t:fl flISt:ORY of Y ~ R R D t:fl fOX

BY IILLIR]VI CRXt:O)'t
~ ,
l:) J )
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, ..
J
1:I1Y8 18 1:11 1:HBL Of1:l1 nI81:0RY
Of RYNHR1: 1:n fOX.
1:he prologue to the hystorye of Reynart the foxe,
p.1.
In the first, how the hynge of aUe beatea, the Lyon,
belde his court, capitulo primo, p.2.
now Iaegrym the Iolfcomplayned firaton thefoxe,
capitulo ij, p.2.
1:he complaynt of Curtoya the nound, and of the
CatteLybert, capitulo iij, p.3.
now Grym bert the Dasse, the foxes susters sone,
anawerd for the foxe to the hynge, capitu 10 iiij, p. 5.
now Chantecler the Coh complayned on the foxe,
capitulo \1, p.8.
now the hynge aayde touching the complaynt, cap-
itulo,\1j, p.l0.
now Bruyn the Sere apedde wyth the foxe, capitulo
\1ij, p.l1.
now the Sere ete tbe hony, capitulo \1iij, P.14.
L ~ e complaynt of tbe Sere \1pon tbe foxe, capitulo
lX, p.21.
now the hynge aente1:ybert the Catte for the foxe,
capitulo x, p.2 .
now (3rymbert brougbt the foxe to the lawe, capit-
ulo xj, p.28.
now the foxe was sbryurn to 6rym bert, capitulo xij,
p.30.
now the foxe cam to the court, and bow he excused
hym, capitulo xiij, p.36.
now the foxe was areatid and juged to deth, capi-
tulo xiiij, p.38.
now the foxe was ledde to the galwes, capitulo X\1,
P39 ~ ~ ..
llJ
f)owtbefoxe made open confession to fore tbe hyng
and to fore aUetbem tbat wold bere it, capituloxvj,
P4
2

f)ow tbe foxe brougbt them in danger tbat wold
baue brougbt b)'m to detb, and bow be gate the
grace of tbe hyng, capitulo xvij, p. 45
f)ow tbe mulf and tbe Sere were arestyd by tbe la-
bour of tbe foxe, capitulo xviij, p. 56.
fiow tbe mulf and bis wyf su"ffred her abo)'s to be
pluchyd of, & how the foxe dyde them on his feet
for to go to Rome, capitulo xix, p. 57.
f)ow Kywaert the f)are was slayn by tbe foxe, cap-
itulo xx, p. 61.
110w tbe foxe eente tbe l1ares heed to tbe Itynge by
Sellyn tbe Ramme, capitulo xxj, p. 65.
now Sellyn tbe Ramme and alle hislynagewere jug-
~ e d to be gyuen to tbe mulf and to tbe Sere, cap-
.tulo xxij, p. 68.
110w tbe hynge belde bisfeste, and Lapreel tbe Con),
complayned to bym of the foxe, ca. xxiij, p. 69.
110w Corbant the Roeh complayned on the foxe for
tbe detb of bia wyf, capitulo xxiiij, P.70.
now tbe hynge was angry of tbeae complayntea, ca-
pitulo xxv, p. 72
now 0rymbert warned tbe foxe tbat tbe Itynge was
wrotb and wold alee bym, capitulo xxvj, P.75.
now the foxe cam agayn to the court,& of hia sbrifte,
capitulo xxvij, p. 76.
110w tbe foxe excused bym byfore tbe Itynge, cap-
itulo xxviij, p.86.
f)ow dame Rultenawe tbe SbefRpe answerd for the
f o ~ e , capitulo xxix, P.95.
tV
R parable of a JVlan wniche delyuerd a Serpent fro
deth, capitulo xxx, p. 98.
Of them that were frendis and hyn to the foxe, cap-
itulo xxxj, p. 101.
now the foxe su bryUy excused hym of the detb of
thenare and of other maters, and bow be gate bis
pees, capitulo xxxij, p. 105.
now tbe Iulf complayned on tbe foxe, cap. xxxiij,
p. 124.
R parableof the foxe and the Iulf, ca.xxxiiij, p.129.
now the Iulfcaste his glouetofight with the foxe,
capitulo xxxv, p. 134.
now the foxe tohe vp the gloue,and the hynge sette
day and felde for to fighte, capitulo xxxvj, p. 135.
J)ow dame Ruhenawe the SheIRpe counseyUed the
foxehowbe shold dooin thefeldayenat tbeIulf,
capitulo xxxvij, p. 136.
f)ow the foxe cam in to the fdd, ca. xxxviij, p. 138.
))ow the foxe and the Iulffoughten to gydre, cap-
itulo xxxix, p. 139.
now the foxe, beyng vnder the mulf, with gl09yng
and flateryng wordes cam to his aboue, capitulo
xl, p. 143.
f)owY'segrym the mulf was ouercomen and the ba-
tayl rynysshyd, & bow the foxe had the worship,
capitulo xlj, p. 147.
Fln example that the foxe told to the hyng whan he
had wonne the felde, capitulo xlij, p. 150.
f)ow the hyngforgaf the foxe aU thyngis and made
hym souerayn oueral his landes, capitulo xliij, P15
3
.
f)ow the foxe with his frendes departed nobly fro
the hynge and wente to his castel }VIaleperduys,
capitulo xliiij, p. 155.
"
J))'er beg),nneth the h)'storye of Re),nard the

tb)'s b),stor),e ben wreton
tbe parables, goode ler),nge,
L':! and d)'uerse po)'ntes to be
merh)'d, b)' whiche po)'ntes
men ma)'e Ierne to come to
subrylle hnoweleche
" ... u.."" __ Bucbe tb)'nges as da)'l)' ben
and bad in tbe coun-
se)'ll)'s of lordes and prelates, gostel), and
worldl)" and also emonge marchantes & otber
comone peple. fInd tbis boohe is maad fornede
and prouff'yte of alle god folhe, as fer as the)' .. \. ..... VA ...........
in red)'nge or heer),ng of it shall mowe "nder- ........ 1 .... .. -..
stand and fele the forsaid subtil dece)'tes that
da)'l)' ben "sed in tbe worlde, not to thentente
.... -... tbat men sbold "se tbem, but tbat euer)' man
sbolde escbewe and hepe b)'m from tbe subryl ..
false sbrew),s, tbat tbe)' be not dece)'u)'dJfj
t:benne who tbat will baue tbe"er), "nderstan-
d)'ng of tb)'s matter, be muste ofte and man)'
rede in thys boohe, and emestl)' and _'.
hgentl)' marhe well that heredetb, for it is sette
subryll)', l)'heas)'e sbalseeinred)'ngof it;and
tl ..... 08' .. not ones to rede it; for a man shall not w)'th
ones ouer red)'ng fyndetbe rigbt "nderstand-
)'ng, ne comprise it wel, but ofrymes to rede it
sbal cause it wei to be "nderstande: and for ...
them tbat "nderstandeth it, it sball be r)'ght
jo)'ous, pla)'sant, and prouffitable.
110we the Lyon, It)'nge of aUe bestis, smt out b)'s
mandemmtts that aUe beestls sholde come to bis
feest and court, capitulo
was about the time of pentbe-
r7'} coste or Ih)'tsont)'de, that the
com)'nl)' be lust)' & glad-

som, and the trees clad with leuys
and blossoms, and the grounde
with herbes & flowris swete smel-

l),ng, & also the fowles & b)'rdes
..... ;;..-........ s)'ngrn melodyously in the)'r ar-
mon),e, that the L),on, thenoble Ityngeof aU beestis,
wolde in the hol)' da)'es of th)'s feest holde an opm
court at Stade, wh)'che he dide to Itnowe ouer alle in
h)'s lande. Rnd comanded b)' stra)'te conm)'ss)'ons
& maundemmtsthateuery beest sholdcometh),der,
in suchew)'se that aUe the beeatia grete & smale cam
to the courte, sauf Reynard the fox, for he I1newe
himself fawt)' & gylt)'in man)' thinges a),mst man)'
beestis that th)'dersholde comen, that hedurste not
aumture to goo th)'der jI Ihan the l1)'nge of aUe
beestls had assemblid aU his court, therwasnoneof
them alle but that he had compla)'ned sore on Rey-
nart the foxe.
t:be firste compla!"t made lsegrym tbe mulf on
Re),nart,
the mulfwyth h1s1y-
nage and frmdes cam and stode
fore the l1ynge, & sa)'dePl1ye
myght)' pr)'nce, m)' lord the
l1),nge, I beseche ),ow that thurgh
),our grete myght, r),ght, & merc)',
that )'e w)'l haue p)'te on the grete
treapas & the "nreasonable m)'s-
2
dedes tbat Reynart tbe foxe batb don tome& tomy
wyf.'Cbatis towete
t
beis com en in tomy bowsayenst
tbewyUe of my wyf
t
and tbere be batb bttpyssed my
cbyldren wbere as tbey laye
t
in sucbe wyse as tbey
tberof ben woxen blynde. Iberu pon was a day sette
t
and was juged tbat Reygnart sbold come and baue
excused bym bierof
t
and baue sworen on tbe boly
sayntes that he was not gylt)' tberof. Rnd wban tbe
booh wytb tbe sayntes was brougbt fortb
t
tbo bad
Reygnart bytbougbt bym otberwyse
t
and wente bis
",aye agayn in to bis bole as be bad nougbt sette
tberbYt and dere hynge
t
tbis hnowenwel manyof tbe
bestes tbat now be comen bytber to your court.Rnd
yet batb be trespaced to me in many other thinges,
be is not lyuyng that coude teUe aUe that I now (eue
vntolde; but the shame and vyUonye tbat be batb
don to mywyf
t
tbatsball neuer byde nesuffreit"n-
au en gyd
t
but tbat besbal mahetome large amendes.
'Cbe complaynt of Courtoys tbe noundc, capi ulo
iijJPJP
tbysewordeswere spohen
so stoode tbere a lyt)'l bounde,
and was named Courtoyst and
complayned to tbe hynge
t
bow
tbat in tbe colde wynter in tbe
bardefroste be bad ben sore for-
wynterdtin sucbewyseas be bad
hepte nomore mete tban a pud-
dyng, wycb puddyng Reygnard tbe foxe bad tahen
away from bymp'Cbo spah 'Cbybert tbe Catte.
tbia ao cam Lybert tbe Catte
wytb an iroua moed, and aprange in
emonge tbem, and aaydepJVIy lord
tbe hyng, I bere bier tbat Reynart ia
sore complayned on, and bier ia none
buttbat be batb ynowb todoo to clere
selfe: tbat CourtoY9 bier complaynetbof, tbat
ia pasayd mony yerea goon; bow be it tbat I com-
playn not, tbat pudyngwaa myne, for I baddewonne
lt by nyghte in a myUe. 'Che myUar lave and slepe:
yf Courtoys had onyparte himn, that cam byme to
jTChennespalt panther: 'Chynhe ye, 'Cybert, thatit
were good that Reynard sholde not be complayned
on (Tie is a very murderer, a rouer, and a tbeef; be
louetb noman so wel, not our lord the hynge bere,
tbat be wel wold tbat be abuld lese good and wor-
sbyp, so tbat be mygbtwynne aa mocbe as a legge
of a fat henne. Ishal teUe yow wbat Isawe bym do
yesterday to Cuwaert the Tiare tbat hier standeth in
the hynges pees and saufgarde. Tie promysed to
Cuwart and sayde he wold teche hym his credo, and
malte hym a good chapelayn ; he made hym goo sytte
bytwene hialegges,& sange & cryde lowde: Credof
Credo f]VIy wave laye tber by, there tbat I berde this
songe; tbo wente I ner, and fonde maiater Reynard
tbat bad lefte tbat beryrst reddeandsong, & bygan
to playe bis olde playe, for be bad caught K ywaert
bytbe tbrote,&bad 1 not tbat tymecomen besbolde
baue talten bis lyf from bym, lihe as ye biere may see
on K ywaerttbe nare tbe fressewoundeyet. for aothe,
my lord tbe hynge, yf ye auffre tbia vnpunyssbyd,
and 1ete bym go quyte tbat batb tbus brolten your
peaa, and wy1 do no rigbt after tbe sentence & juge-
4
mentof),ourmen, ),ourch),ldrenman),),eris herafter
ahal be m)'spre)'sed and blamed therforepS),herl),
sa)'d Iaegr),m, )'e aa)'e trouthef nit were
good that right and just)'ae were don for them that
wolde fa)'n l)'ue in peas.
now Grymbart tbe Dasse, tbe foxes sustere sone,
spaclt for Re),nart and answerd to fore tbe h)'nge,
capituto iiij,.p,.p
spach <3r),mbart the Dasse,
& was Re),narts sustersone,w)'tb
an angr)'e moedp Sir Isegr),m,
that is eu)'t sa)'d fIt is a com)'n
prouerb,Rn enemies mouth saith
seeld wet. What te)'e )'e and w)'te
)'e m)'n eme Re),nart ( I wold that
a'\?enture thatwho of ),ow
twe),ne had moste trespaced to other sholde hange
b)' the neche as a theef on a tree. But and )'f he were
as wet in this court, and as wet w)'th the It)'nge as )'e
be, itshotd not bethought in h)'m that it were )'nowh
that )'e shold come and aalte b)'m forg)'uenes. ye
baue b)'ten and n)'pte m)'n "n cte w)'tb ),our feUe and
sbarp teeth man)' mo t)'mes than I can teUe; ),et wit
I teUe some po)'ntes tbat I wet Itnowe. Knowe not),e
bow )'e m)'sdeted on the pta)'s whiche he tbrewe doun
fro tbe carre, whan)'e fotowed after fro ferre,and),e
ete tbe good pla)'s aUone, and gaf h)'m nomore than
the grate or bones, wh)'che )'e m)'ght not ete ),our
self? In t)'lte w)'se d)'de)'e to h)'m atso of the fatte
"l)'ccbeof bacon, whicbsauourdaowet that )'eaUone
ete in ),our bet)', and wban m)'n eme ash)'d his parte
tbo answerd)'e h)'m aga)'n in scome: Re),nart, fa)'r
),ongl),ng, I ahal gladl)' g}'ue )'ou ),our partl But
b3 5
m-yn eme gate ne had nought, ne waa not the better,
notw-ythatand-yng he had wonnen the fl-ycche of ba-
con w-yth grete drede, for the man cam and threw
h-ym in a aache that heacarael-y cam outw-yth hial-yf.
Buche maner th-yngea hath Re-ynart man-y rymea
auffred thur h yaegr-ym.
lordea, th-ynhe-ye that this is good;
-yet is ther moref f)e compla-ynetb how
that Re-ynartm-yn eme hathmochetres-
paced to h-ym b-y cauaeof his w-yf. }VI-yn
erne batb le)'n b)' ber, but that is wel
seuen )'er to fore er be wedded ber; and
-yf Re-ynart for loue and curtos-ye d-yde with ber bis
wille, what waa that? ahe was sone hded therof.
f)ierof b-y right ahold be no com pla-yn t ; were lae-
gr-ym w-yse he ahold haue lefte that; he doth to h)'m
aelfnoworshipthuatoshlaundrehiaw-yf;ahepla-yn-
eth not. Now maheth K-ywaert the f)are a compla-ynt
also, that th)'n heth mea v)'aeuaae ;)'f heredene lemed
amght hialeaaon, abolde not Re),nard hia maister
rt bete h-ym therfore? Yf the acolera were not betm ne
am)'tm and repriaed of their truantr)'e, tbe)' ahold
neuer lerne.
om compla-yneth Courto-ys that be
with pa-yne had goten a pudd-yng in
the w-ynter at suche ryme aa the coste
is eu-yl to rynde. 'Cberof h-ym had he
better to baue holde his peea, for he had
stolen it; male queaiatt et male perdi-
diati, bit ia r-yght that it be euil loate that ia euil
wonne. mbo ahal blame Re-ynart -yf he haue tahen
fro a theefatolen good ?f)itisreson, whothatvnder-
atandetb tbe lawe and can diacerne the rigbt, & tbat
6
he be of burthe as eme is, whiche
hnoweth wel how he shal stolen good;
al had he hanged whan he fonde
the menowr, he hadde not moche ne tres-
paced, sauf the crowne, that he had don jus-
t)'se leue, wherfore for the honour of the
he it not, aU hath he but than he.
What shathed it that he is thus
on? eme is a gentil & a treweman,
no falshede; he doth but prestes
& tbat my lordethe Itynge
hath do proclamed his pees he neuer thoughte to
hurte for he eteth no more than ones a
J'je lyueth as a recluse, he chastiseth his body and
wereth a sherte of heer, hit is more than a yere that
he hath eten no flesshe, as I vesterdav herd save of
them that cam fro hvm ; he hath lefteand geuen ouer
hie castel JVIaleperduvs & hath a cluse,
dweUeth he & hunteth nomore, ne desyreth no
nynge, but be lyuetb byalmesseand talteth
but sucbe as men gyue for charyte, and dotb
grete penance for his synnes,and belswoxen moche
pale and leneof prayengandwaltyngfor hewoldebe
favn WVth 60dP'Chus as his eme stode
and preched thise wordes, so sawe comen doun
tbe byUe to hem Chauntecler the Coclt, and brought
on a blere a deed henne of whom Reynart had
the heed of, and that muate be shewed to the Itynge
for to haue Itnowleche tberof.
7
now theCoclle com pta)'ned on Re),nart, capituto\1JP
came forth & .
smote p)'teoust)' his handes and
hi9 fethm9, and on eche side of
the b)'er wen ten twe),ne soroufut
hennes; thatonewas called Can-
tart, and that other goode henne
Cra),ant, tbe)'weretwotbefairest
henne9 tbatwere bitwene 110Uand
and Rrderne. 'Cbisebennes bareecbeof tbem a bren-
n)'ng tapre wbiche wa9 longe and stra)'te, tbise two
hennes were Coppens suster9 and tbe)' cr)'ed so pi-
toust)', Rlas and weleawa)' for tbe detbe of ber dere
suster Coppen. 'Cwo ),onge bennes bare tbe b)'ere,
wbicbe halded so beu)'l)' and wepte so lowde for tbe
deth of Coppen tbeir moder tbat it was ferre berde.
'Cbus cam tbe)' to' gydre to fore tbe Il),nge, & Cban-
tecleer tbo se),dePJVIercifullord, m)' lord the Il),ng,
plese it ),ow to here our compla),nte and abborren
tbe grete scatbe that Re),nart bath don to me & my
cbildren tbat biere stonden. Itwaa 90 tbat in the be-
g)'nn)'ngof Hppr)'l wban theweder is fa),r, as that 1
was bard)' and prowde, b)'cause of the grete l)'nas:e
that 1 am comen of, and also hadde, for 1 bad \1lij
fa)'r sones and seuen fa)'r doughterswhicbe myw)'f
bad hatched, and they were aUe stronge and fatte,
& wente in a )'erde whlchewaswaUed round a/boute,
in whicbe was a shadde where in were six grete dog-
ges whiche had tO/tore and pluclled man)' a bees tis
all)'n in sucbe w)'se as m)' cb)'ldren were not aferd.
On whom Re),nart tbe tbeef bad grete enu)'e b)' cause
the)' were so sure that he cowde none gete of them,
how wei ofrymes hath this fet theef goon rounde
aboute this wal, and hath le)'de forvs in suche w)'se
that the dogges haue be sette on h)'m & haue hunted
h)'m awa),. Hnd ones the)' leep on h)'m vpon the
banhe, and that cost h)'m somwhat for his thefte.
I saw that his sh)'n smohed; neuerthetess he wente
)\ his wa e, God amende it.
nus were we qu)'te of Re),nart a Ion ge
wh)'le. Htte laste cam he in l)'hnes of
an herem)'te, & brought to me a lettre
for to rede, sealed w)'th the h)'n ges seal,
in whiche etode wreton that the h)'nge
~ ~ = ~ ~ had made pees oueral in his ro),ame, &
that aUe maner beestis and fowUes shold doo none
harme ner scathe to on)' other. yet sa)'d he to me
more that he was a clo),sterer or a clos)'d recluse be-
comm, and that he wolde rece)'ue grete penance for
hie s)'nnes. fje shewd me his slau)'ne & p),lche, and
an herm sherte ther vnder, & thmne sa)'d heBS),r
Chaunteclere, after thys ryme be no more aferd of
me, ne tahe no hede, for I now will ete no more flessh;
I am forthon so olde that I wolde fa)'n remembre
m)' sowle. I wit now go forth, for I haue )'ete to sa)'e
m)' sexte, none, and m)'n eumsonge; to God I b),-
tahe )'owP'Cho wmte Re),nart thens, sa)'mg his
Credo, and le)'de h)'m vnder an hawthorn. l:hrnne
was I glad and mer)" and also tohe none hede, and
wmte to m),ch),ldren,and cluched hem to g)'der, and
wmtew)'thout the wal for towalhe, wherof is moche
harme comm to va; for Reynart la)'evnder a buaahe
and cam hrep)'ng bitwmevs and the ),ate, ao that he
caght one of m)' ch)'ldrrn and le)'d h)'m in his mate,
9
wberof wbe baue bad grete barme, for sytb he bath
( tasted of bym tber mygbt neuer bunter ne bounde
saue ne Itepe bym from va. f)e batbwayted by nygbte
& daye in sucbewyae tbat be batb atolen aomanyof
my cbyldren tbat of xv I baue but foure, in aucbe
wyse batb tbis tbeef forslongen tbem.Hnd yet yes-
terdaywas Coppen mydougbter, tbat bier lyetbvp-
on tbe byer, witb tbe boundes res cowed. Lbis com-
playne I to yow, gracious Itynge; baue p)'te on myn
grete & vnresonable damage and losse of my fa)'re
cbyldren. .
f)ow tbe Ityngspaclt touch)'ng this con playn t, capi-

spaclte tbe It)'nge P Syre
Dasse, bere )'e tb)'s wei of tbe re-
cluse ),our eme; be batb fasted &
pra)'de tbat if lliue a ),ere be sbal
abye it. berlte Cbaunteclere,
),oure pla),nte is ynougbe; youre
dougbter tbat l)'eth here dede, we
w)'U gyueto ber the dethee right;
we ma), hepe her no lenger, we wil betalte her to God.
Ie wyUe syngen bere vygylie and br)'nge ber wor-
sbypfuU)' on ertbe, and tbenne we wiUe spelte wytb
tbyae lordes, & talte counseyl bow we ma), do r)'gbt
and just)'se of tbys grete murdre and brynge thys
fals tbeef to tbe lawep Lbo begonne tbe)' placebo
Domino, wytb tbe verses tbat to longen, wbicbe yf
I sbold sa)' were me to longe. Wban tbis vigil)'e was
don & tbe comm en dacion ,abe was leyde in tbe pytte,
and tbere vpon was le)'de a marble stone polysbed
as clere as ony glas, and tberon was bewen in grete
lettres in tbis w)'se P Coppe, Cbanteltlers dougb-
10
tert whome Re'Ynart the foxe hath b'Yten, l'Yeth hier
vnder bur'Yed: compla'Yne 'Ye hert for she is shame-
fuU'Y comen to her dethef P Hfter th'Y9 the h'Ynge
sen te for h'Ys lordes and wisest of his counse'Ylt for
to tahe adu'Yse how this grete murdre and trespaas
shold be pun'Yssh'Yd on Re'Ynart the foxe. Lher was
concluded and apo'Ynted for the beste
t
that Re'Ynart
soold be sent fore
t
& that he lefte not for on'Y cause,
buthecam in totbe hinges court for to herewatshold
be sayd to bymt & that Bru'Yn the Bere shold doo the
message.Lhe h'Ynge thought thataUe this was good
t
and saide to Brune the BerePS'Yr Brunet 1 w'Yl that
'Y
e
doo this message but see wei to for 'Your sdf
t
for
Reynart is a sbrewe
t
and felle
t
and hnowetb so man'Y
w'Ylesthat he shall'Ye and flatretand sbaltb'Ynhe bow
hema'Y begyle, deceyue
t
& brynge yow to some moch-
erye P Lbo sayde Brune: What, good lord
t
late it
allone. Deceyuetb me tbe foxe? so haue 1 'YUe lemed
my casus.l trowe he shall come to late to mocque me
P 'Chus departed Brune mer'YI'Y fro thens
t
but it is
(11 to drede that he cam not so mer'YI'Y aga'Y
n

now Brune the Beere was sped of Re'Ynart the foxc,
capitulo
om is Brune goon on bis wa'Ye
towarde the foxe wytb a stowte
moede
t
whiche supposed wei tbat
tbe foxe sholde not baue beg'Yled
b'Ym. Hs he cam in a derhe wode in
a foreste wbereas Re'Ynard bad a
,,... .. b'Ypath whan bewas bunted, ther
b'Ys'Yde was an bie monta'Yne and
landet & there muste Brune in tbe m'Yddel goon ouer
for to goo to }VIaleperduys. for Re'Ynart had man'Y
a dweUyng place, but the castel of }VIaleperduys waa
the beate & the fastest burgh that he had; ther laye
he inne whan he had nede, & waa in ony dredeor fere.
p)'iowwhan Bruyn was comen to JVlaleperduys he
fonde the yate faste shette; tho wente he to fore the
yate, and satte "pon his tayUe, and caledpReynart,
be yeat home?lam Brownyng, the Ilynge hath aente
me for yow that ye sholde come to court for to plete
your caas. J)e hath sworn there by hys God, come ye
not, or bringe I yow not with me, for tabyde auche
right&aentence as ahal be there g)'uen, it shal coate
you your lyf; he wyl hange yow or aette yow on the
ratte. Reynart, doo by my counseyl and come to the
courtpReynart lave within the gate as he ofte was
wonte to doo for the warmth of the sonne.Ihanne
Reynart herd Bruyn, tho went he inneward in to hia
hole, for}VIaleperduys wasfulof holea, hier one hool
& there an other & yonder an other, narowe, crolled,
and longe, "rytb manyweyes to goo out, wJ'lcbe be
opend and ahette after that he had nede. han he
hadd ony proye brought home, or that he wiste that
ony aoughte hyrn for hys mysdedea and trespacea,
thenne he ran and bydde bym fro his enemyea in to
hyaaecretechambres, that tbey coudenot rynd hym,
by whiche he deceyuyd many a beeste that soughte
hym.Hnd tho thougbt Reynart in bym aelf bow he
myght best brynge the Beere in charge & nede, and
that he abode in worship.
this thoughteReynart cam out and
aayd P Bruyn, erne, ye be welcomef I
-=",,,,", . herde you wel to fore, but I was in myn
eueaong, therforehaue I the len ger tar-
ryed a lyt)'t. Dere erne, he hath done to
no good aeYuyae, and I can hym no
12
thanh that hath sente ),ou ouer th)'s tonge h)'lte, for
Iseethat)'ebealsowerythat the sweterennethdoun
b)' ),our chelt)'s. It was no nede; I had neuertheless
comen to courte to morowe. But I sorowe now the
lasse, for J'our w)'se counse)'t shalt wet helpe mt in
the court. Hnd coude the h)'ng rynde none tasse mes-
sager but ),ow fortosende hither ('Chat is gretewon-
der, for next the h)'nge )'e be the mooste gent)'t and
ricbest of leeu)'s and of lande1I wotde wet that we
were now at tbe court, but I fere me tbat Isbal not
conne wei goo tb)'der, for 1 haue eten so mocbe new
metetbatmetb)'nltetb m)' bet)' w)'Ue brelteorcleuea-
sonder, & b)' cause tbe mete was n)'ewe Iete tbe more
PLbo spaclt tbeBere:L)'ef neue, what mete haue)'e
eten tbat malted ),OW so fut( jlDere eme, that I ete,
what m)'gbt it belpe )'owthat)'f I told ),ow (Iete but
s)'mpte mete; a poure man is no lorde; tbat ma)')'e
hnowe,eme, b)'me.Iepourefotltemuste ete oft)'mes
sucbe as we gladl)' wolde not ete),f we badd better;
tbe)' were grete bon)' combes wb)'cbe I muste nedes
ete for bunger; tbe)' baue made m)' bet)' soo grete
tbat lcannowher endurepSru),n tbospaclte anone:
Rlas,Re),nart,whatsa),),e (Sette),e so l)'t)'l b)' bon)' (
]\'1e oughte to pre)'se and loue it aboue aU mete. Lief
Re),nart, betpe me tbat 1 m)'ght gete a deel of th)'s
hon)" and as tonge as I t)'ue I abal be to ),OU a tr)'ew
friend, and ab)'de b)' ),owas ferre as )'e bdpe me that
I ma), baue a parte of tb)'s hon), 1
13
now Bru)'ll ete the honv, capitulo viij".p".p
ay)'i, eme, I had supposed that
ye had iaped therwythpSo help
me God, Reynart, nav Ishold not
gladly iape wyth yow.p 'Chenne
spaclt tberede Reynart: Is it thmne
ernest thatye loue 90 wel the honv ?
.... ...... I sbal do late you haue so moche
that ten of yow sbold not ete it at
. one mele, mvght I gete therwith vour frimdabipp
we ten, Revner neue, savd the Bere, how shold
tbat be? nad Ialletbe bonvthatis bv
twme
this and
portyngale Isbold welete itallonePReynard sayd:
Ihatsaye ye, erne? nier by dwelletban buabondman
named Lantfert, wbicbe batb so mocbe bony tbat ye
sbold noteteitin vij yere, wbicbe yesbal bauein your
botde, yf ye will be to me friendly & betpyng ayenst
mvn memyes in tbe Itynges courtp'Cbenne prom-
ysed Bruvn tbe Bere to bym that Vf be mygbt haue
his bely full hewold truly be to hvm to fore all otber
a faytbful frende. f)erof laughed Revnart the shrew,
and saydePYf ye wolde haue "ij hamber barelia ful
Isbal wet gete tbem and betpe you to baue tbemp
'Cbese wordes ptesyd tbe Bere sowel, and made bym
so mocbe to tawbe, tbat he coude not wet standep
'ChotboughtReynart:'Cbis is good luclt,lsbatlede
h m thyder that he shall tawbe by mesure.
Y)'iRR'C sayd tbennep'Cbismater
may not be ton ge taryed, I muste payne
my setf for you; ye sbat wet "nder-
stande the very yonste and good wyl
that I bere to you ward. Iltnowe none
in at my tygnage that I nou wotde ta-
boure fore tbus sore fpLbat tban hed b)'m tbe Sere,
and tbougbtbetar)'ed longePNow,eme,late"sgoo
a good paas, and folowe )'e me, lsbal mahe ),ou to
baueasmocbe bon)'as ),ema), berePLbe foxemente
of good strohes, but tbe ca)'t)'f marh)'d not wbat
tbe foxe mente, & tbe)' wente so longe to gvdre tbat
tbe)' cam "nto Lantferts ),erde: tbo was sir Sru)'n
, mer)'. Now berhe,of Lantfert isittruetbatmen sa),e,
90was Lantfert a stron ge carpenter of gretetymbre,
and bad brougbt tbat otber da)' to fore in to bis
),erde a greteohewbicbebe bad begonnetocleue.F.lnd
as men be woned, be bad smeten two betels tberin,
one after tbat otber, in 9ucbe w)'se tbe ohe was w)'de
open, wberof Re),nart was glad, for be bad founde
it rigbt as bewissbed, and sa)'de to tbe Sere all law-
b)'ng P See nou well sbarpl), to, in tb)'s tree is so
moche bon)' tbat it is without meaure. Jiea)'e )'f )'e
can come tberin, and ete but l)'till; for tbougb tbe
bon)'combes be swete and good, ),et beware tbat)'e
ete not to man)" but tahe of tbem b)' mesure, tbat)'e
caccbenobarme in )'ourbod)'; for,sweteeme, Isbold
be blasmed )'f tbe)' d)'de )'ou on)' barmepIDbat,
Re),nart c o s y ~ , sorowe),e not for me, wene)'e tbat I
were a fole? JV1esure is good in alle metePRe)'nart
sa)'de: ye ea)'e troutbe, wberfore sbold I sorowe?
600 to tbende and crepe tberynpSruyn tbe Sere
basted sore toward tbe bon)" and trad 1n w)'tb bis
two form est feet, and put bis beed ouer bis eeris in
to tbe cl)'ft of tbe tree, and Re),nart aprang l)'gbtl)'
& brah out tbe betle of tbe tree. Lbo belped tbe Sere
netberflateryngne cb)'d)'ng; bewaa faatsbette in tbe
treepCbua batb tbeneueu w)'tb dece)'te brougbt bis
eme in pr)'son in tbetreein sucbew)'seas be coudenot
gete out w)'tb m)'gbt ne w)'tb crafte, bede ne foote.
15
.... w;nnF.lt: prouffytetb Sruyn tbe Sere tbat
be stronge and bardy is (tbat maynot
betpe bym. ne sawe wei tbat be be-
gyled was: be began to bowie and to
.... braye, and crutcbed wytb tbe bynder
feet, and made su cbe a noyse & rumour
""-,.- tbat Lantfert cam out bastely, and Itnewe notbyng
11 ___ -1>.-.0' wbat tbis mygbt be, & brougbt in bis hand a sharp
holte. Sruyn de Sere laye in tbe c1yfte of the tree in
grete fereand drede, & be1de fast his heed, and nyped
botb bis fore feet. J)e wran ge, be wraatled, & cry ed,
and aU was for nougbt: be wiste not bow be myght
gete out. Reynart tbe foxe sawe fro ferre bow tbat
Lantfert tbe carpenter cam, and tbo spach Reynart
tothe13erep!s thathonygood (nOW is itnow(te
not to mocbe, it sbold do you hanne, ye sbo1d not
tbenne wel conne goo to tbe court. mban Lantfert
cometh, yf ye bauewel eten be sba1 yeue you better to
drynhe, and tbenne it sbal not stylte in your tbrote.
tbiae wordes tbo torned bym
Reynart toward bis castel, and Lant-
fertcamand fonde tbe Sere fast ta It en
in tbetree.'Cbenneranne be fasteto bis
neygbbours,&saydepCome aUe in
............ to my yerde, tbere is a beere talten 16
'Cbe worde anone sprange oueral in tbe tborpe: tber
ne bleef netber man ne wyf, but aUe ranne tbeder as
faste as tbey coude, euerycbe wytb bis wepen, some
wytb a staf, some witb a ralte, aome witb a brome,
aome witb a stahe of tbe beggbe, and aome wytb a
flaye1, and tbe preeat of tbe cbircbe bad tbe ataf of
tbe croaae, and tbe clerlt brougbta vane. 'Cbe prestia
wyfJulolt cam witb ber dyataf, abe sat tbo & apanne.
16
t:hercam oldew),men that forage had not one toeth
in her heed: now was Bru)'n the Bere n)'gh moche
sorowe thatheaUone muste standea)'enst themaUe.
p mhan he herde aUe this grete no)'se and a)'e, he
wrastled and pluched so harde and so sore that he
gate out his heed, but he lefte beh)'ndeaUe the sh)'ne
and bothe his eeris, in suchew)'se that neuerman saw
fowUer ne lothl)'ef beest, for the blode ran ouer his
e),en, and or he coude gete out his feet he muste lete
there his clawes or na)'les and this rough han de.
'Chis marhet cam to h)'m eu)'l, forhesupposid neuer
to haue goon, his feet were so sore, & he m)'ght not
see for the blode whiche ran so ouer his e)'en. Lant-
fert cam to h)'m w)'th the preest, and forth with aUe
the parysshe, and began to sm)'te and str)'he sore
vpon hlS heed and visage: he rece)'u)'d there man)' a
sore strohePuery man beware hierby: who hath
harme and scathe euer)' man wil be ther at and put
more top'Chat was wel seen on the Bere, for the)'
were aUe fiers and wroth on the Bere, grete and sma"
Ye, f)ughel)'n w)'th the aohed lege and Ludolf with
the brode longe noose, the)' were booth wroth: that
one had an leden maUe and that other a grete leden
wapper, therw)'th the)'wappredand al forJ'slyngred
b)'m. 8)'r Bertolt with the longe ryngers, Lantfert,
and Ottram the longe, th)'se d)'de to the bere more
harme than al the other: that one had a sharp hohe,
and that otber a aohed staf welleded on thende for
to pla)'e at tbe baUe. Baeth),n, and Hue Hbelquah,
m)' dame Baue,and the preestwith his staf,&dame
Juloh his w)'f, thisewroughten to the beresomoche
harme tbat tbe)' wold fa)'ne baue brougbt b)'m fro
bis Lrf to detb: tbe)' smote and stache b)'m al tbat
c 1 17
they cowde. Sruyn tbe Seere aatte and sygbed and
groned,and muate tahe aucbe aawas g)'uen to bym:
but Lantfert was tbe wortbieat of byrtbe of tbem
aUe, and made mooate novae, for dame p09'ge of
Cbafporte was bia moder, and bia faderwaa }Vlacob
tbe atoppelmaher, a mocbe atowte man. 'Cbere aa be
waa aUone, Sruyn receyued of bem man)' a caste of
atones. 'Cofore bem aUe aprang forat Lanteferts
brotber witb a staf, and smote tbe Sere on tbe beed
tbatbene berdenesawe,& tberewitbtbeSere sprang
"p b)'twene tbe busbe and tbe r)'uer emonge an beep
of w)'uis tbat be tbrewe a deelof bem in tbe ryuer,
wbicbe was w)'de and depe. 'Cber was tbe persones .
w)'f oneof tbem, wberfore bewas fulofsorow :wban
heaawehiaw)'f l)'e in the water, bym luated no lenger
to am)'te the Sere, but caUedpDame julohe in tbe
water, now euer)' man aee to f HUe the)' that ma), helpe
her, be tbe)'men or w)'m en , I g)'ue to hem aUepardon
of ber penance, and relece aUe tbe)'r a)'nnea fpHUe
tbe)' tbenne lefte Sru)'n tbe Sere l)'e, and d)'de tbat
the preeat badde.
f) H J'{ Sru)'n the Sere aawe tba t tbe)'
ranne aUe fro b)'m, and ranne to aaue
the w)'men, tho aprange he in to the
water and awame aUe that he coude.
'Chen made the preest a grete abowte
a . . ; ~ ~ ~ ' - J and no)'ae, & ran after tbe Sere w)'th
greteanger, and aaidpComeand tom e aga)'n , thow
falae theeffJ,VChe Sere awame after tbe besteof tbe
atreme, and late them caUe and aye, for he waa glad
that he waa ao escaped from them. ne curaed and
banned the hon)' tree, and the foxe alao that had ao
betra)'ed h),m, that he had cropen thenn aodepethat
he tOGte booth his hood and his eeris. t.Ind so fortb
he droof in the streem wei a ij or iij myte: tho waxe he
so wery that he wente to lande for to sitte and reste
hym, for he was heuy. ne groned and syghed, & the
blode lepe ouer his eyen: he drough his breth lylteas
one sholde haue deyde.
om herlte how the foxe dyde: er he cam
~ \ i ) fro Lantfertes hows he had stolen a
~ fatte henne, and had leyde her in his
~ l ~ male, and ranne hastely away by a by
yj ~ path were he wende that noman sbold
~ - . . . ~ ~ ~ haue comen. f)eranne toward tbe ryuer
that he swette; he was so gtad that he wistnotwhat
to do for joy, for be hoped tbat the Sere had bedede.
fine sayd: lhauenowwelspedde, for hetbat sbotde
moste haue hyndred me in tbe court is now dede and
none shal wyte me therof. }\'lay I not thenne byright
be wel glad? pmith thiae wordes tbe foxe lolted to
the ryuer ward, & espyed where Sruyn the Sere taye
and rested hym : tho was the foxe sorier and heuyer
than he to fore was mery, and was as angry, & sayd f
in cbydyn g to Lan tfertflF.ltas Lan tfert, lewde foole
God gyue bym a sbames deth that hath loste suche
good \1enyson, whicbe is good and fatte, and hath
tate bym goo wbiche was talten to his hande; man)'
a man wolde gladly baue eten of bym. fje hath loste
a riche and fatte bere p 'Cbus at cbydyng he cam
to the ryuer, where be fonde tbe Seere sore wounded,
belbted & right selte, whiche be myght thanlte none
better therof tban Reynart, whiche spaclt to the Sere
in sltomep Chiere priestre, Dieu \10US garde f p
IyUe ye see the rede tbeef? sayde the Sere to bym
self; tbe rybaud and the feUe diere, here I se bym
C2 19
comenp'Chenne sa)'d the foxe: naue)'e ought for-
goten at Lantferts ( naue)'e also pa)'d h)'m for the
hon), combes that)'e stale fro h)'m (Yf l'e haue not,
it were a grete shame and not honeste. I w)'l rather
be the messager m)' self for to goo and pa)'e h)'m.
Was the hon), not good (I hnowe ),et more of the
same prys. Dere eme, telle me er I goo hens, in to
what ordre wille )'e goo, that were this newe hode (
Were )'e a mon he or an abbot ( ne that shoef your
crowne hath n)'ped of ),our eeris; )'e haue lost ),our
toppe, and don of ),our gloues. I trowe ver)'l)' that
)'e w)'l go s),nge compl)'n ?PRUe tbis berde Bru)'n
the Bere, and wexe aUe angr), and sor)' for be m)'gbt .
not avenge h)'m. ne lete the foxe sa)'e his w),lle, and .
w)'th grete payne suffred it, and sterte aga)'n in the
ryuer, and swam doun wyth the streem to that other
syde. )'iowmustehesorowe how that hesholde come
to the court, for he had loste his eeris, & the shynne
w)'th the clawes of bis forefeet, for though a man
sholde haue sla)'n h)'m be coude not go, and ),et he
muste nedes fortb, but hewiet not bow. Now bere
how he d)'de: he satte vpon his hammes & began to
rutsele ouer his ta)'l, and wban he was so wer)' he
wentled and tombled n)'ghe half a m)'le. 'Chis dyde
be with grete pa),ne so longe t)'l atte laste he cam to
the courte, and whan he was seen so com)'ng fro
ferre, some doubted what it myght be that cam so
wentel),ng. 'Che h),ngeatte laste hnewe h),m, and was
not wei pa)'d and saydeP'Chis is Bru)'n the Bere,
m)'frende: Lord God, who hath wounded h)'m thus f
ne is pass)'ng reed on his heed: me th)'nhetb he is
hurtevnto the deth. Iherema), he haue ben (J!lCher-
w)'th is the Sere come to fore the h)'nge and sa)'de:
20
'Checompla),ntoftheBere"pon thefoxe, capitulo i:t
COJVIPLHYN to )'ow, merc),-
fullorde, e),re h)'nge,eoaa )'ema)'

),ou tauenge it "pon Re),nart the
feUe beeet, for I hauegotrn thia in
),our aeru),ae. I haue loate bothe
m)' formeat feet, m)' chehea and
m)'n eeris by his falae dece)'te and
tre),sonpt:he h)'nge salde: now durate thia fals
theef Re),nart doo tbia? I sa)'e to )'ow Bru)'n, and
swere b)' m)' crowne,l ahal so auenge ),ou on h)'m
that)'e ahal conne nle thanhefpne sente foraUe the
w)'se beeatia,&desired counse)'l how that he m)'ght
auenge thia ouer gretewronge, that the fo:te had don.
'Chenne the counce)'l concluded,olde and ),ong, that
he shold be sente fore and da)'ed ernestt)' aga)'n, for
tab)'de suche jugement as shold there be g)'uen on
b)'m of aUe his treapacea. Rnd the)' thougbt tbat tbe
catte'C),bert m)'gbtbeatdotbiamessage)'f bewold,
for be ia rigbtw)'seJ!TCbe h)'n ge tbougbt this coun-
ce)'l good.
now the h)'ngearnte another ryme'C)'bertthe Catte
for the foxe, and how 'C)'bert apedde with Re),nart
the foxe, capitulo
tbe h),ngsaidpSir'C),-
bert, )'e ahal now goo to Re),nart,
andsa),etoh),m this secondetime
that he come to court "nto the plee
for to answer, for though he be
feUe to other beeat)'a he trusteth
)'ou wel & shal doo b)' )'our coun-
ge)'t. Rnd teUe )'f he come not, he
C3
ahal haue the thirde wamyng and be dayed, & yf he
thmne come not we ahal procede b)' ryght aymst
hym and aUe hye lygnage without mercyP'Cybert
spack:}VIy lord the hynge, they that this couneeylde
you were not my frendes.Ibat eballdoo tbere?l1e
wit not for me neytbercome ne abyde.l besecbe ),ou,
dere hynge, emde some otber to bym.l am lytyl and
feble: Sruyn tbe Sere whicbewas so grete& etronge
coudenot brynge hym, bowsholdI tbmnetaheiton
bonde? JlNay, eayd the kynge, Sir 'Cybert, ye bm
wyse and wel lemed: tbougb )'e be not grete, tbere
lyetb not on, many do more wytb crafte & connyng
tban witb mygbt and strmgtbeP'Cbenne said tbe
Catte: Syth it muste nedes be don, I muste tbmne
taheitvpon me. God yeue grace that I maywd achieue
it, for m)' berte is heu)' & euil wiUed thertoJ!l'Cybert
made hym son e red)' toward }VIalperdu)'s and be saw
fro fare come fleyng one of Seynt }VIartyns byrdes,
tbo cryde be lowde and saidpHl bayl, gmtyl byrde,
tome tby wynges betbaward and flee on my rygbt
side 1 P 'Cbe by'rde flewb fortb vpon a tree wbicbe
stoode on tbe hft side of tbeCatte.'Cbo was'Cybert
woo, for be tbougbt bit was a sbrewd tohen and a
signe of barme, for yf the birde bad flowm on bis
rigbtside he bad ben mery & glad, butnow besorow-
ed tbat his journe)' shold tome to vnhappe. Neuer-
tbeles, he d)'de as many doo & gaf to bym self better
hope than bis herte sayde: bewmte & ronne to }VIale-
perduys/ward, & tbere he fonde the fox alone stand-
yng to fore his bousJYCybert said: 'Cbe ricbe God
yeue you good eum, Reynart: the h)'ng batb mmac-
ed ),OW for to tahe ),our lyf from yow yf ye come not
nowwytb me to the foxe thospachand
22
saide: 'Libert, m)' dere cos)'n, )'e be rigbt welcome, I
wolde wei trul), tbat)'e bad mocbe good luche.
- - f)R'L burted tbe foxe to spehe fa)'re?
) \ 'Lbo be aa)'d wef, bia berte tbougbte
W1 itnot;andtbatabalbeaeenertbe)'de-
partepRe)'nartaa)'de: I)'lle we tbia
nigbtbeto gydre,I w)'l mahe)'ou good
cb)'ereand tomorow erl)'in tbe dawn-
)'ngwew)'l togydre goototbe court.000d neue, late
va ao doo: I baue none of m)' h)'n tbat 1 truste so
mocbe to as to )'ow. fiier was Bru)'n tbe Bere, tbe
tra),tour, be lohedsosbrewdl)'on me, & me tbougbte
he waa ao stronge tbat 1 wold not for a tbouaand
marh bauegoon witb b)'m: but,cos),n, 1 wit tomorow
erl)' goowitb)'owP'C)'bertaaide: It is beste tbatwe
now goo, for the mone ab)'netb alao ligbt aa itwere
da),e, I neuer aawe fa),rer weder dere cos)'n,
aucbe m)'gbt mete va b)' da),e t)'me tbat wold mahe
va good cbiere, & b)' n),ghte parauenture m)'ghtdoo
vs barme.ltis suspec)'ous towalhe b)' n),gbte, ther-
fore arb)'de this n)'ght here b)' mep'L),bert sa)'de:
Ihat sbolde we ete )'f we abode here? P Re),nart
aa)'de: fiere ia but l)'tel to ete. ye ma)'e wet haue an
bon)' combe good and awete: what aa)'e )'e, L),bert,
w)'l)'
e0
1'lytherof?P'C)'bertanswerd:laettenougbt
therb),. fiaue )'e noth)'ng ellis? Yf)'e gaf me a good
fattemows, Ishold be betterpleaidpR fattemowa?
aaidRe),nard:derecoa),n, whatsa)'e)'e?hereb)'dwd-
lethapreestand hathabameb)' his hows, thenn ben
soman)'m)'ae that a man shold not lede themarwa)'
vppon a wa),ne. 1 haue berd the preest man)' t)'mes
compla)'ne that the)' dide b)'m moche barmePO dere
Re),ner, lede me th)'der for alle that 1 doo for
C4
),ow fJ!IY e, 'Cybert, aaye ye me troutbe, toue ye wet
myes?pYf I toue bem wet? said tbe Catte. I toue
myesbettertban onytbing tbatmen g-yueme.Knowe
ye not tbat myea sauoure better tban "eneson? ye,
tban flawnea or paateyea. mit ye wet doo? ao tedeme
tbederwberetbe myea ben, and tbenne abal ye wynne
my toue: ye,at badye alayn my fader, moder,and aUe
~ . myhyn.
YNRR'Caayd:yemohe&japetber-
w.ytbp-Cbe Catte aaide: 50 belpe me
" I \ ~ God, I doo notf p 'Cybert, aaid tbe
foxe, wiate I tbat, "eryly I wolde yet
tbia nygbt matte tbat ye sbuld be ful
1rII::3!:-.:I::...rl:::::IiiiiiIII of myeaPReynart, quod be, fut, tbat
weremanyp'Cyberte, ye japefPReynart, quod be,
in troutb Idoo not: yf I badde a fatte mows, I wold
not gyue it for a golden nobtejlLate "a goo tbenne,
'Cybert, quod tbefoxe; I wyt bryngeyow totbe place
er Igo fr0'YouJ9Reyner, quod tbe Catte, "pon your
saufconduyt I woldewel goo wytbyou to }\'1onpdier
pLate "a tbenne goo, said tbe foxe, we tarye alto
longep-Cbus wente tbey fortb witboute lettyng to
tbe place wbere aa tbey wold be, to tbe prestea bame
wbicbewaa faate waUidaboutewitb a mude wat. rind
thenyghttoforetbefoxebadbrohenin,&hadatolen
fro the preeat a good fatte benne, and tbe preest aUe
angry hadaettea gryn to fore the hoot toaurnge bym,
for be wold fayn haue tahe the foxe. 'Cbia hnewe wel
the feUe tbeef, tbe foxe, & saidp5ir 'Cybert, cosyn,
crepe in to thia hool, and yeahal not longe tarye but
tbat ye abat catcbe myes by grete bepis: butte bow
tbey pype f mhan ye be ful, come agayn, I wit tarye
bere after 'You be fore thia hote. me wit to morowe
24
, I
goo to g)'der to the court. 'C)'bert, wh)' tar)'e)'e thus
longe? Come .of, and so ma)'e we retomesone tom),
w)'f, whichewa)'teth aftervs,andshal mahevsgood
chiereP'C),bert, saide Re),nart, cos)'n, is it thenne
)'our counse)'lle that I goo in to tbys hole? 'Ch)'se
prestes ben so w)'l)' and shrew)'ssh I drede to tahe
harme pO, ho, 'C)'bert, said the foxe, lsawe )'OW
neuer so sore aferde: what e)'leth )'ow? P'Che Catte
was ashamed and sprange in to the hoole, and anon
he was caught in the gryn b)' the neche er he w),ste:
thus dece)'u)'d Re),nart his ghest and cos)'n.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ S 'C),bertwaswaerofthe grynne, hewas
al'ferde and sprange forth: the grynne
wente to. 'Chenne began he to wrawen
forhewasalmost )'l'strangl)'d: be call-
ed, he cr),ed, and made a sbrewd no),se.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Re)'nartstoqe to fore the hoot, & berde
at, and was well 3l'pa)'ed, and sa)'deP'C)'bert, loue)'e
welm)'esfSe the),fatteand good ?Knewe the preeste
herof, or ]VIert)'net, the)' be so gent)'l that the)' wolde
br)'nge )'OW sawce. 'Cybert,),e s)'ngeand eten, is that
the gu)'se of the court? Lord God, )'f yeegr)'m ware
~ there b)')'owin suchereste as),enow be, thenneshold
," I b ~ l a d ; for ofte he hath don me scathe and harme f
P'C),bert coude not goo awa),e, but he mawed and
gatped so lowde that }\1art)'net sprang vp and cryde
towde P God be thanhed m)' gr)'n hath tahen the
theef that hatb stolen our bennes f Hr)'se vl': we wit
rewarde h)'m.
25
thesewordes aroose the preestin
an eu)'l tyme, and waited alle them that
werein the hows, & cr)'dew)'th a lowed
"oisp'Che foxe is talte 1j11'Chere leep
& ranne alle that there was: the preest
.. h)'m sel franneal modernalted. JVIarty-
net was thefirst that cam to 'C),bert. 'Che preest tolte
to Loclten his w)'f an -oifr),ng candel, and had her
l)'ght it atte ryer, and he smote 'C)'bert with a grete
staf. 'Cher rece)'uid 'C)'bert man)' a grete strolte ouer
aUe his bod)': JVlertynet was so angr), that he smote
the Catte an e),e out. Lhe nalted preest l)'fte "p and
ahold haue g)'uen a grete strolte to L),bert: but L)'-
bert, that aawe that he muate de)'e, sprange b)'twene
the preestes tegges wyth his ctawes & with his teeth,
that heraught out hiB ryght cot yon or batoclt stone:
that lee becam yt to the preest & to his grete shame.
____ t:'". fjIS th)'nge ryt doun "pon the floer.
mhan damejuloclte Itnewe that, she
Ira; sware by her faders sowle that she
\ , wolde it had coste her alle tbo'lfr)'ng
/:1'": ,of a bole )'ere; that tbe preest bad not
had tbat barme, hurte and shame, and
that it had not happed. Rnd saidJflln the deuetes
namewas the grynne there sette 1 See, Mertynet, lyef
Bone, this is of thy faders hameys. 'Chis 1S a grete
shame, and to me a grete hurte; for, though fie be
heled herof, yet he is but a toste man to me, and also
shal neu(r conne doo that Bwete ptaye and game 1p
'Che foxe stode wythoute to fore the hole, and berde
alle thyse wordes, and lawhed so sore that be "n-
nethecoudestonde. ne spaclt thus alsoftlyjllDame
juloclt, bealstyUe,and tete your gretesorowesynlte.
26
Hl batb tbe preest loste one of bis stones, itsbat not
byndre bym; be sbal doow)'tb you wel ynowb. 'Cber
is in tbe world many a cbapel in wbicbe is rongen but
one belle fP'Cbu9 scorned and moched tbe foxe tbe
prestes w)'f, dame luloch, tbat was fut of sorowe.
'Cbe preest fyl doun tbey tohe bym "p and
brougbt bym agayn to bedde. 'Cbo wente tbe foxe
agayn in to bis borugb ward, and lefte 'Cybert tbe
Catte in grete drede & jeopardye, for tbe foxe wiste
none other but that tbe Catte was nygb deed. But
whan'Cybert tbeCatte sawe tbem albesyaboute tbe
preest, tbo began be to b),te and gnawe tbe grenne in
tbe myddela,sondre, & sprange out of tbe boot, and
wenteroll),ng & wen tl)'n g towards tbe h)'ngs court.
Or be cam tbeder it was fa)'r day & tbe sonne began
to ryse, and be cam to tbe courtas a poure wyght. 1)e
bad caught harmeatteprestes hows by the bdpeand
counseyl of the foxe; bis body was at to,beten and
bl)'nde on tbe one e),epIban tbe h)'ngew)'ste tbis,
tbatL)'bert was tbus ara)'ed, be was sore angr),and
menaced Re),nart, tbe tbeef foxe, and anone gadred
bis counse)'l to w)'te what tbe)' wold au)'se b),m, how
be m)'gbt br)'nge tbe foxe to the tawe, and bow be
shotd be sette.
spach Sir Grymbart, whicbe was

tbe foxes suster sone, and saidpye

lordes, tbowgb m)'n eme were twies so
, bad and sbrewessb, yet is tberrem edye
)'nougb. Late h)'m be don toastoa free '
man: wban be sbal be juged be muste
be warned tbe tbirde ryme for al; and yf be come not
tbanne, be is tbrone gylry in aUe tbe trespaces tbat
ben leyd a),mst b)'m and bis, or compla)'ned on..9
27
bert, who that sholde goo &
to come?Who wit auentureforh),m I)is eeris,

heresomocha fool So helpeme
God, I am so moche a fool that I will do this mes-
sage self to wille commande me.
flow the Dasse brought the foxe to the
(awe to fore the capitulo
go forth, and see
b
and fats, and so aubryl, that ye
nede wet to lohe aboute yow and
to bert said
IIY.-._ he sholde see welto: thus wente
l" .. ,.... Gr)'m bart to ward,
and whan he cam theder he fonde
Reynart the foxe at home, and dame rme1)'n his
wyf taye by herwhelpis in a darhe comer. Lho spach
6rymberd, and satewed his eme and hia aunte, and
saide to Reynartpeme, beware that your absence
hurte yow not in suche maters as be teyde and com-
pta)'ned on ),ow; but, )'f ye thyn he it good, it is h)'e
tyme that )'e come w)'th me to the court. Lhe w)'th-
hold)'ng ),ou fro it can doo ),OW no good: there is
moche compla-yned ouer and this is tbe
thirde Hnd I telle for troutb,
to morow al ther no he1pe
ye sha1 see that w)'th in tbre tbat your bows
sbal be al aboute, and ther shat be made to
fore it ga10wes and racket I sale shat
not tbenne escape, ne)'ther with ne cb)'lde:
tbe kynge sbal taheaUe ),our liu)'sfro )'ow. Cberfore
it is beste tbat )'e goo w)'tb me to tbe court: ),our
sUlt)'l w)'se counse)'l sbal parauenture aua)'lle )'ou.
Cber ben gretter auentures falle er tbis, for it ma)'
bappe)'e sbal goo qu)'te of all tbe compla),ntes tbat
rr ben compla)'ned on and alle )'our enem)'es sbat
ab)'de in tbe sbame. ye baue oft)'mes don more and
gretter tbingis tban tbis.
tbe foxe answerdpYe
sa)'e sootb f I trowe it is beste tbat
I goo w)'tb )'ou, for tber tachetb m)'
counse)'t. parauenture tbe h)'nge sbal
be merc),fut to me, )'f I ma)' come to
w)'tb b)'m and see b)'m vnder
bis e),en, tl?ougb I bad don mocbe more barme. Cbe
court ma)' not stondewitboutme, tbatsbal tbe kyng
weI vnderstandc, tbougbsome be so felletomeward
),et it gotb not to tbe berte: alle tbe counse)'l abal
conclude mocbe b)'me. Ibere grete courteaben gad-
red of h),ngeaorofgrete lordea, wbereaanedetbaub-
t)'l counse)'l, tber muate Re),nart rynde tbe subt)'t
meaneSt 'Cbe)' ma)'e welspehe and sa)'e tbe)'r adu)'a,
but tbe m),neis besteand tbatgotbtofore alleotber.
In tbe courte ben man)' tbat baue sworen to do me
tbe worst tbe)' can, and tbat causetb me arparte to
be beu)' in m)' berte, for man)' ma)'e doo more tban
one aUone: tbat sbal burte me. neuew,
it is better tbat I goo w)'tb ),ow to tbe court and
answere for m)' self, tban to sette me, my w)'f, and
m)' chyldren, in a venture for to be loste. Rryst "P,
late vs goo bens: be is ouer m)'gbty for me, I muate
doo as be w)'lle: I can not bettre it, Iabal tahe it pa-
cientl)' and suffre it.
29
YNR'C aayde to hia w)'f, dame
nnel),nPI betahe ),ow m)' ch),ldren,
to hem,andapecyaU)'to
Re)'nhyn, m),yongeataon, he belyheth
me ao wei I hope he ahal folowe my
and ther ia Road, a passyng
...,,-,_ fa)'r theef, I loue hem aa wei aa ony man loue his (
ch),ldren. Yf God gyue me grace that I may escape,
lahal whan Icomeaga)'n thanh)'oww)'thfairwordea
g'Chua tohe Re),nart leue of his wyf. R Goda, how
sorouful 3J'bode nnd)'n w)'th her smale whelpia, @
for the vyta)'Uer, and he that sorowed for JVlalper-
duya, was goon hiswa)'and thehowanot pourue)'ed
ne vita)'Ued f
now Reynard shroef h)'m, capitulo
"}iN Reynart & Grymbert had
goon a whyle to gydre, tho saide
Re),nartpDere coa}'n, now am 1
in grete fere, for I goo in drede
& ieopard)'e of my l'yf. I haue ao
moche repentaunce for m)' 9)'n-
nes that I wilahr)'ue me, dere co-
s)'n, to )'ow, here is none other
preeat to gete. Yf I were ahr)'ue, of m)' a)'nnea my
aoule sholde be the cleerer g 6r),mbert ansuerde:
em, wil ye shryue you ('Chenne muate),e promyse
first to leue your ateel),ng and rou),ngePRe),nart
saide that wiate he wei: Now herhe,dere coayn, what
lahal aaye, Confiteor tibi pater of aU the m)'sdedes
that I haue don, and glad I)' wit rece)'ue penance for
themp6r)'mbertaayd:Whatsa)'eye,w)'Ue)'eshr)'ue
yow ( thenne aa)'e it in nglissh that I ma), vnder-
9tande),owpRe),nartsa),de:lhauetreapaceda),enst
30
atle the beestis that l)'ue, in espec)'al a),enst Bru)'n
the Bere,m),neeme,whom Imadehiscrownealblod)';
and taughte L)'bert the Catte to catche m)'es, for I
made her leepe in a grenne, wher she waa al tOIbeten ;
I hauetrespaced gretl)'a)'enst Chanteclerewitb
bis children, for I haue made h)'m qu)'te of a grete
dele of hem.
ne It)'n$'e ia not goon al qu)'te, I haue
sltlandred b)'m and the quene man)'
Ira; t)'mes thatthe)'shal neuerbe cleertber-
\ , of. yet haue beg)'led ysegrym the
.,- l Iulf ofter than I can teUewel: I called
.... b)'m eme, but that was to dece)'ue h),m,
he is noth)'ng of m)' It)'n. I made h)'m a monlte, 6el-
mare, where I m)' self also becam one, and tbat was
to his hurte and no prouff)'te.l made b)'nde bie feet
to tbe belle rope: the r)'ngyng of the belle thought
h)'m so good tbat bewolde lerne to r)'nge, wherof he
had shame, for he range so aoretbat aUethe follte in
the atreetewereaferd, and merua)'Ued what m)'gbt be
on the belle, and ranne th)'der to fore he had comen
to axe tbe relig),on, wherfore be was beten almost to
the deth. Rfter tbisl taught b)'m to catcbe ryssb,
where he rece)'uid man)' a strolte. Rlso Iledde h)'m
to the richest prestes hows tbat was in Vermedos;
tbis preest had a sp)'nde wherin henge man)'a good
flitche of bacon, wherin many a t)'me I was wonte to
ryl m)' bel)'. In this sp)'nde I bad made an hole, in
whiche I madeysegr)'m to crepe, tbere fonde betub-
bes w)'th beef and man)' goed fl)'tches of bacon,
wherof be ete so moche w)'thoute mesure that he
m)'ght not come out at the hole where he wente in,
bis bel)' was so grete and fulof tbe mete, and whan
31
he mtred his bely was smal. I wente in to the village
and made there a grete showteand noyse; yett herhe
what I dyde thenne, I ranne to the preest where he
satte at the table and ete, and hadde to fore hym as
fatte capone as a man myght fynde: that capone
caught 1& rannemyweye therwithal that I myghte.
'Che preest cryed out, and saidPt:ahe and alee the
foxe f I trowe that neuer man sawe more wonder, the
foxe cometh in my hows and tahethmycapoone fro
my table, where sawe euer man an hardyer theeffp
\!t Hnd as me thought, be tohe bis table hnyf & casted
it at me, but be toucbed me not: I ranne away, he
shoof the table from bym and folowed me cryengp
KyUe and slee hym f PI to goo and they after, and
man),moocamafter, whicheallethoughttohurteme.
RR)'fNso tonge thatlcamwhereas
Isegr)'m was, and there I lete falle the
capone, for it was too heuyforme,and
ayenstmywiUe I lefteitthere, & thmne
lsprange thurgb an hole where as I
woldebe.Hndas tbepreest tohe"p tbe
capone he espyed laegrym, and crydepSmyte doun
bere, frmdesf fjere is the theef, the wulf, see wei to
?f.'.i thatheescapevsnotg'Cheyrannealletogydre w)'th
andstaues, and made a grete no),sethat alle
the ne)'ghbours camen oute, and gaum h)'m man)' a
shrewde strohe and threwe at h)'m grete stones, in
su chew)'se that he fyl doun as he had bm deed. t:he)'
slepid hym, and drewe h)'m ouer stones and ouer
bloches wythout the village, and threwe h)'m in to a
d)'che, and there he la)'eal then)'ght. I woteneuer how
he cam thma,syth Ihauegotm of h)'m, foraamoche
as I made h)'m to fyUe his bel)' that he sware that he
wolde be m)'n helpe an bole ),ere.
32
ledde I b)'m to a place wbere I tolde
1 bym tbere were "ij bennes and a coclte
wbicbe satte on a percbe & were mocbe
fatte, and tber stode a faldore b)' and
\ we cl)'mmed tber "p. I sa)'de to b)'m )'f
be wolde bileue me, and tbat be wolde
crepe in to tbe doore, be sbolde rynde man)'e fatte
bennes. Isegrym wente allawb)'ng to tbe
and crope a lit)'l in and tasted bere and tbere, and at
laste be sa)'de to mePRe),narde, )'e borde and iape
witb me, forwbat Iseche I rynde notjlChennesaid
I: me,),f),e w)'l rynde, crepe fortber in: be tbat wil
w)'nne, he muste laboure & auenture. Cbe)' tbatwere
wonte to s)'tte tbere I baue tbem a-wa)'eP'Cbusl
madeh)'mtosecbefertberin,&sbooue b)'m fortbso
ferre tbat be fvUedoun "pon tbe floer, for tbe percbe
was narowe. Hnd be ryU aoo grete a faUe tbat tbe)'
aprange "p aUe tbat slepte, and tbe)' tbat la)'e nexte
tbe ryre cr)'den that the "aldore was open, and som-
th n was faUe and the)' wlste not wat it m)'ght be.
ny rooae"pand l)'ghte a can del, and
fi
wban tbe)' sawe bim the)' smeton, betm

and wounded h)'m to the detbe. I haue
brought hym tbus in man)' a iepard)'e
moo than I can now reltene: I sbolde
rynd man)'moo if I mewel b)'tbougbt
wbicb Ishal teU )'ou bereafter.Rlso Ibaue b)'dr)'um
w)'tbdamersw)'ndehisw)'f: I woldelbad notdon
it, 1 am soY)' for it, bit is to ber gyete sbame, & tbat
merepmtetbp6r)'mbertsaide: Eme,I "nderstande
)'ou not p fje sa)'de: I baue treapaced with his w)'f
Dye sbr)'ue )'OU as tbougb)'e belde somwhat be-
b)'nde: 1 wotenotwbat)'emene, newbere)'e haue tem-
dl n
ed this tangagepHch, dere eme, it were grete shame '
)'f Ishotd sa)'e it oppen I)' as it happed, I haue te)'en
b)' m)'n aunte: I am )'our erne, I shotdan gre you )'fl
spah ")'tan),e of w)'mmen. Neueu, now baue I tolde
)'OW aUe that I can th)'nhe on, sette mepenaunce and
aaso)'Ue me, for I haue grete repentaunceP6r)'m-
bert was subt)'t and w)'ae, he brahe a rodde of a tree
andsaidepme, now ahal)'e am)'te)'ouraetfthr)'es
with this rodde on ),our bod)', & thenne te)'e it doun
"pon thegrounde, and spr)'ngethre t)'mes ther ouer
without bow)'ngof ),our teggea & w)'thoutstombt-
)'ng, and thenne shut )'e tahe it "p & h)'sse it frendty
in tohen of mehenes and obedience of ),our penance
that I gaf )'ow. fjerwith be )'e qu)'te of aUe s)'nnes
thatye haue don to thia day, for I forgeue it yow at
;t::he foxewaa gtad: tho aayd 6rym bert to his eme
pme, see now forthon that)'e doo good werhis.
Rede ),our psatmes, goo to chirche, faste and hepe
),our hatyda)'es, and gyue ),our aUmesse, & teue ),our
synfu1 and)'l l)'f, ),our thefte and ),our treson, and
so ma)'ye come to merc),P'Che prom)'sed that
he wotd so doo, and thenne wen te the)' bothe to gydre
to the court.!Ward.
Lyt:L beayde the waye aatheywent,
atode a cto),sterof btach nonneswhere
many ghees, hennes, & capones wente
withoute the waUes, and as the)' wente
tathynge the foxe brought Grymbert
out of the right waye th)'der, & w)'th-
out the wanes b)' the bame wente the pota)'le. 'Che
them, & sawa fatte yong caponewhiche
wenteaUonefro his fetaws, and teep and caught hym
thatthefethersflewbaboutehis ems, but the capone
34
escapedDGrym bert sa)'de: Iba t, eme, curs)'d man
wbat wit )'e doo, wille)'e for one of tbise poletes falle
aga)'n in aUe )'our s)'nnes of wbicbe)'e baue sbr)'urn
~ o w ?ye ougbte sore reprn te),oujlRe),nart answer-
ed: L'rul)' cos)'n, I bad al forgoten: pra)'e God that
heforgeue it me, for I wit neuer do so morepChrone
tomed the)'aga)'n ouera lit)'l br),dge,),et tbefoxe al-
wa)' lohed after the pola)'Ue, he coude not refra),ne .
h)'m self: that whiche cleuid b)' the bone m)'ght not
out of the flesshe; though he shold be hanged, he
coude not lete the loh)'ng after the pola)'U as fer as
he m)'ght see thempGr),mbert sawe his maner and
sa)'de: Fowle false dece)'uour, how goo )'our e)'en so
after the pole)'l? DCbe foxe sa)'d: Cos),n, )'e m)'s-
doo to sa)'e to me on)' suche wordes,),e br)'nge me
outof m)' deuocion and pra),ers: late me sa)'e a pater
noster for aUe the sowles of pola)'Ue and ghees that
I haue betra),ed, and ofte w)'th falsheed stolm from
th)'se hoU)' nonnesp0r),mbert was not welafpa)'d,
but the foxe had euer his e)'en toward the pola)'l til
atte lastethe)' cam in the wave aga)'n,& throne torn-
ed the)' to the courtIwarde. now sore quahed tho Re),-
nard Whan the)' aproched tbe court, for he wlste wel
that he had for to answere to man)' a fowle feet and
theft that he had doon.
d2
now the fox cam to the court, & bow be excused bym
to fore the Itynge, capitulo xiijJP JP
itwasltnowrn in
the court thatReynartthefoxe&
Grymbaert hiscosynwere comen
to the court, there was none soo
poure nor so feble of Itynne and
frendes but that be maade hym
redyforto complayneon Reynart
tbe foxe. Re'Ynart lolted as he bad
not ben aferd, and helde hYln better tban be wa9, for
he went fortbe proudly wyth bis neueu thurgb the
hyest strete of the court, ryghte as he had ben tbe
hynges sone, & as he had not trespaced to ony man
thevalue of an heer, & wente in themydelof the place,
stondyng to fore Noble tbe hynge, and saydeP00d
gyue 'Yow grete honour and worsbip 1 'Cher was neuer
ltyng tbat euer bad a trewer seruant than I haue ben
to your good grace & yet am. N euertbeles, dere lorde,
I hnowe wel that ther ben many in tbis courte that
wolde deatroye me Vf Ve wold byleue them: but nay,
God than he yow, hit is not fyttyng to your crowne
to byleue thisefalaedeceyuars and lyars lyghtly. 'Co
God mote it be complavned how that thisefals lyars
and flaterers nowradayes in the lordes courtes ben
moste herde and byleuyd, the shrewes and false de-
ceyuers ben borne "p for to doo to good men aUe the
harme& scath they maye: our Lorde God sbal ones
reward them their hvre P 'Che ltynge eayde: pees,
Reynard, false tbeef and travtour, how weI can ye
br'Ynge forth fayr talis, & aUe shaUe not helpevow a
strawe. mene suche words to be
frende?ye haue so me soas
shal weI hnowe: the peee tbatl haue comanded and
swomethat weI bolden, ICbaunte-
cler coude no lenger be but Blaa what.
----haue I this peesloetef PBe Cbaunteclere,
holde our mouth, tate me anewere tbis fowle tbeef.
nom ahrewd feUe tbeef, aaide tbe

kynge, tbou aaiet tbat thow lou est me

wei: that haet thou ahewd weI on
messagers, these poure felaws, Libert
the Catte and the Bere, whiche
ben al blody, whiche chyde not ne
not moche, but that ahal thia day coste the
lyf Pin nomine pater criete filii, aayd the foxe, dere
lord and hyng, )'f Bruyns crowne be blod)"
what is that to me? mban he ete hon), at Lantferts
bows in tbe,,),Uage, and hurte and ecatbe,
there was he beten therfore. Yf he had wiUyd, he is
so strongeof lymmee, baue beauengid
er he aprange tn to the water. Lho cam tbe
Cattewhom
out for to atele to a preetee hows,
and the preest h)'m harme, abo Ide I ab)'e that?
Lbenne m)'ght Isaye I were not )'lot so,
liege lorde, ye doo what tbowh my mater
be cleerand good, me,or roste, hange,or
mahe me I not escape we stonde
aUe "nder correccion. ye be myghty & etronge,
I am feble and my helpe is but smal, yf ye put me to
the deth hit were a smal "engeancePmbilee the)'
thus spach sprange "p BeUyn tbe Rame, & his ewe
JVIylord the bereoure
d3
complavntfpBruyn the Bere stode vp WVth al hia
f IVgtlage and hia felawa;1:ibert the Catte, laegrvm
the Iulf,Kvwart the nare,and panther the Boore,
.......... __ 1 the Camel, & Brunei the 0hooa, the K vde & 0boot,
Boudewvn the Rase, Borre the BuU, namel the Oxe,
and the Iead, Chantecler the Cock, pertelot, WVth
aUethevr children. RUethisemade grete rumourand
- novse, and cam forth open IV to fore their lorde the
hvnge, & made that the foxe waa taken & area ted.
now the foxewaa areetid and juged todeth, capitulo

, .... vpon was a parlament, and
theV deaired that Revnart sholde
ben deed, & what aommeeuerthev
aavden avenstthefoxe heanawerd
to eche to them. Neuer herde man
of suche beeatis, suche
of wyse counaevl and subtv1 in-
uenClons, and on that other
thefoxemade his excuae soweland formablvtheron
that theV that herde it wondred therof: tbeV that
herde and sawe it mav teUe hit forth for trouthe, I
ehalshorte the mater and teUe hit forth of the foxe
p'Che the counsev1 herde the witneesie

with hem as it ofte doth, tbe feblest hath theworst.
'CheV gafe sentence and juged that the foxe sholde
be dede and hanged the neche: tho lvste not he to
pleve, aUe his wordes and decevtes coude
not helpe hVm, the jugement was g)'uen and that
muste be don. his neueu,and manv of his
lignage, not rynde in their hertes to see
dve, but tohen leue and romed the court.
38 -
h)'nge bithoughte hym & marhed
how man)' a )'ongl)'ng departed from
wep),ng,whicheweren),gheof
his h)'nne, and sa)'de to h)'m self 8
\ fiier behoueth other counse)'l herto,
though Re),nart be a shrewe, ther be
man)'goodofhislignageP'Ch)'berttheCattesa)'d:
Sir Bru)'n and Sir Isegr),m, how be )'e thus slowe?
It is almost euen, hier ben man)' busshes & hedges:
)'f he escaped from \1S and were del)'uerd out of this
par)'l, he is so subt)'l and so w)'l)' and can so man)'
dece)'tes that heshold neuer be tahen aga)'n.Shalwe
hange h)'m ? fiow stonde )'e al thus? r the galewis
can be made red)' it shal be nyghtPIeegrym be-
thought h)'m & se)'de: fiier b)' 1S a g)'bet or galewis
PRndw)'thtbatwordheeighed,&theCatteeap)'ed
that and sa),depIsegr),m, ye be aferd f ys it a),enst
),our w)'Ue? 'Ch)'nlte )'e not that he h)'m self wente
and laboured that bothe ),our brethemwerehanged:
were),e good andw)'se)'e sholde than he h),m, and )'C
sholde not tberwith so longe tarye.
now the fo'Xe was ledde to the gatewis, cap. X\1 if!'
YJ\1 bathed and sa)'dep
ye mahe moche 3Jdoo, Sir 'C)'bert,
haddewean halterwhicheweremete
for his neche and etronge )'nough
endePRe),-
nert the foxe, whiche longehadnot
-'-spohen, saide to lsegrym: Shorte
pa)'nef 'C),berte hath a stronge
corde, whiche caught b)'m in the prestes hous whan
be bote of the prestes gen)'toirs: he can cl)'me wel
and is sw)'ft, tate b)'m bere\1pthe l),ne.lsegr),m and
d4
Sru}'n, becometh wel, that thus doo. to 1
neuew f I am that I thuslonge: haste
you, be sette therto, it is doo that thus
longe, goo to fore & lede me, folowe
fast, and see wel to and beware that go not
Itis the best counseil that
I euer herde that there
commanded anon and badde his and frendes
tbat tbey sbolde see to Reynart, tbat be escaped not, 1
for he is so and fals. helden the
feet, the berde, and so hepte that he escaped
not from hem. t:he foxe herde alle wordes
whiche touchid spah he and saydep d
Och, dere eme, me self sore
for to doo me hurte and scathe f I durste I wolde
of thaugh m)' hurte and sorow is J
pla)'sant to )'ou. I wote wele )'f m)'n aunte ),our w)'f
bethoughte her wel of olde femers sbe wolde not
suffre that I shold haue harme, but now I am he
that now wille doo on me what it shal plese
Ye, Bru)'n and t:hibert, 60d gyue shames deth
but doo to me werstf I wote wherto I shal, I
de)'e but ones, I wolde that I were dede at
lsawe m)' fader he had sone donnePlsegr),m
sa)'de: Late"s goo, for)'e curse"s bi causewe lengtb
the ryme; lengerp
l1ewente forthw)'thgrete enu)'eon thatone side,and
Bru)'n stoode on the other t!),de, & so lede the)' h)'m J
forth to the galowesIWarde.L)'bertrannewith a good
wit to fore and bare tbe corde, and bis tbrotewas
sore of tbe gr),nne, and bis croppe d)'de of
tbe tbat be was tahe in, tbat bapped b)' tbe
counse)'t of tbe foxe, and tbat tbougbt be now to

4
0
___ t:'". YSRt:, Ysegrym,andSruyn wente
bastelywytb Reinert to tbe place, tbere
as tbe felons ben wonte to be put to
detb. Nobel tbe hynge, and tbe quene
andaUetbatwere in tbe court, folowed
for to see tbe ende of Reynart.
t:be foxewas in grete dredeyf bym myebapped, and
betbought bym ofte bow be mygbte saue bym fro
tbe detb, and tbo thre that so sore deairden bys detb
bow be mygbt deceyue tbem and brynge tbem to
sbame, and bow be mygbt brynge tbe hynge wytb
lesyngis to bolde wytb bym ayenst bem. 'Chis was
aUe tbat be studyed, bow be mygbt putte away bis
sorowe wytb wylys, & tbougbt tbuaJ!l'Cbougb tbe
hynge& manyonebe"pon meangry, itis no wonder,
for I baue wel deseruid it: neuertbeles, I bope for to
be yet bis best frende, and yet shal I neuer do them
good. riow strong that tbe hynge be, and bow wyse
tbat his counseil be, yf I may brouhe my wordes, I
hnowe so many an inuencion I sbal come to myn a-
boue as fer as tbey wolde comen to tbe galewes.
said Y segrym P SirSruyn, tbin he

now on your rede crowne wbicbe by
I
Re)lnarts mme )Ie caught, we haue now
tbetymetbatwemay wel rewarde hym.
'Cybert, clyme "p bastyly & bynde tbe
corde faste to tbe lynde, and mahe a
rydynge hnotte or a strope, ye be tbe lygbtyst: ye
sbal tbis day see your wyUe of bym. Sruyn, see wel
to tbat be escape not, & bolde faste. I wil bdpe tbat
tbe ladder be sette "p tbat be may goo "pwart tber,..
on pSruyn aaide: Do, I sbal hdpe bym wdP'Cbe
foxe sayde: ow may my berte be wel beuy for grete
41
drcdc, for Iscc tbc dctb to forc myn cyen and I may
not cscapc. ,My lordc tbc Ityngc and dcrc qucnc, and
fortb aUc yc tbat bcrc standc, cr I dcpartc fro tbis
world I pray you of a bonc, tbat I may to forc you
aUcmaltcmy confcssion opcnly, & tcUcm),dcfaultcs
al so clcrly tbat my sowlc bc not arcombrcd, & also
tbat noman bcrcaftcr berc no blamc formy tbcftc nc
for my trcson. ,My dctb sbal bc to mc tbc cayer, and
pra)'c ycaUc to God tbat be bauc mercy on mY90wlc.
now tbc foxc madcopcn 1)' bis confcssion to forc tbc
Ityngc & to forcal tbem tbatwold bcrcit, cap.xvj,tP JP
tbcy tbat stodcn tbcrc bad
pytc wbannc Rcynart saydc tbc
wordis, and saydc it waa but a
lyt)'l rcqucste yf tbe Itynge woldc
graunte it bym: tbe Itynge gaf
b)'m lcue. Rcynart was wcl glad,
& bopcd tbatitmygbtfaUbctter,
& said tbusPJ'low bclpc, spiri-
tus Domini, for acc bier noman but I bauc trcapac-
cd "nto: ncuertbclcs, ),ct was I "nto tbe t)'me tbat I
waa wen cd fro tbe tctc one tbe best cbylde tbat coude
ouwber befounden.1 wente tbo and pleyde wytb tbe
lambea by cause I berdc bem gladly blete, I was ao
longewytbbcmtbatat tbe lastclboteonc: tbcrlcrn-
cd I fyrate to lapcn of tbe blood, bit aauourd wel, mc
tbougbtitrigbt good. Rndafterl bcgan to taateof
tbc flesab, tbcrof I waslycouroua so tbat aftcr tbat
1 wen te to tbc gbeet in to tbe wode, tbcre bcrdc I tbc
Jtyddes blete, and Islewe of them twcyne. I bcgan to
wcxe bardy: after I alew bcnncs, polayl and gbees
wbcrcucr I fond bem, tbuswordcn my tcetbal blody.
H fter tbis I wexe so feUe & so wrotb tbat wbat some
euer I founde tbat I m)'gbt ouer, I slowe aUe.1:ber
after cam I b)' Isegr)'m now in tbew)'nter, wbere be
bydde b)'m "nder a tree, & rehened to me tbat bewaa
om)'n eme:wbennelberdeb)'m tbenne rehene aU)'ance
we becomen felaws, wbicbe I ma), wei repente. me
prom)'sed ecbe to otber to be trewe and to "se good
felawsbip, and began towandre to gyder: be stal tbe
grete tb)'nges and I tbe smaUe, an-d aU was cOln)'n
b)'twene "s. yet be made it so tbat be bad tbe beste
dele, I gate not balf m)' parte. Iban tbat ysegr)'m
gate a calf, a rame, or a weder, tbenne grimmed be &
was angr), on me & droof me fro b)'m, and beldem)'
part and bis to, so good is be f yet tbis was of tbe
leste, but wban it so luched tbat we tohe an oxe or a
(owe, tbenne cam tbertobisw),fw)'tb"ij cbildren,so
tbat"ntome migbt "nnetb come one of tbe smallest
r)'bbes, and ),et bad tbe)' etm alle tbe flessbe tberof,
JVYVV,,"_ tberwitbatlmuste lbe content: not fortbatlbadao
grete nede, for 1 baue so grette scatte and good of
s)'tuer&of gold tbat aeuenwa)'nes sbotd not conne
\\ carye it awa),.
tbe Jt)'nge berde b)'m spehe of
tbis grete good & ricbesae, be brenned
in tbedes)'re and couetysetberof,and
saideJ!/Re),nart wbere is tber)'cbesae
becomen ( telle me tbat P 1:be foxe
M)' lord, I abal teUe )'ow, tbe
rycbesse, was stolen, & bad it not be stolen itsbotd
bauecoste)'ou)'our l)'f, & sboldbaue been murdred,
wbicbe God forbede, and abold baue ben tbe grettest
burteoftbeworldepIban berde tbat sbe
was sore aferde, and cryde lowde :Hlaa and weleaway 1
4
3
Reynart, what saye ye? I coniure yow by the longe
wayethatyouresouleehalgoo thatyeteUe"e openly
thetroutheherof,aamocheaaye hnowe,of this grete
murdre that sholde haue be doon on my lorde, that
we aUe may here itpJ'iow herhene how thefoxe ehal
flatre the hynge &quene,and shal wynne bothetheir
odwiUeaandloue,&ehalhyndrethemthatlaboure
his deth. f)e shal "nbynde hia pach and lye, and
byflateryeand fayrwordeashal brynge forth eo his
matera that it shal be aupposed for trouthe.
a aorouful countenance spach the
foxe totbequenePlam in sucbe caas
nowtbat I muste nedes deye, & badde
ye me not so aore coniured I wil not
jeoparde my sowle, and yf I so dyde I
shotd goo therfore in to the payne of
helle. 1 wilsayenothyng but that 1 wit mahe it good,
for pytously he shold haue ben murthredofhia owen
folhe; neuertheles, tbey that were most pryncypal in <:
feat were of mynext hynne, wbom gladly I wold
not bewraye yf tbesorowwere notof tbe bdlePt:be
hynge waa heuy of berte, and aaide: Reynart, aaiste
thou to me the trouthe? lye, said the foxe, see ye
not how it standetb with me? wene ye that 1 wi(
dampne my sowle? What abold it auaylle me yf I
now saide other wise than trouthe? ]VIy detb is so
nyghe ther may nether prayer ne good helpe me p
"Cho trembled the foxe by dyssymylyng as he had
ben aferde: the quene had pyte on hym, and prayde
the Itynge to haue mercy on hym in eschewyng of
more harme, and that he sholde doo the peple hotde
their peaa, & gyue the foxe audience, and here what
he ahold aaye."Chocomanded the hynge openty that
44
ecbe of them shold be srylle, and suffre the foxe to
saye vnberisped what that he woldep'Chmne saide
the foxe: Be ye now alle srylle,syth it is the Itynges
wille, and I shal teUe you openly this treson, and
therin I wilspare noman that lltnowe gylry.
now tbe foxe brougbt them in daunger that wolde
haue brought hym to detbe, & how be gate the gracr
of the it),ng, capitulo xvijJP JP
~ om berltene bow the foxe began.
In tbe begining be appded 0rym-
bert, bis dere cosyn which euerhad
holpen him in his nede: be dyde so
bycause his wordes sholde be the
3f; better b)'leued, and that he forth-
71. on myght the better lye on hie ene-
~ ~ ~ ~ ' : : ~ : i a 1 myespt:hus began he, firste, and
saide: ]VIy lorde, my fader had founden Itynge r-
merylts tresour dolum in a pytte, and whan he had
thys grete good be was so prow de and orguyUous
that he had aUe other bestis in despyte whiche to
fore had bm his fdawe. f)e made'Cybert the Catte
to goo in to that wylde lande of Hrdmne to Bruyn
the Bere, for to do hym homage, and bad hym save
yf he wolde be Ityngethat he sholdcome in toflaun-
dres. Bruyn the Bere was glad hierof, for be bad
longe desyred it, and wmte forth in to flaundres,
wbere my fader receyued hym right frmdly. F.lnone
be sente for the wyse Grymbert my neuewe, and for
ysegrym the Iulfe, and for Lybert tbe Catte: tho
these fyue camen bytwene Gaunt & the thorpe caUyd
Yfte, tbere they helden tbeir counseyl an bole derlte
nygbt longe. mhat wytb the deuels bdpe and craft,
and for my faders ricbesse, they concluded & swore
45
there the kynges detb. Now herhene and here this
1\\/ wonder: the foure sworen "pon ysegryms crowne
that they sholde mahe Brllyn a hynge & a lorde, and
bryns-ehymin tbestole atRhon, andsettetbe crowne
on blS beed, and yf tbere were ony of tbe hynges
frendes orlignagetbat wolde be contrarye or ayenst
this, bym sbolde my fader wytb bis good & tresour
forIdrvue, and tahe from hym bis mygbt & power.
C bapped so that on a morowt)'de erly
tbatGrymbert my neuew was of wyne
almost dron he that betolde it to dame
Sloepcade his wif in counseyl,& badde
, hepe it secrete. But she anone for-
gate it, & saide it fortb in confession
to my wyf "pon a hetbwberetbey botbwenten a pyl-
gremage, but she must firste 9were by ber troutbe
.......... 1.- and by tbe holy thre ltyngesofColeynetbat for loue
ne for bate sbe sbolde neuer teUe it fortb, but Itepe it
secrete. But sbe belde it not, and hepte it no lenger
secrete but t)'lsbe cam to me, and she thenne tolde
to me alle that she herde, but I muste Itepe it in
secrete, and sbe tolde me so many tohenys that 1
felte wel it was troutbe, and for drede and fere myn
beer stode rigbt "p, and my berte becam as beuy as
leed and as colde as ise.l tbougbt by this a lyhnesse
wbycbe hyer
I
3Ifore t)'me byfylle to tbe frossbys,
whicbe were free and com playn ed tbat tbey bad none
lorde, ne were not bydwongen, for a comynte witb-
out a gouuemour was not good, and tbey cryden
to God witb a lowde "o),s tbat be wolde ordeyne one
tbat m)'gbt rewle tbem: tbis was al that tbe)' de-
sired. God berde tbe)'r requeste, for it was reson-
able, and sente to them a storhe,wbicbe ete and 9WO-
4
6
lowed them in as man)' as he coude rynde, he wae al-
wa), to hem "nmerc),ful, tho compla)'ned the)' the)'r
hurte, but thenne itwaa to late: the),thatweretofore
free, & were aIferde of no bod)', ben now bonde and
muste obe)'e to strengthe the)'r h)'nge. O)'er fore, )'e
riche and poure, lsorowed that it m)'ght happen "s
in 1 he w se.
nas m)' tord the h),ng, I haue had
sorowe for ),ou, wherof )'e can me but
t)'t)'t than he. I hnowe Sru)'n the Sere
for suche a shrewe and rauener, wher-
for 1 thoughte )'f he were h)'nge we
shotd be aUe destro),ed and toste. 1
hnowe our souerain tord the h)'ng of so h)'e b),rthe,
so m),ght)',so ben)'ngne& merc),ful, that I thought
trul), it had ben an euyl chaunge for to haue a foule
st)'nhynge theef, & to refuse a noblem)'ght)' stately
Lyon, for the Sere hath more maddefol)'e in his"n-
thrift)' heed and al his aunceetrie than on)' other
hath. 'Chus had 1 in m)'n herte man)' a sorowe, and
thought alwa)' how 1 m)'ght brehe and fordoo m)'
faders fats counseyl, whiche of a chorle and a tra),-
tour and worse than a theef wolde mahe a lorde and'
a h)'nge. Rlwa)' I pra)'d God that he wolde hepe our
h)'ng in worship and good helthe and graunte h)'m
tong l)'f, but I thought wet )'f m)' fader hdde his
tresour, he sbold with hie fals fdaws wet rynde the
wa),ethat the Jt)'ng shotd be depoeed & setteaIe)'de.
1 wae sore bethought how 1 m)'ght beste w)'tewhere
my faders la),e, I a1wa)'ted at al t)'mesasn)'gh
as 1 coude 1n wodes, in bushes, in feeldis, where m)'
fader leyde hie e),en, were it b)' n)'ght or b)' da)'e, co (de
or weet, I was alwa)' b)' h)'m toeap)'e & hnowe where
hie tresour wae (e)'de.
47
a tyme 1 lave doun al plat on tbe
grounde, and sawe my fader come ren-
nyng out of an bole: now berhe wbat I
sawe bym doo. Iban be cam out of
;;..\; tbe bole be lohed fast aboute yf ony
bodybadsem bym,andwban becoude
nowber none see, be stopped tbe bolewitbsandeand
madebiteumand playn lyhetotbeotbergrounde by.
f)e hnewenot tbat I saweit, and wbere bis foots pore
stood, tbere stryhed be witb bie tayl and made it
snlotbe with his mouth that noman sbold espye it:
that luned I there of my fals fadre, and many sub-
tylitees that I to fore hnewenothyngof. 'Chmnede-
parted be tbens, and ran to the "iUagelWarde for to
doo bis tbyngis,andl forgate not, but sprange and
tepe to tbe boterward, and bow wd tbat be had sup-
posed that be had made at faste, 1 was not so mocbe
a fool but tbat 1 fonde tbe hole wei, and cratched and I.
scraped with my feet the sande out of tbe hole, and
crepte therin. 'Cbere fonde I the moste plmte of sit-
uerand of goldetbat euer I sawe: bier is nonesoolde
that euer so moche sawe on one beep in aUe bis lyf.
t:ho tohe 1 rmelyne my wyf to bdpe, and we ne
rested nygbt ne day to bere and carVe a/wave with
grete labour & payne this richetreaourin toanotber
place that lave for "a better, "nder an bawe in a depe
bole. In themenewhylethatmyn buscwyf and I tbus
tabouryd, my faderwas witb tbem tbatwolde betraye
tbe hynge: now may ye bere wbat tbey dede. 13ruyn
the Sere and ysegrym tbe Iulf smte aUe tbe londe
onyman wolde tahewages thattbey sbotd
come to Sruyn, & he wolde pave tbem their soutdye
or wagis to fore. JVI y fader ranne ouer aUe tbe londe
48
and bare tbe lettres, be wist lytil tbat be was robbed
of bie tresour: ye, tbougb be mygbt baue wonnen a1
tbe world, be bad not conne rynde a peny tberof.
nR:)'l my fader badde ben ouera1 in
tbe lande bytwene tbe lue and tbe
Somme, & bad goten manyasouldy-
our tbat sbold tbe nexte somer baue
comen to belpe Bruyn, tbo cam be a-
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ gayn to tbe Bere and bis felowis, and
tolde tbem in bow grete a"enture be bad be to fore
tbe borugbes in the lande of Saxone, and how the
hunters da)'l)' r)'den and hunted with houndes after
h),m, in suchewise tbathe "nnethis escaped with his
lyf. Ihan he had tolde tbis to tbise foure false tray-
tours, tbenne sbewde be tbem lettres tbat plesyd
mocbe to Bruyn: tbere in were wreton xij C of yse-
grymslignage bynamewitboute tbe beres, tbe foxes,
tbe cattes, and tbe dassen. FIUe tbise had sworn that
w)'th the first messager that sholde come for them
the)' shold be redy and come for to helpe the bere, yf
they bad tbeir wages a monetb to fore: this aspyed
I, I tbanhe God. FIfter tbise wordes my fader wente
to the bole wbere bis tresour bad leyn, & wolde lohe
"pon it: tbo began be a gretesorowe, tbatbesougbte
be fonde notbyng, be fonde bis hole brohen and bis
tresour born away. 'Cberedede betbat I maywelsor-
owe and bewa)'Ue, for grete anger & sorowe be wente
and bynge b)'m self: thus abodetbetreson of Bruyn
by m)' sUbt)'lte after. Now see m)'n infortune, tbtse
tra),toura ysegrym and Bru)'n ben nowmost preu)'
of counse)'l aboute the hynge, and s)'tte by b)'m on
the bye boucbe, and 1, poure Reynart, baue no than he
ne reward. I haue buryed m)'n owen fader by caus
el 49
the hynge sholde haue his lyf.}VIy lorde, sayde the
foxe, where ben they that so wolde doo, that is to
destro),e them self for to hepe yow?
f) hynge & thequene hoped to wynne
~
the tresour,&wyth oute counce)'l tohe
~
to them Reynart, and prayde hym that
he wold do so wel as to teUe them were
this tresour waaPReynart said: now
~ ~ ~ ~ sholde I telle the hynge, or them that
wolde hange me for loue of the tray tours and mur-
derars, whiche by her flateryewolde fayne br)'nge me
to dethe? Sholde I teUe to them where my good is,
thenne were lout of my wittepl:he quene tho spah:
~ a y , Reynart, the h)'nge shallete you haue your tyf
and shal al to gydre forg)'ue )'ou, and )'e shal be fro
hens forthe w)'se and true to m)' 10rdepChe foxe
answerd to the quene:Derelad)',)'f the hynge wi( be-
(eue me,and that he wi( pardone and forg)'ue me alle
my olde trespaces, ther was neuer hynge so riche as
Ishal mahe him, for the tresour thatlshal doo hym
haue is right costely & may not be nom bred p l:he
hynge saide:R:ch,dame,wille yebeleuethefoxe? sauf
your reuerence he is bome to robbe, stele, and to lye:
this cleuid to h)'s bones & can not be had out of the
flesshpChequene saide: a y , my lorde,),e may now
well byleue h)'m: though he were here to fore felle, he
is now chaunged otherwise than he was. ye haue wei
herde that he hath appechid his fader and theDasse
his neuew, whiche he myght wel haue leyde on other
bestes )'f he wold haue ben false, felle, and a lyar p
Che kynge saide: Dame, wille ye thenne haue lt soo,
and thyn he )'e it best to be don, though I supposed
it sholde hurte me I wille tahe alle thise trespaces of
50
Re),nart "pon me, and beleue his wordes : but I swere
b)' m)' crowne)'f he euer here after m)'sdooand tres-
pace, that shal he dere ab)'e and aUe his lignage "nto
the ix degreeP'Che foxe lolted on the It)'ng stound-
mele, and was glad in his herte, and saide:JVIy lorde,
I were not w)'seifIsholde sa)'e th)'nge that were not
trewe jI 'Che It)'nge tolte "p a straw fro the ground,
and pardoned and forgaf the foxe aU the m)'sdedes
and trespaces of h)'s fader and of him also. Yf the
foxe was tho mer)' and glad it was nowonder, for he
wasqu),te of hisdethandwas aUefree and franke of
aUe his enem),es.
~ _ ~ .. n6 foxe saide: }VI)' lorde the k)'nge &
~ ~ x noble lad)'thequene,60dreward)'ow1
th)'s greteworship that)'e do to me, I
shal th)'n he & also than he 'You for it in
l suche wise that )'e shall be the richest
~ . . . . - : : : : . ~ a a . - ...... h)'nge of the worlde, for there is none
l)'u)'ng "nder the sonne that I "ouchesauf better m)'
tresouron than on )'ow bothejl'Chen toke the foxe
"p a straw and profred it to the k)'ng,andsaide: JVI)'
moste dere lord, plese it yow to rece)'ue hiere the r)'che
tresour wh)'che h)'nge 6rmer)'1t hadde, for I g)'ue it
~ "nto ),ou w)'th a fre w)'Ue and Itnowleche it open l)'P
\,\1 'Che It)'nge rece)'uid the straw, and threwe it mer)'l)'
fro h)'m w)'th a jo)'ous ,,),sa}1e, and thanlted moche
the foxe. 'Che foxe laughed tn h)'m self. 'Che It)'nge
thenne herltened after the counse)'l of the foxe, & all
that ther were were at his w)'UeP}VI)' lorde, saide he,
herltene & marke wel m)' wordes. In the west side of
flaundres ther standeth a wode, and is named nul-
sterlo, & a water that is called Kreltenp)'t l)'eth ther-
b)': th)'s is so grete a wildemesse that ofte in an hole
e2 9
),ere man ner w)'f cometh therein, sauf the)' that wit
& the)' that wille not eschewe it: there l)'eth this tre-
sour h)'dde. Vnderstande wel that the place is called
Krehen pit, for ladu)'se )'ou for the leste hurte tbat)'e
and m'J lad)'e goo both th)'der, for 1 hnowe none so
trewe that 1 durste on )'our behalue truste, wherfore
goo )'our selfe. Rnd whan )'e come to Krehenp)'t,),e
shall rynde there two birchen trees stand),ng alther
next the p)'tte.}VI)' lorde, to the b)'rchen trees shal)'e
go, there l)'eth the tresour vnther doluen : there must
)'e scrape and d)'gge arwa), a l)'ryl the mosse on the
one side. 'Cber sballe )'e rynde man)' a jewel of golde
and s),luer, & tbere sbal )'e rynde tbe crowne wbycbe
h)'ngermeryh ware in bis da)'es, tbat abold Bru)'n
the Sere haue wom )'f h)'s w)'ll hadd gon forth: )'e
shal see man)' a coatl)' jewel with riche stones sette
in golde werhe,whichecoste man)'a thousand marhe.
}VI)' lord the h),nge, whan)'e now haue alle this good,
bow ofte abal )'e sa)'e in )'our berte & tb)'nhe, 0 how
true art tbou, Re),nart tbefoxe, tbatwithtb), aubryt
r Il w)'tte dalu)'6t and b)'ddeat bere tb)'a grete tresour.
God g)'ue tbe goode bappe and wellfare wbere euer
tbou beef
h)'nge sa)'d: Sir Re)'nart,)'emu9te
come and belpe vs to d)'gge vp tb)'s
--... 'tresour.lltnowe not tbe wa)" labolde
neuer conne rynde it. I baue herde ofte
".-- /' named parys,London, Rhon,& Cot-
e)'n :as me tb),nheththis tresour l)'etb
right aa )'e moched and japed, for )'e name Kr)'ehen-
p)'t tbat ia a fa)'ned namep'Chese wordes were not
good to thefoxe, and he sa)'d witbanangr), mode, &
diss)'m)'ledand saide: ye, m)' lord the h)'nge, )'e be al
so n'Ygbe tbat as fro Rome to roene 'Ye tbat I
wille lede 'Yow to flommej orda)'n ? a'Y, Isbal bringe
'You out of wen'Yngand sbewe tt 'You b'Y good w'Ytnea
p.ne called lowd: K 'Ywart tbe hare, come bere to fore
tbe h'Ynge f p'Cbe beatee sawe aUe tb'Yder ward, and
wondred wbat tbe ll'Ynge woldp'Cbe foxe sa'Yde to
tbe .nare: K'Ywart, ar'Ye aIcolde, bow tremble 'Ye and
qualle so? Be not 3Iferd, & teUe m'Y lorde tbe ll'Ynge
here tbe troutbe, and tbat I cbarge 'You b'Y tbe faith
and troutbetbat ye owe b'Ym, & tom'Y lad'Ytbe quene,
ofsucbetbingasisbal demaunde of 'YouPK 'Ywaert
saide: lsbalsa)'etbetroutbetbougb labold loeem'Y
neclle tberfore: Isbal not ''Ye, 'Ye baue cbarged me so
sore,'Yflllnowe itPLbenne sa'Y, Ilnowe'Yenot wbere
Kriellenp'Yt standetb, is tbat in 'Your m'Ynde? PLbe
.nare satde: Illnewe tbat wel xij 'Yer 3Igoon wber tbat
atondetb: wb'Y aslle 'Ye tbat? It stondetb in a woode
named .nuleterlo "pon a warande in tbe w'Yldemesse.
I baue suffred there moche sorowe for bunger & for
colde, 'Ye, more than 1 can teUe. pater S'Ymonet tbe
Friese was woned to malle there falee mone'Y, wber-
w'Ytbhebarehimselfout,&alhiefelawship,buttbat
was to fore er I bad felawship w'Yth R 'Yn the bounde,
wbicb made me escape n1an'Y a daunger, as be coude
wel teUe 'Yf be were here, and tbat I neuer in m'Y da'Yes
trespaced a'Yenst tbe h'Ynge otberw'Ysetban lougbt
todoowith rightPRe'Ynart sa'Yd to b'Y
m
: Goaga'Yn
to 'Yonder fdawsbip: here 'Ye, K'Yward, m'Y lorde tbe
h'Yngedee'Yretbnomore to hnoweof 'YowPLbe .nare
retomed and wente aga'Yn to tbe place be cam fro.
1:he foxe sa'Yde: JVI'Y lorde the ll'Yng
e
, is it trewe tbat
I saide?dYe Re'Ynart, said tbe forIg}'ue it
me, Id'Ydeeu'Yl thatlbdeuid 'You not .Now,Re'Ynart,
e3 53
frende, fvnde tbe wa)'e tbat)'e goo w)'tb V9 to tbe
place and p)'tte wbere tbe tresour l),etbpt:be foxe
sa)'de: Itisa wonder wene),e tbat I wolde not
fa)'ne goo witb )'ow? yf 1t were so w)'tb me tbat I
m)'gbt goo w)'tb )'owin sucbewiae tbat it no sbame
were vnto )'our lordsb)'p, I wold goo: but na)" it
ma)' not bee. flerhene wbat I sbal sa)'e and muate
nedes, tbaugb it be tomev),lon),e and sbame. lban
Isegrym tbe lulf in tbe deuds namewente in tore-
tigion, and become a monhe sbom in tbe ordre, tbo
tbe prouende of sixe monhes was not suff)'cient to
h)'m, and had not )'nough to ete, he tbenne pla)'ned
and wa)'Ued so sore that I had p)'te on h)'m for be
becom slowe and aehe, and b)' cause be was of m)'
h)'nne I gaf b)'m counce)'l to renne awa), and so be
d)'de, wberfore I stonde arcursed, & am in tbe popes
banne and sentence. I wil tomorow b)'t)'mes as tbe
sonne Msetb tahe m)' wa)'e to Rome for to be as-
so)'led and tahe pardon, and fro Rome I wit ouer tbe
s .. ee in to tbe flol)' Lande, and wit neuerretomeaga),n
ttl I baue doon so mocbe good tbat I ma),withwor-
ship goow)'th )'ow. fl),tweregreet repref to )'ou, my
lord the h)'nge, in wbat londe that I accompan)'ed
)'ou thatmen shold sa)'e )'ere)'sedandaccompan)'ed
)'our setfe with a and a persone agrauatep
t:he h)'nge sa)'de: 81th that),e stande arcurs)'d in
the censures of the chirche, )'f I wentew)'th )'ou men
sbotd arette viton),e vnto m)' crowne. I shal thmne
tahe K),waert, or somme other, to goo with me to
Kryehenp)'tte, andlcounseytle)'ou, Re),nart, that)'e
put )'ou )'our self outof thlS cursepJV!), lord,quod
tbe foxe, therforew)'tle I goo to Rome as hastel),as
1 ma)': I ahat not reate b)' n)'ght ner da)' till bee aa-
54
soyUedPReynart, said the Itynge, me thyn Iteth ye
ben tomed in to a good wave, God gyue you grace
taccomplyssh wei your desyre.
as this speltyng was done,
the Ityng went and stode "pon
an hyghstageofstone, & conmanded
sylrnce to aUe the bestes, & that they
shulde sytte doun in a rynge rounde
. "pon the grasse, eueriche in his place
after his estate and byrthe. Reynart the foxe stode
by the qume, whom he ought wei to louept:hmne
said the Itynge: Here ye aUe that be poure and riche,
yong and olde, that stondeth heref Reynart, one of
the heed offvcers of my bows, had don so euyl, wbiche
his dave baue ben banged, batb now in this
courtedonsomoche that 1& my wyf the qume haue
.... promysed to hym our grace & frmdshyp, the qume
hath prayde moche forhym, in somoche that 1 haue
made pees wyth hym, and 1 gyue to hym his lyf and
membre frdy agayn, and 1 comande you "pon your
lyf that ye doo worship to Reynart, his wyf, and to
his chyldren, where someuer ye mete hem by day or
by nyght. Hnd 1 wi( also herenomoo com playn tes of
Reynard: yf he hath hier to fore mysdon and tres-
paced, he wiU nomore mysdo ne trespace, but now
bettre hym. ne wyUe to morowe erly goo to the pope
for pardon and foryeuenes of aUe hys synnes, and
fourth ouer the see to the noly Lande, and he wille
not come till he brynge pardon of alle hys
synnesJ9'{:his tale herdet:ysdyn the Raum, & leep
to ysegrym, to Bruyn, and to 'Cybert, there as they
e4 55
were, and aaide: ye ca)'tyfa, bow gotb it nowe?Ye
vnbapp)' foUte, wbat doye bere?Reynard tbe foxe is
nowasquyerand a courtyer& rigbtgrete & m)'gbty
in tbe court: tbe It)'n ge batb slt)'Ued bym quyte of aUe
bis broltes, and forgyuen b)'m aUe bis trespaces and
m)'sdedea, and ye be aUe betrayed and apecbydP
ysegrym saide: now may tbis be?l trowe'Cyselyn
tbat)'e lyePl do not certaynly, saide tbe Rauen p
'Cbo wente tbe mulf and tbe Bere to tbe Itynge:t:y-
bert the Catte was in grete 90rowe, he wa9 90 sore a-
ferde that for to haue the foxes frendship be wold
wei forgyue Reyner the losse of bis one eye, that be
loste in the prestes bows: bewas so woo he wist not
wbat to doo, be wolde wet tbat be neuer bad seen tbe
foxe.
now tbe Iulf& tbeBere were arestyd by tbe labour
of Reynart tbe foxe, capitulo xviijJP JP
- S6RYJVI came proudly ouer
the felde to fore the Itynge, and
thanlted tbe quene, and spaclt
wyth a feUe moed yUe wordes on
!eN the foxe, in sucbe wise tbat tbe
____ .""UIltynge herdeitand waswrotb, and
made tbe Iulfand tbe Bere anon
to be arested: ye sawe neuerwood
dogges do more barme tban was don to them, tbey
were botbe faste bounden so sore tbat aUe tbatnygbt
tbe)' m)'gbt not stere bande ne foot, tbe)' myght
scarsety rore ne meue on)' joynte. )'low bere how tbe
foxefortbdyde: he bated bem, be laboured so to tbe
quene tbat be gate leue for to baue as mocbe of tbe
Beres sJtynvpon bis ridgeas a foote longe & a foote
brode, for to mahe hym tberof a scr),ppe.'Chennewaa
the foxe red)' )'f he had foure stronge shoon: now
here how he d)'de for to gete these shoon, he said to
thequenepJVIadame, lam),ourp),lgr),m, hereism),n
eme,Sirlsegr)'m, that hath iiij strong shoon wbiche
were good for me: )'f he wolde late me baue two of
them I wolde on tbe wa)'e bes)'l)' tb)'n lte on )'our
sowle, for it is r)'gbt tbat a p)'lgr)'m sbolde atwa)'
tb)'n lte & pra)'e for tbem tbat doo b)'m good. 'Cbus
rna)'e )'e doo )'our sowle good )'f )'e will: and also)'f
)'em)'gbtgeteofm)'naunte,dameersw)'n,alsotwo
of ber shoon to g)'ue me, sbe may wel doo it for sbe
gootb but l)'tit out, but ab)'detb alwa)' at bomep
t:bennesa)'dethequene:Re)'nard, )'OW bebouetbwel
suche sboes, )'e rna)' not be w)'tbout tbem, tbe)' sbat
be good for )'OU to ltepe )'our feet boot, for to passe
witb tbem many a sharpemonta),n & ston), roches:
)'e can f)'nde no better sboes for )'OU tban sucbe as
lsegr)'rn and bis w)'f baue & were, tbe)' be good and
atronge: tbough it sholde toucbe tbeir l)'f, ecbe of
tbem shal g)'ue )'ou two shoes for to accompl)'ssb
w)'tb )'our o)'e pilgremage.
now ysegrym and his w)'f resw)'n rnuete suffre
ber sbois to be pluclted of and Re),nard d)'de on the
sbo)'s for to goo to Rome w)'tb, capitu 0
a S bathe tb)'s false p)'lgr)'me
goten fro lsegr)'m ij sbooes fro
bis feet, wbicbe were baled of the
clawestotbesenews:),esawneuer
fouletbatmen rosted la)'eeo stiU
3sleegr)'m d)'dewban bis sboes
were baled of, be st)1red not& ),et
..... bie feet b led de. 'Chenn e w ban lse-
was "nshoed, tho muste dame his
doun in the chere, & she
lostetherher was thefoxeglad
and saide to his aunte in dere aunte, how

aore repenteth aauf this, herof I am glad, for be
the of aUe m'Y therefore I w'Yl gladl'Ywere
'Your ahoen, ahal be partener of &
dele of the pardon that Iahal shoen fecche
ouer the seepDame was so woo that she
"nnethe m'Yghte spehe: neuertheles, this she
FI, Re'Ynart, that 'Ye now al thus haue I
God to wrehe it1PYsegr'Ym and his felaw the Sere
belden tbeirpeea,and wberenalatyUe: eU'Yl
at ease, for were bounden & 90re wounded. fjad
the Catte haue ben there he shold also som-
what haue suffred in hesholde not es-
caped thens hurte and 9hame.
fj next da'Y wban the sonne aroos

whicbe be bad ofYsegr'Ym & rew'Yn
bis w'Yf, and bem on and bonde
hem to his feet, and wente to the
and to thequene, and said to hem witb
a glad oble lord & God good
morow, and I de9ire of grace that I haue
maleand staff as belongeth toa
the tbeRamme,
and whan he cam he 9aide: Sir shaUe doo
masse to fore for he shal goo on p'Ylgrem-
age,and to maleand staf pLbe Ram an-
awerd and said: lord, I dare not do that,
for he bath said that he is in the popes cUfse.#'Che
58
kynge said: mhat therof? ma),ster Gel)'s hath said
to \1S )'f a man had doo as man)' s)'nnes as al the
world, and he wold the s)'nnes forsahe, shr)'ue hem,
and resse)'ue penance, &do b)' the prestes counse)'l,
God wit forg)'ue them and be merc),ful \1nto h)'m.
N owe wit Re),nard goo ouer the see in to the nol)'
Lande, & mahe h)'m clere of al his s),nnespt:henne
answerd Bell),n to the h)'nge: I wit not doo litH ne
moche henn but)'f)'esaueme harmlesin the spirituel
court b)'fore the b)'sshop prendelor, and to fore his
archedehen Loosu)'nde, and to fore Sir Rapiamu9
his off)'c)'alp'Che h)'nge began to wexe wroth, and
saide: lshal not b)'dde )'OU so moche in half a ),ere,
I had leuer hange )'OW than lshold so moche pra)'e
)'OU for itpmhan the Ramesawe that the h)'ngewas
angr)', he was so sore aferd that he quohe for fere,
and wente to the awter and sange in his bohes, and
radde suche as h)'m thoughte good ouer Re),nart,
rJ. whichel)'t)'l sette ther bv,sauf that hewold hauethe
K worship therof.
BellVn the Ramme had aUe sa)'d
his seru)'se deuoutl)', thenne he h)'nge
on the foxes nech a male couerd w)'th
the shvnne of Bru)'n the Bere & a l)'til
-""---, palater therb)" tho was Re),nart red)'
toward his joume)'. 'Cho lohed he to-
ward the h)'nge as he has ben sorowful to depart, &
\\\\II-lF"'I>favnedas he had wepte, rightas he hadde)'amerdein
hia herte: but Vf he hadon),sorow, itwaa b)' causeal
the other thatwere there were not in the same pl)'ght
aa the mulf & Bere were brought in b)' h)'m.
theles, he stood & pravd them aUe to pra)'e for hVm,
l)'he as he wold prave for them: the fo:xe thought
59
that he taryed longeand wold fa)'n hauedeparted for
he hnewe hym self gyltyp'Che hynge saide: Rey-
nart, lam sory ye be so hasty and wit no lenger tarye
p)'fay, my lord, it is tyme, for me ought not spare
to doo wel, 1 pray you to gyue me leue to departe,1
muste doo my p)!lgremagep'Che hynge sayd: God
be wyth yow1PHnd commanded aUe them of the
court to go and conueyne Reynart on his way, sauf
the lulf& theBerewbychefast layebounden, there
was none thatdurst be aory therfore.Hnd yf ye had
seen Reynart, how personably he wente wyth hys
maleand palsteron his sholderandthe ehoeeon his
feet, ye shold haue laughed. f)ewente & shewde hym
outewardwysely, buthelaughedin hisherte that alle
they brought bym forth, whiche had a lytyl to fore
been witb hymsowrootb,and alsotbe hyngewhiche
so mocbe bated bym, be bad made him sucbe a fool
that he brought hym to his owne entente: he was a
pylgrym of deuXfaas.
Y lord the hyng, sayd the foxe,1 pray
you toretome agayn, I wil not that ye
go ony fertherwithme, ye myght haue
harme therby : ye baue there two mor-
derars arestyd, yf they escaped you ye
myght be hurte by them, 1 pray God
hepe you fro mysauenturepIyth these wordes he
stode "P on his afterfeet, and prayde alle the beestys
greteandemalthatwoldebe parteners of his pardon
that theyshold praye for hym: theysayde that they
aUewolderemem bre hym. t:henne departed he fro the
hynge so heuyly that many of them ermed. t:henne
saide be to Kyward the f')are& to Bellyn the Ramme
merylyPDerefrendes,sballwenow departe?Yewit,
60
and God will accompanye me ferther: ye two made
me neuer angry, ye be good for to walhe wyth, cour-
toys, frendly & not comptaynedon of ony beeste.ye
be of good condicions and goostly of your lyuyng,
ye tyue bothe as 1 dydewhan 1 was a recluse, yf ye haue
leeuis and graa ye be plesyd,ye retch not of brede, of
flesshe, nesuchemaner metepmith sucheflateryng
wordes hath Reynard this twoflatred, that they went
wyth hym tyl they camen to fore bis bows JVIaleper-
duys.
11 ow the l1arewas slayn bythcFoxe,capituto
xxfll flI
tbefoxewae comen to fore
the yateofhis hows, he aayde to
Bellyn the RammepCosyn, ye
shat abide here withoute, 1 and
K ywart wille goo in, for I wille
praye K ywart to helpeme to tahe
my leue of rmelyn my wyf, &
to con forte her and my chyldren
6Bellyn sayde: 1 praye bym to comforte them wet
pmyth suchflateryng wordes brougbt he the fjare
in to his hole in an euyl bour: tbere fonde they dame
rmelyn lyengon the grounde with her yonglyngis,
wbiche had sorowed moche for frede of Reynarts
detb, but whan she sawe hym come she was gladP
But whan she sawe his male and palater and espyed
bis sboes,she meruailled & sayd:Dere Reyner, how
haue ye spedd? pJie sayd, 1 was ares tid i!1 the court,
butthehyngelatemegon.l muste gooapdgremage:
Bruyn the Sere & Ysegrym the Iulf they beplegge
61
-
for me. I than he the hynge he hath g)'uen to "s K),-
wart hier for to doo with h)'m wbat we w)'l. 'Che
h)'nge saide h)'m selfthatK),wart was the first that
on "s compla)'ned, and b)' the fa)'th that lowe ),ow
I am right wroth on K )'wartpmhan K ),wart herde
thise wordes he was sore aferde, he wold haue fled de
but he m)'ght not, for the foxe had anon b)'trn his
throte3Itwop'Cho sa)'d he: Late "9 go ete this good
fatte f)are fp'Che),ongewhelpes cam also, then held
the)'agretefeste, for K),wart had a good fatte bod)'.
rmel)'n ete the flesshe and dranhe the blood, she
thanhed ofte the h)'nge that he had made them so
mer),pLhe foxe saide: ete as moche as )'e ma)'e, he
wit pa)'e for it_yf we will feche it.
f) sa)'d: Re),nart, I trowe )'e moche:
teUemethetrouthe, how)'e be departed
thens? pDame, I haue so flaterid the
h)'nge and the quene that I suppose
the frrndship b)'twrne"s shal beright
th)'nne whan he ahaUe hnowe of this.
he ahal be angr), and hastel), sehe me for to hange
me b)' m)'ne neche: therfore late "s departe,and stele
secretl), aIwa)' in somme other foreste, wherewe ma),
l)'ue w)'thoute fere and drede, and there that we rna)'
l)'ue "ij ),ere and more and he rynde "s not. 'Chere is
plente of good mete of partr),chs, wodecohhis, and
moche other w)'lde fowle, dame, and )'f )'e will come
with me th)'der ther ben swete welles and fa)'r and
ctere rrnn)'ng brohes. Lord God, how swete e),er is
there f 'Chere ma), we be in pees and ease, and l)'ue in
grete welthe, for the h)'nge hath lete me gon b)' cause
I tolde h)'m thatther was grete tresourin Krehenp)'t,
but there shal he rynde noth)'ng though he sought
62
euer;this shalsore angre bymwhan he hnoweththat
he is thus deceyuid. Wbat, trowe ye bowmanyagrete
lesynge muste I lye er I code escape from hym? It
was harde that I escaped out of pryson, I was neuer
in gretter paryl, ne nerrer lny deth: but bow it euer
goo, Ishal by my wille neuermore comein tbe hynges
daunger. I haue now goten my thombe out of bis
moutb, that tbanhe I my subt)'lyte.
rmelyne sayde P Reynart, I
counseyl that we goo not in to anotber
foreste, wherewesbolde bestrangeand
elrnge, we haue bere al tbat we desyre,
& ye be bere lorde of our neygbbours!
wherfore sbaUe we leue this place and
auenturevs in a worse?Wemay abyde bere sureyn-
ougb: yf tbe hynge wold doo vs on)' barm or besiege
vs, bere ben 90 many by or side boles in 9ucbe w)'se
as we sbal escape fro bym. In abyd)'ng here we may
not doo am),s, we hnowe alle bypathes ouer aUe, and
er he tahe vs witb myght he muste haue mocbe belpe
tberto: but tbat ye haue sworen that ye shalle goo
ouersee&abide tbere, tbatis tbetbyng tbat toucbetb
me dame, care not tberfore: bow more
forIsworn, bow more forlorn: I wente ones witb a
good man tbat said to me tbat a bydwongen otb, or
otb sworn by force, was none otb. 'Cbougb I wente
on tbis pitgremage it sbold not auayUe me a cattes
ta)'l, I wit abyde bere and folowe your counseyl: yf
tbe hynge hunte after me, I shal hepe me a9 wel as I
maye: yf be be me to myghty, yet I bope wytb sub-
tylte to begyle bym, I sbal vnbynde my sach, yf he
will seche harm he shal fynde barme.
was SeUyn the Rammeangry that
K ywart his felawe was so longe in the
hole and called 10wdepCome out, K y-
warte, in the deuels nanle f how longe
shal Reynart hepe you there? f)aste
~ D I ! : : 1 e ........ you & come late "s gooPIhan Rey-
nard herde thlS, he wente out & saide softly to Sel-
lyn the RammepLief SeUyn, wherfore be yeangry?
Kywart spehethwyth hisdereaunte: me thynheth ye
ought not to be d)1splesid therfore. fie bad me saye
to yow ye myght wel go to fore, and he ahal come
after: he is lighter of fote than yow, he muate tarye
a whyle wyth hie aunte and her chyldren, they wepe
&crye b)' causelehall goo fro thempSellyn sayde:
IhatdideKyward, methought he cryed after helpe?
j9'Cbe foxe answerd: Wbat aaye ye, Sellyn, wene ye
tbat be sbold baue on)' barme? Now berhe wbat be
tbenne dyde: wban we were comen in to myn bows,
and rmelyn m)' wyf "nderstode that I shold goo
ouer see she fyl doun in a awoun, and whan Kywart
sawe tbat he cryed loude: Sellyn, come helpe myn
aunteto bryng herout of herewounpt:benne sayde
the Ramme: In fayth lvnderstode tbat Kywart had
ben in grete daungerP'Cbe foxe sayde: Nay, truly,
or K ),ward sbold baue on)' harme in m)' bowel had
leuer that m)' w)'f and ch)'ldren ebold euffre moche
burte.
now the foxe sente the heed of K),wart the nare to
the It)'nge b)' Sell)'n the Ramme, capitulo
foxe aaide:Bell),n,remembre
)'e not that )'eaterda)'e the It)'nge
and his counse)'l commanded me,
that er Ishold departeout of this
land I shold aende to h)'m two
lettres? Dere cos)'n, I pra), )'ou to
bere them, the)' be red)' wretonp
Ramme sa)'de: I woteneuer,
)'f I wiate that ),our end)'tt)'ng and wr)'t)'ng were
good, )'e m)'ght parauenture so moche pra)'eme that
I wold bere them, )'f I had on)' th)'ng to bere them in
PRe),nard saide:ye shalnotfa),letohauesomwhat
to bere hem in: rather than the)' shotd be "nbom, I
shal rather gyue )'ow m)' male that I bere, and put
the h)'nges lettres thenn, and hange them aboute
),our neche:Je shal haue of the h)'nge grete thanhe
therfore, an be right welcomen to h),mpnier"pon
Bell)'n prom)'sed h)'m to bere thiee lettres: tho re-
tomed Re),nart in to his howe, & tolte the male and
put thenn K ),warts heed, and brought it to Bell)'n
for to br)'nge h)'m in daunger, and henge it on his
neche, and chargyd h)'m not for to lolte in the male
)'f he wolde haue the h)'ngis frendehipPHnd)'f)'e
wit that the h)'nge talte )'ou in to hie grace, and loue
)'ou, sa)'e that)'e ),our self haue made the and
endited it, and haue gyuen the counee)'l that it 1S eo
wel made and wreton:),e shal haue grete thanh ther-
forePSeU)'n the Rammewas glad herof, & thought
he shold haue grete thanlte, and saide: Re)'nard, I
wote wei that )'e now doo for me, Ishal be in the
court gretl)' pre)'sed whan it is hnowen that I can so
wel end)'te and mahe a lettre, thaugh I can not mahe
it: ofte tymes it happeth that God suffreth some to
haueworshipandthanhe of the labourisand c0!1yng
of other men, and so it shal bifalle me now.
what counse)'le ),e, Re),ner, shal K ),waert the fjare
come w)'th me to the court?P)'ia)', sa)'d the foxe,
he shal anone folowe ),ow, he not ),et come, for
he muste spehew)'th his aunte. ow goo )'e forth to
fore, I shalshewe to K ),wart secrete th)'ngis whiche
ben not et hnowen.
eLLYN sa)'d: fare wel, Re),nartp
Rnd wente b)'m fortb to tbe court, and
he ran and hasted sofaste that be cam
to fore m)'dda)' to the court, & fonde
theh)'ngin hispala)'sw)'th his barons.
h)'ngmerua)'Uedwhan he saw him
br)'ng the male aga)'n whiche was madeof the Beres
sh),np'Che h)'ng saide: Sa)'e on, BeU)'n, fro whens
come)'e? where is the foxe? bowis it that he hathnot
the male with h)'m?J9Bell)'n sa)'d: M)' lord, I sbal
sa)'e ),OW al that I hnowe. I accompan)'ed Re),nard
vnto his hows, and whan he was red)' he ashed me )'f
that I wold for ),our saaclte bere two lettres to )'ow.
I saide for to do ),ou pla)'sir and worship I wold
gladl)' bere to )'ow vij: tho brought he to me this
male where in the lettres be, which ben end)'ted b)'m)'
conn)'ng and 19af counse)'lof the mah)'ngof them.
I trowe ),esawe neuer lettres betterne craftel),ermade
ne end)'tedpt:he h)'nge commanded anon Bohart
bis secretarye to rede the lettres, for he vnderstode
al maner langages. t:)'bert the Catte and he tohe the
male of BeU)'ns neclte, and BeU)'n hath soferre sa)'d
and confess)'d that he therfore was dam pned.
66
clerhe Bohart the male &
drewe out K heed, and aayde:
Hlaa,whatlettrea ben
lord, thia is K heedp Hlaa,
\ the that euer I bdeuid so
the see grete
uaA' ...... of the and of the quene: the
was so he helde longe doun his heed, and
atte laste after thoughtes he made a grete crye
that aUe the were aferde of the 1:ho
apach Sir firapeel the Lupaerd, whiche waa
aomwhat to the and saidepSire how

the quene were dede: late this aorowe goo, and mahe
good chere. It is grete ahame, be not a lorde and
of this londe? Is it not aUe "nder )'OW that
here is ?pLheh)'ngeaa)'de: Sirfiraped,howsholde
Isuffre this, one false ahrewe and hath be-
me, and brought me ao ferre that I haue for-
wrought & angred frmdes that 1 had, the stoute
the Bere and the mulf, whiche aore
me repenteth, and this that
1 haue done aymst beste barons, and that
I trusted and beleuld so moche the fals horeson the
foxe, and is cause therof, she me so
moche that I herde her and that merepmteth
thaugh it be to latepmhat thawh, sir said
the Lupaerd, ther be it shal
be amended: we shat 9)'ue the Bere, to yae-
the mulf, & to for the pece
of his and for their shoes for to haue good
pees, the Ramme, for he hath
self that he gaf & to K
f2
deth: it ia reson that he abye it. FInd we aUeahal goo
fecche Reynard, and we ahal areate hym, and han ge
hym by the nechewithout lawe or jugement, and ther
with aUe ahul be contente.
now BeUyn theRamme&aUe hialignage weregyuen
in the handea of yaegrym and Bruyn, & how he waa
alayn, capitulo ):xtj,tP,tP .
hynge said: I wit do it gladly
firapel the Lupaerd wente tho
.. to the priaon, and vnbonde them
firat, & thenne he aaid: Ye, sirea, I
brynge toyou a faste pardon and
my lordea loue and frmdshyp, it
repenteth hym and ia aory that he
eu er hath don, apo hen, or tres pac-
ed a),enst )'ou, and therfore )'e shal haue a good ap-
po)'ntement and alao amendes. f)e ahal gyue to )'OU
BeUyn the Ramme & aUe hialignage, fro now forth-
on to domeadaye,in suchewyae that where aomeuer
ye rynde them, in felde or in wode, that ye may frely
byte and ete them wythout ony forfayte, & also the
hynge graunteth to yow that )'e ma)'e hunte and do
the werat that )'e can to Re),nard and aUe hisl)'gnage
w)'thout m)'sdo)'ng. 'Chia fa)'r grete pr)'uelage w)'Ue
the h)'ngegraunte to),ou euer to holde of hym, & the
h)'nge wyUe that)'e awere to h)'m neuer to m)'sdoo,
but doo hym homage and feawte. I counsell yow to
doo thia, for )'e ma), doo it honorably P 'Chua waa
the pees made b)' fyrapel the Lupaerd frendly & wei,
and that coate BeUyn the Ramme hia tabart and also
hialyf,and theWulfis lignage holdethise preuitegia
of the h),nge, and in to thys dave they deuoure and
eteBeU)'ns lignage where that the)' ma)'ryndethem:
68
this debate was begonne in an eu)'l tyme, for the pees
coude neuer s)'th be made b)'twene them. t:he h)'nge
d)'de forthw)'th his courte, & feste lengthe xij da)'es
lenger for loue of theBere and the Iulf, so glad was
he of the mah)'ng of this pees.
Jiow the h)'nge helde his fees e,and how Lapreel the
Con), compla),nedvntothe h)'ngevpon Re),nart the
foxe, capitulo xxiijJP JP
o thisgretefestecam al manerof
beestis, for the h)'nge d)'de do crye
tbys feste ouer aUe in that londe:
there was the most jo)'e & m),rthe
that euerwasseen emongbeestis,
ther was daunsed man erl)' the ho-
uedaunce with shalmouse, trom-
.. W: ... ... 1JI pettis, & alle manerof menestrat-
s),e. t:he h)'nge d)'de do orde)'ne so moche mete that
euer)'cb fonde )'nough, & tber was no beest in al his
lande so grete ne so l'yt)'l but be was tbere, and tber
were man)' fowles & b)'rdes also. Hnd aUe tbe)' tbat
desired tbe h)'nges frendsbipwere tber, sauingRey-
nard the foxe, tbe rede false pilgr)'m, wbiche la)'e in
aIWa)'te to doo barme, and tbougbte it was not good
for b)'m to be there. JVIete & dr)'nhe flowed tbere, tber
were pla)'es & esbatemens, tbe feest was futof melo-
d)'e, one m)'gbt baue luste to see sucbe a feeste. Rnd
rigbt as tbe feeste bad dured viij da)'es, 3Iboute m)'d-
da)' cam in tbeCon)"Lapreel, to fore tbe h)'ngewbere
be satte on tbe table witbthequene,&sa)'d al beu)'t)'
tbat aU tbe)' berde b)'m tbat were tbere p ]VI)' torde,
haue p)'te on m)' compla),nt, wbicbe is of grete force
and murdre tbatRe)'nard thefoxe wold baue don to
me f yester morow as I cam renn)'ng b)' b)'s borugb
f3 69
at }VIaleperduys, he stode byfore his dore wythoute
lylte a pylgryme. I supposed to haue passed by hym
peasibly toward this feste, & whan he sawe me come,
he cam aymst me, sayeng his bedea. I salewed hym,
but he spaclt not one worde, but he raught oute his
right foot, and dubbed me in the neclte bytwene myn
eeris that I had wmde I sholde haue loste my heed,
but, God be than Ited, I was so lyght that I eprange
fro hym. myth moche payne cam I of his dawes: he
grymmed as he had bm angry by cauae he hdde me
no fa9ter. 'Choleacaped from hym, I loatemyn one
ere, & I bad foure grete boles in my heed of his sharpe
naylea, that the blood sprange out,& tbatI wasnyhe
al aIswoun. But for the grete fere of my lif Isprange
and ran so faste fro hym that he coude not ouertalte
me. See, my lord, thyse grete woundes that he hath
made tome with his sharpe longe na-ylea: I pra-y -you
to haue pite of me, & that ye wit punysshe thi9 falae
tra),tour and morderar, or eUia shal ther noman goo
and comm ouer the betb in saefte, wh)'lea he haunt-
.. . n eth his falae and shrewde rewle.
how Corbant tbe Rolte cOlnpla-yned on the foxe for
ii' the deth of his wyf, capitulo xxiiij,t(l,.p
as the Con-y bad made an
md of hia complaynt, cam in Cor-
bant the Roelt flow en in the place
---... to fore the hyn ge, & aaydePDere
lorde, here me, I br)'nge )'OU hier a
pietous com pla-yn t. I wentetoda)'
b-y the morow wyth Sharpebelt m)'
w'Yf for to pla-ye "pon the heth, &
there la-ye Reynart tbe foxe doun on tbe grounde l'Ylte
a dede Iteyt-yf. l1)'s e'Ym stared,and hia tonge bmge
longe outof hismouth,lilte an hounde had ben deed.
me taated and felte his bell', but we fonde theron no
lyf:thowente mywyfand herltened and leyde her ere
to fore his mouth, for towiste if hedrewe hia breeth,
whyche mysfyUe her euyl, for the false feUe foxe
awaytedwel hlS t)'me,andwhan he sawe her sonygh
hym he caught her by the heed and boote it of. Lbo
, was I in grete sorowe and Cfyde lowde: Rlas, alas,
what ia there happed fpLhenne stode he hastely"p,
and raught ao couetously after me that for feere of
deth I trembled and flewh"pon a treetherby,&sawe
fro ferre how the false Iteyt)'f ete and slonlted her in,
so hungerly that he lefte neyther flessh ne bone, no
more but a fewe fethers, the smal fethers he slange
them in wyth the fleash: hewaa so bung'fy, he wolde
wel baueeten tweyne. Lbowente he to hta atrete: tho
flewe I doun with grete aorow and gadred "p the
fetheris for to sbewe tbem to you here. I wolde not
be agayn in suche peryl and fere as I was there for a
thousand marhe of the rynest gold that euer cam
out of Hrabye. My lord the Ityng, see hier tbis pyte-
ous werlte, tbise ben the fethers of Sharpbeclte my
wyf. }VIy lord, )'f ye wit haue worship ye muste do
herfore just)'ce, and auenge you in sucbewiseasmen
may fere & bolde of yow, for yf ye suffre tbus youre
saufconduyt to be brolten, ye your self shal not goo
peasibly in the hye way: for tho lordes that do not
Just)'ce and suffre tbat the lawe benot executed "pon
the theeuis, morderars, and them that mysdoo, they
bt partrners to fore <3odof aUe theyr mysdedesand
treapaces, and eueryche throne wyUe be a lord hym
self. Dere lorde, see wel to for to Itepe your self.
~
I
~
(
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ O B L tbe It'yng was sore meuyd ~
& angry wban be bad berde tblse
com pla)'n tes of tbe Con), and of ~
tbe Roell. l1e was so ferdful to
lolle on tbat bis e)'en gl)'mmerd
,TY.-._ as fyre, be bra),ed as lowde as a
.. " ... bulle, in sucbe wise tbat aUe tbe
~ ~ ~ i l ~ ~ courtquohe forfeere.Ht tbe laste
be sa)'de cr)'engpS)'m)'crowne, and b)'tbe troutbe
tbat lowe to m)' w)'f, I sbal so awrehe and auenge
tbis trespaces tbat it sbal be longe spollen of after
tbat my saufconduyt & my commandement is tbus
brollen.l was ouer n)'ce tbat 1 beleuid so l)'gbtly the
false sbrewe: bis false flater),ng specbe dece)'ued
me, be tolde me be wo1de go to Rome, and fro tbens
ouer see to tbe 1101), Londe. 1 gaf b)'m male & pals-
terand madeofb)'m a p)'lgrym andwentea1 troutb.
o wbat false toucbes can be: bow can be stuffe tbe
sleue w)'tb floclles f But tbis caused my wyf, it was
a1 by ber counse)'l, 1 am not tbe fyrat that baue ben
deceyued by wymmena counse)'l, by wbicbe man)' a
grete hurte batb byfaUen. 1 praye and comande aUe
tbem tbat holde of me and desire m)' frendehip, be
tbe)' bere or wber aomeuer tbey be, that the)' w)'tb
tbeyr counseyl and dedes belpe me tauengetbisouer
grete trespaaa, tbatwe andowris ma)'ab)'de in bon-
our and worship, and tbia false theef in sbame, that
be nomore trespaceayenat ouraaufgarde: 1 will m)'-
sell in my persone betpe tberto at that I maye.
the mulf and Sru)'n the
Sere herdewel the h)'nges wordes, and
hoped wel to be auengid on Re),nard
the foxe, but the)'durstenotspeheone
word: the It)'nge was so sore meu)'d
that none durste welspelte. Htte laste
thequenespaltPSire,pourDieu ne cro)'e9 m),etoutes
choses que on VOU9 d)'e et ne jure9 pas legiennent, a
man of worship shold not l)'ghtl)' bileue ne 9were
gretl)' vnto the t)'me he Itnewe tbe mater clerl),. Hnd
also we ought b)'right here that other part)'e spehe:
tber ben man)' that compla)'ne on other and ben in
tbe defaute them self. Hudi alteram partem, here that
other part)'e. I haue trul), holden the foxe for good,
and "pon that that he mente no falshede I helped
hym tbat I m)'ght, but how 90meuer it cometh or
gooth, is he eu)'l or good, me th)'n heth for ),ourwor-
sbipthat )'eshold notprocedea),ensth),m ouer hast-
el)', that were not good ne honeste, for he ma), not
escape fro )'ou, )'e ma)'e pr)'sone h)'m or slee h),m, he
musteobe)'e ),our jugementpt:henne saide f),rapel
tbe Lupaerd: ]VI)' lord, me tb)'nheth m)' lad)' here
hath saide to )'ou trouthe, & gyuen )'ow good coun-
se)'1. Do )'e wel and folowe her, and tahe adu)'se of
),our w)'se counse)'l, and )'f he be founden gylt)'
in the trespaces that now to )'ow be shewd, late h)'m
be sore pun)'sshid acord)'ng to h)'s trespaces, and
)'f he come not h)'ther er this feste be ended and ex-
cuse h)'m as he ought of right to doo, thenne doo
as the counse)'l shal adu)'se )'ow, but and )'f he were
tw)'es as mocbe false and )'Ue as he is I wolde not
counse)'Ue that hesholde bedone to more than right
OIsegrym tbe muif saide: Sir f),rapai, aU we agree
7
3
to tbe same as ferre as it plesetb my lord tbe Itynge,
it can not be better. But tbougb Reynart were now
bere and be cleryd bym of double so many playntes,
yetsbold I bryngefortbayenst bym tbatbebad for-
fay ted bis lyf. But I wyl now be st)'Ue and saye not,
by cause be \s not presente, and yet aboueaUe tbis be
batbtoldetbeltyngeof certayn tresour lyeng in Kre-
Itenpyt in f)ulsterlo; tber was neuer lyed a grete les-
yng, tberwytb be batb"s aUe begyled, and batb sore
byndred me and tbe Bere. I dar leye ".!}' lyf tberon
tbat be sayd not tberof a trewe worde. ~ o w robbetb
beand steletb"pon tbe betbaUetbat gootb fortb by
his bows: neuertbeles, Sir firapel, wbat tbat plesetb
tbe Itynge and yow tbat muste wei be don, but & yf
bewolde baue comen bytberbe mygbt baue ben bere,
for he had Itnowleche by the It'ynges messagespCbe
Ityngesayde: Wew)'lnoneothuw)'sesmde for h),m,
but I commande aUe tbem tbat owe me seruyse and
wyUe my bonour & worsbippe, tbat tbey malte tbem
redyto tbewarre at tbeendeof "j dayes, aU tbem tbat
ben arcbers and baue bowes, gonnes, bombardee,
borsemen and footemen, tbat aUe tbyse be redy to
besiege JVIaleperduys. Isbal destro),e Re),nart the
foxe )'fl be a It)'nge: ye lordaand sires, what a aye ye
bereto, wille )'e doo tbis 'Yytb a good wyU ? pHnd
tbey aayd and cryed aUe: Ye, we lorde, wban tbat ye
wyUe we sbal aUe goo witb )'ow.
74
now 6r),mbert the Dasse warned the foxe that the
It)'nge was wroth with h)'m and wold slee h),m, capi-

LL th)'se wordes herde 6r)'m-
bert the Dasse, wh)'che was h)'s
brother sonne: he was sor)' and
an9!),),f it might haue prouff)'t-
ed. ne ranne thenne the h)'e wa)'e
to )\'1aleperdu)'sIward, he spared
netherbusshnehawe but he hast-
ed so sore that he swette. f)e sor-
owed in h)'m self for Re),nart his rede eme, and as he
wente he saide to h)'m self: Rlas, in what daunger be
)'e comen in: where shall )'e become? Shall I see ),OU
brought fro l)'f to dethe, or dles ex)'led oute of the
lande?1:rul), lma)'bewd sorouful, for)'e be the heed
ofaUe our lignage;)'e be w)'se ofcounse),l,),e be red)'
to hetpe ),our frendes whan the)' haue nede,),e can so
wd shewe ),our resons that where)'e spelte)'e w),nne
all jI With such maner wa)'ll)'ng & p)'tous wordes
cam 6r),mbert to )\'1aleperdu)'s,& fonde Re),nart his
eme there stand),ng, wbiche had goten two p),geons,
as they cam first out of her neste to assa)'e )'f the)'
coude flee, & bicause the fethers on her w)'ngis were
to shorte the)' fyUe doun to the ground, and as Re),-
nart was gon out to seche h)'s mete he esp)'ed them
and caught hem, & was com en homewith hempRnd
whan he sawe6r)'mbert coming, hetaryedandsaid:
Wetcome, m)' best betoued neuew that I Itnowe in at
m)' It),nrede, )'e haue ronne faste, )'e ben at btIswette,
haue ye onynewet)'dinges? pRtas, said he, t),efeme,
it standeth eu)'tw)'th)'ow,)'e haue loste both tyfand
good, the It)'nge hath swom that he shall gyue you
75
a shameful deth, he hath commanded alle bys folhe
( within "j da)'es for to here, archers, fo tem en , hors-
men, and peple in wa),nes, and he hath gunnes, bom-
bardes, tentes and pau)'Uyons, and also he hath do
laaden torches: see to fore yow, for )'e haue n ede. Ise-
gr)'m and Bru)'n ben better now w)'th the h)'ngethan
I am w)'th )'ow, alle that the)' wille is do on : Isegr)'m
hath don h)'m to "nderstande that)'e be a theef and
a morderar, he hath grete enu)'e to )'ow. Lapreel the
Con), & Corbant the Roeh haue made a grete com-
pla),nte also. I sorowe moche for ),our l)'f, that for
dredelam alle seheppuf,saidthefoxe,dereneuew,
is ther nothing ellis ? Se),e so sore aferd herof? JVlahe
good chere hardely, though the h)'n ge h)'m self & aUe
that ben in the court had swom m),deth,),et shal I be
exalted aboue them aUe, the)' ma)'e aUe faste, jangle,
clatre, & )'eue counse)'l, but the courte ma), not proa-
pere w)'thoute me and my w)'lea and subt)'lte
. f)owRe nart thefoxecamanother time to the court,
capitulo JP
eR neuew, tate aU thise thin ges
passe, & come here in, & see what
I shat g)'ue you, a good pa)'re of
fattep)'geons,llouenometebet-
-....,,, ter, the)' ben good tod),gest, the)'
ma)'e almost be awolowen in aUe
hoole, the bones ben half blode,I
ete them with that other. I fele m)'
self other wh)'le en com bred in m)' stomah, therfore
ete I gladl)' l),ghtmete .M),w),frmel),n shat rece)'ue
"a frendly, but telle her noth)'ngof this th)'nge, for
she sholde tahe it ouer heu)'l)', she is tendre of herte,
she myght for fere faUe in somme sehenes, a l)'t)'l
76
th)'nge gooth sore to her herte. FInd to morow erl)' I
wit goo with ),owto the courte, and )'fI ma),come to
speche and rna)' be herd, I shalsoansuere that I sha1
touche some n)'gh ),nowh. e u e w , w)'1 not)'e stande
b)'meas a frendought to do to another ?P'Yes tru1)"
dere eme, said <3r)'m bert, & aUe m)' good is at ),our
commandementp<3od than he ),ou, neuew, said the
foxe, that is wei sa)'d, )'f I rna)' 1)'ue I shal qu)'te it
),owPme, said <3r),mbert, )'e ma)'we1 come tofore
aUe the lordes and excuse ),ow, ther sha1 none areste
),ow ne holde as longe as )'e bein )'ourwordesp'Che
quene and the Lupaerd baue goten that then, said
the foxe, therfor 1 am glad, thenne 1 carre not for
the beste of them an heer, Ishal wd saue m)' sdfe
p'Che), spahe nomore herof, but wente forth in to
the burgb, and fonde rmd)'n tbere sitt)'ng b)' ber
)'ongl)'ngs, wbicbe aroose "p anon & rece)'uid them
frendl),. <3r),mbert salewed his aunte and the ch)'l-
dren w)'tb frendl)'wordes: the ij p),geons were made
red)' for the)'r soperwbicbe Re),nard bad tahen, ecbe
of tbem tohe bis part as ferre as it wolde stratche,
)'f ecbe of hem had had one more tber sholde but
l)'t)'l haue lefte ouer J9Lhe foxe saide: Lief neuewe,
how l)'he)'e m)' ch)'ldren Rosel & Re)'nerd)'n ? 'Che)'
sbal do worship to aUe our l)'gnage, tbe)' begynne
al red)' to do wel, tbat one catcheth wd a ch)'hen and
tbat otber a puUet, tbe)' conne wel atso duhe in the
water after lapw)'ncbes and doh)'s. I wolde often
sende tbem for prouande, but I wit ryrste tecbe them
bow the)' sbat hepe tbem fro tbe grynnes, fro tbe
hunters, and fro tbe boundes. Yf the)' were so ferre
comen tbat the)' were w)'se, I durste wet truste to
tbem that the)' sbold wet ")'ta),Ue "s in man)' good
77
diuersea metes that we now laclte, and theV lvlte and
~
folowe me wel, for theV plave aUe grvmmvng, and
where theV hate theV lolte frendlv & mervlv, for ther
bV theV brvnge them "nder their feet and bVte the
throte asondre, this is the nature of the foxe. 'CheV
be swVfte in their taltvnge whiche pleeeth me wel.
}VI , aaid Grvmbert, Ve mav be glad
that Ve haue euche wvee chvldren, and
I am glad of them also bV cause theV
~ ~ ~ b e of mv Itvnnep0rymbert, said the
~ ~ = ~ ~ foxe, ve haue swette & be werv, it were
L hve t)'de that ve were at vour resteD
me, vf it plese vou, it thvnlteth me goodP'Cho
lave theV do un on a lVtier made of strawe. 'Che foxe,
~ hvs WVf & hvs chvldren, wente aUe to slepe, but the
_?!";\: ..... Tt"'foxe was al heuV, & lave, sighed, and sorowed how
he mvght beste excuse hvm aelf. On the morow erlv
he ruvmed hia castel and wente with 0rym bert, but
he tolte leue first of dame rmelvn hia wVf and of
his chvldrm,andeavdeP'Chvnltenot longelmuste
goo to thecourtwvth 0rvmbertmvcosvn, Vfl tarye
somwhat be not aferde, and Vf Ve here onv vUe t)'d-
vngis talte it alwav for the beate, and seewel to vour
self and Itepe our castel wel. I shal doo vonder the
beste I can, after that I see how it goothpHlas
Revner, said she, how haue Ve now thus talten "pon
Vow for to go to the courtagavn f'Che last t)'methat
Ve were there, Ve were in grete ieopardve of vour lVf,
and Ve savde vewold neuer cometheremorePDame,
said the foxe, thauenture of the world is wonderlv,
it goth otherwhyle bV wenvng, manv one weneth to
haue a thingwhlche be muste forgoo. I mustenedes
now go tbvder, be content it is al wvtboute drede. I
7
8
hope to come at alther lengest with in ryue dayes
agaynpl1erewyth he departed, & wentewith6rym-
bert to the courtrward, and whan they were vpon the
heeth thenne sayde Reyner: e u e w , syth 1 was laste
shryuen 1 haue don many shrewde tornes, 1 wolde
ye wold here me now of aUe that 1 haue trespaced in.
1 made the Sere to haue a grete wounde for the male
whiche was cutte outof his sltynne, and also 1 made
the mulf and hiswyf to lese her shoon.l peased the
hynge with grete lesyngis, and bare hym on honde
that the mulf and the Sere wold haue betrayed hym
& wolde haue slayn hym, so 1 made the Itynge right
wroth with them, where they deseruyd it not. Hlso I
tolde to the Itynge that ther was grete tresour in
I)ulsterlo, of whiche hewas neuer the better ne riche,
for Ilyed al that lsayde. lledde Sellyn the Ramme
and K ywart the fjare with me, & slewe K yward and
sente to the ltyngebySeUyn Kywarts heed in sltorn.
find 1 dowed tbe Cony bytwenebiseeris thatalmost
1 benamme bis lyf from hym, for be escaped ayenst
my wyl, be was to me ouer swyft. 'Cbe Roelt may wei
complayne, for Iswolowed in dame Sharpbeclt his
wyf. Hnd also I haue forgoten on thyng, the laste
tyme that I was shreuen to you, which I haue syth
bethought me, & itwas of grete deceyte that 1 clyde,
wbicbe I now wyll teUe yow. I cam wyth the mulf
walltynge bytwene I)outhulstand luerdynge, there
sawe we goo a rede mare and she had a blaclt colte or
a fool of iiij monethis olde which was good and
fatte.lsegrym was almost storuen for hunger, and
prayd me goo to the mare and wyte of her yf she
wold selle her fool. 1 ran faste to the mare and axed
that of her: abe sayd she wold selle it for money. I
79
demaundedof ber bowsbewold
It is wreton in foot, conne rede and
be a clerh, come see and rede itPLbo I
wei wbere sbe wold be, and Isaide: for sotbe, I
can not redeandalso I to
batb sente me betber and wold hnowe
tbe tberof p'Cbe mare saide: Late come
self,and baue hnowlecbe
Isbal, & wente to and
saide: eme, wil ete ful of tbis colte, so
goo faste to tbe mare for sbe after sbe
batb do wryte tbe pris of ber colte vnder ber fote,
sbe wolde tbat I sbold baue redde it, but 1 can not
one lettrewbicbe me sore repentetb, for 1 wente neuer
to scole. me, ye bye tbat colte? conne rede,
so b)'e neuew, tbat can I wel, wbat
sbold me lette? I can wel frensbe, Laryn, nglissb
and Ducbe, I baue goon toscole at I baue
and doctours ben in tbe au-
and berde plees, and also baue sen-
ten ce: I am in botbe lawes. Wbat maner
tbat man can deu)'se I can rede it as
per11'gbtl)' as name, I w)'l goo to ber and shal
anon vnderstonde tbe pr),sPHnd bad me to tarye
for b)'m, and be ranne to the mare, and of ber
bow sbe wold selle ber fool or hepe itpSbe sa)'de:
'Cbe somme of tbe mone), standetb wreton after on
m)'fotepnesaide: LatemeredeitPSbesaide: Doo,
and l)'fte vp ber foot, wbicb was newe sbood
)'ron and vj stronge na),les, & sbe smote w)'tb-
out m)'ss)'ng on bis beed tbat be 11'1 doun as be bad
ben deed, a man sbold wei baue r)'den a m)'le er be
aroos. 'Cbe mare trottedawa)'w)'tb bercolte and sbe
80
leet Isegrym l)'eng shrewdl), hurt and wounded, be
la)'e and bledde, and howled as an houndPI wente
tho to h)'m and sa)'de: Sirysegr)'m, dere eme1 how
is it noww)'th )'ow? f)aue)'e eten ),nowh of the colte,
is ),our bel)' ful? Wh)' g)'ue)'e me no parte, I d)'de
),our erande? f)aue)'e slepte ),our d)'ner? I pra), )'ow
teUe me whatwas wreton "ndey the mares fote: what
was it, prose or r)'me, metre or "erse? I wold fa)'n
hnoweit.l troweitwas cantum, for I herde )'ou s),nge
me thoughte fro ferre, for )'e were so w)'se that no-
man coude rede it better than ),ePRlas, Re),nart,
alas, said the mulf, I pra), )'ou to leue ),oure moch-
)'ng. I am so foule ara)'ed and sore hurte that an
herteof stonem)'ght haue p)'teof me. t:he horew)'th
her longe legge had an )'ron foot, I wende the na)'les
therof had ben tettres, and she h)'tte me at the ryrst
strohe "j gretewoun des in m)' heed that almost it is
clouen: suche maner tettres shall neuer more desire
toredepDere eme, is that trouthethat),e teUe me?1
haue herof grete merua)'U, I hdde )'ou for one of the
w)'seet clerhea that now l)'ue, now I here wei it is true
that 110ng s)'th haue redde and herde, that the beste
clerhes ben not the w)'seet men; the 1a)'e pep1e other-
wh)'te wexe w)'se. t:he cause that th)'se derhes bern
not the w)'sest is that the)' stud)'e soo moche in the
conn)'ng and science that the)' thenn doo1ejlChus
brought lleegr)'m in this grete laete & harme that
he "nneth b)'hdde hisl)'f.
neuew, nowe baue I tolde )'ou alle
m)' s)'nnes tbat I rem em bre, wbat soo
euer fall at tbe court, I wote neuer bow
it sbalstonde w)'tb me there, I am not
now so sore aferd for I am clere from
s)'nne, I w)'l gladl)' come to merc), and
rece)'ue penan ce b)' )'our counse),lPGr),m bert said:
'Chetreapaces ben grete, neuertbeleswbotbat is deed
muste ab)'de deed, and tberfore I wit forg-yue it )'ow
altog-ydre, w)'tb the fere that )'e ahal au"ffre therfore
er)'e shal conne excuse )'ou of tbe dethe, & hier "pon
I w)'l asso)'le )'ou, but the moste b)'ndre that)'e ahal
baue shal be, that)'eaenteK)'warts heed to the court,
and tbat )'e bl)'nded the Il)'nge w)'th auche lies: eme,
tbat was rigbt eu)'l do on p'Che foxe aa)'de: What,
t)'ef neuew, who that w)'l goo thurgb the world, this
to bere and tbat to see, and tbat otber to teUe, trul),
it ma)' not clerl)' be done: bow ahold on)' man ban-
die bon)' but)'f be lyclled his f)'ngres (lam oft)'mes
vexed and pr)'clled In m)' consc),ence as to loue God
aboue all th)'nge and m)'ne euen cr),sten as m)' self,
as is to God weI acceptable and acord),ngto bislawe;
but bow wene )'e tbat reson w)'thin forthe fyghtetb
a)'enst the outeward w)'U, than stonde laUe at)'Ue in
m)' self that metb),nlleth I haue loate aUe m)' wittes,
and wote not wbat me e),letb, I am tbenne in suche a
thougbt. I baue now aUe lefte m)' a)'nnes, & bate aUe
tb)'nge tbat is not good, and cl)'mme in his contem-
placion aboue bis commandements, but this apecial
grace baue I wban I am alone: but in a ahort wh)'le
after, wban the world cometh in me, thenne fynde I
in m)' wa)' so man)' stones, and the fote spores tbat
th)'se loos prelatea and riche preest)'a goo in, tbat I
82
am anone taken agayn, thenne cometh the world and
wit haue this, & the flesshe wit lyue plesantl)"whiche
le)'e to fore me so man)' thinges that I thenne lose aU
my good thoughtis and purpoos.l here there synge,
pype, law he, playe, & aUe m),rthe, & I here that these
prelates and ryche curates preche and save aU other
wyse than they thynke and doo, there lerne I to l)'e.
'Che les)'n ges ben moste "sed in the lordes courtes,
certayn ly lordea, lad)'es, pres tis and clerkes, makm
lnoat lea)'ngis; men dare not teUe to the lordes now
the trouthe, ther is defaute.l must flatre & lye also or
eUisI shold be shette w)'thout the dore. I haue ofte
herde men sa)'e trouthe and rightfull)" & haue the)'r
reaon made w)'th a (es)'nge l)'Jte to theyr purpose, &
brought it in and wente thurgh b)' cause thelr mater
shold serne the fa),rer. t:he lesyngeofrymea cometh
"nauysed and falleth in the mater "nweryngly, and
90 whan she is wei cladde it goth forth thurgh with
that other.
neuew, thus muste men now l)'e
here, and there sa)'e soth, flatre & men-
ace, praye and curse, & seke euery man
"pon hlS feblest & wekest, who other-
wysew)'U now haunte&"setheworld,
....... than deu)'se a les)'nge in the fa),reste
wyse, and that b)'w)'mple with kerchieuis aboute in
suche w)'se that men take it for a trouthe, he is not
ronne awa), fro his maister. Can he that sUbt)'lte in
suche w)'se that he stamer not in his wordes & rna)'
thenne be herde, neuew, this man ma), do wonder, be
ma), were skarlet & gr),se, he w)'nnethin the spirituel
\\1 lawe, & temporal also, and where sommeuer he hath
to doo. Now ben ther man)' false shrewis that baue
gz &
grete enuyethat they haue eo grete fordele, and wene
that they conne aleo wei lye, and tatle on them to lye
& toteUe it forth, he woldefayn ete of thefatte mor-
seUie, but he is not biteued ne herd, & many ben ther
that be so plompe and fotieehethat whan they wene
beete to prononce and shewe theyr matere and con-
clude, they faUe besyde and oute therof and can not
thenne helpe hem self,and leue theyr mater wythout
taylor heed, & he is arcompted for a fool and many
moctle them ther with, but who can gyue to hye lee-
ynga conclueion, and prononce it without tatelyng,
lytle as it were wreton to fore bym, and tbat he can so
blynde tbe peple tbat bys lesynge abal better be bi-
leuyd than tbe troutbe, tbat 1S tbe man. Wbat con-
nyng is it to say the trouth that ie good to do (nOW
lawhe thiee false eubrylehrewie thatgyue counseyl,
tomatle thiee lesyngee & sette them forth, & matlen
"nrigbt goo aboue ryght, and matle biUes and sette
in tbynges tbat neuer were thought ne sayd, & teche
men see tburgb tbeir ryngres, and aUe for to wynne
money, and latetbeir tonges to byre for to mayntene
andstrengthetheirleeyngis.RJae, neuewe, this ie an
euyl connyng, of whiche lyf, scathe, and hurte may
come ther of.

-''''- jape, bourde, and lye in emale thyngis,
for who so sayth alwaytrouth, he may
not n ow goo n owher thurgh the world,
ther ben many that playe placebo, who
eo aUeway trouthe, shaUe rynde
many letryngie in his way. JVIen ma)' wellye whan it
is nede, & after amende it by counseyt: for aUe tres-
paces ther is mercy, ther is no man soo w)'se but he
dooleth other whyle P Grymbert sayde: let, dere
eme, what thynge shal you lette?ye hnoweal thyng
at the narewest, ye shulde brynge me hastely in dot-
yng, your resons passen my vnderstandyng. Ihat
nede haue ye to ahryue you? ye shulde your self by
right be the preest, and lete me and other sheep come
to you for to be shryuen. ye hnowe the state of the
world in suche w)'se as noman may halte tofore you
PIith suche maner talhynge they cam walhyng in
to the court. 'Che foxe aorowed somwhat in his herte:
neuerthe1es, he bare it out, and stryhed forth thurgh
aU thefolhe, til he cam in to the place where the hynge
hym self was,and 6rymbert was alway by thefoxe,
and sayde: eme, be not aferde, and mahe good chere,
who that is hardy thauenture helpeth hym : oftymes
one day is better than somtyme an hole ),ere j/I 'Che
foxe saide: J'feuew,)'e sa)'e trouthe: God thanhe )'ou,
ye com forte me well Rnd forth he went, and lohyd
grymly here and there as who eaith: What wyUe ye,
here come I? fie sawe tbere many of bis hinne stand-
ing wbicbe yonned bym but lityl good, as the Otter,
Beuer, & other to the nombre of x whom lehal name
afterward, & somme were tbere that loued h),m.'Che
foxe came in, and ryl doun on hie hnees to fore the
hyng,and began bis wordee, and sayde:
85
f)o Re ate fo':te e';tcu9cd him ifore the It)'n get
capi 0
OD, fro whome noth)'ng rna)' be
hid, & aboue aU tb)'ng is m)'gbty,
saue m)' lord the It)'ng, & m)' lad)'
the quene, and g)'ue h)'m grace to
Itnowe who hath right & who bath
wronge, for ther l)'ue man)' in tbe 1
world that seme otherw)'se oute- C
ward than tbe)' be witbine. I wold
that God sbewde openl)' euer)' mans m)'sdedes, and
aUetheirtrespaces stoden wreton in tbe)'r forehedes,
and it coste me more than 1 now saye, and that)'e m)'
lord the kynge hnewe as moche as 1 doo, how 1 dis-
pose me botne erl)'and late in )'ourseru)'se, and tber-
fore am I compla)'ned on of the eu)'lshrewis,&w)'th
les)'nges am putoutof)'ourgrace andconsa)'te,and
wold charge me witb grete offends W)'thout deseru-
),ng,a),enst al right, wherfore I cr)'e out: f)arowe, on
them that 90 falsel), haue bd)'ed me and brought me
in suchetrouble, how be it 1 hope& hnowe )'ou, bothe
m)' lord and my lady, forsow)'se and discrete that )'e
be not ledde nor bileue sucbe les),ngis, ne false tal)'s
outof the right way, for ye haue not be woned to do.
'Cherfore,dere 10rde,1 biseche)'ou to considre b)')'our
wvsedom alletb)'nge b)' right and lawe, is it in deede
or in speche: do euer)'man right, I desire no better, he
that is g)'lty and founde fawty, late h)'m be pun)'s-
sh)'d:men shal hnowe erldeparteout of this courte
who tbat I am, 1 can not flatre, I w)'ll allewey shewe
open 1)' m)' heed.
86
e answud "pon Re,nart' 9
.. tbe)' that were in the pala)'s
. wurn aUe st),Ue, & wondred tbat
e , tbe foxe so stoutl)'PL'be
'e' e" ',,' I,:. h)'nge sa,de. na, Re),nart, how

.:. wet can )'e ),our fatac)'e and aalu-

tadon doon, but)'ourfa)'rwordes
... ma), not hetpe ,ou, I th)'nhe wei
tbat )'e shal tbis da)'e for ),our
wuhis be banged b)')'ourneche, I wil notmocbe ch)'de
w)'th ),ou but Isha1shorte ),our pa,ne. "Chat),e loue
"a wei, that haue)'e welsbewde on the Con), and on
Corbant the Roech, )'ourfalaenes and ),our falaein-
urnciona sbal witbout longe tar)'rng mahe )'ou to
de)'e. H pot ma), goo so longe to water tbat at tbe
lasteitcometb tOFbrohrn boom: I tb)'nhe)'ourpotte
that so ofte hath dece)'ued "a shal now hastl)' be
brohenPRe),nart was in grete fere of thise wordes,
hewold wei he had ben at Cole)'n whan he cam tbed)'r.
"Cbrnne tbought be: I muste her thurgh bow that I
dooP}\'1)' (orde the h),nge, ae)'d he, it were wei reson
that)'e herdem),wordesaUeout: thaugh I weredamp-
ned to tbe detb, ),et ought)'e to here m)' wordes out.
I haue ),et bere to fore tyme g)'uen to )'ou man)' a
good counse)'l and proufrytable, and in m)' 1)ede a1-
we)' haue b)'drn b)' )'ow where otber beestts hal!e
w)'hed and goon the)'r wa)': )'f now the eu)'l beestis
witb false matus haue to fore )'ou w)'th wronge be-
l)'ed nle, and I m)'ghtnot cometom-ynexcuse,ought
1 not thenne to pla)'ne? I haue to fore this sern that
Ishold be herde b)' fore anotber, ),et m)'ght thise
g4
tb)'ngis wel cbaunge and come in tbe)'r olde atate,
olde good dedes ought to be remembrid.lsee hue
man)' of m)' l)'gnage & frendes stand),ng tbat seme
tbe)' sette now l)'t)'l b)' me, whicheneuutheles sholde
sore dere in the)'r hutea, tbat )'e my lord the hynge
sbolde deatroye me wrongfuUy. Yf ye so dyde, ye
abolde deatro),e the trewest seruaunt that ye haue in
aUe your landes. lhatwrne ),e, s)'r hynge, hadde I
hnowrn my self gylt)' in ony feat or brohe, that I
wold hauecomen betherto tbe laweemongeaUemyne
rnemyes? ~ a ) ' , sire, nay, not for aUe the world of
rede gold, for I was fre and at large: what nede had
I to do that? But God be thanked, lknowe myself
clere of aUe myadedea, that I dar wet come openly in
the l),ghte, and to anawere to aUe the compla),ntes
tbat on)' man can aa)'e on me. But wban 0rymbert
brought me first thiae t)'d)'ngis, tho was 1 not wei
plesed, buthalf from),self, that llepehue and there
as an'\1nwyseman,and had I not brn in thecenaures
of the chyrche I had wythout taryeng haue comm,
but I wmte dolynge on the heeth, and wist not what
to doo for sorowe. Hnd thrnne it happed that }\'1er-
eyne, m)'n eme, the Hpe, mette w)'th me, wbicbe is
w)'ser in clergie tban somme preest, be bath brn ad-
uocate for tbe b)'ssbop of Camuyh ix ),ere dur)'ng.
l1e sawe me in this grete sorowand heuynes, &saide
to me: Dere cos)'n, me tb)'nheth ye ar not wei w)'th
your self, what e)'leth ),owe, wbo hath dysples)'tb
)'ow?t:h)'nge thattouchetb charge ought to begyu-
en in hnowleche to frendia, a triew frrnde is a grete
belpe, be ryndeth ofte better counse)'l than he tbat
the cbarge reatetb on, for wbo someuu i9 cbarged
wyth matera is 90 beu)' & acombred witb tbem that
88
ofte he can not beg)'nne to rynde the remedye, for
Buche be sowoo lyhe as they had loste theyrinwytte
#1 saide: Dereeme, yesaye trouthe, for in lyhewyse
is faUen to me, I am brought in to a grete heuynes
"ndeseruid and not g)'lry, by one to whom I haue
alway ben an herry & grete frende, that is the Cony
whiche cam to me yesterday in the morenyng where
as 1 satte to foremy howsand sayd maryns. ftetold
mehe wolde goo to the court & salewed me frendly,
and 1 hym agayn : tho sayd he to me: Good Reynard,
I am an hongredandam wery, haue yeonymete?p
1 saide: ye ynowh, come nerept:ho gaf I hym a
copel of maynchettis with swete butter: it was"pon
a mednesday, on whiche day 1 am not wonte to ete
ony flessh, and also I fasted by cause of this feste
of mhitsontyd whiche approuched, for who that
wyUe taste of the ouerest w)'sehede, & l)'ue goostl)'
.:: in hep)'ng the commaundements of our Lorde, he
..... mustefasteand mahe hynredvayenstthehyefestes,
et "OS estote parati. Dere eme, 1 gaf bym fayr whyte
breed with swete butter, wherwyth a man myghtwel
be easid that were moche hongry.
( ~ ~ ~ ~ , N"D whan he had eten his bely fuUe, tho
cam Russel my yongest sone & wold
haue tahen away that was lefte, for
yongechyldrenwoldalwayfayneeten,
and with that he tasted for to haue ta-
~ ~ u . . ; . ~ _ hen somwhat. 'Che Cony smote Rus-
sel to fore hys mouthethat hys teeth bledde and ryl
doun half 3Iswoun. mhan Reynardyn myn eldest
sone sawe that, he sprange to the Cony and caught
hym by the heed, & shold haue slayn hym had 1 not
reshowed hym.lhelpe hym that he wente from bym,
89
and bete my chylde sore therfore. Lapreel the Cony
ran to m)' lord the k),ng, & saide, I wold haue mur ...
dred h)'m. See, me, thus come I in the wordes, and
I am le)'de in the blame, and ),et he compla)'neth and
I pla)'ne not. FI fter this cam Corbant the Roek fle)'n
w)'th a sorouful no)'se.lasked what h)'m e)'led, and
he said: FIlas, m)' w)'f is deed, )'onder l)'eth a dede
hare full of mathes and wormes, and there she ete
so moche therof that the wormes haue b)'ten 3Itwo
herthrote.laxed h)'m how cometh that b)" he wold
not speke a worde more but flewe his wa)'e and lete
me stande:now saith he thatlhaue b)'ten and sla)'n
her.f)ow sholdlcomeson),gbher, for "sbefleetb and
I goo 3Ifote ( Beholde, dere eme, thus am I born an
honde.l rna)' sa)' weI that I am vnhapp)" but para-
uenture it is for m)'n olde s),nnes, hit were good for
me )'f I coude pacirntl)' suffre it p'Cbe Hpe saide to
me: euew, )'e shal goo to the courte to fore the lordes
and excuse)'owpFIlas, eme, that ma)' not be, for the
archedehen hath putmein the pope's curse b)' cause
I counse)'lled ysegr)'m the ffiulf for to teue his re-
lig)'on at lmare and forsahe his hab)'te. f)e com-
pla)'ned to me that he l)'u)'d ao atra)'tl)"a9 in longe
fast)'ng& man)'th), .. ngisred),ng and 9)'ng)'ng, that
he coude not rndurett, )'f he shold longeab)'de there
he shold de)'e. I had p)'te of his com pta)'n)'n g and 1
helpe h)'m as a trewe frrnde that he cam oute, whiche
nowmesorereprnteth, forhelaboureth al thathecan
a),enst me to the J1)'nge for to do me be hanged:thua
doth heeu)'l for good. See,eme, thuaam latthe rnde
ofm)'w)'ttes & of counae)'l, for I muste goo to Rome
for an absolucion, and thenne ahal m)' w)'fandch)'l-
dren auffre mocne narme and blame, for thiac cu)'l
9
0
bestis tbat barm me sbuUe do to bem aUe tbe burte
tbe),ma),e,and fordryuetbem wbertbey can, & I wold
wel defende bem yfl were fre of tbe curse, for tbenne
wold I goo to tbe court & excuse me, wbere now I dar
not.lsbolddogretesynneyflcamemongetbegood
peple, I am aferde God sbolde plagbe mePNa)"
cosyn, benot aferd, er I sbold suffre you in tbis sor-
ow, Illnowe tbe way to Rome wet, I vnderstande me
on tbiswerhe, I am called tber Mertyne tbe bissbops
clerhe, and am wet byllnowen tbere. Isbal do syte tbe
arcbedehen & talle a plee ayenst bym, & sbal brynge
witb me for you an absolucion ayenst bis wil, for I
bnowe tbere alle tbat is for to be doon or lefte, tbere
dwelleth Symon myn eme, wbicbe is grete & mygbty
tber, wbotbat ma)'gyueougbt be belpetb bym anon,
tber is prentout, Iayte Scatbe, and otber of my
frendia and alyea, also labal tahe aome money witb
me yf I nede ony; tbe preyer is wytb yeftes bardy,
wyth mone), allewa)' the rigbt gotb fortb; a trewe
frendeabal for bis frende auentureboth lyf&good,
and so abal I for you in )lour right.
malle good cbere, laball not
rest after to morow till come to Rome,
and IshaU solycyte your maters: and
goo )le to tbe court as sone as ye may,
all your misdedes and tbo synnes tbat
haue brougbt you in tbegrete sentence
& curse, I malle )lou quyte of tbem & tallethem in my
self. mhan ye come to the court ye shall fynde tbere
Rullmawe my wyf, hertwosusters and mytbre cbil-
dren and manymoofourlygnage.Dere cosyn,spelle
to tbem bardely, my wyf bis 90ndrely wyse, and wVl
gladly do somewhat for ber frendis; wbo tbat bath
9
1
nede of bdpe sbal rynde on ber grete frendsbip, one
sbal alway seke on bys frendis tbougb be baue an-
gred tbeym, for blood muate krepe wbere it can not
goo; and yf 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 aUe tbo tbat ben in tbe lande, is it kynge
or quene, wyf or man, IsbaUe brynge tbem aU in the
popes curse, & sende tbere an interdicte tbat noman
sbaU rede ne syngen, ne crystene chyldren, ne burye
tbe deede, ne receyue sacrament, tyl that ye sbal baue
9'0od ryght. Cosyn, this sball wel gete, for tbe pope
1S so sore oldetbat he is but lytilsette by, & tbe car-
dynal of pure gold batb aUe tbe mygbt of tbe court,
he is yonge & grete of frendie. fje hatb a concubyne
wbom be mocbe louetb, and what sbe deayretb tbat
getetb abe anone. See coayn, abe ia myn nece, and I
am e t e and maydoomocbe witb ber, in aucbe wyae
wbat Ideayre I fayUenotof it, butam alwayfurtberd
tbenn: wherfore, cosyn, byd my lord tbe kynge tbat
be doo you rigbt, I wote wei be wil not warne you, for
tberigbtisbeuJ"ynougbtoeueryman.PJVIylordtbe
kyng,wban I b{r.de tbisllawbed, & wytb grete glad-
nes cam betber,and baue told you aU tbe troutbe;yf
tber be ony in tbis court tbat can leye on me ony otber
mater wytb good witneese, & preue it as ougbt to be
to a noble man, late metbenne make amendee, acord-
yngtotbelawe,andif be wil not leue of berbi, tbenne
sette me day and feld,and Isbal make good on bym
also ferre ae be be of as good birtbe as I am, and to
me lyke, & wbo tbat can witb rygbtyng gete tbe wor-
ship of tbe felde late bym baue it. 'Cbis rygbt batb
standen yet betberto, & 1 wit not it abolde be broken
9
2
by me:the lawe and right doth nomanwrongpHlle
the beeatia both poure and riche were alle atyUe whan
the foxe apah aoo stoutly, the Cony Laprel and the
Roeh were ao aore aferde that they durste not apehe,
but pyhed and atryhed them out of the court bothe
I two, & whan they were a,room fer in the playne they
aayde: God graunte that thia felle murderare maye
fare euyl f he can bywrappe and couere his falaehede
that hia wordea aeme aa trewe as the Goa pel. nerof
hnoweth noman than we, how ahold we brynge wyt-
neaae? It ia better that we wyhe and departe than we
aholde holde a felde and ryghte wyth hym, he is ao
ahrewde,ye, thaugh therof '\1a wereryue we coude not
defende '\1a but that he shold ale '\1a alle.
r @ ~ SGRY}\'l the Iulfand Sruyn the
Sere were woo in hem aelfe whan they
sawe thyse tweyne rume the courtep
'Che hynge aayd:Yfony manwil com-
I playne, late him come forth & we ahall
~ B i I 1 ~ ~ ~ ~ here hym, yeaterdaye camen here aoo
many, where ben they nowe Reynart ia here? P 'Che
foxeaayde: }\'lylord, ther ben many that complayne,
that and yf they aawe their adueraar)'e the)' wold be
atylle & mahe no playnte: witnea now of Laprel the
Cony& Corbant the Roeh,whiche haue compla)'ned
on metoyow in myabaence, but now that lam comen
in your presence they flee away and dar not abyde by
theyr wordea. Yf men ahold b)'leue falae ahrewea, it
ahold do moche harme & hurte to the good men, as
for me it ahylleth not: neuerthdea, my lord,),f they
had by your commandment axed of me forgyfnes,
how be tt they haue gretly treapaced, yet I hadd for
your sahe pardoned and forg)'ue them, for I wit not
9
3
be out of charite, ne hate ne compla)?ne on m)?ne ene-
m)?ea, but I aette aUe th)?ng in Goddes hand, he ahal
werlle and auenge it as it plea)?th b)?m.
Tie h)?nge sa)?de: Re)?nart, me th)?nll-
~
eth)?e be greu)?daa)?e sa)?e,are)?e with-
~
inforth as )?e seme outward? Na)?, it is
not so cteerne so open, nowher n)?ghe,
as )?e here haue 'shewed. I muate aa)?e
~ S ~ ~ ~ what m)? 9'rief ia which towcheth )?our
worah)?p and l)?f, that 1S to wete, that )?e haue don a
~ foule and shameful trespaaa,whan I had pardonned
J.J: )?OU aUe -your offen cis and trespacis, & -ye prom)?sed
to goo ouer the see on p-ylgremage, and gafe to -you
male and staf, and after this )?e sente me b-y BeU)?n
the Ramme tbe male aga)?n, & ther)?n K)?warts heed.
now m)'gbt )'e do a more reprouable trespaas ? now
were)?e so bard)' to dare to medoo sucbe a sbame: is
it not eu)?l don to sendetoa lorde his aeruants heed?
ye can notsa)?e na)? here against, for Bdl)?n tbe Ram
whiche was our chape1a-yn, to1de va a1 the mater how ~
it bapped, suche reward as he had whan he brought a
vs tbe message, the same shal )?e baue or rigbt shal
fa)?UePCbowaa Re)?nart so sore aferd tbat be wiat
not wbat to sa)'e, be was at bis wittes en de, and tolled
aboute b)'m p)'tousl)?, and sawe man)? of b)?s h)?n' &
at)?es that berde aUe tbis but nought the)? sa)?de, he
was aUe pale in bis visage, but noman proferd b)?m
band ne fote to betpe b)?m DCbe hinge said: Cbou
aubtil fdaw and fats sbrewe, wh)? apehest thou not,
no.w dombe ?Che o ~ e stode in gretedrede, & sighed
aore tbat aUe nerde n)?m, but the Iulf and tbe Sere
were glad herof.
94
now .. Ruftmawe anawerd for the foxe to the
capItulo
Rultenawe tbe SberHpe,
Re)'nartaaunte, wa9notwel ple9-
)'d, 9be was grete tbe quene
9.z and wet belou)'d: bit bapped wel
for tbe tbat sbewas there,
for sbe"nderstode aUew)'sedom,

.xw itto doowa9;wbere euer sbe came
euericb wa9 glad of ber pSbe sa)'de: lord tbe
It)'ng,)'e ougbtnot to beangr)'wban in juge-
mrnt, for tbat becometb not )'our noble9se. H man
tbat in jugemrnt ougbt to put fro b)'m aUe
wrath and angre. H lorde ougbt to baue d)'screscion
tbat sbold s)'tte in justise.l hnow bettertbe pO)1ntea
of tbe lawetban somme tbatwere furred gownes, for
I baue lemed man)' of tbem and was made conn)'ng
in tbe lawe. I bad in tbe popes of Ioerdrn
a good beddeof wbereotber beeste91a),e on tbe
bard grounde, and a190 wban I bad tbere to doo I
wa9 suffred to spelte and was bere to foreanotber b)'
cause I hnewe so wet tbe lawe. Seneca wr)'tetb tbat a
lorde sbal oueral doo rigbt and lawe, be sbal cbarge
none towbome be batb hi9 saufgardetoaboue
tbe rigbt and lawe; the lawe ougbt not to balte for
noman, and euer)' man tbat stondetb bere wolde wei
betb)'n Ite wbat be batb doon and b)'dr)'uen in
his be sbolde tbe better baue pacirnce & p)'te
on Re)'nart. Late euer)' man Itnowe b)'m 9etf, tbat is
tber is none tbat stondetb so surel),
but otberwb)'le be faUetborsl),deth. Ibotbat neuer
m)'sdede ne is and good, and batb no
95
nede to amende h)'m; whan a man doth am)'s, and
thenne b)' counse)'l amendeth it, that is huma)'nl)'
and so ought he to doo; but alwa)' to m)'sdoo and
trespace, and not to amende h)'m, that)'s eu)'l and a
deuel)' l)'f. JVlerhe thenne what is wretyn in the Gos-
pel, stote misericordes, be)'e merc),ful: ),et stand-
eth ther more, Nolite indicare et non indicabimini,
deme)'e noman & )'e shal not be demed; ther stand-
eth also how the pharisees brought a woman tallen
in aduoultr)'e, & wold haue stoned her to deth, tbe)'
axed our Lord wbat be said tberto, he said: Ibo of
),ow aUe is witboute 9)'nne late b)'m caste tbe ryrst
stone, tboabode noman butlefte bertbereatond),ng.
,-'"" tb)'n hetb itia so b)'ere: tber beman),
tbat see a strawe in an otbers )'e, tbat
can notsee a balhe in bis owne: tber be
man)' tbat deme otberand b)'m self is
worst of aUe. t:baugh one faUe ofte,
\ ~ ~ ~ ~ and at laste ar),setb"p and cometb to
merc)" be is not tberof dampned, God rece)'uetb aUe
tbem thatdes)'reb)'smerc)': latenoman condampne
anotber tbougb tbe)' w),ste tbat be had don am)'s,
),et late them see tbe)'r owne defawtes and tbenne
ma), tbe)' tbem self correcte ryrst, and tbenne Re),-
nert m)' cos)'n shold not fare tbewerse, for bis fadre
and bis graunfadre haue alway ben in more toue and
reputacion in tbis court tban lsegr)'m tbe Iulf or
Bru)'n tbe Bere witb al the)'r frendis and lignage.
nit batb ben bere to fore an "nl)'lle comparison, tbe
w)'sedom of Re),nart m)' cos)'n and the bonour and
worsbip of h)'m that he bath doon,and thecounse)'l
of tbem, for tbe)' Itnowe not how the world gootb.
Me th)'nltetb this court lsal tomed"psodoon, tbise
9
6
false shrewes, flaterers and dece)'uours, arise and
wexe grete b)' the lordes and ben mhaunsed "p, and
the good, triewe, & w)'se ben put doun, for the)' haue
bm woned to counse)'Ue trul), & for thonour of the
h)'ng. I can not see how this ma)' stonde longep
1:henne said the ll),nge:Dame,),f he had don to )'ow
suche trespaas as he hath don to other, it shold re-.
pente )'ow. Is it wonder that I hate h)'m? he brelleth
alwa), my aaufgarde. naue )'e not herde the com-
pla),ntea that here haue ben shewde of h)'m of mur-
dre, of theefte, andof treaon ? naue)'e suche trust in
b)'m, th)'nhe ),ethat heis thus good and cleer?thmne
sette h)'m "pon theawterandworshipeand pra)'e to
b)'m as to a s3),nte. But theria none in aUetheworld
that can sa)'e on)' good of h),m, )'e ma)' sa)'e moche
for h),m, but in thmde)'e ahal rynde h)'m a1 nought,
be hath nether It),n, ne w)'n, ne frende, that wyUe en-
treprise to belpe h)'m, he hath so deaeru)'d. I haue
grete merua)'Ue of ),ow, I herde neuer of none that
bath felawshippid with h)'m that euerthanhedh),m,
orsaidon)'goodof h)'m,sauf)'ou now, but alwa)'he
bath str),hed hem with his ta),lpChe SherHpe an-
suerd & said: JVIy lord,1 loue h)'m & haue h)'m in grete
chierte, and alao I hnowe a good dede that heones in
),our presmced)'dewherof)'e coude h)'m grete than h :
though now it be thus tomed, ),et ahal the heu)'est
we)'e moste. H man shalloue hia frende b)' meaure,
andnothiemem),ehateouermoche: stedfaatnesand
conetaunce is rytt)'ng & behoueth to the lordea, how
someuer the world tometh. me ought not pre)'se to
mocbe the da),e t)'l euen be come: good counse)'l is
good for h)'m that wit doo ther after.
b1
97
R parable ofa }VIan that del,uerd a Serpent fro per,l
of detb, capitulo
om two ,ere pass,d cam a JVIan
and a Serpent here in to tbis court
for to baue jugement, wbicbe was
to,ow& ,oures rigbt doubteful.
l:be Serpente stode in an bedcbe,
wbere aa he aupposed to haue gon
thorugh, but he was caughte in a
L:.J snare b)'tbe neche, tbat he m,ght
notescape witbout belpe, butsbuld baue lost bisl)'f
there.l:be}VIan camfortb b,,& tbeSerpent called to
h,m, & cr,de and pra,d tbe man that he wolde helpe
h,m out of tbe snare, or ellis be mU9te there d,e.
ne JVIan had p,te of h,m and sa)'de:
Yf thou prom,ee to me that thou wilt
notenuen,me me, nedome none harme
ne hurte, lshaUe bdpe tbe out of th,s
per)'U J!I 'Cbe Serpente was red)'e, and
, swore agrete othethat he nowne neuer
sholde doo h)'m harme ne hurte. t:henne he "nlosed
h)'m and del)'uerd h,m out of the snare, and wente
forth to g)'dre a good wb,le, that the Serpente had
grete hongre, for he had noteten a grete wbile to fore,
andsterte to the ]VIan andwold haue ala,n h,m.l:he
)\1an sterte awa,e, and was 3Iferde and saide: milte
thou now alee me ( fjast thou forgoten the oth that
thou madeet to me, that thou aholdeet not m,sdoo
ne hurte me (pl:be Serpent anawerd: I ma,e doo it
good to fore al the world tbat I doo, the nede of hon-
gre may_cause a man to brehe h)'a othep l:he ]VIan
sa)'de:yf it ma, be not bettre, g-yue me ao longe re-
we mete and fyndethat jugethe mater
rightpl:heSerpente graunted therto, thua
wente to so tonge that fonde the
Rauen and sone: there rehersed
resons. tbe Rauen juged anon tbat be
sbotdete tbe ]VIan: bewotd baueeten bis parte &
sone atsopt:he Serpent said to tbe JVIan : now
iait nowe? haue Inotwonne?l:be
JVIan saide: now sbolde a robber juge this, be sbold
baue auayle tberby, and also be is aUone, ther muate
be two or thre atte teste to and that "n-
derstande the rigbt and tawe: & tbat done, late the
sentence gon, lam
agreed and wente fortb bothe to soo longe
tbat fonde tbe Seer & tbe mulf, to wbom tbey
totde tbeyr mater, and tbey anon juged that the Ser-
pent ahold ale the JVlan, for the nedeof hongre breh-
(th oth 'Cbe JVIan tbenne was in grete doubte
and fere, and tbe Serpente cam and cast
at but tbe ]VIan grete
and ye doo grete wronge tbat ye tbus
in to stee me, haue no rigbt tbertop
l:be Serpent sayde: Is it not bit batb
ben jugedPYe, said the ]VIan, tbat is of tbem
tbat ben wonte to murdre and robbe, aUe tbat euer
swere and tbe)' bolde not, but lappete
tbis mater in to tbe court to fore our lord tbe
and tbat thou not forsahe, & wbat jugement
that sbat be tbere 1shat and suffre and
neuer do tbe
h2
99
~ ~ fie Sere and the mulf sayden that it
shold be so& that the Serpent desired
no better: they supposed yf it sholde
come to fore yow it shold goo there as
they wolde.l troweye bewel rem em brid
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ herof. 'Cho cam they aUeto the court to
~
foreyow,&theWuluestwo chyldren cam with theyr
fader whiche were caUyd mpt)'ISely & J'TeuerIfuU
by cause they wold ete of the man, for they howlyd
for grete hongre, wherfore ye commaunded them to
auoyde your courtp'Che JVIan stode in grete drede
t
and caUed ~ p o n your good grace, and tolde how the
Serpentwolde hauetahen hislyf from pim
t
to whom
he had sauyd hislyf, & that aboue his oth and pro-
myse he wolde haue deuoured hymJ!l'Che Serpente
answerd: I haue not trespaced, and that I reporte me
~ ~ ~ h o o l y on the hyng, for I dyde it to saue my lyf: for
nede of lyf one maye brehe his oth & promyseP}VIy
(orde, that t)'me were ye and aUe your counseyl here
wyth acombryd, for your noble grace sawe the grete
sorow of the .Man, & yewold not that the }VI an shold
for his gentilnes and hindenes be juged to deth, and
on that other sythe hongre and nede to saue the lyf
seheth narowly to be holpen: hier was none in al the
court that coude ne hnewe the right hierof. 'Cher were
sommethat wolde fayn tbe .Man bad be holpen, Isee
them bier stondyng, I wote wel tbey sayde that tbey
coude not ende tbis mater. 'Chenne commaunded ye
that Re),nard my neuew shold come and saye bis ad-
uys in this mater, that t)'me was he aboue aUe otber
byleuyd and herd in tbe court, and ye bad hym gyue
100
aentence acordyng to the best right, and we aUe shal
folowe hym, for he grounde of the tawep
Reynard saide: }VIy lord, it ia not poaaybte to yeue a
trewe sentence aftertheyr wordea, for in here aayeng
ben ofte lesyngea, but & yf I myght aee the Serpent
in the aame paryl and nede that he was in whan the
]\'1an loosed hiln & "nbonde, thenne wyate I wet what
I aholde aaye, and who that wolde doo otherwise he
shold mysdoo agayn right.p 'Chenne sayd ye: JVly
lord Reynard, that is wei sayd, we aUe acorde herto,
for noman can aaye better pt:henne wente the JVlan
and the Serpent in to the place wher as he fonde the
Serpent. Reynart bad that the Serpent shold be sette
in the anare in wyse as he waa,and it waadonp
'Chenne aayd ye: }VIy lord Reynart, how thyn ye
now, what jugement ahal we gyue? P 'Chenne aayd
Reynart the foxe:}\'Iy lord, now ben they bothe lyhe
as they wer to fore, they haue n eyther wonn e ne loste.
See, my lord, how Ijuge fora ryght alao ferre a9 it
ahat plese ),our noble grace,yf the JVlan wilnowpose
and "nbynde the Serpent "pon the promyse and oth
that he to fore made to him, he may wet doo it: but if
he that he for ony thynge ahold be emcom ...
bryd or hyndred by the Serpent, or for nede of hon ...
gre wold hia oth & promyae, thenne juge I that
the }VIan may go frely where he wyl, and late the Ser-
pente abyde atyUe as hemyghte haue
don at the begynnyng, for he wolde haue hia
oth and promyse, where aa he hetpe hym out ofauche
fereful a rightfu 1 jugement
that the }VIan ahal haue hys free aa he to
forehadde.
101
Lord, this jugementthoughtyow
good, and aUe your counseyl whiche at
that t)'me were by you, & folowed the
same, & preysed Reynardis wysedom
that he had made the ]VIan quyte and
thus the foxe wysely Ilepte your
....... noble honour and worship, as a triewe seruaunt is
bounde to do to his lord. Iher hath the Beer or the
Iulf doeuer to yow so mocheworship? 'Cheyconne
wei huylen and blasen, stele and robbe, and ete fatte
morseUis, and ryUe theyr belyes, & thenne juge they
forright & lawe that smale theuis that stele hennys
& chellynea shold be hanged, but they hem self that
stelen Ilyen, oxen & horses, they shal goo quyte and
be tordes, and seme a6 though they were wyser than
Salamon, Huycene or Rristotiles. Rnd eche wit be
holden hye, proud, and preised of $'rete dedes and
hardy. But and they come where as It is to doo they
ben the firste that flee, thenne muste the sympte goo
forth to fore and the)' hepe the rereward behynde.
en, my Lord, these and other lylle to
them be not wyse, but they destroye
towne, castel, Ian de & pepte, theyretche
not whos hows brenneth so that they
may warmethem by the coles, they selle
aUetheyrowne auayU & synguler prof-
ryte. But Reynart the foxe and aUe his frendis and
lygnage sorowen and thynhe to preferre the honour,
worship, fordeel and protryte, of lord, and for
wise counseyl whiche oftemore prouffyteth here than
,----" pryde and boost, this doth Reynard thaugh he haue
no than he. Rtte longe it shal be weI hnowen who is
beste and doth moste prouffyt.]VIy lord, yesayethat
102
1
(
bis h)'nneandlignagedraweal afterward from'h),m,
and atonde not b)' h)'m for his falahede and dece),-
uable and subt)'l touchis, 1 woldean other bad aa)'de
tbat, ther sbolde thenne suchewralte be talten therof
tbat b)'m m)'ght growle tbat euerhesawe b)'m. But,
m)' lord, wew)'l forbere )'ou, )'e ma)'e aa)'e )'our pla),-
air, and alao Isa)'e it nO,t b)' ),owwere there on)' tbat
wolde bedr)'ueon)' th)'ng a),mst )'OW with wordes or
w)'tb werltes b)'m wolde we soo doo to, tbat men
abold sa)'ewe bad ben there: theras ryght)'ngiswe
ben not woned to be aferd. ]VI)' lorde, b)' )'our leue 1
ma)' weI g)'ue )'OU Itnowelecbe of Re),nardis frendis
and It),nne, tber ben man)' of tbem tbat for bis salte
and loue wille auenture l)'f and good. I Itnowm)' self
for one, I am a w)'f, I sbold)'f he had nede sette m)'
l)'f and good for h),m, also I haue tbre fuvwaxen
childrm, wbicb ben bard)'and stronge, wbom I wold
aUeto g),dreauentureforbisloue ratbertban Isbold
aee b)'m destro),ed, ),et bad 11euer d)'e tban I sawe
tbem myscarye to fore m)'n eyen, so welloue I b)'m.
f 11 lbicbe ben frendea and It)'nne "nto Re),nard the
, fox,
ryrate cb)'lde IS named B)'te-
lu)'a, wbicbels moche cher)'sshyd
and can malte moche sporte and
game, wherfore is g)'uen to b)'m
the fatte trmcbours and moche
other good mete, whiche cometh
wel to prou1ryt of fUlrompe h)'s
fj brotber, & also m)' th)'rde ch)'lde
is a dougbter&is named f)atmette,sbecanwel p)'lte
out l)'se & netis out of mms heedia. 'Cbise thre ben to
eche other tr)'ew, wberfore I loue tbemPDameRu-
Ilenawe called hem forth and sayd: Welcome my dere
chyldren tome, forth &stande by Reynard, yourdere
neuewfp'Chenne sayd she: Come forth,alle ye that .,
ben of my Ilynne & Reynarts, & latevs praye the Ilyng iN
that he wille doo to Reynart ryght of the landep '1
'Lho cam forth many a beest anon, as the Squyrel,
the }\1usehont, the fychews, the Martron, the Beuer,
wyth his wyf Ordegale, the 6enete, the Ostrole, the
Boussyng, and the fyret, thyse tweyne ete as fayne
polayl as doth Reynart, the Oterand pantecroet his
wyf whom I had almoste forgoten, yet were they to
fore, wyth the Beuer, enemyes to the foxe, but they gl
durst not gaynsaye dame Rullenawe, for they were
aferd of her, shewas alao the wysest of a1 his Ilynne
of counseyl, and was moste doubted. 'Lhercam also
mo than XX other by cause of her, for to stande by &
Reynard, ther cam alao dame Rtrotewith her it sus- ..
ters, the Wesel, and fjermeU the Rsse, the Bache, the d
Watreratte, & manYnloo to the nombreof xl, whiche '1
aUe camen and stoden by Reynard the foxe. J

& see hieryfReynart haue ony frendis,
here may ye seewe ben your trewe su b-
gettis, whiche for yow wold auenture
both lyf & good ifye had nede: though
ye be hardy, myghtyandstronge,oure J
welwyllyd friendship can not hurte you. Late Rey-
nard the foxe wel bethyn he hym vpon thise maters J
that ye haue leyd ayenst hym, and yf he can not ex-
:LY cuse hym, thenne 40 hym right, we desire no better,
and this by right ought to noman be wamedp'Che
quene thenne spacll: 'Chis saide I to hym yesterday, J
but he was so ryers and angry that be wold not here
10
4
itpCbe Lupaerd saide also: S),re, )'e ma), juge no
fertber tban ),our men gyue tbe)'r verd)'te, for)'f )'e
-"'CJ,,...wold goo fortb b)' wyl and m),gbte, tbat were not
worsbipful for ),our estate: bere allewa)'e botbe par-
tyes, and tbenne b)' tbe beste and w)'sest counse)'l
gyue jugementdiscretl),accordyngto tbe beste rigbt
pCbe h)'nge sayde: Cbis is al trewe, but I was so
sore meu)'d whan I was enformed of K )'wartsvdeth
and sawe his heed tbat I was boot and basty. Isbal
bere the foxe: can be answere and excuse b)'mof tbat
'""--- is le)'d a),enst b)'m, Isbal gladl)' late h)'m goo qu)'te,
and also atte requeste of bis good frendis & h)'nne
pRe),nart was glad of this wordis and thoughte:
God than he m)'n aunte,she hatb ther)'sdooblosme
aga)'n, she bath well bolpen me forthe nowe. I haue
now a good foot to daunae on. lshal now lohe out
of myne e),en, and br),ngeforth the fa),rest les)'ngis
that euer man herde, and br)'nge my self out of this
daunger.
now the foxe with subtylte excused bim for thedeth
of K ),wart the flare & of aUe otber maters that were
leyde a)'enst h)'m, & how w)'th flateryng gate aga)'n
bts pees of the h),nge, capitulo xnijJP JP
spah Reynart the foxe
and saidepHlas, what sa)'e ),e, is
K ),wart ded, & where is Belt)'n tbe
Ramme, what broughte he to )'ow
whan he cam aga)'n, for 1 del)'uerd
to b)'m thre ieweUis ( 1 wold fa)'n
hnowe where the)'e ben be comen,
one of tbem sbolde be baue
g)'uen to),ow, m)' lord tbe h),ng, & tbe otber ij to m)'
lad)' tbe quenept:be h)'nge saide: Belt)'n brougbt
10
5
(j
"s nougbt ellis but K ),warts beed, l)'he as Isaide ),ou
to fore, wberof I tohe on b)'m wrahe. I made bym to
lose bisl'yf, for tbe foule ha)'t)'f said to me tbat be
h)'m self was of tbe counse)'l of the lettres mah)'ng
that were in the malepF.llas, m)' lorde, is th)'s "er),
trouthe ( 10 to me ha)'t)'f that euer I was born, sith
tbat tbise good jewellis be thus lostf JVI),n herte wit
brehe for sorowe, I am sor)' tbat I nowe l)'ue. Ihat
shal m)' w)'fsaie whan she bereth berof,sbe sbal go
out of her w)'tte for sorow. I shal neuer, also longe ,(
asll)'ue, haue her frendship, she shall mahe mocbe
sorowe whan she hereththerof P'CheSheIF.lpe said: !
Re),nard, dere neuew, what proufryteth that)'e mahe
at this sorowe (Late it passe, and telle "s what thise
jewell)'s were, parauenture we shalle rynde counse)'l
to baue tbem aga)'n )'f tbe)' be aboue ertbe. JVla),ster
. F.lher),n sballaboure for tbem in bis boo his, & also
we sball curse for tbem in al cbirch)'s "nto tbe t)'me
that we haue hnoweleche wbere the)' ben. 'Che)' ma)'e
not be aunte, th)'nhe not that, for the)'
that bauethemw)'l not lightl)'departefrothem, ther
was neuer h)'nge that euer gaf soo r)'che jewell)'s as
th)'se be. N euertbdes, )'e baue somewbat w)'tb )'our
wordes eas)'d m)'n berte and made it ligbter than
it was. F.llas, 100 bere )'e rna)' see bow be or the)' to
whome a man trustethmoost is ofte b)' h)'m or them
dece)'u)'d ft:haugh Isbold gooal theworld thorugh,
& m)' l)'f in auenture sette tberfore, lahal w)'te wber
tbise jewdlis ben becomen.
106
a dissymytyd and soroufull
spechesaidethe foxepf)erhen yealle,
my kynne and frendys, Ishal nameto
yowthise jewellis what they were, and
thenne may ye saye that I haue a grete
losse. 'Chat one of them was a rynge
of ryn gold, & within the rynge next the ryngre were
wreton lettres enamdd with sable and asure, and ther
were thre l1ebrews names thenn. I coude not my self
rede ne spdle them, for I vnderstonde not that lan-
gage. But .Maister Hbnon of 'Cryer he is a wyse man,
he vnderstandeth weI al maner of lan$'ages and the
vertue of atte maner herbes, and ther 1a no beest so
fiers ne stronge but he can dompte hym, for yf he see
hym ones he shal doo as hee wyl, and yet he bileuetb
not on God, he is ajewe, the wysest in connyng,and
specially he Itnoweth the vertue of stones. lsbewde
bym on es this ryn ge, be saide tha t they were tho tbre
names that Seth brought oute of paradys whan he
brought to his fadreHdam the oyle of mercy, & who
someuer bereth on him this thre names he shal neuer
be hurte bythondre, be lyghtnyng, ne nowitchecraft
shal haue powerouer him, ne be tempted todosynne,
and also he shal neuer tahe harm by colde thaugh he
laye the wynters longe nyghtis in the feelde, thaugh
it snowed, stprmed, or frore neuer so sore, so grete
lght baue thise wordes, witnes of .Maiater Hbnon.
ithought forth on the rynge stode a stone of thre
maner colours, the one part waalyhe rede cristaUe &
shoon lyhe asryre had ben therin, in suche wysethat
if one wolde goo by nyght bym behoued none other
tigbte, for the shyningof the stone made andgafaa
grete a light as it had ben mydday.'Chat otber parte
10
7
of tbe stone was wb),te and clere as it bad ben bur-
n),ssbid,wbo so bad in bis e)'en on)' smarte or sore-
nes,or in bis bod),on),sweU),ng,or beed acbe,or on)'
s)'henes witboutfortbe, yf be str),hed tbis stone on
tbe place wber tbegryef lS, be sbal anon be bole, or if
on)' man be sehe in blS bod)' of "en),m, or )'Uemete in
bis stomach, of col)'h, strangu)'U)'on, stone, rystd,
or Itanher, or on)' otber seheness, sauf on 1)' tbe "er),
detb, late b)'m le)'e tbis stone in a title watre and late
b)'m dr)'nhe it, and be sbal fortbw)'tb be bole and al
qu)'te of bis sehenessis. Rlas, said tbe foxe, we baue
good cause to be sor)' to lese sucbe a jewel f fortber-
more tbe tbirde colour was grene l)'lle glas, but tber
were some spr)'nhtis tberin l)'he purpure. 'Cbe mais-
ter tolde for troutbe tbat wbo tbat bare tb)'s stone
"pon b)'m sbold neuer be burte of b)'s enem),e, and
tbat noman were be neuer so stronge and bard)' tbat
m)'gbt m)'sdoo b)'m, and wbere euer tbat be fougbt
be sbold baue ,,),ctor),e, were it b)' n)'gbt or b)' da),e,
alsoferre as be bebelde it fastyng.Rnd also tberto,
wbere someuer be wente and in wbat fdawsbip, bee
sbold be b)'lou)'d tbougb tbe)' badde bated b)'m to
fore, if be bad tbe ring "pon b)'m tbe)' sbold forgete
tbe)'r angre as sone as tbe)' sawe b)'m. Rlso tbougb
be were al nahed in a felde aga)'n an bondred armed
men,be sbold be wet bertedandescapefrotbemwitb
worsbip: butbemuste be a noble gentle man & baue
no cborles cond),c),ons, for tbenne tbe stone bad no
m)'gbt. find b)' cause tb)'s stone was soo precious
& good, I tbougbt in m)' self tbat I was not able ne
wortb), to bere it, and tbere fore lsente it to m)' dere
lord tbe h),ng, for I hnowe b)'m for tbe most noble
tbat now l)'uetb, and also aUe our welfare and wor-
108
ship ('yeth on hym,and for he shold be Iteptefro aUe
drede, nede,and "ngheluclt.
this rynge in my fadres tre ...
.. sour, & in the same place I tolte a glass
or a mirrour & a com be whiche my wyf
haue.R man myght won ...
drethatsawe thisejeweUis. I sent thiae
to my lady the quene, for I haue found ...
en her good and gracious tome: this combemyght
not be to moche preysed, hyt was made of the bone
of a clene noble beest named panthera whiche fed-
eth hym bytwene the gretelnde&rthlyparadyse,
he isso lusty, fayr, & of colour thatther ia no colour
"nder the heuen but somme lyltnes ia in hym. 'Cher ...
to he smelleth so swete that the sauourof hym bot ...
eth alle syltnessis, & for hia beaute and awete amel-
tyng aU other beeatia folowe hym, for by hys awete
sauour they ben heled of aUe syltneasis. 'Chia pan-
thera hath a fair boon, brode and thynne, whan so is
that thia beeste ia slayn al the awete odour restid in
the bone,which can not be brolten, ne shal neuer rote,
ne be destroyed by ryre, by water, ne by smyt)'ng, hit
is so hard, t)'ht and fast, & yet it islyghtof weyght.
t:he 9wete odour of it hath grete myghte, that who
that smelleth it sette nought by none other luate in
the world, and is easyd and quyte of alle maner di-
seases and infirmites, & alao he ia ioconde and glad
in his herte.'Chis combe is polysshid as it were fyne
syluer, and the teeth of it ben small and straite,and
bytwen the gretter teeth & the smaller is a large felde
and space, where ia coruen many an ymage subryUy
made and enameld aboute with ryn gold. 'Che felde
ia checlted with sable andsiluer, enameld with cybore
.
10
9
and asure, and ther in is thiatorye howVenus, juno,
and pallaa strof for thapple ofgold,whiche eche of
them wold haue had, whiche contrauersye was sette
"pon parys that he shold gyue it to the fayrest of
them thre.
ys was that tyme an herde tnan,
t!
and hepte hisfadersbeeatisandaheep
withoutt:roye.Ihan he had reaeeyuid
thapple juno promysyd to hym yf he
~ ~ ~ ~ 1 wolde jugethat she myght hauethap-
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ pie he sbold haue the moate richeaae
of the world. paUas said yfshemyght hauethapple
she wold gyue hym w)'sedom & strengthe, & mahe
hym so grete a lorde that he shold ouercome aUe his
......... " ' - enemyes and whom he woldpVenus 9aide: Ihat
~ nedest thou richeage or strengthe, art notthou pry-
~ ~ amus sone and "ector i9 thy brother whiche haue
al Rsye mder their power, art not thou one of the
poaaeasours of grete t:ro'ye (Yf thou wylt gyue to
me thapple I shatgyue the the richest tresour of the
world, and that shal be the fayrest woman that euer
had lyf on erthe, ne neuer shal none be bom fairer
than she, thenne shal thou be richer than riche and
shal clymme aboue al other, for that is the tresour
that noman can preyae )'nough, for honest, fair, and
good women can put atwa), many a sorow fro the
herte, the)' he shamefa9t and wyse, & brynge a man
in "ery jo)'e and bl)'saePPary9 herde this Venus,
whiche preaented h)'m thia grete joye and fayr lad)',
and prayd her to name thi9 fa)'r lady that was 90
fair, and where she wasPVenus saide: It is "elene,
hynge }\'Ienelau9 wyf of Grece, ther lyueth not a no-
bler, richer, gmtiller, ne wyser wyf in al the worldp
110
t:henne par)'s gaf to her thapple and said that she
was fa),rest. fjow that he gate after ward fjdene b)'
the hdpe of Venus, and how he brought her in to
t:ro)'e and wedded her, the grete loue & iol)' l)'f that
the)' had to gydre, was al coruen in the felde, euer)'
self and the stor),e wreton.
)'e shal here of the mirrour. t:he
glas tbat stode theron was of Buche
vertu that men m)'ght see therin aUe
that was don within a m),le, of men, of
beestis, andofal th)'ngethatmen wold
desire to w)'te and hnowe. Hnd what
man lohed in the glasse, had he on)' dissease, of
prich)'ng or motes, smarte, or perles in his e),en, he
shold be anon hded of it, Buche grete vertue bad the
glas.ls it thennewondre),f I be'meu)'d and angry
for to lose Bucbe maner jewellis? t:be tree in whiche
tbis glas Btode was l)'gbt and faste and was nam-
ed Cetyne, hit sholde endure euer er it wold rote or
wormes shold hurteit, and therfore h)'ns-e Salamon
seel)'d his temple w)'th the same wode wlth)'nforth.
JVlen pre)'sed it darer than ryn gold, hit is lilte to tre
of "elenus, of whiche wode h)'1!ge Crompart made
his hors of tree for loueof h)'nge )VlorcadigaBdougb-
ter that was .so fa),r, whom he had wende for to haue
wonne. t:hat hors was so made within that wbo
someuer rode on hit, )'f he wolde he shold be witbin
lesse than oon hour an bondred m)'le tbens, & that
waswel preu)'d, forCleomedes the it)'ngessonewold
not b)'leue tbat that hors of tree had suche m)'ght
and vertue: be was )'onge, lust)' and hard)" and de-
s)'red to doo grete dedes of pr)'s for to be renomed
in this world, & leep on this bors of tree. Crompart
111
torned a that stodeon his brest, and anon the
horse "p and wente out of the haUe the
er one his pater noster he
was goon more than ten
soreaferd and supposed neuerto
howgrete
drede he had, and how ferre that he rood "pon that
horse madeof the tree of l1ebenus er he coude Itnowe
the arte and crafte how he shold tom and how
he was wban be Itnewe it, and bow men sor-
owed for bym, and how he ItneweaU tbis, and the
therofwhan he cam aU this I passe ouer for
of tyme. But the moste parte of aUe cam to
the "ertue of the wode, of whiche wode the tree
tbat the glaa stode in was made, and that was with-
outwortb of tbe glas half a foot brood, whenn stode
some strange hystoryes wbiche were of gold, of sa-
ble, of siluer, of asure, and cynope. t:hyse
sixe colowrs were tberin wrougbt in suche wise as it
behoued, and "nder euery the wordes were
grauen and enameld that euery man "nder-
stande that eche historye waa. Hfter jugement
tber was neuer so costly, so ne so
playsaunt. In tbe begynnyng stode there an horae
made fattt, stronge, & sore enuyous "pon an herte,
whicbe ran in tbe feeld ao ferre and swyftly that the
bora was angry tbat he ran so ferre to fore hym and
coude not ouertalte hym, be thought he ahold cacche
bym & subdue b)'m, tbougb be ahold autfre moche
tberfore. t:he borae spaclt tbo to a herdeman
in tbia wyae: Yf tbou cowdeat taken an berte that I
wel can ahewe the, thou sholdest haue grete proutryt
tberof, thou sboldestsdle derehis bomes, bia altyn,
112
and bis ftessbePCbe berdeman sa'Yd: now ma'Y I
come b'Y b'Ym? Cbe bors saide: S'Ytte "pon me and I
sball bere tbe, and we sbal bunte b'Ym til be be tahe.
Cbe berdeman sprange & satte "pon tbe bors, and
sawe tbe berte, and be rode after, but tbe berte was
l'Ygbt of foot and sW'Yft and out ran tbe bors ferre.
'Cbe'Y bon ted so ferre after b'Ym tbat tbe bors was
wer'Y, and said to tbe berdeman tbat satte on b'Y
m
:
Now S'Ytte of, I wit reste me, 1 am al wer'Y, and
me leue to goo fro tbelCbe berdeman saide: 1 baue
ares ted tbe, tbow ma'Yst not escape fro me, 1 baue a
br'Ydle on tb'Y bede & sporis on m'Y beles, tbou sbalt
neuer baue tbanlte berof, lsbal b'Ydw'Ynge& subdue
tbe, baddest tbou sworn tbe con trar'YePSee bow tbe
borse brougbt b'Ym self in tbraldom and was tahen
in bis owne nette. now may one better be tallen tban
by bis owne enuye to suffre bym self to be
tallen & riden ? 'Cber ben man'Y tbat laboure to burte
otber, and the'Y tbem selurn ben burt and rewarded
with the same.
was also made an asse and an
hounde, wh'Ycbe dwelled botbe witb a
riche man. 'Che man 10u'Yd bis bounde
well, for be ple'Yde ofte wytb b)'m as
,folltedowitb boundis,tbebound leep
__ - .... "P and ple)'d with bis ta)'l and l)'clt)'d
b'Ys maister about tbe moutb p Chis sawe Bowd-
W'Yn the asse, & bad grete sP'Yte therof in bis herte,
and said to bim self: now ma'Y tb'Ys be, & what ma'Y
m)' lorde see on tbis fowle hound, wbom I neuer see
doth good ne proutryt,sauf spr)'ngetbon b)'m and
h)'ssetb b'Ym? but me wbom men putten to laboure
to bere and drawe, and doo more in a weelte tban he
..
11 113
his xv shold do in a hole & he
neuertheles at the table, & there eteth bonea,
fiessh, and but
& nettles, and on on the barde
erthe, and suffre a scorn. I w)'l no lenger su'ffrc
I Ite how I gete lordes loue
and frendship as the houndedothp'Cherw)'th
cam the lorde, and the asse vp his & sprang
with his fore feet on the lordes sholdres, and blered,
songe,& with his feet made two grete
bules aboute bis eres,and put fortb bis mouth,and
wolde baue kyssed tbe lordes moutb as be bad seen
tbe bound doon 6'Cbo cr)'de tbe lorde, sore aferde:
f)etpff)elpf tbis assewil sleemefp'Cbenne cam bis
seruauntis with good stauls, and & bete tbe
asse so sore that he had wende he shold haue loste
his tho retomed he to his stable, & ete
and nettles, & was an asse as be to fore was. In
w)'se wbo so baue enu)'e and sp)'te of an otbers wet-
fare, and were seruid in l)'he w)'se, it sbotd be wet be-
hoefful. 'Cberfor it is concluded tbat tbe asse shall
ete thistelis and nettetes, and bere the sache:tbougb
men wold doo worsbip he can not vnderstonde
it, but must vse olde tewde maners. Where as asses
getm there men see setde good rewte,
for talte hede of notbyng but on
ter ben and grete, the
more p)'te IS.
ferther how fadre and
the Catte wende to and
bad sworn by troutbe that for
loue ne hate shold not departe, &
what gate shold departe to
the half. 'Chenne on a they
sawe bunters ouer the Felde
houndes, leep and ronne faste fro them,ward al
that as they that were aferd of theyr
lyf sayde the foxe, shal we now
best flee, tbe hunters haue "s, hnowe
belpe ? fadre trusted on the promyse that eche
made to other, and that hewolde for nonede departe
fro he, I
yf we haue nede,as ferre asweabyde togydrewenede
not to doubte hunters ne bigan
to and was sore aferd, and
what wordes? I hnowe but one
and tbeder must I toopHnon tho damme be "pon
on tree in to the toppe "nder the wher as
bunter ne bounde myght doo hym non harme, and
lefte my fadre allone in jeoparde of bis lyf, for tbe
hunters sette on bym the boundesaltbat tbeycoude,
men blewe the hornes & and halowed the foxe,
slee and taltepWban tbe Catte sawe tbat,
be moclted and scorned fadre and said: Wbat
the
ben
self for haue nede fpt:his moche muste
fadre bere of to wbom be had most his trust
on, and waa almoste tahen and his deth, & he
ranne and fledde wyth grete fere of bys and tete
bis male of cause he wold be the lighter.
yet al that coude not helpe for the houndea
were to and shold haue hym but he had
one auenture, that tber be fond an old holewherin
be crepte, & escaped thus the honters and houndea.
'Chus beldethia Cibaert,
tbathe bad ben tberenow
i2 115
a da)'ea tbat Ilepe not tbe)'r P!om),se, and sette not
tberb)'tbougb tbe)'brolleitf Rnd tbougb I bate'C),-
baert berfore, ia it wonder? But I doo not, aillerl)" I
loue m)' aowle to wel tberto: neuertbdess, )'f lsawe
b)'m in aumture and m)'sfaUe in bis bod)' or in bis
goodea, I trowe bit abold not mocbe goo to m)' berte
ao tbat anotber d)'de it. J'T euertbeles, I sbal neytber
" bate b)'m ne baue enu)'e at b)'m, I abal for Goddes
loue forgyue b)'m: ),et is it not so clere out of m)'n
berte but a l)'tll )'Uew)'Ue to b)'mfward abidetb tberin
aa tbia cometb to my remembraunce, and tbe cause
ia tbat the aensualyte of my fleaab fygbtetb ayenst

reson.
atode alao in tbat m)'rrour, of
tbe mulf, bow be fonde onea vpon an
boraala)'n butal tbe flessb
riJ)\ I waa etm. 'Cbmne wmte be and bote
/ /' ,grete moraeUia of tbe bonea tbat for
be toile tbre or tiij attonea and
awolowed tbem in, for bewaa ao gred)' tbatone of
tbe bonea stacll tbwart in bia moutb, wberof be bad
grete pa)'ne& was in grete fereof bisl)'f: besougbte
aboute forw)'se maiatera and aurgyms, and pro-
m)'sed grete )'eftis for to be beled of "bis diseaaep
Htte taste wban be coude nowbcr rynde rcmed)'e be
cam to tbe Cranew)'tb bialonge neclle and biUe,and
pra)'de b)'m to belpe bym and be wold loue & rewarde
b)'m eo wel tbat be sbolde euer be tbe better. 'Cbe
Crane berlled after tbis grete rewarde, and put bia
heed in tobis tbrote and brougbtout tbe boonwytb
bis b)'Ue. 'Cbemulf aterte3Is)'dew)'tb tbe plucit),ng,
and cryde out: Rlas, tbou dooet me barme, but 1
forgyue it tbe, doo no more aoo, 1 wolde not euffre
116
itofan otherpt:he Crane saide: Sir lsegr),m, goo
and be mer)" for)'e beal hool, nowg)'ue tome that)'e
prom),sedPt:he mulf saide: m)'l )'e here what he
aa)'th? I am he that hath sufFred and haue cause to
pla),ne, and he wille haue good of mef f)e thanheth
not nle of the h)'ndnes that I d)'de to h)'m: he put
his heed in m)' mouth and lsufFred h)'m to drawe it
out hole without hurt)'ng, and he d)'de to me also
harme, and )'f on)' hier shold haue a reward it shold
be I b)' r),ghtpt:hus thevnh)'nde men nowaIda)'es
rewarde them that doo them good; whan the false
and subt)'l ar)'se & become grete, thenne goth wor-
ship and prouff)'t al to nought. t:her ben man)' of
r)'ghtthat ought reward and doo good to sucheas
baue helpen hem in her nede, that now rynde causes
and sa)'e the)' be hurte & wolde haue amrndis where
the)'ought to rewarde and mahe amendes them sdf,
therfore it is said and trowthe it is, whoo that w)'t
cbl'de or chast)'se see that he be clere h)'m self.
l-L this & mochemorethan I now can
wei remembre was made & wrought in
this glasse.t:he maister that orde)'ned
it wasa conning man, and a profounde
clerh in man)' sciencis,&b)'causethise
ouergoodand precious for
me to hepe and haue, therfore lsente them to m)' dere
lorde the h)'nge& to the quenein present.mhere ben
the)' now that g)'ue to the)'r lordes suche presentes?
t:he sorowe that m)' ij ch)'ldren made whan lsente
awa), the glassewas grete, for the)' werewoned to lohe
thenn &seethem self, bow the)'r cloth)'ngand ara)'e
becam them on their bod)'es. 0 alas, I hnewe not that
K ),wart the "are was so n)'ghe h)'s deth whan I de-
il 117
lyueryd hym the male with thiee ieweUis.1 wiste not
to whom I myght better haue tahm them
t
though it
shold hauecoste me my lyf
t
than hymandBdlyn the
Ramme
t
they were two of my best frmdis. Oute, alae
t
I crye "pon the murderarf lehaU hnowe who it waSt
though Ishold rennethurgh al the world to sehe him
t
for murdre abydeth not hyd
t
it shall come out. per-
auenture he is in this companye
t
that hnowethwhere
K),wart is bicomm, though he telleth it not,forman),
false 9hrew)'9 walhe w)'th good mm fro whome no-
man can hepe h),m, the)' hnowm the)'r craft eo weI &
can wel couere the)'r falsenee. But the moet wondre
that I haue, i9 that my lord the Ilynge hier sayth so
feUy that m)' fadrenorld)'de hym neuer good: that
th)'nheth me merua)'le of a Itynge, but ther come 90
many thyngls to fore him that be forgeteththatone
wyth that other and so faryth b)' me. Dere torde, re-
membre not )'e whan m)' lord your fadre lyuyd, & )'e
anyonglyng of two),ere were, that my fadre cam fro
sholefro JV[onpeUier where a9 he had ryueyere study- ~
ed in receptesof medycynes? f)e hnewe al thetollenes
of the "ryne aswd as hie honde, &alsoall the herbes I
and nature of them, wh)'che were "iscose or taxaryf:
he was a synguler maister in that science, he myght
weI were cloth ofsylhe & agylt gyrdle.Ihan he cam
to court he fonde the hynge in agrete eehmes, wher-
of hewassoryin his hert, forhelou)'d hym aboue alle
other lordes. 'Che Itynge wolde not forgoo hym, for
whan he came alle other bad leue to wallte where the)'
wolde, he trusted none so moche as h)'m. f)e sayde:
Reynard, I am sehe & fde me the lmger the wersejV
JV[)' fadre said: JVI)' dere lord, here i9 an "r),nal, mahe
yourewater therin,and assone ael may see it, lehal
118
teUe wbat seltenes it is, and also bow sbal be bol-
penpt:be Itynge as be counseiUed for be
trusted noman better tbat tbougb so were tbat
fader d)'de not as be sbolde baue don but
tbat was by counseyl ofeuyl and foule beestis, I bad
wonder tberof but tt was a bis detbO
ne lord, be bole muate ete tbe
vij old: tbat not leue or
eUis )'e sball for sbewetb it playn
pt:belulfstode tber by and said nougbt, but tbe
said to bym : SirY segrym, now ye Jjerewel tbat
I muste baue your lyuer yf I wiU be boolpt:bo an-
swerd tbe mulf and saide: )'fay, my lord, not soo, I
wote wd I am not ryue yere olde, I baue berde
moder saie said:IDbat b)'s
wordes? late b)'m be opmed,andIsbal hnoweb)'tbe
it be goode for or notO FInd
tbelulf was bad to and bis talten out,
wbicbetbe Itynge ete, and was anon al bole ofaUe bis
J>HW\;'\.e - seltenes: tbenne tban Itetb be my fadre mocbe, & com-
manded aUe bis bousbold vpon tbeir lyuys tbat after
tbat tbe! sbolde caUe mayster
\\ 6 abode styUe by tbe & was
leuid ofaUetbingls, and muste
go by bis syde, & tbe gaf to
a garlond of roosea wbicbe be must al-
way were on bis beed, but now tbis is al
tom ed, aUe tbe old good tbyngea tbat
ben forgeten, and tbise couetouse and rauen-
ous sbrewys ben talten vp and sette on tbe bye ben cbe,
.lo.-L' ..... -and ben berde and madegrete,andtbewysefolltebrn
put atbaclt, by wbicbetbise lordes ofte laclte & cause
tbem to be in mocbe trouble and sorowe, for wban a
i 4 ' 119
couetous man of lowe byrthe is made a lorde and is
moche greet, & aboue his neyghbours hath power &
m)'ght, thenne he hnoweth not him self, ne whens he
is comen, & hathnop)'te on nomans hurte, ne hereth
nomans requeste, but )'f he ma), haue grete ),eftis, at
his en tent & desire is to gadregood& to begretter. 0
bow man)' couetous men ben now in lordes courtes,
tbe)' flatre and smehe and plese the prynce for theyr
e)'nguleraua)'l, but & the pr)'nce had nede of them or
their 9'0od the)' sholde rather suffre hym to de),e or
fare rlght hard er the)' wold gyue or lene h)'m. 'Che)'
be l)'he the mulf that had leuer the h)'tlge had de)'ed
than he wolde gyue h)'m his l)'uer, vet had lleuer, er
that the h)'nge or thequene sbold fare amvs, that xx
eucbewuluee shold lose theyr lyuee, hit were also the
leest losse. My lorde, al this bifelle in ) ' ~ u r ),ongthe,
that m)' fader d)'de thus: I trowe )'e haue for9'otten
it.Hnd also m)' eelfdon)'ow reuerence,worshlp, and
courtosve, "nroused be it, though venow than he me
but l)'tvl, but paraurnture )'e rem em bred not that I
shall now eave, not to on)' forlWvttvng of Vow, for
)'e be worth), aUe worship & reuerence that on)' man
can doo, tbat baue)'e of Hlmigbty God b)' enberit-
aunce of ),oure noble progen)'toura, wherfor I )'our
bumble aubgette and aeruaunt am bounden to doo
to),ow aUe the eeru)'ae that I can or ma),e. I cam on a
tvme walh)'ng witb the Iulfe laegr),m, & we hadde
goten "nder "9 botbe a aw)'ne, & for his lowde cry-
)'ng we bote h)'m to detb, and, a),re, )'e cam fro fene
out of a groue ayenst "s.Ye aalewed "a frendl)" and
eaide we were welcome, and that )'e and m)' lad)' tbe
quene wb)'cbe cam after )'OW badde grete hongre, &
had notb)'ng for to ete, & pra)'d "a for to g)'ue )'OW
120
parte of our wynnyng. Isegrym spach so softe that
a man "nnethe myght here hym, but I spach out and
saide:Ye, my lord, wyth a good will, though it were
more, wewil wel thatye haue parte, & thenne the mulf
departed as hewaswont to do, he departed and tohe
that on half for hym self, and he gaf yow a quarter
for yow & forthequene, that other quarter he eteand
bote as hastely as he myght bicause he wolde ete it
allone, and he gaf to me but half the longes, that 1
pray God that euyl mote he fare.
shewde he his condiciona & na-
ture:ermen sboldbauesongen a credo
ye my lord had eten your part, and yet
wold ye fayn hauehadmore, foryewere
\ not fut. Hnd bicause he gaf 'Yow no
ne profred 'YOW, 'Ye' t'Yft "P 'Your
rightfote & smote b'Ym b'Ytwene tbe eris tbat'Ye tare
bis shynneouerhiseyen, and thohemyghtno lenger
abyde, but he bledde, howled, and ran away, and lefte
bis parte tbere lyept:bo said ye to bym: l1aste yow
agayn betber and brynge to "a more, and here after
see better to how yedeleand partept:henne aaide 1:
," }VIy lord, yfitplese'Yow I wyUgoowyth hymPI wote
wel wbat ye saide. I wente wyth hym, he bledde and
groned as sore as he was alaoftly, he durat not crye
lowde, we wente so fme that we brought a calf, and
wban 'Yesaw"s cometberwyth ye lawhyd, for ye were
wet plesyd. ye said to me that I was swyft in hont-
yngPlsee wet that ye can rynde wel whan ye tahe it
"pon yow, ye be good to aende forth in a nede, the
cafe is good and fatte, herof shal ye be the detar JlI
saide:}VIy lord, wyth a good wyt. 'Che one half, my
lord,shal be for yow, and thatotberhalf form'Ylad'Y
121
tbe qume, tbe mogbettis, lyuer, longes, and tbe in-
ward, sbal be for your cbyldren, tbe beed sballse-
grym tbe wulf baue, and labal haue tbe feetpt:ho
satd ye:Reynart,wbo hath taught you to de parte so
courtoisly ( jI My lord, sayd I, that hatb don this
preest tbat sytteth her witb tbe bloody crowne, he
loste bis shynne wyth tbe vncourtoys departyng of
tbe swyn, and for bis couetyse and rauyne be bath
botbe hurte & sbamePHlas, tber ben many wuluea
now d a y e s tbat witbout rigbt and reson destroye
& ete them tbat tbeymay baue tbeouerband of, they
spare neyther flesh ne blode, frende ne enemye, wbat
the)' can gete that take tbe)': 0 woo be to tbat lande
andtotowneswbereastbewuluesbauetbeouerbandf
JVlylord, tbisandmanyotbergood tbing haue I don
for you tbat I cowde wel telle yf it were not to long,
of wbicbe now ye rem em bre litil by tbe wordes tbat
I ber of you , yfye wold al tbyng ouerseewell, yewold
not sa)'eas)'edoo, Ibavesem the day tbat ther sbold
no grete mater be concluded in tbtS court without
myn aduyse, a1 be)'t that this auenture is nou fallen,
it mygbt bappen ),et that my wordes shal be berd &
also bileuydas well as an otbers as fene as rigbtwyl,
for I desyre none other, for yf tber be ony can saye
and mahe good by sutrycient witnessis that I baue
trespaced, I wil abyd al tbe right and lawe that may
come therof, and yf ony saie on me ony thyng of
wbicbe he can brynge nowytnesse, late me thenne be
rewlydafterthe lawe& custome of tbys courtjlt:he
Jt)'nge said: Reynart, ye sa)'e reaonably.I knowe not
of Kywarts deth more tban tbat Bellyn tbe Ramme
brougbtbis beed betberin tbemale, tberoflleteyow
goo quyte for I baue no wytness tberof p My dert
122
lord, said the foxe, God thanlte ),ow, s)'lterl)')'e doo
wei, for his dethe malteth me so sorrowful that me
thyn Iteth m)' herte w)'l brelte in two. 0 whan the)' de-
parted fro mem)'n hertewasso heu)' thatmethought
lshold haue swowned f I wote wd it was a tolten of
the lossethat tho was son)'ghe com)'ng to mepRUe
the mooste parte of them tbat were tbere, and berde
the foxes wordes of tbe jewdlis, & bow he made his
contmanceand stratcbid h),m, had ver)'l)' supposed
tbat it bad not be fa),ned, but that it had be tr)'ewe,
the)' were sory of his losseand m),sauenture and also
of his sorowe.1:he It)'nge and the quene had bothe
p)'te of h),m, and badde h)'m to malte not to moche
sorowe, but that he sholde mdeuore h)'m to seche
hem, for he hadsomocbe pre)'sed bem that tbe)' bad
grete w)'l and des)'re to baue tbem, and b)' cause be
bad made tbem to vnderstonde tbat be bad sent tbese
~ jeweUistotbem, tbougbthe)'neuerhad them, )'etthe)'
than Ited h)'m & pra)'d h)'m to helpe that tbe)' m)'ght
bauethem.
ne foxevnderstodethe)'rmm)'ngwd,
~
he thought toward tbem but l)'t)'l good
I
for al tbat, he saidpGod tbanlte)'ow,
m)' lord and m)' lad)" tbat)'eso frmdl)'
comforte me in m)' sorow, lsbaUenot
~ ~ ~ ~ reaten)'ghtne da)" neaUe the)'thatw)'l
doo on)' tb)'ng for me, butrenne and pra)'e, thretene
and aalte,aUe tbe four comers of the world, thaugb I
ahold euer aecbe t)'l that Iltnowe where the)' ben bi-
comen,and I pra)')'ou, m)' lord the It),nge, tbat)'ftbe)'
were in sucheplace aslcowdenot get tbem b)' pra)'er,
b)'m)'ght, ne b)'request, tbat )'ewold assiste meand
abideb)'me, forittowcbetb),oursdfand the good is
123
youris, &alsoit is your part to doo jU9t)'9C on tbefte
& murdre, wbicbe botbe ben in tbis caasPReynart,
aaide tbe hynge, tbat 9bal I not leue wban ye hnowe
wber tbey ben, myn belpe sbal be alway redy for you
pO dere lorde, tbis is to mocbe presented to me, yf
I bad power & mygbt I sbolde deserue a),enst ),ow f
batb tbe foxe bis mater fast and fa),r, for be
batb tbe hynge in bis band as bewold, bym tbougbt
tbat bewas in better caas tban itwasl)'he to bauebe.
f'je batbmadesomany le9ynges tbat bemay gofrely
wber be w)'l witbout complaynyng of ony of tbem
aUe, 9auf of Isegram, 'Yhich wa9 to h),m.lward angry
and d)'sples)'d and saldepOnoble h),nge, are)1e so
mocbe chyldyssh that ye byleue this false & sUbt)'l
sbrewe, and suffre your self wytb false lye9 thus to
be deceyuyd? Of faytb it sbold be longe or I 9bolde
byleue bym, be i9 in murdre & treson al be.lwrapped,
and be mochetb )1ou to fore your visage. I sbal teUe
b)'m a notbertale, lam glad tbat Ieee now bym bere,
aUe bisles)'nges ahal not a.lva)'Ue h)'m er he departe
.. fro me.
: now ysegrym tbe mulf complayned agayn on tbe

foxe, capitulo xxxiij,.p,.p

. lord, I pray you to take bede, tbi9
-, false tbeef betraied my wyf ones
fowleand disbonestly, bitwas eo
tbat in a wynters day tbat tbey
wente to gydertburgba gretewa-
ter, and he bare my wyf an honde
tbat bewold tecbe bertahery9sbe
ber tayl,and tbat sbe sbold
late it bange in tbe water a good wbile, & tber 9bold
somocbe fys9be cleueon ittbat foureof tbem ehold
not conne ete it. 'Che fool m)' w)'f supposed he had
said trouthe,and shewente in them),re to the bel)' to
er she cam in to the water, and whan she was in the
deppest of the water he bad her holde her ta)'lst)'Ue
til that the rysshe were comen. She helde her ta)'lso
longe that it was from harde in the )'se and coude
not pluche it out, and whan he sawe that he sprange
"P after on her bod)'. Hlas, there rau)'sshed he and
forc)'d m)' w)'f so hnauisshl)' that 1 am ashamed to
teUe it, she coude not defende her self, the sel)' beest,
she stode so depe in the m)'re. nerof he can not sa)'e
na)'e, for 1 fonde h)'m witb the dede, for as 1 wente
aboue "pon the banhe lsawe h)'m b),nethe"pon m)'
w)'f shou)'ng & steh),ng as men doo whan the)' doo
suche werhe and pla)'e. Blas, what pa),ne suffred 1
tho at m)' hertef I bad almost for sorow loste m)'
fyue w)'ttes, and cr)'de as lowde as I m)'gbt! Re),-
nart wbat do )'e tbere? mban be sawe me so n)'gbe,
tho leep he of and wente his wa)'e. I wente to her in a
grete heuinesse, and wente depe in that m)'re & that
water or I coude brehe the )'se, and moche pa)'nesuf-
fred she ershecoude haueout her ta),Ue,and ),et lefte
a gobet of her ta)'le beh)'nd her, & we were l)'hebotbe
therb), to haue lost our l)'ues, for she galped & Cf)'de
so lowde for the smarte that she had er she cam out
that the men of the "iUage cam out with stau),s and
b)'Uis, w)'th fla)'lis & p),hforhes, and thew)'uis w)'th
the)'r distauis, and cr)'ed d)'sp)'tousl)'! Sle f sle f and
sm)'te doun right f 1 was neuer in m)' l)'f so 3Iferde
for "nnethe we escape, we ran so fast that we swette,
therwasa")'la)'nethatstaheon,,sw)'thapyhewhiche
burted "s 90re, he was stronge and sW)'fte arfote,
hadde it not be n)'ght certa),nl), we had ben sla)'n.
12
5
'Lhe fowle olde quenes wold fa)'n haue beten "s, the)'
saide that we had b)'ten the)'r sheep, the)' cursed "s
with man)' a curse, tho cam we in to a felde ful of
brome and brembles, there h)'dde we "s fro the ")'-
la),nes, & the)' durst not folowe "s ferther b)' n)'ght
but retomed home aga)'n. See, m)' lorde, th)'S fowle
mater, this is murdre, rape, and treson, whiche )'e
ought to doo just)'ce theron sharpl)'.

were trewe, it shold go to n)'ghe m)'n
honour & worship, God forbede that
it shold be founde trewe f l1it is wet
trewe thatltaught herhowshesholde
.. in a place catche f),sshe, and shewde
her a good wa)' for to goo ouer in to the water with-
outgo)'ngintothem)'re,butaherannesodes)'rousl)'
whan she herde me name the ryssh that she nether
wa)' ne path belde, but wente in to the )'se, wherein
sbe was forfrom, and tbatwas b)' cause she abode
to 10nge.She bad fissb)'nougb)'f sbe coude baue be
ples)'d w)'tb mesure: it falleth ofte who that wold
baue aU lesetb alle, ouer couetous was neuer good for
tbe beest can not be satisryed. find whan lsawe her
in tbe )'se so faste I wende to baue bolpen ber, and
beef and shoef, and stadt here and there to baue
brougbt ber ought, but it was al pa)'ne loste for sbe
was to beu)' for me. 'Lbo cam ysegr)'m and saw bow
1 sboef and stadt and d)'de al m)' beste, and be as a
fowle cborle, fowle and r)'badousl)' sldaundr)'th me
w)'tb ber as tb)'sefowle"ntbriftes benwontetodoo,
but, m)' dere lord, it was none otberw)'se. l1e bel)'eth
me falsel)', parauenture bis e)'en daset)'d as be lolted
from aboue doun, be cr)'de and cursed meand swore
126
man)'an oth lshold dere ab)'e it. mhan I herde h),m
so curse and thretene, I wente m)'wa)'e and lete h)'m
curse and menace til he was wer)" and tho wente he
and heef and shoef &, halpe his w)'f out, and thenne
he leep and ran and she also for to gete them an hete
and to warme them, or ellis the)' shold haue de)'ed
for colde. Hnd what someuer 1 haue said 3Ifore or
after, that is clerel)' al trouthe. I wolde not for a
thousand marhe of f)'n gold l)'e to )'ow one les),ng,
it were not f)'tt)'ng for me; whatsomeuerfalle of me
lshalsa)'e the trouthe, l)'h as myn elders hauealwa)'
don, syth the tyme that we ryrst vnderstode reson,
and yfye be in doubteofony thyngthatl hauesaid
otherwyse than trouth, g)'ue me resp)'teof viij da)'es
that I ma)' haue counseyl, and I shal brynge suche
informacion, wytb good, tryew, and sufrycient re-
corde, tbat ye sbal aUe your lyf duryng truste and
b)'leue me, and so shal all your counseyl also. mhat
haue I to doo wyth the mulf? hit is to fore clerly
),nowh shewde that he is a foule vylaynous hayt)'f
and an vnclene beest, whan hedeledand departed the
sw)'n, so is it now hnowen to yowalle b)' h)'s owen
wordes that he is a deffamer of w)'mmen as moche
as in hym is! ye ma)' wel marhe euer)'chone. mho
sholde luste to do that game to one so stedfast a
w)'f, be)'ng in so grete peryll of deth? ashe ye
b)'s wyf, )'f it be so as he sayth: yf she w)'l sa)'e the
trouth I wotewelshe Idooj/lChospach
rsw)'nde the mulfls wyf: Hch, felle Re),nart, no-
man can hepe h)'m self fro the, thou canst so wel
vttre th)' wordes, and th)' falseness &, treson sette
forth, but it shall be euyl in the ende. now
broughtest thou me ones in to the welle where the
12
7
two boltett)'a henge by one corde thurgh
one whiche wente one "P and anotber doun,
tbou aatteat in that one boltet in tbe in
grete drede. I cam theder, and herde tbe and
malte aorowe, and axed the how thou cameat there.
'Chou aaide9t that thou haddeat there ao good
ryaahea eten out of tbe water that wolde
breate.laaid teUemehow lahalcometothe?'Chenne
9aideat thou: Hunte, in to the boltet that
hangeth there, and 9hal com anon to me. I
90 and I wente dounward and cam "pward. 'Cho
waa I aUe angry. 'Chou 'Chua fareth the
world, that one gotb "P and another gotb doun.
'Cbo aprang fortb and wente 'Your wa'Ye, and I
abode thereaUone hole aorean hon-
gryd and arcolde, and therto had I a atrolte er
I coude gete thenapRunte, the foxe, thaugh
the atroltea harme I had leuer had them
than I, for better bere them, for one of "a
muat nedea haue bad them. I taught good,
"nderatande it and Ite on it, tbat another
t)'me talte better hede & bileue noman ouer
ia he frende or for euery man eeheth hia owne
prouffyt: be now foolee that do not aoo, and
whan be in of
128
R fa)'r parable of the fo'Xe and the mulf, capitulo
ill
Y lord, said dame rsw),n, lpra,
)'ow here bow be can blowe witb
aUe w)'ndes and bow fa)'r bryng-
etb be bis maters fortbJlCbus
batb be brou ght me man, t)'me in
scatbe and burte, said tbe Iulf,
be batb ones betra,ed me to tbe
Sbe-Flpe m,n aunte, wbere I was
in grete drede and fere, for llefte tbere almost m,n
one ere. Yf tbe fo'Xe will tell it bowit b,fel, 1 w,lgvue
b,m tbe fordeie tberof, for I can not teUe it so wei
but be sbal ber)'spe mepIel, aaid the I abal
teUe it wythout 9tameryng, I ahal aaye tbe troutb, I
pray yow berhen me. ne cam in to tbewode and com-
pla,ned to me tbat be bad grete bongre, for lsawe
b,m neuer so ful but be wold alwa, haue bad fa,n
more.l bauewonder wberetbe mete becometb tbat be
destro,etb.lsee now on bis contenance tbat be be-
gvnnetb to grymme for bon gre. Wban 1 berde bim ao
compla,ne 1 bad p,te of b,m, and lsaide I was also
bongr),.'Cbenne wente we balfa da)'togvdre & fond
notb,ng,tbowb,ned be and cry ted, & said bem)'gbt
goo no fertber. 'Chenne esp,ed I a grete boolstand-
,ng in tbe mydd)'s "nder an bawe wbicbe was tb,clte
of brembles,& 1 berde a russb)'ng tberin, 1 wist not
wbat it was. 1:benne said 1: 000 tberin and lolte yf
tber beon)'tbyng tberforvs, I wotewel tberissome-
wbatP'Cbo said be: C09)'n, I wolde not crepe in to
tbat bole for twenty pounds but 1 wist ryrst wbat
is tberin, me tb,nltetb tbat tber is some per,lous
tbyng, but Isbal abyde bere\1nder 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 subt)'lte &
can wel belpe your self & mocbe better tban IPSee,
my lord tbe tbus be made me, pourewigbt, to
goo to fore in to tbe daunger, and be, whiche is grete,
longe and stronge, abode withoute and rested hym
in pees, a1wayteyf I dyde not for bym tbere.
WOLD not suffre the drede and fere
tbat I there suffred for al tbe good in
erthe but yf I wyste bowe to escape. I
wente hardily in, I
longe, & brood. r I right in the hool
cam, soo espyed I a grete light whiche
cam in fro tbat one syde, tber laye in a grete ape witb
tweyne grete wyde eyen, and tbey glymmed as a ryre,
and sbe badagrete moutbwitb longeteetb, & sbarp
nayUes on birfeet & on bir bandes.1 wende bit bad be
amermoyse, a baubyn, or a mercatte, forlsawe neuer
fowler beest, & by her laye thre of her children wbicbe
were rigbt fowle, for they were ryght lyhethe moder,
wban they sawe me come tbey gapeden wyde on me &
were alstyUe.1 was aferd & wold well bad ben tbens,
butltbougbte: lam therin, I mustetbertburgh,and
come out as wel aslmaye.Hslsawe ber, metbougbt
sbesemed moretbanYsegrymtbeWulf,& ber coyl-
dren were more tban I. Isawe neuer a fowler meyne,
tbey laye on fowle beye wbicbe was al be1pyssed, they
were byslabbed and byclagged to tbeir eres to in her
owen was almostsmoldred
tberof.1 durst not saye but goode, & tbenne I said :
Hunt, God gyue yow good daye, and aUe my cosyns,
your fayr chyldren, tf>ey be of tbeyr age tbe fayrest
130
that euer I sawe.O Lord God, howe weU plese they
mef how louely, how fayr ben theyf eche of them for
their beaute myght be a grete hyngis sone, of right
we ought to than h yow that ye thus en crece oure tig-
nage. Dere aunte, whan I herde saye that ye were de-
lyuerd& leyddoun,Icoudenolmgerabydebut must
come and frmdly vysiteyow,Iam sory that I had not
erst hnowen it j/I Reynard, cosyn, said she, ye be wel-
come for that ye haue founde me & thus come see me.
I than he yow, dere cosyn,ye be righttreweand named
right wyse in aUe londes, and also that ye gladly fur-
thre&bringeyourti91)ageingreteworship:)'emuste
teche m)' cbyldrrn wtthe youris some wysedom, that
they may hnowe what they shal doo and leue. I haue
thought on yow, for gladly ye goo & felawship with
the good P 0 howe well was I plesyd whan I herde
thisewordes, this deseruid lat the begynnyng whan
I caUyd her aunte, how be it that she was nothynge
sybbe to me, for my right aunte is dame Ruhrnawe
thatyonderstandeth,which iswoned to bryng forth
wyse chyldrenPIsaid:Runte, my lyf and my good
is at )'our commandement, and what I may doo for
),ow by nyght and by daye, I wyUe gladly teche them
aUe that I can jI I wolde fayn haue be thens for the
strnche of them, & also I had pyte of the grete hon-
gre that Isegrym had.lsaide: Runte, I shal comytte
yow and your fayr chyldrrn to God and tahe my leue,
m)' wyf shaU thynhe longe after me P Dere cosyn,
said she,ye shal not departetil ye haue eten, for yf ye
dyde I wold saie ye were not hyndejl'Cho stode she
vp& broughtmein an otherhool whereaswasmoche
mete of hertes & hyndes, roes, fesauntes, partrychs,
and moche other venyson, that I wondred frowbrns
h 2 131
at this metem)'ght come, and whan 1 had etm m)' bd)'
futshegaf me agrete pece of an byndefortoetew)'tb
m)' w),fand w)'th m)' housbotd wban 1 come bome.l
was a sbamed to tahe it but 1 m)'gbt none otber w)'se
doo.l tban h)'d bu & tohe m)' teue, sbe bad me Isbo1d
come sone aga)'n,lsa)'dl wo1de,&sodeparted tbros
mer)'l'ytbatlsowe1 had spedde.l basted me out,and
whan 1 cam and saweysegr)'mwhiche gron)'ng,
and 1 axed b)'m howe he ferde p l1e sald: Ji euew, a1
eu)'U, for it iswondertbatI1)'ue.Brynge)'e on)' mete
to ete? 1 de)'e for honger p'Cbo bad 1 com passion of
bym, and gaf b)'m tbatl bad, and saued b)'m tbere
btsl),f, wberof tbrone be tbanhed me gretl)', bow be
it tbat be now owetb me eu)'l w)'1.
had etm this "p anon. 'Cbo said be:
Re),nard, dere cos)'n, what fonde)'e in
thathool?lam more hongr), now than
1 was to fore, m)' teetb ben now sbarped
to eteJ!llsaid tbenne: eme, baste ),OW
tbrone in to tbat boot, )'e sbat
fvnde tbere )'nougb. 'Cbere Hetb m)'n aunte w)'tb ber
cbyldrm, )'f)'e w)'t spare the trouth and lye grete les-
)'ngee, ye shal baue there al ),our desire, but and ye
sa)' trouthyeshal tahebarmpJVI), lord, wasnot tbis
ynough sa)'dand warned, wbosowold "nderstonde
it, that al tbat he fonde be sho1dsa)'e thecontrar)'e?
But rude and plompe beestis can not "ndustonde
w)'eedom, tberfore hate tbe)' aUe subt)'t inuencions,
for the)' can not conce)'ue tbem. yet neuutbdes be
saide he woldegoo inne, and l)'e so many les)'ngis er
he eholde m)'sbappe tbat aU man sbolde baue won-
dre of it, and so wmte fortb in to tbat fowte st)'nh-
)'ng bool and fonde the marmosette. Sbe was l)'he
132
thedeuylsdoughter &on her chyldren bynge mocbe
fylthe cloterd in gobettiaPt:ho cryde he: Hlas, me
growled) of tbyae fowle nycltera, come they out of
heUe? men may malte deuyUes 3fferd of hem, goo &
drowne them that euyl mote they fare. 1 sawe neuer
fowlerwormes, theymalte al myn heertostand right
vppSir ysegrym, said she, what may I doo therto?
they ben my chyldren & I muste be their moder, what
lyeth that in yourweye whether they be fowl orfayr?
they haue yow nothyng coste. nere hath ben one to
day byfore yowwhichewaa to them nyheof Ityn, and
was your betterandwyser,&heaayde that theyware
fayr: who hath sent yow hitherwith thyse tydynges?
pDame, ",yl ye wytte 1 wyUe ete of your mete, hit is
better bestowed on me than on thyae fowlewyghtes
P She sa)'de: f)ier is no mete p f)e sayde: f)ere is
ynoughfpBnd therwyth he atertewith hiahedeto-
ward tbe mete, and wolde haue goon in to the hool
wherthe metewas, but myn aunte sterte upwyth her
chyldren, and ronne to hym wyth their sharp longe
naylessosore thatthebloderanouerhiseyen.Iherde
hym crye sore and howle, but 1 Itnowe of no defence
that he made, but that he ran faste out of the hool,
and hewas there cratched & by ten , and many an hool
had they made in his cote and sltyn, his viaage was
aUe on a blood and almoate he had loste hia one ere.
f)egronedand compleyned to me sore; tbenne aalted
1 hym yf be badwd lyedPnesayd: Isaide lylte as 1
sawe and fonde, and that waa a fowle bytche wyth
many fowl wyghtiaPNay, eme,aaid I, yeahold baue
said: fayre nece, bow fare ye and your fair chyldren,
wbichbenmywelbdouidcosyna?pt:beIulfsayd:
1 had leuer that they were hanged er 1 that saidePYe,
1t3 lD
eme ( therfore muste ye resseyue suche maner pay-
mmte, hyt is better otherwbyle to lye than to saye
( trouthe,theythatben better, wiser,andstrengerthan
webehauedoon soto forevspSee, my lord thehing,
thus gate he his rede coyf. Now stondeth he aUe so
simply as he hneweno harme: Iprayeyou askeyehym
yf it was not thus, be was not fer of yf I wote it wet.
Tiow yaegr)'m proferd hie gtoue to tbe foxe for to
, rygbt wyth hym, capitulo xxxv
mulf sayd: I may wet forbere
your moches & your scomes, and
also your feUe venymous wordes,
strong tbeef tbat ye are 1 ye saide
-......m tbat I was almost dede for bun gre
wban ye betpe me in my nede, tbat
_ .... ...... _...,.... isfalsetylied,foritwasbutaboon
.... - tbat ye gaf tome, ye badetm away
aUe tbe flessb tbatwas tberon, & yemoche me & saye
that I am bongry here where lstande, tbat toucbetb
my worship tonygb, what many a spyt)' worde haue
ye brougbt forth wytb false leeyngis, & that I baue
conspyred the hynges detb fro tbe tresour tbat ye
baue seid to hym is in nulsterto, & ye baue also my
wyf sbamed& sklandred tbat sbesbal neuerrecoure
it, and lsbold euer be disworsbipped tberby yf I
auengyd it not. I baue forbom yow longe, butnowye
shal not escapeme.lcan not mahe berof greet preef,
but Isaye here to fore my lord and to fore aUe them,
tbat thou arta false tray tour anda morderar, & tbat
sballproue&mahe good on tbybodywytbin lyetee
,---.... " in the felde, and tbat body ayenst body, and tbmne
sbal our atryf baue an mde, and tberto I caste to the
my gloue, and tahe tbou it vp. labal baue rigbt of
134
U'l
the, or deye therforef/Reynard the foxe thought:
now come Ion this campyng? Ie ben not bothe
lyhe, Ishal not welconneatondeayenst thisstronge
theef: aU my proof is now come to an ende.
now the foxe tohe "p the gloue, and how the Itynge
sette to tbem daye and felde for to come & doo tbeyr

batayUe, capitulo xxx"jJPJt.t
thought the foxe: Ihaue good
auauntage, the cLawes of bis fore
feet be of, and his feet ben yet sore
therof, whan for my salte he was
he shal be somwhat the
weylter pt:henne sayd the foxe:
mbo tbat saitb tbat I am a tray-
............ tour or a morderar, I saie be tietb
falsely,and that art tbou specyaUy, ysegrym: tbou
me there as I wold be, this haue I ofte de-
syred: 10, here is my plegge that aUe thy wordes ben
false,and tbatlshaldefendemeandmaltegood that
thou Lyestpt:he Itynge receyuyd the plegges and
am)'tted the bateyU, & aslted borowes of tbem bothe
that on the morn they shold come & parforme tbeyr
batayUe, and doo as they ought to doo. t:benne the
Sere and tbe Catte were borowes for tbe Iulf, and
for the foxe were borowys 6rymbart the Dasse and
8ytduys.
"owe Rultenawe tbe SberRpe the fo'Xe
bow be sbolde in tbe felde ayenste tbe
mulf, capitulo '
SberRpe sayde to tbe fo'Xe:
Reynert, neuewe, see tbat ye talte
bede in batayU, be colde and
erne taugbt me ones a
tbat is of mocbe vertue to
tbat shal fygbte:and agrete
malster and a clerlt, and was
abbot of Boudelo, that taughted
he who tbat sayde deuoutly this
fast)'ng sbal not tbat be ouercomen in ne
in ryghting.'Cherfore, dereneuew, benot aferd,lsbal
rede it ouer yowtomorow, thenne may be sure yn""
ougboftbemulf, bit is bettreto fygbtetban to baue
the neche asondre P I tbanlte dere aunte, saide ')
thefoxe, thequareUthatlhaue is ryghtfuU, therfore
lbope lshalspedewel,and that sbalgretely be myne
belpeP RUe lygnage abode by bim al tbe
and belpe bym to dryue the t)'me. Dame Rult-
enawe tbe SberRpe bis aunte tbougbte alway on bis
prouffyt and fordele, and sbe dyde aUe bys beer fro
tbe beed to tbe be sborn of smotbe, and sbe a-
nointed aUe his body wyth ofolyue, and tbenne
was bodye al so glat and slyper tbat tbe mulf
sbolde baue none bolde on bym, & be was round and
fatte also on bis bodyp Hnd sbe said to bym: Dere
cosyn,ye muste now drynlte mocbethat tomorow ye
may tbe better malte your but abal bolde it
in t)'l come to tbe felde, and wban nede is and t)'me,
ao shal ye pysse ful your rowhe tayU, and amyte the
mulf therwyth in bis berde, and yf ye mygbt bytte
hym tberwytbin his eyen tbenne sbal ye byneme bym
bis sygbt, & tbat sbold moche byndre hym: but eUis
hold alway your tayl faste bytwene your legges that
hecatcbeyounot tberby,and boldedounyourerialy-
eng plat after your beed tbat be bolde you not tber-
by,and see wisely to yourself, and at begynnyngflee
fro bys strohes and late bym aprynge and renne af-
ter yow, & renne to fore where as moste dust is, and
sryre it wythyour feet tbat it mayfiee in hiseyenand
tbat sbalmocbehyndrebis s-yght,andwh-yle be rub-
beth his e-yen tane yourauantage, and sm-yte and bite
him there as -ye ma-y moat hurte bym, and aUewa-y to
hytte h-ym wyth your tayU fyl of pysse in bis"isage,
and tbat sbal mahe h)'m 90 woo that he ahal not w)'te
where he ia,and late bymrenne afteryowfortomahe
.bym wery: -yet his feet ben sore of tbat -ye made bym
to loae bis ahooea, and tbough be be greet he hathno
herte. N euew, certa-yn t-y this is m-y counse-yU
conn-yn g gotb to fore atren gtbe

tberfore aeeforyouraelf, & sette your-
i
self wysel-y atte defence, tbat ye and we
aUe may baue worsbip tberof. 1 wold
. be aory -yf ye mysbapped, Isbal tecbe
-you tbe wordea tbat your eme JVlerryn
taught me, tbat ye ma-y ouercome -your enemye as 1
\ bope -ye abal doo wytbout doubtp'Cberwytb sbe
leyde ber band "pon bia beed & saide tbese wordea :
Blaerde Sbay Hlpbeino, Kasbue Corsona alsbui-
friop)'feuew, now be -ye sure fro aUe myscbief and
drede, and I counse-yle 'Yow tbat -ye reste you a l-yt)'t,
for it ia by tbe da-ye, ye ahal be tbe better d-yspoaed,
13
7
we shal awalle you al in t)'mePHunte, said the foxe,
I am now glad. God thanlle you, ye haue don to me
suche good 1 can neuer deserue it fully agayn. JVIe
thynlleth ther may no thynge hurte me 9yth that ye
haue said thyse holy wordes ouer mep'Cho wente
he and leyd hym doun "nder a tre in the grasse and
slepte t)'l thesonnewasrysen, tho cam the Otterand
walled h)'m, and bad hym aryse, and gaf h)'m a good
yong dolle, and said: Dere cosyn,1 haue this n)'ght
made many a leep in the water er 1 coude gette this
yong fatte dolle, I haue tallen it fro a fowler, talle &
ete itpReynart sayde: 'Chis is good hansele, yf 1
refused thIs 1 were a fool. 1 thanlle yow, cosyn, that
yeremembre me, )'fI l)'ue I ahal rewarde yowP'Che
foxeete tbe dollewitboutesawceor breed, it sauourd
h)'m wel and wente wel in, and be dranlle therto iiij
grete draughtis of water: thenne wente be to the ba-
alletheythat louyd hymwentew)'tb
hym.
now tbe fox cam in to the fetde & how tbey foughten,
capitulo
f)H)'l tbe Il)'nge sawe Re),nart
thus sbom and o)'led, he said to
h)'m: )', foxe, how wd can )'e
see for ),ourself? pl1ewondred
tberof, he was fowle to lolle on,
but tbe foxesaid not one worde,
but Ilneled doun lowe to ther-
the "nto tbe Il)'nge and to tbe
quene, and str),lled h)'m forth in to the feldept:he
mulf was ther red)' and spacll man)' a proud word.
'Che rulers and Ilepars of tbe felde was tbe Lupaert
1

,

, I
)
1
and tbe Losse, tbey brougbt fortbe tbe boohe, on
sware tbe mulf tbat the foxe was a tray tour
and a morderar and none mygbt be falser tban be
was, and tbat be wolde preue on bis body and mahe
it good.Reynart tbe foxe sware tbat be lyed,as a false
hnaueandacursyd tbeef,and tbat bewold doogood
on bis body: wban tbis was don tbe gouemours of
tbe felde bad tben doo tbeyr deuoyr. t:benne romed
tbey aUe tbe felde, sauf dame Ruhenawe tbe Sbe-
Hpe, sbe abode by tbe foxe and bad bym remembre
wei tbewordes thatsbehadsayd to hymPShesaid:
See wel too, whan ye were vij yer olde ye were wyse
),nowh to goo by nyght wythoute lanterne or mone
sbyne where ye wyste to wynne ony goode, ye ben
named emong the peple wyse & sUbtyl, payne your-
self. towerhe soo that yewynnethe prys, thennemay
ye haue euer honour & worship, & al we that ben your
frendyspne answerd::My derest aunte, lhnowe it
.. : wei, lshal doo my best &. thyn he on your counseyl,
I bope so to doo tbat aUe my lignage shal bauewor-
ship therbyand myn enemyesshameand confusion
pShe sayde: God graunte ityowf
fiowthefoxe&.tbelutffoughtentogydre,capitulo

.... TiRmycn shewent outof the
rq fetdeand tete them tweyne goo to
(fj. gyder. t:he mutf trade forth to
the foxe in gretewrath, &. opened
his fore feet &. supposed to baue
tahen thefoxein hem. But tbe fox
sprang fro hym tyghtty, for he
was tyghter to fote than be; the
Iulf sprang after and hunted the foxe sore. Cbe)'r
13
9
frendee stodewitbout the & lohed "pon bem:
tbeIulf tban
ouertohe & bis foot and wende to baue
but tbe foxe sawe to and smote
w)'tb bis rowbe wbicbe be bad al in
Lbo wende tbe Iulf to baue ben plat
tbe sterte in bie tbenne muste be
reste for tomahe clene bis tbougbte on
bis fordele, and stode aboue shrabbing &
bisfeet tbe dust tbat it flewtbeIulfis
fut. 'Cbe Iulf was sore tber in
sucbew)'setbatbemuste
for tbe sonde and p)'sse cleu)'d vnder bis e)'en tbat
it smerted eosoretbat bemusterubbeand wassbe it
cam in a grete angre and bote
bym tbre grete woundee on bis beed bis teetb,
and said: mbat ie tbat, mulf, batb one tbere
bow is
on )'OW ),et. Hb)'de, I sbal br)'nge )'OW eomme newe
)'e baue stole man)' a lam be & destro)'ed man)'
beeet, and now baue appeled meand
brougbtmeintbistrouble.Hl tbissballnowauenge
on tbe,Iam cboeen to reward tbe for tbyn
for60d no lenger suffre tbe in grete
and sbrewdnes. I soal now tbe & tbat ebal
be good for sowle:tahe tbispenaunce,
fortbou lenger,tbe beUesbal betb)' pur-
is now in merc)" but & )'f thou
wilt hneledoun and asheme & hnowlecbe
tbeto be ou ercom en , I
sparetbe, conecience Iebold
.not
and wordes to baue goon out of
14
0

,
his w,tte, & that dered h,m so moche that he w,ste
not what to sa,e, buff ne baff, he was soo angr, in
his herte. 'Chewoundes that Re,nart had h,m
bledde and smerted sore and he thought how he
mvghte beste aumge it.
Y'CI) grete angre he l,fte "p his foote
__ ....., ...... onoo.-..... & smote the foxe on the heed so grete
astrolte that heryl to the ground. 'Cho
sterte the Iulf to and wmde to haue
talte h,m, but the foxe was l,ght and
and roose l,ghtl, "p and mette
w)'th h,m fiersl" & there began a feUe bata,Uewhiche
dured longe. t:helulf hadgrete spiteon the foxe as
itwelsemed, he spran ge after h,m x r,mes echeafter
other, & wold fa)'n haue had h)'m faste, but his slt)'n
was so sl)'per & fatte of tbe o)'le tbat alwa)'s be es-
caped fro b)'m#O so subtvl & sndle was tbe foxe,
that man,r,meswhan the Iulfwendewel to besure
of h,m, he sterte thmne b,twme hisleggee & "nder
his bel" & thmnetomed heaga,n an,d gaf the Iulf
a strolte w,th his tail ful of p,ese in hie e,m that
lsegrym wmde be sholde haue loete his sight, and
thie d)'de he often r,mes.Hnd alwe)' whan he had so
sm,tm h,m, thmne wold he goo aboue the w),nde,
& re,ee the duete that it made his e)'en ful of stufs.
lsegrym wae woo begon, and thought he was at an
afterdele. yet was his strmgthe and m,ght moche
more than the foxes,Re,nard had man)' a sore strolte
of h,m, whan he raught h,m. 1:he, gaf eche other
man),aetrolteandman, a b,te, whan the, eawthe,r
auauntage, & eche of hem d)'de hie best to destro,e
that other. I woldlm,ght eee suche abata,Ue. 'Chat
one was w,l), and that' other was stron ge: that one
faught w,th strmgthe, & that other with subrylte.
141
fie mulf was angr), that the foxe en-
duredso longe a)'ensth)'m:)'fhis for-
mest feet had ben hole the foxe had not
endured so longe, but the soreswerso
open that he m)'ght not wd renne,and
~ ~ = = = = ~ the foxe myght better of and on than
he, and also he swange hlS ta)'l w)'th p)'sse ofte vn-
der his e),en, and made h)'m that h)'m thougthe that
his e)'en shold goo outpHtte laste he sayd to h)'m
self: I w)'l mahe an ende of this bata)'Ue. fiow longe
shal this ca)'tyfdure thus a)'enst me? lam so grete,
I shold if lla)'e vpon h)'m presse h)'m to deth. fi)'t is
to me a grete shame that I spare bym so longe, men
shal moche&po)'ntemew)'th ryngres tom), shame
and rebu he, forI am ),et on the werst s)'de.1 am sore
wounded, I blede sore, and he drowneth me w)'th his
p),sse, and caste so moche duste and sande in m)'ne
e)'en that hastel), Ishal not conne see)'f Isuffre him
on)' lenger.1 w),lsette it in auenture & seen what shal
come tberof jI m)'th that he smote w)'th his foote
Re),nard on the heed that he ryU doun to the ground,
and er he cowde ar)'se he caught him in h)'s feet, and
(a)'e vpon hym as he wold haue pressed h)'m to deth.
'Cho began the foxe to be a1ferd, and so were aUe his
frendis whan they sawe h)'m l)'e vnder, and on that
otherside aUe'Ysegr)'msfrendeswere io)'eful&glad
p'Che foxe defended h),m faste w)'th his dawes as
he la)'evpward wyth his feet & gaf him many a clope:
the mulf durste not wyth h)'s feet doo h)'m moche
hanne, but with his teeth snatched at h)'m as hewold
haue b)'ten h)'m. mhan the foxe sawe that he shold
beb)'ten, and was in gretedrede, he smote the Iulf in
the heed with his fonneat clawes, and tare the silynne
142
of byrnene his browes and bys eeris, and that one of
bys henge out, moche
ne he wepte, he lowde, and made a
teous for the blode ranne doun ae it had ben
aetreme.
now the foxe the Iulf w)'tb flatering
wordes glosed h)'m that the foxe cam to aboue
ca'pitulo Jl1-

was gladd whan he sawe that, he
..,.. ...... wrastled so eore that he sprange
on his feetwbyles he rubbed
the {fiulf was not weI ples-
)'d thuw)'th alle, and smote after
;.JJ. h)'m er he escaped & caugbt bym
.. in bis armes and belde b)'m faste,
notw)'tbetand)'ng tbat he bledde. Re),nard was woo
thenne, therewrastled longe and sore.'Che Iulf
wexe so that he forgat al his smarte &
& threw the foxe at plat vnder whiche cam h)'m
to passe, for his one hand whiche hedeffen-
ded h)'m sterte in the in to'Ysegryms throte,
and thennewas he aferd to lese his handp'CheIulf
tho to the foxe: ow chese whether )'e )'elde
as ouercome,or slee
'Che sltater),ng of the dust, th)' p),sse,
ne th)' deffence, ne alle false not now

foredonmesomocheharme&shame,andnowlhaue
lost m)'ne onee)'e & therto ben sore wounded. Ihan
herdethat it stode 90rowme, that he shold
chese to Itnowleche ouercomen and or
ellis to talte the deth, he thought the was worth
14
3
ten marke, & tbatbemuste saytbatone ortbatotber.
ne bad anon con duded wbat bewoldsaie,& began to'
saye to bym wytb fayr wordes in tbis wyse: Dere eme,
I wyl gladly become your man wytb aUe my good, & I
wyl goo for you to tbe boly graue, & sbal gete pardon
& wynnyngfor your cloystre ofaUe the chirches that
ben in the noly Lande, whicbe sbal moche proutfvte
toyoursowle&yourelders sowles also.l trowe ther
was neuer suche a prouffre prouffred to on)' Il)'nge,
and IshaU serue ),ou l)'ke as I ahold aerue our bol)'
fader the pope.lshal bolde of you al that I haue and
euer benvour suuaunt,and forth Ishal maketbatal
mylignage shal do in lvhe wvse.t:henne shal ye be a
lord a/boue aUe lordes: who sholde thenne dare doo
on)'tb)'nga)'enst )'ou ?Rnd furtbermore,what aom-
euer I talle of pola)'Ue, gbees, partr}'cbe, or plouyer,
ryssbe or flesabe, or wbat aomeuer It be, tberof abal
yeryrst bauetbe cho)'s, and ),our wyfand ),our chyl-
dren,er ony come in my bod)'. 'Cbuto I wyl alwa)' a-
byde bV vou, that where ve be ther shaUe no hurte ne
scathe come toyow.ye be strong and I am w,lV, late
"s ab)'de to gydre tbat one w)'th counse)'U and tbat
otber w)'tb the dede, tben ma), tber notb)'ng misfaUe
to "s/ward, & we ben so n)'gb of k)'nne ecbe to otber
tbat of rigbt sbold be no angre b)'twene "a. I wold
not baue foughten a),enst )'ou )'f I m)'gbt baue es-
caped, but ye appeled meryrst "ntoryght, tho must
Idoothatlnot doowold glad 1)"and in tbis bata,Ue
I baue ben curto),s to),ow. I baue not yet ahewde the
"tteryat of m)' m)'gbt on )'ow, l)'ke as I wolde haue
doon )'f ye bad ben a atraunger to me, for the neuew
ougbt to spare tbe eme, it is good reson and it ought
so to bee. Dere eme, so baue I now doo, & tbat ma)'e)'e
144
marlte wel: wban I ran to fore )'owm)'n bertewold not
conaente tberto, for I m)'gbt baue burte ),OW moche
more than I d)'de, but I thougbt it neuer, for I baue
not burte ),OW ne don ),OW ao moche harme tbat ma),
b)'ndre )'ow, aauf on 1)' tbat m)'abappe that ia faUen
on ),our e),e. Reb, therfore I am aor)' & auffre moche
90row in m)' herte f I wold wel, dere eme, that it had
not bapped)'ow, but tbat it bad faUen on me, ao that
)'e tbuw)'th had ben plea)'d. now be it tbat)'e abal
haue therb)' a grete auauntage, for wban )'e bere af-
ter abalalepe)'e nede not to abette but one w)'ndowe
wbere anotber muate abette two. }VI)' w)'f & m)' cbil-
dren and m)' lignage abal faUe doune to ),our feet to
fore tbe It)'nge, and to fore aUe tbem tbat )'e w)'l de-
a)'re, and pra)'e )'ow humbl), that )'e w),lauffre Re),-
nart ),our neuew l)'ue,and a190 lahalltnowleche ofte
to haue treapaced ayenat ),ow, and what l(9)'ngea I
bauel)'ed "pon),ow. now m)'gbt on)' lord baue more
bon our tban I proifre )'ow? I wolde for no good do
tbia to anotber, tberfore I pray yow to be plea)'d bere
w tb a1.
moee wel )'f )'ewotd )'e m)'gbt now
alee me: but and )'e ao done bad, wbat
bad )'e wonne? ao must )'e euer after
tbia t)'me Itepe )'ow fro m)' frendea &
tignage. 'Cberfore be is w)'ae tbat can
in bia angre mesure b)'m adf and not
be ouer baat)',and toaeewel wbat ma)'faUe orbappe
afterward to b)'m. Wbat man tbat in bia angre can
wet adu)'se bim, certa),n t)' be is w)'se : men fynd man)'
footes tbat in bete baaten bem so mocbe tbat after
tbe)' repente bem, and tbrone it is to late, but, dere
eme, I trowe tbat ye be to w)'ae ao to doo. nit is better
11 145
to haue honour, reate & pees, & frendes
that be to helpe than to haue shame, hurte,
"nreste, and also man'Y l'Ymg in to
do harme. Rlso it islit'Yl worship to that
hath ouercomen a man thenne to slee him, but it is
grete shame:notform'Yl'Yf:thaugh I were deed, that
... were a 1,t'YU hurte.
the mulf said: R'Y theef,
how fa'Yn woldest thow be losed and
d'Yscharged fro me 1 'Chat here I wel b'Y
tb'Y wordes: were thou now fro me on
free feet, tbou woldest not sette b'Y
an egge sbeUe. 'Cbougb tbou pro-
m'YsedesttomeaUe the world of f)'nredegoldl wold
not late the escape. I sette l'Vtyl b'Y the and aUe thy
frmdes and lignage. HUe that thou hast here said is
but les'Yngis and fa'Yned falsenes: wen est thou thus
to s'Yth thatlltnewethe, lam
nob'Yrdtobelocitednetaiteb'Ychaf,lltnowwel'Ynowh
good com. 0 how woldest tbou moclle me, 'Yf Ilete
the thus escape It:hou haue said tbis to
'one that Itnewe the not, but to me thou losest th'V
ftater'Yng & swete ftoyryng, for I "nderstande to wei
th'Y tal'Y
s
; thow hast so ofte
me that me behoueth now to talte good hede of the.
'Chow false Itnaue, thow saist that thou
bast spared mein this bata'Yl.Lolte hetherward tome,
is not myn one out ( & therto hast thou wound-
ed mein xx places in m'Y heed, thou woldest not suffre
me so longe to resteas to talte ones m'V breeth.1 were
ouer moch a fool 'Vf I shold now spare the or bemer-
. c'Yful to the, so man'V a confusion & shame as thou
bast don to me: & tbat also, that toucheth me most
14
6
G
I J
(
(
I
Ci
(
ofalle, that thou hast disworahipedandsldaundred
..... .-,..,.,.6raw)'n m)' w)'f, whom lloue aawel aa m)' adf, and
falael), foraeat & dece)'uedest her, whiche ahal neuer
outofm)'herte, foraeofteaa it cometh to m)' m)'nde
aUe m)'n angre and hate that I haue to the reneweth
pIn themenew)'lethatyaegr)'m was thus speh)'ng,
the foxe bithought h)'m how he m)'ght helpe h)'m
adf, & atach his other hondafter b)'twene hia leggia,
__ ' andgrepetheWulffast b)' the col)'one,& he wronge
hem so sore that for woo and pa)'ne he muste crye "
lowde & howle, thenne the foxe drewe his other hond
out of hia mouth. 'Che mulf had so moche pa)'ne
and angu)'ash of the foxe wr)'ng)'ng, that the foxc
dowed & wronge his gen)'toura, that he ap)'tte blood
and for grete pa)'ne he b),ahote h)'m adf.
now ysegr)'m tbe Iutf was oue comm, & bow the
bata),l was tallen "'P and ryn)'sahid, & how the foxt
had the \\,o1's"il', ca .. tulo xtjJP,.p
S payne dyde bym more sorow
and woo tban his e)'e dyde that so
sore bledde,andalsoitmadeh),m
to ouerthrowealle in aswowne, for
he had so moche bledde, and also
the threst)'ng that he suffred in
his col)'ons made h)'m so fa)'nt
he bad loat hism)'$"bt. 'Chen
Re),nard tbefoxe lepe"pon b)'m w)'th albls m),gbt,
and caught b)'m b)' the legges, and drewe b)'m forth
thurgh the felde that the), aUe m)'ght aee it, and he
stadt and amote bym 90re. 'Chenne were ysegr)'1ua
frendes al ful of 90rowe, and wente al wep)'ng "nto
the)'r lord the h),nge, and pra)'de h)'m that he wold
doo sece the bata)'U and tahe it "pin to his bandesp
12 147
'Cbe It'ynge graunted itt and thmne wmte the !tepars
of the felde
t
the Lupaerd and theLossml
t
and saide
to the foxeand to the Wulf:Our lord the It)'ngewil
spelte w)'th ),oW
t
and w)'l that this bata),l be mded,
he wil talte it in to his hand. ne des),reth that)'e w)'l
g)'ue)'ourstryfvntoh)'m
t
for)'fon)'of)'owherewere
sla)'n it shold be grete shame on bothe s)'des, for)'e
haue as moche worship of this fdde as )'e ma), haue
pFInd the)' sa)'de to the foxe: FIUe the beestis g)'ue
to ),OW the prys that haue sem this bata),Uel-'Che
foxe said:'Chereoflthanlte hem, and what that shal
plesem)' lord to commande,thatshalnotlga),nsa),e.
I desire no better but to bauewonnetbefelde, latem)'
frrndes come bether to me, I wil talte adu)'se of tbml
what Ishal dooJlt:be)' saide that the)' thought it
goodtandalso itwasreson inwe),ght)'matersaman
shold talte adu)'s of bis frendes. t:hmne cam dame
Slopecade, and Grymbert the Dasse her busbond,
~ a m e Rultrnawew)'th ber ij susters, S)'tetu)'s & fut-
rompe her ij sones, and f)atrnet ber dougbter, tbe
fl)'ndermows, & tbe Wezel.FInd tber cam moo than
xx whicbe wold not baue comen )'f the foxe had lost
thefeeld:sowhotbatw),nneth and cometh to h)'s a-
boue he geteth e t e loosand worship, & wbo tbat is
ouer tbrowrn & bath tbe werse, to b)'m w)'1 no man
gladl)' come. 'Cher cam also to tbe foxe, the Seuer, tbe
Otter ,& botb tbe)'rw)'ues pantbecrofte &Ordegate,
and the Ostrole, the JVIartre, the f),chews, the f),ret,
tbe JVIowse, and the Squ)'rd, and man)' moo than 1
can name, and aUe b)'cause he had wonne tbe feeld.
ye, some cam that to fore had compla)'ned on b),m,
and were now of his next It)'nne, & the)' shewde b)'m
right frendl), chier and contmance. 'Chus fareth the
J4
8
world now, wbo tbat ia ricbeand b)'e on tbe wbeel be
bath man)' It)'nneamen and frendea tbat ahal hdpe
to bere out bis wdthe. But wbo tbat ia ned)' and in
pa)'ne or in pouerte fyndetb but fewe frendea and
It)'nnesmen, foreuerymanalmoateahewetb biacom-
pan)'e and wa),ept:her waa tbenne grete feate, the)'
blewe vp trompettls and p)'ped w)'th ahalmo)'aea.
'Che)' aa)'den aUe: Dereneuew, bleaa)'d be God tbat
)'e haue aped wei, we were in grete drede & fae whan
weaaw)'owl)'evnderPRe)'narttbefoxethanltedaUe
tbem frendl)" & reace)'ued them witb grete jo)'e and
gladnea: tbenne be aslted of tbem wbat tbe)' coun-
ae)'Ued b)'m, )'f be abolde 91'ue tbe felde vnto tbe
It)'ngeor noo? pDame Slopecadeaa)'de: ye bardel)',
coa)'n, )'e ma)' w)'th worah),p welaette it in to h)'a
handea and truate h)'m wei )'nough6t:hoo wente
the)'aUew)'th the Iteparsof the feeldvnto the It)'nge,
and Re),nard tbe foxe wente to fore tbem aUe w)'tb
trompea and p)'pea and mocbe otber m),natralc),e.
'Cbe foxe Itneled doun to fore tbe It)'nge, tbe It)'nge
bad h)'m atandevp, and aaid to b)'m : Re),nard, )'e be
now jo),eful, )'e baue Itepte ),our da)' worabipfuU)'. I
diacharge )'ow,and late ),owgoo frd)' qu)'te wbere it
plea)'tb ),ow, and tbe debate b)'twene )'ow I bolde it
on me, and abal diacuase it b)' reaon & b)' counae)'l
of noble men, and wil orde)'ne tberof tbat ougbt be
doon b),reaonatsucbetimeaaVaegrymabal bebool,
and tbmne labalsende for )'ow to come to me, and
tbenne b)' Goddea grace labal )'eue out tbe aentence
and jugement.
149
lin eneample tbat tbe foxe told to tbe It)'nge wban
he had wonne tbe felde, capitulo
....... y wortb), and dere lord tbelt)'nge,
eaide tbe foxe, 1 am wel 3Igreed
and pa)'d therw)'tb, but wban 1
cam fyrst in to ),our court ther
were man)' that were felle and en-
u)'ous to me, whiche neuer had
hurte ne cause of scathe b)' me,
::;51 bu t tbey tbo u gbt tha t tbey might
beste ouer me, & aUe tbey cryden wytb myn rnemyes
a),enst me, & wold fa)'n haue destroyed me by cause
the)' tbought that the mulf was better withbolden
and gretter w)'th ),OU than 1 was, whiche am ),our
humble subget. 'Che)' hnewe none other th)'nge wh)'
ne wherfore, tbey tbougbte not as thewyse bewoned
to doo, tbat is wbat tbe ende may bappen. }VIy lorde,
tbyse ben lylte a grete beepof boundeswbicbe 1 ones
sawe stonde at a lordes place vpon a dongbil wbere
as. the)' awa)'ted tbat men sholde brynge them mete,
tben sawe the)' an hound come out of the hitchen, &
had tahen there a fay, rybbe of beef er it was g)'uen
hym, and he ran fast a,way wyth all. But tbe cooh
had esp)'ed or be wente away, and tohe a grete bolle
full of scald)'ng water and caste it on bis byppes
beh)'nde, wherof be thanhynd notbyng the coolt, for
the beer behyndewas sltalded of and bis shyn semed
as it bad be tburgb soden. )'leuertheles he escaped
awa), and Itepte tbat he had wonne, and wban bis
felaws tbe otber houndes saw bym come w)'th tbis
fa)'r rybbe, tbe)' called hym alle and saide to h)'m : 0
bow good a frende is the cooh to the, whiche hatb
9luen to the so good a boone wheron his so moche
ftessbf t:heboundesaide: yehnowenothyng therof.
ye preyse me lyheas ye see me to forewyth the bone,
but ye baue not seen me behynde, tahe bede and be-
holdemeafterward on myn buttohhis, and thrnne ye
sbal Itnowe how I haue deseruyd it. Hnd whan they
had seen hym behynde on his hyppes, bow tbat his
shynne and his flessb was al rawe & tburgb soden,
tho growled tbem aUe, & were aferd of tbat syedyng
water, and wold not of bis felawsbip, but ftedde and
ran away from bym and lete bym tbere aUone.
, my lord, tbis rigbt baue tbyse
false beestis, wban tbey bemade lordes
and may gete their desire, and wban
tbey be mygbt)' and doubted, tbrnne
""'->!s:7.7. ben tbey extordonners, and scatteand
tbe peple, and etrn tbem lyhe as
tbey were forbongred boundes, tbese ben tbey tbat
bere tbe bone in ber moutb, noman dar baue to doo
wytb bem, but preyse aUe tbat tbey bedryue, noman
dar saye otber wyse but sucbe as sbal plese bem, by
cause tbeywold not besbom,andsommebdpetbem
fortb in tbeyr "nryghtwys dedes by cause tbeywold
baue parte and lyhlte tbeyr fyngres, and strengtbe
tbem in tbeyr euyllyf and werhis. 0 dere lorde, bow
lytylsern tbeytbat do tbusafterbebynde themwbat
tbernde sbal befHtte laste tbeyfal fro bye to lowe in
grete sbame & sorowe, and tbenne tbeyr werltis come
to Itnowlecbe & be opene, in sucbe wyse tbat noman
hatb pyte ne compasdon on them in tbeyrmescbief
and trouble, & eueryman cursetbem and say euyl by
tbem to tbeir sbame and "ytan,},e .Man,}, of sucbe
14 19

haue bm blamed and shom ful n)'ghe that the)' had {I
no worsh)'pe ne prouffyt, but lose theyr heer as the
hound d)'de, that is theyrfrmdes, whiche haue holpe
them to couue their m)'sdedes and extorcions lyite
as the heer coueryth the sit),nne, and whan the)' haue
sorow and shame for theyr olde trespaces, thmne
eche bod)' plucit)'th his hand fro h)'m and flee, lyite
as the houndes d)'de fro h)'m thatwas scalded w)'th
the s)'edyngwater, and lete hym tb)'se extorciens in
her sorow and nede.
due lorde it)'nge,l beseche )'ou to
remembre this example of me, it shal
not be_ aymst your worship ne wyse-
dom. What, wme ye bow many ben
ther suche false extorcioners now in
tbis da)'es?Ye, mocbe werse tban an
bound tbat beretb sucbe a bone in bis moutb, in
townes, in grete lordes courtes, whicbe wyth grete
facing and bracyng oppresse the poure peple wyth
grete wronge, & selle the)'r fredom and pryuelages,
and bue them on bond of thyngis that tbe)' neuer
itnewe ne thoughte, & aU for to gete good for the)'r
s)'nguler pro1fyt. God g)'ue them aU shame & soone
destro)'e tbem wbo somme euer tbe)'be tbat so doo f
But God be thanited, said the foxe, tber ma),noman
endw)'te me, nem)' l)'gnagene It),nne, of sucheweritys
but that we shal acqu)'tevs and comm in the lyghte.
I am not afferd of on)' tbat can saye on me on)' thyng
that 1 hauedon othuw)'setban a trewe man ought to
doo. RUeway the foxe sbal 3Ib)'de tbe foxe, tbougb
aUe his mem)'es hadde swom the contrar),e. }VI)' dm
lord tbe it),nge, lloue )'ou w)'th m)' berte aboue aUe ((1.
othu lordes, and neuer for noman wold I tome fro e;
15
Z
f)owwel itbatb
bm mformed I baue neuer-
tbdes do tbe beat, and fortb ao doo aUe
tbat I can or
how tbe forgaf tbe foxe aUe & made
& gretteatoueral bia landea, capitulo

be
one of tbem tbat owetb me bom-
age, wbicbe I that
ao doo, and alao I that
and late beof and
one of juaryaea: aee wel to
tbat not ne treapace
nomore. I aette -Vow aga-vn in aUe
-v
our
m-vg
bt
and power, l-vhe as -ve were to fore, and
aee tbat furtberaUe matera to the beate rigbte, for
wban aette and to vertue and
goodneaae, thmne not our court be
and for here ia non tbat ia
to -Vow in abarp and ne aubryUer
in a for a meacbief, and tb-vnlte -ve
on thexample tbat adf baue tolde and tbat
haunte and be to me trewe.l wiU fro
benaforth werlte and doo and coun-
be not that be but I
abold & wrelte it on ye abaUe
oueraUe apelte and wordea, and in aUe
lande abaU be aboue aUe otber and
tbat offyce I wd it
frendiaand lignage
tbanhetb lwolde
doo more for your sake than yewene, I pray yow aUe
that ye remembre hym that he be trewepDame Ru-
Itenawe thenne sayd: Yes,eyherly, my lord, that shal
he euer be, and thynlte ye not the contrary, for yf he
wereotherwyse he were not of our hynne ne lignage,
and I wold euer myseahe hym and wold euer hyndre
hym to my powerpReynart the foxe thanhed the
Ityngewirh fayr curtoys wordee & sayd: Dere lorde,
I am not worthy to haue the worship that ye doo to
me. I shal thyn he theron and be trewe to you al so
longe as I lyue, and shal gyue you ae holeom coun-
seyl ae shal be expedient to your good graceJ/nere
he rted wyth his frrndes fro the hynge.
herlte how laegrym the mulf
dyd: Sruyn the Sere, t: ybert the Catte,
and rswyndeand wyth
their tignage, drew en tbe Iulf out of
the felde, and leyde hym "pon a lyter
of heyeand couerd hym warm, & lohed
to his woundes, whiche were wel XX", and ther cam
wyse maietres & surgyens whiche bonde them and
weeebe hem. ne was so sehe and feble that he had
lost bis felynge, but they rubbed and wryued bym
.... "nder his temples and eyen that he sprange out of
his swounde, and cryde so lowde that aUe they were
aferd, theyhadwendethat he had ben wood. Sut the
maistres gaf hym a drynhethat comforted his herte
and made hym to slepe, tbey comforted his wyf and
tolde to her that therwae no dethwoundeneparyl of
his lyf Pt:henne the court brahe "p, and the beeetis
departed and wente to theyr places and bomes tbat
they cam froo.
154
now the foxew)'th his frendisand lignagedeparted
the It),ngeandwenteto his castel JVlalleper-
capitulo
the foxe tolte his leu(
bonestl), of tbe It)'nge and of tbe
quene, and tbe)' bad b)'m be sbold
not tar),e longe but sbortl)' retome
to tbem aga),npne answerd and
said: Dere It)'nge and quene, alwa)'
at ),our commandement 1 sbal be
1=:::1 .. ",'<:: red)'. Yf)'e nede on)' tb),ng, wbicbe
God forbede, 1 wold alwa)' be red)'w)'tb m)' bod)' &
m)' good to belpe ),ow, and also al m)' frmdes and
lignage in l)'ltew)'sesbalobe)'e )'ourcommandemmt
and desire, )'e baue byeLy desuu)'d it, God quyte it
),ow, and yeue you grace Longe to lyue. Hnd I des)'re
your licence and leue to goo bome to m)'w)'f & ch)'l-
dren, and )'f ),our good grace wil on)' th),ng, late me
haue Itnowlecbe of it, & )'e shal rynde me alwa)' red)'
p'Cbus departed tbe foxew)'tb fa)'rwordes frotbe
It)'nge. wbotbat coude sette b)'m in Re),nardis
. crafte, and coude bebaue b)'m in ftatuyng and lyeng
as be dyde, be sbold I trowe be berde botbe w)'th tbe
lordes sp)'rytuel and temporel. 'Cber bm man)"and
also tbe moste parte, tbat crepe after bis wa)'e & bis
hole: thename tbatwas g)'uen tob)'mab)'detbalwa)'
st)'lle w)'tb b)'m. 1)e batb lefte man)' of bis crafte in
tbis world, wbicbe allewa)'e wexe & become m)'gbt)',
for wbo tbat w)'l not vse Reynardis crafte now is
nougbt wortb in tbe world now, in on),estate tbat is
of m)'ght. But )'f be can crepe in Re),nardis nette &
batb ben his scoler, tbmne rna)' he dwellewith vs, for
tbenne Itnowetb bewel tbe wa), bow be ma), ar),se, and
155
is sette vp aboue of euery man. 'Cher is in the world
moche seed left of the foxe, whichenow oueral grow-
eth and cometh sore vp. 'Chough they haue no rede
berdes, yet ther ben founden mo foxes now than euer
were here to fore. 'Che rightwyse peple ben al loste,
trouthe and rightwysnes ben exyled and fordriuen,
and for them ben abyden wyth vs couetyse, falshede,
hate & enuye: thyse regne now moche in euery con-
tre. for is it in the popes court, the emperours, the
Ityngea, dultes, orony other lordes, where someuer it
be, eche man laboureth to put other out fro his wor-
shippe, offyce and power, for to malte hym sytf to
dymme bye, witb tyes, witbflateryng, wytbsymonye,
wytbmoney,orwytbatrengtbe&force.t:ber is none
thynge beloued ne Itnowen in the court now ardays
but mone),. t:he mone), is better b)'loued than God,
for men doo moche more therfore, for whosomeuer
bryngeth money ahat be wet receyuyd and shat haue
alle his desire, is it of lordes or of ladyes, or ony
otber, tbat moneydotb mocbe barme. :Money bryng- ~
eth many in shame and drede of his tyf, and bryng- 1
eth false w)'tnesa)'ensttruepeple for togete mone)',
hit causeth vnclennes of l)'u)'ng, l)'eng and lecher),e.
~ o w cterltes goon to Rome, to parys, & tomany an-
other place for to leme Reynardis crafte: is he clerlte,
is he taye man,eueriche of them tredeth in the foxes
path and selteth his hole.'Cbewortd is ofsuche con-
dyc)'on now tbat euery man sdtetb bym self in alle
maters,l wote not wbat ende sbal come to vs berof.
RUew)'se men may sorowe wet berfore,l fere tbat for
tbe grete falsenes, tbefte, robber)'e and murdre, tbat
is now vsed somocbe andcomonl)"and also the vn-
abamefast tecberye andauouttry, bosted and blowen
15
6
arbrood with the auaunt)'ngof the aame, that w)'th-
out grete repmtaunce & penauncetherfore, that60d
witl talte "engeaunce and pun),sahe"a aoretherfore.
Whom I humbl), beeecbr, and to whom noth)'ng ia
b)'d that he w)'tle gyue "9 grace to malte amendea to
h)'m therfore, and tbat we ma)'e rewle"a to h)'a play-
a),r, and her w)'tb wit I leue, for what haue I to wr)'tc
of thise m)'adedea ? I baue ),nowh to doo w)'tb m)'n
owne aelf, and ao it were better tbat I belde m)' peea
and auffre,andthe beatethatlcandoofortoammde
m)' aelf now in thist)'me:&ao lcounae)'le euer)'man
todoo here in thia presmt l),f,and that ahal be moat
our proutryt, for after tbia l)'f cometb no t)'me tbat
we ma), occup)'e to our auantage for to amende "a,
for tbmne abal euery man anawere for b)'m aelfand
bere bia owen burthenPRe),nardia frendea and l)'g-
nage to the nombre of xl haue tahen alao the)'r leue
of the h)'nge, and wente aUe to gydre w)'tb tbe foxe
. wbicbe waa r)'gbt glad tbat be bad ao wet aped, and
tbat be atode sowel in tbe It)'ngea grace. ne tbougbt
tbat be bad no sbame, but tbat be was so grete witb
tbe It)'ngethat he m)'gbt belpe& furtber biafrendea
and b)'ndre bis enem)'ea, & also to doowbat bewold
w tbout be sbold be blamed )'f be wold be w)'ae .
.. . , . . ~ ... n foxe & bis frendis wente ao longe
~
to gydre tbat tbe)' camen to hia burgb
~
to JVlaleperduya, tber tbe)' aUe tolte leue
ecbe of otber w)'tb fa)'r and courto),a
wordea. Re),nard d)'de to them gretere-
~ ~ = ~ ~ uermce,and thanlted tbem aUe frendl),
of tbe)'rgood fa)'tb, and also worsbip tbat tbe)' bad
don and abewd to b)'m, and profred to ecbe of tbem
F/f;IIIIh bia aeru)'ae)'f tbe)' bad nede w)'tb bod)' and goodea,
. 157
and herwyth they departed, and eche of them wente
to theyr owne howsespt:he foxe wente to dame
rmelyn his wyf, whiche welcomed hym frendly, he
tolde to her and to his chyldren alle the wonder that
to hym was befallen in tbe court, and forgate not a
-Ilt'?' ... worde but tolde to them euery dele how he Jjad escap-
ed. t:henne were they glad that theyr fader was so
_ .. enbaunsed and grete witb the hynge, and the foxe
lyued forth on wyth hiswyfand his chyldren in grete
and gladnes .
who that said to yow of the foxe
more or lesse than ye baue herd or red,
I bolde it for les)'nge: but tbis that ye
tm haue berd or red, tbat rna)' be byleue
wel, & who that byleueth it not is not
... therfore out of the right byleue. now
be it ther bemanyyf that they had seen it
haue the lassedoubtofit, for therbenmany thynges
in the world whiche ben b)'leu)'d tbough they were
neuer seen. Rlso tber ben many figures & plays foun-
den thatneuerweredon ne happed,butforan example
to the peple, that they may ther by the better vse and
folowe vertue, and teschewesynne and vyces.ln lyhe
wysemay it be by this boo he, that who tbat wyl rede
this mater, though it beof iapes and bourdes, yet he
fynde therin many a good wysedom and lem-
ynges, bywhiche he may come to vertue & worsbip
pt:here is no good man blamed herin, h)'t is spoh-
en generaU)', tate eueryman tahe his owne parte as it
belongeth and behoueth. FInd he that fyndeth hym
gylty in ony dele or part therof, late hym bettre and
amende hym, and he that is veryly good, I pray God
hepe hym therin. FInd yf on)' thynge be said o.rwreton
15
8
herin that may greue or dysplease ony man, blame
not me, but thefoxe, for they be his wordes and not
myne,prayengall them thatshal see this lytyl treatis
to correct and amende where they shal rynde faute,
for I haue notadded nemynusshed, but hauefolow-
ed as nygheasl can my copyewhiche was in Dutche,
and byme William Caxton translated in to this rude
and symple n ~ l y s s h in 'Chabbey of Westmestre,
fyny9shed the"J daye ofJuyne, the yere of our Lord
JVICCCClxxxj,and tbexxjyere of tbe regneofltynge
edward tbe iiijtb. .
"ere endeth the historye of Reynard tbe foxe.
159
H 'CHSTv Of SO)VI mORDS.
YU, sy-
dr),uen, pp. 33,
95, 103, 151 (Du:
bedreue, bedre-
uen) to commit,
perpetrate.
P..:l.79 (0. . benu-
men) deprived.
Ber),spe, vnberisped, PP.45,
129 (Ou: berispen, omberis-
pet) reprove, rebuhe.
Betels, p. 15 (Du: be)'tels)
wedges. B. )\I. cop)' has
H betels" altered in what
seems to beacontemporar)'
hand to Hwegges."
Blasen, p. 102 (Ou: blasen;
O.. blaesan) to blow. See
f)u),len.
Bleef, p. 16 (Ou: bleef) be-
leave, remain.
Booh w)'th the sa),ntes, p. 3
(Du: die heiligen) relics of,
not booh with, the saints.
Borde, bourde, pp. 33, 84, 158
(Ou: boert) a jest, lie,.moch.
Borowes, p. J35 (Ou: borge)
, pledge, suret)'. .,..'
Bouche, p. 49, a misprint of
Caxton's fer bench, follow-
. ed in error. ,
Brohes, pp. 56, 88 (Du: brue-
hen, brohich) crimes.
Buff ne baff, p. 141 (Du: boe
noch bau).
BuIes, p. 114 (Du: bulen) boils
or bowls
B)'dw)'nge, b),dwongen, pp.
46, 63, 113 (Du: dWinghen,
bedwonghen) to constrain,
forced.
m
pCam ping, p. 135 (Du: camp-
'Spel) fight, duel.
Cantum, p. 81 (Du: cantum)
an allusion to the service of
the church.
Casus, p. 11 (Du : casus) a ge-
ometrical term, each of the
segments of the base of a
triangle cut off b)' a perpen-
dicular faUingfrom thever-
teXt
Clope, P.142 (Du: clop) hnoch
orstrohe.
Cluse, p. 7 (Ou: cluse) cell.
pDasse, p. 5, et seq., (Du :
dasse) badger.
Da),ed, p. 22 (Ou: dagen) cit-
ed upon ada)'.
Diere,p.J9(Ou:dier) deer, creal
ture, beast.
Dowed, pp. 79,147 (Du: dou-
wede) H dubbed," pressed,
wrung.
Plenge,p.63(Du: elendich)
miserable, need),.
me, p. 5, et seq: (Du: ctm,
omme, oom) uncle. ,
rmed, p. 60, . pitied . (t::he
Dutch is iammerde
Caxton he1;e. b)'
this englisH w..or.d, though
elsewhere he simpl), adopts
the Dutch, e.g., p. 59).
JI faldore, p. 33 (Du: val-c:to-
er) trapIdoor. .
facing &1 brac),ng, p. 152 (Du:
met groten onrechte)
N. . O. for uses of this
phrase.
femers, p. 40 (Du : bedenchen
om ouden staet ende daet)
b),gones.
161
fordr),ue, fordriuen, pp. 46,
21, 156 (Du: verdriuen) drive
awa)', expd.
forslongen, p. 10 (Du: versl ..
onden, pp. of verslinden)
devoured, swallowed.
forsl),ngered, p. 17 (Du: slin ..
geren) to sling.
for/w)'ntered, p. 3 (Du: ver ..
wintert) wintered.
pGalped, pp. 25, 125, (Du:
galpte) ),dped.
Glat, p.136(Du: glat) smooth,
polished.
Grate, p. 5 (Du: grate) fish ..
bone.
Grenne, gr)'n, gr),nnes, pp. 24
25, 26, 27, 31, 40, 77, (Du:
stricke, stricken) snare.
Gr),mme, grimm ed, gr)'m ..
m),ng, pp. 43, 78, 129 (Du:
grimm en, grim de, gr)'mm ..
ende) to looh grim, angr)'.
p.f)amber bareUis, p. 14 (Du:
seuen aemen hebben) ames
or wine/barrds, 37"41 gal ..
Ions.
.f)arowe, p. 86 (Du: des so ro ..
epe ich wapen ouer hoer lijf
en leuen der gheenre)the cr),
forhdp.
liouedaunce, p. 69 (Du : houe ..
dans) court/dance.
r;u),lm, p. 102 (Ou: hU)'tm)
to howl. (Gherard keeu's
Dutch has here H butsen &.
btasm/' Sutsen, to push
oremite.)
IJ.,),nde, p. 41 (Ou: linde).
J.,inde, linden. kijn, rop.e.
p)\Iawed, p. 25 (Du: mauw ..
ede) miaued.
J\'Imowr. p. 7 (Du: doe hi hem
mit dieften beuant) tahen in
the manner.
#Ouwber, p. 42. . an),wbere
.62
PPola)'te, pp. 34, 35,42 (Du:
hoenre, hoenren) poultr),.
p)'hed &. str),ked, p. 93 (Du:
si strehen) 4. gaen strehen
ofte strijcken," to go one's
wa)'s.
p),lche, p. 9 (Du: pdse ende
slauine) ~ a t : pelicia; O. .
p),lce; ]\lod: pelisse; short
flannd or fur garment.
pRas),ng, P.119(Du: rasede)
doting, madness.
Ratte, p.12 (Du: hij wil v han ..
ghen ofte raedebraken) he
will )'ou hang or break on
thewhed (radt/brahen).
Rutsde, p. 20 (Du: rutsden)
to rustle.
PSt. )\iIart)'n's b)'rdes, p. 22
(Du: sinte martijns vogd-
en).
Scatte, pp. 43, 151 (Du: scat)
treasure, riches, tax.
Slau),ne, p. 9, pilgrim's doah,
a slavonic doak.
Slepid, p. 32, (Du: sleeptm,
dragged
Slonked, p. 71 (Du: slont, pp.
of slinden) devoured.
Snetle, p. 141 (Du : snd) alert,
nimble.
Spores, p. 82 (Du: sporen)
trachs.
Sp),nde, p. 31 (Du: spijnde)
cupboard,hutch,orbutter),.
Stoppd/maher, p.18.Gherard
keeu's Dutch has H stop ..
pdmader," stubblemower,
which Caxton has read as
if it were H stop ofte stop ..
sd/maher,"stoppleorbung
maker.
Stoundmete, p. 51, (o..
stundmadum) moment b)'
moment, attentivd),.
Strangu),ll),on, 1'. 108.6., old
form of strangur),.
Strope, 1'. 41 (Du: strop) hal-
ter.
Strl'lte, strl'lted, I'p. 40, 48,
85,93,97, 138 (Du: streit en,
streec, strijct). Strelten, go
one's wa)'; strijclten, strilte.
pValdore, p. 44 (Du: val-
doer). See faldore.
Vn berisped, 1'.45. See Serisp.
Vvseuase, p. 6(Du: vl'seuase)
vicelversa.
JI! mapper, wal'pred. p. 17
(Du: wapI' ere, wapperen) a
loaded club, beaten.
marande, p. 53 (Du: warande
in die woestine) a warren.
mentled, wentll'ng, I'p. 20
27 (Du: wentelende, wente-
len) tumble, wallow.
min, (ltvn, ne wl'n, ne frende)
__ p. 97. cf lcelandic, vinr.
mrawen, 1'.25 (Du: wrauwen)
to thraw, writhe.
mrl'ued, p. 154 (Du: wreuen)
rubbed.
ml'lted, p. 87 (Du: ontweeclt-
en) avoided.
6'Yamerde, p. 59 (Du: iam-
merde) lamented.
'Yonned, p. 85 (Du: gonden)
to favour, or affect.
'Yonste, p. J4 (Du: gunsten)
favour.
liR ends tbe liistory of Reynard tbe foxe, done
into nglisb out of Dutch by William Caxton,
and now reprinted by me William }\'forris, at the
Kelmscottpress, Upper }\'fall, nammeremitbin the
Count)' of Middlesex. 'Chis boolt was corrected for
the press by limry lialliday Sparling, and finished
on the 15tb day of December, 1892.
Sold by Bernard Quaritch, 15, piccadilly, London.
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