Caxton printed a translation in 1481, and another a few years later. The English quarto, like the Dutch, also gave rise in time to a call for a cheap abridgment, and it appeared in 1639, as "The Most delectable history of Reynard the Fox." Meanwhile a Low Saxon form had appeared, "Reinche Bos," first printed at Lubeck in 1498, and next at Rostock in 1517, a translation, with alterations, from the Flemish publication. Various other editions in German followed, with cuts by Amman. In all these and their successors the incidents were varied. Having seen that, within at least certain limits, the story must have been exceedingly well-known and popular, we will run through the incidents narrated in the most popular of the German Reynard poems, chiefly taken from Goethe's rendering. Nouvel, the Lion, calls a parliament, and the Fox does not appear, and is accused of various crimes. The Wolf accuses him of sullying the honour of his wife, and blinding his three children. A little Dog accuses him of stealing a pudding end (this the Cat denies, stating that the pudding was one of her own stealing). The Leopard accuses him of murder, having only the day before rescued the Hare from his clutch as he was throttling him, under pretence of severity in teaching the Creed. The Badger, Grimbart, now comes forward in defence. "An ancient proverb says, quoth he, Justice in an enemy Is seldom to be found." He accuses the Wolf in his turn of violating the bonds of partnership. The Fox and the Wolf had arranged to rob a fish-cart. The Fox lay for dead on the road, and the carter, taking him up, threw him on the top of the load of fish, turning to his horse again. Reynard then threw the fish on to the road, and jumping down to join in the feast found left for him but fin and scales. The Badger explains away also the story of Reynard's guilt as to Dame Isengrin, and, with regard to the Hare, asks if a teacher shall not chastise his scholars. In short, since the King proclaimed a peace, Reynard was thoroughly reformed, and but for being absorbed in penance would no doubt have been present to defend himself from any false reports. Unfortunately for this justification, at the very moment of its conclusion a funeral procession passes; "On sable bier The relics of a Hen appear," while Henning, the Cock, makes a piteous complaint of Reynard's misdeeds. He said how the Fox had "Assured him he'd become a friar, And brought a letter from his prior; Show'd him his hood and shirt of hair, His rosary and scapulaire; Took leave of him with pious grace, That he might hasten to his place To read the nona and the sept, And vesper too before he slept; And as he slowly took his way, Read in his pocket breviary." all of which ended in the devout penitent eating nineteen of Henning's brood. The Lion invites his council's advice. It is decided to send an envoy to Reynard, and Bruno, the Bear, is selected to summon him to court.