Reynaert as Mystic: Function and Reception of a Passage from Reynaerts Historie

AbstractThis article analyses a fragment from Reynaerts historie (vv. 4132-65) in which Reynaert the fox presents himself as a mystic. The contents of this passage can be linked with texts and ideas of a heretical movement, called "Brethren and Sistern of the Free Spirit". It is argued that this is one of the moments in the story in which Reynaert falsely presents a positive image of his motives. He lies here (again) by telling the truth, albeit not the whole truth. A short discussion of the way this passage was reworked in the later, European tradition of Reynaerts historie concludes the article.