119ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

a.MS. of about 1450: Cambridge University Library, Ff. 5. 48, fol. 128 b.b.One leaf of a MS. of the same age, containing stanzas 693–72, 772–802: Bagford Ballads, vol. i, art. 6, British Museum.

ais printed from the manuscript in Jamieson’s Popular Ballads, II, 54, 1806; Hartshorne’s Ancient Metrical Tales, p. 179, 1829; Ritson’s Robin Hood, ed. 1832, II, 221,collated by Sir Frederic Madden. Here printed from a fresh transcript, carefully revised by Rev. Professor Skeat.

On a bright Whitsuntide morning, Robin Hood, not having “seen his Savior” for more than a fortnight, resolves to go to mass at Nottingham. Much advises that he take twelve yeomen with him for safety, but Robin will have only Little John. They improve the time, while on their way to church, by shooting for a wager. Robin scornfully offers John three to one; but John nevertheless wins five shillings of his master, at which Robin loses his temper, and strikes John. John will be his man no more, and returns to the wood. Robin, sorry for this consequence of his bad humor, goes on to Nottingham alone. A monk at Saint Mary’s church recognizes Robin, and gives information to the sheriff, who comes with a large force to arrest the king’s felon. Robin kills or wounds many of the posse, but his sword breaks upon the sheriff’s head. In some way which we do not learn, owing to verses lost,[85]Robin’s men hear that their master has been taken. They are all out of their wits but Little John. Mild Mary, he tells his comrades, will never forsake one who has been so long devoted to her, and he, with her help, will see to the monk. The next day John and Much waylay the monk, who is carrying letters to the king conveying the tidings of Robin’s capture; they kill him, take the letters, and carry them to the king themselves. The king gives them twenty pounds for their news, and makes them yeomen of the crown; he sends his privy seal to the sheriff by John, commanding that Robin Hood shall be brought to him unhurt. The sheriff, upon receiving the seal, makes John good cheer, and goes to bed heavy with wine. John and Much, while the sheriff is sleeping, make their way to the jail. John rouses the porter, runs him through,[86]and takes his keys, unbinds Robin Hood, and puts a good sword in his hand; they leap from the wall where it is lowest. The sheriff finds the jailer dead in the morning, and searches the town for his captive; but Robin is in merry Sherwood. Farewell now, says John; I have done thee a good turn for an ill. Nay, says Robin, I make thee master of my men and me. So shall it never be, answers John; I care only to be a comrade. The king hears that Robin has escaped, and that the sheriff is afraid to show himself. Little John has beguiled us both, says the king. I made them yeomen of the crown, and gave them pay with my own hand! Little John loves Robin Hood better than he does us. Say no more. John has beguiled us all.

Too much could not be said in praise of this ballad, but nothing need be said. It is very perfection in its kind; and yet we have others equally good, and beyond doubt should have had more, if they had been written down early, as this was, and had not been left to the chances of tradition. Even writing would not have saved all, but writing has saved this (in large part), and in excellent form.

The landscape background of the first two stanzas has been often praised, and its beauty will never pall. It may be called landscape or prelude, for both eyes and ears are addressed, and several others of these woodland ballads have a like symphony or setting: Adam Bell, Robin Hood and the Potter, Guy of Gisborne, even the much later ballad of The Noble Fisherman. It is to be observed that the story of the outlaw Fulk Fitz Warine, which has other traits in common with Robin Hood ballads, begins somewhat after the same fashion.[87]

Robin Hood’s devotion to the Virgin, st. 34, is a feature which reappears in Robin Hood and the Potter, Guy of Gisborne, Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar, and above all in The Gest. His profound piety, as evinced in stanzas 6, 7, and again in 8, 9 of The Gest, is commemorated by Bower in a passage in the Scotichronicon, of about the same date as the manuscript of the present ballad (1450), which we have every reason to assume to be derived from a lost ballad.[88]Robin Hood had mass regularly sung at Barnsdale, nor would he suffer the office to be interrupted for the most pressing occasion. (We know from The Gest, st. 440, that he had a pretty chapel there, dedicated to Mary Magdalen.) One day, while so engaged, he was informed that the sheriff and his men, old foes of his, had tracked him to the very retired part of the forest where the service was going on, and was urged to fly with his best speed. This, for reverence of the sacrament, which he was then most devoutly adoring, he utterly refused to do, and then, while the rest were fearing for their lives, trusting in him whom he worshipped, fell upon his enemies, with a few of his followers who had rallied to him, and easily put them to rout. Enriched with their spoil and ransom, he was led to hold the ministers of the church (but apparently not “bishops and archbishops,” Gest, st. 15) and masses in greater veneration than ever, mindful of the common saw, God hears the man who often hears the mass.[89]

There is a general resemblance between the rescue of Robin Hood in stanzas 61–81 and that of William of Cloudesly in Adam Bell, 56–94, and the precaution suggested by Much in the eighth stanza corresponds to the warning given by Adam in the eighth stanza of the other ballad. There is a verbal agreement in stanzas 71 of the first and 66 of the second.[90]Such agreements or repetitions are numerous in the Robin Hood ballads, and in other traditional ballads, where similar situations occur.

Robin Hood’s rescue of Little John, in Guy of Gisborne, after quarrelling with him on a fanciful provocation, is a partial offset for Little John’s heart-stirring generosity in this ballad. We have already had several cases of ballads in which the principal actors exchange parts.

That portion of ‘Robin Hood’s Death’ in which Robin Hood gets angry with Scarlet, and shoots with Little John on his way to be let blood, may have been transferred, at least in part, from Robin Hood and the Monk.

It is hardly worth the while to ask whether the monk in this ballad is the same who is pillaged in The Gest. So rational a suggestion as that more than one monk must have fallen into Robin’s hands, in the course of his long and lucrative career, may not be conclusive, but we may rest certain that there were many Robin Hood ballads besides the few old ones which have come down to us; and if so, there would be many variations upon so agreeable a topic as the depleting of overstocked friars.

Translated, after Jamieson, by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 148, No 24; by Anastasius Grün, p. 89.

1In somer, when þe shawes be sheyne,And leves be large and long,Hit is full mery infeyre foresteTo here þe foulys song:2To se þe dere draw to þe dale,And leve þe hilles hee,And shadow heminþe levës grene,Vnder the grene-wode tre.3Hit befel on Whitsontide,Erly in a May mornyng,The son vp feyre can shyne,And the briddis mery can syng.4‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,‘Be hym þat dyed on tre;A more mery man þen I am oneLyves not in Cristiantë.5‘Pluk vp þi hert, my dere mayster,’Litull John can sey,‘And thynk hit is a full fayre tymeIn a mornyng of May.’6‘Ȝe, on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn,‘And does my hert mych woo;Þat I may not no solem dayTo mas nor matyns goo.7‘Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he,‘Syn I my sauyour see;To day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn,‘Withþe myght of mylde Marye.’8Than spake Moche, þe mylnersun,Euermore wel hym betyde!‘Take twelue of þi wyght ȝemen,Well weppynd, be þi side.Such on wolde þi selfe slon,Þat twelue dar not abyde.’9‘Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn,‘Be my feith I wil non haue,But Litull John shall beyre my bow,Til þat me list to drawe.’10‘Þou shall beyre þin own,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,And we well shete a peny,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Vnder þe grene-wode lyne.’11‘I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode,‘In feith, Litull John, withthe,But euerfor on as þou shetis,’ seideRobyn,‘In feith I holde þe thre.’12Thus shet þei forth, þese ȝemen too,Bothe at buske and brome,Til Litull John wan of his maisterFiue shillings to hose and shone.13A ferly strife fel þem betwene,As they went bi the wey;Litull John seid he had won fiue shillings,And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.14Withþat Robyn Hode lyed Litul Jon,And smote hym withhis hande;Litul Jon waxed wroth þerwith,And pulled out his bright bronde.15‘Were þou not my maister,’ seid Litull John,‘Þou shuldis by hit ful sore;Get þe a man wher þou w[ilt],For þou getisme no more.’16Þen Robyn goes to Notyngham,Hym selfe mornyng allone,And Litull John to mery Scherwode,The pathes he knew ilkone.17Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,Sertenly withouten layn,He prayed to God and myld MaryTo bryng hym out saue agayn.18He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,And kneled down before the rode;Alle þat euerwere þe church withinBeheld wel Robyn Hode.19Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,I pray to God woo he be!Fful sone he knew gode Robyn,As sone as he hym se.20Out at þe durre he ran,Fful sone and anon;Alle þe ȝatis of NotynghamHe made to be sparred euerychon.21‘Rise vp,’ he seid, ‘þou prowde schereff,Buske þe and make þe bowne;I haue spyed þe kynggisfelon,Ffor sothe he is in þis town.22‘I haue spyed þe false felon,As he stondisat his masse;Hit is long of þe,’ seide þe munke,‘And euerhe fro vs passe.23‘Þis traytur name is Robyn Hode,Vnder þe grene-wode lynde;He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,Hit shalle neuerout of my mynde.’24Vp þen rose þis prowdeshereff,And radly made hym ȝare;Many was þe modersonTo þe kyrk withhym can fare.25In at þe durres þei throly thrast,Withstaves ful gode wone;‘Alas, alas!’ seid Robyn Hode,‘Now mysse I Litull John.’26But Robyn toke out a too-hond sworde,Þat hangit down be his kne;Þer as þe schereff and his men stode thyckust,Thedurwardewolde he.27Thryes thorowout þem he ran þen,For soþe as I yow sey,And woundyt mony a moderson,And twelue he slew þat day.28His sworde vpon þe schireff hedSertanly he brake in too;‘Þe smyth þat þe made,’ seid Robyn,‘I pray to God wyrke hym woo!29‘Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn,‘Alasse! agayn my wylle;But if I may fle þese traytors fro,I wot þei wil me kyll.’30Robyn in to the churchë ran,Throout hem euerilkon,* * * * *31Sumfel in swonyng as þei were dede,And lay stil as any stone;Non of theym were inher myndeBut only Litull Jon.32‘Let be your rule,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Ffor his luf þat dyed on tre,Ȝe þat shulde be duȝty men;Het is gret shame to se.33‘Oure maisterhas bene hard bystodeAnd ȝet scapyd away;Pluk vp your hertis, and leve þis mone,And harkyn what I shal say.34‘He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day,And ȝet wil, securly;Þerfor I trust in hir specialyNo wyckud deth shal he dye.35‘Þerfor be glad,’ seid Litul John,‘And let þis mournyng be;And I shal be þe munkisgyde,Withþe myght of mylde Mary.36. . . . . . .‘We will go but we too;And I mete hym,’ seid Litul John,. . . . . . .37‘Loke þat ȝe kepe wel owre tristil-tre,Vnder þe levys smale,And spare non of this venyson,Þat gose in thys vale.’38Fforþe þen went these ȝemen too,Litul John and Moche on fere,And lokid on Moch emys hows,Þe hye way lay full nere.39Litul John stode at a wyndow inþe mornyng,And lokid forþ at a stage;He was war wher þe munke came ridyng,And withhym a litul page.40‘Be my feith,’ seid Litul John to Moch,‘I can þe tel tithyngus gode;I se wher þe munke cumys rydyng,I know hym be his wyde hode.’41They went in to the way, þese ȝemenboþe,As curtes men and hende;Þei spyrred tithyngus at þe munke,As they hade bene his frende.42‘Ffro whens come ȝe?’ seid Litull Jon,‘Tel vs tithyngus, I yow pray,Off a false owtlay, [callid Robyn Hode,]Was takyn ȝisterday.43‘He robbyt me and my felowes boþeOf twenti marke in serten;If þat false owtlay be takyn,Ffor soþe we wolde be fayn.’44‘So did he me,’ seid þe munke,‘Of a hundred pound and more;I layde furst hande hym apon,Ȝe may thonke me þerfore.’45‘I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John,‘And we wil when we may;We wil go withyou, withyour leve,And bryng yow on your way.46‘Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,I tell you in certen;If þei wist ȝe rode þis way,In feith ȝe shulde be slayn.’47As þei went talking be þe way,The munke and Litull John,John toke þe munkis horse be þe hede,Fful sone and anon.48Johne toke þe munkis horse be þe hed,Ffor soþe as I yow say;So did Much þe litull page,Ffor he shulde not scape away.49Be þe golett of þe hodeJohn pulled þe munke down;John was nothyng of hym agast,He lete hym falle on his crown.50Litull John was so[re] agrevyd,And drew owt his swerde in hye;This munke saw he shulde be ded,Lowd mercy can he crye.51‘He was my maister,’ seid Litull John,‘Þat þou hase browȝt in bale;Shalle þou neuercumat our kyng,Ffor to telle hym tale.’52John smote of þe munkis hed,No longerwolde he dwell;So did Moch þe litull page,Ffor ferd lest he wolde tell.53Þer þei beryed hem boþe,In nouþermosse nor lyng,And Litull John and Much infereBare þe letturs to oure kyng.54. . . . . . .He knelid down vpon his kne:‘God ȝow saue, my lege lorde,Ihesus yow saue and se!55‘God yow saue, my lege kyng!’To speke John was full bolde;He gaf hym þe letturs inhis hond,The kyng did hit vnfold.56Þe kyng red þe letturs anon,And seid, So mot I the,Þerwas neuerȝoman inmery InglondI longut so sore to se.57‘Wher is þe munke þat þese shuld haue brouȝt?’Oure kyng can say:‘Be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,‘He dyed after þe way.’58Þe kyng gaf Moch and Litul JonTwenti pound in sertan,And made þeim ȝemen of þe crown,And bade þeim go agayn.59He gaf John þe seel in hand,The sheref for to bere,To bryng Robyn hym to,And no man do hym dere.60John toke his leve at oure kyng,Þe sothe as I yow say;Þe next way to NotynghamTo take, he ȝede þe way.61Whan John came to NotynghamThe ȝatis were sparred ychon;John callid vp þe porter,He answerid sone anon.62‘What is þe cause,’ seid Litul Jon,‘Þou sparris þe ȝates so fast?’‘Because of Robyn Hode,’ seid [þe] porter,‘In depe prison is cast.63‘John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok,Ffor sothe as I yow say,Þei slew oure men vpon our wallis,And sawten vs euery day.’64Litull John spyrred after þe schereff,And sone he hym fonde;He oppyned þe kyngus priue seell,And gaf hym in his honde.65Whan þe scheref saw þe kyngus seell,He did of his hode anon:‘Wher is þe munke þat bare þe letturs?’He seid to Litull John.66‘He is so fayn of hym,’ seid Litul John,‘Ffor soþe as I yow say,He has made hym abot of Westmynster,A lorde of þat abbay.’67The scheref made John gode chere,And gaf hym wyne of the best;At nyȝt þei went to her bedde,And euery man to his rest.68When þe scheref was on slepe,Dronken of wyne and ale,Litul John and Moch for soþeToke þe way vnto þe jale.69Litul John callid vp þe jayler,And bade hym rise anon;He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,And out of hit was gon.70The porter rose anon sertan,As sone as he herd John calle;Litul John was redy witha swerd,And bare hym to þe walle.71‘Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litul John,‘And take þe keyes in honde:’He toke þe way to Robyn Hode,And sone he hym vnbonde.72He gaf hym a gode swerd inhis hond,His hed [ther]withfor to kepe,And ther as þe walle was lowystAnon down can þei lepe.73Be þat þe cok began to crow,The day began to spryng;The scheref fond þe jaylier ded,The comyn bell made he ryng.74He made a crye thoroout al þe tow[n],Wheder he be ȝoman or knave,Þat cowþe bryng hym Robyn Hode,His warison he shuld haue.75‘Ffor I dar neuer,’ said þe scheref,‘Cumbefore oure kyng;Ffor if I do, I wot sertenFfor soþe he wil me heng.’76The scheref made to seke Notyngham,Bothe be strete and stye,And Robyn was in mery Scherwode,As liȝt as lef on lynde.77Then bespake gode Litull John,To Robyn Hode can he say,I haue done þe a gode turne for an euyll,Quyte þe whan þou may.78‘I haue done þe a gode turne,’ seid Litull John,‘Ffor sothe as I yow say;I haue brouȝt þe vnder grene-wodelyne;Ffare wel, and haue gode day.’79‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode,‘So shall hit neuerbe;I make þe maister,’ seid Robyn Hode,‘Off alle my men and me.’80‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,‘So shalle hit neuerbe;But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John,‘No noder kepe I be.’81Thus John gate Robyn Hod out of prison,Sertan withoutyn layn;Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde,Ffor sothe they were full fayne.82They filled in wyne, and made hem glad,Vnder þe levys smale,And ȝete pastes of venyson,Þat gode was withale.83Than worde came to oure kyngHow Robyn Hode was gon,And how þe scheref of NotynghamDurst neuerloke hym vpon.84Then bespake oure cumly kyng,In an angur hye:Litull John hase begyled þe schereff,In faith so hase he me.85Litul John has begyled vs bothe,And þat full wel I se;Or ellis þe schereff of NotynghamHye hongut shuldehe be.86‘I made hem ȝemen of þe crowne,And gaf hem fee withmy hond;I gaf hem grith,’ seid oure kyng,‘Thorowout all mery Inglond.87‘I gaf theym grith,’ þen seid oure kyng;‘I say, so mot I the,Ffor sothe soch a ȝeman as he is onIn all Inglond ar not thre.88‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our kyng;‘I sey, be swete Seynt John,He louys better Robyn HodeThen he dose vs ychon.89‘Robyn Hode is euerbond to hym,Bothe in strete and stalle;Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure kyng,‘But John has begyled vs alle.’90Thus endys the talkyng of the munkeAnd Robyn Hode i-wysse;God, þat is euera crowned kyng,Bryng vs all to his blisse!

1In somer, when þe shawes be sheyne,And leves be large and long,Hit is full mery infeyre foresteTo here þe foulys song:

In somer, when þe shawes be sheyne,

And leves be large and long,

Hit is full mery infeyre foreste

To here þe foulys song:

2To se þe dere draw to þe dale,And leve þe hilles hee,And shadow heminþe levës grene,Vnder the grene-wode tre.

To se þe dere draw to þe dale,

And leve þe hilles hee,

And shadow heminþe levës grene,

Vnder the grene-wode tre.

3Hit befel on Whitsontide,Erly in a May mornyng,The son vp feyre can shyne,And the briddis mery can syng.

Hit befel on Whitsontide,

Erly in a May mornyng,

The son vp feyre can shyne,

And the briddis mery can syng.

4‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,‘Be hym þat dyed on tre;A more mery man þen I am oneLyves not in Cristiantë.

‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,

‘Be hym þat dyed on tre;

A more mery man þen I am one

Lyves not in Cristiantë.

5‘Pluk vp þi hert, my dere mayster,’Litull John can sey,‘And thynk hit is a full fayre tymeIn a mornyng of May.’

‘Pluk vp þi hert, my dere mayster,’

Litull John can sey,

‘And thynk hit is a full fayre tyme

In a mornyng of May.’

6‘Ȝe, on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn,‘And does my hert mych woo;Þat I may not no solem dayTo mas nor matyns goo.

‘Ȝe, on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn,

‘And does my hert mych woo;

Þat I may not no solem day

To mas nor matyns goo.

7‘Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he,‘Syn I my sauyour see;To day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn,‘Withþe myght of mylde Marye.’

‘Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he,

‘Syn I my sauyour see;

To day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn,

‘Withþe myght of mylde Marye.’

8Than spake Moche, þe mylnersun,Euermore wel hym betyde!‘Take twelue of þi wyght ȝemen,Well weppynd, be þi side.Such on wolde þi selfe slon,Þat twelue dar not abyde.’

Than spake Moche, þe mylnersun,

Euermore wel hym betyde!

‘Take twelue of þi wyght ȝemen,

Well weppynd, be þi side.

Such on wolde þi selfe slon,

Þat twelue dar not abyde.’

9‘Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn,‘Be my feith I wil non haue,But Litull John shall beyre my bow,Til þat me list to drawe.’

‘Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn,

‘Be my feith I wil non haue,

But Litull John shall beyre my bow,

Til þat me list to drawe.’

10‘Þou shall beyre þin own,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,And we well shete a peny,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Vnder þe grene-wode lyne.’

‘Þou shall beyre þin own,’ seid Litull Jon,

‘Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,

And we well shete a peny,’ seid Litull Jon,

‘Vnder þe grene-wode lyne.’

11‘I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode,‘In feith, Litull John, withthe,But euerfor on as þou shetis,’ seideRobyn,‘In feith I holde þe thre.’

‘I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode,

‘In feith, Litull John, withthe,

But euerfor on as þou shetis,’ seideRobyn,

‘In feith I holde þe thre.’

12Thus shet þei forth, þese ȝemen too,Bothe at buske and brome,Til Litull John wan of his maisterFiue shillings to hose and shone.

Thus shet þei forth, þese ȝemen too,

Bothe at buske and brome,

Til Litull John wan of his maister

Fiue shillings to hose and shone.

13A ferly strife fel þem betwene,As they went bi the wey;Litull John seid he had won fiue shillings,And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.

A ferly strife fel þem betwene,

As they went bi the wey;

Litull John seid he had won fiue shillings,

And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.

14Withþat Robyn Hode lyed Litul Jon,And smote hym withhis hande;Litul Jon waxed wroth þerwith,And pulled out his bright bronde.

Withþat Robyn Hode lyed Litul Jon,

And smote hym withhis hande;

Litul Jon waxed wroth þerwith,

And pulled out his bright bronde.

15‘Were þou not my maister,’ seid Litull John,‘Þou shuldis by hit ful sore;Get þe a man wher þou w[ilt],For þou getisme no more.’

‘Were þou not my maister,’ seid Litull John,

‘Þou shuldis by hit ful sore;

Get þe a man wher þou w[ilt],

For þou getisme no more.’

16Þen Robyn goes to Notyngham,Hym selfe mornyng allone,And Litull John to mery Scherwode,The pathes he knew ilkone.

Þen Robyn goes to Notyngham,

Hym selfe mornyng allone,

And Litull John to mery Scherwode,

The pathes he knew ilkone.

17Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,Sertenly withouten layn,He prayed to God and myld MaryTo bryng hym out saue agayn.

Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,

Sertenly withouten layn,

He prayed to God and myld Mary

To bryng hym out saue agayn.

18He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,And kneled down before the rode;Alle þat euerwere þe church withinBeheld wel Robyn Hode.

He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,

And kneled down before the rode;

Alle þat euerwere þe church within

Beheld wel Robyn Hode.

19Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,I pray to God woo he be!Fful sone he knew gode Robyn,As sone as he hym se.

Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,

I pray to God woo he be!

Fful sone he knew gode Robyn,

As sone as he hym se.

20Out at þe durre he ran,Fful sone and anon;Alle þe ȝatis of NotynghamHe made to be sparred euerychon.

Out at þe durre he ran,

Fful sone and anon;

Alle þe ȝatis of Notyngham

He made to be sparred euerychon.

21‘Rise vp,’ he seid, ‘þou prowde schereff,Buske þe and make þe bowne;I haue spyed þe kynggisfelon,Ffor sothe he is in þis town.

‘Rise vp,’ he seid, ‘þou prowde schereff,

Buske þe and make þe bowne;

I haue spyed þe kynggisfelon,

Ffor sothe he is in þis town.

22‘I haue spyed þe false felon,As he stondisat his masse;Hit is long of þe,’ seide þe munke,‘And euerhe fro vs passe.

‘I haue spyed þe false felon,

As he stondisat his masse;

Hit is long of þe,’ seide þe munke,

‘And euerhe fro vs passe.

23‘Þis traytur name is Robyn Hode,Vnder þe grene-wode lynde;He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,Hit shalle neuerout of my mynde.’

‘Þis traytur name is Robyn Hode,

Vnder þe grene-wode lynde;

He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,

Hit shalle neuerout of my mynde.’

24Vp þen rose þis prowdeshereff,And radly made hym ȝare;Many was þe modersonTo þe kyrk withhym can fare.

Vp þen rose þis prowdeshereff,

And radly made hym ȝare;

Many was þe moderson

To þe kyrk withhym can fare.

25In at þe durres þei throly thrast,Withstaves ful gode wone;‘Alas, alas!’ seid Robyn Hode,‘Now mysse I Litull John.’

In at þe durres þei throly thrast,

Withstaves ful gode wone;

‘Alas, alas!’ seid Robyn Hode,

‘Now mysse I Litull John.’

26But Robyn toke out a too-hond sworde,Þat hangit down be his kne;Þer as þe schereff and his men stode thyckust,Thedurwardewolde he.

But Robyn toke out a too-hond sworde,

Þat hangit down be his kne;

Þer as þe schereff and his men stode thyckust,

Thedurwardewolde he.

27Thryes thorowout þem he ran þen,For soþe as I yow sey,And woundyt mony a moderson,And twelue he slew þat day.

Thryes thorowout þem he ran þen,

For soþe as I yow sey,

And woundyt mony a moderson,

And twelue he slew þat day.

28His sworde vpon þe schireff hedSertanly he brake in too;‘Þe smyth þat þe made,’ seid Robyn,‘I pray to God wyrke hym woo!

His sworde vpon þe schireff hed

Sertanly he brake in too;

‘Þe smyth þat þe made,’ seid Robyn,

‘I pray to God wyrke hym woo!

29‘Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn,‘Alasse! agayn my wylle;But if I may fle þese traytors fro,I wot þei wil me kyll.’

‘Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn,

‘Alasse! agayn my wylle;

But if I may fle þese traytors fro,

I wot þei wil me kyll.’

30Robyn in to the churchë ran,Throout hem euerilkon,

Robyn in to the churchë ran,

Throout hem euerilkon,

* * * * *

31Sumfel in swonyng as þei were dede,And lay stil as any stone;Non of theym were inher myndeBut only Litull Jon.

Sumfel in swonyng as þei were dede,

And lay stil as any stone;

Non of theym were inher mynde

But only Litull Jon.

32‘Let be your rule,’ seid Litull Jon,‘Ffor his luf þat dyed on tre,Ȝe þat shulde be duȝty men;Het is gret shame to se.

‘Let be your rule,’ seid Litull Jon,

‘Ffor his luf þat dyed on tre,

Ȝe þat shulde be duȝty men;

Het is gret shame to se.

33‘Oure maisterhas bene hard bystodeAnd ȝet scapyd away;Pluk vp your hertis, and leve þis mone,And harkyn what I shal say.

‘Oure maisterhas bene hard bystode

And ȝet scapyd away;

Pluk vp your hertis, and leve þis mone,

And harkyn what I shal say.

34‘He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day,And ȝet wil, securly;Þerfor I trust in hir specialyNo wyckud deth shal he dye.

‘He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day,

And ȝet wil, securly;

Þerfor I trust in hir specialy

No wyckud deth shal he dye.

35‘Þerfor be glad,’ seid Litul John,‘And let þis mournyng be;And I shal be þe munkisgyde,Withþe myght of mylde Mary.

‘Þerfor be glad,’ seid Litul John,

‘And let þis mournyng be;

And I shal be þe munkisgyde,

Withþe myght of mylde Mary.

36. . . . . . .‘We will go but we too;And I mete hym,’ seid Litul John,. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

‘We will go but we too;

And I mete hym,’ seid Litul John,

. . . . . . .

37‘Loke þat ȝe kepe wel owre tristil-tre,Vnder þe levys smale,And spare non of this venyson,Þat gose in thys vale.’

‘Loke þat ȝe kepe wel owre tristil-tre,

Vnder þe levys smale,

And spare non of this venyson,

Þat gose in thys vale.’

38Fforþe þen went these ȝemen too,Litul John and Moche on fere,And lokid on Moch emys hows,Þe hye way lay full nere.

Fforþe þen went these ȝemen too,

Litul John and Moche on fere,

And lokid on Moch emys hows,

Þe hye way lay full nere.

39Litul John stode at a wyndow inþe mornyng,And lokid forþ at a stage;He was war wher þe munke came ridyng,And withhym a litul page.

Litul John stode at a wyndow inþe mornyng,

And lokid forþ at a stage;

He was war wher þe munke came ridyng,

And withhym a litul page.

40‘Be my feith,’ seid Litul John to Moch,‘I can þe tel tithyngus gode;I se wher þe munke cumys rydyng,I know hym be his wyde hode.’

‘Be my feith,’ seid Litul John to Moch,

‘I can þe tel tithyngus gode;

I se wher þe munke cumys rydyng,

I know hym be his wyde hode.’

41They went in to the way, þese ȝemenboþe,As curtes men and hende;Þei spyrred tithyngus at þe munke,As they hade bene his frende.

They went in to the way, þese ȝemenboþe,

As curtes men and hende;

Þei spyrred tithyngus at þe munke,

As they hade bene his frende.

42‘Ffro whens come ȝe?’ seid Litull Jon,‘Tel vs tithyngus, I yow pray,Off a false owtlay, [callid Robyn Hode,]Was takyn ȝisterday.

‘Ffro whens come ȝe?’ seid Litull Jon,

‘Tel vs tithyngus, I yow pray,

Off a false owtlay, [callid Robyn Hode,]

Was takyn ȝisterday.

43‘He robbyt me and my felowes boþeOf twenti marke in serten;If þat false owtlay be takyn,Ffor soþe we wolde be fayn.’

‘He robbyt me and my felowes boþe

Of twenti marke in serten;

If þat false owtlay be takyn,

Ffor soþe we wolde be fayn.’

44‘So did he me,’ seid þe munke,‘Of a hundred pound and more;I layde furst hande hym apon,Ȝe may thonke me þerfore.’

‘So did he me,’ seid þe munke,

‘Of a hundred pound and more;

I layde furst hande hym apon,

Ȝe may thonke me þerfore.’

45‘I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John,‘And we wil when we may;We wil go withyou, withyour leve,And bryng yow on your way.

‘I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John,

‘And we wil when we may;

We wil go withyou, withyour leve,

And bryng yow on your way.

46‘Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,I tell you in certen;If þei wist ȝe rode þis way,In feith ȝe shulde be slayn.’

‘Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,

I tell you in certen;

If þei wist ȝe rode þis way,

In feith ȝe shulde be slayn.’

47As þei went talking be þe way,The munke and Litull John,John toke þe munkis horse be þe hede,Fful sone and anon.

As þei went talking be þe way,

The munke and Litull John,

John toke þe munkis horse be þe hede,

Fful sone and anon.

48Johne toke þe munkis horse be þe hed,Ffor soþe as I yow say;So did Much þe litull page,Ffor he shulde not scape away.

Johne toke þe munkis horse be þe hed,

Ffor soþe as I yow say;

So did Much þe litull page,

Ffor he shulde not scape away.

49Be þe golett of þe hodeJohn pulled þe munke down;John was nothyng of hym agast,He lete hym falle on his crown.

Be þe golett of þe hode

John pulled þe munke down;

John was nothyng of hym agast,

He lete hym falle on his crown.

50Litull John was so[re] agrevyd,And drew owt his swerde in hye;This munke saw he shulde be ded,Lowd mercy can he crye.

Litull John was so[re] agrevyd,

And drew owt his swerde in hye;

This munke saw he shulde be ded,

Lowd mercy can he crye.

51‘He was my maister,’ seid Litull John,‘Þat þou hase browȝt in bale;Shalle þou neuercumat our kyng,Ffor to telle hym tale.’

‘He was my maister,’ seid Litull John,

‘Þat þou hase browȝt in bale;

Shalle þou neuercumat our kyng,

Ffor to telle hym tale.’

52John smote of þe munkis hed,No longerwolde he dwell;So did Moch þe litull page,Ffor ferd lest he wolde tell.

John smote of þe munkis hed,

No longerwolde he dwell;

So did Moch þe litull page,

Ffor ferd lest he wolde tell.

53Þer þei beryed hem boþe,In nouþermosse nor lyng,And Litull John and Much infereBare þe letturs to oure kyng.

Þer þei beryed hem boþe,

In nouþermosse nor lyng,

And Litull John and Much infere

Bare þe letturs to oure kyng.

54. . . . . . .He knelid down vpon his kne:‘God ȝow saue, my lege lorde,Ihesus yow saue and se!

. . . . . . .

He knelid down vpon his kne:

‘God ȝow saue, my lege lorde,

Ihesus yow saue and se!

55‘God yow saue, my lege kyng!’To speke John was full bolde;He gaf hym þe letturs inhis hond,The kyng did hit vnfold.

‘God yow saue, my lege kyng!’

To speke John was full bolde;

He gaf hym þe letturs inhis hond,

The kyng did hit vnfold.

56Þe kyng red þe letturs anon,And seid, So mot I the,Þerwas neuerȝoman inmery InglondI longut so sore to se.

Þe kyng red þe letturs anon,

And seid, So mot I the,

Þerwas neuerȝoman inmery Inglond

I longut so sore to se.

57‘Wher is þe munke þat þese shuld haue brouȝt?’Oure kyng can say:‘Be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,‘He dyed after þe way.’

‘Wher is þe munke þat þese shuld haue brouȝt?’

Oure kyng can say:

‘Be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,

‘He dyed after þe way.’

58Þe kyng gaf Moch and Litul JonTwenti pound in sertan,And made þeim ȝemen of þe crown,And bade þeim go agayn.

Þe kyng gaf Moch and Litul Jon

Twenti pound in sertan,

And made þeim ȝemen of þe crown,

And bade þeim go agayn.

59He gaf John þe seel in hand,The sheref for to bere,To bryng Robyn hym to,And no man do hym dere.

He gaf John þe seel in hand,

The sheref for to bere,

To bryng Robyn hym to,

And no man do hym dere.

60John toke his leve at oure kyng,Þe sothe as I yow say;Þe next way to NotynghamTo take, he ȝede þe way.

John toke his leve at oure kyng,

Þe sothe as I yow say;

Þe next way to Notyngham

To take, he ȝede þe way.

61Whan John came to NotynghamThe ȝatis were sparred ychon;John callid vp þe porter,He answerid sone anon.

Whan John came to Notyngham

The ȝatis were sparred ychon;

John callid vp þe porter,

He answerid sone anon.

62‘What is þe cause,’ seid Litul Jon,‘Þou sparris þe ȝates so fast?’‘Because of Robyn Hode,’ seid [þe] porter,‘In depe prison is cast.

‘What is þe cause,’ seid Litul Jon,

‘Þou sparris þe ȝates so fast?’

‘Because of Robyn Hode,’ seid [þe] porter,

‘In depe prison is cast.

63‘John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok,Ffor sothe as I yow say,Þei slew oure men vpon our wallis,And sawten vs euery day.’

‘John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok,

Ffor sothe as I yow say,

Þei slew oure men vpon our wallis,

And sawten vs euery day.’

64Litull John spyrred after þe schereff,And sone he hym fonde;He oppyned þe kyngus priue seell,And gaf hym in his honde.

Litull John spyrred after þe schereff,

And sone he hym fonde;

He oppyned þe kyngus priue seell,

And gaf hym in his honde.

65Whan þe scheref saw þe kyngus seell,He did of his hode anon:‘Wher is þe munke þat bare þe letturs?’He seid to Litull John.

Whan þe scheref saw þe kyngus seell,

He did of his hode anon:

‘Wher is þe munke þat bare þe letturs?’

He seid to Litull John.

66‘He is so fayn of hym,’ seid Litul John,‘Ffor soþe as I yow say,He has made hym abot of Westmynster,A lorde of þat abbay.’

‘He is so fayn of hym,’ seid Litul John,

‘Ffor soþe as I yow say,

He has made hym abot of Westmynster,

A lorde of þat abbay.’

67The scheref made John gode chere,And gaf hym wyne of the best;At nyȝt þei went to her bedde,And euery man to his rest.

The scheref made John gode chere,

And gaf hym wyne of the best;

At nyȝt þei went to her bedde,

And euery man to his rest.

68When þe scheref was on slepe,Dronken of wyne and ale,Litul John and Moch for soþeToke þe way vnto þe jale.

When þe scheref was on slepe,

Dronken of wyne and ale,

Litul John and Moch for soþe

Toke þe way vnto þe jale.

69Litul John callid vp þe jayler,And bade hym rise anon;He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,And out of hit was gon.

Litul John callid vp þe jayler,

And bade hym rise anon;

He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,

And out of hit was gon.

70The porter rose anon sertan,As sone as he herd John calle;Litul John was redy witha swerd,And bare hym to þe walle.

The porter rose anon sertan,

As sone as he herd John calle;

Litul John was redy witha swerd,

And bare hym to þe walle.

71‘Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litul John,‘And take þe keyes in honde:’He toke þe way to Robyn Hode,And sone he hym vnbonde.

‘Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litul John,

‘And take þe keyes in honde:’

He toke þe way to Robyn Hode,

And sone he hym vnbonde.

72He gaf hym a gode swerd inhis hond,His hed [ther]withfor to kepe,And ther as þe walle was lowystAnon down can þei lepe.

He gaf hym a gode swerd inhis hond,

His hed [ther]withfor to kepe,

And ther as þe walle was lowyst

Anon down can þei lepe.

73Be þat þe cok began to crow,The day began to spryng;The scheref fond þe jaylier ded,The comyn bell made he ryng.

Be þat þe cok began to crow,

The day began to spryng;

The scheref fond þe jaylier ded,

The comyn bell made he ryng.

74He made a crye thoroout al þe tow[n],Wheder he be ȝoman or knave,Þat cowþe bryng hym Robyn Hode,His warison he shuld haue.

He made a crye thoroout al þe tow[n],

Wheder he be ȝoman or knave,

Þat cowþe bryng hym Robyn Hode,

His warison he shuld haue.

75‘Ffor I dar neuer,’ said þe scheref,‘Cumbefore oure kyng;Ffor if I do, I wot sertenFfor soþe he wil me heng.’

‘Ffor I dar neuer,’ said þe scheref,

‘Cumbefore oure kyng;

Ffor if I do, I wot serten

Ffor soþe he wil me heng.’

76The scheref made to seke Notyngham,Bothe be strete and stye,And Robyn was in mery Scherwode,As liȝt as lef on lynde.

The scheref made to seke Notyngham,

Bothe be strete and stye,

And Robyn was in mery Scherwode,

As liȝt as lef on lynde.

77Then bespake gode Litull John,To Robyn Hode can he say,I haue done þe a gode turne for an euyll,Quyte þe whan þou may.

Then bespake gode Litull John,

To Robyn Hode can he say,

I haue done þe a gode turne for an euyll,

Quyte þe whan þou may.

78‘I haue done þe a gode turne,’ seid Litull John,‘Ffor sothe as I yow say;I haue brouȝt þe vnder grene-wodelyne;Ffare wel, and haue gode day.’

‘I haue done þe a gode turne,’ seid Litull John,

‘Ffor sothe as I yow say;

I haue brouȝt þe vnder grene-wodelyne;

Ffare wel, and haue gode day.’

79‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode,‘So shall hit neuerbe;I make þe maister,’ seid Robyn Hode,‘Off alle my men and me.’

‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode,

‘So shall hit neuerbe;

I make þe maister,’ seid Robyn Hode,

‘Off alle my men and me.’

80‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,‘So shalle hit neuerbe;But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John,‘No noder kepe I be.’

‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,

‘So shalle hit neuerbe;

But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John,

‘No noder kepe I be.’

81Thus John gate Robyn Hod out of prison,Sertan withoutyn layn;Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde,Ffor sothe they were full fayne.

Thus John gate Robyn Hod out of prison,

Sertan withoutyn layn;

Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde,

Ffor sothe they were full fayne.

82They filled in wyne, and made hem glad,Vnder þe levys smale,And ȝete pastes of venyson,Þat gode was withale.

They filled in wyne, and made hem glad,

Vnder þe levys smale,

And ȝete pastes of venyson,

Þat gode was withale.

83Than worde came to oure kyngHow Robyn Hode was gon,And how þe scheref of NotynghamDurst neuerloke hym vpon.

Than worde came to oure kyng

How Robyn Hode was gon,

And how þe scheref of Notyngham

Durst neuerloke hym vpon.

84Then bespake oure cumly kyng,In an angur hye:Litull John hase begyled þe schereff,In faith so hase he me.

Then bespake oure cumly kyng,

In an angur hye:

Litull John hase begyled þe schereff,

In faith so hase he me.

85Litul John has begyled vs bothe,And þat full wel I se;Or ellis þe schereff of NotynghamHye hongut shuldehe be.

Litul John has begyled vs bothe,

And þat full wel I se;

Or ellis þe schereff of Notyngham

Hye hongut shuldehe be.

86‘I made hem ȝemen of þe crowne,And gaf hem fee withmy hond;I gaf hem grith,’ seid oure kyng,‘Thorowout all mery Inglond.

‘I made hem ȝemen of þe crowne,

And gaf hem fee withmy hond;

I gaf hem grith,’ seid oure kyng,

‘Thorowout all mery Inglond.

87‘I gaf theym grith,’ þen seid oure kyng;‘I say, so mot I the,Ffor sothe soch a ȝeman as he is onIn all Inglond ar not thre.

‘I gaf theym grith,’ þen seid oure kyng;

‘I say, so mot I the,

Ffor sothe soch a ȝeman as he is on

In all Inglond ar not thre.

88‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our kyng;‘I sey, be swete Seynt John,He louys better Robyn HodeThen he dose vs ychon.

‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our kyng;

‘I sey, be swete Seynt John,

He louys better Robyn Hode

Then he dose vs ychon.

89‘Robyn Hode is euerbond to hym,Bothe in strete and stalle;Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure kyng,‘But John has begyled vs alle.’

‘Robyn Hode is euerbond to hym,

Bothe in strete and stalle;

Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure kyng,

‘But John has begyled vs alle.’

90Thus endys the talkyng of the munkeAnd Robyn Hode i-wysse;God, þat is euera crowned kyng,Bryng vs all to his blisse!

Thus endys the talkyng of the munke

And Robyn Hode i-wysse;

God, þat is euera crowned kyng,

Bryng vs all to his blisse!

A curl over finaln,as inRobyn, John, on, sawten,etc.; a crossedh,as inJohn, mych,etc.; crossedll,as infull, litull, well,etc.; a hookedg,as inmornyng, kyng,etc., have been treated as not significant. As toRobyn,cf.73, 111,3, 134, 141,etc., where there is simplen;as toJohn, 101,3, 143, 314,etc., where we haveJon;as toLitull, 141,3, 391, 683, 691, 703, 711,where we haveLitul. Andis printed for&; be twene, be fore, be side, be held, be spake, þer with, thorow out, with outen,etc., are joined.

31. tideno longer legible.

71. seid h ...,illegible afterh.

83,6. xij.

101. þinown.

124, 133. v s’.

141. lyedbeforeRobynstruck through.

233. of a C li.

271. thorow at:but cf.302.

274. xij.

301. Robyns men to the churche ran:Madden. There are no men with Robin. “This line is almost illegible. It certainly begins withRobyn,and the second word is notmen.I read it, Robyn into the churche ran.”Skeat.

302.A gap here between two pages, and there are commonly six stanzas to a page. At least six are required for the capture of Robin Hood and the conveying of the tidings to his men.

432. Of xx.

441. me mein my copy, probably by inadvertence.

442. Of a C li.

531. hym.

561. Þekyng.

582. xx li.

774.bhasQuit me,which is perhaps better.

782.perhapssaie;nearly illegible.

902. I wysse.

693. þe prison.

704. throw to.

711. be jayler.

712. toke.

722. hed ther with.

723. wallis were.

724. down ther they.

772. [t]henforcan (?).

774. Quit me.

782. the saye.

783. þe grene.

791,3. Hodewanting.

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