The history of Reynard the Foxe

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€ne msroRY of ReYjvHRD me f oxe

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Of ReYNHRr rne f oxe, l

The prologue to tbc bystorye of Reynart tbc f oxe,
p. i.

In tbc first, bow tbc fcynge of allc bestes, tbc Lyon,
bcldc bis court, capitulo primo, p.z.

RowlsegrymtbeCnolfcomplaynedfirstontbefoxe,
capitulo ij,p.2,

TTbe coinplaynt of Curtoys tbc Round, and of tbc
CattcCy bcrt, capitulo iij, p, 3,

How 6rymbert tbc Dasse, tbc foxes susters sone,
answerdfortbefoxetotbekynge, capitulo iiij,p.5,

Dow Cbantcclcr tbc Cob complayned on tbc foxe,
capitulo v,p,8.

Row tbc fcynge sayde touching tbc complaynt, cap-
itulo, vj, p. io»

Row Bruyn tbc Bcrc spedde wytb tbc foxc, capitulo
vij,p.n.

Row tbc Bcrc etc tbc bony, capitulo viij, p, 14,

^bc complaynt of tbc Berc vpon tbc foxc, capitulo
ix,p.2i.

Row tbc fcynge senteTTybert tbc Cattc for tbc foxc,
capitulo x,p« 21.

Row Grymbert brought tbc foxc to tbc lawc, capit-
ulo xj,p« 28*

Row tbc foxc was sbry uen to Grym bcrt, capitu lo xij,
p,3o.

Row tbc foxc cam to tbc court, and bow be excused
bym, capitulo xiij, p, 36*

Row tbc jroxe was arestid and juged to dctb, capi-
tu loxuij,p.38*

Row tbe foxe was ledde to tbe galwcs, capitulo xv,
P-39-

"J

Row tbef oxe made open confession tof ore the kyng
and to fore alle tbem that wold here it, capitulo xvj,
p. 42.

Row the f oxe brought tbem in danger tbat wold
baue brought bym to detb, and bow be gate tbe
grace of tbe kyng, capitulo xvij, p. 45.

How tbe Olulf and tbe Bere were arestyd by tbe la-
bour of tbe f oxe, capitulo xviij, p,56.

How tbe Glulf and bis wyf auff red ber sboys to be
plucbyd of, & bow tbe f oxe dyde tbem on bis feet
for to go to Rome, capitulo xix, p. 57.

Row Kywaert tbe Hare was slayn by tbe f oxe, cap-
itulo xx, p. 61.

Row tbe f oxe sente tbe Hares beed to tbe kynge by
JBellyn tbe Ramme, capitulo xxj, p. 65,

Row Bellyn tbe Ramme and alle bis lynage were jug-
ged to be gyuen to tbe Gdulf and to tbe Bere, cap-
itulo xxij, p« 68.

How tbe kynge belde bis feste, and Lapreel tbe Cony
complayned to bym of tbe f oxe, ca. xxiij, p. 69.

RowCorbant tbe Roeh complayned on tbe f oxe for
tbe detb of bis wyf , capitulo xxiiij, p* 70.

Row tbe kynge was angry of these complayntes, ca-
pitulo xxv,p*72.

Row <3rymbert warned tbe f oxe that tbe kynge was
wroth and wold slee bym, capitulo xxvj, p» 75,

Row tbef oxe cam agavn to tbe court,& of bis sbrif te,
capituloxxvij,p*70.

Row tbe f oxe excused bym byfore tbe hynge, cap-
itulo xxviij, p. 86,

Row dame Kukenawe tbe Sbe/Hpe answerd for the
f oxe, capitulo xxix, p. 95*
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H parable of a JVIan wbicbe delyuerd a Serpent fro

detb, capitulo xxx, p. 98.
Of tbem tbat were frendis and kyn to tbe f oxe, cap-
itulo xxxj,p*ioi,
How tbe f oxe subtylly excused bym of tbe detb of

tbe Hare and of otber maters, and bow be gate bis

pees, capttulo xxxij, p* 105*
How tbe Cdulf complayned on tbe f oxe, cap, xxxiij,

p* 124*
Hparableof tbe f oxe andtbeCClulf, ca.xxxiiij, p,i2o.
Row tbe Cdulf caste bis gloue tofigbt witb tbe f oxe,

capitulo xxxv, p, 134*
How tbe f oxe toke vp tbe gloue, and tbe kynge sette

day and f elde for to figbte, capitulo xxxvj, p. 135,
How dame Rukenawe tbe Sbe/Hpe counseylled tbe

f oxe bow be sbold doo in tbe f eld ay enst tbe 3du If,

capitulo xxxvij, p. 136*
How tbe f oxe cam in to tbe feld, ca,xxxviij, p, nS*
Row tbe foxc and tbeCdulf fougbten to gydre, cap-
itulo xxxix, p* 139*
Row tbe foxe,beyng vnder tbe Cdulf,witb glosyng

and fiateryng wordes cam to bis aboue, capitulo

xl,p*H3.
Row Ysegrym tbe SCIulf was ouercomen and tbe ba-

tayl fynyssbyd, & bow tbe f oxe bad tbe worship,

capitulo xlj,p* 147,
Hn example tbat tbe f oxe told to tbe kyng wban be

bad wonne tbe f elde, capitulo xlij, p* 150*
Row tbe kyngforgaf tbef oxe all tb^ngis andmade
bym souerayn oueralbis landes, capitulo xliijtP^*
Row tbe f oxe witb bis frendes departed nobly fro

tbe fcynge and wente to bis castel JVIaleperduys,

capitulo xliiij, p. 155*

v

Hyer begynnetb the bystorye of Reynard tbc

tbys bystorye ben wreton
tbeparables,goode lerynge,
and dyuerse poyntes to be
merkyd, by wbicbe poyntes
men maye lerne to come to
tbe subtylle knowelccbe of
sucbetbynges as dayly ben
Jvsed and bad in tbe coun-
cil seyllys of lordes and prelates, gostely and
worldly, and also emonge marcbantcs &otber
comone peple, Hnd tbis boofce is maad f or nede
and prouffyte of alle god folfce, as fer as tbey
in redynge or beeryng of it sball mowe vnder-
stand and fele tbe forsaid subtil deceytes tbat
dayly ben vsed in tbe worlde, not to tbentente
tbat men sbold vse tbem, but tbat euery man
sbolde cscbewe and hepe bym from tbe subtyl
false sbrewys,tbat tbey be not deceyuydj^ !
TTbennewbo tbat will baue tbe very vnderstan-
dyng of tbys matter, be muste orte and many
tymes rede in tbys boofce,and emestly and di-
Ugen tly marfce well tbat be redetb, for it is sette
6ubtylly,lykeasye8bal6eeinredyngofit;and
not ones to rede it; for a man snail not wytb
ones ouer redyng fynde tbe rigbt vnderstand- 1
yng, ne comprise it wel, but of tymes to rede it 3
sbal cause it wel to be vnderstande: and for E
tbem tbat vnderstandetb it, it sball be rygbt
joyous, playsant, and prouffitable.

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fiowe tbc Lyon, kynae of alle bestis, sent out tos
mandementis tbat allc beestis sbolde come to bie

feest and court, capitulo primo,^

"]€ was about tbe time of pentbe-
1 coste or Cttbytsontyde, tbat tbe
wodes comynly be lusty & glad-
som,and tbe trees cladwitb leuys
and blossoms, and tbe grounde
witb berbes & flowris swete smel-
lyng, & also tbe f owles & byrdes
J eyngen melodyously in tbeyr ar-
monye, tbat tbe Lyon, tbenoble kynge of all beestis,
wolde in tbe boly dayes of tbys feest bolde an open
court at Stade, wbyebe be dide to knowe ouer alle tn
bys lande- Hnd comanded by strayte conmyssyons
& maundements tbateuery beest sboldcometbyder,
in sucbewyse tbat alle tbe beestis grete & smalecam
to tbe courte, sauf Reynard tbe fox, for be knewe
bimself f awty & gylty in many tbinges ayenst many
beestis tbat tbydersbolde comen, tbat bedurste not
auenture to goo tbyder jgf Olban tbe kynge of alle
beestis bad assemblid all bis court, tberwasnoneof
tbem alle but tbat be bad complayned sore on Key-
narttbefoxe, t

€be firste compla)mt made Isegrym tbe ttlulf on

Reynart, capitulo \)&&

-j SeGRTN tbe Olulf wytb bis ly~
nage and frendes cam and stode
to fore tbe kynge, & saydejSFfiye
and mygbty prynce, my lord tbe
kynge, I besecbe yow tbat tburgb
your grete my gbt, ry gbt, & mercy,
tbat ye wyl baue pyte on tbe grete
Itrespas & tbe vnreasonable mys-

a

dedes that Reynart the f bxe bath don tomcat to my
wyf Xbat is to wete, beis comen in to my bows ayenst
tbewylle of my wyf , and tbcre bebatb be/pyssed my
cbyldren wbere as tbey lave, in suebe wyse as tbey
tbcrof ben woxen blynde. ulberupon wasadaysette,
i and was juged tbat Reygnart sbold come and baue
excused bym bierof , and baue sworen on tbe boly
sayntes tbat be was not gylty tberof ♦ Hnd wban tbe
book wytb tbe sayntes was brought f ortb, tbo bad
Reygnart bytbougbt bym otber wyse, and wente bis
waye agayn in to bis bole as be bad nought sette
tberby, and dere kynge, tbis knowen wel many of tbe
bestes tbat now be comen bytber to your court Hnd
yet batb be trespaced to me in many other tbinges,
r>e is not lyuyng tbat coude telle alle tbat 1 now leue
vntolde; but tbe sbame and vyllonye tbat be batb
don to my wyf , tbatsbal I neuer byde nesuff reitvn-
auengyd, but tbat besbal make tome large am en dee.

XTbe complaynt of Courtoys tbe f)ounde, capitulo

HHJN" tbysewordeswere spoken
so stoode tbere a lytyl bounde,
and was named Courtoys, and
comjDlayned to tbe kynge, bow
tbat in tbe colde wynter in tbe
bardefrostebebadbensorefor-
wynterd,in sucbe wyseas be bad
kepte nomore mete tban a pud-
dyng, wycb puddyng Reygnard tbe f oxe bad taken
away from bym j^Cbo spak TTbybert tbe Catte.

Y€f) this so cam €ybert tbc Catte
wytb an irous moed, and sprange in
emonge tbem,and sayde^JVIy lord
tbc kyng, I bcrc bier tbat Reynart is
sore complayned on, and bier is none
buttbat be batb ynowbtodootoclere
bym selfe: tbat Courtoys bier complaynetbof,tbat
is passyd mony yeres goon ; bow be it tbat I com-
playn not, tbat pudyng was myne, f or Ibadde wonne
it by nygbte in a my Uc Tbe myllar laye and slepe:
yf Courtoys bad ony parte bierin, tbat cam by me to
^Cbennespak panther: 'Cbynke yc'Cybert, tbatit
were good that Reynard sbolde not be complayned
on? Re is a very murderer, a rouer, and a tbeef; be
touetb noman so wel, not our lord tbe kynge bere,
tbat be wel wold tbat be sbuld lese good and wor-
sbyp, so tbat be mygbt wynne as mocbe as a legge
of a fat benne, I sbal telle jow wbat I sawe bym do
yesterday to Cuwaert tbe Hare tbat bier standetb in
tbe kynges pees and saufgarde* Re ^romysed to
Cuwart and sayde be wold tecbe bym bis credo, and
make bym a good cbapelayn ; be made bym goosytte
bytwene bis legges,& sange & cryde lowde: Credo t
Credo t JYly way e laye tber by, tbere tbat 1 berde tbis
songe; tbo wente I ner, and f onde maister Reynard
tbat bad lefte tbat befyrst reddeandsong,&bygan
to playe bis olde playe, for be bad caugbt Kywaert
bytbe tbrotc&badlnot tbat tymecomen be sbolde
baue taken bis lyf from bym, like as ye biere may see
on Kywaert tbe Raretbefressewounoeyet. for sotbe,
my lord tbe kynge, yf ye suffre tbis vnpunyssbyd,
and lete bym go quyte tbat batb tbus broken your
peas, and wyl do no rigbt after tbe sentence & juge-

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mctitof your men, your children manyyeris beraf ter
sbal bemyspreysed and blamed tberforejj^Syherly
>pantber, sayd Xsegrym, yc sayc troutbef F)it were
good tbat right and justyse were don for tbem tbat
1 wolde fayn lyue in peas*

Row ©rymbart tbe Dasse, tbe foxes dusters sone,
spach for Reynart and answerd to fore tbe kynge,
capituloiiij^,*?

jRO spach Grymbart tbe Dasse,
& was Reynarts suster sone t wytb
Ian angrye moedj^Sir Isegrym,
tbat is euyl saydf It is a comyn
prouerb,Hn enemies moutb saitb
iseeld wet Cdbat leye ye and wyte
ye myn erne Reynart? I wold tbat
I ye wolde aventuretbatwboof yow
tweyne bad moste trespaced to otber sbolde bange
by tbe neche as a tbeef on a tree* But and yf be were
as wel in tbis court, and as wel wytb tbe hynge as ye
be,itsbold not be tbougbt in bym tbatitwere ynowb
tbat ye sbold come and ashe bym forgyuenes* Y e
baue by ten and nypte myn vncle wytb your f elle and
sbarp teetb many mo tymes tban t can telle; yet wil
X telle some poyntes tbat I wel fmowe. Knowe not ye
ibow ye mysdeled on tbe plays wbicbe be tbrewedoun
fro tne carre, wban ye folowed after fro ferre,and ye
ete tbe good plays allone,andgaf bym nomore tban
tbe grate or bones, wbyebe ye mygbt not ete your
self ? In lyfce wysedydeye to bym also of tbe fatte
Myccbeor bacon, wbicbsauourdsowel tbat yeallone
ete in your bely, and wban myn erne asfcyd bis parte
jtbo answerd ye bym aaayn in scome: Reynart, fayr
yonglyng, I sbal gladly gyue you your part! But

*> 3 5

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myn erne gate tic bad nought, tic was not the better,
notwithstanding he had wonnen the fly cche of ba-
con wytb grete drede, for the man cam and threw
>bym in a sacke that bescarsely cam outwytb bis lyf,
Sucbe maner tbynges bath Reynart many tymes
suff red thum b Ysegrym,

YB lordes, tbynkeyetbattbisis good;
yet ts tber morel Re complaynetb bow
tbatReynartmyn erne bath mocbe tree-
paced to bym by cause of bis wyf ♦ JViyn
erne bath leyn oy her, but that is wel
seuen yer to fore er be wedded her; and
yf Reynart for loue and curtosye dyde with her bis
wille, what was that? she was sone heled therof,
Rierof by right shold be no complaynt; were Ise-
grym wyse be shold baue lefte that; be doth to bym
self no worship thus to sklaundre his wyf ;sbe playn-
etb not JVow maketh Kywaert the Rare a complaynt
also,tbattbynkethmeavyseuase;yf beredenelemed
a/right bis lesson, sbolde not Reynard bis maister
jbete bym tberfore? Yf the scolers were not beten ne
smyten and reprised of their truantrye, they shold
neuer lerne*

JIOQI complaynetb Courtoys that be
with payne bad goten a puddyng in
the wynter at sucbe tyme as the coste
is euyl to fynde. Tberof bym bad be
better to baue bolde bispees, for be bad
stolen it; male quesistt et male perdi-
disti, bit is rygbt that it be euil loste that is euil
jWonne, Qlbo sbal blame Reynart yf be baue taken
If ro a tbeef stolen good ? Rit is reson , who that vnder-
standetb the lawe and can disceme the right, & that
6

be be of bye burtbe as myn eme Reynart is, wbicbe
knowetb wel bow be sbal reseeyue stolen good; ye,
al bad be Courtoys banged wban befondebym wytb
tbe menowr, be badde not mocbe mysdon ne tres-
paced, sauf ayenst tbe crowne, tbat be bad don jus-
tysewytboute leue, wberf ore for tbe honour of tbe
kynge be dyde it not, all batb be but lytel tbanke*
GIbat skatned it bym, tbat be is tbus complayned
on ?Myn eme is a gentil & a treweman, bemay suffre
no ralsbede; bedotb notbynge but by bys prestes
counseyl, & I saye yowsytb tbat my lorde tbe kynge
batb do proclamed bis pees be neuer tbougbte to
burte ony man,for be etetb no more tban ones a day.
fie lyuetb as a recluse, be cbastisetb bis body and
weretb a sberte of beer, bit is more tban a yere tbat
be batb eten no fiessbe, as 1 yesterday berd saye of
tbem tbat cam fro bym ; be batb lef teand geuen ouer
bis castel JMaleperduys&batb byldedacluse,tberyn
dwelletb be & buntetb nomore, ne desyretb no wyn-
nynge,but be lyuetb byalmesseand taketb notbyna
but sucbe as men cjfyue bym for cbaryte, and aotb
grete penance for bis synnes,and beiswoxen mocbe
pale and leneof prayeng andwakyngfor bewoldebe
fayn wytb (3odJS?Ttbue as Orymbert bis eme stode
and precbed tbise wordes,so sawe tbey comen doun
tbe by lie to bem Cbauntecler tbe Cock, and brought
on a biere a deed borne of wbom Reynart bad byten
tbe beed of, and tbat muste be sbewed to tbe kynge
for to baue knowlecbe tberof ♦

b 4

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How tbeCockecomplaynedon Reynart, capitulo v&

RHajSTreCLeR came fortb &
smote pyteously bis bandes and
bis f etneris, and on ecbe side of
tbe byer wenten tweyne sorouf ul
bennes; tbat one was called Can-
tart, and tbat otber goode benne
Crayant, tbey were two tbe fairest
_ bennes tbat were bitwene Holland
and Hrdeme* 'Cbise bennes bareecbeof tbem a bren-
nyng tapre wbicbe was longe and strayte, tbise two
bennes were Coppens susters and tbey cryed so pi-
tously, Hlas and weleaway for tbe detne of ber dere
suster Coppen* ITwo yonge bennes bare tbe byere,
wbicbe kakled so beuyly and wepte so lowde for tbe
detb of Coppen tbeir moder tbat it was f erre berde.
Q>us cam tbey to gydre to fore tbe kynge,& Cban-
tecleer tbo seyde j^jvlercif ul lord, my lord tbe kyng,
plese it yow to bere our complaynte and abborren
tbe grete scatbt tbat Reynart batb don to me & my
children tbat biere stonaen. It was so tbat in tbebe-
gynnyngof Hppryl wban tbe weder is f ayr, as tbat I
was bardy and prowde,bycauseof tbe grete lynage
tbat I am comen of, and also badde, for I bad viij
fayr sonesand seuen f ayr douofbters wbicbe my wyf
bad batcbed, and tbey were alle stronge and ratte,
& wente in a yerde wbicbe was walled round a/boute,
in wbicbe was a sbadde wbere in were six grete dod-
ges wbicbe bad to/tore and plucked many a beestis
skyn in sucbe wyse as my cbyldren were not aferd.
On wbom Reynart tbe tbeef bad greteenuyeby cause

ino- 1

&tik

tbey were eo sure that be cowde none gete of tbem,
bow wel oftymee batb tbie fel tbeef goon rounde
aboute tbie wal, and batb leyde forve in eucbe wyee
tbat tbe doggee baue be eetteon bym & baue bunted
bym away, Hnd ones tbey leep on bym vpon tbe
banke, and tbat cost bym eomwbat for bie tbefte*
1 saw tbat bie ekyn smoked; neuertbeleee be wente
b J9waye,6od amende it

*\r>QS were we quyte of Reynart a longe
wbyle. Htte laete cam be in lyknee of
an beremyte, & brought to me a lettre
for to rede, sealed wy tb tbe kyn gee seal,
in wbicbe etode wreton tbat tbe kynge
bad made pees oueral in bis royame, &
tbat allemanerbeeetie and fowllee ebold doonone
barme ner ecatbe to ony otben Yet eayd be to me
more tbat be was a cloyeterer or a cloeyd recluse be-
comen, and tbat be wolde receyue grete penance for
bis eynnee. Re ebewd me bis elauyne & pylcbe, and
an beren eberte tber vnder, & tbenne eayd bejfi?Syr
Cbaunteclere, after tbye tyme be no more aferd of
me,ne take nobede, forlnow will ete no more fleeeb;
1 am fortbon eo olde tbat 1 wolde fayn remembre
my eowle.X wil now go f ortb, for 1 baue yete to eaye
my eexte, none, and myn eueneonge; to Cod 1 by-
take yowjjWTbo wente Reynart tbene, eayeng bie
Credo, and leyde bym vnder an bawtborn, XTbenne
wae X glad and mery, and aleo toke none bede, and
wente to my cbyldren,and clucked bem togyder,and
wente wytbout tbe wal for to walke, wberof ie mocbe
barme comen to ve ; for Reynart lave vnder a bueebe
and cam krepyng bitweneve and tneyate,eo tbat be
cagbt one or my cbyldren and leyd bym in bie male,

wberof wbe baue bad grctc barme, for sytb be batb
Itasted of bym tber mygbt neuer bunter ne boundc
'saue nekepe bym from vs. fie batb wayted by nygbte
& daye in sucnewyse tbat be batb stolen somany of
my cbyldren tbat of xv 1 baue but f oure, in sucbe
>wyse batb tbis tbeef f orslongen tbem.Hnd yet yes-
terday was Coppen mydougbter,tbat bier lyetb vp-
on tbe byer, with tbe boundes rescowed. 'Cbis com-
playne 1 to yow, gracious kynge; baue pyte on myn
1 grete & vnresonable damage and losse of my f ayre
> cbyldren.

>fiow tbe kyngspacktoucbyng this conplaynt,capi-
tulovj^^

IRejy spacke tbe kynge J? Syre
Dasse, bere ye tbys wel of tbe re-
cluse your erne; be batb fasted &
prayde tbat if I liue a y ere be sbal
J abye it. JVow berke Cbaunteclere,
youre playnte is ynougbe; youre
dougbter tbat lyetb bere dede, we
J wyll gyue to ber tbe detbes right;
we may kepe ber no lenger, we wil betake ber to (3od.
Ole wylle syngen bere vygylie and brynge ber wor-
sbypf ully on ertbe, and tbenne we wille speke wytb
,tbyse lordes,& take counseyl bow we may do rygbt
and justyse of tbys grete murdre and brynge tbys
*f als tbeef to tbe lawe jff Tbo begonne tbey placebo
Domino, wytb tbe verses tbat to longen, wbicbe yf
» I sbold say were me to longe. Qlban tbis vigily e was
don & tbe commendacion, sbe was leyde in tbe py tte,
and tbere vpon was leyde a marble stone polysbed
\as clere as ony glas, and tberon was bewen in grete
lettres in tbis wyse J9 Coppe, Cbanteklers dougb-
10

ter, wbome Reynart tbc f oxe batb byten, lyetb bier
vnder buryed: complayne ye ber, for sbe is shame-
fully comen to bcr detbet j0 Hfter tbys tbc kynge
sen tc for bys lordes and wisest of bis counseyl, for
to take aduyse bow tbis arete murdre and trespaas
sbold be punyssbyd on Reynart tbe f oxeXber was
concluded and apoynted for tbe beste, tbat Reynart
sbold be sent fore, & tbat be lef te not for ony cause,
butbecamin to tbe hinges court for to berewat sbold
be say d to bym , & tbat Bruyn tbe Bere sbold doo tbe
messacjeXbe kynge tbougbt tbat alle tbis was good,
and saide to Brune tbe Berej^Syr Brune,Iwyl tbat
ye doo tbis message but see wel to for your self, for
Reynart is a sbrewe,and felle,and knowetbsomany
wyles tbat be sballye andflatre,andsbaltbynkebow
bemay beoyle, decey ue, & brynge yow to some mock-
erye jgf Cbo sayde Brune : SCIbat, aood lord, late it
allone. Deceyuetb me tbe f oxe ? so baue I ylle lemed
my casus.Itrowebesball come to late to mocqueme
j0 Zbue departed Brune meryly fro tbens, but it is
to drede tbat be cam not so meryly agayn*

Row Brune tbe Beere was sped of Reynart tbe f oxe,
capitulo v\j&&

OCd is Brune goon on bis waye
towarde tbe f oxe wytb a stowte
moede, wbicbe supposed wel tbat
tbe f oxe sbolde not baue begyled
bym, Hs be cam in a derke wode in
a f oreste wbereas Reynard bad a
bypatb wban be was minted, tber
bysyde was an bie montayne and
lande, & tbere muste Brune in tbe myddel ofoon ouer
for to goo to JVlaleperduys, for Reynart bad many

™™

^■^

■1

a dwellyngf place, but tbe castel of JNflaleperduys was
tbc beste& tbc fastest burgb tbat be bad; tber laye
be inne wban be bad nede, & was in ony dredeor fere,
jj^J^ow wban Bruyn was comen to JVlaleperduys be
f onde tbe yate faste sbette; tbo wente be to fore tbe
yate, and satte vpon bis taylle,and caledjSPReynart,
be yeat borne ?lam Brownyng, tbe kynge batb sente
me for yow tbat ye sbolde come to court for to plete
your caas. F)e batb sworn tbere by bvs God, come ye
not, or bringe X yow not witb me, for tabyde sucne
rigbt& sentence as sbal be tbere gyuen,it sbal coste
you your lyf ; be wyl bange yow or sette yow on tbe
ratte. Reynart, doo by my counseyl and come to tbe
court j^ Reynart laye witbin tbe gate as be of te was
wonte to doo for tbe warmtb of tbe sonne»<Obanne
Reynart berd Bruyn, tbo went be inneward in to bis
bole, for JVlaleperduys wasfulof boles, bier one bool
& tbere an other & yonder an otber, narowe, croked,
and longe, wytb many weyes to goo out, wbyebe be
opend and snette after tbat be bad nede. (Oban be
badd ony proye brought borne, or tbat be wiste tbat
ony sougbte bym for bys mysdedes and trespaces,
tbenne be ran and bydde bym fro bis enemyes in to
bys secrete cbambres, tbat tbey coudenot fynd bym,
by wbicbe be deceyuyd many a beeste tbat sougbte
bym.Hnd tbo tbougbt Reynart in bym self bow be
mygbt best brynge tbe Beere in cbarge & nede, and
tbat be abode in worship.

Etbis tbougbte Reynart cam out and
*ayd jff Bruyn, erne, ye be welcome! 1
j berdeyouweltofore,butlwasinmyn
euesong,tberforebaueltbelengertar-
ryed a lytyl. Dere erne, be batb done to
younogoodseruyse,andlcan bymno
12

thank that batb scute you oucr tbys longc bylle,for
I sec tbat ye be al so wery tbat tbe swete rennetb doun
by your cbekys. It was no nede; I bad neuertbeless
comen to courte to morowe* But 1 sorowe now tbe
lasse, for your wyse counseyl sball wel belpe me in
tbe court Hndcoude tbe kyngfynde nonelasse mes-
sager but yow f or tosendebitber ?Cbatis grete won-
der, for next tbe kynae ye be tbe mooste gentyl and
richest of leeuys and of landef 1 wolde wel tbat we
were now at tbe court, but I fere me tbat I sbal not
conne wel goo tbyder,for I baue eten so mocbe new
metetbat me tbynketb my bely wylle brekeor cleue a-
sonder, & by cause tbe mete was nyewelete tbe more
j^Cbo spack tbeBere :Lyef neue, wbat mete baue ye
eten tbat maked yow so ful?jfi?Oere erne, tbat I ete,
wbat my gbt it belpe yow tbat yf I told yow ?I ete but
symple mete; a poure man is no lorde; tbat may ye
knowe,eme, by me,QIe poure folkemuste ete of tymes
sucbe as we gladly wolde not ete yf we badd better;
tbey were grete bony combes wbyebe I muste nedes
ete for hunger; tbey baue made my bely soo grete
tbatlcannowber endurejfiFBruyn tbospacke anone:
Hlas,Reynart,wbatsayye?Setteyesolytylbybony?
]Me ougbte to preyse and loue it aboue all mete. Lief
Reynart, belpe me tbat I mygbt gete a deel of tbys
bony, and as longe as I lyue I sbal be to you a tryew
friend, and abyde by yowasferre as ye belpe me tbat
I may baue a parte of tbys bony!

13

How Br uyn etc th e bony, capitulo viij^^

IRQ^N* cmc >* bad supposed that
ye bad iaped tberwytbjSFSo betp
me 6od, Reynart, nay I sbold not
gladly iape wytb yow^ Thome
spacktberedeReynart:Isittbenne
ernesttbatyeloueso wel tbe bony?
I sbal do late you baue eo mocbe
_ tbat ten of yow sbold not ete it at
onemele,mygfbtl gete tberwitb your friendsbipjfiF
Not we ten, Reyner neue, sayd tbe Bere, bow ebold
tbat be? Had 1 alletbe bony tbat is bytwene tbisand

Sortyngalelsboldweleteitallonej^Reynardsayd:
[bat saye ye, erne ? fiier by dwelletb an busbondman
named Lantf ert, wbicbe batb so mocbe bony tbat ye
sbold noteteitin vij yere, wbicbe yesbal bauein your
bolde, yf ye will be to me friendly & belpyng ayenst
myn enemyes in tbe kynges court j^Tbenne prom-
ysed Bruyn tbe Bere to bym tbat yf be mygbt baue
bis bely full be wold truly be to bym to fore all otber
a f aytbf ul frende. fierof laugbed Reynart tbe sbrew,
and sayde^Yf ye wolde baue vij bamber barelis f ul
X sbal wel gete tbem and belpe you to baue tbemj^
Cbese wordes plesyd tbe Bere so wel, and made bym
so mocbe to lawbe, tbat be coude not wel standejj?
"Cbo tbougbtReynartt'Cbis is good luckjsbal lede
bym tbyder tbat be sball lawbe by mesure.

^eYNHR€ sayd tbennejjTCbis mater
may not be longe taryed, Imuste payne
my self for you; ye sbal wel vnaer-
stande tbe very yonste and good wyl
tbat 1 bere to you ward, 1 knowe none
in al my lygnage tbat 1 nou wolde la-

bourefore tbueeoreU^bat tbanfced bym tbc Bere,
and tbougbtbetaryed longej!?JVow, erne, late ve goo
a good paae, and folowe ye me, X ebal make you to
baueaemocbebonyae yemay berejgrcbe f oxemente
of good strokes, but tbe caytyf markyd not wbat
tbe f oxe mente, & tbey wente eo longe to gydre tbat
tbey cam vnto Lantferte yerde: tbo wae eir Bruyn
mery.JNk>wberhe,of Lantfertieittruetbatmeneaye,
eo was Lantfert a etronge carpenter of gretetymbre,
and bad brought tbat otber day to fore in to bie
yerde a greteokewbicbebe bad begonnetocleue,Hnd
ae men be woned, be bad emeten two betels tberin,
one after tbat otber, in eucbe wyee tbe ohe was wyde
open, wberof Reynart wae glaa, for be bad founde
it rigbt ae bewieebed,and eayde to tbe Bere all law-
bynqj&Scc nou well ebarply to, in tbye tree ie eo
mocbe bony tbat it ie without meeure* Heaye yf ye
can come tberin, and ete but ly till ; for tbougb toe
bonycombee be ewete and good, yet beware tbat ye
ete not to many, but take of tbem by meeure, tbat ye
caccbenobarme in your body ; for, ewete erne, lebold
be blaemed yf tbey dyde you ony barme^CJdbat,
Reynart coeyn, eorowe ye not for me, wene ye tbat 1
were a fole?^Ieeure ie good in alle mete^Reynart
eayde: Ye eaye troutbe, wberfore ebold 1 eorowe?
Goo to tbende and crepe tberynjSFBruyn tbe Bere
baeted eore toward tbe bony, and trad in wytb bie
two formeet feet, and put bie beed ouer bie eerie in
to tbe clyft of tbe tree, and Reynart epranof lygbtly
& brak out tbe betle of tbe tree* Cbo belpecT tbe Bere
netberflateryngne cbydyng; be wae f aetebette in tbe
treej^Tbue batb tbeneueu wytb decey te brougbt bie
erne in pryeon in tbetreein eucbe wyee ae be coudenot
gete out wytb mygbt ne wytb crarte,bede ne foote,

'5

. )JTC prouffytetb Brup tbc Bere that
be etronge and bardy ie?tbat may not
belpe bym* fie eawe wel tbat be be~
gyled wae: be began to bowle and to
braye, and cmtcbed wytb tbe bynder
_ feet, and made eucbe a noyee& rumour
tbat Lantf ert cam out baetely, and knewe notbyng
►what tbie mygbt be, & brought in bis band a ebarp
boke, Bruyn de Bere laye in tbe clyf te of tbe tree in
gretef ereand drede, &beldefaet btebeed,andnyped
>botb bie fore feet* fie wrange, be wraetled, & cryed,
.and all was for nought: be wiete not bow be mygbt
gete out Reynart tbe f oxe eawe fro f erre bow tbat
Xantf ert tbe carpenter cam, and tbo epack Reynart
to tbe Bere^Is tbat bony good ? fiow is it now ? 6te
not to mocbe, it ebold do you barme, ye ebold not
tbenne wel conne goo to tbe court <Gdban Lantf ert
cometb, yf yebaue wel eten be ebal yeue you better to
drynke, and tbenne it ebal not etyke in your tbrote.
"I fZGR tbiee wordee tbo tomed bym
Reynart toward bie caetel,and Lant-
f ert cam and f onde tbe Bere fast taken
j? intbetreeXbennerannebefaetetobie
neygbboure,&eaydejfiPCome alle in
to my yerde, tbere ie a beere taken \0
*Cbe worde anone eprange oueral in tbe tborpe: tber
>ne bleef netber man ne wyf , but alle ranne tbeder ae
f aete ae tbey coude, eueryebe wytb bie wepen, eome
wytb a etaf , eome witb a rake, eome witb a brome,
'eome witb a etake of tbebegabe, and eome wytb a
flayel, and tbe preeet of tbe cbircbe bad tbe etaf of
s tbe croeee, and tbe clerk brougbta vane* €be preetie
Vy f 7u lok cam witb ber dye tar, ebe eat tbo & epanne.
16

Tiber cam olde wymen that forage bad not one toetb
in ber beed: now wae Bruyn the Here nygb mocbe
eorowe tbatbeallone mu9te etandeayenet them alle.
j!?(flban be berde alle tbie grete noyeeand crye, be
wraetled and plucked 90 bardeand 90 9ore tbat be
gate out big beed, but be lef te bebyndealle tbe 9kyne
and botbebi9eeri9,ingucbewy9etbatneuerman 9aw
f owller ne lotblyer bee9t, for tbe blode ran ouer big
even, and or be coude gete out big feet be mu9te lete
there big claweg or nayle9 and tbig rough bande.
0*9 market cam to bym euyl,f or beguppogid neuer
to baue goon, big feet were 90 gore, & be mygbt not
9ee for tbe blode wbicbe ran 90 ouer big eyen. Lant-
f ert cam to bym wytb tbe preegt, and forth with alle
tbe paryggbe, and began to 9myte and gtryke 9ore
vpon bi9 beed and vigage: be receyuyd tbere many a
9ore gtrokej^Guery man beware bierby: wbo batb
barme and 9catbe euery man wil be tber at and put
more tojjTCbat wa9 wel 9een on tbe Bere, for tbey
were alle fier9 and wrotb on tbe Bere, grete and gmal
Y*> fiugbelyn wytb tbe croked lege and Ludolf witb
tbe brode longe nooge, tbey were bootb wrotb: tbat
one bad an ledfen malle and tbat other a grete leden
wapper, tber wytb tbey wappred and al f or/9lyngred
bym. Syr Bertolt witb tbe longe fyngerg, Lantfert,
and Ottram tbe longe, tbyge dyde to tbe bere more
barme than al tbe other: that one bad a 9barp boke,
and tbat other a croked 9taf wel leded on tbende for
to playe at tbe balle. Baetkyn, and Hue Hbelquak,
my dame Baue, and tbe pree9t witb bi9 9taf,&dame

2ulok big wyf , tbi9ewroughten to tbe beregomocbe
arme tbat tbey wold fayne baue brought bym fro
bi9 lyf to detb: tbey 9mote and 9tacke bym al that
ci 17

1

tbey cowde. Bruyn the Beere satte and sygbed and
groned,and muste take sucbe as was gyuen to bym :
but Lantf ert was tbc worthiest of byrtbe of tnem
alle, and made mooste noyse, for dame pogge of
Cbaf porte was bis moder,and bis fader was fftacob
tbe stoppelmaker, a mocbe stowte man* Cbere as be
was allone, Bruyn receyued of bem many a caste of
stones* Cof ore bem alle sprang f orst Lantef erts
brother witb a staf , and smote tbe Bere on tbe beed
tbatbene berdenesawe,& therewith tbe Bere sprang
vp bytwene tbe busbe and tbe ryuer emonge an beep
of wyuis that be tbrewe a deelof bem in tbe ryuer,
wbicoe was wyde and depe. Cher was tbe person es
wyfoneof tbem,wberforebewasfulofsorow:wban
be sawe bis wyf lye in tbe water, bym lusted no len ger
to smyte tbe Sere, but caUedj^Oame 7uloke in tbe
water, now euery man see to f Hlle tbey tbat may belpe
ber,be tbey men orwymen, I oyue to bem alle pardon
of ber penance, and relece alle tbeyr synneslj^HUe
tbey tbenne lef te Bruyn tbe Bere lye, and dyde tbat
tbe preestbadde.

RHJS Bruyn tbe Bere sawe tbat tbey
ranne alle fro bym, and ranne to saue
tbe wymen, tbo sprange be in to tbe
water and swame alle tbat be coude.
Cben made tbe preest a grete sbowte
and noyse, & ran after tbe Bere wytb
areteanger, and saidjj?Comeand torneagayn, tbow
false tbeef \J9XLbz Bere swame after tbe besteof tbe
streme, and late tbem calle and crye, for be was glad
tbat be was so escaped from tbem* Re cursed and
banned tbe bony tree, and tbe f oxe also tbat bad so
betrayed bym,tnat be bad cropen tberin so depe tbat

^=

be loste booth bis bood and bis eeris. End so f ortb
be droof in tbe streem wel a ij or iij myle: tbowaxebe
90 wery tbat be wente to lande for to sitte and reste
bym, for be was beuy. Re groned and sygbed, & tbe
blode lepe ouer bid eyen : be drougb bis bretb lykeas
one sbolde ba ue deyde.

OCCI berke bowtbefoxe dyde:erbecam
fro Lantfertes bows be bad stolen a
fatte benne, and bad leyde ber in bis
male, and ranne bastely away by a by

Catb were be wende tbat noman sbold
auecomen* Reranne toward tbe ryuer
tbat be swette; be was so alad tbat be wist not wbat
to do for joy, for be bopecTtbat tbe Bere bad bedede,
jSfResayd:Ibauenowwelspedde,forbetbatsbolde
moste bauebyndred me in the court is nowdede and
none sbalwyte me tberof, JVIay I not tbenne by rigbt
be wel glad?j^<Hitb tbise wordes tbe f oxe loked to
tbe ryuer ward, & espyed wbere Bruyn tbe Bere laye
and rested bym : tbo was tbe f oxe sorier and beuyer
tban be to forewas mery,and was as angry,&saydf
in cbydyngtoLantfertjlPHlas Lantfert,lewdefoole
<3od gyue bym a sbames detb tbat batb loste sucbe
good venyson, wbicbe is good and fatte, and batb
late bym aoo wbicbe was taken to bis bande; many
a man wotde aladly baue eten of bym. Re batb loste
a ricbe and fatte bere^XTbus al cbydyng be cam
to tbe ryuer, wbere be f onde tbe Beere sorewounded,
be/bled & riabt seke, wbicbe be mygbt tbanke none
better tberof tban Reynart, wbicbe spack to tbe Bere
in skornejPCbiere priestre, Dieu vous garde fj^
SHylle ye see tbe rede tbeef ? sayde tbe Bere to bym
self; tbe rybaud and tbe felle diere, bere I se bym

C2 19

m
■

comenj^Cbenne sayd the f oxci fiaue yc ought for-
goten at Lantf erts ? fiaue ye also payd bym for the
bony combes tbat yc stale fro bym ? yf ye baue not,
it were a grete sbame and not boneste, I wyl ratber
be tbe messager my self for to goo and paye bym.
<Oas tbe bony not good? I knoweyet more of tbe
same prys. Dere erne, telle me er 1 aoo bens, in to
wbat ordre wille ye goo, tbat were tbis newe bode?
COere ye a monke or an abbot? He tbat sboef your
crowne batb nyped of your eeris; ye baue lost your
toppe, and don of your gloues* I trowe veryly tbat
ye wyl go synge complyn ?j&Rllc tbis berde Bruyn
tbe Bere, and wexe alle anory and sory for be mygbt
not avenge bym, He lete tbe f oxc saye bis wylle, and
wytb grete payne suif red it, and sterte agayn in tbe
ryuer, and swam doun wytb tbe streem to tnatotber
syde, JVowmustebesorowe bow tbat besbolde come
to tbe court, for be bad loste bis eeris, & tbe skynne
wytb tbe clawes of bis forefeet, for tbougb a man
sbolde baue slayn bym be coude not go, and yet be
muste nedes f ortb, but be wist not bow, JVow bere
bow be dyde: be satte vpon bis bammes & began to
rutsele ouer bis tayl, and wban be was so wery be
wentled and tombled nygbe balf a myle. TTbis dyde
be witb grete payne so longe tyl atte laste be cam to
tbe courte, and wban be was seen so comyng fro
f erre, some doubted wbat it mygbt be tbat cam so
wentelyng. TLbc kyngeatte laste knewe bym, and was
not wel payd ana saydej^Cbis is Bruyn tbe Bere,
my frende: Lord 6oa,wbo batb wounded bym tbusf
He is passyng reed on bis beed: me tbynketb be is
burte vn to tbe detb, Cdberemay be baue ben ?jSTCber~
wytb is tbe Bere come to fore tbe kynge and sayde:
20

Cbecomplayntof tbeBerevpon tbefoxe,capitulo ix

COJVIP^HYN^ to yow, mercy-
ful lorde, eyre kynge,soas yemay
seebow tbatlam bandled,prayeng
you tauenge it vpon Rcynart tbc
f elle beest, for t baucgotcn tbis in
your seruyse, I bauc loste botbc
my formest feet, my cbekes and
myn eeris by bis false deceyte and
trey son j^TTbe kyngc sayde: Row duretc tbis fats
tbeef Rcynart doo tbis? I saye to yow Bruyn, and
swere by my crowne, I sbal 90 auenge you on bym
Tbat yc sbal connc mc tbankefj^Re ecntc foratlc tbe
wyec beestis, & deeircd counsey I bow that be mygbt
j auenge tbis ouergretewronge, tbat tbe foxe bad don,
Cbenne tbe counceyl concluded, olde and yong, tbat
' be sbold be sente fore and dayed ernestly agayn, f or
tabyde sucbe jugement ae sbold tbere be gyuen on
bym of allebistrespaces.Hnd tbey tbougbt tbat tbe
1 catteCybert myght best do tbis message yf be wold,
forbe isrigbtwyse^Cbe kynge tbougbt tbis coun-
ceyl good.

How tbe kyngesente anotber tymeXTyberttbe Catte
for tbe f oxe, and bow Cybert spedde witb Reynart
\thc f oxe, capttulo x&&

pewre tbe kyngsaidjgFSir€y~
1 bert, ye sbal now 500 to Reynart,
and saye to bym tbis seconaetime
tbat be come to court vn to tbe plee
for to answer, for tbougb be be
f cllc to other beestys be trustetb
you wel & sbal doo by your coun-
(seyl. Hnd telle yf be come not, be

C3 21

ebal bauc tbc tbirdc warnyng and be dayed, & yf be
tbenne come not we ebal procede by rygbt ayenet
bym and alle bye lygnage without mercy jP'Cybzrt
apack jJVIy lord tbe kynge,tbey tbat tbie counaeylde
you were not my frendee* CCTbat abal Idoo tbere ? Re
wil not for me neytber come ne abyde* 1 beaecbe you,
dere kynge, aende eome otber to bym, 1 am lytyl and
feble:Bruyn tbe Bere wbicbe wae ao grete&etronge
coude not brynge bym, bowaboldl tbennetakeiton
bonde?jflPJVay, aayd tbe kynge, Sir Cybert, ye ben
wyae and wel lemed: though ye be not grete, tbere
lyetb not on, many do more wyth craf te & connyng
than with mygbt and etrengtbe jj^Hbenne aaid tbe
Catte : Sytb it muate nedea be don, I muate tbenne
takeitvponme*6odyeuegracetbattmaywelacbieue
it, for my berte ia beuy & euil willed tbertojdTCy bert
made bym aoneredy toward JMalperduy a and be aaw
fro f erre come fleyng one of Seynt JMartyne byrdea,
tbo cryde belowae and eaidj^Hl bayl,gentyl byrde,
tome tby wyngea betberward and nee on my rygbt
aidef J&Tlbz byrde flewb forth vpon a tree wbiche
atoode on tbe lift aide of tbeCatteXbo waa'Cybert
woo, for be thought hit waa a abrewd token and a
eigne of barme, for yf tbe birde bad flowen on bia
right aide he had ben mery & glad, butnow beaorow-
ed tbat hie journey ebold tome to vnbappe. JVeuer-
thelee, be dyde ae many doo & gaf to bym eelf better
hope than hie berte eayde:bewente&ronnc toJVIale-
perduye/ward, & there be f onde the fox alone etand-
yng to fore bie houe^Cybert eaid: 0>e ricbe God
yeueyou good euen, Reynart: thekyngbath menac-
ed yowf or to take your lyf from yow yf ye come not
nowwytb me to the courtjjTCbe f oxe thoepackand

22

saide : Cibert, my dcrc cosyn, ye be rigbt welcome, I
woldeweltruly tbat ye bad mocbe good lucke.

ovtlr HC burted tbe foxe to speke fayre?

r Ai \ Cbo be sayd wef, bis bene tbougbte

tit not ; and tbat sbal be seen er tbey de-

\ partejffReynart sayde : <Hylle we tbis

( nigbtbetogydre,Iwylmakeyougood

cbyereand tomorow erly in tbe dawn-

.yngwewyl togydre goo to tbe court Good rieue,late
vs so doo: 1 baue none of my kyn tbat I truste so
mocbe to as to yow. fiier was Bruyn tbe Bere, tbe
^traytour,belokedsosbrewdlyon mc.&me tbougbte
be was so stronge tbat I wold not for a thousand
mark bauegoon witb bym : but,cosyn,I wil tomorow
erly goo witb yowj^Cybert saide: It is beste tbatwe
now goo, for tbe mone sbynetb al so ligbt as it were
daye, Ineuer sawe fayrer wederjJFJ^ay, dere cosyn,
sucbe myofbt mete vs by daye tyme tbat wold make
vs good cbiere, & by nygbte parauenture mygbt doo
vs barmejtis suspecyous towalke by nygbte, tber-
fore a/byde tbis nygbt bere by mej^Hybert sayde:
Qlbat snolde we ete yf we abode bere? j^Reynart
sayde: Here is but lytel to ete* Y* may* wel baue an
bony combe good and swete: wbat save ye, Hybert,
wy lye ony tberof ?j^Cy bert answerd : I sette nougbt
tberby. Raue ye notbyng elite ? Yf ye gaf me a good
f attemows, I sbold be better plesid j0n f attemows ?
said Reynard : dere cosyn, wbat sayeye ? bere by dwel-
letbapreestand batbabameby bis bows,tberin ben
so many myse tbat a man sbold not lede tbem a/way
vppon a wayne. 1 baue berd tbe preest many tymes
com play n e tnat tbey dide bym mocbe barmej^O dere
Reyner, lede me tbyder for alle tbat I may doo for

C4 23

J

_

<*

yowfjfi?Ye, TTybert, saye ye me troutbe, loue ye wel

tnyc9?j^Y^ 1 l° uc be™ w *l? 9 a *d tbe Catte* t louc
myes better tban ony thing tbatmen gyueme.Knowe
ye not that myes sauoure better tban veneson ? ye,
tban flawnes or pasteyes, Qdtl ye wel doo ? eo ledeme
tbederwberetbe myes ben, and tbenne ebalye wynne
my loue: ye,al bad ye slayn my fader, moder, and alle
my kyn.

GYflRKCsaydiYe moke & jape tber-
wytbj^Cbe Catte saide: So belpe me
<3od, 1 doo not! j0 XTybert, said tbe
f oxe, wiste 1 tbat, veryly I wolde yet
tbis nygbt make tbat ye sbuld be f ul
of mye8^Reynart,quod be,f ul, tbat
were many j^TTyberte, ye japef j^Reynart, quod be,
'in troutbtdoo not: yf I badde a fatte mows, I wold
^not gyue it for a golden noblejj^Late vs goo tbenne,
/Cybert,quod tbefoxe;Iwyl bryngeyow totbe place
erlao froyouj^Reyner, quod tbe Catte, vpon your
sauf conduytlwoldewel goo wytbyou to JVIonpelier
j^Late V9 tbenne goo, said tbe jpoxe, we tarye alto
longe^Cbus wente tbey f ortb witboute lettyng to
tbe place wbere as tbey wold be, to tbe prestes bame
wbicbewas faste wallidaboutewitbamude waUHnd
tbenvgbt to fore tbef oxe bad broken in,& bad stolen
fro tne preest a good fatte benne,and tbe preest alle
angry badsetteagryntoforetbebooltoauengebym,
for be wold fayn baue take tbe f oxeXbis knewe wel
tbe f elle tbeef , tbe f oxe, & saidjPSir ^ybert, cosyn,
crepe in to tbis bool,and yesbal not longe tarye but
tbat ye sbal catcbe myes by grete bepis: berke bow
tbey pvpef 3Hban ye be ful, come agayn, I wil tarye
bere arter you be fore tbis bole, Cde wil to morowe
24

■

goo to gyder to the courtXybert, wby taryeye thus
longe? Come of , and so maye we retornesone to my
wy f , wbicbe way tetb after vs, and sbal make vs good
cbiere j^Cybert, saide Reynart, cosyn, is it tbenne
your counseylle tbat I ofooin to tbys bole? TTbyse
prestes ben eo wyly and sbrewyssb 1 drede to take
barme JSF O, bo, tybert, said tbe f oxe, I sawe yow
^euer eo sore aferde: wbat eyletbyow?iTCbe Catte
was asbamed and sprange in to tne book, and anon
be was caugbt in tbe gryn by tbe necke er be wyste:
tbusdeceyuy d Reynart bis gbest and cosyn.

S€ybertwaswaeroftbegrynne,bewas
a/ferde and sprancfe fortb : tbe grynne
wente to, Cbenne began be to wrawen
for be was almost y/stranglyd : be call-
ed, be cryed, and made a sbrewd noyse.
Reynartstode to fore tbe boot & berde
al, and was well a/payed, and saydejfiTCybert, loueye
welmyesf Be tbeyfatte and good? Knewe tbe preeste
berof , or JVIertynet, tbey be so gen ty I tbat tbey wolde
brynge yow sawceXybert,ye syngeand eten,is tbat
tbe guyse of tbe court?Lord<3od,yf Ysegrym ware
tbere by yowin sucbereste asyenow be, tbennesbold
Ibeglad;foroftebebatb don me scatbe and barmef
j^Cybert coudenot goo awaye, but be mawed and
galped so lowde tbatfJlartynet sprang vp andcryde
lowde j^God be tbanked my gryn batb taken tbe
tbeef tbat batb stolen our bennes f Hryse vp: we wil
rewarde bym*

*5

1

r XLT) these wordes aroose the preest in
aneujltyme,andwakedalletbem that
weretn tne bows, & cryde wytb a lowed
voiejPCbef oxe is takefj^TTbere leep
& ran ne alle tbat there was: the preest
bym self rannealmodernaked.JNlarty~
net was tbefirst tbat cam to CybertXbe preest tone
to Locken bis wyf an offryng candel, and bad ber
lygbt it atte fyer, and be smote Cybert witb a grete
staf Xber receyuidTTybert many a grete stroke ouer
alle bis body : JVIertynet was so angry tbat be smote
tbe Catte an eye out. "Cbe naked preest lyf te vp and
sbold baue gyuen a arete stroke to "Cybert: but *Cy-
bert, tbat sawe tbat be muste deye, sprange bytwene
tbe preesteslegges wytb bis clawes & witb bis teetb,
tbatberaugbt out bis rygbtcolyon or balock stone:
tbat le ep becam yl to tbe preest & to bis grete sbame.
~~*^ |f)IS tbynge fyl doun vpon tbe floer.
{Oban damejulocke knewe tbat, sbe
sware by ber faders sowle tbat sbe
wolde it bad coste ber alle tboffryng
of a bole yere, tbat tbe preest bad not
bad tbat narme,burte and sbame, and
tbat it bad not bapped. Hnd said jfiFIn tbe deueles
name was tbe grynne there settef See, JVIertynet, lyef
sone, this is of thy faders barneys, this is a grete
shame, and to me a grete burte; for, though be be
beled berof ,yet be is but a loste man to me, and also
sbal neuer conne doo tbat swete playe and game \JP
Che f oxe stode wy thou te to fore tbe bole, and berde
alle tbyse wordes, and lawbed so sore that be vn-
netbecoudestonde. He spack thus al sof tlyjSFDame
7ulock,beal sty lie, and lete your grete sorowesynke.
26

Hlbatb tbepreest loste one of bis stones, it sbalnot
byndrc bym ; be sbal doo wytb you wel ynowbXber
is in tbe world many a chapelin wbicbe isrongen but
one belle ijSTChm scorned and mocked tbe $>xe tbe
prestes wyf, dame lulock, tbat was f ul of sorowe.
tTbepreestfyl doun a/swoune: tbey toke bym vp and
brought bym agayn to beddc. Hbo wente tbe f oxe
agayn in to bis borugb ward, and lef te TTybert tbe
Catte in grete drede & jeopardyc, for tbe f oxe wiste
none other but tbat tbe Catte was nygb deed. But
wban TTybert tbe Catte sawe tbem albesy aboute tbe
prcest, tbo began beto byte and gnawe tbe grenne in
tbe myddela/sondre, & sprange out of tbe bool, and
wenterollyng&wentlyng towards tbe kyngs court
Or be cam tbeder it was fayr day & tbe sonne began
to ryse,andbe cam to tbe court as a poure wyabt.Re
bad caugbt barmeatte prestes bows by tbe belpeand
counseyl of tbe foxe; bis body was al to/beten and
blynde on tbe one eyej^Glban tbe kynge wyste tbis,
tbat^ybert was tbus arayed, be was sore angry and
menaced Reynart, tbe tbeef f oxe, and anone gadred
bis counseyl to wytewbat tbey wold auysebym, bow
be myabt brynge tbe foxe to tbe lawe, and bow be
sboldbesette.

RO spack Sir Grymbart, wbicbe was
tbe foxes suster sone, and said jST%t
lordes, tbowgb mvn erne weretwiesso
bad and sbrewessD,yet is tberremedye
ynougb. Late bym bedon toas toafree
man : wban be sbal be juged be muste
be warned tbe tbirde tyme for al; and yf become not
tbanne, be is tbenne gylty in alle tbe trespaces tbat
ben leyd ayenst bym and bis, or complayned onj^

27

MHH

■■ ^mmmm

Gi7mbert,wbowoldeyetbatsboldegoo&dayebym
to come?<&bo wil auenturefor bym bis eeris, bys eye
orbislyf,wbicbei88ofelabee8t?ttrowetbereisnone
bere8omocbafoolfj0F<3rymbartspack:Sobelpeme
6od, 1 am so mocbe a fool tbat 1 will do tbis mes-
sage my self to Reynart, yf ye wille commande me*
Bow ©rymbert tbe Dasse brought tbe f oxe to tbe
lawe to fore tbe ky nge, capitulo xj&&

OOI go fortb,6rymbart, and see
wel to fore yow* Reynart is so f elle
and fals, and so subtyl, tbat ye
nede wel to loke aboute yow and
to bewareof bym^Grimbertsaid
be sbolde see welto: tbus wente
©rymbart to JVIaleperduvs ward,
and wban be cam tneder ne f onde

Reynart tbe f oxe at borne, and dame Brmelyn bis
wyf lave by berwbelpis in a darke comerXbo spack
Grymberd, and salewed bis erne and bis aunte, and
saide to Reynartj^Gme, beware tbat your absence
burte yow not in sucbe maters as be leyde and com-
playned on yow; but, yf ye tbynke it good, it is bye
tyme tbat ye come wytb me to tbe court, 0>e wytb-
boldyng you fro it can doo yow no good: tbere is
mocbe tbynge complayned ouer you, and tbis is tbe
tbirde warnyng, Hnd I telle you for troutb, yf ye
abyde to morow al day^ tber may no mercy belpe you,
yesbal see tbat wytb in tbre dayes tbat your bows
sbal be byseged al aboute, and tber sbal be made to
fore it galowes and racke, I saie you truly ye sbal
not tbenne escape, neytber witb wyf ne wytn cbylde :

tbe kynge sbal takealle your liuysfro yowXberfore
it is beste that ye goo wytb me to tbc court: your
sulty I wyse counseyl sbal parauenture auay Uc you,
£ber ben gretter auentures falle er this, for it mav
Rbappe ye sbal goo quyte of all tbe complayntes that
^ben complayned on you,and alle your enemyes sbal
abyde in tbe sbame, ye baue of tymes don more and
nfretter tbingi s tban this,

1BYJVHRC tbe foxe answerd j&Vc
save sootbf I trowe it is beste that
I goo wytb you, for tber lacketb my
counseyl parauenture tbe kynge sbal
be mercyf ul to me, yf I may come to
Jspeke wytb bym and see bym vnder
bis eyen, tbougb I bad don mocbe more barme, Cbe
jcourt may not stondewitboutme, tbat sbal tbe kyng
fwel vnderstande, tbougb some be so felletomeward
yet it gotb not to tbe berte: alle tbe counseyl sbal
con elude mocbe by me^bere grete courtesben gad-

redofkyngesorofgretelorde8,wbereasnedetb8ub-
tyl counseyl, tber muste Reynart fynde tbe subtyl
meanes. Cbey maye wel speke and saye tbeyr aduys,
buttbemyneisbesteandtbatgotbtoforealleotber.
In tbe courte ben many tbat baue sworen to do me
tbe worst tbey can, and tbat causetb me a/parte to
be beuy in my berte, for many maye doo more tban
one allone: tbat sbal burte me. jNeuertbeles, neuew,
it is better tbat 1 goo wytb yow to tbe court and
answere for my self, tban to sette me, my wyf , and
my cbyldren, in a venture for to be loste, flryse vp,
late vs goo bens : be is ouer mygbty for me, 1 muste
doo as be wylle: I can not bettre it, I sbal take it pa~
cientlyandsuffreit

*9

a6Y)S[eRX: sayde to bis wyf, dame
GrmtlynJ&l betake yow my cbyldren,
tbat ye see wel to bem, and specyally to
Reynkyn,myyongestson,be belyketb
me so wel I bope be sbal folowe my
stappes ; and tber is Rosel, a passyng
fayr tbeef, I loue bem as wel as ony man loue bis
cbyldren. Yf God gyue me grace tbat I may escape,
Isbalwbanlcomeagayntbankyowwytbfairwordes
1 j^Cbus toke Reynart leue of bis wyf. H Gods, bow
>sorouf ul a/bode Srmelyn wytb ber smale wbelpis,
f for tbe vytayller, and be tbat sorowed for JVlalper-
duys,was goon bis way and tbe bows not pourueyed
^evitaylledf
Row Reynard sbroef bym, capitulo xii^/?

|fiHJS[ Reynart & Crymbert bad
goon a wby le to gydre, tbo saide
Reynartj^Oere cosyn,nowam I
| ; in grete fere, for I goo in drede
I jj & ieopardye of my lyf ♦ I baue so
mocbe repentaunce for my syn-
nes tbatt wil sbryue me, dere co-
syn, to yow, bere is none otber
preest to gete. Yf 1 w ^ c sbryue, of my synnes my
soule sbolde be tbe cleererj^Grymbertansuerde:
Gem, wil ye sbryue you ? ^benne muste ye promyse
k firet to leue your steelyng and rouyngej^Reynart
saide tbat wiste be wel: J^ow berke,dere cosyn, wbat
, I sbal saye, Confiteor tibi pater of all tbe mysdedes
tbat I baue don, and gladly wil receyue penance for
tbem^Grymbertsayd:Cdbat8ayeve,wylleye8brvue
>yow ? tbenne saye it in Bnglissb tnat 1 may vnaer-
stande yowjfrReynart say de:X baue trespaced ayenst

30

alle the beestis that lyue, in especyal ayenst Bruyn

tbeBm,myneeme,wbomImadebiscrownealblody;
and taugbte tlybert tbe Cattc to catcbe myes, for I
made ber Iccpc tn a grenne, wber sbe was al to/beten ;
also I bauetrespaced gretly ayenst Cbanteclerewitb
bis children, for I baue made bym quyte of a grete
dele of bem.

pG kyncje is not goon al quyte,! baue
sklandred bym and tbe quene many
tymes tbattbey ebalneuer be deer tber-
of . Y^t baue I begyled Ysegrym tbe
GCTulf ofter tbanlcan telle wel:t called
bym erne, but tbat was todeceyue bym,
be is notbyng of my kyn. I made bym a monke, Gel-
>mare, wbere I my self also becam one, and tbat was
to bis burte and no prouffyte.1 made bynde bis feet
to tbe belle rope: tbe ryngyng of tbe belle tbougbt
bym so good tbat bewolae leme to rynae, wberof be
bad sbame, for be range so sore tbat alletbe folke in
tbestreetewereaferd,and meruaylled wbat mygbt be
on tbe belle, and ranne tbyder to fore be baa comen
to axe tbe religyon, wberf ore be was beten almost to
tbe detb.Hfter tbisltaugbt bym to catcbe fyssb,
wbere be receyuid many a stroke, Hlso I ledde bym
to tbericbest prestes bows tbat was in Vermedos;
tbis preest bad a spynde wberin benge many a good
flitcbe of bacon, wberin many a tyme I was wonte to
fyl my bely. In tbis spynde I bad made an bole, in
wbicbe I made Yseorym to crepe, tbere f onde be tub-
bes wytb beef and many goed flytcbes of bacon,
wberof be ete so mocbe wytboute mesure tbat be
mygbt not come out at tbe bole wbere bewente in,
bis bely was so grete and f ul of tbe mete, and wban

31

be entred bis bely was smal I wente in to tbc village
and made tbere a grete sbowteand noyse; yett berke
wbat I dyde tbenne, I ranne to tbe preest wbere be
satte at toe table and ete, and badde to fore bym as
fatte capone as a man mygbt fvnde: tbat capone
caugbt I & rannemy weye tberwitnal tbat X mygbte*
XTbe preest cryed out, and saidj^^ake and slee tbe
foxef X trowe tbat neuer man sawe more wonder, tbe
f oxe cometb in my bows and taketbmy capoone fro
r my table, wbere sawe euer man an bardyer tbeef f jff
Hnd as me tbougbt, be toke bis table knyf & casted
(it at me, but be toucbed me not:! ranne away, be
sboof tbe table from bym and folowed mecryeng^
Kylle and slee bym f J&t to goo and tbey after, and
manymoo cam after, wbicbealletbougbttoburteme,
RHJVJ^Bso longe tbatl cam wbere as
Isegrym was, and tbere I lete f alle tbe
capone, for it was too beuyforme,and
ayenstmywilleXlefteittbere,&tbenne
X sprange tburgb an bole wbere as X
1 woldebe*Hndas tbepreest tokevp tbe
capone be espyedXsegrym,andcrydejS?Smyte doun
here, frendesf Here is tne tbeef, toe wulf, see wel to
tbatbeescapevsnot^Cbeyrannealletogydrewytb
stckkesandstaues, and made a grete noysetbat alle
tbe neygbbours camen oute,and gauen bym many a
sbrewde stroke and tbrewe at bym grete stones, in
sucbewyse tbat befyldoun as bebadben deedXbey
slepid bym, and drewe bym ouer stones and ouer
blockes wytbout tbe village, and tbrewe bym in to a
dycbe,anatberebelayealtbenygbtXwoteneuerbow
becamtbens,sytbXbauegotenof bym,forasmocbe
as Xmade bym to fylle bis bely tbat be sware tbat be
wolde be myn belpe an bole yere,

32

T)0 ledde 1 bym to a place where! tolde
bym there were vij bennes and a coche
wbicbe satte on a percbe & were mocbe
fatte, and tber stode a f aldore by and
weclymmed tber vp.Isaydetobyrhyf
be wolde bileue me, and tbat be wolde
crepe in to tbe doore, be sbolde fynde manye fatte
bennes.Isegrym wente al lawbyng to tbe dore/ward,
and crope a lityl in and tasted nere and tbere, and at
laste be sayde to mej^Reynarde, ye borde and iape
witb me, f or wbat Isecbe I fynde notjSTCbennesaid
I:6ine,yf ye wyl fynde, crepe fortber in: be tbat wil
wynne, be muste laooure & auenture. Oey tbat were
wonte to sytte tbere 1 baue tbem a-wayej^Cbus 1
madebym t09ecbefertberin,&9booue bym fortbso
f erre tbat be fylledoun vpon tbe floer, for tbe percbe
was narowe. Hnd be fyll soo grete a f alle tbat tbey
sprange vp alle tbat dlepte, and tbey tbat laye nexte
tbe fyre cryden tbat tbe valdore was open, and som-
tbyngwas^lle and tbey wiste not wat it mygbt be,
g^ JggSJjjnSYroosevpand lyofbte a canctel,and
wban tbey sawebim tbey 9meton,beten
and wounded bym to tr>e detbe, I baue
brougbt bym tbu9 in many a iepardye
moo tban I can now rehene : 1 dbolcte
fynd many moo if 1 mewel bytbougbt
wbicblsbal tell you bereaftenHlsoIbaue bydryuen
wytbdameGrswyndebis wyf :IwoldeIbad not don
it, I am sory for it, bit is to ber grete sbame, & tbat
)merepentetbj^6rymbert9aide:Bme,lvnder9tande
you not jff Y)t sayde : 1 baue trespaced witb bis wyf
*J?ye sbryue you as tbougb ye belde somwbat be-
*bynde:Iwotenotwbatycmene,newbereyebauelern~
di 33

ed this langagejfiFHcb, dere erne, it were grete shame
yf I sbold saye it oppenly as it happed, I haue leyen
by myn aunte:Iam your erne, I sbold angre you yf I
spak vylanye of wymmen, JSeueu, now haue I tolde
yow alle that lean tbynke on, sette mepenaunee and
assoylle me, for I haue grete repentaunce j^Orym-
bert was subtyl and wyse, he brake a rodde of a tree
andsaidejjFSmcnowsbalyesmyteyourselftbryes
with this rodde on your body, & tbenne leye it doun
vpon thegrounde,and spryngetbre tymes ther ouer
without bowyngof your legges&wytboutstombl-
yng, and tbenne sbul ye take it vp & feysse it frendly
in token of mekenes and obedience of your penance
that I gaf yow. fierwitb be ye quyte of alle synnes
that ye haue don to this day, for I forgeue it yow al
jgfZmf oxewasglad: tbosayd©rymbert to bis erne
JfGmt, see now forthon that ye doo good werkis*
Rede your psalmes, goo to cbircbe, f aste and kepe
your balydayes,and gyue your allmesse, & leue your
synful and yl lyf , your tbef te and your treson, and
so mayye cometo mercyj^Cbe foxc promysed that
he wold so doo, and tbenne wen te they botbe to gydre
to the court/ward,

LY^BL besyde the waye as they went,
stode a cloysterof blacR nonnes where
many ghees, hennes, & capones wente
withoute the walles,and as they wente
talkynge the foxe brought Orymbert
out of the right waye thyder, & wytb-
out the walles by the bame wente the polayle* Xlbz
foxeespyed tbem,&sawafatteyong caponewhicbe
wenteallonefrohisfelaw6,and leep and caught bym
thattbe f ethers flewbaboutebis eeris,but tbecapone

H

escaped^Grymbert sayde: Cdbat, erne, cursydman,
what wil ye doo,wille ye for one of tbise poletes f alle
agayn in alle your synnes of wbicbe ye baue sbryuen
yow?Ye ougnte sorerepenteyoujflPReynartanswer-
ed: Ouly cosyn,I bad al forgoten : praye God tbat
beforgeueitme,forIwilneuerdosomorej^TTbenne
tomedtbey agayn ouer a lityl brydge,yet tbef oxe al-
way loked after tbe polaylle, be coude not refrayne
bym self: tbat wbicbe cleuid by tbe bone mygbt not
out of tbe flessbe; tbougb be sbold be banged, be
coude not lete tbe lokyng after tbe polayll as f er as
be mygbt see tbem j^Grymbert sawe bis maner and
sayde: f owle false deceyuour, bow goo your eyen so
after tbe poleyl?j^t:be foxe sayd : Cosyn, ye mys-
doo to saye to me ony sucbe wordes,ye brynge me
outof my deuocion and prayers : late me saye a pater
noster for alle tbe sowles of polaylle and ghees tbat
X baue betrayed, and of te wytb f alsbeed stolen from
tbysebolly nonnesj#(3rymbert wasnot wela/payd,
but tbe f oxe bad euer bis eyen toward tbe polayl til
atte lastetbey cam in tbe waye agayn,& tbenne tom-
ed tbey to tbe court/warde* Row sore quaked tbo Rey-
nard wban tbey aprocbed tbe court, for be wiste wel
tbat be bad for to answere to many a f owle feet and
tbef t tbat be bad doon.

dz

35

How the fox cam to tbc court, & bow be excused bym

to fore tbe hynge, capttulo xitj,*?,^

Ctbe first wban tt was fcnowen tn
tbe court tbat Reynart tbe f oxe &
Grymbaert btscosynwere comen
to tbe court, tbere was none soo
poure nor so feble of fcynne and
rrendes but tbat be maade bym
redy for to com playn e on Reynart
tbe f oxe, Reynart lofted as be bad

3

not ben aferd,and belde bym better tban be was, for
be went fortbe proudly wytb bis neueu tburgb tbe
byest strete of tbe court, rygbte as be bad ben tbe
fcynges sone,& as be bad not trespaced to ony man
tbe value of an beer, & wente tn tbemydelof tbe place,
stondyng to fore p*oble tbe Itynge, and say deji^God
oyue yowgretebonour and worship IO>er wasneuer
kyng tbat euer bad a trewer seruant tban I baue ben
to your good grace &yet am,JSeuertbeles,derelorde,
I knowe wel tbat tber ben many tn tbts courte tbat
wolde destroye me yf ye wold byleue tbem : but nay,
God tbanfce yow, bit is not fyttyng to your crowne
tobyleue tbtsefalsedeceyuars and lyars lygbtlyXo
Godmote tt be complayned bow tbat tbtsef als lyars
and Caterers now/adayes tn tbe lordes courtes ben
moste berde and byleuyd, tbe sbrewes and false de-
ceyuers ben borne vpf or todoo to good men alle tbe
barme& scatb tbey maye: our Lorde God sbal ones
reward tbem tbetr byrzjP'Cbt hynge sayde: pees,
Reynard, false tbeer and traytour, bow wel can ye
brynge f ortb f ayr talis, & alle sballe not belpeyow a

0^'

straws <Oene ye wytb sucbe flateryng words to be
my frende? Ye baue bo of tc seruyd me bo as ye now
sbal wel knowe: tbe pees tbat I baue comanded and
swornetbatbaueyewelboldm,baueye?jPCbaunte-
cler coude no lenger be stylle but cryde: Hlas wbat
baue I by tbis pees lostef ^Be stylle, Cbaunteclere,
boldeyourm outb, late me answere tbis f owle tbeef ♦
RCXO sbrewd felle tbeef, saide tbe
kynge, tbou saist tbat tbowlouest me
wel: tbat bast tbou sbewd wel on my
messagers, tbese poure f elaws, Hibert
tbe Catte and Bruyn tbe Bere, wbicbe
yet ben al blody, wbicbe cbyde not ne
save not mocbe, but tbat sbal tbis day coste tbe tby
lyf jgfln nomine pater criste filii, saya tbe f oxe, dere
1 lord and mygbty kyng,yf Bruyns crowne be blody,
wbat is tbat to me? Cuban be ete bony at Lantf erts
bows in tbevyllage,and dyde bym burte and scatbe,
tbere was be beten tberf ore* Yr be bad willyd, be is
so strongeof lymmes,bemygbtwel bauebeauengid
er be sprange tn to tbe water, Hbo cam ^ybert tbe
Catte wbom Ireceyued friendly: yf be wen te out with-
out my counseyl for to stele myes to a prestes bows,
and tbe preest dyde bym barme, sbolde 1 abye tbat?
TJbenne mygbt I saye 1 were not bappy* J^ot so, my
liege lorde, ye may doo wbat yewille tbowb my mater
be deer and good,yemay siecfe me, or roste,bange,or
make me blynde, I may not escape yow: we stonde
alle vnder your correccion. Y* be mygbty & stronge,
1 am f eble and my belpe is but smal, yf ye put me to
tbe detb bit were a smal vengeancej^almles tbey
tbus spack sprange vp Bellyn tbe Rame, & bis ewe
dame Olewey, and saide : JVIy lord tbe kynge, bere oure
d3 37

complayntfjPBruyn tbc Bere stode vp wytb al bis
iygnage and bis f claws, Xibert tbc Catte, Isegrym
'tbc Gdulf ,Kywart tbc Rare,and pantbcr tbc Boore,
tbc Camel, & Brunei tbc 6boos, tbc Kyde & 6boot,
Boudewyn tbeHsse,Borre tbc Bull,r)amel tbc Oxe,
>and tbc uIe8el,Cbantecler tbc Cock,pertelot, wytb
alletbeyr children. Hlletbisemade gretc rumourand
noyse, and cam f ortb openly to fore tbeir lordc tbe
kynge, & made tbat tbe f oxe was taken & arested.
fiowtbefoxewasarestid and juged todetb,capitulo

xiujA*£

|GRG vfjon was a parlament, and
tbey desired tbat Reynart sbolde
ben deed, & what sommeeuertbey
sayden ayenst tbef oxe bcanswerd
to ecbe to tbem. jNeuer berde man
of sucbe beestis, sucbe playntis
5 of wyse counseyl and subtyl in-
J uencions, and on tbat otber syde
'tbefoxemade bis excuse soweland formably tberon
tbat tbey tbat berde it wondred tberof : tbey tbat
berde and sawe it may telle bit f ortb for troutbe, I
sbal sborte tbe mater and telle bit f ortb of tbe f oxe
j^tbc kyngeand tbe counseyl berde tbe witnessis
, of tbe complayntesof Reynartsmysdcdes : bit wente
witb bem as it of te dotb, tbe f eblest batb tbe worst
»XTbey gaf e sentence and iuged tbat tbe f oxe sbolde
be dzdz and banged by tbe neckc: tbo lyste not be to
pleye, alle bis flateryng wordes and deceytes coude
not belpe bym, tbe jugement was gyuen and tbat
muste be don. Grymbert bis neueu,and many of bis
Signage, mygbt not fynde in tbeir bertcs to sec bym
dye, but token leue soroufully and romed tbe court.
38

R6 kynge bitbougbtc bym & marked

bow many ayonglyng departed from

tbensal wepyng,wbicbewerenygbeof

bis kynne, and sayde to bym self j^

Hier bebouetb otner counseyl berto,

tbougb Reynart be a sbrewe, tber be

many goodof bis lignagej^TTbyberttbeCattesayd:

Sir Bruyn and Sir Isegrym, bow be ye tbus slowe?

It is almost euen, bier ben many bussbes & bedges :

yf be escaped from vs and were delyuerd out of tbis

paryl, be is so subtyl and so wyly and can so many

deceytes tbat besbold neuer be taken agayn.Sbalwe

bange bym ? Row stonde ye al tbus ? Br tbe galewis

can be made redy it sbal be nygbtjgttsegrym be-

tbougbt bym & seyde: Hier by ts a gybet or galewis

jj^Hnd wytb tbat word besigbed, & tne Catte espyed

tbat and saydejfiPlsegrym,ye be aferdf \e it ayenst

your wy lie ?*Cbynke ye not tbat be bym self wen te

and laboured tbat botbe your bretbem were banged:

were ye good and wyse ye sbolde tbanke bym, and ye

sbolde not tberwitb so longe tarye*

How tbe f ojee was ledde to tbe galewis, cap.xv,*?^

SeGRYJYI balked and saydejfiF

Ye make mocbe a/doo, Sir Tlybert,

baddewean balterwbicbeweremete

for bis necke and stronge ynougb

wesboldsonemakean endej^Rey-

nert tbe f bxe, wbicbe longebadnot

spoken, saide to Isegrym : Sborte

my paynef Xlyberte batb a stronge

corde, wbicbe caugbt bym in tbe prestes bous wban

be bote of tbe prestes genytoirs: be can clyme wel

and is swyf t, late bym berevp tbe lyne, Isegrym and

d4 39

I

Bruyn, tbys becometb yow wel, that ye thus doo to
your neuewf 1 am sory that 1 lyue thus longe: baste
you, be sette tberto, it is euyl aoo tbat ye tarye tbus
longe, goo to fore Bruyn &lede me,lsegrym folowe
fast, and see wel to and beware tbat Reynart go not
awayjiSFCbo Bruyn sayd:ltis tbe best counseil tbat
1 euer yet berde tbat Reynart tbere seitbj^lsegrym
commanded anon and badde bis kyn and frendes
tbat tbey sbolde see to Reynart, tbat be escaped not,
for be is so wyly and f als* Cbev belden bym by tbe
feet, by tbe berde, and so kepte nym tbat ne escaped
not from bem* tbe f oxe berde alle tbyse wordes
wbicbe toucbid bym nygb, yet spak be and saydejfiF
Ocb, dere erne, me tbynketb ye payne your self sore
for to doo me burte and scatbef yf 1 durste 1 wolde
pray you of mercy, tbaugb my burte and sorow is
playsant to you, 1 wote wele yr myn aunte your wyf
betnougbte ber wel of olde femers sbe wolde not
suflP re tbat 1 sbold baue ony barme, but now! am be
tbat now ye wille doo on me wbat it sbal plese yow.
Ye, Bruyn and XTbibert, Cod gyue you sbames detb
but ye doo to me your werstf I wote wberto 1 sbal, 1
may deye but ones, 1 wolde tbat 1 were dedc al redy,
Isawe my fader deye, be bad sone donnej^Isegrym
sayde: Latevs goo, for ye curse vsbi causewe lengtb
tbe tyme; euyl motebefareyf weabydeony lengerj^
Rewente fortbwytbgrete enuyeon tbat one side,and
Bruyn stoode on tbe otber syde, & so lede tbey bym
fortntotbegalowes/warde/Cybertrannewitbagood
wil to fore and bare tbe corde, and bis tbrote was yet
sore of tbe grynne,and bis croppe dyde bym woo of
tbe stryke tbat be was take in, tbat bapped by tbe
counseyl of tbe f oxe, and tbat tbougbt be now to
quyte*
40

zr-*^

YBGRtT, Ysegrym, and Bruyn wente
bastely wy tb Reinert to the place, there
as the felons ben wonte to be put to
detb* JVobel tbe kynge, and tbe quene
andalletbatweretn tbe court, folowed
after for to see tbe ende of Reynart.
^bef oxewas in grete dredeyf bym mysbappe&and
betbougbt bym ofte bow be mygbte saue bym fro
tbe detb,and tbo tbre that sosoredesirden bys detb
bow be mygbt deceyue tbem and brynge tnem to
shame, and bow be mygbt brynge tbe kynge wytb
lesyngis to bolde wytn bym ayenst hem. t&is was
alle tbat be studyed, bow be mygbt putte away bis
sorowe wytb wylys, & tbougbt tbusj^XTbougb tbe
kynge&many onebevpon meangry,itis no wonder,
for I baue wel deseruid it: neuertbeles, X bope for to
be yet bis best frende, and yet sbal I neuer do tbem
good* Row strong tbat tbe kynge be, and bow wyse
tbat bis counseil be, yf X may broukemy wordes, X
knowe so many an inuencion X sbal come to myn a-

k ouca9 ^ cra9 *^ c y wo ^ c C0IT,cn *° tb* galewes*
W*TJ ^ ^P® said Yscgrym J& Sir Bruyn, tbin ke
^/T^Jk!§v now on your rede crowne wbicbe by
/ fxigrjf\l?i 1 Reynarts mene ye caugbt, we baue now
tbe tyme tbat we may wel rewarde bym*
Hybert, clyme vp bastyly & bynde tbe
corde faste to tbe lynde, ana make a
rydynge knotte or a strope, ye be tbe lygbtyst: ye
sbal this day see your wylle of bym* Bruyn, see wel
/to tbat be escape not, & bolde faste. 1 wil belpe tbat
tbe ladder be sette vp tbat be may goo vpwart tber-
,onjj? Bruyn saide: Do,I sbal belpe bym welj^be
>f oxe sayde: JVow may my berte be wel beuy for grete

4*

drede, for 1 see the dctb to fore myn eyen and 1 may
not escape* JVIy lorde the hynge and dere quene, and
forth alle ye tr>at here stande, er 1 departe fro this
world 1 pray you of a bone, that 1 may to fore you
allemakemy confession openly, & tellemy def aultes
al so clerly that my sowle be not a/combred,& also
that noman hereafter here no blame f ormy thefte ne
for my treson, JVIy deth shal be to me the esyer, and
praye ye alle to God that he haue mercy on my sowle.

Row thef oxe madeopenly his confession toforethe
fcynge&toforealtbemtbatwold bereit, cap.xyj/g^

LLB they that stoden there had
pyte whanne Reynart sayde the
wordis, and sayde it was but a
lytylrequeste yf the hynge wolde
graunte it hym: the hynge gaf
hym leue* Reynart was wet glad,
& hoped thatitmyghtf all better,
& said tbusj!?JSbw helpe, spiri-
tus Domini, fori see bier noman butlbaue trespac-
ed vnto: neuertheles, yet was 1 vnto the tyme that I
was wenedfrothe tete one the best chylde that coude
ouwher befounden*! wente tho and pleyde wyth the
lambes by cause I herde hem gladly blete, I was so
longewythhem thatat the lastel bote one: therlern-
ed 1 fyrste to lapen of the blood, hit sauourd wel, me
thought it right good, Hnd after I began to tasteof
the flessb, therof I was ly courous so that after that
I wente to the gheet in to the wode, there herde X the
kyddes blete, and Islewe of them tweyne.Ibegan to
wexe hardy: after X slew hennes, polayl and ghees
wbereuerlfond hem, thusworden my teeth al blody.

Hfter tbislwexe so felle&so wroth that what some
cucr 1 foundc that 1 mygbt ouer, 1 slowe alle, "Cbcr
after cam 1 by Isegrym now in tbe wynter, wberc be
bydde bym vnder a tree, & rehened to me tbat be was
myn eme:wbennelberdebym tbenne rekeneallyance
we becomen f elaws, wbicbe 1 may wel repente. <Oe
promysed ecbe to otber to be trewe and to vse good
felawsbip, and began towandre togyder:be stal tbe
grete tbynges and I tbe smalle, ana all was comyn
bytwene vs. Y*t be made it so tbat be bad tbe beste
dele, I gate not balf my parte, CClban tbat Ysegrym
gate a calf, a rame, or a weder, tbenne grimmed be &
was angry on me &droof me fro bym, and beldemy
part and bis to, so good is bet Yet tbis was of tbe
leste, but wban it so lucked tbat we toke an oxe or a
cowe, tbenne cam tbertobiswyf wytbvij cbildren,so
tbat vntome migbt vnnetb comeone of tbe smallest
rybbes, and yet bad tbey eten alle tbe flessbe tberof ,
tberwitballmuste Ibe contentrnot fortbatlbadso
grete nede, for I baue so grette scatte and good of
syluer A of gold tbat seuen waynes sbold not conne
caryeitaw ay,

- f>HJ^ tbe kynge berde bym speke of
tbis grete good & ricbesse, be brenned
in tbedesyre and couet^se tberof, and
saidejfif Reynart wbere is tberyebesse
becomen? telle me tbat^'Cne foxe
saide: JVfly lord, 1 sbal telle yow, tbe
ryebesse, was stolen, & bad it not be stolen itsbold
baue coste you your lyf,& sbold baue been murdred,
wbicbe Cod forbede, and sbold baue ben tbegrettest
burteof tbeworldej^<Jdban tbe quene berde tbat sbe
was sore af erde, and cryde lowde :Mlas and weleaway t

43

1

'

Reynart, what saye ye? I coniure yow by the longe
wayetbat youresoulesbalgoo tbat yc telle vs openly
tbe trou tbe berof , as tnocbe as yc knowe, of tbis gfrete
tnurdre tbat sbolde baue be doon on my lorde, tbat
we alle may bere itjSFJSbw berkene bow tbe f oxe sbal
flatre tbe kynge &quene,and sbal wynne botbetbeir
goodwillesandloue,&sbalbyndretbemtbatlaboure
for bis detb. He sbal vnbynae bis pack and lye, and
byflateryeand fayrwordessbal brynge fortb so bis
maters tbat it sbal be supposed for troutbe.

a sorourul countenance spack tbe
foxe totbequenejMam in sucbe caas
j now tbat X muste nedes deye, & badde
ye me not so sore coniured I wil not
jeoparde my sowle, and yf I so dyde I
sbold goo tberf ore in to tbe payne of
belle* Iwil sayenotbyng but tbatlwil make it good,
for py tously ne sbold baue ben murtbred of bis owen
f olke ; neuertbeles, tbey tbat were most pryncypal in
tbis feat were of my next kynne, wbom gladly I wold
not bewraye yf tbesorow were not of tbe belle^Cbe
kynge was beuy of berte, and saide: Reynart, saiste
tnou to me tbe trou tbe Ij&'Yc e **d tbe f oxe, see ye
not bow it standetb witb me? wene ye tbat 1 wil
dampne my sowle? (Obat sbold it auaylle me yf I
now saide otber wise tban troutbe? JMy detb is so
nygbe tber may netber prayer ne good belpe me J&
Xiho trembled tbe f oxe by dyssymylyng as be bad
ben af erde: tbe quene bad pyte on bym, and prayde
tbe kynge to baue mercy on bym in escbewyng of
more barme, and tbat be sbolde doo tbe peple bolde
tbeir peas, & gyue tbe f oxe audience, and bere wbat
be sbold sayeXbo comanded tbe kynge openly tbat
44

=£^

ecbe of tbem sbold be stylle, and suff re tbe f oxe to
saye vnberisped wbat tbat be woldejaTCbenne saide
tbe f oxe: Be ye now alle stylle, sytb it is tbe kynges
wille,and I sbal telle you openly this treson,and
tberin 1 wil spare noman tbat I knowe gy Ity.
Row tbe f oxe brought tbem in daunger tbat woldc
baue brought bym to detbe, & bow be gate tbe grace
of tbe kyng, capitulo xv\]gf#

OCd berkene bow tbe f oxe began.
In tbe begining be appeledGrym-
bert, bis dere cosyn which euer bad
bolpen bim in bis nede: be dyde so
bycause bis wordes sbolde be tbe
better bvleued, and tbat be f ortb-
on mygbt tbe better lye on bis ene-
my esjff Onis began be, firsthand
saide: JVIy lorde,my fader bad founden kynge Br-
,meryks tresour doluen in a pytte, and wban be bad
tbys grete good be was so prowdeand orguyllous
tbat be bad alle otber bestis in despyte wbicbe to
fore bad ben bis felawe. He made^ybert tbe Catte
to goo in to tbat wylde lande of Hrdenne to Bruyn
tbe Bere,for to do bym homage, and bad bym saye
yf be wolde be kynge tbat be sbold come in to f laun-
dres. Bruyn tbe Bere was glad bierof , for be bad
longe desyred it, and wente forth in to flaundres,
where my fader receyued bym right frendly. Hnone
be sente for tbe wvse Grymbert my neuewe, and for
Yscgrym tbe <Oulfe, and for T/ybert tbe Catte: tho
these fyue camen bytweneGaunt&tbetborpecallyd
Yfte, there they belden their counseyl an hole derke
nyght longe, Qlbat wyth tbe deuels nelpe and craft,
and for my faders ricnesse, they concluded & swore

45

there the kyngee detb, JSow berkene and here tbie
wonder: the foure eworen vpon Ysegryme crowne
tbat they ebolde make Bruyn a kynae & a lorde,and
bryncjebymin tbeetole atHkon,andeette tbe crowne
on bis heed, and yf there were ony of tbe kyngee
frendee or lignage tbat wolde be contrarye or ayenet
tbie, bym ebolde my fader wytb bie good & treeour
f or/drvue,a nd take from bym bie mygbt & power,
J€ happed eotbat on amorowtyde erly
tbatdrymbert my neuew waeof wyne
I almoet dronketbat betolde it to dame
Sloepcade hie wif in couneey l,& badde
her kepe it eecrete. But ebe anone f or-
gate it,& eaide it forth in confeeeion
to my wyf vpon a hetb where they both wen ten a py I-
gremage, but ebe muet firete ewere by her troutbe
land by the holy tbre kyngee of Coleyne tbat for loue
ne for hate ebe ebolde neuer telle it forth, but kepe it
eecrete* But ebe belde it not, and kepte it no lenger
eecrete but tyl ebe cam to me, and one tbenne tolde
to me alle tnat ebe berde, but X muete kepe it in
i eecrete, and ebe tolde me eo many tokenye tbat I
'felte wel it wae troutbe, and for drede and fere myn
beer etode right vp, and my herte becam ae beuy ae
leed and ae colde ae iee,Itbougbt by tbie alykneeee
.wbyebe byer/a/fore tyme byfylle to tbe froeebye,
wbiche were free and com playned that they had none
lorde, ne were not bydwongen,for a comynte with-
out a ofouuemour wae not good, and they cryden
to <3od with a lowde voye that be wolde ordeyne one
that mygbt rewle them : tbie wae al tbat they de-
eired. God berde tbeyr requeete, for it wae reeon-
able,and eente to them a etorke,wbiche ete and ewo-
4 6

lowed tbem in as many as be coude fynde, be was al~
way to bem vnmercyf ul, tbo complayned tbey tbeyr
burte, but tbenne it was to late : tbey tbat were to fore
free, & were a/f erde of no body, ben now bonde and
muste obeye to strengtbe tbeyr kynge. fiyer fore, ye
ricbe and poure, 1 sorowed tbat it mygbt bappen vs

fiCIS my lord tbe kyng, 1 baue bad
sorowe for you, wberof ye can me but
lytyl tbanke* 1 knowe Bruyn tbe Bere
for sucbe a sbrewe and rauener, wber-
for 1 tbougbte yf be were kynge we
sbold be alle destroyed and loste. 1
knowe our souerain lord tbe kyng of so bye byrtbe,
so mygbty, so benyngne & mercyf ul, tbat I tbougbt
truly it bad ben an euyl cbaunge for to baue a f oule
styn kynge tbeef, & to refuse a noblemygbty stately
Lyon, for tbe Bere batb more maddef olye in bis vn~
tbrifty beed and al bis auncestris tban ony otber
batb, tbus bad 1 in myn berte many a sorowe, and
tbougbt alway bow 1 mygbt breke and fordoo my
f aders f als counseyl, wbicbe of a cborle and a tray-
tour and worse tban a tbeef wolde make a lorde and
a kyngre. Hlwa^ 1 prayd <3od tbat be wolde kepe our
kyng in worship and good beltbe and gfraunte bym
long lyf, but 1 tbougbt wel yf my fader belde bis
tresour, be sbold witb bis f als f elaws wel fynde tbe
wayetbat tbe kyng sbold be deposed & settea/syde*
1 was sore betbougbt bowl myofbt beste wytewnere
my f aders cjood laye, 1 a/waytedat al tymesasnygb
as 1 coude tn wodes, in busbes, in f eeldis, wbere my
f ader ley de bis ey en , were it by ny gbt or by day e, colde
or weet, 1 was alway by bym toespye & knowe wbere
bis tresour was leyae*

47

^^"

^^"

■I

a tyme I laye doun al plat on tbe
grounde, and sawe my fader come ren-
nyng out of an bole: now berke wbat I
sawe bym doo* <dban be cam out of
tbe bole be loked fast aboute yf ony
body bad seen bym,andwban becoude
nowber none see, De stopped tbe bole witbsande and
made bit euen and playn lyke to tbe otber grounde by,
He knewenot tbat I saweit,and wbere bis footspore
stood, tbere stryked be witb bis tayl and made it
smotbe witb bis moutb tbat noman sbold espye it:
tbat lemed I tbere of my f ale f adre, and many sub-
tylitees tbat I to fore knewe notbyngof . "Cbenne de-
parted be tbens, and ran to tbe village/warde for to
doo bis tbyngis,andlf orgate not, but sprange and
lepe to tbe bole/ward, and bow wel tbat be bad sup-
posed tbat be bad made al faste,lwas not so mocbe
a fool but tbat I fonde tbe bole wel, and cratcbed and
scraped witb my feet tbe sande out of tbe bole, and
crepte tberin* "Cbere f onde I tbe moste plente of sil-
uerandof goldetbat euerl sawe: bier is nonesoolde
tbat euer so mocbe sawe on one beep in alle bis lyf .
tbo toke I Brmelyne my wyf to belpe, and we ne
rested nygbt ne day to bere and carye a/waye witb
grete labour &payne tbis ricbetresour in toanotber
place tbat laye tor vs better, vnder an bawe in a depe
bole. In tbemenewbylctbatmyn busewyf and Itbus
labouryd,my fader was witb tnem tbatwolde betraye
tbe kynge: now may ye bere wbat tbey dtdc. Bruyn
tbe Bere and Ysegrym tbe CQulf sente alle tbe londe
a/bouteyf ony man wolde take wages tbat tbey sbold
come to BruVn, & be wolde paye tbem tbeir souldye
or wagts to tore. Jfiy fader ranne ouer alle tbe londe
4 8

and bare tbc lettres, be wist lytil tbat be was robbed

rtJ^SiAt^u y 2 tb0ugb ^^t baue wonnen al
^S^liSm^l? 1 wnp^de a peny tberof .

*mm my fader badde ben oueral in
the landebytwene tbe eiueand tbe
bommc,& bad goten manyasouldy-
our tbat sbold tbe nexte somer baue
comen to belpe Bruyn, tbo cam be a-
gayn to tbe Bere and bis f elowis,and
'toide tbem m bow grete aventure be bad be to fore
tbe borugbes tti tbe lande of Saxone, and bow tbe
hunters dayly ryden and bunted witb boundes after
bynvn sucbewiae tbatbe vnnetb is escaped witb bis
lyf.atban be bad tolde tbis totbise foure false trav-
tours, tbenne sbewde be tbem lettres tbat plesvd
mocbe to Bruyn : tbere in were wreton xij C of Vse-
gryms hgnage by name witbou te tbe beres, tbe foxes,
tbe cattes,and tbe dassen. fllle tbise bad sworn tbat
wytb tbe first messager tbat sbolde come for tbem
tbey sbold be redy and come for to belpe tbe bere, yf
tbey bad tbeir wages a monetb to fore: tbis aspyed
I, I tbanke God Hf ter tbise wordes my fader wen te
to the bole wbere bis tresour bad leyn, & wolde loke
vpon it: tbo began beagretesorowe,tbatbesougbte
be f onde notbyng, be f onde bis bole broken and bis
tresour bom awayXberedede be tbat I may wel sor-
owe and bewaylle, for arete anger & sorowe be wente
and bynge bym self: thus abode tbe treson of Bruyn
by my subtylte after. J^ow see myn infortune, tbise
traytours Ysegrym and Bruyn ben nowmost preuy
of counseyl aboute tbe kynge, and sytte by bym on
tbe byeboucbe,and I,poure Reynart, baue no tbanke
ne reward. 1 baue buryed myn owen fader by cause
er 49

tbe kynge sbolde baue bis lyf . JMy lorde, sayde tbc
f oxe, wbere ben tbey tbat so wolde doo, tbat is to
destroye tbem self for to kepe yow ?

f)G kynge &tbequeneboped to wynne
tbc tresour, & wytb outc counceyl toke
totbem Reynart,and prayde bym tbat
be wold do so wel as to telle tbem were
tbis tresour wasj^Reynart said : Row
sbolde 1 telle tbe kynge, or tbem tbat
wolde bange me for loue of tbe traytours and mur-
derars, wbtcbe by ber fiaterye wolde fayne brynge me
to detbe? Sbolde 1 telle to tbem wbere my good is,
tbenne werelou t of my wittej^Cbe queue tbo spak :
JSfay, Reynart,tbe kynge sbal lete you baue your lyf
and sbal al to gydre f orgyue you, and ye sbal be fro
.bens fortbe wyse and true to my lorde jj^XTbe foxe
answerd to tbe quene:Derelady,yf tbe kynge wil be-
leue me,and tbat be wil pardone and forgyue me alle
my olde trespaces,tber was neuer kynge so ricbe as
Isbal make bim, for tbe tresour tbatlsbal doo bym
baue is ricjbt costely & may not be nombred j& XTbe
kynge saide : Hcb, dame,wille ye beleue tbe f oxe ? sauf
your reuerence be is borne to robbe, stele, and to lye:
tbis cleuid to bys bones & can not be bad out of tbe
flessbj?0>equene saide: ]NTay,mvlorde,ve may now
well byleue bym : tbougb be were nere to tore f elle, be
is now cbaun ged otherwise tban be was, Y* Da ue wel
berdc tbat be batb appecbid bis fader and tbeDasse
bis neuew, wbicbe be mygbt wel baue leydc on otber
bestes yf be wold baue ben false, f elle, and a tyar jfif
0>e kynge saide: Dame, wille ye tbenne bauc it soo,
and tbynke yc it best to be don, tbougb 1 supposed
it sboldc burte me 1 wille take alle tbise trespaces of
5o

i i -z- . a~

Reynart vpon me, and bclcuc bis wordes : butlswere
by my crowne yf be cucr bcrc after mysdooand tres-
pace, tbat sbal be dcrc abyc and allc bis lignagc vnto
tbc ix degree^TTbef oxe loked on tbc kyng stound-
mele,and was glad in bis berte,and saidc: JMy lorde,
Iwere not wyse if Isboldc sayc tbyngc tbat were not
trewe J? Che kynge toke vp a straw fro tbe ground,
and pardoned and foraaf tbef oxe all tbe mysdedes
and trespaces of bys fader and of bim also* yf tbe
f oxe was tbomery and glad it was no wonder, for be
wasquyte of bisdetbandwas allefree and franke of
alle bis enemyes,

R6 f oxe saide : JVly lorde tbe kynge &
noble lady tbe quene, God reward yowf
tbys arete worship tbat ye do to me, I
sbal tbyn ke & also tban ke you for it in
sucbe wise tbat ye sball be tbe richest
kynge of tbe worlde,for there is none
lyuyng vnder tbe sonne tbatl vouchesauf better my
tresouron tban on yow botbe JPZbcn toke the f oxe
, vp a straw and profred it to tbe kyng,andsaide: JVly
mostedere lord, pleseityowtoreceyuebiere the ryebe
tresour wbyche kynge fermeryk badde, for I gyue it
vnto you wytb af re wylle and knowleche it openly^
XTbe kynge receyuid tr>e straw, and tbrewe it meryly
fro bym wytb a joyous vysage, and thanked moche
tbe f oxe, Cbe f oxe lauahed in bym self. Che kynge
thenne berkened after tbe counseyl of tbe f oxe, & all
tbat tber were were at his wy lie J?My lorde, saide be,
herkene & marke wel my wordes. In tbe west side of
f laundres tber standetb a wode, and is named fiul-
sterlo, & a water tbat is called Kreken py t tyetb tber-
by : tbys is sogrete awildemessetbatof te in an hole
tz 51

yere man ner wyf comctb tber ein, sauf tbey that wil
& tbcy that wille not escbewe it: tbcrc lyetb tbis tre~
eour bydde. Vnderstande wel tbat tbc place is called
Kreken pit, f or laduyse you for tbe leste burte tbat ye
and my ladye goo botb tbyder, for I knowe none so
trewe tbat I durste on your bebalue truste, wberf ore
goo your self e. Hnd wban ye come to Krekenpyt,ye
sball fynde tbere two bircben trees standyng altber
next tbe pytte. JVIy lorde, to tbe byrcben trees sbal ye
go, tbere lyetb tbe tresour vntber doluen : tbere must
ye scrape and dygge a/way a lytyl tbe mosse on tbe
one eide.'Cber sballe ye fynde many a jewel of ofolde
and syluer, & tbere sbal ye fynde tbe crowne wbyebe
kynge Grmeryk ware in bis dayes, tbat sbold Bruyn
tbe feere baue worn yf bys wyll badd gon fortb: ye
sbal see many a costly jewel witb ricbe stones sette
in golde werke,wbicbecoste many a thousand marke.
JVIy lord tbe kynge, wban ye now baue alle tbis ofood,
bow of te sbal ye saye in your berte & tbynke, O bow
true art tbou,Reynart tbef oxe, tbat witntby subtyl
wytte daluyst and byddest bere tbys grete tresour.
©od gyue tbe goode bappe and wellf are wbere euer
tbou beet

jRB kynge sayd:SirReynart,yemuste
come and belpe vs to dygge vp tbys
tresour, I knowe not tbe way, I sbolde
neuer conne fynde it I baue berde of te
named parys, London, Hkon,& Col-
1 eyn :as me tbynketb tbis tresour lyetb
rigbt as ye mocked and japed, for ye name Kryefeen-
pyt tbat is a f ayned name JSF tbese wordes were not
good to tbe foxe, and be sayd witban angry mode,&
dissymyledand saide:Y^my lord tbe kynge, ye beal

so nygbe that as fro Rome to JVIaye. Olene ye that I
willelede yow toflomme7ordayn ?jNay,Isbal bringe
y 2H? ut {J f ^«nyngand sbewe it you by good wytnes
j^ne called lowd : Kywart tbc bare, come bere to fore
tbe kyngef jfiFTTbe bestes sawe alle tbyder ward,and
wondred wbat tbe kynge wold j^XTbe f bxe sayde to
tbe Dare: Kywart, ar ye a/colde, bow tremble ye and
quake so ? Be not a/f erd, & telle my lorde tbe kynqe
bere tbe troutbe, and tbat I cbarge you by tbe f aitb
andtroutbetbat ye owe bym,&tomy lady tbe quene,
of sucbe tbingaslsbal demaunde or you jj^Kywaert
saide:Isbal sayetbetroutbetbougblsbold losemy
necke tberf ore: I sbal not lye, ye baue charged me so
spre,yf I knowe itj^TTbenne say, knowe ye not wbere
Knekenpyt standetb, is tbat in your mynde?j^Cbe
Rare saide:I knewe tbat wel xij yer a/goon wber tbat
stondetb : wby aske ye tbat? It stondetb in a woode
named Hulsterlo vpon a warande in tbe wyldernesse*
I baue suffred tbere mocbe sorowe for bunger & for
colde, ye, more tban 1 can telle, pater Symonet tbe
f riese was woned to make tbere false money, wber-
wy tb be bare bim self out, & al bis f elawsbip, but tbat
was to fore er 1 bad f elawsbip wytb Ryn tbe bounde,
wbicb made me escape many a daunger, as be coude
wel telle yf be were bere, and tbat I neuer in my dayes
trespaced ayenst tbe kynge otberwysetban I ougbt
to doo witb rigbtjfiFReynart say d to bym : Go agayn
to yonder f elawsbip: bere ye, Kyward, my lorde tbe
kynge desyretbnomore to knoweof yowj^Tbe fiare
retorned and wente agayn to tbe place be cam fro.
Cbe f oxe sayde: JMy lorde tbe kynge, is it trewe tbat
I saide?j^Y c Rcynart, said tbe kynge, for/gyue it
me,Idydeeuyl tbatlbeleuid you not.)Vow,Reynart,

53

e3

m

frende, fynde tbe waye that ye goo wytb vs to tbe
place ana pytte where the tresour lyetnj^Cbe foxe
sayde:Itisawonder tbync?, wene ye that Iwolde not
fayne goo with yow? \f it were so wytb me that I
mygbt goo wytb yowin sucbewise tbat it no shame
were vnto your lordsbyp, I wold goo: but nay, it
may not bee* Herkene what I sbal saye and muste
nedes, tbaugb it be tomevylonye and sbame. GCTban
Isegrym tbe <ftulf in tbe deuels namewente in to re-
ligion, and become a monbe sborn in tbe ordre, tbo
tbe prouende of sixe monkes was not suffycient to
bym, and bad not ynougb to ete, be tbenne playned
andwaylled so sore tbat 1 bad pyte on bym for be
becom slowe and seke, and by cause be was of my
kynne I gaf bym counceyl to renne away and so be
dyde, wberf ore I stonde a/cursed, & am in tbe popes
banne and sentence, I wil tomorow bytymes as tbe
sonne risetb take my waye to Rome for to be as-
soyled and take pardon, and fro Romelwil ouer tbe
see in to tbe Roly Lande,andwil neuerretomeagayn
til I baue doon so mocbe good tbat 1 may witb wor-
ship goo wytb yow, Hytwere greet repref to you,my
lord tbe kynge, in wbat londe tbat 1 accompanyed
you tbatmensbold sayeyereysedandaccompanyed
your self e witb a cursyd, and a persone agrauatejg?
Zbc kynge savde: Sitb tbat ye stande a/cursyd in
tbe censuresor tbe cbircbe, yf twentewytb you men
sbold arette vilonye vnto my crowne* I sbal tbenne
take Kywaert, or somme otner, to aoo witb me to

Kryekenpytte t andlcounseylleyou t Reynart,tbatye
put vou your self outof tbis cursej^JVfly lord, quod
tbe f oxe, tberf ore wy lie I goo to Rome as bastely as
I may : I sbal not reste by nygbt ner day till bee as-
54

;=s^

soylledjtfFReynart, said tbe kynge, me tbynketb yc
ben torncd in to a good waye, God gyue you grace
taccomplyseb wel your desyre,

SSOp4S as tbis spekyng was done,
Noble tbe kyng went and stode vpon
an bygbstage of stone, &conmanded
sylence to alle tbe bestes, & tbat tbey
sbulde sytte doun in a rynge rounde
vpon tbe grasse, euericbein bis place

after bis estate and byrtbe, Reynart tbe foxe stode
by tbe quene, wbom be ougbt wel to loue jSPCbenne
said tbe kynge: ftere ye alle tbat be poure and ricbe,
yong and olde, tbat stondetb beret Reynart, one of
tbe beed oflpycers of my bows, bad don so euy l,wbicbe
Hbi& daye sbold baue ben banged, batb now in tbis
courtedon somocbe tbat l& my wyf tbe quene baue
>promysed to bym our grace & frendsbyp, tbe quene
batb praydemocbeforbym,in somocbe tbat I baue
made pees wytb bym, and I gyue to bym bis lyf and
membre frely agayn, and I comande you vpon your
lyf tbat ye doo worsbip to Reynart, bis wyf, and to
bis cbyldren, wbere someuer ye mete bem by day or
by nygbt.Hndlwil alsoberenomoocomplayntesof
Reynard: yf be batb bier to fore mysdon and tres-
paced, be will nomore mysdo ne trespace, but now
bettre bym. Re wylle to morowe erly goo to tbe pope
for pardon and foryeuenes of alle bys synnes, and
f ourtb ouer tbe see to tbe Holy Lande, and be wille
not comeagayn till be brynge pardon of alle bys
synnesj^Cbis tale berdeXTyselyn tbe Rauen, &leep
to Ysegrym, to Bruyn, and to Cybert, tbere as tbey

c 4 55

I

were, and saide: Y* caytyfs, bow gotb it nowe? Y*
vnbappy folke, wbat do ye bere? Reynard tbe f oxe is
nowasquyerand a courtyer & rigbtgrete & mygbty
in tbe court: tbe kyngebatb skylledbym quyte of alle
bis brohes,andforgyuen bym alle bistrespaces and
mysdedes, and ye be alle betrayed and apecbydjj?
Ysegrym saide: Row may tbis be? I troweTTyselyn
tbat ye lycj&l do not certaynly, saide tbe Rauen Jf
O>o wente tbe (Oulf and tbe Bere to tbe kynget'Cy-
bert tbeCatte was in grete sorowe, be was so sore a-
f erde tbat for to baue tbe foxes frendsbtp be wold
wel f orgyue Reyner tbe losse of bis one eye, tbat be
loste in tbe prestes bows : be was so woo be wist not
wbat to doo, be wolde wel tbat be neuer bad seen tbe
foxe*

Row tbe (Jliilf & tbe Bere were arestyd by tbe labour
of Re ynart tbe f oxc, capitulo xviij^^

SGGRYJVI came proudly ouer
tbe felde to fore tbe kynae, and
be tbanked tbe quene, and spack
wytb a felle moedylle wordes on
tbe f oxe, in sucbe wise tbat tbe
kynofeberdeitandwaswrotb,and
made tbe (Hulf and tbe Bere anon
to be arested: ye sawe neuer wood
dogges do more barme tban was don to tbem, tbey
were botbe f aste bounden so sore tbat alle tbat ny gbt
tbey mygbt not stere bande ne foot, tbey mygbt
scarsely rore ne meue ony joynte. ]^ow bere bow tbe
foxefortbdyde: be bated bem,be laboured so to tbe
quene tbat be gate leue for to baue as mocbe of tbe
Beres skyn vpon bis ridgeas afoote longe & afoote

brode, f or to make bym tbcrof a scryppeXbenne was
tbe foxe redy yf be bad foure stronge sboon : now
here bow be dyde for to gete tbese sboon, be said to
tbequenej^JVIadame, I am your py Igrym, berets myn
erne, Sirlseorym, tbatbatbiiij strong sboon wbicbe
were good for me: yf be wolde late me baue two of
tbem I wolde on tbe waye besyly tbynke on your
sowle, for it is rvgbt tbat a pylgrym sbolde alway
tbynke & praye for tbem tbat doo bym good* Tbus
maye ye doo your sowle good yf ye will: and alsoyf
yemygbtgeteofmynaunte,dameeerswyn,al6otwo
of ber sboon to gyue me, sbe may wel doo it for sbe
gootb but lytil out, but abydetb alway at bomej^

vbennesaydetbequene:Reynard,yowbebouetbwel
sucbe sboes,ye may notbewytbouttbem,tbey sbal
be good for you to hepe your feet bool, for to passe
witb tbem many a sbarpemontayn & stony rocbes :
ye can fynde no better sboes for you tban sucbe as
Isegrym and bis wyf baue & were, tbey be goodand
stronge: tbougb it sbolde toucbe tbeir lyf, ecbe of
tbem sbal gyue you two sboes for to accomplyssb
wytb your bye ptlgremage.
How Ysegrym and bis wyf ereswyn muste suffre
ber sbois to be plucked of and Reynard dyde on tbe
^yej^rtogooto Rome wytb, capitulo xix&&

"fiOS batbe tbys false pylgryme
goten fro Isegrym ij sbooes fro
bis feet, wbicbe were baled of tbe
clawestotbe6enew6:yesawneuer
foule tbat men rosted layesostill
as Isegrym dydewban bis sboes
were baled of, be styred not & yet
bis feet bteddeXbenne wban Ise-

grym was vnsboed, tbo muste dame Serswyn bis
wyf lye doun in tbe grasse wytban beuy cbere, & sbe
lostetberber byndersboesjSTCbo was tbefoxeglad
and saide to bis aunte in scorne; JVIy dere aunte, bow

mocbesorowebaueyesufrredformysakefwbicbeme
sore repentetb sauf tbis, berof 1 am glad, for ye be
tbe lyeuest of alle my kyn, therefore! wy I gladly were
your shoen, ye sbal be partener of my pylgremage &
dele of tbe pardon tbatlsbal witbyour sboen f eccbe
ouer tbe see Jf Dame Grswyne was so woo tbat sbe
vnnetbe mygbte speke: neuertbeles, tbis sbe sayde:
H, Reynart, tbat ye now al tbus baue yourwyllpray
God to wreke itf jfrYsegrym and bis felaw tbe Bere
belden tbeir pees, and wberenalstylle: tbeywere euyl
at ease, for tbey were bounden & sore wounded, fiad
Cybert tbe Catte baue ben tbere be sbold also som-
wbat baue suff red in sucbe wyseas besbolde not es-
caped tbens w ytbout burte and sbame*

R6 next day wban tbe sonne aroos
Reynard tbenne dyde grece bis sboes,
wbicbe be bad of ysegrym & Grswyn
bis wyf, and dyde bem on and bonde
bem to bis feet, and wente to tbe kynge
and to tbequene,and said to bem witb
a glad cberejSFJVoble lord & lady, God gyue you good
morow, and 1 desire of your grace tbat 1 may baue
maleand staff blessyd as belongetb toa pilgrym^
fcbenne tbekyngeanonesent forBellyn tbeRamme,
Jand wban be cam be saide: Sir Bellyn,ye sballe doo
masse to fore Reynart, for be sbal ofoo on pylgrem-
age, and gyue to bym maleand staf^Cbe Ram an-
swerd agayn,and said: JVIy lord,! dare not do tbat,
for be bath said tbat be is in tbe popes cursejJTCbe
58

KQt^CKH

kynge said: Olbat tberof ?mayster Gelys batb said
to V8 yf a man bad doo as many synnes as al tbe
world, and be wold tbe synnes forsake, sbryue bem,
and ressevue penance, & do by tbe prestes counseyl,
<3od wil rorgyue tbem and be mercyful vnto bym,
Nowe wil Reynard goo ouer tbe see in to tbe Holy
Lande, &make bym clere of al bis synnesj^Cbenne
answerd Bellyn to tbe kynge: I wil not doo litil ne
mocbeberin butyf yesauemebarmlesin tbespirituel
court byforetbebyssbopprendelor,and tofore bis
arcbedeken Loosuynde, and to fore Sir Rapiamus
bis offycyaljaTCbe kynge began to wexe wrotb, and
satderlsbal not byddeyou somocbe in balf ayere,
I bad leuer bange yow than I sbold so mocbe praye
you for itj^QIban tbeRamesawe tbat tbekyngewas
angry, be was so sore aferd tbat be quoke for fere,
and wente to tbe awter and sange in bis bokes, and
radde sucbe as bym tbougbte good ouer Reynart,

1 wbicbelytyl sette tber by,sauf that be wold bauetbe

(Worsbip_tberof\

RHJSf Bellyn tbe Ramme bad alle sayd
bis seruyse deuoutly, tbenne be bynge
on tbe foxes neck a male couerd wytb
tbe skynne of Bruyn tbeBere & a lytil
palster tberby, tbo was Reynart redy
toward bis journey, Cbo loked be to-
ward tbe kynge as be bas ben sorowful to depart, &
?faynedasbe bad wepte,rigbtas be baddeyamerdein
this berte: but yf be badony sorow,itwas by causeal
(tbe otber tbat were tbere were not in tbesame plygbt
as tbe (Oulf & Bere were brought in by bym, JVeuer-
tbeles, be stood & prayd tbem alle to praye for bym,
lyke as be wold praye for tbem: tbe foxt tbougbt

59'

jm

tbatbetaryedlongeandwoldfaynbauedefwtedfor
be knewe bym self gyltyjSFCbe kynge saide: Rey~
nart,Iam 9017 ye be sobasty and wil no lenger tarye
^Nay, my lord, it is tyme, for me ougbt not spare
to doo wet I pray you to gyue me leue to departe, 1
muete doo my pylgremagejJTCbe kynge eayd: God
be wytb yowl^Etnd commanded alle tbem of tbe
court to go and conueyne Reynart on bis way, sauf
tbeCttulf&tbeBerewnycbefa9tlayebounden,tbere

was none tbat durst be sory tberf ore.Hnd yf ye bad
seen Reynart, bow personably be wente wytb tys
maleand palsteron bis sbolderandtbesboeson bis
feet, ye sbold baue laugbed. Re wente & sbewde bym
outeward wysely, but belaugbedin bis berte tbat alle
tbey brought bym f ortb, wbicbe bad a lytyl to fore
been witb bym sowrootb,and also tbe kynge wbicbe
so mocbe bated bym, be bad made bim sucbe a fool
tbat be brought bym to bis owne entente: be was a
py Igrym of deux/aas.

"1Y lord tbe kyng, sayd tbe f oxe,I pray
you toretome acfayn,! wil not tbat ye
goony f ertberwitbme,ye mygbt baue
barme tberby : ye baue tbere twomor-
derars arestyd,yf tbey escaped youye
_3 mygbt be burte by tbem,l pray God
kepeyou fro mysauenturejJFCdytb tbese wordes be
stode vp onbisafterfeet,and prayde alle tbe beestys
greteandsmaltbatwoldebeparteners of bis pardon
tbat tbey sbold pray e for bym : tbey sayde tbat tbey
allewolderemembrebymXbennedepartedbefrotbe

kyncre so beuyly tbat many of tbem ermed. 'Cbenne
saick be to Kyward tbe Rare & to Bellyn tbeRamme
merylyj^Oere frendes, sball we now departe ? Y* wil,

60

a*l

and God will accompanye me f either: ye two made
me neuer angry, ye be good for to walke wytb, cour-
toys, frendly & not complaynedon of ony beesteTe
be of good condicions and goostly of your lyuyng,

yelyuebotbeasIdydewbanIwasareclu6e,yfyebaue
leeuis and gras ye be plesyd,y e retcb not or brede, of
fles6be,nesucbemaner metej^GIitb sucbeflateryng
wordes bath Rey n ard tbis two Hatred, tbat tbey wen t
wytb bym tyl tbey camen to fore bis bows Maleper-
duys.

Row Kywart tbe Rare was slayn by tbe f oxe, capitulo

|RHJ^ tbef oxe was comen to fore
tbe y ate of bis bows, be say de to
Bellyn tbeRammejfiFCosyn,ye
sbal abide bere witboute, I and
Kywart wille goo in, for I wille
praye Kywart to belpeme to take
my leue of Grmelyn my wyf , &
to conf orteber andmy cbyldren
^Bellyn sayde: 1 praye bym to comforte tbem wel
jsraiytbsucbflaterynof wordes brought be tbeRare
in to bis bole in an euylbour : tbere f onde tbey dame
Srmelyn lyengon tbegrounde witb ber yonglyngis,
wbicbe bad sorowed mocbe for frede of Reynarts
detb, but wban sbe sawe bym come sbe was gladjj?
But wban sbe sawe bis male and palster and espyed
bis 6boes,sbe meruailled & sayd:Dere Reyner, bow
baue ye spedd?jfiPRe sayd,Iwas arestidin tbecourt,
but tbe kynge lateme gon. 1 muste goo a pilgremage :
Bmyn tbe Bere & Y^egrym tbe<Sdulf tbey beplegge

6i

for inc. 1 tbanke the kyngfe be bath ofyuen to vs Ky-
wart bier for to doo witb bym wnat we wyl. 0>e
kynge saide bym self tbat Ky wart was tbe first tbat
on vs complayned, and by toe faytb tbat 1 owe vow
I am rigbt wrotb on Kywartj#<Uban Kywart berde
tbise wordes be was sore af erde, be wold baue fledde
but be mygbt not, for tbe f oxe bad anon byten bis
tbrote a/two^Cbo say d be : Late vs go ete tbis good
f atte Haref jSTCbeyongewbelpes cam also, tben beld
tbey a grete feste, for Kywart nad a good fatte body.
Grmelyn ete tbe flessbe and dranke tbe blood, sbe
tbanked ofte tbe kynge tbat be bad made tbem so
fmeryj^Cbe ^oxe saide : Gte as mocbe as ye maye, be
• wil paye for it yf we will f ecbe it.

~|ne sayd : Reynart, I trowe ye mocke:
tellemetbetroutbe,bowyebedeparted
tbens?j?Dame, 1 baue so flaterid tbe
kynae and tbe quene tbat I suppose
tbe frrendsbipbytwenevs sbal be rigbt
Itbynne wban be sballe knoweof tbis.
He sbal be angry and bastely seke me for to bange
me by myne necke: tberfore late vs departe,and stele
! secretly a/way in somme otber foreste, wberewe may
lyuc wytboute fere and drede, and tbere tbat we may
lyue vij yerc and more and be fynde vs not. XTbere is
plente of good mete of partrycbs,wodecokkis,and
mocbe otber wylde f owle, dame, and yf ye will come
witb me tbyder tber ben swete welles and fayr and
clere rennyng brokes. Lord God, bow swete eyer is
tbere f XTbere may we be in pees and ease, and lyue in
grete weltbe, for tbe kynge batb lete me gon by cause
Itolde bym tbat tber was grete tresourin Krekenpyt,
but tbere sbal be fynde notbyng tbougb be sought
62

euer; tbts sbal sore angre bym wban be knowetbtbat
be ts tbus deceyuid, Olbat, trowe ye bow many a arete
lesynge muste I lye er I code escape from bym? It
was barde tbat I escaped out of pryson, I was neuer
tn gretter paryl, ne nerrer my detb: but bow it euer
Jgoo, I sbal by my wille neuer more comein tbekyncres
daunger. I baue now goten my tbombe out of bis
>mou tb,tbatt banke 1 my subtylyte,

H JVI e ermelyne sayde jff Reynart, I
counseyl tbat we goonot in to another
r oreste, wbere wesbolde bestrangeand
elenge, we baue bere al tbat we desyre,
& ye be bere lorde of our neygbbours :
J wberfore sballe we leue tbis place and
^auenture vs in a worse? (Be may abyde bere sure yn~
ougb : yf tbe kynge wold doo vs ony barm or besiecre
vs, bere ben so many by or side boles in sucbe wyse
i as we sbal escape fro bym. In abydyng bere we may
not doo amys, we knowe alle bypatbes ouer alle, and
er be take vs wttb mygbt be muste baue mocbe belpe
tberto: but tbat ye baue sworen tbat ye sballe <roo
ouersee&abtde tbere, tbatis tbetbyng tbat toucbetb
me moste jSWay, dame, care not tberf ore: bow more
for/sworn, bow more forlorn: Iwente ones witb a
good man tbat said to me tbat a bydwongen otb, or
otb sworn by force, was none otb- Tbougb I wente
on tbts pilgremage it sbold not auaylle me a cattes
tayl, I wil abyde bere and folowe your counseyl: yf
tbe kynge bunte after me, I sbal kepe me as wel as I
maye: yf be be me to mygbty, yet I bope wytb sub-
ty te to begyle bym, I sbal vnbynde my sack, yf be
will secbe barm be sbal fynde barme.

63

|0<n was Bellyn tbe Rammeangry that
1 Kywart bis f elawe was so Ion ge in the
! bole and called lowdejjgFCome out, Ky~
warte,in tbe deuels name! bow longe
sbal Reynart kepe you there? Haste
J you & come late vs goo^Cdban Rey-
nard berde this, be wente out & saide softly to Bel-
lyn tbe RammejflFLief Bellyn, wberf ore be yeangry ?
Kywart speketb wytb bisdereaunte: me tbynfcetb ye
ought not to be dysplesid tberf ore. Re bad me save
to yowye myabtwel ofo to fore, and be sbal come
after: be is lighter of fote than yow, he muste tarve
a wbyle wytb his aunte and her cbyldren, they wepe

zfP^y^ 9 ' 1 * 1 ?* 11 ^ oofro tbemjflFBellyn sayde:
^batdideKyward,metbougbt be cryed after helpe?
£rr f°x*™*wdi <JCIbat saye ye, Bellyn, wene ye
that be sbold baue ony barme? jNow berfce what be
tbenne dyde: whan we were comen in to myn bows,
and ermelyn my wyf vnderstode that I sbold aoo
ouer see she fyl doun in a swoun, and whan Kywart
sawe that be cryed loude: Bellyn, come helpe mvn
auntetobryng herout of berswoun^Tbenne sayde
the Kamme: In faytb Ivnderstode that Kywart had
ben m grete daungerjfiFXrhe f oxe sayde: Nay, trulv,
or Kyward sbold baue ony barme in my bows I bad
leuer that my wyf and cbyldren sbold suffre moche
nurte.

6 4

f)ow the f oxe sente the beed of Kywart the f)are to
the hynge by Bell yn the Ramme, capitulo xxj&&

T)S foxt saide:Bellyn,remembre
ye not that yesterdaye the kynge
and biscounseyl commanded me,
that erlsbold departeout of this
land 1 sbold sende to bym two
lettres ? Dere cosyn, I pray you to
bere tbem, tbey be redy wretonjflF
XZbc Ramme sayde: I wote neuer,

yf I wiste tbat your endyttyng and wrytyng were
good, ye myabtparauenture so mocbe prayemetbat
I wold bere tbem,yf I bad ony tbyng to bere tbem in
^Reynard saide:Ye sbalnotfayletobauesom wbat
to bere bem in : ratber tban tbey sbold be vnbom, 1
sbal ratber gyue yow my male tbat I bere, and put
tbe fcynges lettres tberin, and bange tbem aboute
your necke: ye sbal baue of tbe hynge grete tbanke
tberfore,anct be rigbt welcomen to bymjSFfiiervpon
Bellyn promysed bym to bere tbise lettres: tbo re-
tomed Reynart in to bis bows, & tofce tbe male and
put tberin Kywarts beed, and brought it to Bellyn
ror to brynae bym in daunger, and benge it on bis
necke, and cnargyd bym not for to lobe in tbe male
yf bewoldebaue tbe hyngis frendsbipj^Hndyf ye
wil tbat tbe kynge take you in to bis grace, and loue
you, saye tbat ye your self baue made tbe lettre and
endited it, and baue gyuen tbe counseyl tbat it is so
wel made and wreton : ye sbal baue grete tbanktber-
f orejfiFBellyn tbe Ramme was glad berof , & tbougbt
be sbold baue grete tbanke, and saide: Reynard, I
wote wel tbat ye now doo for me, I sbal be in tbe

court gretly preysedwban it is knowen that I can so
wel endyte and make a lettre, tbaugb I can not make
it:ofte tymes it bappetb tbat God suffretb some to
baue worship andtbanke of tbe labourisand conyng
of otber men, and so it sbal bifalle me now. JNow,
wbat counseyle ye, Reyner, sbal Kywaert tbe Rare
come wytb me to tbe court ?j^]Vay, sayd tbe foxe,
be sbal anone f olowe yow, be may not yet come, for
be muste spekewytb bis aunte. JNow goo ye fortb to
If ore, I sbal sbewe to Kywart secrete tbyngis wbicbe
be^notjetknowen.

"IBLLYN 8ayd: fare wel, Reynartj^
Hndwente bym rortbto tbe court, and
be ran and basted sofaste tbat be cam
to fore mydday to tbe court, & f onde
tbe kyngin bis palays wy tb bis barons.
I XLbt kyng meruaylled wban be saw bim
bryng tbe male agayn wbicbe was made of tbe Beres
.skynjfiFXIbe kyng saide: Save on, Bellyn, fro wbens
Jcome ye? wbere is tbe f oxe? now is it tbat bebatbnot
tbe male witb bym?j^8ellyn sayd: Jfiy lord,l sbal
sayeyow al tbat I knowe. t accompanyed Reynard
vnto bis bows, and wban be was redy be asked me yf
tbat X wold for your saacke bere two lettres to yow.
X saide for to do you playsir and worsbip X wold
gladly bere to yow vij: tbo brougbt be to me tbis
malewberein tbe lettres be, wbicb ben endyted by my
connyng andlgaf counseylof tbe makyngof tnem.
X trowe yesawe neuer lettres betternecraf telyermade
ne endytedjtfF^be kynge commanded anon Bokart
bis secretaryeto reae tbe lettres, for bevnderstode
al maner langages. Cybert tbe Catte and betoke tbe
male of Bellyns necke,and Bellyn batbsof erresayd
and confessed tbat be tberfore was dampned.
66

F)G clerke Bokart vndyde tbe male &
drewe out Ky warts beed, and sayde:
Hlas,wbat lettres ben tbesef Certainly,
my lord, this is Ky warts beedj^Hlas,
sayde tbe kynge, tbat euer I beleuid 90
tbef oxef jSTCberemygbtmen see grete
'beuynesse of tbe kynge and of tbe queue: tbe kyng
was 90 angry tbat be belde longe doun bis beed, and
atte laste after many tbougbtes be made a grete crye
tbat alle tbe beestys were af erde of tbe noyse, O>o
spack Sir f irapeel tbe Lupaerd, wbicbe was sybbe
somwbat to tbe kynge, and saidej^Sire kyngf, bow
makeyesucbanoysePYcmakesorowynougbtbaugb
tbe quene were dzdc: late this sorowe goo, and make
good cbere. It is grete sbame, be ye not a lorde and
kynge of this londe? Is it not alle vnder yow tbat
bere is ?^Cbe kyngesayde: Sir f irapeel, bowsbolde
1 suffre this, one false sbrewe and dereyuar batb be-
trayed me, and brought me so f erre tbat 1 baue f or-
wrougbt & angred my frendes tbatl bad, tbe stoute
Bruyn tbe Bere and Jsegrym tbe 3dulf , wbicbe sore
me repentetb,and this gotnayenst my worship tbat
1 baue done amys ayenst my beste barons, and tbat
I trusted and beleuid so mocbe tbe f als boreson tbe
f oxe, and my wyf is cause tberof , sbe prayde me so
mocbe tbat 1 berde ber prayer, and tbat merepentetb
tbaugb it be to latcj&ulbat tbawb, sir kyng, said
tbe Lupaerd, yf tber be ony tbyng mysdoon, it sbal
be amended: we sbal gyue to Bruyn tbeBere,to Yec-
grym tbe Sdulf , & to Srswyn bys wyf, for tbe pece
of bis skynne and for tbeir sboes for to baue good
pees,Bellyn tbe Ramme,for bebatb confessyd bym
self tbat ne gaf counseyl & consentyd to Kywardes
fz 67

.-•^ - -

■

, dctb : tt is reson that be abye it. Hnd we alle sbal goo
f cccbc Reynard, and we sbal areste bym, and ban ge
bym by tbe necke without laweor jugement,and tber
witb alle sbul be contente.
Row Bellyn tbe Ramme & alle bis lignage were gyuen
in tbe banded of Ysegrym and Bruyn, & bow be was
slayn, capitulo xxij^/?

|f)6 hynge said ; Iwil do it gladly
I J&f irapel tbeLupaerdwente tbo
to tbe prison, and vnbonde tbem
| first, & tbenne be said: Ye, sires,!
brynge toyou af aste pardon and
my lordes loue and frendsbyp,it
repentetb bym andis sory tbat be
euerbatbdon,spoken,ortrespac~
ed ayenst you, and tberf ore ye sbal baue a goocf ap-
poyntement and also amenoes. He sbal gyue to you
Bellyn tbeRamme & alle bis lignage, fro now fortb-
on to domesdaye,in sucbe wyse tbat wbere someuer
ye fynde tbem, in felde or in wode,tbat ye may frely
byte and ete tbem wytbout ony f orf ayte, & also tbe
kynge grauntetb to yow tbat ye maye bunte and do
tbe werst tbat ye can toReynardanaalle bis lygnage
wytbout mysdoyngXbis f ayr grete pryuelage wy lie
tbe hynge graun te toyou euer to bolde of bym, & tbe
kynge wylle tbat ye swere to bym neuer to mysdoo,
but doo bym bomage and feawte. I counseil yow to
doo tbis,ror ye may doo it bonorably j# 'Cbus was
tbe pees made by f yrapel tbe Lupaerd frendly & wel,
and tbat coste Bellyn tbeRamme bis tabart and also
bis lyf, and tbe (Oulfis lignage boldetbise preuilegis
of tbe Ihynge, and in to tbys daye tbey deuoure and
eteBellyns lignage wbere tbat tbey mayfyndetbem:
68

this debate was begonne in an euyltyme,for the pees
coude neuer sytb be made bytwene tbemXbe kynge
dyde forth wytb bis courted feste lengtbexijdayes
lenger for loue of tbeJBere andtbeCdulf.soglad was
be of tbe makyng of this pees,
f)ow tbe kynge belde bis feeste,and bow Lapreel tbe
Cony complaynedvntotbe kynge vpon Reynart tbe
f oxe, capitulo xxiij/?,*?

IO this gretefeste cam al manerof
beestis,for tbekyngedydedo crye
tbys feste ouer alle in tbat londe:
tbere was tbe most joye &myrtbe
tbat euer was seen cmong beestis,
tber wasdaunsedmanerly tbe bo-
uedaunce witb sbalmouse, trom-
J pettis, & alle manerof menestral-
syeXbe kynge dyde do ordeyne so mocbe mete tbat
t euerycb f onde ynougb, & tber was no beest in al bis
lande so grete ne so lytyl but be was tbere, and tber
were many f owles & byrdes also, Hnd alle tbey tbat
desired tbe kynges frendsbipwere tber, sailing Rey-
nard tbe f oxe, tbe rede false pilgrym, wbicbe laye m
a/wayte todoobarme,and tbougbte it was not good
for bym tobe tbere. JMete & drynke flowed tbere, tber
were playes & esbatemens, tbe f eest was fulof melo-
dye,one mygbt baue luste to see sucbe a feeste. Hnd
right as tbe feeste bad duredviijdayes,a/boute myd-
day cam in tbe Cony, Lapreel, to fore the kynge where
he satte on tbe table with tbequene, & saya al beuyly
tbat all tbey berde bym tbat were tbere J9 JWy lorde,
baue pyte on my com playnt, wbicbe is of grete force
and murdre tbat Reynard tbef oxe wold baue don to
met Tester morow as X cam rennyng by bys borugb
fa 69

■

at JVIaleperduys, be stode byfore bis dore wytboute
lyke a pylgryme, I supposed to baue passed by bym
peasiblytowardtbisfest^&wbanbesawemecome,
be cam ayenst me,sayeng bis bedes, I salewed bym,
but be spach not one worde, but be raugbt oute bis
right foot, and dubbed me in tbe neche bytwene myn
eeris tbat I bad wende I sbolde baue loste my need,
but, God be tbanked,! was so lygbt tbatlsprange
fro bym, Cdytb mocbe payne cam I of bis clawes : be
grymmed as be bad ben angry by cause be belde me
no fasterXboIescaped from bym, I loste myn one
ere,&Ibadfoure grete boles in my beedof bissbarpe
nayles, tbat tbe blood sprange out,&tbatIwasnybe
al a/swoun.But for tbe grete fere of my lif Isprange
and ran so f aste fro bym tbat be coude not ouertake
me. See, my lord, tbyse grete woundes tbat be batb
made tome witb bis sbarpe longe nayles:Ipray you
to baue pite of me, & tbat ye wil punyssbe tbis false
tray tour and morderar, or ellis sbal tber noman goo
and comen ouer tbe betb in saef te, wbyles be baunt-
etb bis false and sbrewde rewle*
fiow Corbant tbe Robe complayned on tbe f oxe for
tbe detb of bis wyf , capitulo xxiiij,*?,*?

|Y<3fir as tbe Cony bad made an
endof bis complaynt, cam in Cor-
bant tbe Roeh flowen in tbe place
to fore tbe fcynge, & saydejfrDere
lorde, bere me,l brynge you bier a
pietous complayntlwentetoday
by tbe morow wy tb Sbarpebeh my
wyf for to playe vpon tbe betb, &
tbere layeReynart tbef oxedoun on tbegrounde lyke
a dede fceytyf. fiys eyen stared, and bis tonge benge

longe outof his mouth, like an bounde bad ben deed*
<He tasted and f elte bis bely, but we f onde tberon no
lyf : tbo wente my wyf and berkened and leyde ber ere
tofore bis mouth, for towiste if bedrewe msbreetb,
wbyebe mysfylle ber euyl, for tbe false f elle f oxe
awaytedwel bis tyme,andwban be sawe ber sonygb
bym be caugbt ber by tbe beed and boote it of, tbo
was I in grete sorowe and cryde lowde: Hlas, alas,
wbat is tbere happed UPCbennestode be bastely vp,
and raugbt so couetously after me tbat for f eere of
detb 1 trembled and flewn vpon a treetberby, &sawe
fro f erre bow tbe false keytyf ete and slonked ber in,
so bungerly tbat be lef te neytber flessb ne bone, no
more but a f ewe f etbers, tbe smal f etbers be slange
tbem in wytb tbe flessb: be was so hungry, be wolde
wel baueeten tweyne.'Cbo wente be to bis strete: tbo
fliewe 1 doun witb grete sorow and gadred vp tbe
fetberis fortosbewe tbem to you here. Iwolde not
be agayn in sucbe peryl and fere as X was tbere for a
thousand marke of tbe fynest gold tbat euer cam
out of Hrabye. JVly lord tbe kyng, see bier tbis pyte-
ous werke, trrise ben tbe f etbers of Sbarpbecke my
wyf, JAy lord, yf ye wil baue worship ye muste do
berfore justyce,and auenge you in sucbe wiseas men
may fere & bolde of yow, for yf ye suffre tbus youre
sauf conduyt to be broken, ye your self sbal not goo
peasibly in tbe bye way: for tno lordes tbat do not
justyce and suffre tbat tbe lawebenot executed vpon
tbe tbeeuis, morderars,and tbem tbat mysdoo, tbey
be parteners to fore Oodof alle tbeyr mysdedesand
trespaces, and eueryebe tbenne wylle be a lord bym
self, Dere lorde, see wel to for to kepe your self.

f4

7*

:a

frowtbe kyngewassoreangry of tbisecomplayntes,
capituloy yy^^

OBLG tbe kyng was sore meuyd
& angry wban be bad berde tbise
complayntes of tbc Cony and of
tbc Rock. He was so f erdful to
loke on tbat bis eyen glymmerd
as fyre, be brayed as lowde as a
bulle, in sucbe wise tbat alle tbe
court quoke forfeercHt tbc laste
be sayde cryen gj&By my crown e, and by tbe troutbe
that I owe to my wyf, I sbal so awreke and auencre
this trespaccs tbat it sbal be longe spoken of after
tbat my sauf conduy t & my commandemen t is tbus
broken. I was ouer nyce tbat I belcuid so lygbtly tbe
false sbrewe: bis false flateryng specbe deceyued
me, be tolde me be wolde go to Rome, and fro tbens
ouer sec to tbe fioly Londe. 1 gaf bym male & pals-
ter and madeof bym a pylgrym andwente al troutb.
O what false touches can be: bow can be stuflfe tbe
sleuewytb fliockesf But tbis caused my wyf, it was
al by ber counseyl, 1 am not tbe fyrst tbat baue ben
deceyued by wymmens counseyl, by wbicbe many a
grete burte batb byf alien. I praye and comandealle
them that bolde of me and desire my frendsbip, be
tbey bere orwber someuer tbey be, tbat tbey wytb
tbeyr counseyl and dedes belpe me tauenge tbis ouer
grete trespaas, tbatwe andowris may abyde in hon-
our and worship, and tbis false tbeef in shame, tbat
be nomore trespaceayenst oursauf garde: I will my-
sell m my persone belpe tberto al tbat 1 maye.

(r L H

SeGRYJVI the (Gulf and Bruyn the
Bcrc bcrdcwcl the kynges wordes,and
hoped wcl to be auengid on Reynard
the f oxe, but they durstenotspekeone
word: the kynge was so sore meuyd
i that none durste wel speke. Htte laste
the quene spak^Sire,pourDieu ne croyes mye toil tes
, cboses que on vous dye et ne jures pas legierment, a
man of worship shold not lygbtly bileue ne swere
gretly vnto the tyme he knewe the mater clerly. Hnd
also we ought by right here that other partye speke:
ther ben many tnat complayneon other and ben in
the defaute them self, Hudi alteram partem, here that
other partye, I haue truly holden the f oxe for good,
and vpon that that he mente no falshede I helped
hym that I myght, but how someuer it cometh or
gooth,is heeuyl or good,methynketh for your wor-
ship that yesholdnot procede ayenst hym ouer bast-
ely, that were not good ne honeste, for he may not
escape fro you, ye maye prysone hym or slee hym, he
musteobeye your jugementjJTCbenne saide f yrapel
the Lupaerd: JNfly lord, me thynketh my lady here
hath saide to you trouthe, & gyuen vow good coun-
seyl. Do ye wel and f olowe her, and take aduyse of
your wyse counseyl, and yf he be founden gylty
in the trespaces that now to yow be shewd, late hym
be sore punysshid acordyng to hys trespaces, and
yf he come not hyther er this f este be ended and ex-
cuse hym as he ought of right to doo, thenne doo
as the counseyl shal aduyse yow, but and yf he were
twyes as moche false and ylle as he is 1 wolde not
counseylle that hesholde bedone tomore than right
j^Isegrym the Cttulf saide : Sir f yrapal, all we agree

73

to the same as f era as it plesetb my lord the kynge,
it can not be better. But tbougb Reynart were now
here and be cleryd bym of double so many playntes,
yetsbold X brvngef ortbayenst bym tbat be bad f or~
f ayted bis lyr. But 1 wyl now be stylle and saye not,
by cause be is not presente, and yet abouealle tbis be
batbtolde tbe kynge of certayn tresour lyeng in Kre-
kenpyt in Rulsterlo; tber was neuer lyed a grete les-
yng,tberwytb be batbvs alle begyled,and batb sore
byndred me and tbe Bere, 1 dar leye my lyf tberon
tbat be sayd not tberof a trewe worde. ^sow robbetb
beand steletb vpon tbe betballetbat gootb forth by
bis bows : neuertbeles, Sir f irapel, wbat tbat plesetb
tbe kynge and yow tbat muste wel be don, but & yf
bewolde baue comen bytberbe mygbt baue ben bere,
forbebad knowlecbe by tbe kynges messages jfiTCbe
kyngesayde: Glewylnoneotnerwysesende for bym,
but I commande alle tbem tbat owe me seruyse and
wylle my honour & worsbippe, tbat tbey make tbem
redy to tbewarre at tbeendeof yj dayes,all tbem tbat
ben arcbers and baue bowes, gonnes, bombardes,
horsemen and footemen, tbat alle tbyse be redy to
besiege JVf aleperduys, 1 sbal destroye Reynart tbe
f oxe yf 1 be a kynge: ye lordsand sires, wbatsaye ye
hereto, wille ye dootbiswytb a goodwyll?j0FHnd
tbey sayd and cryed alle: \c f we lorde, wban tbat ye
wylle we sbal alle goo with yow.

74

How ©rymbert the Dasse warned the f oxe that the
kynge was wroth with bym and wold slee bym, capi-
.tuloxxvj^^

]LLB tbyse wordes bcrdc <3rym-
^ bert the Dasse, wbyebe was bye
S3 brother sonne: be was 9017 and
' angry yf it might baue prouffyt-
ed. He ranne tbenne tbe bye waye
to JVIaleperduys/ward, be spared
I netber bussbnebawe but be bast-
I ed bo sore tbat be swette. Re sor-
owed in bym self f or Reynart bis rede erne, and as be
>wente be saide to bym self :Hlas, in what daunger be
ye comen in : wbere sball ye become ? Sball I see you
brought fro lyf to detbe, or elles exyled oute of tbe
lande?TTrulylmay bewel sorouful,for ye betbebeed
'of alle our lignage ; ye be wyse of counseyl,ye be redy
to belpe your frendes wban tbey baue nede,ye can so
wel sbewe your resons tbat wbere ye speke ye wynne
i all j0 ditb sucb maner wayllyng & pvtous wordes
cam <3rymbert to JMaleperduys,& fonoe Reynart bis
erne there standyng, wbicbe had goten twopygeons,
as tbey cam first out of her neste to assaye ^f tbey
coude flee, & bicause tbe f ethers on her wyngis were
,to sborte tbey fylle doun to the ground, and as Rey-
nart was gon out to seche bys mete be espyed them
and caught hem, & was comen borne with bemjj^Hnd
whan be sawe6rymbert coming, hetaryedandsaid:
Welcome, my best beloued neuew that 1 knowe in al
;my kynrede,ye baue ronne f aste,ye ben al be/swette,
baue ye ony newetydinges ?j^Hlas, said be, lyef erne,
,it standeth euyl wytbyow,ye baue loste both lyf and
>good, the kynge hath sworn tbat be sball gyue you

75

a shameful detb, be batb commanded alle bye folke
,witbin vj dayes for to be bere, archers, f otemen, bors-
men, and peple in waynes, and be batb gunnes, bom-
bardes, tentes and pauyllyons, and also be batb do
laaden torches : see to fore yow, for ye baue nede. Ise-
grym and Bruyn ben better now wytb tbe hynge tban
X am wy tb yow, alle tbat tbey wille is doon : Isegrym
batb don bym to vnderstande tbat ye be a tbeef and
a morderar, be batb grete enuye to yow. Lapreel tbe
Cony & Corbant tbe Roeh baue made a grete com-
playnte also. 1 sorowe mocbe for your lyf , tbat for
dredelam alle sefce^puf , said tbe f oxe,dere neuew,
is tber notbmgellis ?Beye sosore af erd berof ?Make
good cbere bardely , tbougb tbe hyn ge bym self & alle
tbat ben m tbe court bad sworn my detb,yet sbal 1 be
exalted aboue tbem alle, tbey maye alle faste, jangle,
clatre, & veue counseyl, but tbe courte may not pros-
pere wytboute me and my wyles and subtylte.
RowReynart tbefoxe cam another time to tbe court,

SReneuew,latealltbisetbingfes
passe, & come bere in, & etc what
1 sbal gyue you, a good payre of
fattepygeons,! loue no mete bet-
ter, tbey ben good to dy gest, tbey
maye almost be swolowen in alle
boole, the bones ben half blode,!
etethem with that otber.I felemy
, self other why le en com bred in my stomah, therfore

ete!gladlylygbtmete.)VIywyfermelyn8halreceyue
vs frendlv, but telle her nothynof of this tbynge, for
)sbe sholde tahe it ouer beuyly, she is tendre of herte,
she mvgbt for fere falle in somme sehenes, a lytyl

tbynge gootb sore to bcr berte* Hnd to morow erly I
wil goo witb yow to tbc courte, and yf 1 may come to
epeebe and maybe berd, I sbalsoansuere tbat 1 sbal
toucbe some nygb ynowb. J^euew, wyl not ye stande
bymeas a frendougbt todotoanotber?j^jes truly,
dere erne, said Grymbert, & alle my good is at your
commandementj^God tbanhe you, neuew, said tbe
f oxe, tbat is wel sayd, yf 1 may lyue 1 sbal quy te it
yowj^Gme, said ©rymbert, ye may wel come tofore
alle tbe lordes and excuse yow, tber sbal none areste
yow ne bolde as longe as ye bein yourwordesjjTCbe
quene and tbe Lupaerd baue goten tbat tben, said
tbe f oxe, tberfor I am glad, tbenne 1 carre not for
tbe beste of tbem an beer, I sbal wel saue my self e
jflFCbey spake nomore berof , but wente f ortr> in to
tbe burgb, and fonde Grmelyn tbere sittyng by ber
yonglyngs, wbicbe aroose vp anon & receyuid tbem
frendly. ferymbert salewed bis aunte and tbe cbyl-
dren wytb frendly wordes : tbe ij pygeons were made
redy for tbeyr soper wbicbe Reynard bad taken, ecbe
of tbem toke bis part as f erre as it wolde stratcbe,
yf ecbe of bem bad bad one more tber sbolde but
lytyl baue lefte ouerjgrCbe foxe saide: Lief neuewe,
bow lyke ye my cbyldren Rosel & Reynerdyn ? Oey
sbal do worship to alle our lygnage, tbey begynne
al redy to do wel, tbat one catcbetb wel a cbyken and
tbat otber a pullet, tbey conne wel also duke in tbe
water after lapwyncbes and dokys. I wolde often
sende tbem for prouande, butl wil fyrste tecbe tbem
bow tbey sbal kepe tbem fro tbe grynnes, fro tbe
bunters, and fro tbe boundes- Yf tbey were so f erre
comen tbat tbey were wyse, I durste wel truste to
tbem tbat tbey sbold wel vytayllevs in many good

77

^Hi^^BH

■■■

diuerses mctce tbat we now lacke, and tbey lyke and
f olowe me wel, for tbcy playe allc grymmyng, and
,wbere tbcy bate tbcy loke frendly & meryly, for tber
by tbcy bryngc tbcm vnder tbeir feet and byte tbe
tbrote asondre, tbis is tbe nature of tbe f oxe. Vbcy
beewyftein tbeir takynge wbicbe plesetb me wet

"JVIG, said ©rymbert, ye may be glad
tbat ye baue sucbe wyse cbyldren, and
I am glad of tbem also by cause tbey
be of my kynne jiFGrvmbert, said tbe
f oxe, ye baue swette 6. be wery , it were
bye tyde tbat ye were at your rested
Sine, yf it plese you, it tbynketb me goodj^TTbo
laye tbey doun on a lytier made of straweXbe f oxe,
ibys wyf & bys cbyldren, wentc allc to slcpe, but tbe
)f oxc was al beuy, & laye, sigbed, and sorowed bow
be mygbt beste excuse bym self. On tbe morow erly
be ruymed bis castel and wente witb ©rymbert, but
be toke leue first of dame Srmelyn bis wyf and of
bis cbyldren,andsaydej^rbynkenot longelmuste
goo to tbecourtwytb Grymbertmy cosyn,yf \ tarye
somwbat be not af erde, and yf ye bere ony ylle tyd-
yngis take it alway for tbe beste, and see wel to your
self and kepe our castel wel I sbal doo yonder tbe
beste I can, after tbat I see bow it gootbjflFHlas
Reyner, said sbe, bow baue ye now tbus taken vpon
yowfor to go to tbe courtagayn ?rbe last tymetbat
ye were tbere, ye were in grete ieopardye of your lyf ,
and ye sayde yewold neuer come tberemorej^Dame,
said tbe f oxe, tbauenture of tbe world is wonderly,
it gotb otberwby le by wenyng, many onewenetb to
baue a tbing wbicbe be muste f orgoo- 1 mustenedes
now go tbyder, be content it is al wytboute drede. I
78

hope to come at altbcr longest with in fyue dayes
agaynj^fierewytb be departed, & wen te witb Gryrn-
bert to tbe court/ward, and wban tbey were vpon tbe
beetb tbenne sayde Reyner : JVeuew, sytb I was laste
sbryuen I baue don many sbrewde tomes, I wolde
ye wold bere me now of alle tbat X baue trespaced in*
t made tbe Bere to baue a grete wounde for tbe male
wbicbe was cutte outof bis skynne, and also I made
tbe Cdulf and bis wyf to lese ber sboon.I peased tbe
kynge witb grete lesyngis, and bare bym on bonde
tbat tbe GCIiilf and tbe Bere wold baue betrayed bym
& wolde baue slayn bym, so X made tbe kynge rigbt
wrotb witb tbem, wbere tbey deseruyd it not Hlso X
tolde to tbe kynge tbat tber was grete tresour in
fiulsterlo, of wbicbe be was neuer tbe better ne ricbe,
for I lyed al tbat X sayde. 1 ledde Bellyn tbe Ramme
and Kywart tbe Rare witb me, & slewe Kyward and
sente to tbe kyngeby Bellyn Kywarts beed in skorn.
Hnd X dowed tbe Cony by twene bis eeris tbat almost
X benamme bis lyf from nym, for be escaped ayenst
my wyl, be was to me ouer swyf tXbe Roek may wel
complayne, for X swolowed in dame Sbarpbeck bis
wyf. Hnd also I baue f orgoten on tbyng, tbe laste
tyme tbat I was sbreuen to you, wbicb X baue sytb
betbougbt me, & itwas of grete deceyte tbat X dyde,
wbicbe I now wyll telle yow. X cam wytb tbe (uulf
walkyngebytweneRoutbulstandeiuerdynge,tbere
sawe we goo a rede mare and sbe bad a black colte or
a fool of iiij monetbis olde wbicb was good and
f atte* Isegrym was almost storuen for bunger, and
prayd me goo to tbe mare and wyte of ber yf sbe
wold selle ber fool. X ran f aste to the mare and axed
tbat of ber: sbe sayd sbe wold selle it for money. I

79

■■

" — li "ll I 1 ■ "

demaundedof bcr bowebewold eellettjfiFSbeeayde:
It is wreton in my byndre foot, yf ye conne rcdc and
be a clerk, ye may come see and rede *^Cbo wyete I
wel wbere ebe wold be, and 1 eatde: ]Vay for eotbe, I
can not redeandaleo 1 deeyrenot to bye yourcbylde,
leeorym batb eente me betber and wold f ayn hnowe
tbe prye tberof jfiTCbe mare eatde: Late bym come
tbennebym eelf ,and 1 ebal latebym baue knowlecbe
j*\ eayde: 1 ebal, & baetely wente to Jeegrym and
eatde : feme, wtl ye ete your bely f ul of tbte colte, bo
aoo f aete to tbe mare for ebe taryetb after vow, she
batb do wryte tbe prie of ber colte vnder ber f ote,
ebe wolde that I ebold baue redde tt, but I can not
one lettre wbtcbe me eore repentetb, fori wen te neuer
to ecole- 6me, wylle ve bye tbat colte ? conne ye rede,
eo may ye bye tt^Oy, neuew, tbat can I wel, wbat
ebold me lette? 1 can wel f renebe, Latyn, englteeb
and Ducbe,! baue goon toecole at Oxenford,! baue
aleowytbolde and auncyent doctoure ben tn tbe au-
dvence and berde pleee, and aleo baue gyuen sen-
tence: I am lyceneyd tn botbe lawee, ttlbat maner
wrytyng tbat ony man can deuyeelcan redettae
eerfvabtlv ae my name, I wyljfoo to ber and 9bal
anon vnderetonde tbe pryej?Hnd bad me to tarye
for bvrm and be ranne to tbe mare, and axed or ber
bow ebe wold eelle ber fool or kepe ttjj^Sbe eayde:
€be eomme of tbe money etandetb wreton after on
mv f otej^He eatde : Latemeredett j^Sbeeatde : Doo,
and lyf te vp ber foot, wbtcb wae newe ebood wytb
won and vj etronge naylee,& ebe emote bym wytb-
olit myeeyng on rite beed tbat be fyl doun ae be bad
ben deed, a man ebold wel baue ryden a myle er be
arooe, €be mare trotted away wytb ber colte and ebe
8o

=^_n

■ I M'l

■■■■

leet Isegfrym lyeng shrewdly hurt and wounded, be
laye and bledde, and bowled as an boundj^I wente
tbo to bym and sayde: SirYsegrym, dere emef bow
is it now wytb yow ? Haue ye eten ynowb of tbe colte,
is your bely ful? «Iby gyue ye me no parte, 1 dyde
your erande ? Haue ye slepte your dyner ? 1 pray vow
telle me wbat was wreton vnder tbe mares f ote: what
was it, prose or ryme, metre or verse? 1 wold fayn
knoweit. 1 troweit was cantum, f or 1 berde you syncre
me tbougbte fro f erre, for ye were so wyse tbat no-
man ecu* rede it : better tban yej^Hlas, Reynart,
alas, said tbe <Uulf , I pray you to leue youre mock-
yng. I am so foule arayed and sore burte tbat an

berteofstonemygbtbauepyteofmeXbe bore wytb
ber longe legge bad an yron foot,! wende tbe navies
tberof bad ben lettres, and sbe by tte me at tbe fyrst
stroke vj gretewoundes in my beed tbat almost it is
clouen : sucbe maner lettres sbal 1 neuer more desire
toredejfiFDere erne, is tbat troutbe tbat ye telle me?I
baue berof grete meruayll,I belde you for one of tbe
wysest clerkes tbat now lyue, now I bere wel it is true
tbatllong sytb baue redde and berde, tbat tbe beste
clerkes ben not tbe wysest men ; tbe laye peple otber-
wbyle wexe wyse, Tbe cause tbat tbyse clerkes been
not tbe wysest is tbat tbey studye soo mocbe in tbe
connyng and science tbat tbey tberin dooiejPTlhuQ
brought I Isegrym in tbis grete laste & barme tbat
be vnnetb bybelde bis lyf .

s«

8i

I -1 ■

y ef neuew,nowe baue 1 toldc you alle
my synnes tbatlremembre,wbat soo
euer fall at the court,! wote neuer bow
it sbal stonde wytb me tbere,! am not
now 90 9orc af crd for 1 am clcrc from
j synne,! wyl gladly come to mercy and
mevue prance by your counseyl^e^bert said:
^b?m9pace9 ben grete^neuertbeto wbo tbat is deed
multe abyde deed,and tberf orel wil forgyuc : ityow
X^dre! wytb tbe fere tbat ye sbal suffre tberf ore
t Verbal conne excuse you of tbe detbe, A bier vpon
I wvl a99oyle you, but tbe mo9te byndre tbat ye sbal
baue 9bal be, tbat ye9enteKywart9 beed to tbe court,
and tbat ye blynded tbe kynge wytb s«« b * Uc ^™>
tbat wa9 rigbt euyldoon jSFOe foxc sayde: Bitot,
Ivef neuew,wbo tbat wylgoo tburgb tbe world,tbis
to bere and tbat to 9ee, and tbat otber to telle, truly
it may not clerly be done: bow 9bold ony mar iban-
die bony but yf be lycked bisfyngres ?lam of tymes
vexed and prycked tn my con9cyence a9 to loue food
aboue all tbynge and myne euen crysten as my self ,
Li9to6odwelacceptableandacordyngtobx9laj^

but bow wene ye tbat reson wytbin f ortbe fygbtetb
avenst tbe outewardwyll, tban 9tondelalle stylle in
mv 9elf tbat me tbynketblbaueloste alle my wittes,
and wote not wbat me eyletb,! am tbenne in sucbe a
tboucrbt.1 baue now alle lef te my synnes,&bate alle
tbynge tbat is not good, and clymme in bis contem-
olacion aboue bis commandements,but tbis special
orace baue I wban I am alone: but in a sbortwbyle
after, wban tbe world cometb in me, tbenne fynde I
in my way so many stones,and tbe f ote spores tbat
tbyse loos prelates and ricbe preestys goo in, tbat 1
82

^r

am an one taken agayn, tbenne cometb tbe world and
wil bauc this, & tbeflessbe wil lyue plesantly,wbicbe
leyetofore me so many tbinges tbatl tbennc lose all
my goodtbougbtis and purpoos. I bere tbere synge,
py pe, lawbe, playe, & alle myrtbe, & I bere tbat tbese
prelates and ryebe curates precbe and saye all otber
wyse tban tbey tbynke and doo, tbere lerne 1 to lye,
TTbe lesynges ben moste vsed in tbe lordes courtes,
certaynly lordes, ladyes, prestis and clerkes, maben
most lesyngis; men dare not telle to tbe lordes now
tbe troutne, tber is def aute, Imust flatre & lye also or
ellis I sbold be sbette wytbout tbe dore. I naue of te
.berde men saye troutbe and riabtf ully, & baue tbeyr
freson made wytb a lesynofe lyfie to tbeyr purpose, &
brougbt it in and wente tburgb by cause tbeir mater
sbold seme tbe fayrer. tTbe lesyngeoftymes cometb
'vnauysed and f alletb in tbe mater vnwetyngly, and
so wban sbe is wel cladde it gotb f ortb tburgb witb
tbat otber,

6R€> neuew, tbus muste men now lye
;* bere, and tbere saye sotb, flatre & men-
ace, praye and curse, & sehe euery man
vpon bis f eblest & wekest, wbo otber-
wyse wyll now baunte& vsetbe world,
I tban deuyse a lesynge in tbe fayreste
wyse, and tbat bywymple witb kercbieuis aboute in
sucbe wyse tbat men take it for a troutbe, be is not
ronne away fro bis maister. Can be tbat subtylte in
sucbe wyse tbat be stamer not in bis wordes & may
tbenne be berde, neuew, tbis man may do wonder, be
may were skarlet & gryse, be wynnetb in tbe spirituel
lawe, & temporal also, and wbcre sommeuer be batb
to doo, J^ow ben tber many false sbrewis tbat baue
g2 83

§■■

grete enuyetbat tbey baue 90 grete fordele,and wene
tbat tbey connc also wel lye, and take on tbem to lye
& to telle it f ortb, be wolde f ayn ete of tbe f atte mor-
sellis,but be is not bileued ne berd,& many ben tber
tbat be so plompe and f olissbe tbat whan tbey wene
beste to prononce and sbewe tbeyr matere and con-
clude, tbey f alle besyde and oute tberof and can not
tbenne belpe bem self , and leue tbeyr mater wytbout
tayl or heed, & be is a/compted for a fool and many
mocke tbem tber with, but who can gyue to bys les-
ynga conclusion, and prononce it without tatelyng,
lyke as it were wreton toforebym, and tbat be can so
blynde tbe peple tbat bys lesynge sbal better be bi-
leuyd than tbe troutbe, tbat is tbe man. 3Qbat con-
nyng is it to say tbe troutbtbat is good to do? Row
lawbe tbise false subtylsbrewistbatgyue counseyl,
tomake tbise lesynges & sette tbem f ortb, & maken
vnrigbt goo aboue rygbt, and make billes and sette
in tbynges tbat neuer were thought ne sayd, & tecbe
men see thurgb their fyngres, and alle for to wynne
money, and late their tonges to byre for tomayntene
andstrengtbe their le9vngi9.Hlas,neuewe, this is an
euyl connyng, of wbkne lyf, scathe, and burte may
come tber of.

SHtfnot buttbatotberwbilemen must
jape, bourde,and lye in smale tbyngis,
for who so say tb alway trou tb, be may
not now goonowber thurgb tbe worla,
tber ben many that playe placebo, who
so alleway saytb troutne,8balle fynde

* * 4 * H. X I f £_. *^

many lettyngis in bis way. \Am may wel lye whan it
is nede, & after amende it by counseyl: for alle tres-
paces tber is mercy, tber is no man soo wyse but be

doolctb other wbyle jSf ©rymbert sayde: Cdel, dcre
erne, what tbynge sbalyou lette? Y* knoweal tbyng
at tbc narewest,ye sbulde brynge me bastely in dot-
yna,your resons passen my vnderstandyng. Olbat
nede bauc ye to sbryue you ? Ye sbulde your self by
right be the preest,and lete me and other sheep come
to you for to be sbryuen. Ye knowe the state of the
world in sucbe wyse as noman may halte tof ore you
J9<&ith sucbe maner talkynge they cam walkyng in
to the courtXbe f oxe sorowed som what in bis berte:
neuertbeles, be bare it out, and stry ked forth tburgb
all tbef olke, til be cam in to the place wberetbe kynge
bym self was,and Grymbert wasalway by tbefoxe,
and sayde : Sine, be not af erde, and mane good cbere,
who that is hardy thauen ture belpeth bym : oftymes
one day is better than somtyme an hole yere Jf Cbe
f oxe saide : JVeuew, ye saye trou the : God than ke you,
ye comforte me wel^Hnd forth be went, and lokyd
grymly here and there as who saitb : QJbat wylle ye,
nere cornel? Re sawetbere many of bis kinne stand-
ing wbicbe yonned bym but lityl good, as the Otter,
Beuer, & otner to the nombre of x whom Ishal name
afterward, & somme were there that loued bymXbe
f oxe came in, and fyl doun on bis knees to fore the
kyng,and began bis wordes,and sayde:

S3

85

RowReynart tbef oxe excused bim bif ore the hynge,
capttulo xxvitj^^

OD, fro wbome notbyng may be
bid,& aboue all tbyng is mygbty,
saue my lord tbe fcyng, & my lady
tbe quene, and gyue bym grace to
knowe wbobatb rigbt &wbo batb
wronae, for tber lyue many in tbe
world tbat seme otberwyse oute-
ward tban tbey be witbine. I wold
tbat God sbewde openly euery mans mysdedes, and
alletbeir trespaces stoden wreton in tbeyr forebedes,
and it coste me more tban Inow saye, and tbat ye my
lord tbe fcynge fcnewe as mocbe as I doo, bow 1 dis-
pose me botbe erlyand late inyourseruyscandtber-
f ore am I com play tied on of tbe euy I sbrewis, & wy tb
lesynges am put out of your grace andconsayte,and
wold cbarge me witb grete offends wy tbout deseru-
yng,ayenst al rigbt, wberf ore I crye out: Rarowe, on
tbem tbat so falsely baue belyed me and brought me
in sucbe trouble, bow be itl bope & knowe you, botbe
mylordandmylady,forsowyse and discrete tbat ye
be not ledde nor bileue sucbe lesyngis,ne false talys
outof tbe rigbt way, for ye baue not be woned to oo.
"Cberf ore,dere lorde,! bisecbeyou to considre by your
wysedom alle tbyn ge by rigbt and lawe, is it in deede
or in specbe: do euery man rigbt,Idesire no better, be
tbat is gylty and founde fawty,late bym be punys-
sbyd:men sbal hnowe erl departeout of tbis courte
wbo tbat I am, I can not flatre,! wyll allewey sbewe
openly my beed.
86"

^Za

Row the kynoreane werd vpon Reynarfe excuse,*^

' 1X6 tbey that were in the palaye
weren alle etylle, & wondred that
the f oxe epack so etoutlyjgFOe
kynge eayde: Ra, Reynart, bow
wel can ye your falacye and ealu-
tacion doon, butyourfayr wordee
may not belpe you, I tbvnke wel
tbat ye ebal tbie daye tor your

v

werkiebebangedbyyournecke,IwilnotmocbecDyde
wytb you but I ebal eborte your payneXbat yeloue
vs wet tbat baue ye wel sbewde on tbe Cony and on
Corbant tbe Roeck,yourfaleenee and your faleein-
uencione ebal without longe taryeng make you to
>deye. H pot may goo eo longe to water tbat at tbe
laeteit cometb to/broken boom : I tbynke your potte
►tbat eo of te batb deceyued ve ebal now baetly be
broken j^Reynart wae in grete fere of tbiee wordee,
be wold wel be bad ben at Coleyn wban be cam tbedyr.
^benne tbougbt be: I muete ber tburgb bow tbat I
dooj^jMy lorde tbe kynge, eeyd be, it were wel reeon
tbatyeberdemywordeealleout:tbaugbIweredamp-
ned to tbe detb, yet ougbt ye to bere my wordee out.
I baue yet bere to fore tyme gyuen to you many a
good couneeyl and prouffytable, and in my nede al~
wey baue byden by yow wbere otber beeetie baue
wy ked and goon tbeyr way : yf now tbe euyl beeetie
witb f alee matere baue to fore you wytb wronge be-
lyed me, and 1 mygbt not cometomyn excuee, ougbt
I not tbenne to playne? I baue to fore tbie eeen that
X ebold be berde by fore anotber, yet mygbt tbiee

g4 *7

tbyngis wel cbaunge and come in tbeyr olde state,
olde good dedes ought to be remembrid* I etc here
many of my lygnage&frendes standing that seme
they sette nowlytyl by me, wbicbeneuertbeles sbolde
sore dere in tbeyr bertes, tbat ye my lord the kynge
sbolde destroye me wrongfully* yf y* so dyoe, ye
sbolde destroye tbe trewest seruaunt tbat yebaue in
alle your landes* Qdbat wene ye, syr kynge, badde I
knowen my self oylty in ony feat or broke, tbat I
wold bauecomen betbertotbe laweemongeallemyne
enemyes? JVay, sire, nay, not for alle tbe world of
rede gold, for I was f re and at large: wbat nede bad
I to do tbat? But God be thanked, X knowe myself
clere of alle mysdedes, tbat I dar wel come openly in
tbe lygbte, and to answere to alle tbe complayntes
tbat ony man can saye on me* But whan (Srymbert
brought me first thise tydyngis, tbo was 1 not wel
plesed, but half fro my self , that I lepebere and there
as an vnwyseman,and badlnot ben in tbecensures
of tbe cbyrcbe X bad wytbout taryeng baue comen,
but X wente dolynge on the beetb.and wist not wbat
to doo for sorowe* Hnd tbenne it happed that JMer-
eyne, myn erne, the Hpe, mette wytb me, whicbe is
wyser in clergie than somme preest, be bath ben ad-
uocate for the bysshop of Cameryk ix yere duryng*
Re sawe me in this grete sorowand beuynes, & saide
to me: Dere cosyn, me tbynketh ye ar not wel wytb
your self, what eyletb vowe, who bath dysplesytb
yow?TTbynae tbat touchetb cbargeougbt to begyu-
en in knowlecbe to frendis, a triew frende is a grete
helpe, be fyndetb ofte better counseyl than he that
tbe charge resteth on, for who someuer is charged
wytb maters is so beuy & acombred with them that
88

of tc be can not begynne to fynde tbc remedye, for
sucbe be so woo lyke as tbey bad loste tbeyr inwytte
JSf\ saide: Dereeme, yesaye troutbe,f or in lykewyse
t8 fallen to me, I am brought in to a grete beuynes
vndeseruid and not gylty, by one to wbom I baue
alway ben an berty & grete f rende, tbat is the Cony
wbicne cam to me yesterday in tbe morenyng wbere
as 1 satte to f oremy bows and sayd matyns* De told
me be wolde goo to tbe court & salewed me frendly,
andlbymagayn: tbo sayd be to me: Good Reynard,
1 am an bongred and am wery, baue ye onv mete?j^
I saide: Y* ynowb, come nerejjTCbo gar I bym a
cojxl of mayncbettis witb swete butter: it was vpon
a SHednesday, on wbicbe day I am not wonte to ete
ony flessb, and also I fasted by cause of tbis f este
of dbitsontyd wbicbe approucbed, for wbo tbat
wylle taste of tbe ouerest wysebede, & lyue goostly
in kepyng tbe commaundements of our Lorde, be
muster asteand make bynredy ayensttbebyef estes,
et vos estote paratu Oere erne, I gaf bym f ayr wbyte
breed witb swete butter, wberwytb a man mygbtwel
be easid tbat w ere mocbe bongry*

JVDwban be bade ten bisbely f ulle, tbo
cam Russel my yongest sone & wold
baue taken away tbat was lef te, for
yonge cbyldren woldalway f ayne eten,
andwitbtbat be tasted for to baue ta-
ken somwbatXbeCony smote Rus-
sel to f orebys mou tbe tbat bys teetb bledde and fyl
Idoun balf a/swoun. dban Reynardyn myn eldest
sone sawe tbat, be sprange to tbe Cony and caugbt
'bym by tbe beed, & sbold baue slayn bym bad I not
reskowed bym*Ibelpe bym tbat be wente from bym,

89

i

■M

L..A'

and bctc my cbylde sore tberf ore. Lapreel tbc Cony
ran to my lord tbc kyng, & saide, 1 wold baue mur-
drcd bym. Sec, Cme, thus come I in tbe wordes, and
t am leyde in tbe blame, and yet be complaynetb and
1 playne not.Hf ter tbis cam Corbant tbe Roek fleyn
wy tb a sorouf ul noyse. I asked wbat bym ey led, and
be said: Hlas, my wyf is dzzd t yonder lyetb a dzdz
bare full of matnes and wormes, and tbere sbe ete
so mocbe tberof tbat tbe wormes baue byten a/two
ber tbrote. 1 axed bym bow cometb tbat by, be wold
not speke a worde more but flewe bis waye and lete
me stande :now saitb be tbat I baue byten and slayn
ber* Row sboldIcomesonygbber,for sbe fieetb and
I goo a/fote? Bebolde, dere erne, tbus am I bom an
bonde. 1 may say wel tbat 1 am vnbappy, but para-
uenture it is for myn olde synnes, bit were good for
me yf 1 coude patiently sufrre it^XTbe Hpesaide to
me:J^euew,yesbalgoototbecourtetoforetbelordes
and excuseyowj^Hlas, erne, tbat may not be,fortbe
arcbedeken batb put me in tbepope's curse by cause
I counseylled Ysegrym tbe Cuulr for to leue bis re-
ligyon at Glmare and forsake bis babyte. He com-
playned to me tbat be lyuyd so stray tly, as in longe
fastyng& many tbyngisredyng and synoyng,tbat
be coude not endureit,yf be sbold longeabyde tbere
be sbold deye.X bad pyte of bis complaynyng and I
belpe bym asatrewe frende tbat be camoute,wbicbe
nowmesorerepentetb,forbelabouretb al tbatbecan
ayenst me to tbe kyngef or todo me be banged : tbus
dotb be euy I for good See, erne, tbus am tat tbe ende
of my wy ttes & of counsey l,f or Imuste goo to Rome
for an absolucion,and tbenne sbal my wyf andcbyl-
dren suffre mocbe barme and blame, for tbise euyl

90

beetis that barm me sbulle do to bem alle tbe burte
they may e,andfordryue them wber they can, &l wold
wel def ende bem yf I were fre of tbe curse, for tbenne
woldlgoo to tbe court & excuse me, wbere now 1 dar
not.Isbolddogretesynneyflcamemongetbegood
peple, 1 am aferde God sbolde plagbe mej^JVay,
cosyn, benot af erd, er 1 sbold suflrre you in this sor-
ow, 1 knowe tbe way to Rome wel, 1 vnderstande me
on this werke,! am called tber Mertyne tbe bissbops
clerke, and am wel by knowen tr>ere. t sbal do sy te tbe
arcbedeken & take a plee ayenst bym, & sbal brynge
with me for you an absolution ayenst bis wil, fori
bnowe tbere alle tbat is for to be doon or lef te, tbere
dwelletb Symon myn eme,wbicbeis grete&mygbty
tber,wbotbatmaygyueougbtbebelpetbbymanon,
tber is prentout, (Oayte Scathe, and other of my
frendis and alyes, also 1 sbal take some money witn
me yf 1 nede ony ; tbe preyer is wytb yeftes hardy,
wytb money alleway tne right gotb forth; a trewe
frendeshal for bis rrende auentureboth lyf &good,
and so sbal 1 for you in your right

HOS YNt make good cfcere, 1 shall not
rest after to morow till come to Rome,
and 1 shall soly cy te your maters : and
goo ye to the court as sone as ye may,
all your misdedes and tbosynnes that
m^la baue brought you in tbegrete sentence
!& curse,! make you quyte or them & take them in my
self. Qlban ye come to the court ye shall fynde there
Rukenawe my wyf ,her twosusters and my thre chil-
dren and many moof our lygnage.Dere cosyn,speke
to them bardely,my wyf bis sondrely wyse,and wyl
gladly do somewhat for her frendis; who tbat hath

9*

■■HM^^H

ncdc of bclpc sbal fynde on bcr grete frendsbip,one
sbal alway seke on bys frendis tbougb be bauc an-
gred tbeym, for blood muste krepe where it can not
goo ; andyf so be tbat ye be so ouer cbargyd tbat ye
may baue norigbt, tbenne sende to me by nygbt and
day to tbe court of Rome, & late me baue knowlecbe
tberof ,and alle tbo tbat ben in tbe lande,is it kynae
or quene, wyf or man,I sballe brynge tbem all in tbe
popes curse, & sende there an interdicte tbat noman
shall rede ne syngen, ne crystene cbyldren, ne burye
tbe deede,ne receyue sacrament, tyl that ye sbal baue
good rygbt. Cosyn, tbis sbalIwelgete,ror tbe pope
is so sore olde tbat be is but lytil sette by, & tbe car-
dynal of pure gold batb alle tbe mygbt of tbe court,
be is yonge & grete of frendis. Re batb a concubyne
wbom be mocbe louetb, and wbat sbe desyretb that
getetb sbe anone* See cosyn, sbe is myn nece, and I
am grete and may doo mocbe witb ber,in sucbe wyse
wbatldesyreIfayllenotofit,butamalwayfurtberd
tberin : wberf ore, cosyn, byd my lord tbe kynge tbat
bedooyou rigbt,Iwote wel be wil not wame you,f or
tberignt is beuy ^ynou <jb to euery man.^ JMy lord tbe
kyng,wbanl Mwe tbisllawbed,&wytb grete alad-
nes cam betber,and baue told you all tbe troutbe;yf
tber be ony in tbis court tbat can leye on me ony otber
mater wy tb good witnesse, & preue it as ougbt to be
to anoble man, late me tbenne make amendes, acord-
yng to tbe lawe, andif be wil not leue of berbi, tbenne
sette me day and f eld,andlsbal make good on bym
al so f erre as be be of as good birtbe as 1 am,anct to
me ly ke, & wbo tbat can witb fygbtynof gete tbe wor-
ship of tbe f elde late bym baue it. Cbis rygbt batb
standen yet betberto, &I wil not it sbolde be broken

9*

by me : the lawe and right dotb noman wrongj^Hlle
the beestis both pourc andriebe were alle stylle wban
tbe f oxe 9pak soo stoutly, tbe Cony Laprel and tbe
Roek were 90 sore aferde tbat tbey durste not speke,
but pvked and stryked tbem out of tbe court botbe
two, a, wban tbey were a/room f er in tbe playne tbey
sayde: (3od graunte tbat tbis felle murderare maye
fare euylf be can bywrappe and couere bis falsebede
tbat bis wordes seme as trewe as tbe Gospel Rerof
knowetb noman tban we, bow sbold we brynge wyt-
nesse? It is better tbat we wyke and departe tban we
sbolde bolde a f elde and fygbte wytb bym, be is so
sbrewde,ye, tbaugb tber of vs were fyue we coude not
def ende vs but tbat be sbold sle vs alle.

JSSeeRYM tbe CCIulf and Bruyn tbe
Bere were woo in bem self e wban tbey
sawe tbyse tweyne rume tbe courtejflF
Cbc kynge sayd:Yf ony man wil com-
playne, late bim come f ortb & we sball
_nere bym, yesterdaye camen bere soo
many, wbere ben tbey nowe Reynart is bere? J& Tlbz
,foxesayde: )My lord, tber ben many tbat complayne,
tbat and yf tbey sawe tbeir aduersarye tbey wold be
! sty lie & make no playnte: witnes now of Laprel tbe
Cony & Corbant tbe Roek, wbicbe baue complayned
on metoyow in mv absence, but now tbatlam comen
in your presence tney flee away and dar not abyde by
tbeyr wordes. Y^ m *n sbold byleue false sbrewes,it
sbold do mocbe barme & burte to tbe good men, as
for me it skylletb not: neuertbeles, my lord,yf tbey
bad by your commandment axed of me forgyfnes,
bow be it tbey baue gretlv trespaced,yet I badd for
your sake pardoned and rorgyue tbem, for I wil not

93

i

' -.-.

J

be out of cbarite,ne bate ne complayne on myne ene-
Jmyes, but 1 sette alle tbyng in Goddes band, be sbal
>werke and auenge it as it plesytb bym.

R6 kynge sayde: Reynart,me tbynk-
etbye be greuyd as ye saye, are ye witb-
inf ortb as ye seme outward ? jNay,it is
not so cleerne so open, nowber nygbe,
as ye bere baue sbewed, 1 muste saye
wbat my cjrief is wbicb towebetb your
worsbyp and lyf , tbat is to wete, tbat ye baue don a
f oule and sbamef ul trespaas,wban Ibad pardonned
iyou alle your offends and tresparis, & ye promysed
to goo ouer tbe see on pylaremage, and gafe to you
male and staf , and after tbis ye sente me by Bellyn
tbe Ramme tbe male agayn, & tberyn Kywarts beed,
Dow mygbt ye do a more reprouable trespaas ? Dow
were ye so bardy to dare to medoo sucbe a sbame: is
it not euyl don to sendetbalorde bis seruants beed?
Ye can not saye nay bere against, for Bellyn tbe Ram
wbicbe was our cbapelayn, tolde vs al tbe mater bow
it bapped, sucbe reward as be bad wban be brought
vs tbe message, tbe same sbal ye baue or rigbt sbal
f ayllej^Cbo was Reynart so sore af erd tbat be wist
not wbat to saye, be was at bis wittes ende, and loked
aboute bym pytously, and sawe many of bys kyn &
alyes tbat berde alle tbis but nougbt tbey sayde, be
was alle pale in bis visage, but noman prof erd bym
band nefote to belpe bym j&'Cbc kinae said: TIbou
subtil f elaw and f als snrewe, wby spekest tbou not,
nowdombe?X3befoxe stodein gretedrede,&sigbed
sore tbat alle berde bym, but tbe SCTulf and tbe Bere
were glad berof ♦

94

ftowdame Rukcnawe answerd for tbe foxe to the
kynge, capitulo XXXX&&

HJYie Rukenawe tbc Sbe/Hpe,
Reynartsaunte,wasnotwel ples-
yd, sbe was grcte wytb tbc quene
and wel belouyd: bit bappedwel
for tbc foxc tbat sbe was tbere,
for sbcvndcrstodc allewysedom,
and sbedurste wcl speke wbere as
itto doo was; wberc euer sbe came
euericb was glad of bcrjfiFSbe sayde: JMy lord tbc
kyng,ye ougbtnot to be angry wban yesyttc injuge-
ment, for tbat becomctb not your noblesse* H man
tbat syttetb in jugement ougbt to put fro bym atle
wratb and angre* n lorde ouabt to baue dyscrescion
tbat sbold sytte in justisct know better tbe poyntes
of tbe lawetban somme tbat were furred gownes,for
I baue lemed many of tbcm and was made connyng
in tbe lawe. I bad in tbe popes palays of Cdoerden
a good beddeof beye, wbereotber beestes laye on tbe
bard grounde, ana also wban 1 bad tbere to doo I
was suffred to speke and was bere toforeanotber by
cause I knewe so wel tbe lawe, Seneca wrytetb tbat a
lorde sbal oueral doo rigbt and lawe, be sbal cbarge
none towbomebebatb gyuen bis sauf garde to aboue
tbe rigbt and lawe; tbe lawe ougbt not to balte for
noman, and euery man tbat stondetb bere wolde wel
betbynke bym wr>at be batb doon and bydryuen in
bis dayes, be sbolde tbe better baue pacience & py te
on Reynart* Late euery man knowe bym self, tbat is
my counseyl: tber is none tbat stondetb so surely
but otberwbyle be falletborslydetb, (Obo tbat neuer
mysdede ne synned is boly and good, and batb no

95

:^^-

ncdc to amende bym; whan a man dotb amps, and
tbenne by counseyl amendetb it, tbat is bumaynly
and 80 ought be to doo ; but alway to mysdoo and
trespace, and not to amende b^m, tbat ye euyl and a
deuely lyf ♦ JMerke tbenne wbat is wretyn in the Gos-
pel, Gstote misericordes, be ye mercyrul : yet stand-
etb tber more, JVolite indicare et non inoicabimini,
deme ye noman & ye sbal not be demed ; tber stand-
etb also bow tbe Pharisees brought a woman taken
in aduoultrye, & wold baue atoned her to detb, they
axed our Lord wbat be said tberto, be said : <flbo of
yowalleis witboutesynne late bym caste tbe fyrst
stone, tb oabode noman butlef tebertberestondynqf*
"^ie tbynketb it is so bym: tber be many
tbat see a strawe in an others ye, tbat
can notseea balkein bisowne: tber be
many tbat deme otber and bym self is
worst of alle* XTbaugb one falle of te,
and at laste arysetb vp and cometb to
mercy, be is not tberof dampned, God receyuetb alle
tbem tbat desyrebys mercy: latenoman condampne
'another tbougb tbey wyste tbat be bad don amys,
>yet late tbem see tbeyr owne defawtes and tbenne
may tbey tbem self correcte fyrst, and tbenne Rey-
nert my cosyn sbold not fare tbe werse, for bis f adre
and bis graunf adre baue alway ben in more loue and
reputacion in tbis court tban Xsegrym tbe^dulf or
Bruyn tbe Bere witb al tbeyr frendis and lignage-
Hit batb ben bere to fore an vnlyke comparison, tbe
wysedom of Reynart my cosyn and tbe honour and
worship of bym tbat be bath doon,and tbecounseyl
of them, for tbey knowe not how tbe world gootb.
Me tbynketh tbis court isal tomedvpsodoon,tbise
96

false sbrewes, flaterers and deceyuours, arise and
wexe grete by the lordes and ben enbaunsed vp, and
tbe good, trtewe, & wyse ben put doun, f or they baue
ben woned to counseylle truly & for tbonour of tbe
kyng. 1 can not eee bow tbis may stonde longej^
cbenne said tbe hynge:Dame, yf be bad don to yow
sucbe trespaas as be batb don to other, it sbold re-
pente yow. Is it wonder tbat 1 bate bym ? be brehetb
alway my sauf garde* Raue ye not berde tbe com-
playntes tbat bere baue ben sbewde of bym of mur-
dre,of tbeef te,andof treson ? F)aue ye sucbe trust in
bym,tbynheyetbat beistbus good and cleer?tbenne
sette bym vpon tbeawterandworsbipeand praye to
bym as to a saynte* But tberisnone in alletbeworld
tbat can saye ony good of bym, ye may save mocbe
for bym, but in tnende ye sbal fynde bym al nought,
be batb netber fryn, ne wyn, ne frende, tbat wylle en-
treprise to belpe bym, be batb so deseruyd* 1 baue
grete meruaylle of yow, 1 berde neuer of none tbat
batb f elawsbippid witb bym tbat euertbanhedbym,
or said ony goodof bym, sauf you now, but alway be
batb stryhed bem witb bis taylj^be Sbe/Hpe an-
suerd & said : JVIy lord,! loue bym & baue bym in grete
cbierte,and also 1 knowe agood dede tbat beones in
your presencedydewberof yecoudebym gretetbanh:
tbougb now it be tbus tomed, yet sbal tbe beuyest
weye moste, H man sbal loue bis frende by mesure,
andnot bis enemye bate ouermocbe : stedf astnes and
constaunceisfyttyng&bebouetb to tbelordes,bow
someuer tbe world tornetb. Cde ought not preyse to
mocbe tbe daye tyl euen be come: good counseyl is
good for bym tbat wil doo tber af ten

hi

97

H parable of a JWan that delyuerd a Serpent fro peryl
of detb, capitulo xxx&&

OCCl two yere passed cam a JVIan
and a Serpent here in to this court
for to baue jugement,wbicbe was
toyow&youres rigbt doubteful.
XTbe Serpente stode in an bedebe,
wbere as be supposed to baue gon
tborugb,but be was caugbte tn a
snare by tbe neche, tbat be mygbt

not escape without belpe, but sbuld baue lost bis lyf
tbereXbeJMan camfortb by,& tbe Serpent called to
bym, & cryde and prayd tbe man tbat be wolde belpe
bym out of tb e snare, or elite be muste tbere dye.
S^"E25§|r)€ JVIan bad pyte of bym and sayde:
^vjT^fe Y* 2 t ^ ou promyse to me tbat tbou wilt
f Aa^y/S fl notenuenyme me,nedome none barme
ne burte,t sballe belpe tbe out of tbys
peryll J& tbe Serpente was redye, and
swore agrete otbetbat be nowne neuer
sbolde doo bym barme ne burteXbenne be vnlosed
bym and delyuerd bym out of tbe snare, and wente
fortb to gydre a good wbyle, tbat tbe Serpente bad
grete bon gre, for be bad not eten a grete wbile to fore,
andsterteto tbe JVIan andwold baue slayn bymXbe
JVIan sterte awaye, and was a/ferde and saide: Cdilte
tbou now slee me? Hast tbou forgoten tbe otb tbat
tbou madest to me, tbat tbou sboldest not mysdoo
ne burte me?jj?0>e Serpent answerd:! maye doo it
good to fore al tbe world tbat Idoo, tbe nede of bon-
gre may cause a man to breke bys otbcjP TLbz JVIan
sayde: \f it may be not bettre, gyue me so longe re-

spyte tyl we mete and fyndetbat may juge tbe mater
by right JSF Hbe Serpen tegraun ted tnerto, thus tbey
wente to gydre so longetbat tbey fonde^Tyselyn tbe
Rauen ana Slyndpere bye sone: there rebersed they
tbeyr resons* tiselyn tbe Rauen juged anon that be
sboldete tbe JVIan : be wold fayn baueeten bis parted
bye eone alsoj^Ube Serpent said to the JVIan : Row
is it nowe?jSF<nbattbynReye, baueInotwonne?Hbe
JVIan saide: Row sbolde a robber juge tbis,be sbold
baue auay le tberby , and also be is allone, tber muste
be two or tbre atte leste to gydre, and tbat tbey vn-
derstande tbe right and lawe: & tbat done, late tbe
sentence gon,IamneuertbelesylonynougbjjTCbey
agreed and wente forth botbe to gydre, soo longe
that tbey f onde tbe Beer & tbe Glulf, to whom tbey
tolde tbeyr mater, and tbey anon juged tbat tbe Ser-
pent sbold sle tbe JVIan, for tbe nedeof bongre brefc-
ctb otb alway* Xihz JVIan tbenne was in grete doubte
and fere, and tbe Serpente cam and cast hys venym
at bym,but tbe JVIan lepea/way from hym with grete
payne, and sayd: Y* doo grete wronge tbat ye thus
lye in a/wayte to slee me, ye baue no right tbertoj^
£be Serpent sayde: Is it not ynougb yet? bit bath
ben twyes jugedjfi?Ye, said tbe JVIan, tbat is of them
tbat ben wonte to murdre and robbe, alle tbat euer
tbey swere and promyse tbey bolde not, butlappele
tbis mater in to tbe court to fore our lord tbe fcynge,
and tbat tbou mayst not forsake, & wbat jugement
tbat sbal be gyuen there 1 sbal obeye and suffre and
neuer do tbe contrarye.

bz

99

ne Bere and tbc (dulf sayden that it
sbold be so&tbat tbeSerpent desired
no better: tbey supposed yf it sbolde
come to fore yow it sbold goo tbere as
tbeywolde.Itroweyebewelremembrid
- berof Xbo cam tbey alleto tbc : court to
> fore vow,&tbeSCIulue8 two cbyldren camwttb tbeyr
fader wbicbe were callyd 6mpty/Bely & Neuovf ull
by cause tbey wold ete of tbe man, for tbey bowlyd
for arete bongre, wberf ore ye commaunded tbem to
>auoyde your court^Cbe JVIan stode in grete drede,
and called vpon your good grace,and tolde bow tbe
Serpentwolde baue taken bis lyf from btm, to wbom
be bad sauyd bis lyf, & tbat aboue bis otb and pro-
Wse be wolde baue deuoured bym jSTCbe Serpente
answerd:! baue not trespaced,and tbatlreporte me
>booly on tbe kyng, for X dyde it to saue my lyf: for
nede of lyf one maye breke bis otb & promysej^My
lorde, tbat tyme were ye and alle your counseyl bere
wvtb acombryd, for your noble grace save tbe grete
sorow of tbe JVIan, &ye wold not tbat tbeJVIan sbold
for bis gentilnes and kindenes be juged to detb,and
on tbat otber sytbe bongre and nede to saue tbe lyf
seketb narowly to be bolpen : bier was none tn al tbe
court tbat coude ne knewetbe rigbt bierof Xber were
sommetbat wolde f ayn tbeJVIan bad be bolpen,Isee
tbem bier stondyng,! wote wel tbey sayde tbat tbey
coude not ende tbis materXbenne commaunded ye
tbatReynardmy neuew sbold come andsaye ms ad-
uys in tbis mater, tbat tyme was be aboue alle otber
byleuyd and berd in tbe court, and ye bad bym gyue
100

sentence acordyng to the best right, andwe alle sbal
f olowe bym, for be knewetbe grounde of tbe lawejfiF
Reynard saide: JVIy lord, it is not possible to yeue a
trewe sentence aftertbevr wordes,for in bere sayeng
ben of te lesynges, but & yf I mygbt see tbe Serpent
in tbe same paryl and nede tbat fie was in whan tbe
JVlan loosed bim &vnbonde, tbenne wystelwelwbat
I sbolde saye, and who tbat wolde doo otherwise be
sbold mysdoo aga^n right J? ITbenne sayd ye: JVIy
lord Reynard, that is wel sayd, we alle acorde berto,
for noman can saye better jfiFXTbenne wente tbeJMan
and the Serpent in to tbe place wher as be f onde the
Serpent Reynart bad tbat tbe Serpent sbold be sette
in the snare in lyke wyse as he was, and it was don JP
'Cbenne sayd ye: JMy lord Reynart, how tbynketh ye
now, what juaementsbal we gyue? JSf tTbenne sayd
Reynart tbe f oxe: JMy lord, now ben they botbe lyke
as they wer tof ore, they haue neytber wonne ne loste*
See, my lord, how I juge for a rygbt al so f erre as it
sbal plese your noble grace,yf tbe JVlan wilnow pose
and vnbynde the Serpent vpon tbe promyse and otb
that he to fore made to bim, he may wel doo it: but if
be thynke tbat be for ony tbynge sbold be emcom-
bryd or byndred by the Serpent, or for nede of bon~
gre wold brefce bis otb & promyse, tbenne jugel tbat
the JVlan may go frely where be wyl,and late tbe Ser-
pen te abyde stylle bounden,lyfce as bemyghte haue
don at the begynnyng,for be wolde haue broken bis
otb and promyse, where as he belpe hym out of suche
ferefulperylXbusthynketbmearightfuljugement
tbat the JVlan sbal haue hys free cboys lyfce as he to
fore badde*

b3

101

OmyLord,tbisjugementtbouabtyow
good, and alle your counseyl wbicbe at
tbat tyme were by you, & rolowed tbe
same, & preysed Reynardis wysedom
tbat be bad made tbe JVIan quyte and
-free: tbus tbe foxe wysely kepte your
noble bonour and worship, as a triewe seruaunt is
bounde to do to bis lord ftlber batb tbeBeer or tbe
Qlulf do euer to yow so mocbe worship ? vbey conne
1 wel buylen and blasen, stele and robbe, and ete fatte
»morseUis, and fylle tbeyr belyes, &tbenne iuofe tbey
k f orrigbt & lawe tbat smale tneuis tbat stele bennys
& cbekynes sbold be banged, but tbey bem self tbat
stelen kyen, oxen & borses, tbey sbal goo quyte and
>be lordes, and seme as tbougb tbey were wyser than
Salamon, Huycene or Hristotiles, Hnd ecbe wil be
bolden bye, proud, and preised of grete dedes and
hardy. But and tbey come wbere as it is to doo tbey
ben tbe firste tbat flee, tbenne muste tbe symple goo
)f ortb to fore and tbey kepe tbe rereward bebynde.
"ICR, my Lord, tbese and otber lyke to
tbem be not wyse, but tbey destroye
towne, castel, landed peple, tbey retcbe
not wbos bows brennetb so tbat tbey
may warmetbem by tbe coles, tbey seke
J alle tbeyr owne auayll&synauler prof-
>fyte, But Reynart tbe f oxe and alle bis frendis and
lycniage sorowen and tbynke to pref erre tbe bonour,
worship, fordeel and proffyte,of tbeyr lord, and for
] wise counseyl wbicbe of temore proufrytetb here tban
pryde and boost, tbis dotb Reynard tbaugbbebaue
s no tbanke, Htte longe it sbal be wel knowen who is
'beste and dotb moste prouffytJVIy lord, ye saye tbat
102

bis hynneandlignagedraweal afterward from bym,
and stonde not by bym for bis falsbede and decey-
uablc and subtyl toucbis,Iwoldean otbcr bad sayde
tbat, tbcr sbolde tbcnnc sucbewrahe be taken tberof
tbat bym mygbt growle tbat euer besawe bym* But,
my lord, we wy I forbere you, ye maye saye your play-
sir, and also t saye it not by yow were tbere ony tbat
wolde bedryueony tbyng ayenst yow witb wordes or
wytb werhes bym wolde we soo doo to, tbat men
sbold saye we bad ben tbere: tber as fygbtyng is we
ben not woned to be aferd* JVfly lorde, by your leue I
may wel gyue you hnowelecbe of Reynardis frendis
ana bynne, tber ben many of tbem that for bis sake
and loue wille auenture lyf and good*! hnowmy self
for one, 1 am a wyf , I sbold yf be bad nede sette my
lyf and good for bym, also 1 baue tbre f ubwaxen
children, wbicb ben bardyandstronofe,wbomlwold
alleto gydreauentureforbis loue rather tban I sbold
see bym destroyed, yet bad I leuer dye tban t sawe
tbem myscarye to fore myn eyen, so wel loue I bym*
Olbicbe ben frendes and kyrine vnto Reynard tbe
fox, capitulo xxxj&&

RS fyrste cbylde is named Byte-
luys,wbicbeis mocbe cberyssbyd
and can make mocbe sporte and
game, wberf ore is gyuen to bym
tbe fatte trencbours and mocbe
other good mete, wbiche cometb
wel to prouffytof fulrompehys
brother, & also my tbyrde cbylde
is a dougbter&is named fiatenettcsbecan wel pyke
outlyse&netisoutofmensbeedisXbisetbrebento
ecbe other try ew, wberf ore I loue tbem^OameRu-

MM

kenawe called bem forth and sayd : Welcome my dm
cby Idren to me, forth & stande by Reynard, your dere
neuewf j^TTbenne sayd she: Come fortb,alle ye that
ben of my kynne & Reynarts, & late vs pray e the kyng
that he wille doo to Reynart rygbt of the lande^
TTbo cam forth many a beest anon, as the Squyrel,
the Musebont, the fy chews, the JMartron, the Beuer,
wytb bis wyf Ordegale, the Genete, the Ostrole, the
Boussyng, and the f yret, tbyse tweyne ete as f ayne
polay I as doth Reynart, the Oter and pan tecroet bis
wyf whom 1 had almoste f orgoten, yet were they to
fore, wytb the Beuer, enemyes to the f oxe, but they
durst not gaynsaye dame Rukenawe, for they were
af erd of her, she was also the wysest of al bis kynne
of counseyl,and was moste doubtedXber cam also
mo than xx other by cause of her, for to stande by
Reynard, tber cam also dame Htrote with her u sus-
ters,tbe Cdesel,and Hermell the Hsse, the Backe, the
Cdatreratte,&manymoo to tbenombreof xl,wbiche
alle camen and stoden by Reynard the f oxe.

**¥ lord the kyn g, saide Ru kenawe, come

& see bier yf Reynart baue ony frendis,

here may ye seewe ben your trewesub-

gettis, whicbe for yow wold auenture

* botfc lyf & goodif yebadnede: though

3ye bebardy,mygbtyandstronge,oure

welwyllyd friendship can not hurte you. Late Rey-
nard the foxe wel betbynke hym vpon tbise maters
that ye baue leyd ayenst hym, and yf be can not ex-
cuse hym, tbenne do hym right, we desire no better,
and this by right ought to noman be wamedj^Cbe
quene tbenne spack : €bis saide 1 to hym yesterday,
but be was so fyers and angry that he wold not here
104

\tJPCbz Lupaerd saide also: Syre, ye may Juge no
fcrtbcr than your men gyue tbeyrverdyte,foryf ye
wold joo forth by wyl and mygbte, tnat were not
worshipful for your estate: here allewaye botbe par-
tyes, and tbenne by tbe beste and wysest counseyl
gyue jugementdiscrettyaccordyngtotbebeste right
jisTCbe hyngesayde: Cbis is al trewe, but I was so
sore meuyd wban 1 was enf ormed of Kywarts deth
and sawe his heed that I was boot and hasty. I sbal
here tbe f oxe: can beanswereand excuse bym of that
is leyd ayenst bym, I sbal a ladly late bym gooquyte,
and also atte requeste of Bis good frendis & Hynne
jlPReynart was glad of this wordis and tbougbte:
God tbanke myn aunte, she bath tberys doo blosme
agayn, sbe batb well bolpen me fortbe nowe. I baue
now a good foot to daunse on. I sbal now loke out
of myne even, and bryngefortb tbe fayrest lesyngis
tbat euer man berde,and brynge my self out of this
daunger.

How tbef oxe with subtylte excused bim for tbedetb
of Kywart tbe Rare & of alle other maters tbat were
levde ayenst bym, & bow wytb flateryng gate agayn
bts pees of tbe kynge, capitulo xxxij^^ *

ne]V]Ve spak Reynart tbe foxe
and saide jSFHlas, what save ye, is
Kywart ded,& where is Bellyn tbe
Ramme, what brougbte he to yow
wban be cam agayn, fori delyuerd
to bym tbre iewellis ? I wold f ayn
hnowe where tbeye ben be comen,
that one of them sbolde he baue
gyuen to yow, my lord tbe kyng,& tbe other ij to my
lady the quene j^Cbe hynge saide: Bellyn brought

105

to f ore?wberof I toke on bym wrake. Imade bvm to
lose bis Ivf , for tbc f oule kaytyf said to me tbat be
bvm eelf was of tbe counseyl of tbe lettres makyng
tbat were in tbe male j^Hlas, my lorde, is tbys very
troutbe? (Goto me kaytyf tbat euer I was born,sttb
tbat tbtse good jewellis be tbus lostt JYIyn berte wtl
breke for sorowejam sory tbatlnowe ^^t
sbal my wyf sate wban sbe beretb berof\sbe sbal go
out of ber wytte for sorow. I sbal neuer, al so lonae
as I lyue, baue ber frendsbtp, sbesbaU make mocbe
sorowe wban sbe beretb tberof j^beSbe/Hpe said:
Revnard,dere neuew, wbat prouffytetb tbat ye mafce
at tbis sorowe?Late it passe,and telle vs wbat tbise
iewellvs were, parauenture we sballe fynde counseyl
to baue tbem agayn yf tbev be aboue ertbe, . Mmmr
Hkervn sbal laboure for tbem in bis bookts,& also
we shall curse for tbem in al cbircbys vnto tbe tyme
tbat we baue knowelecbe wbere tbey benXbey maye
not be loste jff Nay, aunte, tbynke not tbat,for tbey
tbat bauetbem wylnot lightly departe fro tbem, tber
was neuer kynge tbat euer gaf soo ryebe jewellys as
tbvse be- Neuertbeles,ye baue somewhat wytb your
wordes easyd myn berte and made it lighter than
it was. Hlas, loo bere ye may see bow be or tbey to
wbome aman trustetbmoost is ofte by bym or tbem
decevuydfCbaugblsboldgooaltbeworldtboruofD,

& my lyf in auenture sette tberf ore,Isbal wyte wber
tbise jewellis ben becomen.

106

YXTHB a dissymylyd and sorouf ull
specbesaidetbefoxejiSFfierkenyealle,
mykynneandfrendys,Isbalnameto
^ yowtbise jewellis wbat tbey were, and
tbenne may ye saye tbatl baue a grete
lease. "Cbat one of tbem was a rynge

of fyn gold, & witbin tbe rynge next tbe fyngre were
wretonlettres enameld witb eable and asure, and tber
were tbre Hebrews names tbeimlcoude not my self
rede ne spelle tbem, for I vnderstonde not tbat lan-
gage* But JVIaister Hbrion of Oyer be is a wyse man,
bevnderstandetb welalmanerof langagesand tbe
vertue of alle maner berbes, and tber is no beest so
tiers ne stronge but be can dompte bym, for yf be see
bym ones be sbal doo as bee wyl,and yet be bileuetb
not on Cod, be is a^ewe, tbe wysest in connyng, and
specially be knowetb tbe vertue of stones* I sbewde
bym ones tbis rynge,be saidetbat tbey were tbo tbre
names tbat Setb brought oute of paradys wban be
brought to bis fadreHdam tbe oyle of mercy, & wbo
someuerberetb on bim tbis tbre names be sbalneuer
be burte by tbondre,be lygbtnyng,ne nowitcbecraft
sbal baue power ouer bim,ne be tempted to do synne,
and also be sbal neuer take barm by colde tbaugb be
laye tbe wynters longe nygbtis in tbe f eelde, tbaugb
it snowed, stormed, or rrore neuer so sore, so grete
mygbt baue tbise wordes,witnes of JWaisterHbrion.
Cuitbougbt f ortb on tbe rynge stode a stone of tbre
maner colours, tbe one part was lyjke rede cristalle &
sboon lyhe as fyre bad ben tberin, in sucbe wyse tbat
if one wolde goo by nygbt bym beboued none otber
ligbte, for tbe sbyningof tbe stone made andgaf as
grete a ligbt as it bad ben my dday Xbat otber parte

107

of the stone was wbyte and clere as it bad ben bur-
nyssbid,wbo so bad in bis eyen ony smarte or sore-
ness in bis body ony swellyng, or beed acbe, or ony
syfcenes witboutfortbe,yf be stryfced tbis stone on
tbe place wber tbe gryef is, be sbal anon be bole, or if
ony man be sefce in bts body of venym, or y lie mete in
bis stomach, of colyfc, stranguyllyon, stone, fystel,
or banker, or ony otber sefceness, sauf only tbe very
detb, late bym leye tbis stone in a litle watre and late
bym drynfce it,and be sbal f ortbwytb be bole and al
quyte of bis sefcenessis- Hlas, said tbef oxe,we baue
good cause to be sory to lese sucbe a jewel! f ortber-
more tbe tbirde colour was grene lyke glas,but tber
were some sprynfclis tberin lyke purpureXbe mais-
ter tolde for troutbe tbat wbo that bare tbys stone
vpon bym sbold neuer be burte of bys enemye, and
tbat noman were be neuer so stronge and bardy tbat
mygbt mysdoo bym,and wbere euer tbat be f ougbt
be sbold baue vyctorye, were it by nygbt or by daye,
al sof erre as be bebelde it fastyng,Hnd also tberto,
wbere someuer be wente and in wbat f elawsbip, bee
sbold be bylouyd tbougb tbey badde bated bym to
fore, if be bad tne ring vpon bym tbey sbold f orgete
tbeyr angre as sone as tney sawe bym* Hlso tbougb
be were al naked in a f elde agayn an bondred armed
men,be sbold be wel bertedandescapefrotbem witb
worship: butbemuste be a noble gentle man & baue
no cborles condycyons,for tbenne tbe stone bad no
mygbt Hnd by cause tbys stone was soo precious
& good, X tbougbt in my self tbat X was not able ne
wortby to bere it, and tbere fore X sente it to my dere
lord tbe kyng, for X knowe bym for tbe most noble
tbat now lyuetb, and also alle our welfare and wor-
108

"■""—

sbip lyetb on bym,and for be sbold be keptefro alle
drede,nede,and vngbeluck,

f OJTOG tbis rynge in my f adres tre-
soiir, &in tbe dame placet toke a glass
or a mirrour & a combe wbicbe my wyf
woldalgates baue. H man my gbt won-
dretbatsawetbisejewellis.tsenttbise
to my lady tbe queue, f orlbaue found-
en ber good and gracious to me: tbis combe mygbt
not be to mocbe preysed, byt was made of tbe bone
of a dene noble beest named pantbera wbicbe f ed-
etb bym bytwene tbe gretelnde&Srtbty paradyse,
be is so lusty, f ayr, & of colour tbat tber is no colour
vnder tbe beuen but somme lyknes is in bym, 'Cber-
to be smelletb so swete tbat tbe sauourof bym bot-
etb alle syknessis, & for bis beaute and swete smel-
lyng all otber beestis f olowe bym, for by bys swete
sauour tbey ben beled of alle syknessis. 'Cbis pan-
tbera batb a fair boon, brode and tbynne,wban so is
tbat tbis beeste is slayn al tbe swete odour restid in
tbe bone,wbicb can not be broken, ne sbal neuer rote,
ne bedestroyed by fyre, by water,ne by smytyng,bit
is so bard, tybt and f ast, &yet it is lygbtof weygbt.
^be swete odour of it batb grete mygbte, tbat wbo
tbat smelletb it sette nougbt by none otber luste in
tbe world, and is easyd and quyte of alle maner di-
seases and infirmites, & also be is ioconde and glad
in bis berteXbis combe is polyssbid as it were fyne
syluer,and tbe teetb of it ben small and straite,and
bytwen tbe gretter teetb & tbe smaller is a large f elde
and space, wbere is coruen many an ymage subtylly
made and enameld aboute witb fyn gold. Cbe f elde
is checked witb sable and siluer, enameld witb cybore

109

and asure,and tber in is tbistorve bow Venus, ^no,
andpallas strof for tbapple orgold,wbicbe cebe of
tbem wold bauc bad, wbicbe contrauersye was scttc
vpon parys tbat be sbold gyue it to tbe f ayrest of
tbem tbre.

jHRYS was tbat tyme an berde man,
and kepte bis f aders beestis and sbeep
witboutt>oye*<Oban bebadreseeyuid
tbapple 7uno promysyd to bym yf be
wolde jugetbat sbe mygbt baue tbap-
ple be sbold baue tbe moste ricbesse
'of tbe world, pallas said yf sbe mygbt bauetbapple
'sbe wold gyue bym wysedom & strengtbe, & make
|bym so grete a lorde tbat be sbold ouercome alle bis
>enemyes and wbom be woldjj? Venus saide: <JHbat
Jnedest tbou ricbesse or strengtbe, art not tbou pry-
amus sone and Rector is tby brother wbicbe baue
al Hsye vnder tbeir power, art not tbou one of tbe
possessours of arete "Croye? Yf tbou wylt gyue to
me tbapple X sbalgyue tbe tbe richest tresour of tbe
world, and tbat sbal be tbe f ayrest woman tbat euer
bad lyf on ertbe, ne neuer sbal none be bom fairer
tban sbe, tbenne sbal tbou be ricber tban ricbe and
sbal clymme aboue al otber, for tbat is tbe tresour
tbat noman can preyse ynougb, for bonest, fair, and
aood women can put a/way many a sorow fro tbe
berte, tbey be sbamef ast and wyse, & brynge a man
in very joye and blyssejj^parys berde tbis Venus,
wbicbe presented bym tbis grete joye and fayr lady,
and prayd ber to name tbis fayr lady tbat was so
fair, ana wbere sbe wasj^Venus saide: It is Relene,
kynge JMenelaus wyf of Grece, tber lyuetb not a no-
bler, ricber, gentiller,ne wyser wyf in al tbe worlds
no

0>enne parys gaf to bcr thapplc and said that sbe
was f ay rest* Row that be gate after ward Helen e by
tbe belpe of Venus, and bow be brought ber in to
f< Croye and wedded ber, tbe grete loue & ioly lyf tbat
tbey bad to gydre, was al coruen in tbe f elde, euery
tbyngbybym self and tbe storye wreton.

^OCCEye sbal bere of tbe mirrour. 0>e
glas tbat stode tberon was of sucbe
vertu tbat men mygbt see tberin alle
tbat was don witbin a myle, of men, of
beestis,andof altbyngetbatmen wold
desire to wyte and knowe* Hnd wbat
*man loked in tbe glasse, bad be ony dissease, of
»prickyng or motes, smarte, or perles in bis eyen, be
sbold be anon beled of it, sucbe grete vertue bad tbe
glas* Is it tbenne wondre yf I be meuyd and angry
for to lose sucbe maner jewellis ? "Cbe tree in wbicbe
tbis glas stode was lygbt and f aste and was nam-
ed Cetyne, bit sbolde endure euer er it wold rote or
wormes sbold burteit,and tberfore kynge Salamon
seelyd bis temple wytb tbe same wode wttbynfortb.
JMen preysed it derrer tban fyn gold, bit is like to tre
of Relenus, of wbicbe wode kynge Crompart made
bis bors of tree f or lou e of kyn ge )9lor cadigas dougb-
ter tbat was so fayr, wbom be badwende for to baue
wonne* ITbat bors was so made witbin tbat wbo
someuer rode on bit, yf be wolde be sbold be witbin
lesse tban oon bour an bondred myle tbens, & tbat
waswelpreuyd,forCleomedestbekynge88onewold
not byleue tbat tbat bors of tree bad sucbe mygbt
and vertue: be was yonge, lusty and bardy, and de~
syred to doo grete dedes of prys for to be renomed
in tbis world, & leep on tbis bors of tree* Crompart

111

;-^

torned a pynne that stodeon bis brest,and anon the
horse lyrte bym vp and wente out of the ballc by tbc
wyndowe,and er one mygbt saye bis pater noster be
was goon more tban ten mylea/waycCleomedes was
soreaferd and supposedneuertobauetornedagayn,
as tbistory tberor telletb more playnly ,but bow grete
drede be bad, and bow f erre tbat be rood vpon tbat
borse madeof tbe treeof Rebenus er be coude knowe
tbe arte and craf te bow be sbold torn bym, and bow
joyeful be was wban be knewe it, and bow men sor-
owed for bym, and bow be knewe all tbis, and tbe ioye
tberof wban be cam agayn, all tbis I passe ouer for
losyng of tyme. But tbe moste parte of alle cam to
by tbe vertue of tbe wode, of wbicbe wode tbe tree
tbat tbe glas stode in was made, and tbat was witb-
outwortbof tbeglasbalf afoot brood, wberin stode
some strange bystoryes wbicbe were of gold, of sa-
ble, of siluer, of yelow, asure, and cynope, Tbyse
sixe colowrs were tberin wrought in sucbe wise as it
beboued, and vnder euery bystorye tbe wordes were
grauen and enameld tbat euery man mygbt vnder-
stande tbat ecbe bistorye was* Hf ter my jugement
tber was neuer myrour so costly, so lustly, ne so
playsaunt« In tbe begynnyng stode there an borse
made f atte, stronofe, & sore enuyous vpon an herte,
wbicbe ran in tbe feeld so f erre and swyf tly tbat tbe
bors was angry tbat be ran so f erre to fore bym and
coude not ouertake bym, be thought he sbold cacche
bym & subdue bym, though he sbold suffremoche
payne therf ore, Xtbc horse spack tbo to a berdeman
m tbis wyse: Yf thou cowdest taken an herte that 1
wel can snewe tbe, thou sboldest haue grete prouffyt
tberof,tbou sboldestsellederehis homes, bis skyn,
112

«■ * _ ... 1 _'

and bis flessbejgTCbe berdeman sayd: Row may I
come by bym ? JZbc bora saide: Syttc vpon mc and I
sball berc tbc, and we sbal buntc nym til be be take,
Xlbz bcrdcman sprange & satte vpon tbe bors, and
sawe tbe berte, and be rode after, but tbe berte was
tygbt of foot and swyf t and out ran tbe bors f erre*
tbey bonted so ferre after bym tbat tbe bors was
wery, and said to tbe berdeman tbat satte on bym :
JVow sytte of, 1 wil reste me, I am al wery, and gyue
me leue to goo fro tbcjFCbc berdeman saide:Ibaue
arested tbe, tbow mayst not escape fro me, I baue a
brydle on tby bede & sporis on my beles, tbou sbalt
neuer baue tbanke berof, I sbal bydwynge& subdue
tbe, baddest tbou sworn tbecontrarye^See bow tbe
borse brought bym self in tbraldom and was taken
in bis owne nette. Row may one better be taken tban
by bis owne propre enuye to suflPre bym self to be
taken & riden ? 'cber ben many tbat laboure to burte
otber, and tbey tbem seluen ben burt and rewarded
witb tbe same*

RGR was also made an asse and an
bounde,wbycbe dwelled botbe witb a
ricbe man/cbe man louyd bis bounde
well, for be pleyde oftc wytb bym as
folkedowitb boundis, tbe bound leep
_ vp and pleyd witb bis tayl and ly ckyd
Jbys maister about tbe moutbj^ Ons sawe Bowd-
wyn tbe asse, & bad grete spyte tberof in bis berte,
and said to bim self : Row may tbys be, & wbat may
my lorde see on tbis fowle bound, wbom 1 neuer see
dotb good ne prouffyt,sauf spryngetbon bym and
kyssetb bym ? but me wbom men putten to laboure
to bere and drawe, and doo more in a weeke tban be

ti

113

wvtb bis xv sbold do in a bole yere, & yet syttetb be
neuertbeles by bym at tbe table, &tbere etetb bones
n*es8b,and fatte trencbours,andlbaue notbvng but
tbystles & nettles/and lye on nygbtes on tbe barde
ertbe,and suffre many a scorn.lwyl nolenger suffre
tbys,l wylle tbynke bow 1 mayom ^^esloue
and frendsbip lyke astbeboundedotb^berwytb
cam tbe lorde, and tbe asse Ivf t vp bts tay I & sprana
witb bis fore feet on tbe lordes sboldres,and blereci,
grennyd,and songe, & witb bis feet made two grete
bules aboute bis eres,and put fortb bis moutb,and
wolde baue kyssed tbe lordes moutb as be bad seen
tbe bound doon J? Xiho cryde tbe lorde, sore af erde :
fielptfielpt tbis asse wilslee met jgTCbenne cam bis
seruauntis witb good 8tauis,and smyten &bete tbe
asse so sore tbat be bad wende be sbold baue loste
bis lyf : tbo retomed be to bis stable, & ete tbystles
and nettles, & was an asse as be to fore was* In lyke
wyse wbo so baue enuy e and spy te of an others wel-
fare, and were seruid in lyke wyse,tt sbold be wel be-
boeff ut T^berf or it is concluded tbat tbe asse sball
ete tbistelis and netteles,and bere tbe sacke: tbougb
l men wold doo bym worship be can not vnderstonde
it, but must vse olde lewde maners. GBbere as asses
cteten lordsbyppys, tbere men see selde good rewle,
for tbey take bede of notbyng but on tbeyr syngu-
ler prouffyt,yet ben tbey takevp and rysen grete, tbe

morepyteis* <, . ,

neRKe]^ fertber bow my fadre and
1 T/ybert tbe Catte wende to gydre, and
bad sworn by tbeyr troutbe tbat for
loue ne bate tbey sbold not departe, &
wbat tbey gate tbey sbold departe to
ecbe tbe balf ♦ TIbenne on a tyme tbey

9awe buntere comynge oucr tbe felde wytb many
bounded, tbey leep and ronne f aetc fro tbenvward al
tbat tbey mygbte, ae tbey tbat were af erd of tbeyr
lyf j^Cybert, eayde tbe f oxe, wbytber ebal we now
beet flee, tbe buntere baue eepyed V9, knowe ye ony
belpe ?^JVly fadre trusted on tbe promyee tbat ecbe
made to otber,and tbat bewolde for nonede departe
fro bymj^Cybert, eaid be,l baue a each f ulof wylee
yf we baue nede, ae f erre ae weabyde togydre wenede
not to doubte buntere ne boundes^tTybert bigan
to 9ygbe, and was eore aferd,and eayde: Reynart
wbat auayllen many wordee? I knowe but one wyle
and tbeder must I tooj!S?Hnon tbo clamme be vpon
on bye tree in to tbe toppe vnder tbe leuys, wber ae
bunter ne bounde mygfbt doo bym non narme, and
lef te my fadre allone in jeoparde of bis lyf, for tbe
bunters setteon bym tbe bounded al tbat tbey coude,
men blewe tbe bomee & eryed and balowed tbe f oxe,
elee and take^<Oban Hybert tbe Catte eawe tbat,
be mocked and scorned my fadre and eaid: GHbat
Reynart cogyn, vnbynde now your eakkewber al tbe
wylie ben in , iti9nowtyme:yebe90wy9e called, belpe
your 9elf for ye baue nedef JSFTlbie mocke mu9te my
radre bere of bym to wbom be bad mo9t bi9 tru9t
on, and wa9 almogte taken and nygb bi9 detb, & be
ranne and fledde wytb grete fere of by9 lyf, and lete
bi9 male 9lyde of by cau9e be wold be tbe lighter.
Yet al tbat coude not belpe bym, for tbe boundeg
were to ewyft,and 9bold baue by ten bym but be bad
one auenture, tbat tber by be fond an old bolewberin
be crepte, & e9caped tbu9 tbe bonterg and boundes.
Hbue beldetbi9 fal9edeceyuer,Obaert,bi99y kernes
tbatbebadpromy9ed.Hla9,bowmanybentberenow
\2 115

BH^^^H

me

I

>reson*

a dayes that kepe not tbeyr promyse, ami sett c not
tberby though they brokeit 1 Hnd though 1 hatep-
baert berf ore, is it wonder? But 1 dpo not, sikerly , I
louc my sowle to wel therto : neuertbeless, yf I sawe
hym in auenture and mysf alle in bis body or in bis
goodes,! trowe hit sbold not mocbe goo to iwj > berte
so that anotherdydc itFeuertbclee,! ^"^J"
hate hym ne hauc enuye at hym, 1 sbal ^f or ^ocUes
louc f orgyue hym : yet is it not so clew : out ^f myn
hertebutalytylyllewylletohym/wardabideththerin

as this cometh to my remembraunce, and the cause
' is that the sensualyte of my flessh fyghtetb ayenst

ineR stode also in that myrrour, of
the Olulf , how he f onde ones vpon an
hethadede horsslayn butal the flessh
was eten. tlbenne wente he and bote
grete morsellis of the bones that for
j bongre he toke thre or iiij attones and
>swolowed them in, for he was so gredy that one of
<tbe bones stack thwart in his mouth, wherof he had
Wete payne&was in grete fereof his lyf :besougbte
al aboute f orwyse maisters and surgyens, and pro-
Imvsed arete yef tis for to be heled of his disease^
*Htte laste whan he coude nowher fynde remedye he
cam to the Crane wyth his longe necke and biUcand
prayde hym to helpe hym and he wold loue &rewarde
hym so wel that he sholde euer be the better. Oe
Crane herked after this grete rewarde, and put bis
heed in to his throte and brought out the boon wytb
hisbylleXheOlulf stertea/sydewyth the pluckyng,
and cryde out: Hlas, thou doost me barme, but I
f orgyue it the, doo no more soo, I wolde not suflre
116

it of an other jgTCbe Crane saide: Sir Isegrym, goo
and be mery,for ye beal bool,nowgyue tome that ye
promysedjb^be <Oulf saide: Sly I ye here what be
saytb?lam be tbat batb suffred and baue cause to
playne, and be wille baue good of met Re tbanketb
not me of tbe kyndnes tbat 1 dyde to bym: be put
bis beed in my moutb and 1 suffred bym to drawe it
out bole without burtyng, and be dyde to me also
barme, and yf onj bier sbold baue a reward it sbold
be 1 by rygbtji^Cbus tbevnkynde men nowa/dayes
rewarde tbem tbat doo tbem good; wban tbe false
and subtyl aryse & become grete, tbenne gotb wor-
ship and prouif yt al to nought 0>er ben many of
rygbt that ought reward and doo good to suche as
baue helpen hem in her nede, tbat now fynde causes
and saye they be burte & wolde baue amendis where
they ought to rewarde and make amende© tbem self>
tberfore it is said and trowthe it is, wboo tbat wyl
cbydeor cbastyse see that be be clere bym self.

flLLG this & mocbemore than Inow can
s|j wel remembre was made & wrought in
this glasseXbemaister that ordeyned
it was a conningman, and a prof ounde
] clerk in many sciencis, & by cause tbise
I Jewells were ouer good and precious for
me to kepe and baue, tberfore! sen te tbem tomy dere
lorde tbe kynge&totbe quenein present Adhere ben
they now tnat gyue to theyr lordes sucbe presen tes ?
Vbe sorowe tbat my ij chyldren made whan 1 sente
away the glasse was grete, for they were woned to loke
therin & see tbem self, how theyr clothyngand araye
becam tbem on their bodyes* O alas,X knewe not tbat
Kywart the Rare was so nygbe hys detb whan I de-
i3 117

:

tyucryd bym the male witb tbtee iewellig, I mete not
to whom I mygbt better bane taken tbem,tbougb it
sbold baue coete me my ly f , tban bym and Bellyn tbe
Ramme,tbey were two of my beet frendie. On te, alas,
1 crye vpon tbe murderar 1 1 eball knowe wbo it wa9,
tbougbl9boldrcnnetburgbaltbeworldt09ekebim,

for murdre abydetb not byd,it eball come out- per-
auenture be ie in tbie companye, tbat knowetb wbere
Ky wart \Q bicomen , tbou gb be telletb it not,f or many
false ebrewye walke wy tb good men fro wbome no-
man can hepe bym, tbey knowen tbeyr craft 90 wel &
can wel couere tbeyr f alsenee* But tbe most wondre
tbat I baue, ie tbat my lord tbe kynge bier saytb eo
felly tbat my f adre norldyde bym neuer good: tbat
tbynketb me meruayle of a kynge, but tber come 90
many tbyngie to fore bim tbat be forgetetb tbat one
wytb tbat otber and 90 farytb by me, Oere lorde,re~
membre not ye wban my lord your f adre lyuyd, & ye
an yonglyng of twoyere were, tbat my f adre cam fro
9kolefro)VIonpeUierwberea9bebadfyueyere9tudy-
ed in recepte9 of medy cpe9 ? Re knewe al tbe tokene9
of tbe vryne a9 wel a9 bi9 bonde, &al9oalltbeberbe9
and nature of tbem, wbyebe were vi9C09e or laxatyf :
be wa9 a 9ynguler mai9ter in tbat 9cience, be mygbt
wel were clotb of 9ylke & a gylt gyrdle.(Oban be cam
to court be f onde tbe kynge in agrete 9ekene9, wber-
of bewa99oryinbi9bert,forbelouydbymabouealle
otber lordegXbe kynge wolde not forgoo bym, for
wban be came alle otber bad leue to walke wbere tbey
wolde, be tru9ted none 90 mocbe ag bym* Re 9ayde:
Reynard,! am 9eke & f ele me tbe lenger tbe wzrscj?
]My f adre 9aid: JVIy dere lord,bere i9 an vrynal,make
youre water tberin, and a99one a9 1 may 9ee it,1 9bal
118

telle what sckenes it is, and also bow ye sbal be bol-
pen JfChc kynge dyde as be counseilled bym, for be
trustednoman better tbatlyuyd,tbougbso were tbat
my fader dyde not as be sbolde baue don to you, but
tbat was by counseyl of euyl and foule beestis,! bad
wonder tberof but it wasarasyngayenst bisdetbj^
Re sayde: )VIy lord,yf ye wyl be bole ye muste ete tbe
lyuer of a wulf of vU yere old : tbat may ye not leue or
elite ye sball deye, for your vryne sbewetb it playnly
JSf TLhz Cdulf stode tber by and said nougbt, but tbe
kynge said tobym : SirYsegrym,nowyebereweltbat
1 muste baue your lyuer yf I will be bool^€bo an-
swerd tbe (flulf and saide: JVay, my lord, not soo, X
wote wel 1 am not yet fyue yere olde, 1 baue berde my
moder saie sooJPffly f adre said: Cttbat skylletb bys
wordes? late bym be opened, and I sbal knoweby tbe
lyueryf it be goode for yow or notj^Hnd tberwytb
tbe<Uulf was bad tokyeben and bis lyuer taken out,
wbicbetbe kynge ete, and was anon al bole of alle bis
sekenes : tbenne tbanketb be my f adre mocbe, & com-
mandedallebis bousbold vpon tbeir lyuys tbat after
tbattymetbe y sbolde calle bym mayster Reynard,
~|S abode stylle by tbe kynge & was by-
leuidof alle tbingis, and muste allewey
go by bis syde, & tbe kynge gaf to bym
a garlondof rooses wbicbebe must al-
way were on bis beed, but now tbis is al
tomed, alle tbe old good tbynges tbat
bedydeben forgeten,and tbise couetouse andrauen-
ous sbrewys ben taken vp and sette on tbe bye ben cbe,
and ben berde and made grete, and tbe wysefolke ben
put a/back, by wbicbe tbise lordes of te lacke & cause
tbem to be in mocbe trouble and sorowe,for wban a

H

119

couctous man of lowe byrtbe is made a lorde and is
mocbcS&abouebt8neygbbour8batbpowcr&

SgbtSm be knowetb not bim self , ne wbene be
I«tomen&batbnopvteonnoman8burte,neberetb

"om™r%u7sVtyf bemay ^£<££*<g
hte entent & ckeire to to gadre good &;o be gpxtter. O

tow man.y couetous m<£ ben now in lordes ^courtes,

tbev flam and emeke and plese tbe jjrynee for tbeyr

eW«ulerauayl,but&tbe PyV"" ^ d, l ede ^2
tbeir good tbey sbolde ratber suffre bym ito dey : or
fare rt«bt bard er tbey wold gyue or lene hymXbvf
be Ivkf tbe Slulf tbat bad leuer tbe bynge bad deyed
than be wolde gyue bym bis lyuer,yet bad I leuer, er
tffitbe Cge or tbequene sbold fare amys.tbat xc
lucbewuluel8boldloeetbeyrlvue9,bit were alsotbe
tarttom? ny lordcal tbis bifelle in yout jongtbe,
that mv f ader dyde tbus: 1 trowe ye baue forgotten
it Hnd also my self don yow rcuerence,worsbip,and
C ourtosye ( vnroused be it.tbougb yenow tbanke <m
but Ivtyl but parauenture ye remembred not tbat I
eballnow sayc, not to ony f orn»yttyng of yow, for
ve be worthy alle worship & reuerenee tbat ony man
Hn doo, tbat baue ye of Hlmigbty God by enbent-
aunce of youre noble progenytours, wberfor I your
bumble subgette and seruaunt am bounden to doo
to ww allc tfie seruyse tbat 1 can or mayc.lcam on a
t^walkyng with the OTulfelseorym.&webadde
S ™dlr vs botbe a swyne,& for bts lowde cry-
w« we bote bym to detb, and, syre.ye cam fro fern
lut of a groue ayenst vs.^e salewed vs frendly, and
oaide we were welcome, and tbat ye and my lady tbe
quene wbycbe cam after yow badde grete bongre, &
Sadnotbyng for to ete, & prayd vs for to gyue yow

120

parte of our wynnyng.Isegrym spack so sof te that
a man vnnetbe mygbt bcrc bym, but! spack out and
saide: Y^ my lord, wytb a good will, tbougb it were
more ,we wil wel tbat ye baue parte, & tbenne tbe Glulf
departed as be was wont to do, be departed and toke
tbat on balf for bym self, and be gaf yow a quarter
for yow&fortbequene,tbatotberquarter be etc and
bote as bastely as be mygbt bicause be wolde ete it
allone, and be gaf to me but balf tbe longes, tbat 1
pray <3od tba t euyl mote be fare.

RCIS sbewde be bis conditions & na-
ture:ermen sboldbauesongen a credo
ye my lord bad eten your part, and yet
woldyefayn baue badmore,forye were
not f ul. Hnd bicause be gaf yow no
more, nc profred yow, ye lyft vp your
rigbtf otc & smote bym bytwene tbe cris tbatye tare
bis8kynneouerbiseyen,and tbobemygbtno lenger
abydc, but be bledde, bowled, and ran away, and lef te
bis parte tbere lyejSTCbosaidye to bym : Haste yow
agayn betber and brynge to vs more, and bere after
see better to bow yedeleandpartej^Cbenne saide X:
Jfiy lord, yfitpleseyowlwyllgoo wytb bym j0fl>ote
wel wbat ye saide. 1 wente wytb bym, be bledde and
groned as sore as be was al softly, be durst not crye
lowde, we wente so f erre tbat we brought a calf, and
wban yesawvs cometberwytb ye lawbyd,for ye were
wel plesyd. Y* said to me tbat I was swyf t in bont-
yngj^l see wel tbat ye can fynde wel wban ye take it
vpon yow, ye be good to sende f ortb in a nede, tbe
cafe is good and f atte, berof sbal ye be tbe delarj&X
saide: JVIy lord, wytb a good wyl. Cbe one balf, my
lord,sbal beforyow,and tbat otber balf formy lady

121

the queue, the mogbettis, lyuer, longes, and the in-
ward, sbal be for your cbyldren, tbe beed sbal Ise-
grym tbe wulf baue, and I sbal baue tbe f eet^TTbo
said ye:Reynart, who batb taugbt you to de parte so
courtoisly ?j0FJVIy lord, sayd X, tbat batb don tbis
preest tbat syttetb ber with tbe bloody crowne, be
loste bis skynne wytb tbe vncourtoys departyng of
tbe swyn, and for bis couetyse and rauyne be batb
botbe burte & sbame^Hlas, tber ben many wulues
now a/dayes tbat without rigbt and reson destroye
& ete tbem tbat tbeymay baue tbeouerband of, tbey
spare neytber flesb ne blode, frende ne enemye, what
tbey can gete tbat take tbey : O woo be to tbat lande
and to townes wbereas tbe wulues baue tbe ouerbandf
JVIy lord, tbisandmanyotber good tbing baue I don
for you tbat 1 cowde wel telle yf it were not to long,
of wbicbe now yeremembre litil by tbe wordes tbat
I ber of you,yf ye wold al tbyng ouersee well, ye wold
not sayeasyedoo,Ibaveseen tbe day tbat tber sbold
no grete mater be concluded in tbis court without
myn aduyse,al beyt tbat tbis auenture isnou fallen,
it mygbt happen yet tbat my wordes sbal be herd &
also bileuydas wellas an others as f erreas right wyl,
for I desyre none other, for yf tber be ony can saye
and make good by suffycient witnessis that I baue
trespaced, I wil abyd al tbe rigbt and lawe that may
come therof , and yf ony saie on me ony tbyng of
wbiche be can brynge no wytnesse, late me thenne be
rewlydaftertbe lawe&custome of tbyscourtjjSTCbe
kynge said : Reynart, ye saye resonably. I knowe not
of Kywarts detb more than tbat Bellyn the Ramme
brought his heed bether in tbemale, therof Ileteyow
goo quyte for I baue no wytness therof ^JVIy dere

122

^=^- » - JL -»- - ■

lord, said the f oxe, God tbanke yow, sykerly ye doo
wel, for bis detbemaketb mc so sorrowful tbat mc
tbynketb myberte wyl brekein two.Owban tbey de-
parted fromemynbertcwaa so bcu^tbatmctbougbt
t sbold baue swownedf I wote wel it was a token of
tbelossetbattbowassonygbecomyngtomejflFHlle
tbe mooste parte of tbem tbat were tbere, and berde
tbe foxes wordes of tbe jewellis, & bow be made bis
contenanceand stratcbid bym,badveryly supposed
tbat it bad not be f ayned, but tbat it bad be tryewe,
tbey were sory of bis losseandmysauenture andalso
of bis sorowe* Oe kynge and tbe quene bad botbe
pyte of bym, and badde bym to make not to mocbe
sorowe, but tbat be sbolde endeuore bym to secbe
bem,for be bad so mocbe preysed bem tbat tbey bad
grete wyl and desyre to baue tbem, and by cause be
badmadetbemtovnderstondetbatbebadsenttbese
SjewcUistotbem,tbougbtbeyneuerbadtbem,yettbey
tbanked bym &praydbym tobelpe tbat tbey mygbt

baue tbem.

R6 f oxevnderstodetbeyrmenyngwel,
betbougbttoward tbem but lytylgood
for al tbat, be saidj^God tbankeyow,
my lordandmy lady,tbatyeso frendly
comf orte me in my sorow, I sballenot
restenygbtne day,nealle tbey tbatwyl
doo ony tbyng for me, butrenne andpraye, tbretene
and aske,alle tbe four comers of tbeworld, tbaugbl
sbold euer secbe tyl tbat I knowe wbere tbey ben bi~
comen,andI pray you, my lord tbe kynae, tbatyf tbey
werein sucbe place ast cowdenot get tbem by prayer,
by mygbt,ne by request, tbat yewold assiste meand
abideby me, for ittowcbetb yourself and tbegood is

123

^z-

youris, &alsoit is your partto doo justyse on tbcf tc

& murdre, wbicbe botbc ben in tbis caas^Reynart,

saide tbc kynge, tbat sbal I not leue wban ye knowe

wber tbey ben, myn belpe sbal be alway redy for you

JfO dere lorde, tbis is to mocbe presented to me, yf

X bad power & mygbt 1 sbolde deserue ayenst yowf

^Now batb tbe f oxe bis mater fast and f ayr, for be

batb tbe kynge in bis band as be wold, bym tbougbt

tbat be was in better caas tban it was lyke to bauebe.

fie batbmadesomany lesynges tbat bemay gofrely

wber be wyl without complaynyng of ony of tbem

alle,sauf of Xsegram,wbicbwas to bynvward angry

and dysplesyd and saidejflPOnoble kynge, are ye so

mocbe cbyldyssb tbat ye byleue tbis false & subtyl

sbrewe, and suffre your self wytb false lyes tbus to

be deceyuyd ? Of f aytb it sbold be longe or I sbolde

byleue bym, be is in murdre & treson al be/wrapped,

and be mocketb you to fore your visage. I sbal telle

bym a notber tale,Iam glad tbat Isee now bym bere,

alle bis lesynges sbal not a/vaylle bym er be departe

fro me.

fiow Yecgrym tbe Cdulf complayned agayn on tbe

f oxe, capxtulo xxxii j>fr#

"V lord,Ipray you to takebede,tbis

false tbeef betraied my wyf ones

f owleanddisbonestly, bitwas so

tbat in a wynters day tbat tbey

wente to gydertburgbagretewa-

ter, and be bare my wyf an bonde

tbat bewold tecbe bertakefyssbe

_ wytb ber tayl, and tbat sbe sbold

late it bange in tbe water a good wbile, & tber sbold

somocbe fveebt cleueon it tbat f oureof tbem sbold

not conne etc it. TTbe fool my wyf supposed be bad
said troutbe,and sbewente in tbemyre to tbe bely to
er sbe cam in to tbe water, and wban sbe was in tbe
deppest of tbe water be bad ber bolde ber tayl stylle
til tbat tbe fyssbe were comen. Sbe belde ber tayl so
longe tbat it was from barde in tbe yse and coude
not pluche it out, and wban be sawe tbat be sprange
vp after on ber body* Hlas, tbere rauyssbed be and
f orcyd my wyf so hnauissbly tbat I am asbamed to
telle it, sbe coude not def ende ber self, tbe sely beest,
sbe stode so depe in tbe myre. Rerof be can not saye
naye, for I f onde bym witD tbe dtdc f for as I wente
aboue vpon tbe ban he I sawe bym bynetbe vpon my
wyf sbouyng & stehynqf as men doo wban tbey doo
sucbe werke and playe. Hlas, wbat payne suffred I
tbo at my bertef 1 bad almost for sorow loste my
fyue wyttes, and cryde as lowde as I mygbt: Rey-
nart wbat do ye tbere? (Oban be sawe me so nygbe,
tbo leep be of and wente bis waye* I wente to ber in a
grete beuinesse, and wente depe in tbat myre & tbat
water or I coude brehe tbe yse,and mocbe paynesuf-
fred sbe er sbe coude baueout ber taylle,andyet lefte
a gobet of ber tayle bebynd ber, & we were lyRebotbe
tberby to baue lostour lyues,for sbe galped& cryde
so lowde for tbe smarte tbat sbe bad er sbe cam out
tbat tbe men of tbe village cam out witb stauys and
byllis, wy tb flay lis & py hf orhes, and tbe wyuis wy tb
tbeyr distauis,and cryed dyspytously: Slefslefand
smyte doun rigbtf 1 was neuer in my lyf so a/ferde
for vnnetbe we escape, we ran so fast tbat we swette,
tber was a vylayne tbat stake on vs wytba pyhe wbicbe
burted vs sore, be was stronge and swyf te a/fote,
badde it not be nygbt certaynly we bad ben slayn.

125

mem

XTbc fowle oldc queues wold f ayn baue beten vs, tbey
saide tbat we bad by ten tbeyr sbeep* tbey cursed vs
witb many a curse, tbo cam we in to a felde ful of
brome and brembles, tbere bydde we vs fro tbe vy-
laynes, & tbey durst not f olowe vs f ertber by nygnt
but retomed borne agayn. See, my lorde, tbys f owle
mater, tbis is murdre, rape, and treson, wbicbe ye
ought to doo justyte tberon sbarply.

"eYJHHRD answerdandsaid: Yf tbis
were trewe, it sbold go to nygbe myn
bonour & worship, God f orbede tbat
it sbold be founde trewe f Hit is wel
trewe tbatltaugbt berbowsbesbolde
in a place catcbe fyssbe, and sbewde
ber a good way for to goo ouer in to tbe water witb-
outgoyngintotbemyrcbutsberannesodesyrously
wban sbe berde me name tbe fyssb tbat sbe netber
way ne patb belde, butwente in to tbe yse, wherein
sbe was f orfrom, and tbat was by cause sbe abode
to longe.Sbe bad fissbynougb yf sbe coude baue be
plesyd wytb mesure: it falletb ofte wbo tbat wold
baue all lesetb alle, ouer couetous was neuergood for
tbe beest can not be satisfyed. Hnd wban I sawe ber
in tbeyse so fastelwende to baue bolpen ber, and
beef and sboef, and stack bere and tnere to baue
brought ber ought, but it was al payne loste for sbe
was to beuy for meXbo cam Ysegrym and saw bow
1 sboef and stack and dyde al my beste, and be as a
fowle cborle,fowle and rybadously sklaundrytb me
wytb ber as tbyse fowle vntbriftes ben won te to doo,
but, my dere lord, it was none otberwyse. He belyetb
me falsely, parauenture bis eyen daseiyd as be loked
from aboue doun,be cryde and cursed meand swore
126

many an otb 1 sbold dere abye it C&ban 1 bcrdc bym
so curse and tbretene, I wente my waye and lete bym
curse and menace til be was wery, and tbo wente be
and beef and sboef & balpe bis wyf out, and tbenne
be leep and ran and sbe also for to gete tbem an bete
and to warme tbem, or elite tbey sbold baue deyed
for colde. Hnd wbat someuer 1 baue said a/fore or
after, tbat is clerely al troutbe* I wolde not for a
thousand marke of fyn gold lye to yow one lesyng,
it were not fyttyng for me; wbat someuer falle of me
Isbal save tbe troutbe, lyk as myn elders bauealway
don, sytb tbe tyme tbat we fyrst vnderstode reson,
and yf ye be in doubte of ony tbyng tbat I bauesaid
otberwyse tban troutb, gyue me respy teof viij dayes
tbat 1 may baue counseyl, and 1 sbal brynge sucbe
informacion, wvtb good, tryew, and sufficient re-
corde, tbat ye sbal alle your lyf duryng truste and
byleue me, and so sbal all your counseyl also, Qdbat
baue 1 to doo wytb tbe Cdulf ? bit is to fore clerly
ynowb sbewde tbat be is a f oule vylaynous kaytyf
and an vnclene beest, wban bedeledand departed tbe
swyn, so is it now knowen to yow alle by bys owen
wordes tbat be is a deffamer of wymmen as mocbe
as in bym is: ye may wel marke eueryebone. <CIbo
sbolde luste to do tbat game to one so stedfasta
wyf, beyng in so grete peryll of detb? JVow aske ye
bys wyf, y f it be so as be say tb : y f sbe wy I say e tne
troutb Iwote wel sbe sbal sayeasldooj^fcbospack
Grswynde tbe Cflulfis wyf: Hcb, f elle Reynart, no-
man can kepe bym self fro tbe, tbou canst so wel
vttre tby wordes, and tby falseness & treson sette
f ortb, but it sball be euyl rewarded in tbe aide* Row
brougbtest tbou me ones in to tbe welle wbere tbe

127

^m

two bokettys benge by one cordc rennyngf tburgb
one polley, wbicbe wente one vp and another doun,
tbou sattest in tbat one boket bynetb in the pytte in
grete drede, I cam tbeder, and berde tbe sygbe and
make sorowe, and axed tbe bow tbou earnest there,
tTbou saidest tbat tbou baddest tbere so many good
fyssbes eten out of tbe water tbat tby bely wolde
breste, I said tellemebowlsbalcometotbepfchenne
saidest tbou: Hunte, sprynge in to tbe boket tbat
bangetb tbere, and ye sbal com anon to me, I dyde
so and I wente doun ward and ye cam vpward,TTbo
was I alle angry, ^bou saydest:TTbus faretb tbe
world, tbat one gotb vp and another gotb doun,
Oo sprang ye forth and wente your wave, and 1
abode tbereallone syttyngan bole ctaye,sorean bon-
gryd and a/colde, and tberto bad 1 many a stroke er
f coude gete tbensjjPHunte, sayd tbe foxe, tbaugb
tbe strokes dyde you barme I bad leuer ye bad tbem
tban I, for ye may better bere tbem, for one of vs
must nedes fcaue bad tbem, 1 taught yow good, wyl
ye vnderstande it and tbynke on it, tnat ye another
tyme take better bede & bileue noman ouer bastely,
is be frende or cosyn, for euery man seketb bis owne
prouffyt: they be now fooles tbat do not soo, and
specyally whan they be in jeopardye of tbeyr lyues.

128

H fayr parable of tbe foxc and tbc (flulf , capitulo
xxxiiij,*^

Y lord, said dame Grswyn,Ipray
yow bcrc bow be can blowe witn
alle wyndes and bowfayr bryng-
etb be bis maters fortbjflfcbus
batbbebrougbt memany tyme in
a scatbe and burte, said tne ttlulf ,
be batb ones betrayed me to tbe
Sbe-Hpe myn aunte, wbere I was
in grete drede and fere, fori lefte tbere almost myn
one ere- YT the f °* c will tellit bowit byf el,Iwylgyue
bym tbe f ordele tberof , for 1 can not telle it so wel
but be sbal beryspe mej^C&el, said tbe f oxe, X sbal
telle it wytbout stameryng, 1 sbal saye tbe troutb, 1
pray yow berfcen me, He cam in to tbe wode and com-
playned to me tbat be bad grete bonare, for I sawe
bym neuerso fill but be wold alway baue bad fayn
more.Ibauewonder wberetbe metebecometb tbat be
destroy etb* I see now on bis contenance tbat be be-
gynnetb to grymme for bon gre,<Oban I berde bim so
complayne X bad pyte of bym,and Isaidel was also
bongryXbenne wen te we balf a day to gydre & fond
no tbyng,tbo wbyned be and cry ted, & said bemy gbt
goo no f ertber.TTbenne espyed la grete bool stand-
yng in tbe myddys vnder an bawe wbicbe was tby eke
of brembles, & I berde a russbyng tbertn,I wist not
wbat it was, TTbenne said 1: 6oo tberin and loke yf
tber beony tbyng tberforvs,Iwotewel tberissome-
wbat^€bo said be: Cosyn,! wolde not crepe into
tbat bole for twenty pounds but I wist fyrst wbat
is tberin, me tbynketb tbat tber is some perylous

^fe

■

■

tbyng, but I sbal abyde bere vnder tbis tree yf ye wil
goo tberin to fore, but come anon agayn, and late me
wete wbat tbyng is tberin : ye can many a subtylte &
can wel belpe your self & mocbe better tban Xj^See,
my lord tbe hynge, tbue be made me, poure wigbt, to
goo to fore in to tbe daunger,and be, wbicbeis grete,
longe and stronge, abode witboute and rested bym
in pees, a/wayteyf I dyde not for bym tbere*

1 <uOLD not suffre tbe drede and fere
tbat I tbere euff red for al tbe good in
ertbe but yf I wyste bowe to escape. I
wentebardilyin,Xfondetbewayderhe,
longe, & brood* Gr X rigbt in tbe bool
I cam, 900 espyed X a grete ligbt wbicbe
cam in fro tbat one syde, tber laye in a grete ape witb
tweyne grete wyde eyen,and tbey glymmed as afyre,
and sbe badaarete moutb witb longe teetb, & sbarp
nayllos on birr eet&on birbandes.Xwendebit bad be
amermoy9e,abaubyn,or a mercatte,f orXsawe neuer
fowler beest, & by ber laye tbre of ber children wbicbe
were rigbt f owle,f or tbey were rygbt lyhe tbe moder,
wban tbey sawe me come tbey gapeden wyde on me &
were al styllcXwas af erd& woldwelXbad ben tbens,
butXtbougbte :Xam tberin,X muste tber tburgb, and
come out as wel asXmaye,HsXsawe ber,metbougbt
ebe semed more tban Ysegrym tbe <Oulf , & ber cbyl-
dren were more tban X* X sawe neuer a fowler meyne,
tbey laye on fowlebeye wbicbe was al be/pyeeed, tbey
were byslabbed and byclagged to tbeir eres to in ber
owen donge, bit stanhe tbat X was almost smoldred
tberof .1 durst not saye but goode, & tbenne X said :
Hunt, God oyue yow good day e, and alle my cosyns,
your f ayr cbyldren, tbey be or tbeyr age tbe f ayrest
no

that euer 1 sawe. O Lord God, bowe well plese tbey
met bow louely, bow fayr ben tbey f ecbe of tbem for
tbeir beaute mygbt be a arete hyngis sone, of rigbt
we ougbt to tbanhyow tbat yetbus encrece oure lig~
nage. Dere aunte, wban 1 berde saye tbat ye were de-

lyuerd & leyd doun t l coude no lenger abyde but must
come and f rendly vysiteyow,lam sory tbatl bad not
erst hnowen it j& Reynard, cosyn, said sbe,yebewel-
come for tbat ye baue f ounde me & tbus come see me.
Itbanke yow, dere cosyn,ye be rigbt trewe and named
rigbt wyse in alle londes, and also tbat ye gladly fur-
tbre& bringeyour licmage in gfrete worsbip:yemuste
tecbe my cbyldren witbe youris some wysedom, tbat
tbey may hnowe wbat tbey sbal doo and leue. 1 baue
tbougbt on yow, for gladly ye goo & f elawsbip witb
tbe good J& O bowe well was 1 plesyd wban 1 berde
tbisewordes, tbis deseruidlat tbe begynnyng wban
I callyd ber aunte, bow be it tbat sbe was notbynge
sybbe to me, for my rigbt aunte is dame Rukenawc
tbat yonder standetb,wbicb is woned to bryng f ortb
wyse cbyldren J&X said: Hun te, my lyf ana my good
is at your commandement, and wbat 1 may doo for
yow by nygbt and by daye,lwylle gladly tecbe tbem
alle tbat t can jff X wolde fayn baue be tbens for tbe
stencbe of tbem, & also 1 bad pyte of tbe grete bon-
gre tbatlsegrym bad.lsaide:Hunte,lsbal comytte
yow and your rayr cbyldren to God and take my leue,
my wyf sball tbynhe longe after me J& Dere cosyn,
said sbe,ye sbal not departe tilye baue eten, for yr ye
dydelwold saie ye were not hynde jSF'Cbo stode sne
vp& brougbt mein an otberboolwbereas wasmocbe
mete of bertes & byndes,roes, fesauntes, partryebs,
and mocbe otber venyson, tbatl wondred fro wbens

1*2 131

al tbismetemygbt come, and wban I bad eten my bely
f ulsbeaaf me a arete pece of an byndef or to ete wytb
my wyfand wytb my bousboldwbanlcome borne* I
was asbamed to take it butl mygbt none otber wyse
doo.ltbankyd ber&toke my leue,sbebadmelsbold
come eone agayn,Isayd!wolde,& so departed thens
meryly tbattsowel bad spedde.I basted me out, and
wban t cam and sawe Ysegrym wbicbe laye gronyng,
and I axed bym bowe be ferde jSf Re said: fNeuew, al
euyll,for it is wonder tbat Ityue.Srynge ye ony mete
to ete?ldeyeforbongerj^TTbobadI compassion of
bym, and gaf bym that I bad, and sailed bym tbere
bis lyf , wberof tbenne be tbanked me gretly, bow be
it tbat be now owetb me euyl wyL

~|6 bad eten tbis vp anonXbo said be:
Reynard, dere cosyn, wbat f onde ye in
tbatbool?Iam morebongrynow tban
I was to fore, my teetb ben now sharped
to etejfrl said tbenne : Sme, baste yow
_ tbenne lygbtly in to tbat bool, ye sbal

Snde tbere ynougbXbere lietb myn aunte wytbber
yldren,yf ye wyl spare tbe troutnandlyegreteles-
ynges, ye sbal baue tbere al your desire, but and ye
say troutb ye sbal take barm j^JVly lord, was not tbis
ynougb saydand warned, wbo so wold vnderstonde
it, tbat al tnat be fonde be sboldsaye tbecontrarye?
But rude and plompe beestis can not vnderstonde
wysedom, tberfore bate tbey alle subtyl inuencions,
for tbey can not conceyue tbem. Yet neuertbeles be
saide be woldegoo inne,and lye so many lesyngis er
be sbolde mysbappe tbat all man sbolde baue won-
dre of it, and so wente f ortb in to tbat f owle stynk-
yng bool and fonde tbe marmosette. Sbe was lyke

132

^- -

tbedeuylsdougfbter &on ber cbyldren bynge mocbe
fyltbe clotcrd m gobettis^Cbo cryde be: Hlas, me
arowletb of tbyse fowle nyckers, come tbey out of
belle? men may make deuylles a/ferd of bem, goo &
drowne tbem tbat euyl mote tbey fare, 1 sawe neuer
fowler wormes, tbey make al myn beer to stand rigbt
vpjffSxx Ysegrym, saidsbe, wbat may! doo tberto ?
tbey ben my cby Idren & I muste be tbeir moder, wbat
lyetb tbat in yourweye wbetber tbey be fowl or f ayr ?
tbey baueyow notbyng coste. Here batb ben one to
day byfore yowwbicbewas to tbem nybeof kyn,and
was your better and wyser, &besayde tbat tbey ware
f ayr : wbo batb sen t yow bitber witn tbyse tydynges ?
j*?Dame, wyl ye wytte 1 wylle ete of your mete, bit is
better bestowed on me tban on tbyse fowlewygbtes
j0 Sbe sayde: Rier is no mete J9 Re sayde: Here is
ynougbf ji^Hnd tberwytbbestertewitb bisbedeto-
ward tbe mete, and wolde baue goon in to tbe bool
wber tbe mete was, but myn aunte sterte up wytb ber
cbyldren, and ronne to bym wytb tbeir sbarp longe
nay les so sore tbat tbe bloderan ouer bis eyen. I berde
bym crye sore and bowle, but 1 knowe of no defence
tbat be made, but tbat be ran f aste out of tbe bool,
and be was tberecratcbed &byten,andmanyan bool
bad tbey made in bis cote and skyn, bis visage was
alle on a blood and almoste be bad loste bis one ere,
Regronedand compleyned to me sore; tbenne asked
I bym yf be badwel lyedj^Resayd: 1 saide lyke as I
sawe and f onde, and tbat was a fowle bytcbe wytb
many f owl wygbtis j#]Vay , erne, said 1, ve sbold baue
said : f ayre nece, bow fare ye and your fair cbyldren,
wbicbbenmywelbelouidcosyns?j^€be<Klulf8ayd:
1 bad leuer tbat tbey were banged er 1 tbat saidejSFYe,
ka «3

m

erne? tbcrf ore muste ye resseyue sucbe maner pay-
Imente, byt is better otberwbyle to lye tban to save
? trou tbe,tbey tbat ben better, wiser,and s trenger than
we be baue doon so to f ore vs j?See, my lord tbe king,
tbus gate be bis rede coyf ♦ J^ow stondetb be alle so
jsimplyasbeknewenobarmeaprayeyouaskeyebym

, yf it was not tbus, be was not f er of yf Iwote it wet
*r>ow Ysegrym prof erd bis gloue to tbe foxt for to
fygbt wytb bym, capitulo xxxv&&

nne Olulf sayd:Imay wel f orbere
] your mockes & your scomes, and
i also your f elle venymous wordes,
strong tbeef tbat ye arel Y* saide
tbatlwas almost dede f orbungre
wban ye belpe me in my nede, tbat
is falsely lied,f or it was but a boon
J tbat ye gaf tome,yebadeten away
alle tbe flessb tbat was tberon, &yemocke me & save
tbat X am bongry bere wbere I stande, tbat toucbetb
my worship tonygb, wbat many aspyty worde baue
ye brougbt f ortb wytb false lesyngis, & tbat 1 baue
conspyred tbe kynges detb fro tbe tresour tbat ye
baue seid to bym is in fiulsterlo, & ye baue also my
wyf sbamed & sklandred tbat sbesbal neuer recoure
it, and 1 sbold euer be disworsbipped tberby yf 1
auengyditnotlbaueforbomyowlonge,butnowye
sbal not escapeme.Ican not make berof greet preef ,
butlsaye bere to fore my lord and to fore alle tbem,
tbat tbou art a false tray tour and amorderar, & tbat
sballproue&makegoodon tbybodywytbin lystes
in tbe f elde, and tbat body ayenst body, and tbenne
sbal our stryf baue an ende,and tbertolcaste to tbe
my gloue, and take tbou it vp. Isbal baue rigbt of
134

the, or deye tberforejSF Reynard the f oxe thought:
Row come I on this campyng? Cde ben not botbe
lykc, I sbal not wel connestondeayenst this stronge
tbeef : all my proof is now come to an ende.
Row the f oxe toke vp the gloue,and how the kynge
setteto them daye and felde for tocome&doo theyr
batay lie, capttuto xxxvj&&

Bethought tbef oxe:Ibaue good
auauntaae, the clawes of bis fore
feet be or, and bis feet ben yet sore
tberof , wban for my sake be was
vnsboed, he sbal be somwbat the
weykerjj^TTbenne sayd the foxe:
. <SLho that saitb that 1 am a tray-
ffl tour or a morderar, 1 saie he lieth

falsely, and that art thou specyalty Ysegrym: thou
»brynofest me there as I wold be, this naue I of te de-
syred: lo, here is my plegge that alle thy wordes ben
false, and thatlshaldefendeme andmakegood that
thou iycetjP'Cbc kynge receyuyd the plegges and
amy tted the bateyll, & asked oorowes of them bothe
that on the morn they shold come& parforme thevr
bataylle, and doo as they ought to doo* TTbenne tne
Bere and the Catte were borowes for the Cdulf , and
for the f oxe were borowys <3rymbart the Dasse and
Byteluys.

k 4

135

fiowe Rukenawe tbc Sbe/Hpe counseylled tbc foxe
bow be sbolde bybaue bym in tbc f elde ayenste tbc
Slulf, capitulo xxxv\j&&

IRS Sbc/Hpc sayde to tbc foxe:
Reynert, neuewe, sec tbat ye take
bede in your batayll, be eolde and
wyse.Your cmc taugbt mc ones a
prayer tbat is of mocbe vertue to
bym tbat sbalfygbte : and a grete
maister and a wyse clerk, and was
I abbot of Boudelo, tbat taugbted
bym, be sayde wbo tbat sayde deuoutly tbis prayer
f astyng sbal not tbat day be ouercomen in batayl ne
in fygbtingXberf ore, dereneuew, benot af erd,Isbal
rede it ouer yow to morow, tbenne may ye be sure yn-
ougb of tbe olulf , bit is bettre to fygbte tban to baue
tbe necke asondre Jf I tbanke you, dere aunte, saide
tbef oxe, tbe quarelltbatl baue is rygbtfull, tberf ore
Ibopelsbal spedewel, and tbat sbal^retely be myne
belpe^HUe bys lygnage abode by bim al tbe nygbt
and belpe bym to dryue a/way tbe tyme. DameRuk-
enawe tbe Sbe/Hpe bis aunte tbougbte alway on bis
prouffyt and f ordele, and sbe dyde alle bys beer fro
tbe beed to tbe tayl be sborn of smotbe, and sbe a-
nointed alle bis body wytb oyle of olyue,and tbenne
was bys bodye al so glat and slyper tbat tbe Slulf
sbolde baue none bolde on bym, & be wasround and
f atte also on bis bodyjfiFHnd sbe said to bym : Dere
cosyn,ye muste now drynke mocbe tbat tomorow ye
may tbc better make your vryne, but ye sbal bolde it
in tylye come to tbe f clde, ana wban ncde is and tyme,

so sbal ye pysse f ul your rowbe tay tl, and smyte the
tUulf tberwytb in bis berde, and yf yc mygbt byttc
bym tberwytbin bis eyen tbenne sbalyebyneme bym
\> xe f9W>x, & tbat sbold mocbc byndrc bym : but ellis
bold alway your tay I f aste by twene your legges tbat
be catebcyou not tberby, and boldcdoun your eris ly-
cng plat after your beed tbat be bolde you not tber-
by, and see wisely to yourself, and at begynnyng flee
fro bys strokes and late bym sprynge and renne af-
ter yow, & renne to fore wbere as moste dust is, and
styre it wytbyour feet tbat it may flee in bis eyen and

tbat6balmocbebyndrebissygbt,andwbyleberub-
betb bis eyen take your auantage, and smy te and bite
mm there as ye may most burte bym, and allewav to
bytte bym wytbyour tayll fyl of pysse in bis visaae,

andtbatsbalmakebymsowootbatbesbalnotwyte
wbere be is, and late bym renne after yow for to make
bym wery : yet bis feet ben sore of tbat ye made bym
to lose bis sbooes,andtbougb be be greet be batbno
forte, Ncucw, certaynly tbis is my counseyll,

1 R € connyng gotb to fore strengtbe
tberf ore seef or yourself, & sette your-
self wysely atte defence, tbat ye and we
alle may baue worship tberof, I wold
be sory yf ye mysbapped, I sbal tecbe
you tbe wordes tbat your erne JMertyn
taugbt me, tbat ye may ouercome your enemye as 1
hope ye sbal doo wytbout doubtj0P€berwytb sbe
, leyde ber band vpon bis beed & saide these wordes :
Blaerde Shay Hlpheino, Kasbue Corsons alsbui-
Jfnoj^JVeuew, now be ye sure fro allemyscbief and
drede, and I counseyle yow that ye reste you a lytyl,
''for it is by tbe daye,ye sbal be tbe better dysposed,

137

* , flhth

we sbal awake you al in tymej^Hunte, said the f oxe,
I am now glad* God tbanke you, ye baue don to me
aucbe good I can neuer deserue it fully agayn, JVIe
tbynketb tber may no tbynge burte me sytb tbat ye
baue said tbyse boly wordes ouer mejSTCbo wente
be and leyd bym doun vnder a tre in tbe grasse and
sleptetyltbesonnewasrysen^bocamtbeOtterand

waked bym, and bad bym aryse, and gaf bym a good
yong doke, and said: Dere cosyn,! baue tbis nygbt
made many a leep in tbe water er I coude gette tbis
yong f atte doke, X baue taken it fro a fowler, take &
ete itjfiPReynart sayde: Tbis is good bansele, yf I
refused tbts I were a fool I tbanke yow, cosyn, tbat
ye remembre me, yf I lyue I sbal rewarde yow j^TTbe
f oxeete tbe dokewitboutesawceor breed, it sauourd
bym wel and wente wel in, and be dranke tberto iiij
grete draugbtis of water: tbenne wente be to tbe ba-
taylle/ward,and alletbey tbat louyd bym wentewytb
bym*

Row tbe fox cam in to tbe f elde & bow tbey f ougbten ,
capituto xxxvuj/?a£

fiHjNf tbe kynge sawe Reynart
tbus sbom and oy led, be said to
bym : 6y , f oxe, bow wel can ye
seefor yourself ?J?F)ewondred
tberof , be was f owle to loke on,
but tbefoxesaidnotoneworde,
but kneled doun lowe to tber-
tbe vnto tbe kynge and to tbe
guene, and stryked bym f ortb in to tbe f eldejTCbe
dlulf was tber redy and spack many a proud word.
XTbe rulers and kepars of tbe f elde was tbe Lupaert

and tbc Losse, they brought fortbc tbc booke, on
wbicbe sware tbc Qlulf tbat tbc f oxe was a traytour
and a morderar and none mygbt be falser tban be
was, and tbat be wolde preue on bis body and make
it goo&Reynart tbe f oxe sware tbat be ly ed,as a false
knaueandacursyd tbeef,and tbat bewold doogood
on bis body: wban tbis was don tbe gouernours of
tbe f elde bad tben doo tbevr deuoyn tbenne romed
tbey alle tbe fetde, sauf dame Rukenawe tbe Sbe-
Hpe, sbe abode by tbe f oxe and bad bym remembre
wel tbewordes tbat sbe bad sayd to bymj^Sbesaid:
See wel too, wban ye were vij yer olde ye were wyse
ynowb to goo by nygbt wytboute lanterne or mone
sbyne wbere ye wyste to wynne ony goode,ye ben
named emong tbe peple wyse & subtyl, payne your-
self tower kesoo tbat ye wynne tbe prys, tbennemay
ye baue euer honour & worship, &al we tbat ben your
f rendysj^He answerd: JVIy derest aunte, I knowe it
wel, I sbal doo my best & tbynke on your counseyl,
I hope so to doo that alle my lignage sbal baue wor-
ship tberby and myn enemyes shame and confusion
JP&be sayde: God graunte it yowt

ftowtbefoxe&tbe<nulffougbtentogydre,capttulo

xxxix^^

r>SR1XIYZr> sbewerit outof tbe
f elde and lete them tweyne goo to
gyder, tThe <flulf trade forth to
tbe f oxe in grete wrath, & opened
his fore feet & supposed to baue
taken the f oxe in hem. But the fox
sprang fro bym lygbtly, for he
was lygbter to fote than be; tbe

r 3dulf sprang af terand hunted the f oxe soreXbeyr

139

■ ■

frendes stode without the lystes &lokedvpon bem :
tbefclulf strode wyder than Reynard dyde,andofte
ouertoke bym,&lyf tevp bis foot andwende to baue
smyten bym, but tbe f oxe sawe to and smote bym
wvtb bis rowbetayle, wbicbebe bad al be/pyssed, in
bys vysage- Too wende tbe (Gulf to baue ben plat
blynde, tbe pysse sterte in bis eyes, tbenne muste be
reste for to make dene bis eyen-Reyner tbougbte on
bis f ordele,and stode aboue tbewynde skrabbing&
castinawytb bisf eet tbe dust tbat it flew tbeOIulfis
eyen ful- tbe (Gulf was sore blynded tber wytb, in
sucbewysetbatbemusteleuetberennyngafterbym,

for tbe sonde and pysse cleuyd vnder bis eyen tbat
it smerted so sore tbat bemusterubbeandwassbe it
a/way j^€bo cam Reyner in a grete angre and bote
bvm tbre arete woundes on bis beed wy tb bis teetb,
and saidHUbat is tbat, Syr Olulf, batb one there
byten yow, bow is it wytb yow ? I wy I al otber wyse
on yow yet- Hbyde, I sbal brynge vow somme newe
tbyng,ye baue stole many a lambe & destroyedmany
asymple beest,andnow falsely baue appeled meand
brougbtmeintbistroublcHltbissballnowauenge
on tbe,Iam cbosen to reward tbef or tbyn old synnes,
f or (3od wyl no lenger suflPre tbe in tby grete rauayn
and sbrewdnes* I snal now assoylle tbe & tbat sbal
be good for tby sowle:take paciently tbispenaunce,
f or tbou sbaltlyueno len£er,tbe belle sbal be tbv pur-
gatoryeXby lyf is now in my mercy, but & yr tbou
wilt knele doun and askeme f orgyfnes, & knowlecbe
tbetobeouercomen t yettbougbtboubeeuyl,yet!wvl
eparetbe,formy conscience counseylletbme,lsbold
not gladly sleenomanj^Iseorym wendewytb tbyse
mockyng and spytous wordes to baue goon out of
140

— -

bis wytte, & that dered bym so mocbc that be wyste
not what to saye, buff nc baff, be was soo angry in
bis berteXbewoundes tbatReynartbad oyuen bym
bledde and smerted sore and be tbougbt bow be
mygbte beste auenge it

Y^fi grete angre be lyf te vp bis f oote
& smote tbe f oxe on tbe beed so grete
a stroke tbat be fy I to tbe ground, Xlbo
sterte tbe <Hulf to and wende to baue
take bym, but tbe f oxe was lygbt and
wyly, and roose lygbtly vp and mette
Jwy tb bym fiersly , & tbere began a f elle batay Ue wbicbe
duredlongeXbeCdulf badgrete spiteon tbef oxeas
itwelsemed,besprangeafter bym x tymes ecbeafter
otber, & wold fayn baue bad bym faste,but bisskyn
was so slyper & f atte of tbe oyle tbat always be es-
caped fro bym JSFO so subtyl & snelle was tbe f oxe,
tbat many tymes wban tbe (Uu If wende wel tobesure
of bym, be sterte tbenne bytwene bis legges & vnder
bis bely, & tbenne torned beagayn and aaf tbe Uluif
a stroke wytb bis tail f ul of pysse in bis even tbat
Isegrym wende be sbolde baue loste bis sigbt, and
tbis ayde be often tymes, Hnd alwey wban be bad so
smyten bym, tbenne wold be goo aboue tbe wynde,
&reyse tbe duste tbat it made bis even f ul of stuf s,
Isegrym was woo begon, and tbougbt be was at an
af terdele. Yet was bis strengtbe and mygbt mocbe
m ore tban tbe f oxes,Reynard bad many a sore stroke
of bym, wban be raugbt bym, Cbey gaf ecbe otber
many a stroke and many a byte, wban tbey sawtbeyr
auauntage, & ecbe of bem dyde bis best to destroye
tbat otber,! woldlmygbt see sucbe abataylleXbat
one was wyly and tbat otber was stronge: tbat one
f augbt wytb strengtbe, & tbat otber witb subtylte,

141

►

F>£ <Hulf was angry that the f oxe en-
dured eo longe ayenst bym: yr bis f or-
mest feet bad ben bole tbe f oxe badnot
endured eo longe, but tbe eoree wer so
open tbat be mygbt not wel renne,and
tbe f oxe mygbt better of and on tban
be, and also be swange bis tayl wytb pysse of te vn-
der bis eyen, and made bym tbat bym tnougtbe tbat
bis eyen sbold goo out^Htte laste be sayd to bym
self: I wyl make an ende of tbis bataylle. Row longe
ebal tbie caytyf dure tbus ayenst me? lam so grete,
I sbold if I laye vpon bym presse bym to detb* Dy t is
to me a grete sbame tbat 1 spare bym so longe, men
sbal mocke & poynte me wytb fyngres to my sbame
and rebuke, fori am yet on tbe werst syde,I am sore
wounded,! blede sore,and be drownetb me wytb bis
pysse,and caste so mocbe duste and sande in myne
eyen tbat bastely Isbal not conne see yf 1 suflP re bim
ony lenger.Iwyl sette it in auenture & seen wbat sbal
come tberof j0 CCTytb tbat be smote wytb bis f oote
Reynard on tbe beed tbat be fyll doun to tbe ground,
and er be cowde aryse be caugbt bim in bys feet, and
laye vpon bym as ne wold baue pressed bym todetb,
Tbo began tbe f oxe to be a/f era, and so were alle bis
frendis wban tbey sawe bym lye vnder, and on tbat
otberside alleYsegrymsf rendes were ioyef ul& glad
^Tbe f oxe defended bym f aste wytb bis clawes as
be laye vpward wytb bis reet & gaf bim many a elope :
tbe ttlulf durste not wytb bys feet doo bym mocbe
barme, but witb bis teetb snatched at bym as be wold
baue byten bym,<nban tbe foxe sawe tbat be sbold
bebyten,andwasin gretedrede,be smote tbe 3Qu If in
tbe need witb bis f ormest clawes, and tare tbe skynne
142

of bytwene bis browes and bys eerie, and tbat one of
1 bye eyen benge out, wbyebe dyde bym mocbe payne*
F)e bowlyd, be wepte, be cryde lowde, and made a py-
> teous noyse, for tbe blode ranne doun as it bad ben
a streme.

How tbe f oxe beyng vnder tbe <Oulf wytb Catering
wordes glosed bym tbat tbe f oxe cam to bys aboue
agayn, capitulo xl,*W

T>B Qlulf wiped bis eyen,tbef oxe
was gladd wban be sawe tbat, be
wrastled so sore tbat be sprange
on bis feet wbyles be rubbed bys
eyen, tbe Qlulf was not wel ples-
ydtberwytb alle,and smote after
nym er be escaped & caugbt bym
in bisarmes and belde bym faste,
notwytbstandyng tbat be bledde. Reynard was woo
tbenne, there wrastled tbey longe and sore.Tbe <Oulf
wexe so angry tbat be f orgat al bis smarte & payne,
& tbrew tbe f oxe al plat vnder bym,wbicbe cam bym
euyll to passe, for bis one band by wbicbe be defen-
ded bym sterte in tbe f allyng in toYscgryms tbrote,
and tbenne was be af erd to lesebis bandj^tTbeCHulf
sayd tbo to tbe f oxe : JNbw cbese wbetber ye wy I yelde
yow as ouercome,or ellys I sball certaynly slee yow.
tTbe skateryng of tbe oust, tby pysse, tby mocfcyng
ne tby deffence,ne alle tby false wylys,may not now
belptbe,tboumaystnotescapemeXboubastbereto
foredon mesomocbe barmen sbame,andnowtbaue
lost myne one eye & tberto ben sore wounded. 3dban
Reynard berdetbat it stode sorowme, tbat be sbold
cbese to fcnowlecbe bym ouercomen andyelde bym, or
ellis to take tbe detb, be tbougbt tbe cboy s was wortb

143

r

mm

tenmarke,&tbatbemuste say tbatone ortbat other*
Re badanoii concluded wbat be wold saie,& began to
saye to bym wytb f ayr wordes in tbis wyse ; Dere erne,
Iwylgladly becomeyour man wytballe my good, &l
wy I goo for you to tbe boly graue, & sbal ofete pardon
& wynnyngf or your cloystre of alle tbe cbircbes tbat
ben in tbe noly Lande, wbicbe sbal mocbe prouffyte
to your sowle&your elders sowles also* 1 trowe tber
was neuer sucbe a prouffre prouffred to ony kynge,
and 1 sball serue you lyke as I sbold seme our boly
fader tbe popejsbal bolde of you al tbatlbaue and
euer ben your seruaunt,and fortblsbal make tbat al
my lignage sbal do in lyke wyseXbenne sbal ye be a
lord a/boue alle lordes : wbo sbolde tbenne dare doo
ony tbyngayenst you ?Hndf urtbermore.wbat som-
euer I take of polaylle, gbees, partryebe, or plouyer,
fyssbe or fiessbe, or wbat someuer it be, tberof sbal
yefyrst baue tbecboys, and your wyf and your cbyl-
dren,er ony come in my bodyXberto 1 wyl alway a-
byde by you, tbat wbere ye be tber sballe no burte ne
scatbe come toyow*Ye be strong and 1 am wyly, late
vs abyde to oydre tbat one wytb counseyll and tbat
otber wytb tbedede, tben may tber notbyng misf alle
to vs/ward, & we ben so nygn of kynne ecbe tootber
tbat of riofbt sbold be no angre bytwene vs* 1 wold
not baue rougbten ayenst you yf I mygbt baue es-
caped, but ye appeled mefyrst vnto fygbt, tbo must
Idootbatlnot doo wold gladly, and in tbis bataylle
1 baue ben curtoys toyow.l baue not yet sbewde tbe
vtteryst of my mygbt on yow, lyke as 1 wolde baue
doon yf ye bad ben a straunger to me, for tbe neuew
ougbt to spare tbe erne, it is good reson and it ougbt
sotobee«Oere erne, so bauelnow doo, & tbat mayeye
H4

marhe wel : wban Iran to fore yowmyn berte woldnot
consente tberto, for I mygbt bauc burtc yow mocbe
more tban I dyde, but I thought it neuer, for I hauc
not hurtc yow nc don yow eo mocbe harmc that may
hyndrc yow, sauf only that mysbappe that is fallen
on your eye. Hcb, therf ore I am sory & euflPre moche
sorow in my hertef I wold wel, dere erne, that it had
not bappedyow, but that it bad fallen on me, eo that
ye tberwyth bad ben plesyd. How be it that ye sbal
baue tberby a grete auauntage, for wban ye here af-
ter ahal elepeye nede not to sbette but one wyndowe
where another muste sbette two. JMy wyf Amy chil-
dren and my Ugnage sbal f alle doune to your feet to
fore the hynge, and to fore alle them that ye wyl de-
syre, and praye yow humbly that ye wyl suflfre Rey-
nart your neuew lyue,and alsolsbal knowleche of te
to baue trespaced ayenst yow, and what lesynges I
bauelyed vponyow. How myght ony lord baue more
honour tban I proff re yow ? I wolde for no good do
this to another, therf ore I pray yow to be plesyd here

tb al. .

mOZG wel yf ye wold ye mygbt now

alee me: but ana ye so done bad, what
bad ye wonne? 90 muet ye euer after
this tyme hepe yow fro my frendes &
Ugnage. Therf ore he is wyse that can
in bis angre mesure hym self and not
be ouer basty,and toseewelwhat may f alle or happe
lafterward to bym. Whatman that in his angre can
wel aduyse bim, certaynly heis wyse : men fyndmany
f ooles that in bete hasten hem so mocbe that after
they repente hem, and thenne it is to late, but, dere
eme,Xtrowe that ye be to wyse so todoo. Hit is better
li M5

to baue prys, honour, reste & pecs, & many frendes
that be redy tobelpe bym, tban to baue sbame,burte,
vnreste, and also many enemyes lyengf m a/wayte to
do bym barme. Hlso it is Uty I worship to bym tbat
batb ouercomen a man tbenne to slee bim, but it is
Jgretesbame:notformylyf:tbaugbXweredeed,tbat

>werealytyllburte. _ ^ ■ „ . ^

nseGRTM the Olulf said: Hy tbeef,
tbow fayn woldest tbow be losed and
dyscbarged fro met€bat bere I wel by
thy wordee : were tbou now fro me on
tby free feet, tbou woldest not sette by
Jme an egge sbelle. Cbouofb tbou pro~
mysedesttomealle tbe world of fyn rede gold! wold
not late tbe escape. I sette lytyl by tbe and alle tby
frendes and lignagcHlle tbat tbou bast bere saidis
but lesyngisand f ayned f alsenes : wenest tbou thus
to deceyueme?It is longe sytb tbatlknewetbe, lam
nobyrdtobelockednetakebycbaf,Iknowwelynowb

aood com* O bow woldest tbou mocke me, yf I lete
tbe tbus escape tCbou my gbtest wel baue said tbis to
one tbat knewe tbe not, but to me tbou losest tby
fiateryng &swete floytyng, f orlvnderstande to wel
tby subtyl lyeng talys; tbow bast so ofte deceyued
me tbat me bebouetb now to take good bede of tbe*
Cbow false stynkynge knaue, tbow saist tbat tbou
bastsparedmein tbis batayULokebetberward tome,
is not myn one eye out? & tberto bast tbou wound-
ed!^™** places in my beed, tbou woldest not suffre
me so longe to resteas to take ones my breetb.Iwere
ouer mocbaf ool yf I sbold now spare tbe or berner-
cyf ul to tbe, so many a confusion & sbame as tbou
bast don tome:& tbat also, tbat toucbetb me most

146

-

of alle, that tbou bast disworsbipedandsklaundred
€rswyn my wyf, wbom I louc as wel as my self, and
falsely forscst & deceyuedest ber, wbicbe sbal neuer
outof my berte, for as of teas it comctb to my myridc
allcmyn angrc and bate tbat 1 baue to tberenewetb
J&lt\ tbemene wyle tbatYsegrym was tbus spekyng,
tbe f oxe bitbougbt bym bow be mygbt belpe bym
self, & stack bis otber bond after by twene bis leggis,
and grepe tbe Gdulf fast by tbe colyons,&bewronge
bem so sore tbat for woo and payne be muste crye
lowde& bowle, tbennetbef oxe drewe bis otber bond
out of bis moutb. XTbe Cttulf bad so mocbe payne
and anguyssb of tbe f oxe wryngyng, tbat tbe f oxe
dowed A wrongebis genytours, tbat be spytte blood
and for grete payne be bysbote bym self;
f>ow y&egrym tbe Olulf was ouercomen, & bow tbe
batay I was taken vp and fynyssbid, & bow tbe f oxe
bad tbe worship, capittilo x\)&&

pIS payne dydebym more sorow

and woo tban bis eye dyde tbat so

|sore bleddc,andalso it made bym

toouertbroweallein aswowne,for

be bad so mocbe bledde, and also

tbe tbrestyng tbat be suffred in

bis colyons made bym so favnt

-tbat be bad lost bismwbtXben

Reynard tbefoxe lepe vpon bym wytb alms mygbt,

and caugbt bym by tbelegges,and drewe bym fortb

tburgb tbe f elde tbat tbey alle mygbt see it, and be

tetack and smote bym sore. TTbenne were Ysegryms

frendes al f ul of sorowe, and wente al wepyng vnto

?tbeyr lord tbe kynge, and prayde bym tbat be wold

*doo sece tbe batay 11 and take it vp in to bis bandesj^

1 2 i 47

Zbc kynge graunted it, and tbenne wente the kepars
of the fctdc, tbcLupacrd and tbcLossem, and saidc
to the f oxe and to the CQulf : Our lord the kynge wil
speke wytb yow, and wyl that this batayl be ended,
be wtl take it in to bis band* He desyrctb tbat ye wyl
gyueyour stryf vnto bym, f or yf ony of yow bere were
slayn it sbold be grete shame on botbe sydes, for ye
baue as mocbe worship of this f elde as ye may baue
JfBxxd tbey sayde to tbe f oxe: Hlle tbe beestis gjue
to yow tbe prys tbat baue seen tbis bataylle j^Cbe
f oxe said: thereof Xtbanke bem,andwbat tbat sbal
plesemy lord to commande,tbatsbalnotXgaynsaye.
I desire no better but to baue wonne tbef elde, latemy
frendes come betber to me,X wil take aduyse of tbem
wbat X ebal doo jfr Oey saide tbat tbey tbougbt it
good,andalso itwasreson in weyabty maters aman
sbold take aduys of bis frendesXbenne cam dame
Slopecade, and ©rymbert tbe Dasse her busbond,
dameRukenawe wy tb ber ij sustcrs, By tcluys & f ul-
rompe ber ij sones, and natenet ber dougbter, tbe
f lyndermows,&tbe (HezeLHnd tber cam moo tban
xx wbicbe wold not baue comen yf tbe f oxe bad loot
tbefeeld:sowbotbatwynnetb and cometb to bye a-
boue be getetb grete loos and worship, & wbo tbat is
ouer tbrowen & batb tbe werse, to bym wyl no man
gladly comeXher cam also to tbe f oxe, tbe Beuer, tbe
Otter,& botb tbeyr wyues pantbecrof te &Ordegale,
and tbe Ostrole, tbe JVlartre, tbe f ycbews, tbe f yret,
tbe JVIowse, and tbe Squyrel, and many moo tban X
can name, and alle bycause be bad wonne tbe f eeld.
Ye, some cam tbat to fore bad complayned on bym,
and were now of bis next kynne, & tbey sbewde bym
right frendly cbier and contenance* Ows faretb tbe
148

world now, who that is ricbeand bye on the wbeel be
batb many kynnesmen and f rendes tbat sbal belpe
to bere out bis weltbe. But wbo tbat is nedy and mi
payne or in pouerte fyndetb but f ewe frendes and

kynnesmemforeuerymanalmostesbewetbbiscom-
panye and wayejSTC-ber was tbenne gfrete f este, tbey
blewe vp trompettis and pyped wytb sbalmoyses.
XTbey sayden alle: Dere neuew, blessyd be God tbat
ye baue sped wel, we were in gfrete drede & fere wban

wesawyowlyevnderj^Reynarttbefoxetbankedalle
tbem frendly, & resceyued tbem witb grete joye and
gladnes: tbenne be asked of tbem wbat tbey coun-
seylled bym, yf be sbolde gyue tbe felde vnto tbe
kyngeor noo?jflW)ame Slopecadesayde: Yebardely,
cosyn, ye may wytb worsbyp wel sette it in to bys
bandes and truste bym wel ynougbj^TTboo wente
tbeyallewytb tbe keparsof tbe feeldvnto tbe kynge,
and Reynard tbe foxe wente to fore tbem alle wytb
trompes and pypes and mocbe otber mynstralcye.
Tbe f oxe kneled doun to fore tbe kynge, tbe kynge
bad bym standevp,and said to bym: Reynard, ye be
nowjoyef ul,ye baue kepte your day worsbipf ully. I
discbarge yow, and late yowgoo frely quyte wbere it
plesytb yow, and tbe debate bytwene yow I bolde it
on me, and sbal discusse it by reson & by counseyl
of noble men, and wil ordeyne tberof tbat ougbt be
doon by reson at sucbe time as Ysegrymsbal bebool,
and tbenne I sbal sende for yow to come to me, and
tbenne by Goddes grace 1 sbal yeue out tbe sentence
andjugement.

13

H9

w.

Hn ensample that the f oxe told to the kynge wban
be bad wonne tbc f elde, capitulo xhj^^

g-^lf V wortby anddere lord tbekynge,

^S saide tbe f oxe, X am wel a/greed
and payd tberwytb, but wban I
cam fyrst in to your court tber
were many tbat were f elle and en-
uyous to me, wbicbe neuer bad
burte ne cause of scatbe by me,
buttbey tbougbttbattbeymigbt

beste ouer me, & alle tbey cryden wytb myn enemyes
ayenst me, & wold f ayn baue destroyed me by cause
tbey tbougbt tbat tbe Cdulf was better witbbolden
and gretter wytbyou tban I was, wbicbe am your
bumble subget. tbey knewe none otber tbynge why
ne wberfore, tbey tbougbte not as tbewyse bewoned
to doo, tbat is wbat tbe ende may bappen. My lorde,
tbyse ben lyke a grete beepof boundes wbicbe I ones
sawe stonde at a lordes place vpon a dongbil wbere
as tbey away ted tbat men sbolde brynge tbem mete,
tben sawe tbey an bound come out of tbe kitcben, &
bad taken tbere a f ayr rybbe of beef er it was gyuen
bym, and be ran fast a/way wytb all. But tbe cooh
bad espyed or be wente away, and toke a cjfrete bolle
full of scaldyng water and caste it on bis byppes
bebynde,wberof be tbankynd notbynof tbe cook, for
tbe beer bebynde was skaldedof and bis skyn semed
as it bad be tburgb soden, ^euertbeles be escaped
away and kepte tbat be bad wonne, and wban bis
f elaws tbe otber boundes saw bym come wytb this
f ayr rybbe, tbey called bym alle and saide to bym : U

bow good a frende is the cook to the, wbicbe batb
ofyuen to tbc so good a boone wberon bis so mocbe
nessbf Oeboundesaide: Y*knowenotbyng tberof.
Ye preyse mc lykeas ye sec mc to fore wytb tbc bone,
but ye baue not seen me bebynde, take bede and be-
bolde me afterward on myn buttokkis,and tbenneye
sbal knowe bow 1 baue deseruyd it. Hnd wban tbey
bad seen bym bebynde on bis byppes, bow tbat bis
skynneand bis flessb was al rawe & tburgb soden,
tbo growled tbem alle, & were af erd of tbat syedyng
water, and wold not of bis f elawsbip, but fledde and
ran away from bym and lete bym tbere allone.

H6B, my lord, tbis rigbt baue tbyse
false beestis, wban tbey be made lordes
and may gete tbeir desire, and wban
tbey be mygbty and doubted, tbenne
ben tbey extorcionners, and scatteand
pylle tbe peple, and eten tbem lyke as
)tbey were forbongred boundes, tbese ben tbey tbat
bere tbe bone in ber moutb, noman dar baue to doo
wytb bem, but preyse alle tbat tbey bedryue, noman
dar saye otber wyse but sucbe as sbal plese bem, by
cause tbey wold not besbom,andsommebelpetbem
fortb in tbeyr vnrygbtwys dedes by cause tbey wold
baue parte and lykke tbeyr fyngres, and strencftbe
tbem in tbeyr euyl lyf and werkis. O dere lorde, bow
lytyl seen tbey tbat do tbus after bebynde tbem wbat
tbeende sbal bet Htte laste tbeyfal fro bye tolowein
grete sbame & sorowe, and tbenne tbeyr werkis come
to knowlecbe & be opene, in sucbe wyse tbat noman
batb pyte ne compascion on tbem in tbeyr mescbief
and trouble, & euery man curse tbem and say euyl by
tbem to tbeir sbame and vylanye* JWany of sucbe
1 4 151

baue ben blamed and sborn f ul nygbe tbat tbey bad
no worsbype nc prouffyt, but lose tbeyr beer as tbe
bound dyde, tbat is tbeyr frendes,wbicbe bauebolpe
tbem to couere tbeir mysdedes and extorcions lyke
as tbe beer couerytb tbe skynne, and wban tbey baue
sorow and sbame for tbeyr olde trespaces, tbenne
eebe body pluckytb bis band fro bym and flee, lyke
as tbe boundes dyde fro bym tbat was scalded wytb
tbe syedyng water, and lete bym tbyse extorciens in
ber sorow and nede,

Y dere lorde kynge, 1 besecbe you to
3 remembre tbis example of me, it sbal
not be ayenstyour worship ne wyse-
dom, <Ubat, wene ye bow many ben
tber sucbe false extorcioners now in
tbis dayes? Ye, mocbe werse tban an
bound tbat beretb sucbe a bone in bis moutb, in
■townes, in grete lordes courtes, wbicbe wytb grete
(facing and bracyng oppresse tbe poure peple wytb
'grete wronge, & selle tbeyr fredom and pryuelages,
and bere tbem on bond of tbyngis tbat tney neuer
knewe ne tbougbte, & all for to gete good for tbeyr
synguler profryt. Cod gyue tbem all sbame&soone
destroye tbem wbo somme euer tbey be tbat so doo f
But Cod be thanked, said tbe f oxe, tber may noman
endwyte me,nemy lygnagenekynne,of sucbewerkys
but tbat we sbal acquyte vsand comen in tbe lyabte.
I am not a/f erd of ony tbat can saye on me ony tbyng
tbat I baue don otberwyse tban a trewe man ougbt to
doo, Hlleway tbe f oxe sbal a/byde tbe f oxe, tbougb
alle bis enemyes badde sworn tbe contrarye. JVIy dere
lord tbe kynge, I loue you wytb my berte aboue alle
otber lordes, and neuer for noman wold I tome fro
152

^AS^L

, yow, butabydeby vow to tbevtterist. fiowwel itbatb
ben otherwise enformed your byenes, I baue neucr-
tbeles alway do tbc beat, and f ortb so wylle doo allc
my lyf tbat I can or may.

, Row tbc kyng forgaf tbe f oxe allc tbyngis & made
bym souerayn & grettestouer al bis landes, capitulo
'xliij,^

R6 kynge sayde: Reynard, ye be
one or tbem tbat owctb me bom-
age, wbiebe I wyl tbat ye allway
ao doo, and also I wylle tbat erly
and late ye beof my counseyl and
one of my justyses : see wel to
tbat ye not mysdoo ne trespace
nomore. I sette yow agavn in alle
.your mygbt and power, lyke as ye were to fore, and
see tbat ye further alle maters to tbebeste rigbte, for
wban ye sette your wytte and counseyl to vertue and
goodnesse, tbenne may not our court be wytbout
your aduyse and counseyl, for bere is non tbat is
lyke to yow in sharp and bye counseyll, ne subtyller
'in fyndyng a remedye for a mescbief , and tbynke ye
on tbexample tbat ye your self baue tolde and tbat
ye baunte rigbt/wysnesand be to me trewclwill fro
bensf ortb werke and doo by your aduysc and coun-
seyll, be lyuetb not tbat yf be mysdede yow, but I
sbold sharply aduenge & wreke it on bym. Y* sballe
oueralle speke and saye my wordes, and in alle my
lande shall ye be aboue alle other souerayne and my
bayle, tbat offyce I gyue yow, ye may wel occupye it
wyth worsbipjffHlle Reynardis frendisandlignage
thanketb the kyngbeyly^Cbe kynge sayde: Iwolde

doo more for your sake than ye wene, I pray yow alle
that ye remembre bym that be be trewejgH>ame Ru-
kenawe tbenne sayd : yce, ey kerly , my lord, tbat sbal
be euer be, and tbynke ye not tbe contrary, for yf be
wereotber wyse be were not of our kynne ne Ugnage,
and I wold euer myeeake bym and wold euer byndre
bym to my powerj^Reynart tbe foxe tbanked tbe
.kyncjewttb rayr curtoyewordes & sayd: Dere lorde,
'l am not wortby to baue tbe worship tbat ye doo to
me-Isbal tbynke tberon and be trewe to you al 90
longe ae I lyue, and 9bal gyue y° u a9 bobom coun-
seyl as 9bal be expedient to your good gracejSFnere
wvtb be departed wytb bis f rendes fro tbe kynge.

"lOCCIo berke bow Isegrym tbe ululf
dyd : Bruyn tbe Bere,€y bert tbe Catte,
and Grswyndeand ber cbyldren, wytb
tbeir Ugnage, drewen tbe ululf out of
tbe f elde, and leyde bym vpon a lyter
_ of beyeand couerd bym warm, &loked
tto bis woundes, wbicbe were wel xxv, and tber cam
1 wyse maistres & surgyens wbicbe bonde tbem and
weesbe bem. He was so seke and f eble tbat be bad
lost bis f elynge, but tbey rubbed and wryued bym
vnder bis temples and eyen tbat be sprange out of
1 bis swounde, and cryde so lowde tbat alle tbey were
'aferd, tbey bad wende tbat be bad ben wood. But tbe
maistres gaf bym a drynketbat comforted bisberte
and made bym to slepe, tbey comforted bis wyf and
.tolde to ber tbat tberwas no detb woundeneparyl of
bis lyf j^Cbenne tbe court brake vp,and tbe beestis
departed and wente to tbeyr places and bomes tbat
tbey cam froo*

154

Row the f oxewytb bis frendisand lignage departed
nobly fro tbe kyngeandwentetobis castel JWalleper-
duye, capit ulo xlhj&&

eyftHKZ tbe f oxe toke bis leue
honestly of tbe kynae and of tbe
quene, and tbey bad bym be sbold
not tarye longe but shortly retome
to tbem agaynjfi^Re answerd and
said: Dere kynge and quene, alway
at your commandement I sbal be
redy. Jf ye nede ony tbyng, wbicbe
food forbede, I wold alway be redy wytb my body &
>my good to belpe yow, and also al my frendes and
lignaae in lykewysesbalobeye your commandement
>and desire, ye baue byely deseruyd it, God quyte it
yow, and yeue you grace longe to lyue. Hnd I desyre
'your licence and leue to goo home to my wyf & chil-
dren, and yf your good grace wil ony tbyng, late me
baue knowlecbe of it, & ye sbal fynde me alway redy
»^Cbus departed tbe f oxewytb fayrwordes fro tbe
kynge. JVow,wbo tbat coude sette bym in Reynardis
crafte,and coude bebaue bym in flateryng and lyeng
as be dyde, be sbold I trowe be berde botbe wytb tbe
lordes spyrytuel and temporel. Tber ben many, and
> also tbe moste parte, tbat crepe after bis waye & bis
J bole: tbename tbatwas gyuen to bym abydetb alway
stylle wytb bym. Re batb lef te many of bis craf te in
tbis world, wbicbe allewaye wexe & become mygbty,
for wbo tbat wyl not vse Reynardis crafte now is
mougbt worth in tbe worldnow,in ony estate tbat is
of mygbt. But yf be can crepe in Reynardis nette &
.batb ben bis scoler,tbennemay bedwellewitbvs,for
>tbenneknowetb beweltbe way now be may aryse,and

155

is sette vp aboue of euery man, Tiber is in tbe world
mocbe seed left of tbc f oxe, wbicbenowoueralgrow-
ctb and cometb sore vp. O>ougb tbey bauc no rede
berdes, yet tber ben f ounden mo f oxesnow tban cucr
were bere to fore, Tbe rigbtwyse peple ben al loste,
troutbe and rigbtwysnes ben exyled and fordriuen,
and for tbem ben abyden wy tb vs couetyse, f alsbede,
bate & enuye: tbyse regne now mocbe in euery con-
tre. for is (tin tbe popes court, tbe emperours, tbe
kynges, dukes, orony otber lordes, where someuer it
be, cebe man labouretb to put otber out fro bis wor-
sbippc, offyce and power, for to make bvm sylf to
clymmebye, with lyes, with flate^n^wytbsymonye,
wytb money, or wy tb strengtbe & f orceXber is none
tbynge beloued ne knowen in tbe court now a/days
but money, Oe money is better byloued tban <3od,
for men doo mocbe more tberf ore, for wbosomeuer
bryngetb money sbal be wel receyuyd and sbal baue
alle bis desire, is it of lordes or of ladyes, or ony
otber, tbat money dotb mocbe barme. JVIoney bryng-
etb many in sbame and drede of bis lyf , and bryng-
etb false wytnesayenst true peple for togete money,
bit causetb vnclennes of lyuyng, lyeng and lecberye.
JSbw clerkes goon to Rome, to £)arys,& to many an-
other place for to leme Reynardis craf te:is be clerke,
is be laye man,euericbe of tbem tredetb in tbe foxes
patb and seketb bis boleXbe world is of sucbe con-
dycyon now tbat euery man seketb bym self in alle
maters,! wote not wbat ende sbal come to vs berof .
Hlle wy se m en may sorowe wel berf ore, I fere tbat for
tbe grete f alsenes, tbef te, robberye and murdre, tbat
is now vsed somocbe and comonly, and also tbe vn-
sbamef ast lecberye andauoultry, hosted and blowen
156

a/brood with the auauntyngof the same, that with-
out grctc repentaunce & penaunce tberf ore, that God
will take vengeaunce and punyssbe vs sore tberf ore.
{ftbom I bumbly besecbe, and to wbom notbyng is
byd tbat be wylle gyue vs grace to make amendes to
bym tberf ore, and tbat we maye rewle vs to bys play-
syr, and ber wytb wil I leue, for wbat baue I to wryte
of tbise mysdedes ? I baue ynowb to doo wytb myn
owne self, and so it were better tbat I belde my pees
and suffre,andtbe bestetbatl can doo for to amende
my self now in tbis tyme: & solcounseyle euery man
todoobere in tbis present lyf, and tbat sbal be most
our prouflpy t, for after tbis lyf cometb no tyme tbat
we may occupye to our auantage for to amende vs,
for tbenne sbal euery man answere for bym self and
bere bis owen burtbenj^Reynardisfrendesandlyg-
nage to tbe nombre of xl baue taken also tbeyr leue
of tbe kynge, and wente alle to gydre wytb tbe f bxe
wbicbe was rygbt glad tbat be bad so wel sped, and
tbat be stode so wel in tbe kynges grace. Re tbougbt
tbat be bad no sbame, but tnat be was so arete wttb
tbe kynge tbat be mygbt belpe & f urtber bis frendes
and byndre bis enemyes, & also to doo wbat be wold
> wy tbout be s bold be blamed yf be wold be wyse.

3RB f oxe A bis rrendis wente so longe
to gydre tbat tbey camen to bis burgb
to jttaleperduys, tber tbey alle toke leue
ecbe of otber wytb f ayr and courtoys
wordes. Reynard dyde to tbem gretere-
uerence,and tbanked tbem alle frendly
of tbeyr good f aytb, and also worsbip tbat tbey bad
don and sbewd to bym, and profred to ecbe of tbem
bis seruyseyf tbey bad nede wytb body and goodes,

«57

and berwytb tbey departed, and ecbe of tbcm wente
to tbeyr owne bowses jffXibt foxe wcntc to dame
Grmelyn bis wyf , wbicbe welcomed bym frendly, be
tolde to ber and to bis cbyldren alle tbe wonder tbat
to bym was befallen in tbe courts and forgate not a
worde but tolde to tbem euery dele bow be bad escap-
ed, €benne were tbey glad tbat tbeyr fader was so
enbaunsed and grete witb tbe kynge, and tbe f oxe
lyued f ortbon wy tb bis wyf and bis cby Idren tn grete
| joye and gladnes/

" OQCl wbo tbat said to yow of tbe f oxe
more or lesse tban yebaue berd or red,
I bolde it for lesynge : but tbis tbat ye

- baue berd or red, tbat may be byleue
wel t & wbo tbat byleuetb it not is not
tberf ore out of tbe rigbt byleue* How
be it tber bemanyyf tbat tbey bad seen it tbey sbold
baue tbelassedoubtof it,for tber ben many tbynges
in tbe world wbicbe ben byleuvd tbougb tbey were
neuer seen. Hlso tber ben many ngures & playsfoun-
den tbatneuerweredon ne bapped,butf or an example
to tbe peple, tbat tbey may tber by tbe better vse and
f olowe vertue, and tescbewesynne and vyces.In lyke
wysemay it be by tbis booke, tbat wbo tbat wyl rede
tbis mater, tbougb it beof iapes and bourdes,yet be
may fynde tberin many a good wysedom and lern-
ynges, by wbicbe be may come to vertue & worship
JFXZbm is no good man blamed berin, by t is spok-
en generally , late eueryman take bis owne parte as it
belongetb and bebouetb. Hnd be tbat fyndetb bym
gylty in ony dele or part tberof , late bym bettre and
amende bym, and be tbat is veryly good, X pray Cod
kepebymtberin.Hndyfonytbyngebesaidorwreton

158

berin that may grcuc or dyspleasc ony man, blame
not me, but tbef oxe, for tbey be bis wordee and not
myne,prayengalltbem tbatsbalseetbis lytyl treatis
to correct and amende wbere tbey sbal fynde faute,
f orlbaue notadded nemynusebed, but bauef olow-
edasnygbeaslcan mycopyewbicbe was in Dutcbe,
and by me Glilliam Caxton translated in to tbis rude
and symple Snalyssb in Oabbey of CClestmestre,
f ynyssbed tbe vj daye of ?uyne, tbe yere of our Lord
JVICCCCbcxxj,and tbexxjyere of tbe regneof kynge
edwardtbeiiijtb.
Here endetb tbe bietorye of Reynard tbe f oxe.

159

r

h CHBjve of sojMesrRHj^ee words.

leDRWe, BY- jtfPCamping,p.i35(Du: camp-

dryuen, pp. 33, spel) right, duel.

95> 103, 151 (Du: Cantum, p. 81 (Du:, cantum)

bedreue, bedre- an allusion to the service of

uen) to commit, 4 ~l!? 1 c i burcb / v>

oeroetrate. Casus, p. 11 (Du : casus) a ge-

_ perpetrate.

Benamme, p. 79 (0.6. benu-
men) deprived.

Beryspe, vnberisped, pp. 45,
129 (Du : berispen, omberis-
pet) reprove, rebuhe.

Betels, p. 15 (Du: beytels)
wedges. B. JVl. copy has
"betels" altered in what
seems to be a contemporary
bandto"wegges."

ometrical term, each of the
segments of the base of a
triangle cut off by a perpen-
dicular fallingfrom the ver-
tex.

Clope, p. 142 (Du : clop) knock
or stroke.

Cluse, p.7(Du: cluse) cell.

d^Dasse, p. 5, et seq., (Du :
dasse) badger.

Blasen, p. losTOu: blasen; **!&* 2 *J£ U : ****"> cit '
O^Uesan) to blow. See »&%? 9 ffidicr)<iccr,crK,

B l C eai P remain° U: bUCf) "" ^K^ 9 ,, 4 7(Du:dou-
Bo?k C ; r ytb a tbe sayntes, p. 3 ™* n > " dubb «<" jessed,

Borde, bourde,pp.33, 84, 158 emefpfret leqT^Du: cem,

<Du:bom)ajCrt,ke,.moclt. omnfe, 00m) uScui.
Borowes, p. 135 (Du: borge) Brmed, p. 60, pitied, (Che

pledge, surety
Boucbe, p. 49, a misprint of

Caxton's for bench, f ollow-
, ed in error,
Brokes, pp. 56, 88 (Du: bVue-

ken, brokicb) crimes.
Buff ne baff, p. 141 (Du: boe

nocb bau).
Bules, p. 114 (Du : bulen) boils

or bowls
Bydwynge, bydwongen, pp.

Dutch is " iammerde "which
Caxton beire. translates by
this Gnglisb word, though
elsewhere he simply adopts
the Dutch, e.g., p. 59).

jfiFfaldore, p. 33 (Du: valdo-
er) trap/door.

facing & bracyng, p. 152 (X)\i :
met groten onrecbte) See
f^.B.D. for uses of this
phrase.

46, 63, 113 (Du: dwingben, ferners,p.4o(Du:bedencken

bedwonghen) to constrain, om ouden staet ende daet)

forced. bygones.

m i6 l

fordryue, fordriuen, pp. 46,
21, 156 (Du: verdriuen) drive
away, expel.

forslongen, p. 10 (Du:versl-
onden, pp. of verslinden)
devoured, swallowed.

f orslyngered, p. 17 (Du : slin-
geren) to sling.

for/wyntered, p. 3 (Du: ver-
wintert) wintered.

j^Galped, pp. 25, 125, (Du:
galpte) yelped.

<3lat, p. i36(Du: glat) smooth,
polished.

©rate, p. 5 (Du: grate) fish-
bone.

Orenne, gryn, grynnes, pp. 24
25, 26, 27, 31, 40, 77 ', (Du:
stricke, stricken) snare.

Grymme, grimmed, grym-
myng, pp. 43, 78, 129 (Du:
grimmen, grimde, grymm-
ende) to look grim, angry.

j^FfJamber barellis, p. 14 (Du:
seuen aemen hebben) ames
or wine/ barrels, 37-41 gal-
lons.

Rarowe, p. 86 (Du : des so ro-
epe ick wapen ouer hoer Ujf
en leuen der gheenre)the cry
for help.

Rouedaunce, p. 69 (Du : houe-
dans) court/dance*

fiuylen, p. 102 (Du: buylen)
to bowl. (Gberard keeu's
Dutch has here "butsen &
blaaen." Butsen, to push
or smite.)

jflFLynde, p. 41 (Du i linde).
kinde, linden. JUjn, rope.

jtfFJMawed, p. 25 (Du: mauw-
ede) miaued.

JMenowr. p. 7 (Du : doe hi hem
mit dierten beuant) taken in
the manner.

JSf Ouwher, p. 42. 6. anywhere
162

jtfFpolaylcpp.34,35,42 (Du:
hoenre, boenren) poultry.

pyked & stryked, p. 93 (Du :
si streken) "gaen streken
ofte strijeken," to go one's
ways.

pylche, p. 9 (Du : pelse ende
slauine) Lat: pelicia; O.e.
pylce; JVIod: pelisse; short
flannel or fur garment.

j^Rasyng, p. ii9(Du: rasede)
doting, madness.

Ratte, p. 12 (Du : bij wil v han-
ghen ofte raedebraken) be
will you bang or break on
the wheel (radt/braken).

Rutsele, p. 20 (Du: rutselen)
to rustle.

JSf St* JVlartyn's byrdes, p. 22
(Du: sinte martijns vogel-
en).

Scatte, pp. 43, 151 (Du: scat)
treasure, riches, tax.

Slauyne, p. 9, pilgrim's cloak,
a Slavonic cloak.

Slepid, p. 32, (Du: sleepten)
dragged.

Slonked, p. 71 (Du:slont,pp.
of slinden) devoured.

Snelle, p. 141 (Du : snel) alert,
nimble.

Spores, p. 82 (Du: sporen)
tracks.

Spynde, p. 31 (Du: spijnde)
cupboard,hutch,or buttery .

Stoppel/maker, p.i8.<3berard
keeu's Dutch has "stop-
pelmader," stubblemower,
which Caxton has read as
if it were "stop ofte stop-
sel/maker/'stoppleorbung
maker.

Stoundmele, p. 51, (O.e.
stundmaelum) moment by
moment, attentively.

Stranguyllyon, p. 108, 6., old
form of strangury.

Strope, p. 4« (*>u : strop) bai-
ter.

Stryke, stryked, pp. 40, 48,
85* 93* 97* 138 (Du: streken,
streec, strijet). Streken, go
one's way ; strijeken, strike.

jtfPValdore, p. 44 {Du: val-
doer). See f aldore.

Vnberisped, p.45. SeeBerisp.

Vyseuase, p. 6(Du : vyseuase)
vice/versa.

jj? Clapper, wappred. p. 17
(Du: wappere, wapperen) a
loaded club, beaten.

darande,p. 53 (Du: warande
in die woes tine) a warren.

Olentled, wentlyng, pp. 20

27 <Du : wentelende, wente-

len) tumble, wallow,
din, <kyn, ne wyn, ne frende)

p. 97. cf Icelandic, vinr.
drawen, p. 25 (Du: wrauwen)

to tbraw, writhe,
dryued, p. 154 (Du: wreuen)

rubbed,
dyked, p. 87 (Du: ontweeck-

en) avoided.
jJFYamerde, p. 59 (Du: iam-

merde) lamented.
Yonned, p. 85 (Du: gonden)

to favour, or affect.
Yonste, p. 14 (Du: gunsten)

favour.

R6Re ends the History of Reynard the f oxe,done
into Gnglisb out of Dutch by (Gilliam Caxton,
and now reprinted by me Qdilliam JMorris, at the
Kelmscott press, Upper JNflall, Rammersmitbin tbe
County of JVIiddlesex. TTbis book was corrected for
tbe press by Henry fialliday Sparling, and finished
on tbe 15th day of December, 1892.

Sold by Bernard Quaritcb, 15, Piccadilly, London*

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