XX REYNARD THE FOX 165

difference, the raven adjudged that the serpent
should eat the man, hoping that he and his
son should get a share also. But the man
said, ‘‘ How shall he that is a robber and lives
by blood judge this cause? It must not be one
but divers, and such as know both law and
equity, that must judge this contention: the
raven is neither just nor indifferent.”

‘Then they travelled till they met the bear
and the wolf, unto whom also they told the
matter, and they adjudged as against the man
likewise. Then the serpent began to cast his
venom at the man; but the man leaped away,
and said, ‘You do me wrong thus to attempt
to kill me”; and the serpent said, ‘ Hath not
the judgment gone twice on my side?” “Yes,”
said the man, ‘by such as are murderers them-
selves, and such as never keep promise; but
I appeal unto the court, let me be tried by
your King, and what judgment he giveth |
will willingly abide.”

‘To this they all consented: so they came
to the court before your Majesty, and the
wolf's two children came with their father, the
one was called Lipty-bell, the other Ever-full,
because they sought to devour the man. So
the full process of the matter was declared to