They may all fast jangle clatter

Capitulo xj. How Grymbert the Dasse warned the Fox that the King was wroth with him, and would slay him.

All these words heard Grymbert the Dasse
who was his brother's son
he was sorry and angry

if it might have profitted
he ran then the highway to Maleperduys
he spared neither bush nor hedge
but he hasted so sore
that he sweat
he sorrowed himself
for Reynard his uncle
and as he went he said to himself

alas in what danger be ye come in!
where shall ye become?
shall I see you brought from life to death
or else exiled out of the land?

truly I may be well sorrowful
for ye be the head of all our lineage
ye be wise of counsel
ye be ready to help your friends
when they have need
ye can so well show your reasons
that where ye speak
ye win all

with such manner
wailing
and piteous words
came Grymbert to Maleperduys
and found Reynard his uncle there standing
who had gotten two pigeons
as they came first out of their nest
to assay if they could fly
and because the feathers on their wings were too short
they fell down to the ground
and as Reynard was going out to search for meat
he espied them
and caught them
and was coming home with them

and when he saw Grymbert coming
he tarried and said

welcome
my best beloved nephew
that I know in all my kindred
ye have run fast
ye have sweat
have ye any new tidings

alas

said he

lief uncle
it stands evil with you
ye have lost both life and goods
the King has sworn he shall give you
a shameful death
he has commanded all his folk within vj. days
for to be here
archers
horsemen
and people in wains
and he has guns
bombards
tents and pavilions
and also he has
made funeral tapers

see before you
for ye have need
Ysegrym and Bruyn
are better now with the King
than I am with you
all that they will
is done
Isegrym has brought him to understand
that ye be a thief and a murderer
he has great annoy with you
Lapreel the Cony and Corbant the Rook
have made a great complaint also
I sorrow much for your life
that for dread I am all sick

Puf

said the Fox

dear nephew
is there nothing else
be ye so sore afraid hereof
make good cheer hardily
though the King himself
and all that were in court
had sworn my death
yet shall I be exalted
above them all
they may all fast jangle clatter
and give counsel
but the court may not prosper without me
and my wiles and subtlety

Comments

Robert Plot, first Keeper of the Ashmolean, on mysterious circles, from 'The Natural History of Staffordshire' (Oxford, 1686).

And here perchance, by the way, it may be no great digression to enquire into the nature and efficient cause of those rings we find in the grass, which they commonly call fairy circles, whether they are caused by lighning, or are indeed the rendezvouzes of witches , or the dancing places of those little pygmy spirits they call elves or fairies . And the rather because, 1 - a question - perhaps by reason of the difficulty - scarce yet attempted, and 2 - because I met with the largest of their kind - that perchance were ever heard of - in this county; one of them showed me in the grounds between Handsworth Church and the heath being near forty yards diameter, and I was told of another by that ingenious gent. - one of the most cordial encouragers of this work - the Worshipful Sir Henry Gough, Knight, that there was one in his grounds near Pury-Hall but few years since - now indeed plowed up - of a much larger size, he believed near fifty. Whereas,...

Carrying about them the Lively Image of Satan in Serpentine Colours.

THE ROUTING OF THE RANTERS Being a full relation of their uncivil carriages and blasphemous words and actions at their mad meetings, their several kind of music, dances and riotings, and their belief and opinions concerning heaven and hell. With their examinations taken before a Justice of Peace, and a letter or summons sent to their sisters or fellow creatures in the name of the Devil, requiring them to meet Belzebub, Lucifer, Pluto and twenty more of the infernal spirits at the time and place appointed. Also, a true description how they may be known in all companies, and the names of the chief ringleaders of this new generation that excel all others in wickedness. Published by authority and printed by K.A. The Ranters' Ranting or A True Relation of a sort of people called Ranters, with some of their abominable and wicked carriages and behaviour at their private meetings. I shall in the first place give you my friends a brief character of a sort of people (whereof you desire sat...

Give me thy cake! Signs and Wonders from Heaven (1645).

Signs and Wonders from Heaven, with a true relation of a monster born in Ratcliffe Highway at the sign of the Three Arrows, Mistress Bullock the midwife delivering here thereof. Also, showing how a cat kittened a monster in Lombard Street in London. Likewise, a new discovery of witches in Stepney parish, and how twenty witches more were executed in Suffolk this last assize. Also, how the Devil came to Soffam to a farmer's house in the habit of a gentlewoman on horseback. With divers other strange remarkable passages. Printed at London by I.H. 1645. IT IS a known thing to all Christian people which are capable of understanding how that the sins of the world have in a high degree offended the world's maker, and provoked the Lord to anger, yet has the Devil so blinded the eyes, and hardened the hearts of many men and women, that they cannot or will not see nor take notice of their own iniquities, but rather seem to excuse themselves of those errors which they everyd...

Paul Summers Young

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