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1

HYER BEGYNNETH THYSTORYE OF REYNARD THE FOXE

2
3    In this historye ben wreton the parables / goode lerynge / and
4dyuerse poyntes to be merkyd / by whiche poyntes men maye lerne
5to come to the subtyl knoweleche of suche thynges as dayly ben
6vsed and had in the counseyllys of lordes and prelates gostly and
7worldly / and / also emonge marchantes and other comone peple /
8And this booke is maad for nede and prouffyte of alle god folke /
9As fer as they in redynge or heeryng of it shal mowe vnderstande
10and fele the forsayd subtyl deceytes that dayly ben vsed in the
11worlde / not to thentente that men shold vse them but that euery
12man shold eschewe and kepe hym from the subtyl false shrewis
13that they be not deceyuyd / Thenne who that wyll haue the very
14vnderstandyng of this mater / he muste ofte and many tymes rede
15in thys boke and ernestly and diligently marke wel that he redeth /
16For it is sette subtylly / lyke as ye shal see in redyng of it / and not
17ones to rede it For a man shal not wyth ones ouer redyng fynde the
18ryght vnderstandyng ne comprise it wel / but oftymes to rede it
19shal cause it wel to be vnderstande / And for them that vnderstandeth
20it / it shall be ryght Ioyous playsant and prouffitable
21
22

HOW THE LYON KYNGE OF ALLE BESTIS SENT OUT HIS MANDEMENTIS THAT
23ALLE BEESTIS SHOLDE COME TO HIS FEEST AND COURT CAPITULO PRIMO

24
25    It was aboute the tyme of penthecoste or whytsontyde / that the
26wodes comynly be lusty and gladsom And the trees clad with
27leuys and blossoms and the ground with herbes and flowris swete
28smellyng and also the fowles and byrdes syngen melodyously in
29theyr armonye / That the lyon the noble kynge of all beestis wolde
30in the holy dayes of thys feest holde on open Court at stade /
31whyche he dyde to knowe ouer alle in his lande / And commanded
32by strayte commyssyons and maundements that euery beest
33shold come thyder / in suche wyse that alle the beestis grete and
34smale cam to the courte sauf reynard the fox / for he knewe hym
35self fawty and gylty in many thynges ayenst many beestis that
36thyder sholde comen that he durste not auenture to goo thyder /

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37whan the kynge of alle beestis had assemblid alle his court / ther
38was none of them alle / but that he had complayned sore on Reynart
39the foxe
40
41

THE FIRST COMPLAYNT MADE ISEGRYM THE WULF ON REYNART
42CAPITULO .IJ.

43
44    Isegrym the wulf wyth his lynage and frendes cam and stode
45to fore the kynge / And sayde hye and myghty prynce my lord
46the kynge I beseche yow that thurgh your grete myght / ryght /
47and mercy that ye wyl haue pyte on the grete trespas and the
48vnresonable mysdedes that reynart the foxe hath don to me and to
49my wyf that is to wete he is comen in to my hows ayenst the wylle
50of my wyf / And there he hath be pyssed my chyldren where as they
51laye in suche wyse as they therof ben woxen blynde / wherupon
52was a day sette/ and was Iuged that reygnart shold come and
53haue excused hym hierof / and haue sworen on the holy sayntes
54that he was not gylty therof / and whan the book wyth the sayntes
55was brought forth / tho had reygnart bythought hym other wyse /
56And wente his waye agayn in to his hole / as he had nought sette
57therby / And dere kynge this knowen wel many of the bestes that
58now be comen hyther to your court / And yet hath he trespaced to
59me in many other thinges / he is not lyuyng that coude telle alle that
60I now leue vntolde / But the shame and vyllonye that he hath don to
61my wyf / that shal I neuer hyde ne suffre it vnauengyd but that he
62shal make to me large amendes /
63
64

THE COMPLAYNT OF COURTOYS THE HOUNDE CAPITULO IIJ

65
66    Whan thyse wordes were spoken so stode there a lytyl hounde
67and was named courtoys / and complayned to the kynge /
68how that in the colde wynter in the harde froste he had ben sore
69forwynterd / in suche wyse as he had kepte nomore mete than a
70puddyng / wyche puddyng reygnard the foxe had taken away from
71hym
72
73

THO SPAK TYBERT THE CATTE

74
75    Wyth this so cam Tybert the catte wyth an Irous moed / and
76sprang in emonge them and sayde My lord the kyng / I here
77hier that reygnart is sore complayned on / and hier is none but that

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78he hath ynowh to doo to clere hym self / that courtoys hier complayneth
79of that is passyd many yeres goon / how be it that I
80complayne not / that pudyng was myne / For I hadde wonne it by
81nyghte in a mylle / The myllar laye and slepe / yf courtoys had ony
82parte hieron / that cam by me to / Thenne spak panther / Thynke ye
83Tybert that it were good that reynard sholde not be complayned on /
84he is a very murderer / a rouer / and a theef / he loueth noman so
85wel / not our lord the kyng here that he wel wold that he shuld lese
86good and worshyp / so that he myght wynne as moche as a legge of
87a fat henne / I shal telle yow what I sawe hym do yesterday to
88Cuwaert the hare that hier standeth in the kynges pees and
89saufgarde / he promysed to Cuwart and sayde he wold teche hym
90his credo / and make hym a good chapelayn / he made hym goo
91sytte bytwene his legges and sange and cryde lowde Credo. Credo.
92my waye laye ther by there that I herde this songe / Tho wente I
93ner and fonde maister reynard that had lefte that he fyrst redde and
94songe / and bygan to playe his olde playe / For he had caught
95kywaert by the throte / and had I not that tyme comen he sholde
96haue taken his lyf from hym like as ye hiere may see on kywaert
97the hare the fresshe wounde yet / For sothe my lord the kynge yf
98ye suffre this vnpunysshyd and lete hym go quyte that hath thus
99broken your peas / And wyl do no right after the sentence and
100Iugement of your men / your Chyldren many yeris herafter shal be
101myspreysed and blamed therfore / Sykerly panther sayd Isegrym
102ye saye trouthe / hit were good that right and Iustyse were don /
103for them that wolde fayn lyue in peas /
104
105

HOW GRYMBART THE DASSE THE FOXES SUSTERS SONE SPACK FOR
106REYNART AND ANSWERD TO FORE THE KYNGE. CAPITULO .IIIJ.

107
108    Tho spack Grymbart the dasse / and was Reynarts suster sone
109wyth an angry moed / Sir Isegrym that is euyl sayd it is a
110comyn prouerbe An Enemyes mouth / sayth seeld wel / what leye
111ye / and wyte myn Eme Reynart / I wold that ye wolde a venture
112that who of yow tweyne had moste trespaced to other sholde hange
113by the necke as a theef on a tree / But and yf he were as wel in this
114court and as wel wyth the kynge as ye be / it shold not be thought
115in hym / that it were ynowh / that ye shold come and aske hym

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116forgyuenes ye haue byten and nypte myn vncle wyth your felle
117and sharp teeth many mo tymes that I can telle / yet wil I telle
118some poyntes that I wel knowe / knowe not ye how ye mysdeled on
119the plays / whiche he threwe doun fro the carre / whan ye folowed
120after fro ferre / And ye ete the good plays allone / and gaf hym
121nomore than the grate or bones / whyche ye myght not ete your
122self / In lyke wyse dyde ye to hym also of the fatte vlycche of
123bacon / whiche sauourd so wel / that ye allone ete in your bely /
124and whan myn Eme askyd his parte / tho answerd ye hym agayn
125in scorne / Reynart fayr yonglyng I shal gladly gyue you your part /
126but myn eme gate ne had nought / ne was not the better / Notwithstandyng
127he had wonnen the flycche of bacon wyth grete
128drede / For the man cam and threw hym in a sacke / that he scarsely
129cam out wyth his lyf / Suche maner thynges hath reynart many
130tymes suffred thurgh ysegrym.
131
132    O ye lordes thynke ye that this is good / yet is ther more / he
133complayneth how that reynart myn eme hath moche
134trespaced to hym by cause of his wyf / Myn Eme hath leyn by her
135but that is wel seuen yer to fore / er he wedded her / and yf reynart
136for loue and curtosye dyde with. her his wille / what was that / She
137was sone heled therof / hierof by ryght shold be no complaynt were
138Isegrym wyse. he shold haue lefte that he doth to hym self no
139worshyp thus to sklaundre his wyf / She playneth not / now maketh
140kywaert the hare a complaynt also / that thynketh me a vyseuase /
141yf he rede ne lerned a right his lesson / sholde not reynard his
142maister bete hym therfore / yf the scolers were not beten ne smyten
143and reprised of their truantrye / they shold neuer lerne /
144    Now complayneth Curtoys that he with payne had goten a
145puddyng in the wynter / at suche tyme as the coste is euyl to
146fynde Therof hym had be better to haue holde his pees / for he had
147stolen it / Male quesisti et male perdidisti hit is ryght that it be
148euil loste / that is euil wonne who shal blame Reynart / yf he haue
149taken fro a theef stolen good hit is reson who that vnderstandeth
150the lawe and can discerne the right / and that he be of hye burthe
151as myn Eme reynart is whiche knoweth wel how he shal resseyue
152stolen good / ye al had he courtoys hanged whan he fonde hym with
153the menowr / he had not moche mysdon ne trespaced / Sauf

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154ayenst the crowne / that he had don Iustyse wythoute leue wherfore
155for the honour of the kynge he dyde it not / all hath he but lytyl
156thanke / what skatheth it hym that he is thus complayned on / Myn
157Eme is a gentil and a trewe man he may suffre no falshede /
158he doth nothyng but by his prestes counseyl And I saye yow syth
159that my lorde the kynge hath do proclamed his pees he neuer
160thoughte to hurte ony man / For he eteth no more than ones a day /
161he lyueth as a recluse / he chastiseth his body and wereth a sherte of
162heer / hit is more than a yere that he hath eten no flesshe / as I
163yesterday herd saye of them that cam fro hym he hath lefte and
164geuen ouer his Castel maleperduys / And hath bylded a cluse /
165theryn dwelleth he / and hunteth nomore / ne desyreth no wynnynge
166but he lyueth by almesse and taketh nothyng but suche as men gyue
167hym for charyte and doth grete penance for his synnes / and he is
168woxen moche pale and lene of prayeng and wakyng For he wolde
169be fayn wyth god / Thus as grymbert his eme stode and preched
170thise wordes / so sawe they comen doun the hylle to hem chauntecler
171the cock and brought on a biere a deed henne of whom
172reynart had byten the heed of / and that muste be shewed to the
173kynge for to haue knowleche therof.
174
175

HOW THE COCKE COMPLAYNED ON REYNART CAPITULO. V^O.

176
177    Chauntecler cam forth and smote pyteously his handes and his
178fetheris and on eche side of the byer wenten tweyne sorouful
179hennes that one was called cantart and that other goode henne
180Crayant they were two the fayrest hennes that were bytwene
181holland and arderne / Thise hennes bare eche of them a brennyng
182tapre whiche was longe and strayte / Thise two hennes were
183coppens susters And they cryed so pitously / Alas and weleaway
184for the deth of her dere suster coppen / Two yonge hennes
185bare the byere whiche kakled so heuyly and wepte so lowde for
186the deth of coppen their moder that it was ferre herde / thus cam
187they to gydre to fore the kynge / And chantecleer tho seyde /
188Mercyful lord / my lord the kynge plese it yow to here our complaynte /
189/ And abhorren the grete scathe that reynart hath don to me
190and my children that hiere stonden / it was so that in the begynnyng
191of appryl whan the weder is fayr / as that I was hardy and prowde /

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192bycause of the grete lynage that I am comen of and also hadde /
193For I had viij fayr sones and seuen fayr doughters whiche my wyf
194had hatched. and they were alle stronge and fatte and wente in a
195yerde whiche was walled round aboute / In whiche was a shadde
196where in were six grete dogges whiche had to tore and plucked many
197a beestis skyn in suche wyse as my chyldren were not aferd / On
198whom Reynart the theef had grete enuye by cause they were so
199sure that he cowde none gete of them / how wel oftymes hath this
200fel theef goon rounde aboute this wal / and hath leyde for vs in
201suche wyse that the dogges haue be sette on hym and haue hunted
202hym away / And ones they leep on hym vpon the banke / And that
203cost hym somwhat for his thefte / I saw that his skyn smoked
204neuertheles he wente his waye / god amende it /
205
206    Thus were we quyte of reynart a longe whyle / atte laste cam he in
207lyknes of an heremyte / and brought to me a lettre for to rede
208sealed wyth the kynges seal / in whiche stode wreton that the kynge
209had made pees oueral in his royame / and that alle maner beestis
210and fowlles shold doo none harme ner scathe to ony other /
211yet sayd he to me more / that he was a cloysterer or a closyd recluse
212becomen / And that he wolde receyue grete penance for his synnes /
213he shewd me his slauyne and pylche and an heren sherte ther
214vnder / and thenne sayd he / syr Chaunteclere after thys tyme be no
215more aferd of me ne take no hede / For I now wil ete nomore flesshe /
216I am forthon so olde / That I wolde fayn remembre my sowle I wil
217now go forth / for I haue yete to saye my sexte / none / and myn
218euensonge to god I bytake yow / Tho wente reynart thens sayeng
219his Credo / and leyde hym vnder an hawthorn / Thenne / was I glad
220and mery / and also toke none hede / And wente to my chyldren
221and clucked hem to gydre And wente wythout the wal for to walke
222wherof is moche harme comen to vs / for reynart laye vnder a busshe
223and cam krepyng bitwene vs and the yate / so that he caught one of
224my chyldren and leyd hym in his male / wherof whe haue had grete
225harme / for syth he hath tasted of hym / ther myght neuer hunter
226ne hounde saue ne kepe hym from vs / he hath wayted by nyghte
227and daye in suche wyse that he hath stolen so many of my chyldren
228that of .xv. I haue but foure / in suche wyse hath this theef

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229forslongen them / And yet yesterday was coppen my doughter
230that hier lyeth vpon the byer with the houndes rescowed This
231complayne I to yow gracious kynge / haue pyte on myn grete and
232vnresonable damage and losse of my fayre chyldren /
233
234

HOW THE KYNG SPACK TOUCHYNG THIS COMPLAYNT CA .VJ:

235
236    Thenne spack the kynge / Syre dasse here ye this wel of the
237recluse your Eme he hath fasted and prayde that yf I lyue
238a yere he shal abye it / Nowe herke chauntecler / your playnt is
239ynogh your doughter that lyeth here dede / we wyl gyue to her the
240dethes right we may kepe her no lenger / we wil betake her to god /
241we wylle syngen here vygylie / and brynge her worshipfully on
242erthe / and thenne we wille speke wyth thise lordes and take
243counseyl how we may do ryght and Iustyse of thys grete murdre /
244and brynge this fals theef to the lawe / Tho begonne they placebo
245domino / with the verses that to longen whiche yf I shold saye /
246were me to longe / whan this vigilye was don and the commendacion /
247she was leyde in the pytte / and ther vpon was leyde a marble stone
248polyshed as clere as ony glas and theron was hewen in grete lettres
249in this wyse coppe chanteklers doughter / whom Reynart the foxe
250hath byten lyeth hier vnder buryed / complayne ye her For / she is
251shamefully comen to her deth / after this the / kynge sente For his
252lordes and wysest of his counseyl for to take aduys / how this grete
253murdre and trespaas shold be punysshyd on reynart the foxe / Ther
254was concluded and apoynted for the beste / that reynart shold be
255sent Fore and that he lefte not for ony cause / But he cam in to the
256kynges court For to here wat shold be sayd to hym / And that
257bruyn the bere shold do the message. the kynge thought that alle
258this was good and saide to brune the bere syr brune I wyl that ye
259doo this message / but see wel to for your self / For reynart is a
260shrewe / and felle and knoweth so many wyles that he shal lye and
261flatre / and shal thynke how he may begyle deceyue and brynge yow
262to some mockerye / tho sayd brune what good lord late it
263allone / deceyueth me the foxe / so haue I ylle lerned my casus /
264I trowe he shal come to late to mocque me / Thus departed brune
265meryly fro thens / but it is to drede that he cam not so merely
266agayn /

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267
268

HOW BRUNE THE BEERE WAS SPED OF REYNART THE FOXE /
269CAPITULO .VIJ^O.

270
271    Now is brune goon on his waye toward the foxe wyth a stowte
272moede / whiche supposed wel that the foxe sholde not haue
273begyled hym / as he cam in a derke wode in a forest were as
274reynard had a bypath whan he was hunted / ther bysyde was as
275hie montayne and lande / and there muste brune in the myddel
276goon ouer for to goo to maleperduys / for reynart had many a
277dwellyng place / but the castel of maleperduys was the beste and
278the fastest burgh that he had / Ther laye he Inne whan he had nede
279and was in ony drede or fere / Now whan bruyn was comen to
280maleperduys he fonde the yate fast shette / tho wente he to fore the
281yate and satte vpon his taylle and called Reynart be ye at home I am
282brownyng / the kynge hath sente me for yow that ye sholde come to
283court / for to plete your caas / he hath sworn there by his god / come
284ye not / or brynge I yow not with me for tabyde suche right and
285sentence as shal be there gyuen / it shal coste you your lyf he wyl
286hange yow / or sette yow on the ratte / reynart doo by my counseyl
287and come to the court / Reynart laye within the gate as he ofte was
288wonte to doo for the warmth of the sonne / whan reynart herd
289bruyn tho wente he Inneward in to his hole / for maleperduys was
290ful of hooles / hier one hool and there an other and yonder an other /
291narowe. croked and longe wyth / many weyes to goo out /
292whiche he opend and shette after that he had nede / whan he had
293ony proye brought home / or that he wiste that ony sought hym for
294hys mysdedes and trespaces / thenne he ran and hydde hym fro his
295enemyes in to hys secrete chambres / that they coude not fynde
296hym / by whiche he deceyuyd many a beest that sought hym / and
297to thought reynart in hym self how he myght best brynge the
298beere in charge and nede / and that he abode in worship /
299
300    In this thoughte reynart cam out and sayde bruyn eme ye be
301welcome / I herde you wel to fore / but I was in myn euesong
302therfore haue I the lenger taryed a lytyl / dere eme he hath don to
303you no good seruyse and I can hym no thank that hath sente you
304ouer this longe hylle / for I see that ye be also wery that the swete
305renneth doun by your chekys / it was no nede / I had neuertheles
306comen to court to morowe but I sorowe now the lasse / for your

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307wyse counseyl shal wel helpe me in the court / and coude the kyng
308fynde none lasse messager but yow For to sende hyther / that is
309grete / wonder / For next the kynge ye be the mooste gentyl and
310richest of leeuys and / of lande / I wolde wel that we were now at the
311court but I fere me that I shal not conne wel goo thyder / for I haue
312eten so moche new mete / that me thynketh my bely wylle breke or
313cleue asonder and by cause the mete was nyewe / I ete the more /
314tho spack the bere lyef neue what mete haue ye eten that maked
315yow so ful / dere eme that I ete what myght it helpe yow that
316yf I tolde yow / I ete but symple mete a poure man is no lord that
317may ye knowe eme by me / we poure folke muste ete oftymes
318suche as we gladly wolde not ete yf we had better / they were grete
319hony combes which I muste nedes ete for hunger / they haue made
320my bely so grete / that I can nowher endure / Bruyn tho spack anone /
321alas reynart what saye ye / sette ye so lytyl by hony / me ought to
322preyse and loue it aboue alle mete / lief reynart helpe me that I
323myght gete a deel of this hony / and as longe as I lyue I shal be to
324you a tryew friende and abyde by yow as ferre as ye helpe me that
325I may haue a parte of thys hony /

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326

HOW THE KYNGE HELDE HIS FEESTE / AND HOW LAPREEL THE CONY
327COMPLAYNED VNTO THE KYNGE VPON REYNART THE FOXE
328CAPITULO .XXIIJ^O.

329
330    To this grete feste cam al maner of beestis / For the kynge dyde
331do crye this feste ouer alle in that londe / Ther was the moste
332Ioye and myrthe that euer was seen emonge beestis / Ther was
333daunsed manerly the houedaunce with shalmouse trompettis and
334alle maner of menestralsye / the kynge dyde do ordeyne so moche
335mete / that euerych fonde ynough / And ther was no beest in al
336his lande so grete ne so lytyl but he was there / and ther were many
337fowles and byrdes also / and alle they that desired the kynges
338frendship were there / sauyng reynard the foxe / the rede false
339pilgrym whiche laye in a wayte to doo harme / and thoughte it was
340not good for hym to be there / Mete and drynke flowed there /
341Ther weere playes and esbatemens / The feest was ful of melodye /
342One myght haue luste to see suche a feeste / and right as the feeste
343had dured viij dayes / aboute mydday cam in the cony lapreel to
344fore the kynge where he satte on the table with the quene / and

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345sayde al heuyly that all they herde hym that were there / My lorde
346haue pyte on my complaynt whiche is of grete force and murdre
347that reynard the foxe wold haue don to me / yester morow as I cam
348rennyng by his borugh at maleperdhuys he stode byfore his dore
349without lyke a pylgryme / I supposed to haue passed by hym
350peasible toward this feste and whan he sawe me come / he came
351ayenst me sayeng his bedes I salewed hym / but / he spack not one
352worde / but he raught out his right foot and dubbed me in the necke
353bytwene myn Eeris / that I had wende I sholde haue loste my heed /
354but god be thanked I was so lyght that I sprange fro hym / wyth
355moche payne cam I of his clawes / he grymmed as he had ben angry
356by cause he helde me no faster / tho I escaped from hym I loste myn
357one ere / and I had foure grete holes in my heed of his sharpe nayles
358that the blood sprange out / and that I was nyhe al a swoun / but for
359the grete fere of my lyf I sprange and ran so faste fro hym that he
360coude not ouertake me / See my lord thise grete woundes
361that he hath made to me with his sharpe longe nayles / I praye you
362to haue pite of me and that ye wil / punysshe this false traytour
363and morderar / or ellis shal ther noman goo and comen ouer the
364heth in saefte / whyles he haunteth his false and shrewde rewle /
365
366

HOW CORBANT THE ROKE COMPLAYNED ON THE FOXE FOR THE DETH OF
367HIS WYF CAPITULO .XXIIIJ^O.

368
369    Ryght as the cony had made an ende of his complaynt / cam in
370corbant the roek flowen in the place to fore the kynge and
371sayde / dere lorde here me / I brynge you hier a piteous complaynt /
372I wente to day by the morow wyth sharpebek my wyf for to playe
373vpon the heth And there laye reynart the foxe doun on the grounde
374lyke a dede keytyf / hys eyen stared and his tonge henge longe out
375of his mouth / lyke an hounde had ben deed / we tasted and felte his
376bely / but we fonde theron no lyf / tho wente my wyf and herkened
377and leyde her ere to fore his mouth for to wite yf he drewe his
378breeth / whiche mysfylle her euyl / For the false felle foxe awayted
379wel his tyme and whan he sawe her so nygh hym / he caught her by
380the heed and boote it of / tho was I in grete sorowe and cryde lowde /
381Alas alas what is there happed / thenne stode he hastely vp / and
382raught so couetously after me that for feere of deth / I trembled and

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383flewh vpon a tree therby and sawe fro ferre how the false keytyf ete
384and slonked her in so hungerly that he lefte neyther flessh ne bone /
385nomore but a fewe fethers / the smal fethers he slange them in
386wyth the flessh / he was so hungry / he wolde wel haue eten tweyne /
387Tho wente he his strete / tho flewe I doun wyth grete sorow and
388gadred vp the fetheris for to shewe them to you here / I wolde not
389be agayn in suche peryl and fere as I was there for a thousand marke /
390of the fynest gold that euer cam out of arabye / My lord the kyng
391see hier this pyteous werke / Thise ben the fethers of sharpbecke
392my wyf / my lord yf ye wil haue worship ye muste do herfore
393Iustyce and auenge you in suche wise as men may fere and holde
394of yow / For yf ye suffre thus youre saufconduyt to be broken / ye
395your self shal not goo peasibly in the hye way / for tho lordes that do
396not Iustyce and suffre that the lawe be not executed vpon the
397theeuis / morderars and them that mysdoo / they be parteners to
398fore god of alle theyr mysdedes and trespaces / and eueryche
399thenne / wylle be a lord hym self / dere lorde see wel to for to kepe
400your self.
401
402

HOW THE KYNGE WAS SORE ANGRY OF THISE COMPLAYNTES
403CAPITULO .XXV^O.

404
405    Noble the kyng was sore meuyd and angry whan he had herde
406thise complayntes of the cony and of the roek / he was so
407ferdful to loke on that his eyen glymmerd as fyre / he brayed as
408lowde as a bulle in suche wise that alle the court quoke for feere /
409at the laste he sayde cryeng / by my crowne and by the trouthe that
410I owe to my wyf I shal so awreke and auenge this trespaces / that
411it shal be longe spoken of after / that my saufconduyt and my
412commandement is thus broken I was ouer nyce that I beleuid so
413lyghtly the false shrewe / his false flateryng speche deceyued me /
414He tolde me he wolde go to rome / and fro thens ouer see to the
415holy londe / I gaf hym male and palster and made of hym a pylgrym
416and mente al trouth / O what false touches can he / how can he
417stuffe the sleue wyth flockes / but this caused my wyf / it was al by
418her counseyl / I am not the fyrst that haue ben deceyued by wymmens
419counseyl by whiche many a grete hurte hath byfallen / I pray and
420comande alle them that holde of me and desire my frendship / be

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421they here or wher someuer they be / that they wyth theyr conseyl
422and dedes helpe me tauenge this ouer grete trespaas / that we and
423owris may abyde in honour and worship / and this false theef in
424shame that he nomore trespace ayenst our saufgarde / I wil my
425self in my persone helpe therto al that I maye /
426
427    Ysegrym the wulf and bruyn the bere herde wel the kynges
428wordes / and hoped wel to be auengid on reynard the foxe but
429they durste not speke one word The kynge was so sore meuyd that
430none durste wel speke / Atte laste the quene spak / Sire pour dieu ne
431croyes mye toutes choses que on vous dye / et ne Iures pas legierment
432/ A man of worship shold not lyghtly bileue / ne swere gretly
433vnto the tyme he knewe the mater clerly / and also me ought by
434right here that other partye speke / Ther ben many that complayne
435on other and ben in the defaute them self. Audi alteram
436partem. here that other partye / I haue truly holden the
437foxe for good / and vpon that / that he mente no falshede / I helped
438hym that I myghte but how someuer it cometh or gooth / is he euyl
439or good / me thynketh for your worship that ye shold not procede
440ayenst hym ouer hastely that were not good ne honeste / For he
441may not escape fro you / Ye maye prysone hym or flee hym / he
442muste obeye your Iugement / thenne saide fyrapel the lupaerd /
443My lord me thynketh / my lady here hath saide to you trouthe and
444gyuen yow good counseyl do ye wel and folowe her and take
445aduyse of your wyse counseyl / And yf he be founden gylty in the
446trespaces that now to yow be shewd / late hym be sore punysshid
447acordyng to hys trespaces / And yf he come not hyther / er this
448feste be ended and excuse hym / as he ought of right to doo / thenne
449doo as the counseyl shal aduyse yow / But and yf he were twyes as
450moche false and ylle as he / is / I wolde not counseylle that he
451sholde be done to more than right /Isegrym the wulf saide sir
452fyrapal. all we agree to the same as ferre as it pleseth my lord the
453kynge / it can not be better. But though reynart were now here.
454and he cleryd hym of double so many playntes yet shold I brynge
455forth ayenst hym that he had forfayted his / lyf. But I wyl now be
456stylle and saye not. by cause he is not presente and yet aboue alle
457this he hath tolde the kynge of certayn tresour lyeng in krekenpyt
458in hulsterlo. Ther was neuer lyed a greter lesyng. ther wyth he

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459hath vs alle begyled. and hath sore hyndred me and the bere. I dar
460leye my lyf theron that he sayd not therof a trewe worde. Now
461robbeth he and steleth vpon the heth / alle that gooth forth by
462his hows / Neuertheles sir firapel what that pleseth the kynge and
463yow / that muste wel be don / But and yf he wolde haue comen
464hyther / he myght haue ben here for he had knowleche by the
465kynges messager / The kynge sayde we wyl none otherwyse sende
466for hym / but I commande alle them that owe me seruyse and wylle
467my honour and worshippe that they make them redy to the warre
468at the ende of vj dayes / all them that ben archers and haue bowes /
469gonnes bombardes horsemen / and footemen that alle thise be redy
470to besiege maleperduys / I shal destroye reynart the foxe / yf I be a
471kynge / ye lordes and sires what saye ye hereto / wille ye doo this
472wyth a good wyl / And they sayd and cryed alle / ye we lorde / whan
473that ye wylle / we shal alle goo with yow.
474
475

HOW GRYMBERT THE DASSE WARNED / THE FOXE / THAT THE KYNGE WAS
476WROTH WITH HYM AND WOLD SLEE HYM CAPITULO .XXVJ^O.

477
478    Alle thise wordes herde grymbert the dasse whiche was his
479brother sone / he was sory and angry yf it myght haue prouffyted
480he ranne thenne the hye way to maleperduys ward / he spared
481nether busshe ne hawe / but he hasted so sore that he swette / he
482sorowed in hym self for reynart his rede eme / and as he wente he
483saide to hym self Alas in what daunger be / ye comen in / where shal
484ye become shal I see you brought fro lyf to deth / or elles exyled out
485of the lande / truly I may be wel sorouful / for ye be the heed
486of alle our lygnage / ye be wyse of counseyl / ye be redy to helpe
487your frendes whan they haue nede / ye can so wel shewe your resons /
488that where ye speke / ye wynne all / with suche maner wayllyng /
489and pytous wordes cam grymbert to maleperduys / And fonde reynart
490his eme there standyng / whiche had goten two pygeons / as they cam
491first out of her neste to assaye yf they coude flee and bicause the
492fethers on her wyngis were to shorte / they fylle doun to the ground /
493And as reynart was gon out to seche his mete / he espyed them and
494caught hem and was comen home with hem / And whan he sawe
495grymbert comyng / he taryed and said / welcome my best beloued
496neuew that I knowe in al my kynrede / ye haue ronne faste ye ben al

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497be swette / haue ye ony newe tydynges / alas said he / lyef eme it
498standeth euyl wyth yow / ye haue loste both lyf and good / the
499kynge hath sworn that he shal gyue you a shameful deth / he hath
500commanded alle his folke withyn vj dayes for to be here / Archers
501fotemen / horsemen / And peple in waynes And he hath gunnes /
502bombardes tentes and pauyllyons / And also he hath do laaden
503torches / See to fore yow / For ye haue nede / Ysegrym and bruyn
504ben better now wyth the kynge than I am wyth yow / Alle that they
505wille / Is doon / Isegrym hath don hym to vnderstande that ye be
506a theef and a morderar he hath grete enuye to yow. Lapreel the
507cony and Corbant the roek haue made a grete complaynt also. I
508sorow moche for your lyf. That for drede I am alle seke. Puf said
509the foxe / dere neuew is ther nothyng ellis / be ye so sore aferd
510herof Make good chere hardely / thaugh the kynge hym self and
511alle that ben in the court had sworn my deth / yet shal I be exalted
512aboue them alle / They maye alle faste Iangle clatre and yeue
513counseyl / but the courte may not prospere wythoute me and my
514wyles and subtylte
515
516

HOW REYNART THE FOXE CAM ANOTHER TYME TO THE COURTE
517CAPITULO .XXVIJ^O.

518
519    Dere neuew late alle thise thynges passe and come here in / and
520see what I shal gyue you / a good payre of fatte pygeons /
521I loue no mete better / They ben good to dygeste / they may almost
522be swolowen in al hool the bones ben half blode / I ete them wyth
523that other / I fele my self other whyle encombred in my stomak
524therfore ete I gladly lyght mete. My wyf ermelyn shal receyue vs
525frendly / but telle her nothyng of this thynge / For she sholde take it
526ouer heuyly / she is tendre of herte. she myght for fere falle in
527somme sekenes / a lytyl thynge gooth sore to her herte / And to
528morow erly I wil goo with yow to the courte / And yf I may come to
529speche and may be herd / I shal ansuere / That I shal touche
530somme nygh ynowh / neuew wyl not ye stande by me / as a frende
531ought to doo to another / yes truly dere eme said grymbert my lyf
532and alle my good is at your commandement / god thanke you
533neuew said the foxe / That is wel said. yf I may lyue I shal quyte it
534yow / Eme said grymbert ye may wel come tofore alle the lordes and

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535excuse yow ther shal none areste yow ne holde as longe as ye be
536in your wordes / The quene and the lupaerd haue goten that / then
537said the foxe / therfor I am glad / thenne I care not for the beste of
538them an heer / I shal wel saue my self / they spake nomore herof /
539but wente forth in to the burgh / And fonde ermelyn there sittyng
540by her yonglyngs whiche aroose vp anon and receyuid them
541frendly / Grymbert salewed his aunte and the chyldren wyth
542frendly wordes / the ij pygeons were made redy for theyr soper /
543Whiche reynard had taken / eche of them toke his part as ferre as it
544wolde stratche / yf eche of hem had had one more / ther sholde but
545lytyl haue be lefte ouer / the foxe saide / lief neuewe / how lyke /ye
546my chyldren rosel and reynerdyn they shal do worship to alle our
547lygnage / They begynne al redy to do wel / that one catcheth wel a
548chyken and that other a pullet / They conne wel also duke in the
549water after lapwynches and dokys / I wolde ofte sende them for
550prouande / but I wil fyrste teche them how they shal kepe them fro
551the grynnes / fro the hunters and fro the houndes / yf they were so
552ferre comen that they were wyse / I durste wel truste to them that
553they shold wel vytaylle vs in many good diuerses metes / That we
554now lacke / And they lyke and folowe me wel / For they playe alle
555grymmyng and where they hate they loke frendly and meryly
556For ther by they brynge them vnder their feet / And byte the throte
557asondre / This is the nature of the foxe / They be swyfte in their
558takynge whiche pleseth me wel.
559
560    Eme said grymbert ye may be glad that ye haue suche wyse
561chyldren / And I am glad of them also by cause they be of my
562kynne / Grymbert said the foxe ye haue swette and be wery it were
563hye tyde that ye were at your reste / Eme yf it plese you it thynketh
564me good Tho laye they doun on a lytier made of strawe / the foxe /
565hys wyf and hys chyldren wente alle to slepe / But the foxe was al
566heuy / and laye. sighed and sorowed how he myght beste excuse
567hym self / On the morow erly he ruymed his castel and wente with
568grymbart / but he toke leue first of dame ermelyn his wyf and of
569his chyldren / and sayde thynke not longe I muste goo to the court
570wyth grymbert my cosyn / yf I tarye somwhat be not aferde / and
571yf ye here ony ylle tydyngis / take it alway for the beste. And see
572wel to your self and kepe our castel wel I shal doo yonder the beste

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573I can after that I see how it gooth Alas reyner said she how haue ye
574now thus taken vpon yow for to go to the court agayn / the last
575tyme that ye were there ye were in grete ieopardye of your lyf.
576And ye sayde ye wold neuer come there more. dame said the foxe.
577thauenture of the world is wonderly it goth otherwhyle by wenyng /
578Many one weneth to haue a thing whiche he muste forgoo. I
579muste nedes now go thyder / be content it is al wythoute drede /
580I hope to come at alther lengest with in fyue dayes agayn / Here
581wyth he departed and wente wyth grymbert to the court ward /
582And whan they were vpon the heeth thenne sayde reyner /
583Neuew syth I was laste shryuen I haue don many shrewde tornes /
584I wolde ye wold here me now of alle that I haue trespaced in /
585I made the bere to haue a grete wounde for the male whiche was
586cutte out of his skynne / And also I made the wulf and his wyf to
587lese her shoon / I peased the kynge with grete lesyngis and bare
588hym on honde that the wulf and the bere wold haue betrayed hym
589and wolde haue slayn hym / so I made the kynge right wroth with
590them where they deseruyd it not / also I tolde to the kynge that
591ther was grete tresour in hulsterlo of whiche he was neuer the
592better ne richer / for I lyed al that I sayde / I ledde bellyn the ramme
593and kywart the hare with me / and slewe kyward and sente to the
594kynge by bellyn kywarts heed in skorn / And I dowed the cony
595bytwene his eeris that almost I benamme his lyf from hym For he
596escaped ayenst my wyl / he was to me ouerswyft / The roeke may
597wel complayne / for I swolowed in dame sharpbeck his wyf / and
598also I haue forgoten on thyng the laste tyme that I was shreuen to
599you / Which I haue syth bethought me / And it was of grete
600deceyte that I dyde whiche I now wyll telle yow / I cam wyth the
601wulf walkynge bytwene houthulst and eluerdynge / There sawe
602we goo a rede mare / And she had a black colte or a fool of iiij
603monethis olde / which was good and fatte Isegrym was almost
604storuen for hunger / And prayd me goo to the mare / and wyte of
605her yf she wold selle her fool / I ran faste to the mare / And axed
606that of her / she sayd she wold selle it for money / I demaunded of
607her how she wold selle it / she sayde it is wreton in my hyndre foot /
608Yf ye conne rede and be a clerk ye may come see and rede it. Tho
609wyste I wel where she wold be. and I saide nay for sothe I can
610not rede / And also I desyre not to bye your chylde Isegrym hath
611sente me hether. and wold fayn knowe the prys therof / the mare

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612saide late hym come thenne hym self / And I shal late hym haue
613knowleche / I sayde / I shal / and hastely wente to ysegrym and
614saide / eme wil ye ete your bely ful of this colte / so goo faste to the
615mare for she taryeth after yow / She hath do wryte the pris of her
616colte vnder her fote she wolde that I shold hayehaue redde it / but I
617can not one lettre / whiche me sore repenteth / For I wente neuer
618to scole / eme wylle ye bye that colte / conne ye rede so maye ye bye
619it / oy neuew that can I wel what shold me lette / I can wel frenshe
620latyn englissh and duche. I haue goon to scole at oxenford I haue
621also wyth olde and auncyent doctours ben in the audyence and
622herde plees / and also haue gyuen sentence / I am lycensyd in bothe
623lawes / what maner wrytyng that ony man can deuyse / I can rede it
624as perfyghtly as my name I wyl goo to her and shal anon vnderstonde
625the prys / and bad me to tarye for hym / and he ranne to the
626mare / and axed of her how she wold selle her fool or kepe it / she
627sayde the somme of the money standeth wreton after on my fote
628he saide late me rede it / she saide doo and lyfte vp her foot whiche
629was newe shood wyth yron and vj stronge nayles / and she smote hym
630wythout myssyng on his heed that he fyl doun as he had ben deed /
631a man shold wel haue ryden a myle er he aroos / The mare trotted
632a way wyth her colte / And she leet Isegrym lyeng shrewdly hurt
633and wounded He laye and bledde / And howled as an hound /
634I wente tho to hym and sayde / Sir ysegrym dere eme how is it
635now wyth yow. haue ye eten ynowh of the colte / is your bely ful.
636why gyue ye me no part I dyde your erande. haue ye slepte your
637dyner I pray yow telle me what was wreton vnder the mares fote
638what was it. prose or ryme. metre or verse. I wold fayn knowe it.
639I trowe it was cantum. for I herde you synge me thoughte fro ferre.
640for ye were so wyse that noman coude rede it better than ye / Alas
641reynart alas said the wulf I pray you to leue youre mockyng. I am
642so foule arayed and sore hurte. that an herte of stone myght haue
643pyte of me. The hore wyth her longe legge had an yron foot I
644wende the nayles therof had ben lettres / and she hytte me at the
645fyrst stroke vj. grete woundes in my heed that almost it is clouen.
646suche maner lettres shal I neuer more desire to rede /
647
648    Dere eme is that trouthe that ye telle me / I haue herof grete meruaylle
649/ I heelde you for one of the wysest clerkes that now
650lyue / Now I here wel / it is true that I long syth haue redde and
651herde / that the beste clerkes / ben not the wysest men / the laye

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652peple otherwhyle wexe wyse / the cause that thise clerkes ben not
653the wysest / is that they studye so moche in the connyng and
654science / that they therin doole / Thus brought I Isegrym in this
655grete laste and harme. That he vnneth byhelde his lyf / Lyef neuew
656now haue I tolde you alle my synnes that I remembre. What so
657euer falle at the courte. I wote neuer how it shal stonde with me
658there. I am not now so sore aferd For I am clere from synne
659I wyl gladly come to mercy / and receyue penance by your counseyl
660grymbert sayde the trespaces ben grete / neuertheles who that is
661deed muste abide deed. and therfore I wyl forgyue it you al
662togydre / With the fere that ye shal suffre therfore. er ye shal conne
663excuse you of the deth / and hier vpon I wyl assoylle you. but the
664moste hyndre that ye shal be. that ye sente kywarts heed
665to the court And that ye blynded the kynge wyth suche lyes / Eme
666that was right euyl doon / The foxe sayde . what lyef neuew. Who
667that wyl goo thurgh the world this to here. and that to see / and that
668other to telle. truly it may not clerly be done. how shold ony man
669handle hony. but yf he lycked his fyngres I am oftymes rored
670and prycked in my conscience as to loue god aboue all thynge
671and myn euen crysten as my self. as is to god wel acceptable. and
672acordyng to his lawe / But how wene ye that reson wythin forth
673fyghteth ayenst the outeward wylle than stonde I alle stylle in my
674self that me thynketh I haue loste alle my wittes / And wote not what
675me eyleth I am thenne in suche a thought / I haue now alle lefte my
676synnes / And hate alle thynge that is not good / and clymme in
677hye contemplacion aboue his commandements but this specyal
678grace haue I whan I am alone / But in a short whyle after whan the
679world cometh in me thenne fynde I in my waye so many stones /
680and the fote spores that thyse loos prelates / and riche preestys goo
681in / that I am anone taken agayn / thenne cometh the world and wyl
682haue this / And the flesshe wyl lyue plesantly / whiche leye to fore
683me so many thinges that I thenne lose alle my good thoughtis
684and purpoos / I here there synge pype / lawhe / playe / and alle
685myrthe / And I here that these prelates and riche curates preche
686and saye al other wyse / than they thynke and doo / There lerne I
687to lye / the lesynges ben moste vsed in the lordes courtes certaynly
688lordes / ladyes / prestis and clerkes maken most lesyngis / Men dar
689not telle to the lordes now the trouthe / Ther is defaute / I must flatre

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690and lye also / or ellis I shold be shette wythout the dore / I haue ofte
691herde men saye trouthe and rightfully / and haue theyr reson made
692wyth a lesynge lyke to theyr purpose and brought it in and wente
693thurgh by cause their mater shold seme the fayrer / The lesyng
694oftymes cometh vnauysed / And falleth in the mater vnwetyngly /
695And so whan she is wel cladde / it goth forth thurgh with that
696other /
697
698    Dere neuew thus muste men now lye here / and there saye soth
699flatre / and menace / praye and curse / And seke euery man
700vpon his feblest and wekest / who otherwyse wylle now haunte and
701vse the world / than deuyse a lesyng in the fayrest wyse / and that
702bywymble with kerchieuis aboute in suche wise that men take it
703for a trouthe / he is not ronne away fro his maister / Can he that
704subtylte in suche wise that he stamer not in his wordes / and may
705thenne be herde / neuew / this man may doo wonder he may were
706skarlet and gryse / he wynneth in the spyrituel lawe and temporal
707also and where sommeuer he hath to doo / Now ben ther many
708false shrewis that haue grete enuye that they haue so grete fordele /
709And wene that they conne also wel lye / And take on them to
710lye and to telle it forth / he wolde fayn ete of the fatte morsellis.
711but he is not bileued ne herd / And many ben ther that be so
712plompe and folisshe that whan they wene beste to prononce and
713shewe their matere and conclude. They falle besyde and oute
714therof. And can not thenne helpe hem self / and leue theyr mater
715wythout tayl or heed and he is a compted for a fool / And many
716mocke them ther with / but who can gyue to his lesynge a conclusion
717/ and prononce it without tatelyng lyke as it were wreton to
718fore hym / and that he can so blynde the peple / That his lesynge
719shal better be bileuid than the trouthe / That is the man. What
720connyng is it to saye the trouth that is good to doo. How lawhe
721thise false subtyl shrewis that gyue counseyl to make thise lesynges.
722and sette them forth / And maken vnright goo aboue right / and make
723billes / and / sette in thynges that neuer were thought ne sayd / and
724teche men see thurgh their fyngres And alle for to wynne money /
725and late their tonges to hyre for to mayntene and strengthe their
726lesyngis alas neuewe this is an euyl connyng / of whiche. lyf. scathe
727and hurte may come ther of /

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728    I Saye not but that otherwhyle men muste Iape / bourde and lye
729in smale thyngis / for who so sayth alway trouthe. he may not
730now goo nowher thurgh the world. ther ben many that playe
731placebo. who so alleway sayth trouth. shal fynde many lettyngis in
732his way. Men may wel lye whan it is nede / and after amende it
733by counseyl / For alle trespaces / ther is mercy. Ther is no man so
734wyse / but he dooleth otherwhyle / Grymbert sayde wel dere eme
735what thynge shal you lette. ye knowe al thyng at the narewest / ye
736shulde brynge me hastely in dotyng your resons passen my
737vnderstandyng / what nede haue ye to shryue you / ye shulde your
738self by right be the preest / And lete me and other sheep come to
739you for to be shryuen / ye knowe the state of the world in suche
740wyse as noman may halte tofore you / Wyth suche maner talkynge
741they cam walkyng in to the court / The foxe sorowed somwhat in
742his herte / Neuertheles he bare it out and stryked forth thurgh alle
743the folke til he cam in to the place where the kynge hym self was /
744And grymbert was alway by the foxe and sayd eme be not a ferde.
745and make good chere / who that is hardy /thauenture helpeth hym /
746Oftymes one day is better than somtyme an hole yere / the foxe
747saide / Neuew ye saye trouthe / god thanke you ye comforte me wel /
748And forth he wente and lokyd grymly here and there as who saith /
749what wylle ye here come I / he sawe there many of his kynne standyng
750whiche yonned hym but lytyl good / as the otter beuer and
751other to the nombre of .x. whome I shal. name afterward / And
752somme were there that loued hym. The Foxe cam in and fyl doun
753on his knees to fore the kyng and began his wordes and sayde.