166 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP,

your Majesty; both the man’s kindness and
covenant, the serpent’s danger and faith breach,
occasioned through the extremity of hunger.
Remember how much your highness was per-
plexed with their difference, and all your council
also. For the man’s sorrow, the serpent’s
hunger; the man’s goodness, and the serpent’s
ingratitude, equally raised much pity in your
bosom. But in the end such doubts rose that
not any in your court was able to judge it.

‘At last, when no help could be found, then
you commanded my kinsman Aeynard to decide
the business. Then was he the oracle of the
court, nor was anything received but what he
propounded; but he told your Majesty it was
impossible to give true judgment according to
their relations; but if he might see the serpent
in that manner as he was fettered, and the
greatness of his danger, then he knew well
how to give judgment therein. Then you
commended him, and called him by the title of
Lord Reynard, approving that to be done which
he had spoken.

‘Then went the man and the serpent to
the place where the serpent was snared, and
Reynard commanded the serpent to be fastened
as before in the snickle, which being done,