CCCCXVIII

CCCCXVIII‘Hast thou any green cloth?’ said our King,‘That thou wilt sell now to me?’—‘Yea, ’fore God,’ said Robin,‘Thirty yards and three.’CCCCXIX‘Robin,’ said our King,‘Now pray I thee,To sell me some of that cloth,To me and my meinèe.’CCCCXX‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said Robin,‘Or else I were a fool;Another day ye will me clothe,I trow, against the Yule.’CCCCXXIThe King cast off his coat then,A green garment he did on,And every knight had so, i-wis,They clothèd them full soon.CCCCXXIIWhen they were clothed in Lincoln green,They cast away their gray.‘Now we shall to Nottingham,’All thus our King gan say.CCCCXXIIITheir bows bent and forth they went,Shooting all in fere,Toward the town of Nottingham,Outlaws as they were.CCCCXXIVOur King and Robin rode togetherForsooth as I you say,And they shot pluck-buffet[912],As they went by the way;CCCCXXVAnd many a buffet our King won,Of Robin Hood that day:And nothing spared good RobinOur King in his pay.CCCCXXVI‘So God me help,’ said our King,‘Thy game is nought to lere[913],I should not get a shot of thee,Though I shot all this year.’CCCCXXVIIAll the people of NottinghamThey stood and beheld,They saw nothing but mantles of greenThat cover’d all the felde;CCCCXXVIIIThen every man to other gan say,‘I dread our King be slone;Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis,On life he leaveth not one.’CCCCXXIXFull hastily they began to flee,Both yeoman and knaves,The old wives that might evil go,They hippèd[914]on their staves.CCCCXXXThe King laughed full fast,And commanded them again;When they saw our comely King,I-wis they were full fain.CCCCXXXIThey ate and drank, and made them glad,And sang with notès high.Then bespake our comely KingTo Sir Richard at the Lee:CCCCXXXIIHe gave him there his land again,A good man he bade him be.Robin thanked our comely King,And set him on his knee.CCCCXXXIIIRobin had dwelt in the Kingès courtBut twelvè months and three,That he had spent an hundred pound,And all his mennès fee.CCCCXXXIVIn every place where Robin came,Evermore he laid down[915]Both for knightès and for squires,To get him great renown.CCCCXXXVBy then[916]the year was all agoneHe had no man but twain,Little John and good ScathèlockWith him all for to gane.CCCCXXXVIRobin saw the young men shootFull far upon a day;‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood,‘My wealth is went away.CCCCXXXVII‘Sometime I was an archer good,A stiff and eke a strong;I was counted the best archèrThat was in merry Englond.CCCCXXXVIII‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood,‘Alas and well-a-way!If I dwell longer with the King,Sorrow will me slay.’CCCCXXXIXForth then wentè Robin HoodTill he came to our King:‘My lord the King of Engèland,Grant me mine asking!CCCCXL‘I made a chapel in BarnèsdaleThat seemly is to see,It is of Mary Magdalen,And thereto would I be.CCCCXLI‘I might never in this seven nightNo timè sleep nor wink,Neither all these seven daysNeither eat nor drink.CCCCXLII‘Me longeth sore to Barnèsdale,I may not be therefro[917];Barefoot and woolward[918]I have hight[919]Thither for to go.’CCCCXLIII‘If it be so,’ then said our King,‘It may no better be;Seven night I give thee leave,No longer, to dwell from me.’CCCCXLIV‘Gramerci, lord,’ then said Robin,And set him on his knee:He took his leave full courteously,To green-wood then went he.CCCCXLVWhen he came to greenè-woodIn a merry mornìng,There he heard the notès smallOf birds merry singìng.CCCCXLVI‘It is far gone,’ said Robin Hood,‘That I was latest here;Me list[920]a little for to shootAt the dunnè deer.’CCCCXLVIIRobin slew a full great hart;His horn then gan he blow,That all the outlaws of that forèstThat horn they couldè know,CCCCXLVIIIAnd them together gatherèdIn a little throw[921];Seven score of wight young menCame ready on a row,CCCCXLIXAnd fairè didden off their hoods,And set them on their knee:‘Welcome,’ they said. ‘our dear mastèr,Under this green-wood tree!’CCCCLRobin dwelt in greenè-woodTwenty year and two;For all dread of Edward our King,Again[922]would he not go.CCCCLIYet he was beguiled, i-wis,Through a wicked woman,The prioress of Kirksley,That nigh was of his kin,CCCCLIIFor the love of a knight,Sir Roger of Doncastèr,That was her own special;Full evil might they fare!CCCCLIIIThey took together their counselRobin Hood for to sle,And how they might best do that deed,His banis[923]for to be.CCCCLIVThen bespake good Robin,In place where as he stood,‘To-morrow I must to Kirksley,Craftily[924]to be letten blood.’CCCCLVSir Roger [and the prioressA springe[925]for him did] lay,And there they betray’d good Robin Hood,Through their falsè play.CCCCLVIChrist have mercy on his soul,That died upon the rood!For he was a good outlàw,And did poor men much good.

‘Hast thou any green cloth?’ said our King,‘That thou wilt sell now to me?’—‘Yea, ’fore God,’ said Robin,‘Thirty yards and three.’

‘Robin,’ said our King,‘Now pray I thee,To sell me some of that cloth,To me and my meinèe.’

‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said Robin,‘Or else I were a fool;Another day ye will me clothe,I trow, against the Yule.’

The King cast off his coat then,A green garment he did on,And every knight had so, i-wis,They clothèd them full soon.

When they were clothed in Lincoln green,They cast away their gray.‘Now we shall to Nottingham,’All thus our King gan say.

Their bows bent and forth they went,Shooting all in fere,Toward the town of Nottingham,Outlaws as they were.

Our King and Robin rode togetherForsooth as I you say,And they shot pluck-buffet[912],As they went by the way;

And many a buffet our King won,Of Robin Hood that day:And nothing spared good RobinOur King in his pay.

‘So God me help,’ said our King,‘Thy game is nought to lere[913],I should not get a shot of thee,Though I shot all this year.’

All the people of NottinghamThey stood and beheld,They saw nothing but mantles of greenThat cover’d all the felde;

Then every man to other gan say,‘I dread our King be slone;Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis,On life he leaveth not one.’

Full hastily they began to flee,Both yeoman and knaves,The old wives that might evil go,They hippèd[914]on their staves.

The King laughed full fast,And commanded them again;When they saw our comely King,I-wis they were full fain.

They ate and drank, and made them glad,And sang with notès high.Then bespake our comely KingTo Sir Richard at the Lee:

He gave him there his land again,A good man he bade him be.Robin thanked our comely King,And set him on his knee.

Robin had dwelt in the Kingès courtBut twelvè months and three,That he had spent an hundred pound,And all his mennès fee.

In every place where Robin came,Evermore he laid down[915]Both for knightès and for squires,To get him great renown.

By then[916]the year was all agoneHe had no man but twain,Little John and good ScathèlockWith him all for to gane.

Robin saw the young men shootFull far upon a day;‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood,‘My wealth is went away.

‘Sometime I was an archer good,A stiff and eke a strong;I was counted the best archèrThat was in merry Englond.

‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood,‘Alas and well-a-way!If I dwell longer with the King,Sorrow will me slay.’

Forth then wentè Robin HoodTill he came to our King:‘My lord the King of Engèland,Grant me mine asking!

‘I made a chapel in BarnèsdaleThat seemly is to see,It is of Mary Magdalen,And thereto would I be.

‘I might never in this seven nightNo timè sleep nor wink,Neither all these seven daysNeither eat nor drink.

‘Me longeth sore to Barnèsdale,I may not be therefro[917];Barefoot and woolward[918]I have hight[919]Thither for to go.’

‘If it be so,’ then said our King,‘It may no better be;Seven night I give thee leave,No longer, to dwell from me.’

‘Gramerci, lord,’ then said Robin,And set him on his knee:He took his leave full courteously,To green-wood then went he.

When he came to greenè-woodIn a merry mornìng,There he heard the notès smallOf birds merry singìng.

‘It is far gone,’ said Robin Hood,‘That I was latest here;Me list[920]a little for to shootAt the dunnè deer.’

Robin slew a full great hart;His horn then gan he blow,That all the outlaws of that forèstThat horn they couldè know,

And them together gatherèdIn a little throw[921];Seven score of wight young menCame ready on a row,

And fairè didden off their hoods,And set them on their knee:‘Welcome,’ they said. ‘our dear mastèr,Under this green-wood tree!’

Robin dwelt in greenè-woodTwenty year and two;For all dread of Edward our King,Again[922]would he not go.

Yet he was beguiled, i-wis,Through a wicked woman,The prioress of Kirksley,That nigh was of his kin,

For the love of a knight,Sir Roger of Doncastèr,That was her own special;Full evil might they fare!

They took together their counselRobin Hood for to sle,And how they might best do that deed,His banis[923]for to be.

Then bespake good Robin,In place where as he stood,‘To-morrow I must to Kirksley,Craftily[924]to be letten blood.’

Sir Roger [and the prioressA springe[925]for him did] lay,And there they betray’d good Robin Hood,Through their falsè play.

Christ have mercy on his soul,That died upon the rood!For he was a good outlàw,And did poor men much good.

FOOTNOTES:[707]Meiny = retinue.[708]Lithe = hearken.[709]Barnèsdale = a forest region between Pontefract and Doncaster.[710]groom = man.[711]lest = lust, desire.[712]uncouth = unknown, strange.[713]were = might be.[714]alder = of all.[715]doubt = fear.[716]reave = plunder.[717]force = matter, account.[718]husband = husbandman.[719]shaw = grove.[720]lere = learn.[721]far days = late in the day.[722]the Sayles = a small farm near Pontefract.[723]Watling Street = the great North road.[724]Upchance = perchance.[725]dight = prepared.[726]dernè = hidden, retired.[727]street = road.[728]semblaunt = aspect.[729]And set him, &c. = and knelt down.[730]Hendè = gracious.[731]fere = company.[732]Blyth = near E. Retford.[733]careful cheer = sad countenance.[734]leer = cheek.[735]numbles = inwards, tripe.[736]brere = briar.[737]dear-worth = precious.[738]let = desist.[739]have part of thee = side with thee, aid thee.[740]counsel = secret.[741]of force = by force.[742]of yeomanry = from the yeoman class.[743]a sorry husband = a wretched manager.[744]okerer = usurer.[745]lecher = an unchaste man.[746]disgrate = fallen in fortune.[747]kenn’d = knew.[748]lorn = lost.[749]set to wed = put to pledge, mortgaged.[750]told = counted.[751]fall of = become of.[752]busk = make ready to go.[753]raw = row.[754]borrows = sureties.[755]Do way thy japès = away with thy jests.[756]to = for.[757]shope = created.[758]But if = unless.[759]lap = wrap.[760]mete = meted, measured.[761]met = measured.[762]palfrey = a saddle-horse.[763]teen = trouble.[764]knave = servant.[765]come = came.[766]But = unless.[767]fee = property.[768]ilkè = same.[769]shand = shame.[770]in my beard = contradicting, or thwarting me.[771]deemèd = judged.[772]wonder sore = monstrous severely.[773]Until = unto.[774]corsèd = bodied.[775]salued = saluted.[776]shrewd = cursed.[777]But = if not.[778]fend = defend.[779]fone = foes.[780]gree = satisfaction.[781]But I have = unless I have.[782]canst = knowest.[783]put myself ... in press = adventured myself.[784]release = quittance.[785]ellès = else.[786]Take = give.[787]Ne had not been = had it not been for.[788]With peacock ... y-dight = fitted with peacock feathers.[789]lancegay = a javelin-lance.[790]his mail = his bag or trunk.[791]roden = they rode.[792]y-pight = placed, fixed.[793]far and frembd bestad = in the plight of one from far and a stranger.[794]shende = shame.[795]wete = know.[796]shete = shoot.[797]fet = fetched.[798]wight = strong, brave.[799]woning wane = usual dwelling-place.[800]I-wis = assuredly.[801]meed = reward.[802]lewtè = loyalty.[803]yede = went.[804]livery = allowance of food.[805]Sith = since.[806]hind = knave, servant.[807]lent = gave.[808]mountenance = extent, space.[809]fette = fetched.[810]masars = maple-bowls.[811]cou’d = knew.[812]bedene = in company, together.[813]tyndès = tines, antlers.[814]sloo = slay.[815]courtepy = a short coat or cloak.[816]lap = wrap.[817]smerte = smart.[818]anchor = hermit.[819]frere = friar.[820]to-morne = to-morrow.[821]brand = sword.[822]await = plan, plot.[823]scathe = harm.[824]hip = the fruit of the wild rose.[825]trest = trusty.[826]that mirthès can = that can crack a joke.[827]tray and teen = grief and trouble.[828]a Black Monk = a Benedictine.[829]wed = wager.[830]seker and sad = sure and steady.[831]somers = pack-horses.[832]But = unless.[833]press = crowd.[834]hend = hands.[835]thrift = thriving, luck.[836]bolt = a blunt arrow.[837]Rathely = quickly.[838]set ... to-fore = hit upon.[839]gan gon = did go.[840]lief = glad.[841]Maugre in his teeth = in spite of him.[842]no force = no matter.[843]ray = striped cloth.[844]avowè = founder, patron.[845]So ... mote I the = so may I prosper.[846]eftsoons = soon.[847]borrowhood = surety.[848]Dame = Mother.[849]mark = 13s.4d.[850]myster = need.[851]cast = throw, as in dice.[852]hend = gracious.[853]moot = meeting, assembly.[854]seek = search.[855]mail = wallet, bag.[856]forcèr = coffer, strong-box.[857]sith = then.[858]For better cheap = more cheaply.[859]brook = enjoy, use.[860]overtold = counted over.[861]alder-best = best of all.[862]law = low.[863]fynly = goodly.[864]wete = know.[865]tackles = arrows.[866]worth thee = be to thee.[867]behotè = didst promise.[868]wed = pledge, security.[869]blive = quickly.[870]bushment = ambush.[871]meeds = wages.[872]dead = certain, sure.[873]rawe = row.[874]win = go, attain.[875]behote = promise.[876]wonest = dwellest.[877]up to rout = to assemble in a band, to call to arms.[878]dight = done, performed.[879]leasing = lying.[880]yede = went.[881]whole = healed.[882]wood = furious, mad.[883]bidene = together.[884]took = gave.[885]ren = run.[886]pass = limits, extent.[887]There = where.[888]unneth = scarcely.[889]fay = faith.[890]That ye will = to whom you wish.[891]halk = nook, hiding-place.[892]forstèr = forester.[893]lede = following, retinue.[894]leadès-man = guide.[895]convent = company of monks.[896]mail-horse = baggage-horse.[897]lind = linden, lime tree.[898]stide = stead, place.[899]lording = gentleman.[900]Halfen-deal = half.[901]targe = disk (seal).[902]dightànd = making preparations.[903]pine = pain, passion.[904]hennès = hence.[905]lend = dwell.[906]shent = put to shame, hurt.[907]yards = rods.[908]tine = forfeit.[909]falls = is proper.[910]frere = friar.[911]But me like = unless I like.[912]pluck-buffet = ‘app. a competition between archers, in which he who missed or failed “caught” a buffet from his competitor’ (N.E.D.).[913]lere = learn.[914]hippèd = hopped, limped.[915]laid down = spent money.[916]By then = by the time that.[917]therefro = turned from it.[918]woolward = in a rough woollen shirt (as penance).[919]hight = promised.[920]Me list = it pleases me.[921]throw = interval of time.[922]Again = back.[923]banis = bane, destruction.[924]craftily = skilfully.[925]springe = trap.

[707]Meiny = retinue.

[708]Lithe = hearken.

[709]Barnèsdale = a forest region between Pontefract and Doncaster.

[710]groom = man.

[711]lest = lust, desire.

[712]uncouth = unknown, strange.

[713]were = might be.

[714]alder = of all.

[715]doubt = fear.

[716]reave = plunder.

[717]force = matter, account.

[718]husband = husbandman.

[719]shaw = grove.

[720]lere = learn.

[721]far days = late in the day.

[722]the Sayles = a small farm near Pontefract.

[723]Watling Street = the great North road.

[724]Upchance = perchance.

[725]dight = prepared.

[726]dernè = hidden, retired.

[727]street = road.

[728]semblaunt = aspect.

[729]And set him, &c. = and knelt down.

[730]Hendè = gracious.

[731]fere = company.

[732]Blyth = near E. Retford.

[733]careful cheer = sad countenance.

[734]leer = cheek.

[735]numbles = inwards, tripe.

[736]brere = briar.

[737]dear-worth = precious.

[738]let = desist.

[739]have part of thee = side with thee, aid thee.

[740]counsel = secret.

[741]of force = by force.

[742]of yeomanry = from the yeoman class.

[743]a sorry husband = a wretched manager.

[744]okerer = usurer.

[745]lecher = an unchaste man.

[746]disgrate = fallen in fortune.

[747]kenn’d = knew.

[748]lorn = lost.

[749]set to wed = put to pledge, mortgaged.

[750]told = counted.

[751]fall of = become of.

[752]busk = make ready to go.

[753]raw = row.

[754]borrows = sureties.

[755]Do way thy japès = away with thy jests.

[756]to = for.

[757]shope = created.

[758]But if = unless.

[759]lap = wrap.

[760]mete = meted, measured.

[761]met = measured.

[762]palfrey = a saddle-horse.

[763]teen = trouble.

[764]knave = servant.

[765]come = came.

[766]But = unless.

[767]fee = property.

[768]ilkè = same.

[769]shand = shame.

[770]in my beard = contradicting, or thwarting me.

[771]deemèd = judged.

[772]wonder sore = monstrous severely.

[773]Until = unto.

[774]corsèd = bodied.

[775]salued = saluted.

[776]shrewd = cursed.

[777]But = if not.

[778]fend = defend.

[779]fone = foes.

[780]gree = satisfaction.

[781]But I have = unless I have.

[782]canst = knowest.

[783]put myself ... in press = adventured myself.

[784]release = quittance.

[785]ellès = else.

[786]Take = give.

[787]Ne had not been = had it not been for.

[788]With peacock ... y-dight = fitted with peacock feathers.

[789]lancegay = a javelin-lance.

[790]his mail = his bag or trunk.

[791]roden = they rode.

[792]y-pight = placed, fixed.

[793]far and frembd bestad = in the plight of one from far and a stranger.

[794]shende = shame.

[795]wete = know.

[796]shete = shoot.

[797]fet = fetched.

[798]wight = strong, brave.

[799]woning wane = usual dwelling-place.

[800]I-wis = assuredly.

[801]meed = reward.

[802]lewtè = loyalty.

[803]yede = went.

[804]livery = allowance of food.

[805]Sith = since.

[806]hind = knave, servant.

[807]lent = gave.

[808]mountenance = extent, space.

[809]fette = fetched.

[810]masars = maple-bowls.

[811]cou’d = knew.

[812]bedene = in company, together.

[813]tyndès = tines, antlers.

[814]sloo = slay.

[815]courtepy = a short coat or cloak.

[816]lap = wrap.

[817]smerte = smart.

[818]anchor = hermit.

[819]frere = friar.

[820]to-morne = to-morrow.

[821]brand = sword.

[822]await = plan, plot.

[823]scathe = harm.

[824]hip = the fruit of the wild rose.

[825]trest = trusty.

[826]that mirthès can = that can crack a joke.

[827]tray and teen = grief and trouble.

[828]a Black Monk = a Benedictine.

[829]wed = wager.

[830]seker and sad = sure and steady.

[831]somers = pack-horses.

[832]But = unless.

[833]press = crowd.

[834]hend = hands.

[835]thrift = thriving, luck.

[836]bolt = a blunt arrow.

[837]Rathely = quickly.

[838]set ... to-fore = hit upon.

[839]gan gon = did go.

[840]lief = glad.

[841]Maugre in his teeth = in spite of him.

[842]no force = no matter.

[843]ray = striped cloth.

[844]avowè = founder, patron.

[845]So ... mote I the = so may I prosper.

[846]eftsoons = soon.

[847]borrowhood = surety.

[848]Dame = Mother.

[849]mark = 13s.4d.

[850]myster = need.

[851]cast = throw, as in dice.

[852]hend = gracious.

[853]moot = meeting, assembly.

[854]seek = search.

[855]mail = wallet, bag.

[856]forcèr = coffer, strong-box.

[857]sith = then.

[858]For better cheap = more cheaply.

[859]brook = enjoy, use.

[860]overtold = counted over.

[861]alder-best = best of all.

[862]law = low.

[863]fynly = goodly.

[864]wete = know.

[865]tackles = arrows.

[866]worth thee = be to thee.

[867]behotè = didst promise.

[868]wed = pledge, security.

[869]blive = quickly.

[870]bushment = ambush.

[871]meeds = wages.

[872]dead = certain, sure.

[873]rawe = row.

[874]win = go, attain.

[875]behote = promise.

[876]wonest = dwellest.

[877]up to rout = to assemble in a band, to call to arms.

[878]dight = done, performed.

[879]leasing = lying.

[880]yede = went.

[881]whole = healed.

[882]wood = furious, mad.

[883]bidene = together.

[884]took = gave.

[885]ren = run.

[886]pass = limits, extent.

[887]There = where.

[888]unneth = scarcely.

[889]fay = faith.

[890]That ye will = to whom you wish.

[891]halk = nook, hiding-place.

[892]forstèr = forester.

[893]lede = following, retinue.

[894]leadès-man = guide.

[895]convent = company of monks.

[896]mail-horse = baggage-horse.

[897]lind = linden, lime tree.

[898]stide = stead, place.

[899]lording = gentleman.

[900]Halfen-deal = half.

[901]targe = disk (seal).

[902]dightànd = making preparations.

[903]pine = pain, passion.

[904]hennès = hence.

[905]lend = dwell.

[906]shent = put to shame, hurt.

[907]yards = rods.

[908]tine = forfeit.

[909]falls = is proper.

[910]frere = friar.

[911]But me like = unless I like.

[912]pluck-buffet = ‘app. a competition between archers, in which he who missed or failed “caught” a buffet from his competitor’ (N.E.D.).

[913]lere = learn.

[914]hippèd = hopped, limped.

[915]laid down = spent money.

[916]By then = by the time that.

[917]therefro = turned from it.

[918]woolward = in a rough woollen shirt (as penance).

[919]hight = promised.

[920]Me list = it pleases me.

[921]throw = interval of time.

[922]Again = back.

[923]banis = bane, destruction.

[924]craftily = skilfully.

[925]springe = trap.

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