atisfaction." Presently the King commanded the letters to
be delivered to Bocart, his secretary, who was an excellent
linguist and understood all languages, that he might read
them publicly; so that he and Tibert the Cat took the mail
from Bellin's neck, and opening the same, instead of letters
they drew out the head of Kyward the Hare, at which being
amazed, they said: "Wo and alas, what letters call you
these? Believe it, my dread Lord, here is nothing but the
head of poor murdered Kyward."

Which the King seeing, he said: "Alas, how unfortunate was
I to believe the traitorous fox!" And with that, being
oppressed with anger, grief, and shame, he held down his
head for a good space, and so did the Queen also. But in the
end, shaking his curled locks, he groaned out such a
dreadful noise, that all the beasts of the forest did
tremble to hear it.

Then the King, full of wrath, commanded the bear and the
wolf to be released from prison, and gave to them and to
their heirs for ever Bellin and all his generation.

Thus was peace made between the King and these nobles, and
Bellin the Ram was forthwith slain by them; and all these
privileges doth the wolf hold to this hour, nor could ever
any reconcilement be made between the wolf's and the ram's
kindred. When this peace was thus finished, the King, for
joy thereof, proclaimed a feast to be held for twelve days
after, which was done with all solemnity.

To this feast came manner all of wild beasts, for it was
known through the whole kingdom, nor was there wanting any
pleasure that could be imagined. Also to this feast resorted
abundance of feathered fowl, and all other creatures that
held peace with his Majesty, and no one missing but the fox
only.

Now after this feast had thus continued in all pomp the
space of eight days, about high noon came Laprell the Rabbit
before the King and Queen, as they sat at dinner, and with a
heavy and lamentable voice said: "My gracious and great
Lord, have pity upon my misery and attend to my complaint,
which is of great violence which Reynard the Fox would
yesterday have committed against me. As I passed by the
castle of Malepardus, supposing to go peaceably towards my
nest, I saw the fox, standing without his gates, attired
like a pilgrim and telling his beads so devoutly, that I
saluted him; but he, returning no answer, stretched forth
his right foot, and with his pilgrim's staff gave me such a
blow on the neck between the head