erence betwixt it and the other earth; and
where the print of his foot remained, that with his tail he
stroked over, and with his mouth so smoothed, that no man
might perceive it: and indeed that and many other subtilties
I learned of him there at that instant. When he had thus
finished, away he went towards the village about his private
affairs. Then went I presently towards the hole, and
notwithstanding all his subtilty, I quickly found it out;
and then entered I the cave, where I found that innumerable
quantity of treasure, which cannot be expressed; which
found, I took Ermelin my wife to help me; and we ceased not,
day nor night, with infinite great toil and labour, to carry
and convey away this treasure to another place, much more
convenient for us, where we laid it safe from the search of
any creature.

"Thus by my art only was the treason of Bruin defeated, for
which I now suffer. From hence sprang all my misfortune, as
thus: those foul traitors, Bruin and Isegrim, being of the
King's privatest council, and sitting in high and great
authority, tread upon me, poor Reynard, and work my
disgrace, notwithstanding, for your Majesty's sake, I have
lost my natural father. O my dread Lord, what is he, or who
can tender you a better affection, thus to lose himself to
save you?"

Then the King and Queen, having great hope to get this
inestimable treasure from Reynard, took him from the gibbet;
and the King taking a straw from the ground, pardoned the
fox of all his trespasses which either he or his father had
ever committed. If the fox now began to smile, it was no
wonder; the sweetness of life required it: yet he fell down
before the King and Queen, and humbly thanked them for
mercy, protesting that for that favour he would make them
the richest princes in the world.

Then the King began to inquire where all these treasures
were hid, and Reynard told that he had hid them in a wood
called Hustreloe, near a river named Crekinpit. But when the
King said that he had never heard of such a place, Reynard
called forth Kyward the Hare from among the rest of the
beasts, and commanded him to come before the King, charging
him, upon his faith and allegiance which he bore to the King
and Queen, to answer truly to such questions as he should
ask him.

The hare answered, "I will speak truth in all things, though
I were sure to die for the same."

Then the fox said, "Know you not where Crekinpit floweth?"

"Yes," said the