a whole
night, in which, by the assistance of the evil one, and the
strong confidence of my father's riches, it was there
concluded that your Majesty should be forthwith murdered;
which to effect, they took a solemn oath in this manner: the
bear, my father, the badger, and the cat, laying their hands
on Isegrim's crown, swore, first to make Bruin their king,
and to place him in the chair of estate at Acon, and to set
the imperial diadem on his head; and if by any of your
Majesty's blood and alliance they should be gainsaid, that
then my father with his treasure should hire those which
should utterly chase and root them out of the forest. Now
after this determination held and finished, it happened that
my nephew Grimbard being on a time high flown with wine,
he discovered this dread plot to Dame Slopecade his wife,
commanding her upon her life to keep secret the same; but
she, forgetful of her charge, disclosed it in confession to
my wife, as they went a pilgrimage over an heath, with like
conjuration of secrecy. But she, woman-like, contained it no
longer than till she met with me, and gave me a full
knowledge of all that had passed, yet so as by all means
I must keep it secret too, for she had sworn by the three
kings of Cologne never to disclose it: and withal she gave
me such assurance by certain tokens, that I right well found
all was true which she had spoken; insomuch that the very
affright thereof made my hair stand upright, and my heart
become like lead, cold and heavy in my bosom.

"But to proceed from this sorrow, I began to meditate how
I might undo my father's false conspiracies, who sought to
bring a base traitor and a slave into the throne imperial;
for I well perceived, as long as he held the treasure, there
was a possibility of deposing your Majesty. And this
troubled my thought exceedingly, so that I laboured how I
might find out where my father's treasure was hid; and to
that end I watched and attended night and day in the woods,
in the bushes, and in the open fields; nay in all places
wheresoever my father laid his eyes, there was I ever
watching and attending. Now it happened on a time, as I was
laid down flat on the ground, I saw my father come running
out of a hole, and as soon as he was come out, he gazed
round about him, to see if any discovered him; then seeing
the coast clear, he stopped the hole with sand, and made it
so even, smooth, and plain, that no curious eye could
discern a diff