t:fl flISt:ORY of RY~RRD t:fl fOX BY IILLIR]VI CRXt:O)'t

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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, P42 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-~ed 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 fo~e, capitulo xxix, P.95.

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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, P153. f)ow the foxe with his frendes departed nobly fro

the hynge and wente to his castel }VIaleperduys, capitulo xliiij, p. 155.

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J))'er beg),nneth the h)'storye of Re),nard the foxeJP~~

tb)'s b),stor),e ben wreton W~'BNllUI".J ~f~~ '~l~~ tbe parables, goode ler),nge, ~===,,; ~rrw. L':! and d)'uerse po)'ntes to be ~~~

merh)'d, b)' whiche po)'ntes men ma)'e Ierne to come to ~~Mthe subrylle hnoweleche of~~

" ... u.."" __ Bucbe tb)'nges as da)'l)' ben ~~E:iJ=~~"Bed and bad in tbe coun-se)'ll)'s of lordes and prelates, gostel), and worldl)" and also emonge marchantes & otber M~~~~~~ comone peple. fInd tbis boohe is maad fornede and prouff'yte of alle god folhe, as fer as the)' .. \. ..... VA ~'

110we the Lyon, It)'nge of aUe bestis, smt out b)'s ~ mandemmtts that aUe beestls sholde come to bis feest and court, capitulo primo~~

~~.~~:7it: was about the time of pentbe-r7'} coste or Ih)'tsont)'de, that the ~t~~~wodes com)'nl)' be lust)' & glad-

~ som, and the trees clad with leuys and blossoms, and the grounde with herbes & flowris swete smel-~""""""-=:"ft 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, capitulotj~~ ~~j[;~~SGRYJVI the mulfwyth h1s1y-

nage and frmdes cam and stode ~~to fore the l1ynge, & sa)'dePl1ye ~~\~and myght)' pr)'nce, m)' lord the

D1P1~t'\' l1),nge, I beseche ),ow that thurgh ),our grete myght, r),ght, & merc)', ;r{j~. that )'e w)'l haue p)'te on the grete ~~~~Et treapas & the "nreasonable m)'s-

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dedes tbat Reynart tbe foxe batb don tome& tomy wyf.'Cbatis towetet beis com en in tomy bowsayenst tbewyUe of my wyft and tbere be batb bttpyssed my cbyldren wbere as tbey layet in sucbe wyse as tbey tberof ben woxen blynde. Iberu pon was a day settet and was juged tbat Reygnart sbold come and baue excused bym bieroft and baue sworen on tbe boly sayntes that he was not gylt)' tberof. Rnd wban tbe booh wytb tbe sayntes was brougbt fortbt tbo bad Reygnart bytbougbt bym otberwyset and wente bis ",aye agayn in to bis bole as be bad nougbt sette tberbYt and dere hynget 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 mywyft tbatsball neuer byde nesuffreit"n-au en gydt but tbat besbal mahetome large amendes. 'Cbe complaynt of Courtoys tbe noundc, capi ulo iijJPJP ~!!!~~~~~nR1'f tbysewordeswere spohen

so stoode tbere a lyt)'l bounde, and was named Courtoyst and complayned to tbe hynget bow tbat in tbe colde wynter in tbe bardefroste be bad ben sore for-wynterdtin sucbewyseas be bad rB..LJ:,.~~ ~~~ hepte nomore mete tban a pud-dyng, wycb puddyng Reygnard tbe foxe bad tahen away from bymp'Cbo spah 'Cbybert tbe Catte.

~~5I~""J'YLn 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 '""'-'-"~bym 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-

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mentof),ourmen, ),ourch),ldrenman),),eris herafter ahal be m)'spre)'sed and blamed therforepS),herl), ~v~panther, 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 .e~~.~~.--,~no spach

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. ~~~~rfy 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 r~~ -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 1IiiIIIII::~~~'" 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

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he be of h~e burthe as m~n eme Re~nart is, whiche hnoweth wel how he shal resse~ue stolen good; ~e, al had he Courto~s hanged whan he fonde h~m w~th the menowr, he hadde not moche m~sdon ne tres-paced, sauf a~enst the crowne, that he had don jus-t)'se w~thoute leue, wherfore for the honour of the

~ynge he d~de it not, aU hath he but l~tel than he. What shathed it h~m, that he is thus compla~ned on? JVI~n eme is a gentil & a treweman, hema~suffre no falshede; he doth noth~nge but b~ h~s prestes

counse~l, & lsa~e ~owsyth tbat my lordethe Itynge hath do proclamed his pees he neuer thoughte to hurte on~man, for he eteth no more than ones a da~. 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 b~lded a cluse, ther~n dweUeth he & hunteth nomore, ne desyreth no w~nnynge, but be lyuetb byalmesseand talteth noth~ng but sucbe as men gyue b~m for charyte, and dotb grete penance for his synnes,and belswoxen moche pale and leneof prayengandwaltyngfor hewoldebe favn WVth 60dP'Chus as 6r~mbert his eme stode and preched thise wordes, so sawe the~ comen doun tbe byUe to hem Chauntecler the Coclt, and brought on a blere a deed henne of whom Reynart had b~ten the heed of, and that muate be shewed to the Itynge for to haue Itnowleche tberof.

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now theCoclle com pta)'ned on Re),nart, capituto\1JP fIJ'f;~~~~a1InHQJ'l'CCLR came forth & .

smote p)'teoust)' his handes and hi9 fethm9, and on eche side of ~~ the b)'er wen ten twe),ne soroufut 1!~~rI~ 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,

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~--. 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-""IV.~~ 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-tulovj~~ ~~~~~~f)J'i 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. ~ow 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-

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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 bestet that Re'Ynart soold be sent foret & 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 goodt and saide to Brune the BerePS'Yr Brunet 1 w'Yl that 'Ye doo this message but see wei to for 'Your sdft for Reynart is a sbrewet and fellet and hnowetb so man'Y w'Ylesthat he shall'Ye and flatretand sbaltb'Ynhe bow hema'Y begyle, deceyuet & brynge yow to some moch-erye P Lbo sayde Brune: What, good lordt 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 thenst but it is (11 to drede that he cam not so mer'YI'Y aga'Yn ~ now Brune the Beere was sped of Re'Ynart the foxc, capitulo vij~ ~

~~~~;;:~~.w om is Brune goon on bis wa'Ye towarde the foxe wytb a stowte moedet 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 ~~~;t1~~ 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 ~.~~aJrdyou no good aeYuyae, and I can hym no

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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 ~~""'~~~~R 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 ? ~'"~ .... ...... a~ I sbal do late you haue so moche iii:~~Y that ten of yow sbold not ete it at

. one mele, mvght I gete therwith vour frimdabipp ~ot we ten, Revner neue, savd the Bere, how shold tbat be? nad Ialletbe bonvthatis bvtwme 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 s.:::!!111!:.;~~ 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 cosy~, 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 ~~:::::i::~~ 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. ~:!::~~,.ft:R 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)' ~~~JJaeehowthatlamhandled,pra)'eng

),ou tauenge it "pon Re),nart the ~~I feUe beeet, for I hauegotrn thia in

),our aeru),ae. I haue loate bothe m)' formeat feet, m)' chehea and ~~~~K::~~ 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 x~

..v::;;;~~~~~fj:N:N tbe h),ngsaidpSir'C),-~ i~~~~ 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-~~~:=iiI"'''''' 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 court~t:he 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 ~~~~CiI 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 p~a)', 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)'e01'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 m~)' 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~lad; 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

E~~~:=f\1''Cfj 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 .....::....::.~aa..--' 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 ~swoune: 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.

~~~f)O 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

Gr~m bert, who wolde~e that sholde goo & da~e h~m to come?Who wit auentureforh),m I)is eeris, h~s e~e orhisl~f,whicheissofelabeest?Itrowethereisnone heresomocha fool fPGr~mbartspach: So helpeme God, I am so moche a fool that I will do this mes-sage m~ self to Re~nart, ~f ~e wille commande me. flow Gr~mbert the Dasse brought the foxe to the (awe to fore the k~nge, capitulo xj~ ~ ~~~~I~OW go forth, Gr~mbart, and see b wettofore~ow.Reynarti9sofelle

and fats, and so aubryl, that ye nede wet to lohe aboute yow and to bewareofh~mPGrim bert said

IIY.-._ he sholde see welto: thus wente l" .. ,.... Gr)'m bart to JVIaleperdu~s ward, ~~;Zil~~ 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 th~nge compla-yned ouer ~ou, and this is tbe thirde warn~ng. Hnd I telle ~ou for troutb, ~f ~e ab~de to morow al da~ ther ma~ no merc~ he1pe ~ou, ye sha1 see that w)'th in tbre da~es tbat your bows sbal be b~geged al aboute, and ther shat be made to fore it ga10wes and racket I sale ~ou trul~ ~e shat not tbenne escape, ne)'ther with w~f ne w~tb 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 }'~u, and alle )'our enem)'es sbat

ab)'de in tbe sbame. ye baue oft)'mes don more and gretter tbingis tban tbis.

eY~RRC tbe foxe answerdpYe sa)'e sootb f I trowe it is beste tbat "I\~ 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 ~~~::..tbiiiilspehe 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. ~euertbeles, 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, "I\\~that)'eaeewel to hem,andapecyaU)'to ~~ Re)'nhyn, m),yongeataon, he belyheth L.'~nlioiill~&" me ao wei I hope he ahal folowe my t:iI:::-=:;~~iillatappea; 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 xii~ ~

"}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-~~a!!~~~U 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 ; '-~also I hauetrespaced gretl)'a)'enst Chanteclerewitb

bis children, for I haue made h)'m qu)'te of a grete dele of hem.

~~t;"". 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 ~wo:a.~~-.... 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.

rm~~l'JI RR)'fNso tonge thatlcamwhereas ~-...~.-. Isegr)'m was, and there I lete falle the

capone, for it was too heuyforme,and ~""'!!.DI ayenstmywiUe I lefteitthere, & thmne

lsprange thurgb an hole where as I t.~~nIiiiii:"~ 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

~stohhes 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

rs:s:::Z::~::zi~f)O 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 ~~..:II~-~ 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 dor~ward, 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 ~~=r:::~ 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 fo~e 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 ~~~;;;;;::IQl out of the right waye th)'der, & w)'th-out the wanes b)' the bame wente the pota)'le. 'Che

fo~eespyed 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 ~ow ?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 ~~O~~~t:tbefir9twhan 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 W1~~~~1 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 ~e w~th suche flater~ng words to be m~ frende?ye haue so ofteseru~d me soas ~enow shal weI hnowe: the peee tbatl haue comanded and swomethat haue~e weI bolden, haue~e? ICbaunte-cler coude no lenger be a~Ue but cr~de: Blaa what.

----haue I b~ this peesloetef PBe s~Ue, 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 m~ messagers, these poure felaws, Libert the Catte and Bru~n the Bere, whiche ~~~~ ~et ben al blody, whiche chyde not ne aa~e not moche, but that ahal thia day coste the th~ lyf Pin nomine pater criete filii, aayd the foxe, dere lord and m~ghty hyng, )'f Bruyns crowne be blod)" what is that to me? mban he ete hon), at Lantferts bows in tbe,,),Uage, and d~de b~m hurte and ecatbe, there was he beten therfore. Yf he had wiUyd, he is so strongeof lymmee, hem~ghtwel baue beauengid er he aprange tn to the water. Lho cam L~bert tbe Cattewhom Irece~ued friendl~:~fhewenteoutwitbout m~ counee~l for to atele m~e9 to a preetee hows, and the preest d~de h)'m harme, abo Ide I ab)'e that? Lbenne m)'ght Isaye I were not happ~. )'lot so, m~ liege lorde, ye ma~ doo what ~ewiUe tbowh my mater be cleerand good, ~ema~aiede me,or roste, hange,or mahe me bl~nde, I ma~ not escape ~ow: we stonde aUe "nder ~our 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 dameOlewe~,and9aide: JVIylord the h~nge, 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 xiiij~~

, .... ~v""R 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 pla~ntis of wyse counaevl and subtv1 in-uenClons, and on that other s~de

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 h~ngeand the counsev1 herde the witneesie

ofthecompla~nteeofRevnartsm~9dedes:hitwente with hem as it ofte doth, tbe feblest hath theworst. 'CheV gafe sentence and juged that the foxe sholde be dede and hanged b~ the neche: tho lvste not he to pleve, aUe his flater~ng wordes and decevtes coude not helpe hVm, the jugement was g)'uen and that muste be don. er~mbert his neueu,and manv of his wo..~rl' lignage, m~ght not rynde in their hertes to see h~m

dve, but tohen leue eoroufuU~ and romed the court. 38 -

~~~~fi h)'nge bithoughte hym & marhed how man)' a )'ongl)'ng departed from ~~\ttbensal wep),ng,whicheweren),gheof his h)'nne, and sa)'de to h)'m self 8

\ fiier behoueth other counse)'l herto, ~""';;:::'-s:I~-....JI 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!' ~~~;a:~SGR YJ\1 bathed and sa)'dep

ye mahe moche 3Jdoo, Sir 'C)'bert, haddewean halterwhicheweremete for his neche and etronge )'nough ~"wesholdsonemahean endePRe),-

nert the foxe, whiche longehadnot -'-spohen, saide to lsegrym: Shorte ~....oo.--~m)' 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, th~s becometh ~ow wel, that ~e thus doo. to 1 ~our neuew f I am sor~ that I l~ue thuslonge: haste you, be sette therto, it is eu~l doo that ~e tar~e thus ~ longe, goo to fore Sru~n & lede me, Isegr~m folowe ~ fast, and see wel to and beware that Re~nart go not awa~pt:ho Sru~n sa~d: Itis the best counseil that ~ I euer ~et herde that Re~nart there seithJ9Isegr~m ~ commanded anon and badde his h~n and frendes tbat tbey sbolde see to Reynart, tbat be escaped not, 1 for he is so w~l~ and fals. t:he~ helden h~m b~ the ~ feet, b~ the berde, and so hepte h~m that he escaped not from hem. t:he foxe herde alle th~ge wordes ~ whiche touchid h~m n~gh, ~et spah he and saydep d Och, dere eme, me th~nheth ~e pa~ne ~our self sore for to doo me hurte and scathe f ~f I durste I wolde ~

pra~ ~ou of merc~, 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 on~ harme, but now I am he that now ~e wille doo on me what it shal plese ~ow. Ye, Bru)'n and t:hibert, 60d gyue ~ou shames deth but ~e doo to me ~our werstf I wote wherto I shal, I ma~ de)'e but ones, I wolde that I were dede at red~. lsawe m)' fader de~e, he had sone donnePlsegr),m sa)'de: Late"s goo, for)'e curse"s bi causewe lengtb the ryme; eu~t motehefare~fweab)'deon~ 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 ~et sore of tbe gr),nne, and bis croppe d)'de b~mwoo of tbe str~he tbat be was tahe in, tbat bapped b)' tbe counse)'t of tbe foxe, and tbat tbougbt be now to qu~te.

40

___ 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 1DI....::l~--s:s~-....Jafter 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.

~.....-~f)O 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 1:~~=~[f;JLL 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),. ~~~~fiH~ 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 ~~~~~~saide: 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 tbe~ene berde tbat sbe was sore aferde, and cryde lowde :Hlaa and weleaway 1

43

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

......-~"'v . jeoparde my sowle, and yf I so dyde I ~~si~fd 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

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-~~~~'::~:ia1 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. VA~~&;...iI~~'~1 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

, ...,....~"''' ,-.ber hepe it secrete. But she anone for-~~~~II 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 hyerI3Ifore 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-

46

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 -'-""JJ~~::t 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 ~~=s:~ 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 '1':InI~ 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 ~ood 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 ~bouteyf 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: ~ay, 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: ~ay, 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 ~....-::::.~aa.-...... 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 ~~~::iiii:!".oiii~f) 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 JVIaJ~. 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'Ym: 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'Ynge, is it trewe tbat I saide?dYe Re'Ynart, said tbe ll'Yng~, forIg}'ue it me, Id'Ydeeu'Yl thatlbdeuid 'You not .Now,Re'Ynart,

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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 t~!n9" 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 cur~)'d, 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.

~~~-: SSO~ as this speltyng was done, ~ ~ ~oble 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 tha