inclining his sceptre in token of condemnation, pronounces judgment upon him. 
and condemns his soul to return to earth, under the form of a Pig, or some other unclean animal. 
Placed in a boat, it is removed under the charge of two Monkeys, who open out to it a new term oi 
life. The Monkeys drawn have tails, and are evidently Dog-lieaded. 
Baboons were brought from Africa, and sold in all directions in Europe by the merchants of 
the Middle Ages, and it was thought to be out of the fashion not to have an Ape in one’s establish- 
ment. They were dressed up, and sometimes admitted to feasts, and taught manly kinds cf tricks 
and good behaviour. Broderip hunted up an 
odd story, which refers to an Ape in the six- 
teenth century, which did a vast deal of mis- 
chief very unintentionally. In the play of 
Much Ado About Not Jung, Benedick is said 
by Beatrice to have stated that she got her wit 
out of the Hundred Merry Tales — 
“And that I had my good wit out of the Hundred 
Merry Tales.” 
What this book was could hardly be decided ; 
some thought that it was Boccaccio’s “ De- 
camerone,” but they appear to have been 
printed by John Bestell, the title being, “ A C. 
Mery Talys.” The wit is well enough in 
these “ tayles ” to make Benedick wince under 
Beatrice’s imputation. One story is headed, 
“ Of the Welch email that dclyvered the letter 
to the Ape.” The first lines are wanting, but 
there is enough to make it appear that a 
master sends his Welsh retainer with a letter 
to the chief j ustice, in order to obtain a favour 
for a criminal who had been in the writer’s 
service, with directions to the said Welshman 
to return with an answer. “This Welcheman 
came to the chefe justyce place, and at the 
gate saw an Ape syttynge there in a cote 
made for hym, as they use to apparell Apes 
for disporte. This Welcheman dyd of his 
cappe, and made cortsye to the Ape, and said, 
‘ My master recommendeth him to the lord 
your father, and sendyth him here a letter.’ 
This Ape toke this letter and opened it, and 
lokyd upon the man, makynge many moekes 
and moyes as the property es of Apes is to do. 
This Welcheman because he understood him cynocephalus . (Egyptian Monuments.) 
not, came agayne to his master, accordynge 
to his commandes, and told hym he delyvered the letter unto the lorde chief justice sonne, 
who was at the gate in a furred cote. Anone liys master asked him what answer he brought. The 
man sayd he gave him an answer, but it was French or Laten, for he onderstode him not. ‘ But syr,’ 
quote he, ‘ ye nede not to fere, for I saw in his countenance so muclie that I warrant you he wyll do 
your errand to my lorde his father.’ This gentleman in truste thereof made not any further suite, for 
lacke thereof his ser vaunt that had done the felony e within a month after was rayned at the king’s 
benche and corte, and afterwards hanged.” In the punishment for matricide the criminal was 
placed in a case with an Ape, Cock, and Serpent, and either buried alive or drowned ; and the dislike 
of the first two creatures was much enlarged upon in some ancient authors. 
