32 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

are apt to surfeit, and you may hinder your
journey to the court. When Lanfert cometh
(if your belly be full) he will give you drink
to digest it, and wash it down your throat.’
And having thus said, he went towards
his castle. But by this time, Lazfert, finding
the bear fast taken in the tree, he ran to his
neighbours and desired them to come into his
yard, for there was a bear fast taken there.
This was noised through all the town, so that
there was neither man, nor woman, nor child
but ran thither, some with one weapon, and
some with another—as goads, rakes, broom-
staves, or what they could gather up. The
priest had the handle of the cross, the clerk
the holy water sprinkler, and the priest’s wife,
Dame /ullock, with her distaff, for she was
then spinning; nay, the old beldames came
that had ne’er a tooth in their heads. This
army put Lruim into a great fear, being none
but himself to withstand them, and hearing
the clamour of the noise which came thundering
upon him, he wrestled and pulled so extremely,
that he got out his head, but he left behind
him all the skin, and his ears also; insomuch
that never creature beheld a fouler or more
deformed beast. For the blood covering all