102 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

were to the wolves’, and then went to the
King and Queen, and said, ‘My dread Lord
and Lady, your poor subject voweth before
your Majesties, humbly beseeching your high-
nesses to vouchsafe to deliver me my mail and
my staff blessed, according to the custom due
unto pilgrims.’

This said, the King sent for BelZin the ram,
and commanded him to say solemn mass before
the fox, and to deliver him his staff and his
mail; but the ram refused, saying, ‘My Lord,
1 dare not, for he hath confessed he is in the
Pope’s curse.’

And the King said, ‘What of that? Have
not our doctors told us, that if a man com-
mit all the sins in the world, yet if he repent
himself, be shriven, do penance, and walk as the
priest shall instruct him, that all is clearly for-
given him? and hath not Reyxard done all this?’

Then answered Belin, ‘Sir, I am loath to
meddle herein, yet if your Majesty will bear
me harmless against the bishop of Pyrendesor,
my ordinary, and against the archdeacon
Loosuynd, and Rapiamus his official, I will
effect your commandment.’

At this the King grew angry, and said, ‘I

scorn to be beholden unto you’; but when