<B CMREYNAR>
<Q M4 NI FICT REYNARD>
<N REYNARD>
<A CAXTON WILLIAM>
<C M4>
<O 1420-1500>
<M X>
<K X>
<D EMO>
<V PROSE>
<T FICTION>
<G TRANSL>
<F DUTCH>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H PROF>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z NARR IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^CAXTON, WILLIAM.
THE HISTORY OF REYNARD THE FOX.
TRANSLATED FROM THE DUTCH ORIGINAL
BY WILLIAM CAXTON.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, 263. 
ED. N. F. BLAKE. 
LONDON, 1970. 
PP. 6.1   - 14.19   (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 51.20 - 62.26   (SAMPLE 2)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 6>
[}HYER BEGYNNETH THYSTORYE OF REYNARD THE FOXE}]

   In this historye ben wreton the parables / goode lerynge /   #
and
dyuerse poyntes to be merkyd / by whiche poyntes men maye lerne
to come to the subtyl knoweleche of suche thynges as dayly ben
vsed and had in the counseyllys of lordes and prelates gostly   #
and
worldly / and / also emonge marchantes and other comone peple /
And this booke is maad for nede and prouffyte of alle god       #
folke /
As fer as they in redynge or heeryng of it shal mowe            #
vnderstande
and fele the forsayd subtyl deceytes that dayly ben vsed in the
worlde / not to thentente that men shold vse them but that      #
euery
man shold eschewe and kepe hym from the subtyl false shrewis
that they be not deceyuyd / Thenne who that wyll haue the very
vnderstandyng of this mater / he muste ofte and many tymes rede
in thys boke and ernestly and diligently marke wel that he      #
redeth /
For it is sette subtylly / lyke as ye shal see in redyng of it  #
/ and not
ones to rede it For a man shal not wyth ones ouer redyng fynde  #
the
ryght vnderstandyng ne comprise it wel / but oftymes to rede it
shal cause it wel to be vnderstande / And for them that         #
vnderstandeth
it / it shall be ryght Ioyous playsant and prouffitable

[}HOW THE LYON KYNGE OF ALLE BESTIS SENT OUT HIS MANDEMENTIS    #
THAT 
ALLE BEESTIS SHOLDE COME TO HIS FEEST AND COURT (\CAPITULO      #
PRIMO\) }]

   It was aboute the tyme of penthecoste or whytsontyde / that  #
the
wodes comynly be lusty and gladsom  And the trees clad with
leuys and blossoms and the ground with herbes and flowris swete
smellyng and also the fowles and byrdes syngen melodyously in
theyr armonye / That the lyon the noble kynge of all beestis    #
wolde
in the holy dayes of thys feest holde on open Court at stade /
whyche he dyde to knowe ouer alle in his lande / And commanded
by strayte commyssyons and maundements that euery beest
shold come thyder / in suche wyse that alle the beestis grete   #
and
smale cam to the courte sauf reynard the fox / for he knewe hym
self fawty and gylty in many thynges ayenst many beestis that
thyder sholde comen that he durste not auenture to goo thyder /
<P 7>
whan the kynge of alle beestis had assemblid alle his court /   #
ther
was none of them alle / but that he had complayned sore on      #
Reynart
the foxe

[}THE FIRST COMPLAYNT MADE ISEGRYM THE WULF ON REYNART
(\CAPITULO .IJ.\) }]

   Isegrym the wulf wyth his lynage and frendes cam and stode
to fore the kynge / And sayde hye and myghty prynce my lord
the kynge I beseche yow that thurgh your grete myght / ryght /
and mercy that ye wyl haue pyte on the grete trespas and the
vnresonable mysdedes that reynart the foxe hath don to me and   #
to
my wyf that is to wete he is comen in to my hows ayenst the     #
wylle
of my wyf / And there he hath be pyssed my chyldren where as    #
they
laye in suche wyse as they therof ben woxen blynde / wherupon
was a day sette/ and was Iuged that reygnart shold come and
haue excused hym hierof / and haue sworen on the holy sayntes
that he was not gylty therof / and whan the book wyth the       #
sayntes
was brought forth / tho had reygnart bythought hym other wyse /
And wente his waye agayn in to his hole / as he had nought      #
sette
therby / And dere kynge this knowen wel many of the bestes that
now be comen hyther to your court / And yet hath he trespaced   #
to
me in many other thinges / he is not lyuyng that coude telle    #
alle that
I now leue vntolde / But the shame and vyllonye that he hath    #
don to
my wyf / that shal I neuer hyde ne suffre it vnauengyd but      #
that he
shal make to me large amendes /

[}THE COMPLAYNT OF COURTOYS THE HOUNDE (\CAPITULO IIJ\) }]

   Whan thyse wordes were spoken so stode there a lytyl hounde
and was named courtoys / and complayned to the kynge /
how that in the colde wynter in the harde froste he had ben     #
sore
forwynterd / in suche wyse as he had kepte nomore mete than a
puddyng / wyche puddyng reygnard the foxe had taken away from
hym

[}THO SPAK TYBERT THE CATTE}]

   Wyth this so cam Tybert the catte wyth an Irous moed / and
sprang in emonge them and sayde My lord the kyng / I here
hier that reygnart is sore complayned on / and hier is none     #
but that
<P 8>
he hath ynowh to doo to clere hym self / that courtoys hier     #
complayneth
of that is passyd many yeres goon / how be it that I
complayne not / that pudyng was myne / For I hadde wonne it by
nyghte in a mylle / The myllar laye and slepe / yf courtoys had #
ony
parte hieron / that cam by me to / Thenne spak panther /        #
Thynke ye
Tybert that it were good that reynard sholde not be complayned  #
on /
he is a very murderer / a rouer / and a theef / he loueth       #
noman so
wel / not our lord the kyng here that he wel wold that he       #
shuld lese
good and worshyp / so that he myght wynne as moche as a legge   #
of
a fat henne / I shal telle yow what I sawe hym do yesterday to
Cuwaert the hare that hier standeth in the kynges pees and
saufgarde / he promysed to Cuwart and sayde he wold teche hym
his credo / and make hym a good chapelayn / he made hym goo
sytte bytwene his legges and sange and cryde lowde Credo.       #
Credo.
my waye laye ther by there that I herde this songe / Tho wente  #
I
ner and fonde maister reynard that had lefte that he fyrst      #
redde and
songe / and bygan to playe his olde playe / For he had caught
kywaert by the throte / and had I not that tyme comen he sholde
haue taken his lyf from hym like as ye hiere may see on kywaert
the hare the fresshe wounde yet / For sothe my lord the kynge   #
yf
ye suffre this vnpunysshyd and lete hym go quyte that hath thus
broken your peas / And wyl do no right after the sentence and
Iugement of your men / your Chyldren many yeris herafter shal   #
be
myspreysed and blamed therfore / Sykerly panther sayd Isegrym
ye saye trouthe / hit were good that right and Iustyse were     #
don /
for them that wolde fayn lyue in peas /

[}HOW GRYMBART THE DASSE THE FOXES SUSTERS SONE SPACK FOR
REYNART AND ANSWERD TO FORE THE KYNGE. (\CAPITULO .IIIJ.\) }]

   Tho spack Grymbart the dasse / and was Reynarts suster sone
wyth an angry moed / Sir Isegrym that is euyl sayd it is a
comyn prouerbe An Enemyes mouth / sayth seeld wel / what leye
ye / and wyte myn Eme Reynart / I wold that ye wolde a venture
that who of yow tweyne had moste trespaced to other sholde      #
hange
by the necke as a theef on a tree / But and yf he were as wel   #
in this
court and as wel wyth the kynge as ye be / it shold not be      #
thought
in hym / that it were ynowh / that ye shold come and aske hym
<P 9>
forgyuenes ye haue byten and nypte myn vncle wyth your felle
and sharp teeth many mo tymes that I can telle / yet wil I      #
telle
some poyntes that I wel knowe / knowe not ye how ye mysdeled on
the plays / whiche he threwe doun fro the carre / whan ye       #
folowed
after fro ferre / And ye ete the good plays allone / and gaf    #
hym
nomore than the grate or bones / whyche ye myght not ete your
self / In lyke wyse dyde ye to hym also of the fatte vlycche of
bacon / whiche sauourd so wel / that ye allone ete in your      #
bely /
and whan myn Eme askyd his parte / tho answerd ye hym agayn
in scorne / Reynart fayr yonglyng I shal gladly gyue you your   #
part /
but myn eme gate ne had nought / ne was not the better /        #
Notwithstandyng
he had wonnen the flycche of bacon wyth grete
drede / For the man cam and threw hym in a sacke / that he      #
scarsely
cam out wyth his lyf / Suche maner thynges hath reynart many
tymes suffred thurgh ysegrym.

   O ye lordes thynke ye that this is good / yet is ther more / #
he
complayneth how that reynart myn eme hath moche
trespaced to hym by cause of his wyf / Myn Eme hath leyn by her
but that is wel seuen yer to fore / er he wedded her / and yf   #
reynart
for loue and curtosye dyde with. her his wille / what was that  #
/ She
was sone heled therof / hierof by ryght shold be no complaynt   #
were
Isegrym wyse. he shold haue lefte that he doth to hym self no
worshyp thus to sklaundre his wyf / She playneth not / now      #
maketh
kywaert the hare a complaynt also / that thynketh me a          #
vyseuase /
yf he rede ne lerned a right his lesson / sholde not reynard    #
his
maister bete hym therfore / yf the scolers were not beten ne    #
smyten
and reprised of their truantrye / they shold neuer lerne /
   Now complayneth Curtoys that he with payne had goten a
puddyng in the wynter / at suche tyme as the coste is euyl to
fynde Therof hym had be better to haue holde his pees / for he  #
had
stolen it / (\Male quesisti et male perdidisti\) hit is ryght   #
that it be 
euil loste / that is euil wonne who shal blame Reynart / yf he  #
haue
taken fro a theef stolen good hit is reson who that             #
vnderstandeth
the lawe and can discerne the right / and that he be of hye     #
burthe
as myn Eme reynart is whiche knoweth wel how he shal resseyue
stolen good / ye al had he courtoys hanged whan he fonde hym    #
with
the menowr / he had not moche mysdon ne trespaced / Sauf
<P 10>
ayenst the crowne / that he had don Iustyse wythoute leue       #
wherfore
for the honour of the kynge he dyde it not / all hath he but    #
lytyl
thanke / what skatheth it hym that he is thus complayned on /   #
Myn
Eme is a gentil and a trewe man he may suffre no falshede /
he doth nothyng but by his prestes counseyl And I saye yow syth
that my lorde the kynge hath do proclamed his pees he neuer
thoughte to hurte ony man / For he eteth no more than ones a    #
day /
he 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
yesterday herd saye of them that cam fro hym he hath lefte and
geuen ouer his Castel maleperduys / And hath bylded a cluse /
theryn dwelleth he / and hunteth nomore / ne desyreth no        #
wynnynge
but he lyueth by almesse and taketh nothyng but suche as men    #
gyue
hym for charyte and doth grete penance for his synnes / and he  #
is
woxen moche pale and lene of prayeng and wakyng For he wolde
be fayn wyth god / Thus as grymbert his eme stode and preched
thise wordes / so sawe they comen doun the hylle to hem         #
chauntecler
the cock and brought on a biere a deed henne of whom
reynart had byten the heed of / and that muste be shewed to the
kynge for to haue knowleche therof.

[}HOW THE COCKE COMPLAYNED ON REYNART (\CAPITULO. V=O=.\) }]

   Chauntecler cam forth and smote pyteously his handes and his
fetheris and on eche side of the byer wenten tweyne sorouful
hennes that one was called cantart and that other goode henne
Crayant they were two the fayrest hennes that were bytwene
holland and arderne / Thise hennes bare eche of them a brennyng
tapre whiche was longe and strayte / Thise two hennes were
coppens susters And they cryed so pitously / Alas and weleaway
for the deth of her dere suster coppen / Two yonge hennes
bare the byere whiche kakled so heuyly and wepte so lowde for
the deth of coppen their moder that it was ferre herde / thus   #
cam
they to gydre to fore the kynge / And chantecleer tho seyde /
Mercyful lord / my lord the kynge plese it yow to here our      #
complaynte /
/ And abhorren the grete scathe that reynart hath don to me
and my children that hiere stonden / it was so that in the      #
begynnyng
of appryl whan the weder is fayr / as that I was hardy and      #
prowde /
<P 11>
bycause of the grete lynage that I am comen of and also hadde /
For I had viij fayr sones and seuen fayr doughters whiche my    #
wyf
had hatched. and they were alle stronge and fatte and wente in  #
a
yerde whiche was walled round aboute / In whiche was a shadde
where in were six grete dogges whiche had to tore and plucked   #
many
a beestis skyn in suche wyse as my chyldren were not aferd / On
whom Reynart the theef had grete enuye by cause they were so
sure that he cowde none gete of them / how wel oftymes hath     #
this
fel theef goon rounde aboute this wal / and hath leyde for vs   #
in
suche wyse that the dogges haue be sette on hym and haue hunted
hym away / And ones they leep on hym vpon the banke / And that
cost hym somwhat for his thefte / I saw that his skyn smoked
neuertheles he wente his waye / god amende it /

   Thus were we quyte of reynart a longe whyle / atte laste     #
cam he in
lyknes of an heremyte / and brought to me a lettre for to rede
sealed wyth the kynges seal / in whiche stode wreton that the   #
kynge
had made pees oueral in his royame / and that alle maner        #
beestis
and fowlles shold doo none harme ner scathe to ony other /
yet sayd he to me more / that he was a cloysterer or a closyd   #
recluse
becomen / And that he wolde receyue grete penance for his       #
synnes /
he shewd me his slauyne and pylche and an heren sherte ther
vnder / and thenne sayd he / syr Chaunteclere after thys tyme   #
be no
more aferd of me ne take no hede / For I now wil ete nomore     #
flesshe /
I am forthon so olde / That I wolde fayn remembre my sowle I    #
wil
now go forth / for I haue yete to saye my sexte / none / and    #
myn
euensonge to god I bytake yow / Tho wente reynart thens sayeng
his Credo / and leyde hym vnder an hawthorn / Thenne / was I    #
glad
and mery / and also toke none hede / And wente to my chyldren
and clucked hem to gydre And wente wythout the wal for to walke
wherof is moche harme comen to vs / for reynart laye vnder a    #
busshe
and cam krepyng bitwene vs and the yate / so that he caught     #
one of
my chyldren and leyd hym in his male / wherof whe haue had      #
grete 
harme / for syth he hath tasted of hym / ther myght neuer       #
hunter
ne hounde saue ne kepe hym from vs / he hath wayted by nyghte
and daye in suche wyse that he hath stolen so many of my        #
chyldren
that of .xv. I haue but foure / in suche wyse hath this theef
<P 12>
forslongen them / And yet yesterday was coppen my doughter
that hier lyeth vpon the byer with the houndes rescowed This
complayne I to yow gracious kynge / haue pyte on myn grete and
vnresonable damage and losse of my fayre chyldren /

[}HOW THE KYNG SPACK TOUCHYNG THIS COMPLAYNT CA .VJ:}]

   Thenne spack the kynge / Syre dasse here ye this wel of the 
recluse your Eme he hath fasted and prayde that yf I lyue
a yere he shal abye it / Nowe herke chauntecler / your playnt   #
is
ynogh your doughter that lyeth here dede / we wyl gyue to her   #
the 
dethes right we may kepe her no lenger / we wil betake her to   #
god /
we wylle syngen here vygylie / and brynge her worshipfully on
erthe / and thenne we wille speke wyth thise lordes and take
counseyl how we may do ryght and Iustyse of thys grete murdre /
and brynge this fals theef to the lawe / Tho begonne they       #
(\placebo
domino\) / with the verses that to longen whiche yf I shold     #
saye /
were me to longe / whan this vigilye was don and the            #
commendacion /
she was leyde in the pytte / and ther vpon was leyde a marble   #
stone
polyshed as clere as ony glas and theron was hewen in grete     #
lettres
in this wyse coppe chanteklers doughter / whom Reynart the foxe
hath byten lyeth hier vnder buryed / complayne ye her For /     #
she is
shamefully comen to her deth / after this the / kynge sente     #
For his
lordes and wysest of his counseyl for to take aduys / how this  #
grete
murdre and trespaas shold be punysshyd on reynart the foxe /    #
Ther
was concluded and apoynted for the beste / that reynart shold   #
be
sent Fore and that he lefte not for ony cause / But he cam in   #
to the
kynges court For to here wat shold be sayd to hym / And that
bruyn the bere shold do the message. the kynge thought that     #
alle
this was good and saide to brune the bere syr brune I wyl that  #
ye
doo this message / but see wel to for your self / For reynart   #
is a
shrewe / and felle and knoweth so many wyles that he shal lye   #
and
flatre / and shal thynke how he may begyle deceyue and brynge   #
yow
to some mockerye / tho sayd brune what good lord late it
allone / deceyueth me the foxe / so haue I ylle lerned my       #
casus /
I trowe he shal come to late to mocque me / Thus departed       #
brune 
meryly fro thens / but it is to drede that he cam not so merely
agayn /
<P 13>

[}HOW BRUNE THE BEERE WAS SPED OF REYNART THE FOXE / 
(\CAPITULO .VIJ=O=.\) }]

   Now is brune goon on his waye toward the foxe wyth a stowte
moede / whiche supposed wel that the foxe sholde not haue
begyled hym / as he cam in a derke wode in a forest were as
reynard had a bypath whan he was hunted / ther bysyde was as
hie montayne and lande / and there muste brune in the myddel
goon ouer for to goo to maleperduys / for reynart had many a
dwellyng place / but the castel of maleperduys was the beste    #
and
the fastest burgh that he had / Ther laye he Inne whan he had   #
nede
and was in ony drede or fere / Now whan bruyn was comen to
maleperduys he fonde the yate fast shette / tho wente he to     #
fore the
yate and satte vpon his taylle and called Reynart be ye at      #
home I am
brownyng / the kynge hath sente me for yow that ye sholde come  #
to
court / for to plete your caas / he hath sworn there by his     #
god / come
ye not / or brynge I yow not with me for tabyde suche right and
sentence as shal be there gyuen / it shal coste you your lyf    #
he wyl
hange yow / or sette yow on the ratte / reynart doo by my       #
counseyl
and come to the court / Reynart laye within the gate as he      #
ofte was
wonte to doo for the warmth of the sonne / whan reynart herd
bruyn tho wente he Inneward in to his hole / for maleperduys    #
was
ful of hooles / hier one hool and there an other and yonder an  #
other /
narowe. croked and longe wyth / many weyes to goo out /
whiche he opend and shette after that he had nede / whan he had
ony proye brought home / or that he wiste that ony sought hym   #
for
hys mysdedes and trespaces / thenne he ran and hydde hym fro    #
his
enemyes in to hys secrete chambres / that they coude not fynde
hym / by whiche he deceyuyd many a beest that sought hym / and
to thought reynart in hym self how he myght best brynge the
beere in charge and nede / and that he abode in worship /

   In this thoughte reynart cam out and sayde bruyn eme ye be
welcome / I herde you wel to fore / but I was in myn euesong
therfore haue I the lenger taryed a lytyl / dere eme he hath    #
don to
you no good seruyse and I can hym no thank that hath sente you
ouer this longe hylle / for I see that ye be also wery that     #
the swete
renneth doun by your chekys / it was no nede / I had            #
neuertheles
comen to court to morowe but I sorowe now the lasse / for your 
<P 14>
wyse counseyl shal wel helpe me in the court / and coude the    #
kyng
fynde none lasse messager but yow For to sende hyther / that is
grete / wonder / For next the kynge ye be the mooste gentyl and
richest of leeuys and / of lande / I wolde wel that we were     #
now at the 
court but I fere me that I shal not conne wel goo thyder / for  #
I haue
eten so moche new mete / that me thynketh my bely wylle breke   #
or
cleue asonder and by cause the mete was nyewe / I ete the       #
more /
tho spack the bere lyef neue what mete haue ye eten that maked
yow so ful / dere eme that I ete what myght it helpe yow that
yf I tolde yow / I ete but symple mete a poure man is no lord   #
that
may ye knowe eme by me / we poure folke muste ete oftymes
suche as we gladly wolde not ete yf we had better / they were   #
grete
hony combes which I muste nedes ete for hunger / they haue made
my bely so grete / that I can nowher endure / Bruyn tho spack   #
anone /
alas reynart what saye ye / sette ye so lytyl by hony / me      #
ought to
preyse and loue it aboue alle mete / lief reynart helpe me      #
that I 
myght gete a deel of this hony / and as longe as I lyue I shal  #
be to
you a tryew friende and abyde by yow as ferre as ye helpe me    #
that
I may haue a parte of thys hony / 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 51>
[}HOW THE KYNGE HELDE HIS FEESTE / AND HOW LAPREEL THE CONY
COMPLAYNED VNTO THE KYNGE VPON REYNART THE FOXE
(\CAPITULO .XXIIJ=O=.\) }]

   To this grete feste cam al maner of beestis / For the kynge  #
dyde
do crye this feste ouer alle in that londe / Ther was the moste
Ioye and myrthe that euer was seen emonge beestis / Ther was
daunsed manerly the houedaunce with shalmouse trompettis and
alle maner of menestralsye / the kynge dyde do ordeyne so moche
mete / that euerych fonde ynough / And ther was no beest in al 
his lande so grete ne so lytyl but he was there / and ther      #
were many
fowles and byrdes also / and alle they that desired the kynges
frendship were there / sauyng reynard the foxe / the rede false
pilgrym whiche laye in a wayte to doo harme / and thoughte it   #
was
not good for hym to be there / Mete and drynke flowed there /
Ther weere playes and esbatemens / The feest was ful of         #
melodye /
One myght haue luste to see suche a feeste / and right as the   #
feeste
had dured viij dayes / aboute mydday cam in the cony lapreel    #
to
fore the kynge where he satte on the table with the quene / and
<P 52>
sayde al heuyly that all they herde hym that were there / My    #
lorde
haue pyte on my complaynt whiche is of grete force and murdre
that reynard the foxe wold haue don to me / yester morow as I   #
cam
rennyng by his borugh at maleperdhuys he stode byfore his dore
without lyke a pylgryme / I supposed to haue passed by hym
peasible toward this feste and whan he sawe me come / he came
ayenst me sayeng his bedes I salewed hym / but / he spack not   #
one
worde / but he raught out his right foot and dubbed me in the   #
necke 
bytwene myn Eeris / that I had wende I sholde haue loste my     #
heed /
but god be thanked I was so lyght that I sprange fro hym / wyth
moche payne cam I of his clawes / he grymmed as he had ben      #
angry
by cause he helde me no faster / tho I escaped from hym I       #
loste myn
one ere / and I had foure grete holes in my heed of his sharpe  #
nayles
that the blood sprange out / and that I was nyhe al a swoun /   #
but for
the grete fere of my lyf I sprange and ran so faste fro hym     #
that he
coude not ouertake me / See my lord thise grete woundes
that he hath made to me with his sharpe longe nayles / I praye  #
you
to haue pite of me and that ye wil / punysshe this false        #
traytour
and morderar / or ellis shal ther noman goo and comen ouer the
heth in saefte / whyles he haunteth his false and shrewde       #
rewle /

[}HOW CORBANT THE ROKE COMPLAYNED ON THE FOXE FOR THE DETH OF
HIS WYF (\CAPITULO .XXIIIJ=O=.\) }]

   Ryght as the cony had made an ende of his complaynt / cam in
corbant the roek flowen in the place to fore the kynge and
sayde / dere lorde here me / I brynge you hier a piteous        #
complaynt /
I wente to day by the morow wyth sharpebek my wyf for to playe
vpon the heth And there laye reynart the foxe doun on the       #
grounde
lyke a dede keytyf / hys eyen stared and his tonge henge longe  #
out
of his mouth / lyke an hounde had ben deed / we tasted and      #
felte his
bely / but we fonde theron no lyf / tho wente my wyf and        #
herkened
and leyde her ere to fore his mouth for to wite yf he drewe his
breeth / whiche mysfylle her euyl / For the false felle foxe    #
awayted
wel his tyme and whan he sawe her so nygh hym / he caught her   #
by
the heed and boote it of / tho was I in grete sorowe and cryde  #
lowde /
Alas alas what is there happed / thenne stode he hastely vp /   #
and
raught so couetously after me that for feere of deth / I        #
trembled and
<P 53>
flewh vpon a tree therby and sawe fro ferre how the false       #
keytyf ete
and slonked her in so hungerly that he lefte neyther flessh ne  #
bone /
nomore but a fewe fethers / the smal fethers he slange them in
wyth the flessh / he was so hungry / he wolde wel haue eten     #
tweyne /
Tho wente he his strete / tho flewe I doun wyth grete sorow and
gadred vp the fetheris for to shewe them to you here / I wolde  #
not
be agayn in suche peryl and fere as I was there for a thousand  #
marke /
of the fynest gold that euer cam out of arabye / My lord the    #
kyng
see hier this pyteous werke / Thise ben the fethers of          #
sharpbecke
my wyf / my lord yf ye wil haue worship ye muste do herfore
Iustyce and auenge you in suche wise as men may fere and holde
of yow / For yf ye suffre thus youre saufconduyt to be broken   #
/ ye
your self shal not goo peasibly in the hye way / for tho        #
lordes that do
not Iustyce and suffre that the lawe be not executed vpon the
theeuis / morderars and them that mysdoo / they be parteners to
fore god of alle theyr mysdedes and trespaces / and eueryche
thenne / wylle be a lord hym self / dere lorde see wel to for   #
to kepe
your self.

[}HOW THE KYNGE WAS SORE ANGRY OF THISE COMPLAYNTES
(\CAPITULO .XXV=O=.\) }]

   Noble the kyng was sore meuyd and angry whan he had herde
thise complayntes of the cony and of the roek / he was so
ferdful to loke on that his eyen glymmerd as fyre / he brayed   #
as
lowde as a bulle in suche wise that alle the court quoke for    #
feere /
at the laste he sayde cryeng / by my crowne and by the trouthe  #
that
I owe to my wyf I shal so awreke and auenge this trespaces /    #
that
it shal be longe spoken of after / that my saufconduyt and my
commandement is thus broken I was ouer nyce that I beleuid so
lyghtly the false shrewe / his false flateryng speche deceyued  #
me /
He tolde me he wolde go to rome / and fro thens ouer see to the
holy londe / I gaf hym male and palster and made of hym a       #
pylgrym
and mente al trouth / O what false touches can he / how can he
stuffe the sleue wyth flockes / but this caused my wyf / it     #
was al by
her counseyl / I am not the fyrst that haue ben deceyued by     #
wymmens
counseyl by whiche many a grete hurte hath byfallen / I pray    #
and
comande alle them that holde of me and desire my frendship / be
<P 54>
they here or wher someuer they be / that they wyth theyr        #
conseyl
and dedes helpe me tauenge this ouer grete trespaas / that we   #
and
owris may abyde in honour and worship / and this false theef in
shame that he nomore trespace ayenst our saufgarde / I wil my
self in my persone helpe therto al that I maye / 

   Ysegrym the wulf and bruyn the bere herde wel the kynges
wordes / and hoped wel to be auengid on reynard the foxe but
they durste not speke one word The kynge was so sore meuyd that
none durste wel speke / Atte laste the quene spak / (\Sire      #
pour dieu ne
croyes mye toutes choses que on vous dye / et ne Iures pas      #
legierment\) 
/ A man of worship shold not lyghtly bileue / ne swere gretly
vnto the tyme he knewe the mater clerly / and also me ought by
right here that other partye speke / Ther ben many that         #
complayne
on other and ben in the defaute them self. (\Audi alteram
partem.\) here that other partye / I haue truly holden the
foxe for good / and vpon that / that he mente no falshede / I   #
helped
hym that I myghte but how someuer it cometh or gooth / is he    #
euyl
or good / me thynketh for your worship that ye shold not        #
procede
ayenst hym ouer hastely that were not good ne honeste / For he
may not escape fro you / Ye maye prysone hym or flee hym / he
muste obeye your Iugement / thenne saide fyrapel the lupaerd /
My lord me thynketh / my lady here hath saide to you trouthe    #
and
gyuen yow good counseyl do ye wel and folowe her and take
aduyse of your wyse counseyl / And yf he be founden gylty in    #
the
trespaces that now to yow be shewd / late hym be sore punysshid
acordyng to hys trespaces / And yf he come not hyther / er this
feste be ended and excuse hym / as he ought of right to doo /   #
thenne
doo as the counseyl shal aduyse yow / But and yf he were twyes  #
as
moche false and ylle as he / is / I wolde not counseylle that   #
he
sholde be done to more than right /Isegrym the wulf saide sir
fyrapal. all we agree to the same as ferre as it pleseth my     #
lord the
kynge / it can not be better. But though reynart were now here.
and he cleryd hym of double so many playntes yet shold I brynge
forth ayenst hym that he had forfayted his / lyf. But I wyl     #
now be
stylle and saye not. by cause he is not presente and yet aboue  #
alle
this he hath tolde the kynge of certayn tresour lyeng in        #
krekenpyt
in hulsterlo. Ther was neuer lyed a greter lesyng. ther wyth he
<P 55>
hath vs alle begyled. and hath sore hyndred me and the bere. I  #
dar
leye my lyf theron that he sayd not therof a trewe worde. Now
robbeth he and steleth vpon the heth / alle that gooth forth by
his hows / Neuertheles sir firapel what that pleseth the kynge  #
and
yow / that muste wel be don / But and yf he wolde haue comen
hyther / he myght haue ben here for he had knowleche by the
kynges messager / The kynge sayde we wyl none otherwyse sende
for hym / but I commande alle them that owe me seruyse and      #
wylle
my honour and worshippe that they make them redy to the warre 
at the ende of vj dayes / all them that ben archers and haue    #
bowes / 
gonnes bombardes horsemen / and footemen that alle thise be     #
redy
to besiege maleperduys / I shal destroye reynart the foxe / yf  #
I be a
kynge / ye lordes and sires what saye ye hereto / wille ye doo  #
this
wyth a good wyl / And they sayd and cryed alle / ye we lorde /  #
whan
that ye wylle / we shal alle goo with yow.

[}HOW GRYMBERT THE DASSE WARNED / THE FOXE / THAT THE KYNGE WAS
WROTH WITH HYM AND WOLD SLEE HYM (\CAPITULO .XXVJ=O=.\) }]

   Alle thise wordes herde grymbert the dasse whiche was his
brother sone / he was sory and angry yf it myght haue           #
prouffyted
he ranne thenne the hye way to maleperduys ward / he spared
nether busshe ne hawe / but he hasted so sore that he swette /  #
he
sorowed in hym self for reynart his rede eme / and as he wente  #
he
saide to hym self Alas in what daunger be / ye comen in /       #
where shal
ye become shal I see you brought fro lyf to deth / or elles     #
exyled out
of the lande / truly I may be wel sorouful / for ye be the heed
of alle our lygnage / ye be wyse of counseyl / ye be redy to    #
helpe
your frendes whan they haue nede / ye can so wel shewe your     #
resons /
that where ye speke / ye wynne all / with suche maner wayllyng  #
/
and pytous wordes cam grymbert to maleperduys / And fonde       #
reynart
his eme there standyng / whiche had goten two pygeons / as      #
they cam
first out of her neste to assaye yf they coude flee and         #
bicause the
fethers on her wyngis were to shorte / they fylle doun to the   #
ground /
And as reynart was gon out to seche his mete / he espyed them   #
and
caught hem and was comen home with hem / And whan he sawe
grymbert comyng / he taryed and said / welcome my best beloued
neuew that I knowe in al my kynrede / ye haue ronne faste ye    #
ben al
<P 56>
be swette / haue ye ony newe tydynges / alas said he / lyef     #
eme it
standeth euyl wyth yow / ye haue loste both lyf and good / the
kynge hath sworn that he shal gyue you a shameful deth / he     #
hath
commanded alle his folke withyn vj dayes for to be here /       #
Archers
fotemen / horsemen / And peple in waynes And he hath gunnes /
bombardes tentes and pauyllyons / And also he hath do laaden
torches / See to fore yow / For ye haue nede / Ysegrym and      #
bruyn
ben better now wyth the kynge than I am wyth yow / Alle that    #
they
wille / Is doon / Isegrym hath don hym to vnderstande that ye   #
be
a theef and a morderar he hath grete enuye to yow. Lapreel the
cony and Corbant the roek haue made a grete complaynt also. I
sorow moche for your lyf. That for drede I am alle seke. Puf    #
said
the foxe / dere neuew is ther nothyng ellis / be ye so sore     #
aferd
herof Make good chere hardely / thaugh the kynge hym self and
alle that ben in the court had sworn my deth / yet shal I be    #
exalted
aboue them alle / They maye alle faste Iangle clatre and yeue
counseyl / but the courte may not prospere wythoute me and my
wyles and subtylte 

[}HOW REYNART THE FOXE CAM ANOTHER TYME TO THE COURTE
(\CAPITULO .XXVIJ=O=.\) }]

   Dere neuew late alle thise thynges passe and come here in /  #
and
see what I shal gyue you / a good payre of fatte pygeons /
I loue no mete better / They ben good to dygeste / they may     #
almost
be swolowen in al hool the bones ben half blode / I ete them    #
wyth
that other / I fele my self other whyle encombred in my stomak
therfore ete I gladly lyght mete. My wyf ermelyn shal receyue   #
vs
frendly / but telle her nothyng of this thynge / For she        #
sholde take it
ouer heuyly / she is tendre of herte. she myght for fere falle  #
in
somme sekenes / a lytyl thynge gooth sore to her herte / And to
morow erly I wil goo with yow to the courte / And yf I may      #
come to
speche and may be herd / I shal ansuere / That I shal touche
somme nygh ynowh / neuew wyl not ye stande by me / as a frende
ought to doo to another / yes truly dere eme said grymbert my   #
lyf
and alle my good is at your commandement / god thanke you
neuew said the foxe / That is wel said. yf I may lyue I shal    #
quyte it
yow / Eme said grymbert ye may wel come tofore alle the lordes  #
and
<P 57>
excuse yow ther shal none areste yow ne holde as longe as ye be
in your wordes / The quene and the lupaerd haue goten that /    #
then
said the foxe / therfor I am glad / thenne I care not for the   #
beste of
them an heer / I shal wel saue my self / they spake nomore      #
herof /
but wente forth in to the burgh / And fonde ermelyn there       #
sittyng
by her yonglyngs whiche aroose vp anon and receyuid them
frendly / Grymbert salewed his aunte and the chyldren wyth
frendly wordes / the ij pygeons were made redy for theyr soper  #
/
Whiche reynard had taken / eche of them toke his part as ferre  #
as it
wolde stratche / yf eche of hem had had one more / ther sholde  #
but
lytyl haue be lefte ouer / the foxe saide / lief neuewe / how   #
lyke /ye
my chyldren rosel and reynerdyn they shal do worship to alle    #
our
lygnage / They begynne al redy to do wel / that one catcheth    #
wel a
chyken and that other a pullet / They conne wel also duke in    #
the
water after lapwynches and dokys / I wolde ofte sende them for
prouande / but I wil fyrste teche them how they shal kepe them  #
fro
the grynnes / fro the hunters and fro the houndes / yf they     #
were so
ferre comen that they were wyse / I durste wel truste to them   #
that
they shold wel vytaylle vs in many good diuerses metes / That   #
we
now lacke / And they lyke and folowe me wel / For they playe    #
alle
grymmyng and where they hate they loke frendly and meryly
For ther by they brynge them vnder their feet / And byte the    #
throte 
asondre / This is the nature of the foxe / They be swyfte in    #
their
takynge whiche pleseth me wel.

   Eme said grymbert ye may be glad that ye haue suche wyse
chyldren / And I am glad of them also by cause they be of my
kynne / Grymbert said the foxe ye haue swette and be wery it    #
were
hye tyde that ye were at your reste / Eme yf it plese you it    #
thynketh
me good Tho laye they doun on a lytier made of strawe / the     #
foxe /
hys wyf and hys chyldren wente alle to slepe / But the foxe     #
was al
heuy / and laye. sighed and sorowed how he myght beste excuse
hym self / On the morow erly he ruymed his castel and wente     #
with
grymbart / but he toke leue first of dame ermelyn his wyf and   #
of 
his chyldren / and sayde thynke not longe I muste goo to the    #
court
wyth grymbert my cosyn / yf I tarye somwhat be not aferde / and
yf ye here ony ylle tydyngis / take it alway for the beste.     #
And see
wel to your self and kepe our castel wel I shal doo yonder the  #
beste
<P 58>
I can after that I see how it gooth Alas reyner said she how    #
haue ye
now thus taken vpon yow for to go to the court agayn / the last
tyme that ye were there ye were in grete ieopardye of your lyf.
And ye sayde ye wold neuer come there more. dame said the foxe.
thauenture of the world is wonderly it goth otherwhyle by       #
wenyng /
Many one weneth to haue a thing whiche he muste forgoo. I
muste nedes now go thyder / be content it is al wythoute drede  #
/
I hope to come at alther lengest with in fyue dayes agayn /     #
Here
wyth he departed and wente wyth grymbert to the court ward /
And whan they were vpon the heeth thenne sayde reyner /
Neuew syth I was laste shryuen I haue don many shrewde tornes /
I wolde ye wold here me now of alle that I haue trespaced in /
I made the bere to haue a grete wounde for the male whiche was
cutte out of his skynne / And also I made the wulf and his wyf  #
to
lese her shoon / I peased the kynge with grete lesyngis and     #
bare
hym on honde that the wulf and the bere wold haue betrayed hym
and wolde haue slayn hym / so I made the kynge right wroth with
them where they deseruyd it not / also I tolde to the kynge     #
that
ther was grete tresour in hulsterlo of whiche he was neuer the
better ne richer / for I lyed al that I sayde / I ledde bellyn  #
the ramme 
and kywart the hare with me / and slewe kyward and sente to the
kynge by bellyn kywarts heed in skorn / And I dowed the cony
bytwene his eeris that almost I benamme his lyf from hym For he
escaped ayenst my wyl / he was to me ouerswyft / The roeke may
wel complayne / for I swolowed in dame sharpbeck his wyf / and
also I haue forgoten on thyng the laste tyme that I was         #
shreuen to
you / Which I haue syth bethought me / And it was of grete
deceyte that I dyde whiche I now wyll telle yow / I cam wyth    #
the
wulf walkynge bytwene houthulst and eluerdynge / There sawe
we goo a rede mare / And she had a black colte or a fool of     #
iiij
monethis olde / which was good and fatte Isegrym was almost 
storuen for hunger / And prayd me goo to the mare / and wyte of
her yf she wold selle her fool / I ran faste to the mare / And  #
axed
that of her / she sayd she wold selle it for money / I          #
demaunded of
her how she wold selle it / she sayde it is wreton in my        #
hyndre foot /
Yf ye conne rede and be a clerk ye may come see and rede it.    #
Tho
wyste I wel where she wold be. and I saide nay for sothe I can
not rede / And also I desyre not to bye your chylde Isegrym     #
hath
sente me hether. and wold fayn knowe the prys therof / the mare
<P 59>
saide late hym come thenne hym self / And I shal late hym haue
knowleche / I sayde / I shal / and hastely wente to ysegrym and
saide / eme wil ye ete your bely ful of this colte / so goo     #
faste to the
mare for she taryeth after yow / She hath do wryte the pris of  #
her
colte vnder her fote she wolde that I shold haye redde it /     #
but I
can not one lettre / whiche me sore repenteth / For I wente     #
neuer
to scole / eme wylle ye bye that colte / conne ye rede so maye  #
ye bye
it / oy neuew that can I wel what shold me lette / I can wel    #
frenshe
latyn englissh and duche. I haue goon to scole at oxenford I    #
haue
also wyth olde and auncyent doctours ben in the audyence and
herde plees / and also haue gyuen sentence / I am lycensyd in   #
bothe
lawes / what maner wrytyng that ony man can deuyse / I can      #
rede it
as perfyghtly as my name I wyl goo to her and shal anon         #
vnderstonde
the prys / and bad me to tarye for hym / and he ranne to the
mare / and axed of her how she wold selle her fool or kepe it   #
/ she
sayde the somme of the money standeth wreton after on my fote
he saide late me rede it / she saide doo and lyfte vp her foot  #
whiche
was newe shood wyth yron and vj stronge nayles / and she smote  #
hym
wythout myssyng on his heed that he fyl doun as he had ben      #
deed /
a man shold wel haue ryden a myle er he aroos / The mare        #
trotted
a way wyth her colte / And she leet Isegrym lyeng shrewdly hurt
and wounded He laye and bledde / And howled as an hound /
I wente tho to hym and sayde / Sir ysegrym dere eme how is it
now wyth yow. haue ye eten ynowh of the colte / is your bely    #
ful.
why gyue ye me no part I dyde your erande. haue ye slepte your
dyner I pray yow telle me what was wreton vnder the mares fote
what was it. prose or ryme. metre or verse. I wold fayn knowe   #
it.
I trowe it was cantum. for I herde you synge me thoughte fro    #
ferre.
for ye were so wyse that noman coude rede it better than ye /   #
Alas
reynart alas said the wulf I pray you to leue youre mockyng. I  #
am
so foule arayed and sore hurte. that an herte of stone myght    #
haue
pyte of me. The hore wyth her longe legge had an yron foot I
wende the nayles therof had ben lettres / and she hytte me at   #
the
fyrst stroke vj. grete woundes in my heed that almost it is     #
clouen.
suche maner lettres shal I neuer more desire to rede /

   Dere eme is that trouthe that ye telle me / I haue herof     #
grete meruaylle
/ I heelde you for one of the wysest clerkes that now
lyue / Now I here wel / it is true that I long syth haue redde  #
and
herde / that the beste clerkes / ben not the wysest men / the   #
laye 
<P 60>
peple otherwhyle wexe wyse / the cause that thise clerkes ben   #
not
the wysest / is that they studye so moche in the connyng and
science / that they therin doole / Thus brought I Isegrym in    #
this
grete laste and harme. That he vnneth byhelde his lyf / Lyef    #
neuew
now haue I tolde you alle my synnes that I remembre. What so
euer falle at the courte. I wote neuer how it shal stonde with  #
me
there. I am not now so sore aferd For I am clere from synne
I wyl gladly come to mercy / and receyue penance by your        #
counseyl
grymbert sayde the trespaces ben grete / neuertheles who that   #
is
deed muste abide deed. and therfore I wyl forgyue it you al
togydre / With the fere that ye shal suffre therfore. er ye     #
shal conne
excuse you of the deth / and hier vpon I wyl assoylle you. but  #
the
moste hyndre that ye shal be. that ye sente kywarts heed
to the court And that ye blynded the kynge wyth suche lyes /    #
Eme
that was right euyl doon / The foxe sayde . what lyef neuew.    #
Who
that wyl goo thurgh the world this to here. and that to see /   #
and that
other to telle. truly it may not clerly be done. how shold ony  #
man
handle hony. but yf he lycked his fyngres I am oftymes rored
and prycked in my conscience as to loue god aboue all thynge 
and myn euen crysten as my self. as is to god wel acceptable.   #
and
acordyng to his lawe / But how wene ye that reson wythin forth
fyghteth ayenst the outeward wylle than stonde I alle stylle    #
in my
self that me thynketh I haue loste alle my wittes / And wote    #
not what
me eyleth I am thenne in suche a thought / I haue now alle      #
lefte my
synnes / And hate alle thynge that is not good / and clymme in
hye contemplacion aboue his commandements but this specyal
grace haue I whan I am alone / But in a short whyle after whan  #
the
world cometh in me thenne fynde I in my waye so many stones /
and the fote spores that thyse loos prelates / and riche        #
preestys goo
in / that I am anone taken agayn / thenne cometh the world and  #
wyl
haue this / And the flesshe wyl lyue plesantly / whiche leye    #
to fore
me so many thinges that I thenne lose alle my good thoughtis
and purpoos / I here there synge pype / lawhe / playe / and     #
alle
myrthe / And I here that these prelates and riche curates       #
preche
and saye al other wyse / than they thynke and doo / There       #
lerne I
to lye / the lesynges ben moste vsed in the lordes courtes      #
certaynly
lordes / ladyes / prestis and clerkes maken most lesyngis /     #
Men dar
not telle to the lordes now the trouthe / Ther is defaute / I   #
must flatre
<P 61>
and lye also / or ellis I shold be shette wythout the dore / I  #
haue ofte
herde men saye trouthe and rightfully / and haue theyr reson    #
made
wyth a lesynge lyke to theyr purpose and brought it in and      #
wente
thurgh by cause their mater shold seme the fayrer / The lesyng
oftymes cometh vnauysed / And falleth in the mater vnwetyngly /
And so whan she is wel cladde / it goth forth thurgh with that 
other /

   Dere neuew thus muste men now lye here / and there saye soth
flatre / and menace / praye and curse / And seke euery man
vpon his feblest and wekest / who otherwyse wylle now haunte    #
and
vse the world / than deuyse a lesyng in the fayrest wyse / and  #
that 
bywymble with kerchieuis aboute in suche wise that men take it
for a trouthe / he is not ronne away fro his maister / Can he   #
that
subtylte in suche wise that he stamer not in his wordes / and   #
may 
thenne be herde / neuew / this man may doo wonder he may were 
skarlet and gryse / he wynneth in the spyrituel lawe and        #
temporal
also and where sommeuer he hath to doo / Now ben ther many
false shrewis that haue grete enuye that they  haue so grete    #
fordele /
And wene that they conne also wel lye / And take on them to
lye and to telle it forth / he wolde fayn ete of the fatte      #
morsellis.
but he is not bileued ne herd / And many ben ther that be so
plompe and folisshe that whan they wene beste to prononce and
shewe their matere and conclude. They falle besyde and oute
therof. And can not thenne helpe hem self / and leue theyr      #
mater
wythout tayl or heed and he is a compted for a fool / And many
mocke them ther with / but who can gyue to his lesynge a        #
conclusion
/ and prononce it without tatelyng lyke as it were wreton to
fore hym / and that he can so blynde the peple / That his       #
lesynge
shal better be bileuid than the trouthe / That is the man. What
connyng is it to saye the trouth that is good to doo. How lawhe
thise false subtyl shrewis that gyue counseyl to make thise     #
lesynges.
and sette them forth / And maken vnright goo aboue right / and  #
make
billes / and / sette in thynges that neuer were thought ne      #
sayd / and
teche men see thurgh their fyngres And alle for to wynne money  #
/
and late their tonges to hyre for to mayntene and strengthe     #
their
lesyngis alas neuewe this is an euyl connyng / of whiche. lyf.  #
scathe
and hurte may come ther of /
<P 62>
   I Saye not but that otherwhyle men muste Iape / bourde and   #
lye
in smale thyngis / for who so sayth alway trouthe. he may not
now goo nowher thurgh the world. ther ben many that playe
placebo. who so alleway sayth trouth. shal fynde many lettyngis #
in
his way. Men may wel lye whan it is nede / and after amende it
by counseyl / For alle trespaces / ther is mercy. Ther is no    #
man so
wyse / but he dooleth otherwhyle / Grymbert sayde wel dere eme
what thynge shal you lette. ye knowe al thyng at the narewest   #
/ ye
shulde brynge me hastely in dotyng your resons passen my
vnderstandyng / what nede haue ye to shryue you / ye shulde     #
your
self by right be the preest / And lete me and other sheep come  #
to
you for to be shryuen / ye knowe the state of the world in      #
suche
wyse as noman may halte tofore you / Wyth suche maner talkynge
they cam walkyng in to the court / The foxe sorowed somwhat in
his herte / Neuertheles he bare it out and stryked forth        #
thurgh alle
the folke til he cam in to the place where the kynge hym self   #
was /
And grymbert was alway by the foxe and sayd eme be not a ferde.
and make good chere / who that is hardy /thauenture helpeth     #
hym /
Oftymes one day is better than somtyme an hole yere / the foxe
saide / Neuew ye saye trouthe / god thanke you ye comforte me   #
wel /
And forth he wente and lokyd grymly here and there as who       #
saith /
what wylle ye here come I / he sawe there many of his kynne     #
standyng
whiche yonned hym but lytyl good / as the otter beuer and
other to the nombre of .x. whome I shal. name afterward / And
somme were there that loued hym. The Foxe cam in and fyl doun
on his knees to fore the kyng and began his wordes and sayde. 



