The Historye of Reynard the Foxe/capitulo .ii. (2)


The first complaint made Isegrim the Wolf on Reynard
capitulo .ii.


Isegrim the Wolf with his lineage and friends came and stood tofore the king; and said, "High and mighty prince my lord the king I beseech you that through your great might, right, and mercy that ye will have pity on the great trespass and the unreasonable misdeeds that Reynard the Fox hath done to me and to my wife that is to wit he is come into my house against the will of my wife; and there he hath bepissed my children where they lay in such wise as they thereof been waxen blind," whereupon was a day set, and was judged that Reynard should come and have excused him hereof, and have sworn on the holy saints that he was not guilty thereof; and when the book with the saints was brought forth, tho had Reynard bethought him otherwise; and went his way again into his hole, as he had not set thereby; "And dear king this know well many of the beasts that now be come hither to your court; and yet hath he trespassed to me in many other things; he is not living that could tell all that I now leave untold; but the shame and villainy that he hath done to my wife; that shall I never hide ne suffer it unavenged but that he shall make to me large amends."