This is the table of the historye of reynart the foxe

How the foxe cam to the court / and how he excused hym to fore the kynge / capitulo .xiij^o

aT the first whan it was knowen / in the court that reynart the fore and grymbaert his cosyn were comen to the court / Ther was none so poure nor so feble of kynne and frendes / but that he made hym redy for to complayne on reynart the foxe / reynart loked as he had not ben aferd / and helde hym better than he was for he wen¦te forth proudly with his neueu thurgh the hyest strete of the courte / right as he had ben the kynges sone & as he had not trespaced to ony man the value of an heer / & wēte

in the mydel of the place stondyng to fore noble the kynge and sayde / God gyue yow grete honour and worship / Ther was neuer kyng / that euer had a trewe•• seruant / than I haue ben to your good grace and yet am· Neuertheles dere lorde I knowe wel that ther ben many in this courte that wolde destroye me yf yewold byleue them / but nay god thanke yow / hit is not syttyng to youre crowne to byleue thise false deceyuars and ly∣ars lyghtly / To god mote it be complayned / how that thise false lyars and flaterers now adayes in the lordes courtes ben moste herde and byleuyd / the shrewes and false deceyuers ben borne vp for to doo to good men alle the harme and scath they maye / Our lorde god shal ou••s rewarde them their hyre / the kynge sayde / pees reynard false theef and traytour / how wel can ye brynge forth fa¦yr talis / And alle shalle not helpe yow a strawe •• went ye wyth suche flateryng wordes to be my frende •• ye haue so ofte seruyd me soo as ye now shal wel knowe▪ The pees that I haue comanded & sworn / that haue ye wel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / haue ye / chaūtecler coude no lenger be stylle but cr••de •• alas what haue / I by this pees loste / be stylle chaū••ecle••re holde your mouth late me answere this fowle theef

tHow shrewd felle theef saide the kynge thou sa••ist that thow louest me wel· that hast thou shewd wel on my messagers these poure felaws / Tibert the cat and bruyn the bere••whiche yet ben al blody whiche chyde not ne saye not moche / but that shal this day coste the thy lyf / In nōine pater· criste. filij. sayd the foxe dere lord & myghty kyng yf bruyns crowne be blody / what is that

to me / whan he ete hony at lantferts hows in the vyllage and dyde hym hurte and scathe / there was he beten ther∣fore yf he had willyd he is so stronge of lymmes / he myght wel haue be auengid er he sprang in to the water / Tho cam tybert the catte whom I receyued frendly / yf he wen¦te out without my counseyl for to stele myes to a prestes hows / and the pr••••st dyde hym harme sholde I abye that thenne mygyht I saye I were not happy not so my liege lorde / ye may doo what ye wille / thowh my mater be cleer and good. ye maye si••de me / or roste / hange. or make me blynde. I may not escape yow. we stonde alle vnder your correccion. ye be myghty and stronge. I am feble / and my helpe is but smal / yf ye put me to the deth. hit were a smal vengeance whiles they thus spack. sprange vp bellyn the rame and his ewe dame olewey and saide my lord the kynge here oure complaynt / bruyn the bere stode vp wyth al his lygnage and his felaws. Tibert the catte Isegrym the wulf. kywart the hare / and panther the boore· the camel and brunel the ghoos the kyde and ghoot. boudewyn the asse. borre the bulle / hamel the oxe· and the wesel. Chantecler the cock· pertelot wyth alle theyr children· alle thise made grete rumour and noyse. And cam forth openly to fore their lorde the kynge. And made that the foxe was taken and arested /