4 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

a grievous complaint unto the King against
the fox, saying that in the extreme cold season
of the winter, when the frost was most violent,
he being half starved and detained from all
manner of prey, had no more meat left him to

 

sustain his life than one poor pudding; which
pudding the said Reynard had most unjustly
taken away from him.

But the hound could hardly let these words
fly from his lips, when, with a fiery and angry
countenance, in sprang 77zder¢t the cat amongst
them, and falling down before the King, said,
‘My Lord the King, I must confess the fox
is here grievously complained upon, yet were
other beasts’ actions searched, each would have
enough to do for his own clearing. Touching
the complaint of Cwrtocs the hound, it was
an offence committed many years ago, and