121ROBIN HOOD AND THE POTTER

Library of the University of Cambridge, MS. E e. 4. 35, fol. 14 b, of about 1500.

Printed from the manuscript in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, I, 81; here from a transcript of the original, carefully revised by Rev. Professor Skeat.

Robin Hood sees a potter driving over the lea; the potter has been in the habit of passing that way, and never has paid toll. Little John has had a brush with the potter, and offers to lay forty shillings that no man can make him leave a pledge. Robin accepts the wager, stops the potter, and demands a “pledge”; the potter refuses to leave pledge or pay toll, takes a staff from his cart, knocks Robin’s buckler out of his hand, and, ere Robin can recover it, fells him with a blow in the neck. Robin owns that he has lost. The potter says it is no courtesy to stop a poor yeoman thus; Robin agrees heartily, and proposes fellowship, also to change clothes with the potter and sell his ware at Nottingham. The potter is willing; John warns his master to beware of the sheriff. Robin takes his stand near the sheriff’s gate, and offers his pots so cheap that soon there are but five left; these he sends as a gift to the sheriff’s wife, who in return asks him to dinner. While they are at their meal, two of the sheriff’s men talk of a shooting-match for forty shillings: this the potter says he will see, and after a good dinner goes with the rest to the butts. All the archers come half a bow’s length short of the mark; Robin, at his wish, gets a bow from the sheriff, and his first shot misses the mark by less than a foot, his second cleaves the central pin in three. The sheriff applauds; Robin says there is a bow in his cart which he had of Robin Hood. The sheriff wishes he could see Robin Hood, and the potter offers to gratify this wish on the morrow. They go back to the sheriff’s for the night, and early the next day set forth; the sheriff riding, the potter in his cart. When they come to the wood, the potter blows his horn, for so they shall know if Robin be near; the horn brings all Robin’s men. The sheriff would now give a hundred pound not to have had his wish; had he known his man at Nottingham, it would have been a thousand year ere the potter had come to the forest. I know that well, says Robin, and therefore shall you leave your horse with us, and your other gear. Were it not for your wife you would not come off so lightly. The sheriff goes home afoot, but with a white palfrey, which Robin presents to his wife. Have you brought Robin home? asks the dame. Devil speed him, answers her spouse, he has taken everything from me; all but this fair palfrey, which he has sent to thee. The merry dame laughs, and swears that the pots have been well paid for. Robin asks the potter how much his pots were worth, gives him ten pounds instead of the two nobles for which they could have been sold, and a welcome to the wood whenever he shall come that way.

The Play of Robin Hood, an imperfect copy of which is printed at the end of Copland’s and of White’s edition of The Gest, is founded on the ballads of Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar and of Robin Hood and the Potter. The portion which is based on the ballad of Robin and the Potter is given in an appendix.

Robin Hood and the Butcher, No 122, repeats many of the incidents of the present ballad. The sheriff is enticed into the forest (by Little John instead of Robin Hood) inThe Gest, 181 ff. This part of the story, in Robin Hood and the Butcher, is much more like that of The Gest than it is in Robin Hood and the Potter. We shall have only too many variations of the adventure in which Robin Hood unexpectedly meets his match in a hand-to-hand fight, now with a pinder, then with a tanner, tinker, shepherd, beggar, etc. His adversaries, after proving their mettle, are sometimes invited and induced to join his company: not so here. In some broadside ballads of this description, with an extravagance common enough in imitations, Robin Hood is very badly mauled, and made all but contemptible.[97]In Robin Hood and the Potter, Little John is willing to wager on the result of a trial, from his own experience. Will Scadlock is equally confident in Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar, perhaps for the same reason, although this is not said. In Robin Hood and the Shepherd, Little John takes his turnafterhis master, and so with three of Robin’s men in Robin Hood and the Beggar, No 133.

Hereward the Saxon introduces himself into the Norman court as a potter, to obtain information of an attack which William the Conqueror was thought to intend on his stronghold at Ely: De Gestis Herwardi Saxonis, 24, in Michel, Chroniques Anglo-Normandes, II, 69, attributed to the twelfth century. Wallace, in like manner, to scout in the English camp: Blind Harry’s poem, ed. Moir, Book Six, v. 435 ff, p. 123 ff. This is also one of the many artifices by which Eustace the Monk deceives his enemy, the Count of Boulogne: Roman d’Eustache le Moine, ed. Michel, p. 39, v. 1071 ff, a poem of the thirteenth century. See, for Hereward and Eustace, T. Wright’s Essays on Subjects connected with the Literature, etc., of England in the Middle Ages, II, 108 ff, 135.

Disguise is the wonted and simplest expedient of an outlaw mixing among his foes, “wherein the pregnant enemy does much.” Fulk Fitz Warine takes the disguise of an old monk, a merchant, a charcoal-burner; Hereward, that of a potter, a fisherman; Eustace the Monk, of a potter, shepherd, pilgrim, charcoal-burner, woman, leper, carpenter, minstrel, etc.; Wallace, of a potter, pilgrim, woman (twice), etc., in Blind Harry’s poem, of a beggar in ballads; Robin Hood, of a potter, butcher, beggar, shepherd, an old woman, a fisherman (?), Guy of Gisborne.

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 76.

1In schomer, when the leves spryng,The bloschoms on euery bowe,So merey doyt the berdys syngYn wodys merey now.2Herkens, god yemen,Comley, corteys, and god,On of the best þat yeuerbarebowe,Hes name was Roben Hode.3Roben Hood was the yeman’s name,That was boyt corteys and ffre;Ffor the loffe of owreladey,All wemen werschepyd he.4Bot as the god yeman stod on a day,Among hes mery maney,He was wareof a prowd potter,Cam dryfyng owyr the ley.5‘Yonder comet a prod potter,’ seyde Roben,‘That long hayt hantyd þis wey;He was neuer so corteys a manOn peney of pawage to pay.’6‘Y met hem bot at Went-breg,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘And thereforeyeffell mot he the!Seche thre strokes he me gafe,Yet by my seydys cleffe þey.

1In schomer, when the leves spryng,The bloschoms on euery bowe,So merey doyt the berdys syngYn wodys merey now.

In schomer, when the leves spryng,

The bloschoms on euery bowe,

So merey doyt the berdys syng

Yn wodys merey now.

2Herkens, god yemen,Comley, corteys, and god,On of the best þat yeuerbarebowe,Hes name was Roben Hode.

Herkens, god yemen,

Comley, corteys, and god,

On of the best þat yeuerbarebowe,

Hes name was Roben Hode.

3Roben Hood was the yeman’s name,That was boyt corteys and ffre;Ffor the loffe of owreladey,All wemen werschepyd he.

Roben Hood was the yeman’s name,

That was boyt corteys and ffre;

Ffor the loffe of owreladey,

All wemen werschepyd he.

4Bot as the god yeman stod on a day,Among hes mery maney,He was wareof a prowd potter,Cam dryfyng owyr the ley.

Bot as the god yeman stod on a day,

Among hes mery maney,

He was wareof a prowd potter,

Cam dryfyng owyr the ley.

5‘Yonder comet a prod potter,’ seyde Roben,‘That long hayt hantyd þis wey;He was neuer so corteys a manOn peney of pawage to pay.’

‘Yonder comet a prod potter,’ seyde Roben,

‘That long hayt hantyd þis wey;

He was neuer so corteys a man

On peney of pawage to pay.’

6‘Y met hem bot at Went-breg,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘And thereforeyeffell mot he the!Seche thre strokes he me gafe,Yet by my seydys cleffe þey.

‘Y met hem bot at Went-breg,’ seyde Lytyll John,

‘And thereforeyeffell mot he the!

Seche thre strokes he me gafe,

Yet by my seydys cleffe þey.

7‘Y ley forty shillings,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘To pay het thes same day,Ther ys nat a man among hus allA wed schall make hem ley.’8‘Hereys forty shillings,’ seyde Roben,‘More, and thow dar say,Þat y schall make þat prowde potter,A wed to me schall he ley.’9Therethes money they leyde,They toke het a yeman to kepe;Roben befforethe potterhe breyde,A[nd] bad hem stond stell.10Handys apon hes hors he leyde,And bad the potterstonde foll stell;The potterschorteley to hem seyde,Ffelow, what ys they well?11‘All thes thre yer, and more, potter,’ he seyde,‘Thow hast hantyd thes wey,Yet weretow neuer so cortys a manOn peney of pauage to pay.’12‘What ys they name,’ seyde þe potter,‘Ffor pauage thow aske of me?’‘Roben Hod ys mey name,A wed schall thow leffe me.’13‘Wed well y non leffe,’ seyde þe potter,‘Nor pavag well y non pay;Awey they honde ffro mey hors!Y well the tene eyls, be mey ffay.’14The potter to hes cart he went,He was not to seke;A god to-hande staffe þerowt he hent,BefforeRoben he leppyd.15Roben howt witha swerd bent,A bokeler en hes honde;The potterto Roben he went,And seyde, Ffelow, let mey hors go.16Togeder then went thes to yemen,Het was a god seyt to se;Thereof low Robyn hes men,Therethey stod onder a tre.17Leytell John to hes ffelowhe[s] seyde,‘Yend potterwell steffeley stonde:’The potter, witha acward stroke,Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde.18A[nd] ar Roben meyt get het agenHes bokeler at hes ffette,The potteryn the neke hem toke,To the gronde sone he yede.19That saw Roben hes men,As thay stod onder a bow;‘Let vs helpe owremaster,’ seyde Lytell John,‘Yonder potter,’ seyde he, ‘els well hem slo.’20Thes yemen went witha breyde,To ther mast[er] they cam.Leytell John to hes mast[er] seyde,Ho haet the wager won?21‘Schall y haffe yowreforty shillings,’ seyde Lytl John,‘Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?’‘Yeff they werea hundred,’ seyde Roben,‘Y ffeythe, they ben all theyne.’22‘Het ys fol leytell cortesey,’ seyde þe potter,‘As y haffe harde weyse men saye,Yeffe a poreyeman com drywyng on the wey,To let hem of hes gorney.’23‘Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt,’ seyde Roben,‘Thow seys god yeme[n]rey;And thow dreyffe fforthe yeuery day,Thow schalt neuer be let ffor me.24‘Y well prey the, god potter,A ffelischepe well thow haffe?Geffe me they clothyng, and þow schalt hafe myne;Y well go to Notynggam.’25‘Y gra[n]t thereto,’ seyde the potter,‘Thow schalt ffeynde me a ffelow gode;Bot thow can sell mey pottyswell,Com ayen as thow yode.’26‘Nay, be mey trowt,’ seyde Roben,‘And then y bescro mey hede,Yeffe y bryng eny pottysayen,And eney weyffe well hem chepe.’27Than spake Leytell John,And all hes ffelowhes heynd,‘Master, be well wareof the screffe of Notynggam,Ffor he ys leytell howr ffrende.’28‘Heyt war howte!’ seyde Roben,‘Ffelowhes, let me a lone;Thorow the helpe of Howr Ladey,To Notynggam well y gon.’29Robyn went to Notynggam,Thes pottysffor to sell;The potterabode withRobens men,Therehe ffered not eylle.30Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,So merey ower the londe:Her es more, and affter ys to saye,The best ys beheynde.31When Roben cam to Notynggam,The soyt yef y scholde saye,He set op hes hors anon,And gaffe hem hotys and haye.32Yn the medys of the towne,Therehe schowed hes ware;‘Pottys! pottys!’ he gan crey foll sone,‘Haffe hansell ffor the mare!’33Ffoll effen agenest the screffeys gateSchowed he hes chaffare;Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,And chepyd ffast of hes ware.34Yet, ‘Pottys, gret chepe!’ creyed Robyn,‘Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde;’And all that say hem sellSeyde he had be no potter long.35The pottys that werewerthe pens ffeyffe,He solde tham ffor pens thre;Preveley seyde man and weyffe,‘Ywnder potter schall neuerthe.’36Thos Roben solde ffoll ffast,Tell he had pottys bot ffeyffe;Op he hem toke of hes care,And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.37Thereof sche was ffoll ffayne,‘Gereamarsey,ser,’ than seyde sche;‘When ye com to thes contre ayen,Y schall bey of the[y] pottys, so mot y the.’38‘Ye schall haffe of the best,’ seyde Roben,And swarebe the Treneytë;Ffoll corteysley [sc]he gan hem call,‘Com deyne withthe screfe and me.’39‘God amarsey,’ seyde Roben,‘Yowrebedyng schall be doyn;’A mayden yn the pottys gan bere,Roben and þe screffe weyffe ffolowed anon.40Whan Roben yn to the hall cam,The screffë sone he met;The pottercowed of corteysey,And sone the screffe he gret.41‘Lo, ser, what thes potterhayt geffe yow and me;Ffeyffe pottys smalle and grete!’‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyd the screffe;‘Let os was, and go to mete.’42As they sat at her methe,Witha nobell chere,To of the screffes men gan spekeOff a gret wager;43Off a schotyng, was god and ffeyne,Was made the thother daye,Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,Who scholde thes wager wen.44Styll than sat thes prowde potter,Thos than thowt he;As y am a trow cerstyn man,Thes schotyng well y se.45Whan they had ffared of the best,Withbred and ale and weyne,To the bottys the made them prest,Withbowes and boltys ffoll ffeyne.46The screffes men schot ffoll ffast,As archares þat weren godde;Therecam non ner ney the markeBey halffe a god archares bowe.47Stell then stod the prowde potter,Thos than seyde he;And y had a bow, be the rode,On schot scholde yow se.48‘Thow schall haffe a bow,’ seyde the screffe,‘The best þat thow well cheys of thre;Thou semyst a stalward and a stronge,Asay schall thow be.’49The screffe commandyd a yeman þat stod hem beyAffterbowhes to weynde;The best bow þat the yeman browtheRoben set on a stryng.50‘Now schall y wet and thow be god,And polle het op to they nere;’‘So god me helpe,’ seyde the prowde potter,‘Þys ys bot rygȝt weke gere.’51To a quequer Roben went,A god bolt owthe he toke;So ney on to the marke he went,He ffayled not a fothe.52All they schot abowthe agen,The screffes men and he;Off the marke he welde not ffayle,He cleffed the preke on thre.53The screffes men thowt gret schameThe potterthe mastry wan;The screffë lowe and made god game,And seyde, Potter, thow art a man.54. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Thow art worthey to berea boweYn what plas that þow goe.55‘Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,Ffor soyt,’ he seyde, ‘and that a godde;Yn mey cart ys the bowThat gaffe me Robyn Hode.’56‘Knowest thow Robyn Hode?’ seyde the screffe,‘Potter, y prey the tell thow me;’‘A hundred torne y haffe schot withhem,Vnder hes tortyll-tre.’57‘Y had leuer nar a hundred ponde,’ seyde þe screffe,‘And swarebe the Trenitë,. . . . . . .Þat the ffals outelawe stod be me.’58‘And ye well do afftyr mey red,’ seyde þe potter,‘And boldeley go withme,And to morow, or we het bred,Roben Hode well we se.’59‘Y wel queyt the,’ kod the screffe,‘Y swerebe God of meythe;’Schetyng thay left, and hom þey went,Her soper was reddy deythe.60Vpon the morow, when het was day,He boskyd hem fforthe to reyde;The potterhes cart fforthe gan ray,And wolde not leffe beheynde.61He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,And thankyd her of all thyng:‘Dam, ffor mey loffe and ye well þys were,Y geffe yow herea golde ryng.’62‘Gramarsey,’ seyde the weyffe,‘Ser, god eylde het the;’The screffes hart was neuer so leythe,The ffeyrefforeyst to se.63And when he cam yn to the fforeyst,Yonder the leffes grene,Berdys theresange on bowhes prest,Het was gret goy to se.64‘Herehet ys merey to be,’ seyde Roben,‘Ffor a man that had hawt to spende;Be mey horne I schall awetYeff Roben Hode be here.’65Roben set hes horne to hes mowthe,And blow a blast þat was ffoll god;Þat herde hes men þat þerestode,Ffer downe yn the wodde.66‘I her mey masterblow,’ seyde Leytell John,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .They ran as thay werewode.67Whan thay to thar mastercam,Leytell John wold not spare;‘Master, how haffe yow ffareyn Notynggam?How haffe yow solde yowreware?’68‘Ye, be mey trowthe, Leyty[ll] John,Loke thow take no care;Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,Ffor all howrechaffare.’69‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘Thes tydyng ys ffoll godde;The screffe had leuer nar a hundred pondeHe had [neuer sene Roben Hode.]70‘[Had I] west þat befforen,At Notynggam when we were,Thow scholde not com yn ffeyrefforestOf all thes thowsande eyre.’71‘That wot y well,’ seyde Roben,‘Y thanke God that ye be here;Therefforeschall ye leffe yowrehors withhos,And all yowrehother gere.’72‘That ffend I Godys fforbod,’ kod the screffe,‘So to lese mey godde;. . . . . . .. . . . . .73‘Hether ye cam on hors ffoll hey,And hom schall ye go on ffote;And gret well they weyffe at home,The woman ys ffoll godde.74‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het ambellet be mey ffey,. . . . . . .. . . . . .75‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het hambellet as the weynde;Nereffor the loffe of yowreweyffe,Off moresorow scholde yow seyng.’76Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe;To Notynggam he toke the waye;Hes weyffe ffeyrewelcomed hem hom,And to hem gan sche saye:77Seyr, how haffe yow ffared yn grene fforeyst?Haffe ye browt Roben hom?‘Dam, the deyell spede hem, bothe bodey and bon;Y haffe hade a ffoll gret skorne.78‘Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,He hayt take het ffro me;All bot thes ffeyrepalffrey,That he hayt sende to the.’79Withþat sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,And swharebe hem þat deyed on tre,‘Now haffe yow payed ffor all þe pottysThat Roben gaffe to me.80‘Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,Ye schall haffe god ynowe;’Now speke we of Roben Hode,And of the pottyr ondyr the grene bowhe.81‘Potter, what was they pottys wortheTo Notynggam þat y ledde withme?’‘They wer worthe to nobellys,’ seyde he,‘So mot y treyffe or the;So cowde y [haffe] had ffor tham,And y had therebe.’82‘Thow schalt hafe ten ponde,’ seyde Roben,‘Of money ffeyre and ffre;And yeuer whan thow comest to grene wod,Wellcom, potter, to me.’83Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,Ondernethe the grene-wod tre;God haffe mersey on Roben Hodys solle,And saffe all god yemanrey!

7‘Y ley forty shillings,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘To pay het thes same day,Ther ys nat a man among hus allA wed schall make hem ley.’

‘Y ley forty shillings,’ seyde Lytyll John,

‘To pay het thes same day,

Ther ys nat a man among hus all

A wed schall make hem ley.’

8‘Hereys forty shillings,’ seyde Roben,‘More, and thow dar say,Þat y schall make þat prowde potter,A wed to me schall he ley.’

‘Hereys forty shillings,’ seyde Roben,

‘More, and thow dar say,

Þat y schall make þat prowde potter,

A wed to me schall he ley.’

9Therethes money they leyde,They toke het a yeman to kepe;Roben befforethe potterhe breyde,A[nd] bad hem stond stell.

Therethes money they leyde,

They toke het a yeman to kepe;

Roben befforethe potterhe breyde,

A[nd] bad hem stond stell.

10Handys apon hes hors he leyde,And bad the potterstonde foll stell;The potterschorteley to hem seyde,Ffelow, what ys they well?

Handys apon hes hors he leyde,

And bad the potterstonde foll stell;

The potterschorteley to hem seyde,

Ffelow, what ys they well?

11‘All thes thre yer, and more, potter,’ he seyde,‘Thow hast hantyd thes wey,Yet weretow neuer so cortys a manOn peney of pauage to pay.’

‘All thes thre yer, and more, potter,’ he seyde,

‘Thow hast hantyd thes wey,

Yet weretow neuer so cortys a man

On peney of pauage to pay.’

12‘What ys they name,’ seyde þe potter,‘Ffor pauage thow aske of me?’‘Roben Hod ys mey name,A wed schall thow leffe me.’

‘What ys they name,’ seyde þe potter,

‘Ffor pauage thow aske of me?’

‘Roben Hod ys mey name,

A wed schall thow leffe me.’

13‘Wed well y non leffe,’ seyde þe potter,‘Nor pavag well y non pay;Awey they honde ffro mey hors!Y well the tene eyls, be mey ffay.’

‘Wed well y non leffe,’ seyde þe potter,

‘Nor pavag well y non pay;

Awey they honde ffro mey hors!

Y well the tene eyls, be mey ffay.’

14The potter to hes cart he went,He was not to seke;A god to-hande staffe þerowt he hent,BefforeRoben he leppyd.

The potter to hes cart he went,

He was not to seke;

A god to-hande staffe þerowt he hent,

BefforeRoben he leppyd.

15Roben howt witha swerd bent,A bokeler en hes honde;The potterto Roben he went,And seyde, Ffelow, let mey hors go.

Roben howt witha swerd bent,

A bokeler en hes honde;

The potterto Roben he went,

And seyde, Ffelow, let mey hors go.

16Togeder then went thes to yemen,Het was a god seyt to se;Thereof low Robyn hes men,Therethey stod onder a tre.

Togeder then went thes to yemen,

Het was a god seyt to se;

Thereof low Robyn hes men,

Therethey stod onder a tre.

17Leytell John to hes ffelowhe[s] seyde,‘Yend potterwell steffeley stonde:’The potter, witha acward stroke,Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde.

Leytell John to hes ffelowhe[s] seyde,

‘Yend potterwell steffeley stonde:’

The potter, witha acward stroke,

Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde.

18A[nd] ar Roben meyt get het agenHes bokeler at hes ffette,The potteryn the neke hem toke,To the gronde sone he yede.

A[nd] ar Roben meyt get het agen

Hes bokeler at hes ffette,

The potteryn the neke hem toke,

To the gronde sone he yede.

19That saw Roben hes men,As thay stod onder a bow;‘Let vs helpe owremaster,’ seyde Lytell John,‘Yonder potter,’ seyde he, ‘els well hem slo.’

That saw Roben hes men,

As thay stod onder a bow;

‘Let vs helpe owremaster,’ seyde Lytell John,

‘Yonder potter,’ seyde he, ‘els well hem slo.’

20Thes yemen went witha breyde,To ther mast[er] they cam.Leytell John to hes mast[er] seyde,Ho haet the wager won?

Thes yemen went witha breyde,

To ther mast[er] they cam.

Leytell John to hes mast[er] seyde,

Ho haet the wager won?

21‘Schall y haffe yowreforty shillings,’ seyde Lytl John,‘Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?’‘Yeff they werea hundred,’ seyde Roben,‘Y ffeythe, they ben all theyne.’

‘Schall y haffe yowreforty shillings,’ seyde Lytl John,

‘Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?’

‘Yeff they werea hundred,’ seyde Roben,

‘Y ffeythe, they ben all theyne.’

22‘Het ys fol leytell cortesey,’ seyde þe potter,‘As y haffe harde weyse men saye,Yeffe a poreyeman com drywyng on the wey,To let hem of hes gorney.’

‘Het ys fol leytell cortesey,’ seyde þe potter,

‘As y haffe harde weyse men saye,

Yeffe a poreyeman com drywyng on the wey,

To let hem of hes gorney.’

23‘Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt,’ seyde Roben,‘Thow seys god yeme[n]rey;And thow dreyffe fforthe yeuery day,Thow schalt neuer be let ffor me.

‘Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt,’ seyde Roben,

‘Thow seys god yeme[n]rey;

And thow dreyffe fforthe yeuery day,

Thow schalt neuer be let ffor me.

24‘Y well prey the, god potter,A ffelischepe well thow haffe?Geffe me they clothyng, and þow schalt hafe myne;Y well go to Notynggam.’

‘Y well prey the, god potter,

A ffelischepe well thow haffe?

Geffe me they clothyng, and þow schalt hafe myne;

Y well go to Notynggam.’

25‘Y gra[n]t thereto,’ seyde the potter,‘Thow schalt ffeynde me a ffelow gode;Bot thow can sell mey pottyswell,Com ayen as thow yode.’

‘Y gra[n]t thereto,’ seyde the potter,

‘Thow schalt ffeynde me a ffelow gode;

Bot thow can sell mey pottyswell,

Com ayen as thow yode.’

26‘Nay, be mey trowt,’ seyde Roben,‘And then y bescro mey hede,Yeffe y bryng eny pottysayen,And eney weyffe well hem chepe.’

‘Nay, be mey trowt,’ seyde Roben,

‘And then y bescro mey hede,

Yeffe y bryng eny pottysayen,

And eney weyffe well hem chepe.’

27Than spake Leytell John,And all hes ffelowhes heynd,‘Master, be well wareof the screffe of Notynggam,Ffor he ys leytell howr ffrende.’

Than spake Leytell John,

And all hes ffelowhes heynd,

‘Master, be well wareof the screffe of Notynggam,

Ffor he ys leytell howr ffrende.’

28‘Heyt war howte!’ seyde Roben,‘Ffelowhes, let me a lone;Thorow the helpe of Howr Ladey,To Notynggam well y gon.’

‘Heyt war howte!’ seyde Roben,

‘Ffelowhes, let me a lone;

Thorow the helpe of Howr Ladey,

To Notynggam well y gon.’

29Robyn went to Notynggam,Thes pottysffor to sell;The potterabode withRobens men,Therehe ffered not eylle.

Robyn went to Notynggam,

Thes pottysffor to sell;

The potterabode withRobens men,

Therehe ffered not eylle.

30Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,So merey ower the londe:Her es more, and affter ys to saye,The best ys beheynde.

Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,

So merey ower the londe:

Her es more, and affter ys to saye,

The best ys beheynde.

31When Roben cam to Notynggam,The soyt yef y scholde saye,He set op hes hors anon,And gaffe hem hotys and haye.

When Roben cam to Notynggam,

The soyt yef y scholde saye,

He set op hes hors anon,

And gaffe hem hotys and haye.

32Yn the medys of the towne,Therehe schowed hes ware;‘Pottys! pottys!’ he gan crey foll sone,‘Haffe hansell ffor the mare!’

Yn the medys of the towne,

Therehe schowed hes ware;

‘Pottys! pottys!’ he gan crey foll sone,

‘Haffe hansell ffor the mare!’

33Ffoll effen agenest the screffeys gateSchowed he hes chaffare;Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,And chepyd ffast of hes ware.

Ffoll effen agenest the screffeys gate

Schowed he hes chaffare;

Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,

And chepyd ffast of hes ware.

34Yet, ‘Pottys, gret chepe!’ creyed Robyn,‘Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde;’And all that say hem sellSeyde he had be no potter long.

Yet, ‘Pottys, gret chepe!’ creyed Robyn,

‘Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde;’

And all that say hem sell

Seyde he had be no potter long.

35The pottys that werewerthe pens ffeyffe,He solde tham ffor pens thre;Preveley seyde man and weyffe,‘Ywnder potter schall neuerthe.’

The pottys that werewerthe pens ffeyffe,

He solde tham ffor pens thre;

Preveley seyde man and weyffe,

‘Ywnder potter schall neuerthe.’

36Thos Roben solde ffoll ffast,Tell he had pottys bot ffeyffe;Op he hem toke of hes care,And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.

Thos Roben solde ffoll ffast,

Tell he had pottys bot ffeyffe;

Op he hem toke of hes care,

And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.

37Thereof sche was ffoll ffayne,‘Gereamarsey,ser,’ than seyde sche;‘When ye com to thes contre ayen,Y schall bey of the[y] pottys, so mot y the.’

Thereof sche was ffoll ffayne,

‘Gereamarsey,ser,’ than seyde sche;

‘When ye com to thes contre ayen,

Y schall bey of the[y] pottys, so mot y the.’

38‘Ye schall haffe of the best,’ seyde Roben,And swarebe the Treneytë;Ffoll corteysley [sc]he gan hem call,‘Com deyne withthe screfe and me.’

‘Ye schall haffe of the best,’ seyde Roben,

And swarebe the Treneytë;

Ffoll corteysley [sc]he gan hem call,

‘Com deyne withthe screfe and me.’

39‘God amarsey,’ seyde Roben,‘Yowrebedyng schall be doyn;’A mayden yn the pottys gan bere,Roben and þe screffe weyffe ffolowed anon.

‘God amarsey,’ seyde Roben,

‘Yowrebedyng schall be doyn;’

A mayden yn the pottys gan bere,

Roben and þe screffe weyffe ffolowed anon.

40Whan Roben yn to the hall cam,The screffë sone he met;The pottercowed of corteysey,And sone the screffe he gret.

Whan Roben yn to the hall cam,

The screffë sone he met;

The pottercowed of corteysey,

And sone the screffe he gret.

41‘Lo, ser, what thes potterhayt geffe yow and me;Ffeyffe pottys smalle and grete!’‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyd the screffe;‘Let os was, and go to mete.’

‘Lo, ser, what thes potterhayt geffe yow and me;

Ffeyffe pottys smalle and grete!’

‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyd the screffe;

‘Let os was, and go to mete.’

42As they sat at her methe,Witha nobell chere,To of the screffes men gan spekeOff a gret wager;

As they sat at her methe,

Witha nobell chere,

To of the screffes men gan speke

Off a gret wager;

43Off a schotyng, was god and ffeyne,Was made the thother daye,Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,Who scholde thes wager wen.

Off a schotyng, was god and ffeyne,

Was made the thother daye,

Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,

Who scholde thes wager wen.

44Styll than sat thes prowde potter,Thos than thowt he;As y am a trow cerstyn man,Thes schotyng well y se.

Styll than sat thes prowde potter,

Thos than thowt he;

As y am a trow cerstyn man,

Thes schotyng well y se.

45Whan they had ffared of the best,Withbred and ale and weyne,To the bottys the made them prest,Withbowes and boltys ffoll ffeyne.

Whan they had ffared of the best,

Withbred and ale and weyne,

To the bottys the made them prest,

Withbowes and boltys ffoll ffeyne.

46The screffes men schot ffoll ffast,As archares þat weren godde;Therecam non ner ney the markeBey halffe a god archares bowe.

The screffes men schot ffoll ffast,

As archares þat weren godde;

Therecam non ner ney the marke

Bey halffe a god archares bowe.

47Stell then stod the prowde potter,Thos than seyde he;And y had a bow, be the rode,On schot scholde yow se.

Stell then stod the prowde potter,

Thos than seyde he;

And y had a bow, be the rode,

On schot scholde yow se.

48‘Thow schall haffe a bow,’ seyde the screffe,‘The best þat thow well cheys of thre;Thou semyst a stalward and a stronge,Asay schall thow be.’

‘Thow schall haffe a bow,’ seyde the screffe,

‘The best þat thow well cheys of thre;

Thou semyst a stalward and a stronge,

Asay schall thow be.’

49The screffe commandyd a yeman þat stod hem beyAffterbowhes to weynde;The best bow þat the yeman browtheRoben set on a stryng.

The screffe commandyd a yeman þat stod hem bey

Affterbowhes to weynde;

The best bow þat the yeman browthe

Roben set on a stryng.

50‘Now schall y wet and thow be god,And polle het op to they nere;’‘So god me helpe,’ seyde the prowde potter,‘Þys ys bot rygȝt weke gere.’

‘Now schall y wet and thow be god,

And polle het op to they nere;’

‘So god me helpe,’ seyde the prowde potter,

‘Þys ys bot rygȝt weke gere.’

51To a quequer Roben went,A god bolt owthe he toke;So ney on to the marke he went,He ffayled not a fothe.

To a quequer Roben went,

A god bolt owthe he toke;

So ney on to the marke he went,

He ffayled not a fothe.

52All they schot abowthe agen,The screffes men and he;Off the marke he welde not ffayle,He cleffed the preke on thre.

All they schot abowthe agen,

The screffes men and he;

Off the marke he welde not ffayle,

He cleffed the preke on thre.

53The screffes men thowt gret schameThe potterthe mastry wan;The screffë lowe and made god game,And seyde, Potter, thow art a man.

The screffes men thowt gret schame

The potterthe mastry wan;

The screffë lowe and made god game,

And seyde, Potter, thow art a man.

54. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Thow art worthey to berea boweYn what plas that þow goe.

. . . . . . .

Thow art worthey to berea bowe

Yn what plas that þow goe.

55‘Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,Ffor soyt,’ he seyde, ‘and that a godde;Yn mey cart ys the bowThat gaffe me Robyn Hode.’

‘Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,

Ffor soyt,’ he seyde, ‘and that a godde;

Yn mey cart ys the bow

That gaffe me Robyn Hode.’

56‘Knowest thow Robyn Hode?’ seyde the screffe,‘Potter, y prey the tell thow me;’‘A hundred torne y haffe schot withhem,Vnder hes tortyll-tre.’

‘Knowest thow Robyn Hode?’ seyde the screffe,

‘Potter, y prey the tell thow me;’

‘A hundred torne y haffe schot withhem,

Vnder hes tortyll-tre.’

57‘Y had leuer nar a hundred ponde,’ seyde þe screffe,‘And swarebe the Trenitë,. . . . . . .Þat the ffals outelawe stod be me.’

‘Y had leuer nar a hundred ponde,’ seyde þe screffe,

‘And swarebe the Trenitë,

. . . . . . .

Þat the ffals outelawe stod be me.’

58‘And ye well do afftyr mey red,’ seyde þe potter,‘And boldeley go withme,And to morow, or we het bred,Roben Hode well we se.’

‘And ye well do afftyr mey red,’ seyde þe potter,

‘And boldeley go withme,

And to morow, or we het bred,

Roben Hode well we se.’

59‘Y wel queyt the,’ kod the screffe,‘Y swerebe God of meythe;’Schetyng thay left, and hom þey went,Her soper was reddy deythe.

‘Y wel queyt the,’ kod the screffe,

‘Y swerebe God of meythe;’

Schetyng thay left, and hom þey went,

Her soper was reddy deythe.

60Vpon the morow, when het was day,He boskyd hem fforthe to reyde;The potterhes cart fforthe gan ray,And wolde not leffe beheynde.

Vpon the morow, when het was day,

He boskyd hem fforthe to reyde;

The potterhes cart fforthe gan ray,

And wolde not leffe beheynde.

61He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,And thankyd her of all thyng:‘Dam, ffor mey loffe and ye well þys were,Y geffe yow herea golde ryng.’

He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,

And thankyd her of all thyng:

‘Dam, ffor mey loffe and ye well þys were,

Y geffe yow herea golde ryng.’

62‘Gramarsey,’ seyde the weyffe,‘Ser, god eylde het the;’The screffes hart was neuer so leythe,The ffeyrefforeyst to se.

‘Gramarsey,’ seyde the weyffe,

‘Ser, god eylde het the;’

The screffes hart was neuer so leythe,

The ffeyrefforeyst to se.

63And when he cam yn to the fforeyst,Yonder the leffes grene,Berdys theresange on bowhes prest,Het was gret goy to se.

And when he cam yn to the fforeyst,

Yonder the leffes grene,

Berdys theresange on bowhes prest,

Het was gret goy to se.

64‘Herehet ys merey to be,’ seyde Roben,‘Ffor a man that had hawt to spende;Be mey horne I schall awetYeff Roben Hode be here.’

‘Herehet ys merey to be,’ seyde Roben,

‘Ffor a man that had hawt to spende;

Be mey horne I schall awet

Yeff Roben Hode be here.’

65Roben set hes horne to hes mowthe,And blow a blast þat was ffoll god;Þat herde hes men þat þerestode,Ffer downe yn the wodde.

Roben set hes horne to hes mowthe,

And blow a blast þat was ffoll god;

Þat herde hes men þat þerestode,

Ffer downe yn the wodde.

66‘I her mey masterblow,’ seyde Leytell John,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .They ran as thay werewode.

‘I her mey masterblow,’ seyde Leytell John,

. . . . . . .

They ran as thay werewode.

67Whan thay to thar mastercam,Leytell John wold not spare;‘Master, how haffe yow ffareyn Notynggam?How haffe yow solde yowreware?’

Whan thay to thar mastercam,

Leytell John wold not spare;

‘Master, how haffe yow ffareyn Notynggam?

How haffe yow solde yowreware?’

68‘Ye, be mey trowthe, Leyty[ll] John,Loke thow take no care;Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,Ffor all howrechaffare.’

‘Ye, be mey trowthe, Leyty[ll] John,

Loke thow take no care;

Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,

Ffor all howrechaffare.’

69‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyde Lytyll John,‘Thes tydyng ys ffoll godde;The screffe had leuer nar a hundred pondeHe had [neuer sene Roben Hode.]

‘He ys ffoll wellcom,’ seyde Lytyll John,

‘Thes tydyng ys ffoll godde;

The screffe had leuer nar a hundred ponde

He had [neuer sene Roben Hode.]

70‘[Had I] west þat befforen,At Notynggam when we were,Thow scholde not com yn ffeyrefforestOf all thes thowsande eyre.’

‘[Had I] west þat befforen,

At Notynggam when we were,

Thow scholde not com yn ffeyrefforest

Of all thes thowsande eyre.’

71‘That wot y well,’ seyde Roben,‘Y thanke God that ye be here;Therefforeschall ye leffe yowrehors withhos,And all yowrehother gere.’

‘That wot y well,’ seyde Roben,

‘Y thanke God that ye be here;

Therefforeschall ye leffe yowrehors withhos,

And all yowrehother gere.’

72‘That ffend I Godys fforbod,’ kod the screffe,‘So to lese mey godde;. . . . . . .. . . . . .

‘That ffend I Godys fforbod,’ kod the screffe,

‘So to lese mey godde;

. . . . . . .

. . . . . .

73‘Hether ye cam on hors ffoll hey,And hom schall ye go on ffote;And gret well they weyffe at home,The woman ys ffoll godde.

‘Hether ye cam on hors ffoll hey,

And hom schall ye go on ffote;

And gret well they weyffe at home,

The woman ys ffoll godde.

74‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het ambellet be mey ffey,. . . . . . .. . . . . .

‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,

Het ambellet be mey ffey,

. . . . . . .

. . . . . .

75‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het hambellet as the weynde;Nereffor the loffe of yowreweyffe,Off moresorow scholde yow seyng.’

‘Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,

Het hambellet as the weynde;

Nereffor the loffe of yowreweyffe,

Off moresorow scholde yow seyng.’

76Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe;To Notynggam he toke the waye;Hes weyffe ffeyrewelcomed hem hom,And to hem gan sche saye:

Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe;

To Notynggam he toke the waye;

Hes weyffe ffeyrewelcomed hem hom,

And to hem gan sche saye:

77Seyr, how haffe yow ffared yn grene fforeyst?Haffe ye browt Roben hom?‘Dam, the deyell spede hem, bothe bodey and bon;Y haffe hade a ffoll gret skorne.

Seyr, how haffe yow ffared yn grene fforeyst?

Haffe ye browt Roben hom?

‘Dam, the deyell spede hem, bothe bodey and bon;

Y haffe hade a ffoll gret skorne.

78‘Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,He hayt take het ffro me;All bot thes ffeyrepalffrey,That he hayt sende to the.’

‘Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,

He hayt take het ffro me;

All bot thes ffeyrepalffrey,

That he hayt sende to the.’

79Withþat sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,And swharebe hem þat deyed on tre,‘Now haffe yow payed ffor all þe pottysThat Roben gaffe to me.

Withþat sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,

And swharebe hem þat deyed on tre,

‘Now haffe yow payed ffor all þe pottys

That Roben gaffe to me.

80‘Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,Ye schall haffe god ynowe;’Now speke we of Roben Hode,And of the pottyr ondyr the grene bowhe.

‘Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,

Ye schall haffe god ynowe;’

Now speke we of Roben Hode,

And of the pottyr ondyr the grene bowhe.

81‘Potter, what was they pottys wortheTo Notynggam þat y ledde withme?’‘They wer worthe to nobellys,’ seyde he,‘So mot y treyffe or the;So cowde y [haffe] had ffor tham,And y had therebe.’

‘Potter, what was they pottys worthe

To Notynggam þat y ledde withme?’

‘They wer worthe to nobellys,’ seyde he,

‘So mot y treyffe or the;

So cowde y [haffe] had ffor tham,

And y had therebe.’

82‘Thow schalt hafe ten ponde,’ seyde Roben,‘Of money ffeyre and ffre;And yeuer whan thow comest to grene wod,Wellcom, potter, to me.’

‘Thow schalt hafe ten ponde,’ seyde Roben,

‘Of money ffeyre and ffre;

And yeuer whan thow comest to grene wod,

Wellcom, potter, to me.’

83Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,Ondernethe the grene-wod tre;God haffe mersey on Roben Hodys solle,And saffe all god yemanrey!

Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,

Ondernethe the grene-wod tre;

God haffe mersey on Roben Hodys solle,

And saffe all god yemanrey!

22. cortessey.

34. werschep ye.

44. the lefe.

51, 61. syde.

63. Seche iij.

64. þey cleffe by my seydys.

71, 81, 211, 433. xl s’.

73. hys all.

74. hem leffe.

111. thes iij.

114. I peney.

142. And tekeat the beginning of the line struck through.

161. thes ij.

171. ffelow he seyde.

173. a caward.

192. onderorender.

194. hels: sclo.

201. went yemen.

202. To thes.

213, 563, 571. a c.

25. st. 29is wrongly put here.

254. yede.

272. ffelow hes.

28.The order of the lines is3, 2, 1, 4.

303. Heres.

351. pens v.

352. pens iij. d.

362. bot v.

372. Gere amarsey seyde sche than,with a character afterschewhich is probably an abbreviation forser,as in622.

414. to to.

421. methe.

423. ij of.

433. xl s.

453. the pottys.

454. bolt yt.

482. of iij.

483. senyst.

484. A say.

502. And [thow]?Thellinpolleis crossed; pottemay have been intended by the writer.

524. on iij.

541,2.No blank here, and none at573, 662,3, 723,4, 743,4.

553,4. Yn mey cart ys the bow þat Robyn gaffe me.

563. A c.

571, 693. a c.

592. & swere: meythey.

594. scoper.

643. he schall.

681. I leyty.

694, 701. He had west þat be fforen.

741,2.Ought perhaps to be dropped. The writer, having got the second verse wrong, may have begun the stanza again.

803.After this line is repeated, Ye schall haffe god ynowhe.

804. bowhes.

813. worthe ij.

816. be there.

82. hafe x li.

Expleycyt Robynhode.

A bowt, a non, be heynde,etc. are joined. Andfor&throughout. Some terminal curls rendered withewere, perhaps, mere tricks of writing; as marks over finalm, n,incam, on, yemen,etc., crossed doublelinall,etc., a curledninRoben,have been assumed to be.

As printed by Copland, at the end of his edition of the Gest, with a few corrections from White’s edition, 1634: Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 199. I have not thought it necessary to collate Ritson’s reprint with Copland. The collations with White here are made with the undated copy in the Bodleian Library, Z. 3. Art. Seld.

ROBYN HODELysten, to [me], my mery men all,v. 121And harke what I shall say;Of an adventure I shall you tell,That befell this other daye.With a proude potter I met,And a rose-garlande on his head,The floures of it shone marvaylous freshe;This seven yere and more he hath used this waye,Yet was he never so curteyse a potterAs one peny passage to paye.130Is there any of my mery men allThat dare be so boldeTo make the potter paie passage,Either silver or golde?LYTELL JOHNNot I master, for twenty pound redy tolde.135For there is not among us al oneThat dare medle with that potter, man for man.I felt his handes not long agone,But I had lever have ben here by the;Therfore I knowe what he is.140Mete him when ye wil, or mete him whan ye shal,He is as propre a man as ever you medle[d] withal.ROBYN HODEI will lai with the, Litel John, twenti pound so read,If I wyth that potter mete,I wil make him pay passage, maugre his head.145LYTTEL JOHNI consente therto, so eate I bread;If he pay passage, maugre his head,Twenti pound shall ye have of me for your mede.THE POTTERS BOY JACKEOut alas, that ever I sawe this daye!For I am clene out of my waye150From Notyngham towne;If I hye me not the faster,Or I come there the market wel be done.ROBYN HODELet me se, are the pottes hole and sounde?JACKEYea, meister, but they will not breake the ground.155ROBYN HODEI wil them breke, for the cuckold thi maisters sake;And if they will breake the grounde,Thou shalt have thre pence for a pound.JACKEOut alas! what have ye done?If my maister come, he will breke your crown.160THE POTTERWhy, thou horeson, art thou here yet?Thou shouldest have bene at market.JACKEI met with Robin Hode, a good yeman;He hath broken my pottes,And called you kuckolde by your name.165THE POTTERThou mayst be a gentylman, so God me save,But thou semest a noughty knave.Thou callest me cuckolde by my name,And I swere by God and Saynt John,Wyfe had I never none:170This cannot I denye.But if thou be a good felowe,I wil sel mi horse, mi harneis, pottes and paniers to,Thou shalt have the one halfe, and I will have the other.If thou be not so content,175Thou shalt have stripes, if thou were my brother.ROBYN HODEHarke, potter, what I shall say:This seven yere and more thou hast used this way,Yet were thou never so curteous to meAs one penny passage to paye.180THE POTTERWhy should I pay passage to thee?ROBYN HODEFor I am Robyn Hode, chiefe gouernoureUnder the grene-woode tree.THE POTTERThis seven yere have I used this way up and downe,Yet payed I passage to no man,185Nor now I wyl not beginne, to do the worst thou can.ROBYN HODEPassage shalt thou pai here under the grene-wode tre,Or els thou shalt leve a wedde with me.THE POTTERIf thou be a good felowe, as men do the call,Laye awaye thy bowe,190And take thy sword and buckeler in thy hande,And se what shall befall.ROBIN HODELyttle John, where art thou?LYTTEL [JOHN]Here, mayster, I make God avowe.I tolde you, mayster, so God me save,195That you shoulde fynde the potter a knave.Holde your buckeler faste in your hande,And I wyll styfly by you stande,Ready for to fyghte;Be the knave never so stoute,200I shall rappe him on the snoute,And put hym to flyghte.The rest is wanting.

ROBYN HODE

Lysten, to [me], my mery men all,v. 121And harke what I shall say;Of an adventure I shall you tell,That befell this other daye.With a proude potter I met,And a rose-garlande on his head,The floures of it shone marvaylous freshe;This seven yere and more he hath used this waye,Yet was he never so curteyse a potterAs one peny passage to paye.130Is there any of my mery men allThat dare be so boldeTo make the potter paie passage,Either silver or golde?

Lysten, to [me], my mery men all,

v. 121

And harke what I shall say;

Of an adventure I shall you tell,

That befell this other daye.

With a proude potter I met,

And a rose-garlande on his head,

The floures of it shone marvaylous freshe;

This seven yere and more he hath used this waye,

Yet was he never so curteyse a potter

As one peny passage to paye.

130

Is there any of my mery men all

That dare be so bolde

To make the potter paie passage,

Either silver or golde?

LYTELL JOHN

Not I master, for twenty pound redy tolde.135For there is not among us al oneThat dare medle with that potter, man for man.I felt his handes not long agone,But I had lever have ben here by the;Therfore I knowe what he is.140Mete him when ye wil, or mete him whan ye shal,He is as propre a man as ever you medle[d] withal.

Not I master, for twenty pound redy tolde.

135

For there is not among us al one

That dare medle with that potter, man for man.

I felt his handes not long agone,

But I had lever have ben here by the;

Therfore I knowe what he is.

140

Mete him when ye wil, or mete him whan ye shal,

He is as propre a man as ever you medle[d] withal.

ROBYN HODE

I will lai with the, Litel John, twenti pound so read,If I wyth that potter mete,I wil make him pay passage, maugre his head.145

I will lai with the, Litel John, twenti pound so read,

If I wyth that potter mete,

I wil make him pay passage, maugre his head.

145

LYTTEL JOHN

I consente therto, so eate I bread;If he pay passage, maugre his head,Twenti pound shall ye have of me for your mede.

I consente therto, so eate I bread;

If he pay passage, maugre his head,

Twenti pound shall ye have of me for your mede.

THE POTTERS BOY JACKE

Out alas, that ever I sawe this daye!For I am clene out of my waye150From Notyngham towne;If I hye me not the faster,Or I come there the market wel be done.

Out alas, that ever I sawe this daye!

For I am clene out of my waye

150

From Notyngham towne;

If I hye me not the faster,

Or I come there the market wel be done.

ROBYN HODE

Let me se, are the pottes hole and sounde?

JACKE

Yea, meister, but they will not breake the ground.155

Yea, meister, but they will not breake the ground.

155

ROBYN HODE

I wil them breke, for the cuckold thi maisters sake;And if they will breake the grounde,Thou shalt have thre pence for a pound.

I wil them breke, for the cuckold thi maisters sake;

And if they will breake the grounde,

Thou shalt have thre pence for a pound.

JACKE

Out alas! what have ye done?If my maister come, he will breke your crown.160

Out alas! what have ye done?

If my maister come, he will breke your crown.

160

THE POTTER

Why, thou horeson, art thou here yet?Thou shouldest have bene at market.

Why, thou horeson, art thou here yet?

Thou shouldest have bene at market.

JACKE

I met with Robin Hode, a good yeman;He hath broken my pottes,And called you kuckolde by your name.165

I met with Robin Hode, a good yeman;

He hath broken my pottes,

And called you kuckolde by your name.

165

THE POTTER

Thou mayst be a gentylman, so God me save,But thou semest a noughty knave.Thou callest me cuckolde by my name,And I swere by God and Saynt John,Wyfe had I never none:170This cannot I denye.But if thou be a good felowe,I wil sel mi horse, mi harneis, pottes and paniers to,Thou shalt have the one halfe, and I will have the other.If thou be not so content,175Thou shalt have stripes, if thou were my brother.

Thou mayst be a gentylman, so God me save,

But thou semest a noughty knave.

Thou callest me cuckolde by my name,

And I swere by God and Saynt John,

Wyfe had I never none:

170

This cannot I denye.

But if thou be a good felowe,

I wil sel mi horse, mi harneis, pottes and paniers to,

Thou shalt have the one halfe, and I will have the other.

If thou be not so content,

175

Thou shalt have stripes, if thou were my brother.

ROBYN HODE

Harke, potter, what I shall say:This seven yere and more thou hast used this way,Yet were thou never so curteous to meAs one penny passage to paye.180

Harke, potter, what I shall say:

This seven yere and more thou hast used this way,

Yet were thou never so curteous to me

As one penny passage to paye.

180

THE POTTER

Why should I pay passage to thee?

ROBYN HODE

For I am Robyn Hode, chiefe gouernoureUnder the grene-woode tree.

For I am Robyn Hode, chiefe gouernoure

Under the grene-woode tree.

THE POTTER

This seven yere have I used this way up and downe,Yet payed I passage to no man,185Nor now I wyl not beginne, to do the worst thou can.

This seven yere have I used this way up and downe,

Yet payed I passage to no man,

185

Nor now I wyl not beginne, to do the worst thou can.

ROBYN HODE

Passage shalt thou pai here under the grene-wode tre,Or els thou shalt leve a wedde with me.

Passage shalt thou pai here under the grene-wode tre,

Or els thou shalt leve a wedde with me.

THE POTTER

If thou be a good felowe, as men do the call,Laye awaye thy bowe,190And take thy sword and buckeler in thy hande,And se what shall befall.

If thou be a good felowe, as men do the call,

Laye awaye thy bowe,

190

And take thy sword and buckeler in thy hande,

And se what shall befall.

ROBIN HODE

Lyttle John, where art thou?

LYTTEL [JOHN]

Here, mayster, I make God avowe.I tolde you, mayster, so God me save,195That you shoulde fynde the potter a knave.Holde your buckeler faste in your hande,And I wyll styfly by you stande,Ready for to fyghte;Be the knave never so stoute,200I shall rappe him on the snoute,And put hym to flyghte.

Here, mayster, I make God avowe.

I tolde you, mayster, so God me save,

195

That you shoulde fynde the potter a knave.

Holde your buckeler faste in your hande,

And I wyll styfly by you stande,

Ready for to fyghte;

Be the knave never so stoute,

200

I shall rappe him on the snoute,

And put hym to flyghte.

The rest is wanting.

121. to [me],wanting in White.

142. medled,W.

153. maryet.

154. the,C.; thy,W.

186. to do: towanting in W.

188. wedded,C.; wed,W.

196. your,C.; you,W.

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