Reynard receives this emissary most courteously, and, on hearing the king will raze his fortress if he does not obey, sets out for court.

On the way Reynard begs Grimbart to act as his confessor, and, having unburdened his conscience, does penance and receives absolution.

But scarcely has this ceremony been completed when Reynard, spying some fat hens, begins to chase them, and is only with difficulty recalled to a sense of what is fitting.
On arriving at court, Reynard hypocritically regrets so many people have slandered him to the king, and tries to refute every charge.

He is, however, sentenced to the gallows, but even on the road thither devises a plan to escape.

Pretending regret for his past, he humbly begs the king's permission to address the spectators, and in a lengthy speech describes how he was led astray in his youth by Isegrim the Wolf.