The Judgement was given, and must be done.

 

Capitulo xiijj. How the Fox was arrested, and judged to death.

Here upon was a parliament
and the desired Reynard should be dead
and what some ever said against the Fox
he answered to each of them

never hear man 
such plaints of wise counsel
and subtle inventions
and on that other side
the Fox made his excuse so well
and formably thereon
they that heard it wondered thereof
they that heard and saw it
may tell it forth for truth
I shall short the matter
and tell you forth of the Fox

the King and the council
heard the witnesses of the complaints
of Reynard;s misdeeds
it went with them 
as it oft does
the feeblest has the worst
they gave sentence and judged
the Fox should be dead
and hanged by the neck
then list not he
to play all his flattering words and deceits
could not help him

the judgement was given
and must be done

Grymbert his nephew
and many of his lineage
might not find in their hearts
to see him die
but took leave sorrowfully
and roamed the court

the King bethought him
and marked how many a youngling
from thence all weeping
which were nigh to his kin
and said to himself
though Reynard be a shrew
there be many good of his lineage

Tybert the Cat said

sir Bruyn 
and 
sir Isegrym
how be ye thus slow?
it is almost even 
here be many bushes and hedges
if he escaped from us
and were delivered out of this peril
he is so subtle and so wily
and knows so many deceits
that he should never be taken again
shall we hang him?
now stand ye all thus
ere the gallows be made ready
it shall be night

Isegrym bethought himself 
and said

hereby is a gibbet or gallows

and with that word
he sighed
and the Cat
espied
and said

Isegrym
ye be afraid
is it against your will?
think ye not that he himself
went and laboured
that both your brethren were hanged?
were ye good and wise
ye should thank him
and ye should not therewith
so long tarry

Capitulo xv. How the Fox was led to the gallows. 

Isegrym balked
and said

ye make much ado
sir Tybert
had we a halter
which were meet for his neck
and strong enough
we should soon make an end

Reynard the Fox
who long had not spoken
said to Isegrym

short my pain
Tybert has a strong cord
which caught him in the priest's house
when he bit the priest
he can climb well
and is swift
let him bear up the line
Isegrym and Bruyn
this becomes you well
that ye thus do to your nephew
I am sorry that I live thus long
haste you
ye be set thereto
it is evil 
that ye tarry thus long
go before 
Bruyn
and lead me

Isegrym
follow fast
and see well to
and beware 
Reynard go not away
then

said Bruyn

it is the best counsel
that I ever yet heard
that Reynard there says

Isegrym
commanded anon
and bade his kin and friends
that they should see to Reynard
that he escaped not
for he is so wily and false
they held him by the feet
by the beard
and so kept him 
that he escaped not from them

the Fox heard all these words
which touched him nigh
yet spake he and said

Och
dear uncle
methinks ye pain yourself sore
for to do to me hurt and scathe
if I dared
I would pray you of mercy
though my hurt and sorrow 
is pleasant to you
I am well sure
if my aunt
your wife
bethought her well of old fairness
she would not suffer
that I should have any harm
but now I am he
now ye will do on me
what shall please you
ye Bruyn and Tybert
God give you shameful death
but ye do to me your worst
I wonder whereto I shall
I may die but once
I would I were dead already
I saw my father die
he had soon done

Isegrym said

let us go
for ye curse us
because we lengthen the time
evil mote he fare
if we abide any longer

he went forth
with great annoy
and Bruyn stood
on the other side
and so led they him forth
to the gallows ward

Tybert ran with a good will before
and carried the cord
and his throat was yet sore
from the snare
and his rear did him woe
from the stroke he had taken
that happed by the counsel of the Fox
and thought he now to pay

Tybert, Isegrym and Bruyn
went hastily with Reynard
to the place as the felons
be wont to be put to death
the noble King and the Queen
and all that were in the court
followed after for to see 
the end of Reynard

the Fox was in great dread
of his misfortune
and bethought him oft
how he might save him from death
and those three
that so sore desired his death
how he might deceive them
and bring them to shame
and how he might bring the King
by lying for to hold with him against them

this was all he studied
how he might put away his sorrow with wiles
and thought thus

though the King and many one 
be upon me be angry
it is no wonder
for I have well deserved it
nevertheless
I hope to be yet his best friend
and yet shall never do them good
how strong the King be
and how wise his council be
if I may brook my words
I know so many an invention
I shall come to mine above
as far as they would come to the gallows

then said Yesgrym

sir Bruyn
think now on your red crown
which by Reynard's means ye caught
we have now the time
we may well reward him
Tybert
climb up hastily
and bind the cord fast to the tree
and make a riding knot
or loop
ye be the lightest
ye shall this day
see your will of him
Bruyn
well see to
he escape not
and hold fast
I will help
that the ladder be set up
that he may go upward thereon

Bruyn said

do
I shall help him well

the Fox said

now may my heart 
be well heavy
for great dread
for I see the death
before my eyes
and I may not escape
my lord the King
and dear Queen
and forth all ye
that here stand
ere I depart from this world
I pray you of a bone
that I may before you all
make my confession openly
and tell my defaults also clearly
that my soul be not encumbered
and also that no man hereafter
bear no blame for my theft
nor for my treason
my death shall be to me the easier
and pray ye all to God
that he have mercy on my soul