CCLXXXI

CCLXXXINow hath the Knight his leave i-take,And went him on his way;Robin Hood and his merry menDwelt still full many a day.CCLXXXIILithe and listen, Gentlemen,And hearken what I shall say,How the proud Sheriff of Nottingham,Did cry a full fair play;CCLXXXIIIThat all the best archers of the NorthShould come upon a day,‘And he that shooteth alder-best[861]The game shall bear away.CCLXXXIV‘He that shooteth alder-best,Furthest, fair, and law[862],At a pair of fynly[863]butts,Under the green-wood shaw,CCLXXXV‘A right good arrow he shall have,The shaft of silver white,The head and feathers of rich red gold,In England is none like.’CCLXXXVIThis then heardè good Robin,Under his trystell-tree:‘Make you ready, ye wight young men;That shooting will I see.CCLXXXVII‘Busk you, my merry young men,Ye shall go with me;And I will wete[864]the Sheriff’s faith,True an if he be.CCLXXXVIIIWhen they had their bows i-bent,Their tackles[865]feather’d free,Seven score of wight young menStood by Robin’s knee.CCLXXXIXWhen they came to Nottingham,The butts were fair and long;Many was the bold archèrThat shot with bowè strong.CCXC‘There shall but six shoot with me,The other shall keep my heed,And stand with good bowès bentThat I be not deceived.’CCXCIThe fourth outlaw his bow gan bend,And that was Robin Hood,And that beheld the proud Sheriff,All by the butt he stood.CCXCIIThrice Robin shot about,And alway he sliced the wand,And so did good Gilbert,With the white hand.CCXCIIILittle John and good ScathelockWere archers good and free;Little Much and good Reynold,The worst would they not be.CCXCIVWhen they haddè shot about,These archers fair and good,Evermore was the best,For soothè, Robin Hood.CCXCVHim was deliver’d the good arròw,For best worthy was he;He took the gift so courteously,To greenè-wood would he.CCXCVIThey crièd out on Robin HoodAnd great horns gan they blow:‘Woe worth thee[866], treason!’ said Robin,‘Full evil thou art to know.CCXCVII‘And woe be thee, thou proud Sheriff,Thus gladding thy guest;Otherwise, thou behotè[867]meIn yonder wild forèst.CCXCVIII‘But had I thee in greenè-wood,Under my trystell-tree,Thou shouldest leave me a better wed[868]Than thy true lewtè.’CCXCIXFull many a bowè there was bent,And arrows let they glide;Many a kirtle there was rent,And hurt full many a side.CCCThe outlaws’ shottè was so strongThat no man might them drive.And the proudè Sheriff’s menThey fled away full blive[869].CCCIRobin saw the bushment[870]broke,In green-wood he would be;Many an arrow there was shotAmong that company.CCCIILittle John was hurt full sore,With an arrow in his knee,That he might neither go nor ride;It was full great pity.CCCIII‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘If ever thou lovest me,And for that ilk Lordès love,That died upon a tree,CCCIV‘And for the meeds[871]of my service,That I have servèd thee,Let never the proud SheriffAlive now findè me;CCCV‘But take out thy brown sword,And smite all off my headAnd give me wounds dead[872]and wide,No life on me be left.’CCCVI‘I would not that,’ said Robin,‘John, that thou were slawe,For all the gold in merry England,Though it lay now on a rawe[873].’CCCVII‘God forbid,’ said little Much,‘That died on a tree,That thou shouldest, Little John,Part our company.’CCCVIIIUp Robin took him on his back,And bare him well a mile;Many a time he laid him down,And shot another while.CCCIXThen was there a fair castèll,A little within the wood;Double-ditch’d it was about,And wallèd, by the rood.CCCXAnd there dwelt that gentle Knight,Sir Richard at the Lee,That Robin haddè lent his good,Under the green-wood tree.CCCXIIn he took good Robin,And all his company:‘Welcome be thou, Robin Hood,Welcome art thou to me;CCCXII‘And much I thank thee of thy comfort,And of thy courtesy,And of thy great kindness,Under the green-wood tree;CCCXIII‘I love no man in all this worldSo much as I do thee;For all the proud Sheriff of Nottingham,Right here shalt thou be.CCCXIV‘Shut the gates and draw the bridge,And let no man come in,And arm you well, and make you ready,And to the walls ye win[874].CCCXV‘For one thing, Robin, I thee behote[875],I swear by Saint Quintìn,These twelve days thou wonest[876]with me,To sup, eat, and dine.’CCCXVIBoards were laid, and cloths spread,Readily and anon;Robin Hood and his merry menTo meat gan they gone.

Now hath the Knight his leave i-take,And went him on his way;Robin Hood and his merry menDwelt still full many a day.

Lithe and listen, Gentlemen,And hearken what I shall say,How the proud Sheriff of Nottingham,Did cry a full fair play;

That all the best archers of the NorthShould come upon a day,‘And he that shooteth alder-best[861]The game shall bear away.

‘He that shooteth alder-best,Furthest, fair, and law[862],At a pair of fynly[863]butts,Under the green-wood shaw,

‘A right good arrow he shall have,The shaft of silver white,The head and feathers of rich red gold,In England is none like.’

This then heardè good Robin,Under his trystell-tree:‘Make you ready, ye wight young men;That shooting will I see.

‘Busk you, my merry young men,Ye shall go with me;And I will wete[864]the Sheriff’s faith,True an if he be.

When they had their bows i-bent,Their tackles[865]feather’d free,Seven score of wight young menStood by Robin’s knee.

When they came to Nottingham,The butts were fair and long;Many was the bold archèrThat shot with bowè strong.

‘There shall but six shoot with me,The other shall keep my heed,And stand with good bowès bentThat I be not deceived.’

The fourth outlaw his bow gan bend,And that was Robin Hood,And that beheld the proud Sheriff,All by the butt he stood.

Thrice Robin shot about,And alway he sliced the wand,And so did good Gilbert,With the white hand.

Little John and good ScathelockWere archers good and free;Little Much and good Reynold,The worst would they not be.

When they haddè shot about,These archers fair and good,Evermore was the best,For soothè, Robin Hood.

Him was deliver’d the good arròw,For best worthy was he;He took the gift so courteously,To greenè-wood would he.

They crièd out on Robin HoodAnd great horns gan they blow:‘Woe worth thee[866], treason!’ said Robin,‘Full evil thou art to know.

‘And woe be thee, thou proud Sheriff,Thus gladding thy guest;Otherwise, thou behotè[867]meIn yonder wild forèst.

‘But had I thee in greenè-wood,Under my trystell-tree,Thou shouldest leave me a better wed[868]Than thy true lewtè.’

Full many a bowè there was bent,And arrows let they glide;Many a kirtle there was rent,And hurt full many a side.

The outlaws’ shottè was so strongThat no man might them drive.And the proudè Sheriff’s menThey fled away full blive[869].

Robin saw the bushment[870]broke,In green-wood he would be;Many an arrow there was shotAmong that company.

Little John was hurt full sore,With an arrow in his knee,That he might neither go nor ride;It was full great pity.

‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘If ever thou lovest me,And for that ilk Lordès love,That died upon a tree,

‘And for the meeds[871]of my service,That I have servèd thee,Let never the proud SheriffAlive now findè me;

‘But take out thy brown sword,And smite all off my headAnd give me wounds dead[872]and wide,No life on me be left.’

‘I would not that,’ said Robin,‘John, that thou were slawe,For all the gold in merry England,Though it lay now on a rawe[873].’

‘God forbid,’ said little Much,‘That died on a tree,That thou shouldest, Little John,Part our company.’

Up Robin took him on his back,And bare him well a mile;Many a time he laid him down,And shot another while.

Then was there a fair castèll,A little within the wood;Double-ditch’d it was about,And wallèd, by the rood.

And there dwelt that gentle Knight,Sir Richard at the Lee,That Robin haddè lent his good,Under the green-wood tree.

In he took good Robin,And all his company:‘Welcome be thou, Robin Hood,Welcome art thou to me;

‘And much I thank thee of thy comfort,And of thy courtesy,And of thy great kindness,Under the green-wood tree;

‘I love no man in all this worldSo much as I do thee;For all the proud Sheriff of Nottingham,Right here shalt thou be.

‘Shut the gates and draw the bridge,And let no man come in,And arm you well, and make you ready,And to the walls ye win[874].

‘For one thing, Robin, I thee behote[875],I swear by Saint Quintìn,These twelve days thou wonest[876]with me,To sup, eat, and dine.’

Boards were laid, and cloths spread,Readily and anon;Robin Hood and his merry menTo meat gan they gone.

How Sir Richard was cast by the Sheriff into Prison, and rescued by Robin Hood

CCCXVIILithe and listen, Gentlemen,And hearken to my song;How the proud Sheriff of NottinghamAnd men of armès strongCCCXVIIIFull fast came to the High Sheriff,The country up to rout[877],And they beset the Knight’s castell,The wallès all about.CCCXIXThe proudè Sheriff loud gan cry,And said, ‘Thou traitor Knight,Thou keep’st here the King’s enemies,Against the law and right.’—CCCXX‘Sir, I will avow that I have done,The deeds that here be dight[878],Upon all the lands that I have,As I am a true knight.CCCXXI‘Wend forth, sirs, on your way,And doth no more to me,Till ye wit our King his willWhat he will say to thee.’CCCXXIIThe Sheriff thus had his answère,Without any leasing[879];Forth he yede[880]to London town,All for to tell our King.CCCXXIIIThere he told him of that Knight,And eke of Robin Hood,And also of the bold archersThat were so noble and good.CCCXXIV‘He would avow that he had done,To maintain the outlaws strong,He would be lord, and set you at nought,In all the north londe.’CCCXXV‘I will be at Nottingham,’ said our King,‘Within this fortènight,And take I willè Robin Hood,And so I will that Knight.CCCXXVI‘Go home, thou proud Sheriff,And do as I bid thee,And ordain good archers enough,Of all the wide countrey.’CCCXXVIIThe Sheriff had his leave i-take,And went him on his way;And Robin Hood to green-wood wentUpon a certain day;CCCXXVIIIAnd Little John was whole[881]of the arrow,That shot was in his knee,And did him straight to Robin Hood,Under the green-wood tree.CCCXXIXRobin Hood walked in the forestUnder the leavès green;The proud Sheriff of NottinghamThereof he had great teen.CCCXXXThe Sheriff there fail’d of Robin Hood,He might not have his prey;Then he awaited this gentle Knight,Both by night and day.CCCXXXIEver he waited that gentle Knight,Sir Richard at the Lee,As he went hawking by the river side,And let his hawkès flee.CCCXXXIITook he there this gentle Knight,With men of armès strong,And led him to Nottingham-ward,Bound both foot and hond.CCCXXXIIIThe Sheriff swore a full great oath,By Him that died on a tree,He had liefer than an hundred pound,That Robin Hood had he.CCCXXXIVThis heard the Knightès wife,A fair lady and a free;She set her on a good palfrey,To green-wood anon rode she.CCCXXXVWhen she came in the forèst,Under the green-wood tree,Found she there Robin HoodAnd all his fair meinèe.CCCXXXVI‘God thee save, thou good Robin,And all thy company;For Ourè dearè Lady’s sake,A boon grant thou me!CCCXXXVII‘Let thou never my wedded LordShamefully slayen be;He is fast bound at Nottingham,For the love of thee.’CCCXXXVIIIAnon then said good Robin,To that lady free,‘What man hath your lord i-take?’—‘The proud Sheriff,’ then said she.CCCXXXIX‘The proud Sheriff hath him i-takeForsooth as I thee say;He is not yet three miles,Passèd on his way.’CCCXLUp then started good RobinAs a man that had been wood[882];‘Buskè you, my merry men,For Him that died on rood!CCCXLI‘And he that this sorròw forsaketh,By Him that died on a tree,And by Him that all things maketh,No longer shall dwell with me.’CCCXLIISoon there were good bows y-bent,More than seven score;Hedge nor ditch they sparèd noneThat was them before.CCCXLIII‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘The Knight would I fain see,And if I may him takè,I-quit then shall he be.’CCCXLIVAnd when they came to Nottingham,They walkèd in the street;And with the proud Sheriff i-wisSoonè gan they meet.CCCXLV‘Abide, thou proud Sheriff,’ he said,‘Abide, and speak with me;Of some tidings of our KingI would fain hear of thee.CCCXLVI‘This seven year, by dear-worthy God,Ne yede I so fast on foot,I make mine avow to God, thou proud Sheriff,It is not for thy good.’CCCXLVIIRobin bent a full good bow,An arrow he drew at will;He hit so the proud Sheriff,On the ground he lay full still.CCCXLVIIIAnd or he might up arise,On his feet to stand,He smote off the Sheriff’s head,With his bright brand.CCCXLIX‘Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff;Evil mote thou thrive:There might no man to thee trustThe while thou wert alive.’CCCLHis men drew out their brightè swordsThat were so sharp and keen,And laiden on the Sheriff’s men,And drave them down bidene[883].CCCLIRobin started to the Knight,And cut in two his band,And took[884]him in his hand a bow,And bade him by him stand.CCCLII‘Leave thy horsè thee behind,And learnè for to ren[885];Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,Through mire, moss, and fen.CCCLIII‘Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,Without any leasing,Till that I have got us graceOf Edward, our comely King.’

Lithe and listen, Gentlemen,And hearken to my song;How the proud Sheriff of NottinghamAnd men of armès strong

Full fast came to the High Sheriff,The country up to rout[877],And they beset the Knight’s castell,The wallès all about.

The proudè Sheriff loud gan cry,And said, ‘Thou traitor Knight,Thou keep’st here the King’s enemies,Against the law and right.’—

‘Sir, I will avow that I have done,The deeds that here be dight[878],Upon all the lands that I have,As I am a true knight.

‘Wend forth, sirs, on your way,And doth no more to me,Till ye wit our King his willWhat he will say to thee.’

The Sheriff thus had his answère,Without any leasing[879];Forth he yede[880]to London town,All for to tell our King.

There he told him of that Knight,And eke of Robin Hood,And also of the bold archersThat were so noble and good.

‘He would avow that he had done,To maintain the outlaws strong,He would be lord, and set you at nought,In all the north londe.’

‘I will be at Nottingham,’ said our King,‘Within this fortènight,And take I willè Robin Hood,And so I will that Knight.

‘Go home, thou proud Sheriff,And do as I bid thee,And ordain good archers enough,Of all the wide countrey.’

The Sheriff had his leave i-take,And went him on his way;And Robin Hood to green-wood wentUpon a certain day;

And Little John was whole[881]of the arrow,That shot was in his knee,And did him straight to Robin Hood,Under the green-wood tree.

Robin Hood walked in the forestUnder the leavès green;The proud Sheriff of NottinghamThereof he had great teen.

The Sheriff there fail’d of Robin Hood,He might not have his prey;Then he awaited this gentle Knight,Both by night and day.

Ever he waited that gentle Knight,Sir Richard at the Lee,As he went hawking by the river side,And let his hawkès flee.

Took he there this gentle Knight,With men of armès strong,And led him to Nottingham-ward,Bound both foot and hond.

The Sheriff swore a full great oath,By Him that died on a tree,He had liefer than an hundred pound,That Robin Hood had he.

This heard the Knightès wife,A fair lady and a free;She set her on a good palfrey,To green-wood anon rode she.

When she came in the forèst,Under the green-wood tree,Found she there Robin HoodAnd all his fair meinèe.

‘God thee save, thou good Robin,And all thy company;For Ourè dearè Lady’s sake,A boon grant thou me!

‘Let thou never my wedded LordShamefully slayen be;He is fast bound at Nottingham,For the love of thee.’

Anon then said good Robin,To that lady free,‘What man hath your lord i-take?’—‘The proud Sheriff,’ then said she.

‘The proud Sheriff hath him i-takeForsooth as I thee say;He is not yet three miles,Passèd on his way.’

Up then started good RobinAs a man that had been wood[882];‘Buskè you, my merry men,For Him that died on rood!

‘And he that this sorròw forsaketh,By Him that died on a tree,And by Him that all things maketh,No longer shall dwell with me.’

Soon there were good bows y-bent,More than seven score;Hedge nor ditch they sparèd noneThat was them before.

‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘The Knight would I fain see,And if I may him takè,I-quit then shall he be.’

And when they came to Nottingham,They walkèd in the street;And with the proud Sheriff i-wisSoonè gan they meet.

‘Abide, thou proud Sheriff,’ he said,‘Abide, and speak with me;Of some tidings of our KingI would fain hear of thee.

‘This seven year, by dear-worthy God,Ne yede I so fast on foot,I make mine avow to God, thou proud Sheriff,It is not for thy good.’

Robin bent a full good bow,An arrow he drew at will;He hit so the proud Sheriff,On the ground he lay full still.

And or he might up arise,On his feet to stand,He smote off the Sheriff’s head,With his bright brand.

‘Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff;Evil mote thou thrive:There might no man to thee trustThe while thou wert alive.’

His men drew out their brightè swordsThat were so sharp and keen,And laiden on the Sheriff’s men,And drave them down bidene[883].

Robin started to the Knight,And cut in two his band,And took[884]him in his hand a bow,And bade him by him stand.

‘Leave thy horsè thee behind,And learnè for to ren[885];Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,Through mire, moss, and fen.

‘Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,Without any leasing,Till that I have got us graceOf Edward, our comely King.’

How the King rode out to punish Robin Hood, and how he was entertained

CCCLIVThe King came to Nottingham,With knights in great array,For to take that gentle KnightAnd Robin, if he may.CCCLVHe askèd men of that countryAfter Robin Hood,And eke after that gentle KnightThat was so bold and good.CCCLVIWhen they had him told the caseOur King understood their tale,And he seizèd in his handThe Knightès landès all.CCCLVIIAll the pass[886]of LancashireHe went both far and near,Till he came to Plompton Park,He fail’d many of his deer.CCCLVIIIThere[887]our King was wont to seeHerdès many one,He could unneth[888]find one deerThat bare any good horn.CCCLIXThe King was wonder wroth withall,And swore by the Trinity,‘I would I haddè Robin Hood,With eyes I might him see.CCCLX‘And he that would smite off the Knightès head,And bring it unto meHe shall have the Knightès lands,Sir Richard at the Lee.CCCLXI‘I give it him with my chartèr,And seal it with my hand,To have and hold for evermoreIn all merry England.’CCCLXIIThen bespake a fair old KnightThat was true in his fay[889]:‘Ah! my liegè lord the King,One word I shall you say.CCCLXIII‘There is no man in this countryMay have the Knightès lands,While Robin Hood may ride or go,And bear a bow in his hands.CCCLXIV‘That he ne shall not lose his head,The best ball in his hood;Give it no man, my lord the King,That ye will[890]any good.’CCCLXVHalf a year dwelt our comely KingIn Nottingham, and more;Could he not hear of Robin Hood,In what country he wore.CCCLXVIBut alway wentè good RobinBy halk[891]and eke by hill,And alway slew the Kingès deer,And wielded them at will.CCCLXVIIThen bespake a proud forstèr[892],That stood by our Kingès knee:‘If ye will see good Robin Hood,Ye must do after me.CCCLXVIII‘Take five of the bestè knightsThat be in yourè lede[893],And walkè down by yon Abbèy,And get you monkès weed.CCCLXIX‘And I will be your leadès-man[894],And leadè you the way,And ere ye come to NottinghamMine head then dare I layCCCLXX‘That ye shall meet with good Robin,Alive if that he be;Ere ye come to NottinghamWith eyes ye shall him see.’CCCLXXIFull hastily our King was dight,So were his knightès five.Each of them in monkès weed,And hasted thither blive.CCCLXXIIOur King was great above his cowl,A broad hat on his crown,Right as he were abbot-like,They rode into the town.CCCLXXIIIStiff boots our King had on,Forsooth as I you say;Singing he rode to the greenè-wood,The convent[895]was clothed in gray.CCCLXXIVHis mail-horse[896]and his great somèrsFollowed our King behind,Till they came to greenè-woodA mile under the lind[897].CCCLXXVThere they met with good Robin,Standing on the way,And so did many a bold archèr,For sooth as I you say.CCCLXXVIRobin took the Kingè’s horseHastily in that stide[898],And said, ‘Sir Abbot, by your leave,A while ye must abide.CCCLXXVII‘We be yeomen of this forèstUnder the green-wood tree;We livè by our Kingès deer,None other shift have we.CCCLXXVIII‘And ye have churches and rentès bothAnd gold full great plentỳ,Give us some of your spendingFor saintè charity.’CCCLXXIXThen bespake our comely King,Anon then saidè he,‘I have brought no more to greenè-woodBut forty pound with me.CCCLXXX‘I have lain at NottinghamThis fortnight with our King,And spent I have full muchè goodOn many a great lording[899].CCCLXXXI‘And I have but forty pound,No more I have with me:But if I had an hundred pound,I vouch it half on thee.’CCCLXXXIIRobin took the forty pound,And departed it in twain;Halfen-deal[900]he gave his men,And bade them be full fain.CCCLXXXIIIFull courteously Robin gan say,‘Sir, this for your spending!We shall meet another day.’—‘Gramerci!’ said our King.CCCLXXXIV‘But well thee greeteth Edward our King,And sent to thee his seal,And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,Both to meat and meal.’CCCLXXXVHe took out the broadè targe[901],And soon he let him see;Robin could his courtesy,And set him on his knee.CCCLXXXVI‘I love no man in all the worldSo well as I do my King;Welcome is my lordès seal;And, Monk, for thy tiding.CCCLXXXVII‘Sir Abbot, for thy tidings,To-day thou shalt dine with me,For the lovè of my King,Under my trystell-tree.’CCCLXXXVIIIForth he led our comely KingFull fairè by the hand;Many a deer there was slain,They were full fast dightànd[902].CCCLXXXIXRobin took a full great horn,And loudè he gan blow;Seven score of wight young menCame ready on a row.CCCXCAll they kneelèd on their kneeFull fair before Robin;The King said himself until,And swore by Saint Austìn,CCCXCI‘Here is a wonder seemly sight;Me thinketh, by God’s pine[903],His men are more at his biddingThan my men be at mine.’CCCXCIIFull hastily was their dinner dight,And thereto gan they gon;They servèd our King with all their might,Both Robin and Little John.CCCXCIIIAnon before our King was setThe fattè venisoun,The good white bread, the good red wine,Thereto fine ale and brown.CCCXCIV‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood,‘Abbot, for charity,And for this ilkè tiding, Sir,Blessed mote thou be.CCCXCV‘Now shalt thou see what life we lead,Ere thou hennès[904]wend;Then thou mayst inform our King,When ye together lend[905].’CCCXCVIUp they started all in haste,Their bows were smartly bent;Our King was never so aghast,He weened to have been shent[906].CCCXCVIITwo yards[907]there were up set,Thereto gan they gang;By fifty paces, our King said,The markès were too lang.CCCXCVIIIOn every side a rose garlànd,They shot under the line:‘Who fails of the garland,’ said Robin,‘His tackle he shall tine[908],CCCXCIX‘And yield it unto his mastèr,Be it never so fine;For no man will I spare,’ he said,‘So drink I ale or wine;CCCC‘And bear a buffet on his headI-wis aright all bare:’And all that fell to Robin’s lotHe smote them wonder sair.CCCCITwice Robin shot about,And ever he cleft the wand,And so did eke the good GilbèrtWith the white hand.CCCCIILittle John and good Scathèlock,For nothing would they spare;When they fail’d of the garlàndRobin smote them sair.CCCCIIIAt the last shot that Robin shot,For all his friendès fare,Yet he fail’d of the garlàndThree fingers and mair.CCCCIVThen bespake him good Gilbèrt,And thus he gan him say:‘Master,’ he said, ‘your tackle is lost,Stand forth and take your pay.’CCCCV‘If it be so,’ said Robin Hood,‘That may no better be,Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,I pray thee, serve thou me.’CCCCVI‘It falls[909]not for mine order,’ said our King,‘Robin, by thy leave,For to smite no good yeomàn,For doubt I should him grieve.’CCCCVII‘Smite on boldly,’ said Robin,‘I give thee largè leave.’Anon our King with that same wordHe folded up his sleeve,CCCCVIIIAnd such a buffet he gave Robin,To ground he yede full near:‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘Thou art a stalwart frere[910].CCCCIX‘There is pith in thine arm,’ said Robin,‘I trow thou canst well shoot.’Thus our King and Robin HoodTogether then they met.CCCCXRobin beheld our comely KingWistly in the face,So did Sir Richard at the Lee,And knelt down in that place.CCCCXIAnd so did all the wild outlàws,When they saw them kneel:‘My lord the King of Engèland,Now I know you weel!’CCCCXII‘Mercy then, Robin,’ said our King,‘Under your trystell-tree,Of thy goodness and thy grace,For my men and me!’CCCCXIII‘Yes, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood,‘And also God me save!I ask mercy, my lord the King,And for my men I crave.’CCCCXIV‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said our King,‘And thereto sent I me,With that thou leave the greenè-wood,And all thy company;CCCCXV‘And come home, sir, unto my court,And there dwell with me.’—‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘And right so shall it be.CCCCXVI‘I will come unto your court,Your service for to see,And bringè with me of my menSeven score and three.CCCCXVII‘But me like[911]well your service,I will come again full soon,And shooten at the dunnè deer,As I am wont to doon.’

The King came to Nottingham,With knights in great array,For to take that gentle KnightAnd Robin, if he may.

He askèd men of that countryAfter Robin Hood,And eke after that gentle KnightThat was so bold and good.

When they had him told the caseOur King understood their tale,And he seizèd in his handThe Knightès landès all.

All the pass[886]of LancashireHe went both far and near,Till he came to Plompton Park,He fail’d many of his deer.

There[887]our King was wont to seeHerdès many one,He could unneth[888]find one deerThat bare any good horn.

The King was wonder wroth withall,And swore by the Trinity,‘I would I haddè Robin Hood,With eyes I might him see.

‘And he that would smite off the Knightès head,And bring it unto meHe shall have the Knightès lands,Sir Richard at the Lee.

‘I give it him with my chartèr,And seal it with my hand,To have and hold for evermoreIn all merry England.’

Then bespake a fair old KnightThat was true in his fay[889]:‘Ah! my liegè lord the King,One word I shall you say.

‘There is no man in this countryMay have the Knightès lands,While Robin Hood may ride or go,And bear a bow in his hands.

‘That he ne shall not lose his head,The best ball in his hood;Give it no man, my lord the King,That ye will[890]any good.’

Half a year dwelt our comely KingIn Nottingham, and more;Could he not hear of Robin Hood,In what country he wore.

But alway wentè good RobinBy halk[891]and eke by hill,And alway slew the Kingès deer,And wielded them at will.

Then bespake a proud forstèr[892],That stood by our Kingès knee:‘If ye will see good Robin Hood,Ye must do after me.

‘Take five of the bestè knightsThat be in yourè lede[893],And walkè down by yon Abbèy,And get you monkès weed.

‘And I will be your leadès-man[894],And leadè you the way,And ere ye come to NottinghamMine head then dare I lay

‘That ye shall meet with good Robin,Alive if that he be;Ere ye come to NottinghamWith eyes ye shall him see.’

Full hastily our King was dight,So were his knightès five.Each of them in monkès weed,And hasted thither blive.

Our King was great above his cowl,A broad hat on his crown,Right as he were abbot-like,They rode into the town.

Stiff boots our King had on,Forsooth as I you say;Singing he rode to the greenè-wood,The convent[895]was clothed in gray.

His mail-horse[896]and his great somèrsFollowed our King behind,Till they came to greenè-woodA mile under the lind[897].

There they met with good Robin,Standing on the way,And so did many a bold archèr,For sooth as I you say.

Robin took the Kingè’s horseHastily in that stide[898],And said, ‘Sir Abbot, by your leave,A while ye must abide.

‘We be yeomen of this forèstUnder the green-wood tree;We livè by our Kingès deer,None other shift have we.

‘And ye have churches and rentès bothAnd gold full great plentỳ,Give us some of your spendingFor saintè charity.’

Then bespake our comely King,Anon then saidè he,‘I have brought no more to greenè-woodBut forty pound with me.

‘I have lain at NottinghamThis fortnight with our King,And spent I have full muchè goodOn many a great lording[899].

‘And I have but forty pound,No more I have with me:But if I had an hundred pound,I vouch it half on thee.’

Robin took the forty pound,And departed it in twain;Halfen-deal[900]he gave his men,And bade them be full fain.

Full courteously Robin gan say,‘Sir, this for your spending!We shall meet another day.’—‘Gramerci!’ said our King.

‘But well thee greeteth Edward our King,And sent to thee his seal,And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,Both to meat and meal.’

He took out the broadè targe[901],And soon he let him see;Robin could his courtesy,And set him on his knee.

‘I love no man in all the worldSo well as I do my King;Welcome is my lordès seal;And, Monk, for thy tiding.

‘Sir Abbot, for thy tidings,To-day thou shalt dine with me,For the lovè of my King,Under my trystell-tree.’

Forth he led our comely KingFull fairè by the hand;Many a deer there was slain,They were full fast dightànd[902].

Robin took a full great horn,And loudè he gan blow;Seven score of wight young menCame ready on a row.

All they kneelèd on their kneeFull fair before Robin;The King said himself until,And swore by Saint Austìn,

‘Here is a wonder seemly sight;Me thinketh, by God’s pine[903],His men are more at his biddingThan my men be at mine.’

Full hastily was their dinner dight,And thereto gan they gon;They servèd our King with all their might,Both Robin and Little John.

Anon before our King was setThe fattè venisoun,The good white bread, the good red wine,Thereto fine ale and brown.

‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood,‘Abbot, for charity,And for this ilkè tiding, Sir,Blessed mote thou be.

‘Now shalt thou see what life we lead,Ere thou hennès[904]wend;Then thou mayst inform our King,When ye together lend[905].’

Up they started all in haste,Their bows were smartly bent;Our King was never so aghast,He weened to have been shent[906].

Two yards[907]there were up set,Thereto gan they gang;By fifty paces, our King said,The markès were too lang.

On every side a rose garlànd,They shot under the line:‘Who fails of the garland,’ said Robin,‘His tackle he shall tine[908],

‘And yield it unto his mastèr,Be it never so fine;For no man will I spare,’ he said,‘So drink I ale or wine;

‘And bear a buffet on his headI-wis aright all bare:’And all that fell to Robin’s lotHe smote them wonder sair.

Twice Robin shot about,And ever he cleft the wand,And so did eke the good GilbèrtWith the white hand.

Little John and good Scathèlock,For nothing would they spare;When they fail’d of the garlàndRobin smote them sair.

At the last shot that Robin shot,For all his friendès fare,Yet he fail’d of the garlàndThree fingers and mair.

Then bespake him good Gilbèrt,And thus he gan him say:‘Master,’ he said, ‘your tackle is lost,Stand forth and take your pay.’

‘If it be so,’ said Robin Hood,‘That may no better be,Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,I pray thee, serve thou me.’

‘It falls[909]not for mine order,’ said our King,‘Robin, by thy leave,For to smite no good yeomàn,For doubt I should him grieve.’

‘Smite on boldly,’ said Robin,‘I give thee largè leave.’Anon our King with that same wordHe folded up his sleeve,

And such a buffet he gave Robin,To ground he yede full near:‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘Thou art a stalwart frere[910].

‘There is pith in thine arm,’ said Robin,‘I trow thou canst well shoot.’Thus our King and Robin HoodTogether then they met.

Robin beheld our comely KingWistly in the face,So did Sir Richard at the Lee,And knelt down in that place.

And so did all the wild outlàws,When they saw them kneel:‘My lord the King of Engèland,Now I know you weel!’

‘Mercy then, Robin,’ said our King,‘Under your trystell-tree,Of thy goodness and thy grace,For my men and me!’

‘Yes, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood,‘And also God me save!I ask mercy, my lord the King,And for my men I crave.’

‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said our King,‘And thereto sent I me,With that thou leave the greenè-wood,And all thy company;

‘And come home, sir, unto my court,And there dwell with me.’—‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,‘And right so shall it be.

‘I will come unto your court,Your service for to see,And bringè with me of my menSeven score and three.

‘But me like[911]well your service,I will come again full soon,And shooten at the dunnè deer,As I am wont to doon.’

How Robin Hood lived a while at the King’s Court, but returned to the Green-wood

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