158 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

show, yet I fear your grief is not such as you
express it.’

‘Tt far surmounts it,’ said the fox.

‘No,’ quoth the King, ‘for I must charge
you with one foul treason, which is, when I
had pardoned all your great transgressions,
and you had promised me to go a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land; when I had furnished you
with mail, state, and all things fitting that holy
order; then in the greatest despite you sent
me back in the mail by 4elin the ram the
head of Ayward the hare, a thing so notoriously
to my disgrace and dishonour, that no treason
can be fouler. This you have no colour to
deny, for elm, our chaplain, at his death
revealed the whole process, and the same
reward which he then gained, the same you
shall receive, or else right shall fail me.’

At this sentence Leynard grew so sore
afraid that he knew not what to say, but
looked with a pitiable countenance upon all his
kindred which stood round about him; his
colour went and came, and his heart fainted,
but none lent him either hand or foot to help
him.

Then the King said, ‘Thou dissembling
and false traitor, why art thou now dumb?’