FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[660]Clym of the Clough = Clement of the Cliff.[661]Englyshe-wood = Inglewood, near Carlisle.[662]lith = hearken.[663]fere = mate.[664]pryme = six in the morning.[665]found = provided for.[666]fayne = rejoiced.[667]wode = wild, savage.[668]prece = press, crowd.[669]dampned = condemned.[670]teene = sorrow.[671]borowe = ransom, redeem.[672]thronge = hastened.[673]lordane = dolt.[674]wode = mad.[675]wende = weened, thought.[676]round = i. e. not frayed.[677]stound = time.[678]swerers = swearers, jurymen.[679]voyded = gave room, ran off.[680]out-horne = a horn blown to call citizens to help the law.[681]stowre = press of fight.[682]braide = sudden spring.[683]letteth = hindereth.[684]lynde = linden.[685]meynye = company.[686]trysty tre = trysting tree.[687]launde = forest-park.[688]of greece = of grease, fat.[689]lease = lying.[690]tow = two.[691]wightmen = stout fellows.[692]presyd prestly = pressed quickly.[693]shent = ruined.[694]lettyng = delay.[695]belyfe = straightway.[696]pay = satisfaction.[697]lefe = dear.[698]forthynketh = repenteth.[699]fosters of the fe = foresters of the lordship.[700]buttes = targets.[701]buske them = busked, made them ready.[702]blyve = belyfesupra, straightway.[703]prycke = mark.[704]bearyng arowe = a long arrow, tapered to carry far.[705]out-met = measured out.[706]rydère = ranger.

[660]Clym of the Clough = Clement of the Cliff.

[661]Englyshe-wood = Inglewood, near Carlisle.

[662]lith = hearken.

[663]fere = mate.

[664]pryme = six in the morning.

[665]found = provided for.

[666]fayne = rejoiced.

[667]wode = wild, savage.

[668]prece = press, crowd.

[669]dampned = condemned.

[670]teene = sorrow.

[671]borowe = ransom, redeem.

[672]thronge = hastened.

[673]lordane = dolt.

[674]wode = mad.

[675]wende = weened, thought.

[676]round = i. e. not frayed.

[677]stound = time.

[678]swerers = swearers, jurymen.

[679]voyded = gave room, ran off.

[680]out-horne = a horn blown to call citizens to help the law.

[681]stowre = press of fight.

[682]braide = sudden spring.

[683]letteth = hindereth.

[684]lynde = linden.

[685]meynye = company.

[686]trysty tre = trysting tree.

[687]launde = forest-park.

[688]of greece = of grease, fat.

[689]lease = lying.

[690]tow = two.

[691]wightmen = stout fellows.

[692]presyd prestly = pressed quickly.

[693]shent = ruined.

[694]lettyng = delay.

[695]belyfe = straightway.

[696]pay = satisfaction.

[697]lefe = dear.

[698]forthynketh = repenteth.

[699]fosters of the fe = foresters of the lordship.

[700]buttes = targets.

[701]buske them = busked, made them ready.

[702]blyve = belyfesupra, straightway.

[703]prycke = mark.

[704]bearyng arowe = a long arrow, tapered to carry far.

[705]out-met = measured out.

[706]rydère = ranger.

How Robin Hood befriended a poor Knight, Sir Richard at the Lee

ILithe[708]and listen, Gentlemen,That be of free-born blood:I shall you tell of a good yeoman,His name was Robin Hood.IIRobin was a proud outlaw,The while he walked on ground;So courteous an outlaw as he was oneWas never none y-found.IIIRobin stood in Barnèsdale[709],And leaned him to a tree;And by him stood Little John,A good yeoman was he.IVAnd also did good Scathèlock,And Much, the miller’s son;There was none inch of his body,But it was worth a groom[710].VThen bespake him Little JohnAll unto Robin Hood:‘Master, an ye would dine betimesIt would do you much good.’VIThen bespake him good Robin:‘To dine I have no lest[711],Till that I have some bold baron,Or some uncouth[712]guest,VII‘Till that I have some bold baronThat may pay for the best,Or else some knight, or some squièrThat dwelleth here by West.’VIIIA good mannèr then had Robin;In land where that he were[713],Every day ere he would dineThree masses would he hear:IXThe one in worship of the Father,The other of the Holy Ghost,The third was of Our dear LadyThat he loved alder-most[714].XRobin loved our dear Lady;For doubt[715]of deadly sinWould he no company do harmThat woman was therein.XI‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘An we our board shall spread,Tell us whither we shall go,And what life we shall lead;XII‘Where we shall take, where we shall leave,Where we shall abide behind,Where we shall rob, where we shall reave[716],Where we shall beat and bind.’XIII‘Thereof no force[717],’ then said Robin;‘We shall do well enow;But look ye do no husband[718]harmThat tilleth with his plough.XIV‘No more ye shall no good yeomanThat walketh by green-wood shaw[719];Nor yet no knight nor no squièrThat will be a good fellaw.XV‘These bishops and these archbishops,Ye shall them beat and bind;The High Sheriff of Nottingham,Him hold ye in your mind.’XVI‘This word shall be held,’ said Little John,‘This lesson we shall lere[720];It is far days[721]; God send us a guest,That we were at our dinnere.’XVII‘Take thy good bow,’ said Robin Hood,‘Let Much wend with thee,And so shall William Scathèlock,And no man abide with me;XVIII‘And walk ye up unto the Sayles[722],And so to Watling Street[723],And wait after some uncouth guest;Upchance[724]ye may them meet.XIX‘Be he an earl, or any baron,Abbot, or any knight,Bring ye him to lodge with me;His dinner shall be dight[725].’XXThen went they up unto the Sayles,Those yeoman allè three;They lookèd east, they lookèd west,They mightè no man see.XXIBut as they looked in Barnèsdale,By a dernè[726]street[727],Then came a knight a-riding up;Full soon they gan him meet.XXIIAll dreary then was his semblaunt[728],And little was his pride;His one foot in the stirrup stood,The other waved beside.XXIIIHis hood hang’d in his eyen two;He rode in simple array;A sorrier man than he was oneRode never in summer day.XXIVLittle John was full courteous,And set him[729]on his knee;‘Welcome be ye, gentle Knight,Welcome are ye to me.XXV‘Welcome be thou to greenè wood.Hendè[730]Knight and free;My master hath abiden you fastingSir, all these hourès three.’XXVI‘Who is thy master?’ said the Knight.John said, ‘Robin Hood.’‘He is a good yeoman,’ said the Knight,‘Of him I have heard much good.XXVII‘I grant,’ he said, ‘with you to wend,My brethren, all in fere[731];My purpose was to have dined to-dayAt Blyth[732]of Doncastere.’XXVIIIForth then went this gentle Knight,With a careful cheer[733];The tears out of his eyen ran,And fell down by his leer[734].XXIXThey brought him to the lodgè door;When Robin gan him see,Full courteously did off his hood,And set him on his knee.XXX‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ then said Robin,‘Welcome art thou to me;I have abiden you fasting, sir,All these hourès three.’XXXIThen answerèd the gentle Knight,With wordès fair and free;‘God thee savè, good Robin,And all thy fair meinèe.’XXXIIThey washèd together and wipèd both,And set to their dinnere;Bread and wine they had enough,And numbles[735]of the deer.XXXIIISwans and pheasants they had full good,And fowls of the rivere;There failèd none so little a birdThat ever was bred on brere[736].XXXIV‘Do gladly, Sir Knight,’ said Robin.‘Gramerci, sir,’ said he;‘Such a dinner had I notOf all these weekès three.XXXV‘If I come again, Robin,Here by this country,As good a dinner I shall thee makeAs thou hast made to me.’XXXVI‘Gramerci, Knight,’ said Robin Hood;‘My dinner when I have,I was never so greedy, by dear-worth[737]God,My dinner for to crave.XXXVII‘But pray ere ye wend,’ said Robin Hood;‘Me thinketh it is good right;It was never the manner, by dear-worth God,A yeoman to pay for a knight.’XXXVIII‘I have nought in my coffers,’ said the Knight,‘That I may proffer for shame:’‘Little John, go look,’ said Robin Hood,‘Nor let[738]not for no blame.’XXXIX‘Tell me truth,’ said Robin Hood,‘So God have part of thee[739].’—‘I have no more than ten shillings,So God have part of me.’XL‘If thou hast no more,’ said Robin,‘I will not one pennỳ;And if thou need of any more,More shall I lendè thee.XLI‘Go now forth, Little John,The truthè tell thou me;If there be no more but ten shillings,No penny that I see.’XLIILittle John his mantle spreadFull fair upon the ground,And there he found in the Knight’s cofferBut even half a pound.XLIIILittle John let it lie full still,And went to his master low;‘What tidings, John?’ said Robin Hood.—‘Sir, the Knight is true enow.’XLIV‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin,‘The Knight shall begin;Muchè wonder thinketh meThy clothing is so thin.XLV‘Tell me one word,’ said Robin,‘And counsel[740]shall it be;I trow thou wert made a knight of force[741],Or else of yeomanry[742].XLVI‘Or else thou hast been a sorry husband[743],And lived in stroke and strife;An okerer[744], or a lecher[745],With wrong hast led thy life.’XLVII‘I am none of thosè,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that madè me;An hundred winter here beforeMine anc’tors knights have be.XLVIII‘But oft it hath befal’n, Robin,A man hath been disgrate[746];But God, that sitteth in heaven above,May amend his state.XLIX‘Within these two years, Robin,’ he said,‘My neighbours well it kenn’d[747],Four hundred pounds of good monèyFull well then might I spend,L‘Now have I no good,’ said the Knight,‘God hath shapen such an end,But my children and my wife,Till God it may amend.’LI‘In what mannèr,’ then said Robin,‘Hast thou lorn[748]thy richess?’‘For my great folly,’ he said,‘And for my kindèness.LII‘I had a son forsooth, Robin,That should have been mine heir;When he was twenty winter oldIn field would joust full fair.LIII‘He slew a knight of Lancashire,And a squièr bold;For to save him in his rightMy goods are set and sold.LIV‘My lands are set to wed[749], Robin,Until a certain day,To a rich Abbot here besideOf St. Mary’s Abbèy.’LV‘What is the sum?’ said Robin Hood;‘The truthè tell thou me;’‘Sir,’ he said, ‘four hundred pound;The Abbot told[750]it me.’LVI‘An thou lose thy land,’ said Robin Hood,‘What shall fall of[751]thee?’—‘Hastily I will me busk[752]Over the saltè sea,LVII‘And see where Christ was quick and dead,On the mount of Calvary;Farewell, friend, and have good day;It may no better be.’LVIIITears fell out of his eyen two;He would have gone his way;‘Farewell, friends, and have good day,I have no more to pay.’LIX‘Where be thy friends,’ said Robin Hood.‘Sir, never one will me know;While I was rich enough at homeGreat boast then would they blow.LX‘And now they run away from me,As beastès in a raw[753];They takè no more heed of meThan they me never saw.’LXIFor ruth then weptè Little John,Scathèlock and Much in fere;‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin,‘For here is a simple cheer.LXII‘Hast thou any friends,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy borrows[754]that will be?’‘I havè none,’ then said the Knight,‘But Him that died on tree!’LXIII‘Do way thy japès[755],’ said Robin,‘Thereof will I right none;Ween’st thou I would have God to[756]borrow,Peter, Paul or John?LXIV‘Nay, by Him that madè me,And shope[757]both sun and moon,Find better borrow,’ said Robin,‘Or money get’st thou none.’LXV‘I have none other,’ said the Knight,‘The soothè for to say,But if[758]it be Our dear Lady;She fail’d never ere this day.’LXVI‘By dear-worth God,’ said Robin Hood,‘To seek all England thorough,Yet found I never to my payA muchè better borrow.LXVII‘Come now forth, Little John,And go to my treasurỳ,And bringè me four hundred pound,And look well told it be.’LXVIIIForth then wentè Little John,And Scathèlock went before;He told him out four hundred poundBy eight and twenty score.LXIX‘Is this well told?’ said Little Much;John said, ‘What grieveth thee?It is alms to help a gentle knightThat is fal’n in poverty.’LXX‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘His clothing is full thin;Ye must give the Knight a liveryTo lap[759]his body therein.LXXI‘For ye have scarlet and green, master,And many a rich array;There is no merchant in merry EnglandSo rich, I dare well say.’—LXXII‘Take him three yards of each coloùr,And look well mete[760]it be.’—Little John took no measùreBut his bowè-tree.LXXIIIAnd at every handful that he met[761]He leapèd o’er feet three;‘What devilkin’s draper,’ said Little Much,‘Thinkest thou for to be?’LXXIVScathèlock stood full still and laughed,And said, ‘He meteth right.John may give him good measure,For it costeth him but light.’LXXV‘Master,’ then said Little JohnAll unto Robin Hood,‘Ye must give the Knight a horseTo lead home all this good.’LXXVI‘Take him a grey courser,’ said Robin,‘And a saddle new;He is Our Lady’s messenger;God grant that he be true!’LXXVII‘And a good palfrey[762],’ said Little Much,‘To maintain him in his right;’‘And a pair of boots,’ said Scathèlock,‘For he is a gentle knight.’LXXVIII‘What shalt thou give him, Little John?’—‘Sir, a pair of gilt spurs clean,To pray for all this company;God bring him out of teen[763].’LXXIX‘When shall my day be,’ said the Knight,‘Sir, an your willè be?’—‘This day twelve moneth,’ said Robin,‘Under this green-wood tree.LXXX‘It were great shamè,’ said Robin,‘A knight alone to ride,Withoutè squire, yeoman, or page,To walkè by his side.LXXXI‘I shall thee lend Little John, my man,For he shall be thy knave[764];In a yeoman’s stead he may thee stand,If thou great needè have.’

Lithe[708]and listen, Gentlemen,That be of free-born blood:I shall you tell of a good yeoman,His name was Robin Hood.

Robin was a proud outlaw,The while he walked on ground;So courteous an outlaw as he was oneWas never none y-found.

Robin stood in Barnèsdale[709],And leaned him to a tree;And by him stood Little John,A good yeoman was he.

And also did good Scathèlock,And Much, the miller’s son;There was none inch of his body,But it was worth a groom[710].

Then bespake him Little JohnAll unto Robin Hood:‘Master, an ye would dine betimesIt would do you much good.’

Then bespake him good Robin:‘To dine I have no lest[711],Till that I have some bold baron,Or some uncouth[712]guest,

‘Till that I have some bold baronThat may pay for the best,Or else some knight, or some squièrThat dwelleth here by West.’

A good mannèr then had Robin;In land where that he were[713],Every day ere he would dineThree masses would he hear:

The one in worship of the Father,The other of the Holy Ghost,The third was of Our dear LadyThat he loved alder-most[714].

Robin loved our dear Lady;For doubt[715]of deadly sinWould he no company do harmThat woman was therein.

‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘An we our board shall spread,Tell us whither we shall go,And what life we shall lead;

‘Where we shall take, where we shall leave,Where we shall abide behind,Where we shall rob, where we shall reave[716],Where we shall beat and bind.’

‘Thereof no force[717],’ then said Robin;‘We shall do well enow;But look ye do no husband[718]harmThat tilleth with his plough.

‘No more ye shall no good yeomanThat walketh by green-wood shaw[719];Nor yet no knight nor no squièrThat will be a good fellaw.

‘These bishops and these archbishops,Ye shall them beat and bind;The High Sheriff of Nottingham,Him hold ye in your mind.’

‘This word shall be held,’ said Little John,‘This lesson we shall lere[720];It is far days[721]; God send us a guest,That we were at our dinnere.’

‘Take thy good bow,’ said Robin Hood,‘Let Much wend with thee,And so shall William Scathèlock,And no man abide with me;

‘And walk ye up unto the Sayles[722],And so to Watling Street[723],And wait after some uncouth guest;Upchance[724]ye may them meet.

‘Be he an earl, or any baron,Abbot, or any knight,Bring ye him to lodge with me;His dinner shall be dight[725].’

Then went they up unto the Sayles,Those yeoman allè three;They lookèd east, they lookèd west,They mightè no man see.

But as they looked in Barnèsdale,By a dernè[726]street[727],Then came a knight a-riding up;Full soon they gan him meet.

All dreary then was his semblaunt[728],And little was his pride;His one foot in the stirrup stood,The other waved beside.

His hood hang’d in his eyen two;He rode in simple array;A sorrier man than he was oneRode never in summer day.

Little John was full courteous,And set him[729]on his knee;‘Welcome be ye, gentle Knight,Welcome are ye to me.

‘Welcome be thou to greenè wood.Hendè[730]Knight and free;My master hath abiden you fastingSir, all these hourès three.’

‘Who is thy master?’ said the Knight.John said, ‘Robin Hood.’‘He is a good yeoman,’ said the Knight,‘Of him I have heard much good.

‘I grant,’ he said, ‘with you to wend,My brethren, all in fere[731];My purpose was to have dined to-dayAt Blyth[732]of Doncastere.’

Forth then went this gentle Knight,With a careful cheer[733];The tears out of his eyen ran,And fell down by his leer[734].

They brought him to the lodgè door;When Robin gan him see,Full courteously did off his hood,And set him on his knee.

‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ then said Robin,‘Welcome art thou to me;I have abiden you fasting, sir,All these hourès three.’

Then answerèd the gentle Knight,With wordès fair and free;‘God thee savè, good Robin,And all thy fair meinèe.’

They washèd together and wipèd both,And set to their dinnere;Bread and wine they had enough,And numbles[735]of the deer.

Swans and pheasants they had full good,And fowls of the rivere;There failèd none so little a birdThat ever was bred on brere[736].

‘Do gladly, Sir Knight,’ said Robin.‘Gramerci, sir,’ said he;‘Such a dinner had I notOf all these weekès three.

‘If I come again, Robin,Here by this country,As good a dinner I shall thee makeAs thou hast made to me.’

‘Gramerci, Knight,’ said Robin Hood;‘My dinner when I have,I was never so greedy, by dear-worth[737]God,My dinner for to crave.

‘But pray ere ye wend,’ said Robin Hood;‘Me thinketh it is good right;It was never the manner, by dear-worth God,A yeoman to pay for a knight.’

‘I have nought in my coffers,’ said the Knight,‘That I may proffer for shame:’‘Little John, go look,’ said Robin Hood,‘Nor let[738]not for no blame.’

‘Tell me truth,’ said Robin Hood,‘So God have part of thee[739].’—‘I have no more than ten shillings,So God have part of me.’

‘If thou hast no more,’ said Robin,‘I will not one pennỳ;And if thou need of any more,More shall I lendè thee.

‘Go now forth, Little John,The truthè tell thou me;If there be no more but ten shillings,No penny that I see.’

Little John his mantle spreadFull fair upon the ground,And there he found in the Knight’s cofferBut even half a pound.

Little John let it lie full still,And went to his master low;‘What tidings, John?’ said Robin Hood.—‘Sir, the Knight is true enow.’

‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin,‘The Knight shall begin;Muchè wonder thinketh meThy clothing is so thin.

‘Tell me one word,’ said Robin,‘And counsel[740]shall it be;I trow thou wert made a knight of force[741],Or else of yeomanry[742].

‘Or else thou hast been a sorry husband[743],And lived in stroke and strife;An okerer[744], or a lecher[745],With wrong hast led thy life.’

‘I am none of thosè,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that madè me;An hundred winter here beforeMine anc’tors knights have be.

‘But oft it hath befal’n, Robin,A man hath been disgrate[746];But God, that sitteth in heaven above,May amend his state.

‘Within these two years, Robin,’ he said,‘My neighbours well it kenn’d[747],Four hundred pounds of good monèyFull well then might I spend,

‘Now have I no good,’ said the Knight,‘God hath shapen such an end,But my children and my wife,Till God it may amend.’

‘In what mannèr,’ then said Robin,‘Hast thou lorn[748]thy richess?’‘For my great folly,’ he said,‘And for my kindèness.

‘I had a son forsooth, Robin,That should have been mine heir;When he was twenty winter oldIn field would joust full fair.

‘He slew a knight of Lancashire,And a squièr bold;For to save him in his rightMy goods are set and sold.

‘My lands are set to wed[749], Robin,Until a certain day,To a rich Abbot here besideOf St. Mary’s Abbèy.’

‘What is the sum?’ said Robin Hood;‘The truthè tell thou me;’‘Sir,’ he said, ‘four hundred pound;The Abbot told[750]it me.’

‘An thou lose thy land,’ said Robin Hood,‘What shall fall of[751]thee?’—‘Hastily I will me busk[752]Over the saltè sea,

‘And see where Christ was quick and dead,On the mount of Calvary;Farewell, friend, and have good day;It may no better be.’

Tears fell out of his eyen two;He would have gone his way;‘Farewell, friends, and have good day,I have no more to pay.’

‘Where be thy friends,’ said Robin Hood.‘Sir, never one will me know;While I was rich enough at homeGreat boast then would they blow.

‘And now they run away from me,As beastès in a raw[753];They takè no more heed of meThan they me never saw.’

For ruth then weptè Little John,Scathèlock and Much in fere;‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin,‘For here is a simple cheer.

‘Hast thou any friends,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy borrows[754]that will be?’‘I havè none,’ then said the Knight,‘But Him that died on tree!’

‘Do way thy japès[755],’ said Robin,‘Thereof will I right none;Ween’st thou I would have God to[756]borrow,Peter, Paul or John?

‘Nay, by Him that madè me,And shope[757]both sun and moon,Find better borrow,’ said Robin,‘Or money get’st thou none.’

‘I have none other,’ said the Knight,‘The soothè for to say,But if[758]it be Our dear Lady;She fail’d never ere this day.’

‘By dear-worth God,’ said Robin Hood,‘To seek all England thorough,Yet found I never to my payA muchè better borrow.

‘Come now forth, Little John,And go to my treasurỳ,And bringè me four hundred pound,And look well told it be.’

Forth then wentè Little John,And Scathèlock went before;He told him out four hundred poundBy eight and twenty score.

‘Is this well told?’ said Little Much;John said, ‘What grieveth thee?It is alms to help a gentle knightThat is fal’n in poverty.’

‘Master,’ then said Little John,‘His clothing is full thin;Ye must give the Knight a liveryTo lap[759]his body therein.

‘For ye have scarlet and green, master,And many a rich array;There is no merchant in merry EnglandSo rich, I dare well say.’—

‘Take him three yards of each coloùr,And look well mete[760]it be.’—Little John took no measùreBut his bowè-tree.

And at every handful that he met[761]He leapèd o’er feet three;‘What devilkin’s draper,’ said Little Much,‘Thinkest thou for to be?’

Scathèlock stood full still and laughed,And said, ‘He meteth right.John may give him good measure,For it costeth him but light.’

‘Master,’ then said Little JohnAll unto Robin Hood,‘Ye must give the Knight a horseTo lead home all this good.’

‘Take him a grey courser,’ said Robin,‘And a saddle new;He is Our Lady’s messenger;God grant that he be true!’

‘And a good palfrey[762],’ said Little Much,‘To maintain him in his right;’‘And a pair of boots,’ said Scathèlock,‘For he is a gentle knight.’

‘What shalt thou give him, Little John?’—‘Sir, a pair of gilt spurs clean,To pray for all this company;God bring him out of teen[763].’

‘When shall my day be,’ said the Knight,‘Sir, an your willè be?’—‘This day twelve moneth,’ said Robin,‘Under this green-wood tree.

‘It were great shamè,’ said Robin,‘A knight alone to ride,Withoutè squire, yeoman, or page,To walkè by his side.

‘I shall thee lend Little John, my man,For he shall be thy knave[764];In a yeoman’s stead he may thee stand,If thou great needè have.’

How the Knight paid his Creditors against their will

LXXXIINow is the Knight gone on his way;This game him thought full good;When he looked on Barnèsdale,He blessèd Robin Hood.LXXXIIIAnd when he thought on Barnèsdale,On Scathelock, Much, and John,He blessèd them for a companyThe best he ever in come[765].LXXXIVThen spake that gentle Knight,To Little John gan he say,‘To-morrow I must to York townTo Saint Mary’s Abbèy;LXXXV‘And to the Abbot of that placeFour hundred pound must pay;But[766]I be there upon this nightMy land is lost for aye.’LXXXVIThe Abbot said to his Convènt,Where he stood on ground,‘This day twelve moneth came a knight,And borrowed four hundred pound.LXXXVII‘He borrowèd four hundred poundUpon his land and fee[767];But he come this ilkè[768]dayDisherited shall he be.’LXXXVIII‘It is full early,’ said the Prior,‘The day is not yet far gone;I had liever pay an hundred pound,And lay it down anon.LXXXIX‘The Knight is far beyond the sea,In England is his right,And suffereth hunger and coldAnd many a sorry night.XC‘It were great pity,’ said the Prior,‘So to have his land;An ye be so light of your conscience,Ye do him muchè shand[769].’XCI‘Thou art ever in my beard[770],’ said the Abbot,‘By God and Saint Richard!’With that came in a fat-headed monk,The Highè Cellarèr.XCII‘He is dead or hangèd,’ said the monk,‘By Him that bought me dear,And we shall have to spend in this placeFour hundred pound by year.’XCIIIThe Abbot and the High CellarerStarted forth full bold,The High Justice of EngèlandThe Abbot there did hold.XCIVThe High Justice and many moHad taken into their handWholly all the Knightès debt,To put that Knight to shand.XCVThey deemèd[771]the Knight wonder sore[772],The Abbot and his meinèe:‘But he come this ilkè day,Disherited shall he be.’XCVI‘He will not come yet,’ said the Justice,‘I dare well undertake.’But in sorry timè for them allThe Knight came to the gate.XCVIIThen bespake that gentle KnightUntil[773]his meinèe:‘Now put on your simple weedsThat ye brought from the sea.’XCVIIIThey putten on their simple weeds,They came to the gates anon;The Porter was ready himself,And welcomed them every one.XCIX‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ said the Porter,‘My lord to meat is he,And so is many a gentle man,For the love of thee.’CThe Porter swore a full great oath:‘By Him that madè me,Here be the bestè corsèd[774]horseThat ever yet I see.CI‘Lead them into the stable,’ he said,‘That easèd might they be’;‘They shall not come therein,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that died on tree.’CIILordès were to meat y-setIn that Abbot’s hall;The Knight went forth and kneelèd downAnd salued[775]them great and small.CIII‘Do gladly, Sir Abbot,’ said the Knight,‘I am come to hold my day.’The first word that the Abbot spake,‘Hast thou brought me my pay?’CIV‘Not one penny,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that makèd me’:‘Thou art a shrewd[776]debtor,’ said the Abbot;‘Sir Justice, drink to me!’CV‘What doest thou here,’ said the Abbot,‘But[777]thou hadst brought thy pay?’‘Alack is me,’ then said the Knight,‘To pray of a longer day!’CVI‘Thy day is broke,’ said the Justice,‘Land gettest thou none.’—‘Now, good Sir Justice, be my friend,And fend[778]me of my fone[779]!’CVII‘I am held with the Abbot,’ said the Justice,‘Both with cloth and fee.’—‘Now, good Sir Sheriff, be my friend!’‘Nay, nay, not I,’ said he.CVIII‘Now, good Sir Abbot, be my friend,For thy courtesy,And hold my landès in thy handTill I have made thee gree[780]CIX‘And I will be thy true servàntAnd truly servè thee,Till ye have four hundred poundOf money good and free.’CXThe Abbot sware a full great oath,‘By Him that died on tree,Get thy landès where thou mayst,For thou gettest none of me!’CXI‘By dear-worth God,’ then said the Knight,‘That all this worldè wrought,But I have[781]my land again,Full dear it shall be bought.CXII‘God, that was of a maiden born,Give us well to speed!For it is good to assay a friendEre that a man have need.’CXIIIThe Abbot loathly on him gan look,And villainously him gan call;‘Out,’ he said, ‘thou falsè Knight,Speed thee out of my hall!’CXIV‘Thou liest,’ said the gentle Knight;‘Abbot, in thy hall;Falsè Knight was I never,By God that made us all.’CXVUp then stood that gentle Knight,To the Abbot said he,‘To suffer a knight to kneel so long,Thou canst[782]no courtesy.CXVI‘In joustès and in tournamentsFull far then have I be,And put myself as far in press[783]As any that ever I see.’CXVII‘What will ye give more,’ said the Justice,‘An the Knight shall make a release[784]?And ellès[785]dare I safely swearYe hold never your land in peace.’CXVIII‘An hundred pound,’ said the Abbot;The Justice said, ‘Give him two;’‘Nay, by God,’ said the Knight,‘Ye get not my land so.CXIX‘Though ye would give a thousand more,Yet were ye never the nigher;Shall there never be mine heirAbbot, Justice, nor Friar.’CXXHe started to a board anon,Till a table round,And here he shook out of a bagEven four hundred pound.CXXI‘Have here thy gold, Sir Abbot,’ he said,‘Which that thou lentest me;Hadst thou been courteous at my coming,I would have rewarded thee.’CXXIIThe Abbot sat still, and ate no more,For all his royal fare;He cast his head on his shouldèr,And fast began to stare.CXXIII‘Take[786]me my gold again.’ he said,‘Sir Justice, that I took thee.’—‘Not a penny,’ said the Justice,‘By Him that died on tree.’—CXXIV‘Sir Abbot, and ye men of law,Now have I held my day;Now shall I have my land again,For aught that you can say.’CXXVThe Knight out started of the door,Away was all his care,And on he put his good clothing.The other he left there.CXXVIHe went him forth full merry singing,As men have told in tale;His Lady met him at the gate,At home in Uttersdale.CXXVII‘Welcome, my lord,’ said his Lady;‘Sir, lost is all your good?’—‘Be merry, damè,’ said the Knight,‘And pray for Robin Hood,CXXVIII‘That ever his soulè be in bliss:He help me out of teen;Ne had not been[787]his kindèness,Beggars had we been.CXXIX‘The Abbot and I accorded be,He is servèd of his pay;The goodè yeoman lent it me,As I came by the way.’CXXXThis Knight then dwellèd fair at home,The soothè for to say,Till he had got four hundred pound,All ready for to pay.CXXXIHe purvey’d him an hundred bows,The stringès well y-dight,An hundred sheaf of arrows good,The heads burnish’d full bright;CXXXIIAnd every arrow an ellè long,With peacock well y-dight[788],Y-notchèd all with white silvèr;It was a seemly sight.CXXXIIIHe purvey’d him an hundred men,Well harness’d in that stead,And himself in that samè suit,And clothed in white and red.CXXXIVHe bare a lancegay[789]in his hand,And a man led his mail[790],And roden[791]with a lightè songUnto Barnèsdale.CXXXVAs he went at a bridge there was a wrestling,And there tarrièd was he,And there was all the best yeomen,Of all the west countrỳ.CXXXVIA full fair game there was upset,A white bull up y-pight[792];A great courser with saddle and bridle,With gold burnish’d full bright;CXXXVIIA pair of gloves, a red gold ring,A pipe of wine, in good fay:What man beareth him best, i-wis,The prize shall bear away.CXXXVIIIThere was a yeoman in that place,And best worthy was he,And for he was far and frembd bestad[793],I-slain he should have be.CXXXIXThe Knight had ruth of this yeoman.In place where that he stood,He said that yeoman should have no harm,For love of Robin Hood.CXLThe Knight pressèd into the place,An hundred followed him free,With bows bent, and arrows sharp,For to shende[794]that company.CXLIThey shoulder’d all, and made him room,To wete[795]what he would say,He took the yeoman by the handAnd gave him all the play;CXLIIHe gave him five mark for his wine,There it lay on the mould,And bade it should be set a-broach,Drink who so would.CXLIIIThus long tarried this gentle Knight,Till that play was done ...So long abode Robin fasting,Three hours after the noon.

Now is the Knight gone on his way;This game him thought full good;When he looked on Barnèsdale,He blessèd Robin Hood.

And when he thought on Barnèsdale,On Scathelock, Much, and John,He blessèd them for a companyThe best he ever in come[765].

Then spake that gentle Knight,To Little John gan he say,‘To-morrow I must to York townTo Saint Mary’s Abbèy;

‘And to the Abbot of that placeFour hundred pound must pay;But[766]I be there upon this nightMy land is lost for aye.’

The Abbot said to his Convènt,Where he stood on ground,‘This day twelve moneth came a knight,And borrowed four hundred pound.

‘He borrowèd four hundred poundUpon his land and fee[767];But he come this ilkè[768]dayDisherited shall he be.’

‘It is full early,’ said the Prior,‘The day is not yet far gone;I had liever pay an hundred pound,And lay it down anon.

‘The Knight is far beyond the sea,In England is his right,And suffereth hunger and coldAnd many a sorry night.

‘It were great pity,’ said the Prior,‘So to have his land;An ye be so light of your conscience,Ye do him muchè shand[769].’

‘Thou art ever in my beard[770],’ said the Abbot,‘By God and Saint Richard!’With that came in a fat-headed monk,The Highè Cellarèr.

‘He is dead or hangèd,’ said the monk,‘By Him that bought me dear,And we shall have to spend in this placeFour hundred pound by year.’

The Abbot and the High CellarerStarted forth full bold,The High Justice of EngèlandThe Abbot there did hold.

The High Justice and many moHad taken into their handWholly all the Knightès debt,To put that Knight to shand.

They deemèd[771]the Knight wonder sore[772],The Abbot and his meinèe:‘But he come this ilkè day,Disherited shall he be.’

‘He will not come yet,’ said the Justice,‘I dare well undertake.’But in sorry timè for them allThe Knight came to the gate.

Then bespake that gentle KnightUntil[773]his meinèe:‘Now put on your simple weedsThat ye brought from the sea.’

They putten on their simple weeds,They came to the gates anon;The Porter was ready himself,And welcomed them every one.

‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ said the Porter,‘My lord to meat is he,And so is many a gentle man,For the love of thee.’

The Porter swore a full great oath:‘By Him that madè me,Here be the bestè corsèd[774]horseThat ever yet I see.

‘Lead them into the stable,’ he said,‘That easèd might they be’;‘They shall not come therein,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that died on tree.’

Lordès were to meat y-setIn that Abbot’s hall;The Knight went forth and kneelèd downAnd salued[775]them great and small.

‘Do gladly, Sir Abbot,’ said the Knight,‘I am come to hold my day.’The first word that the Abbot spake,‘Hast thou brought me my pay?’

‘Not one penny,’ said the Knight,‘By Him that makèd me’:‘Thou art a shrewd[776]debtor,’ said the Abbot;‘Sir Justice, drink to me!’

‘What doest thou here,’ said the Abbot,‘But[777]thou hadst brought thy pay?’‘Alack is me,’ then said the Knight,‘To pray of a longer day!’

‘Thy day is broke,’ said the Justice,‘Land gettest thou none.’—‘Now, good Sir Justice, be my friend,And fend[778]me of my fone[779]!’

‘I am held with the Abbot,’ said the Justice,‘Both with cloth and fee.’—‘Now, good Sir Sheriff, be my friend!’‘Nay, nay, not I,’ said he.

‘Now, good Sir Abbot, be my friend,For thy courtesy,And hold my landès in thy handTill I have made thee gree[780]

‘And I will be thy true servàntAnd truly servè thee,Till ye have four hundred poundOf money good and free.’

The Abbot sware a full great oath,‘By Him that died on tree,Get thy landès where thou mayst,For thou gettest none of me!’

‘By dear-worth God,’ then said the Knight,‘That all this worldè wrought,But I have[781]my land again,Full dear it shall be bought.

‘God, that was of a maiden born,Give us well to speed!For it is good to assay a friendEre that a man have need.’

The Abbot loathly on him gan look,And villainously him gan call;‘Out,’ he said, ‘thou falsè Knight,Speed thee out of my hall!’

‘Thou liest,’ said the gentle Knight;‘Abbot, in thy hall;Falsè Knight was I never,By God that made us all.’

Up then stood that gentle Knight,To the Abbot said he,‘To suffer a knight to kneel so long,Thou canst[782]no courtesy.

‘In joustès and in tournamentsFull far then have I be,And put myself as far in press[783]As any that ever I see.’

‘What will ye give more,’ said the Justice,‘An the Knight shall make a release[784]?And ellès[785]dare I safely swearYe hold never your land in peace.’

‘An hundred pound,’ said the Abbot;The Justice said, ‘Give him two;’‘Nay, by God,’ said the Knight,‘Ye get not my land so.

‘Though ye would give a thousand more,Yet were ye never the nigher;Shall there never be mine heirAbbot, Justice, nor Friar.’

He started to a board anon,Till a table round,And here he shook out of a bagEven four hundred pound.

‘Have here thy gold, Sir Abbot,’ he said,‘Which that thou lentest me;Hadst thou been courteous at my coming,I would have rewarded thee.’

The Abbot sat still, and ate no more,For all his royal fare;He cast his head on his shouldèr,And fast began to stare.

‘Take[786]me my gold again.’ he said,‘Sir Justice, that I took thee.’—‘Not a penny,’ said the Justice,‘By Him that died on tree.’—

‘Sir Abbot, and ye men of law,Now have I held my day;Now shall I have my land again,For aught that you can say.’

The Knight out started of the door,Away was all his care,And on he put his good clothing.The other he left there.

He went him forth full merry singing,As men have told in tale;His Lady met him at the gate,At home in Uttersdale.

‘Welcome, my lord,’ said his Lady;‘Sir, lost is all your good?’—‘Be merry, damè,’ said the Knight,‘And pray for Robin Hood,

‘That ever his soulè be in bliss:He help me out of teen;Ne had not been[787]his kindèness,Beggars had we been.

‘The Abbot and I accorded be,He is servèd of his pay;The goodè yeoman lent it me,As I came by the way.’

This Knight then dwellèd fair at home,The soothè for to say,Till he had got four hundred pound,All ready for to pay.

He purvey’d him an hundred bows,The stringès well y-dight,An hundred sheaf of arrows good,The heads burnish’d full bright;

And every arrow an ellè long,With peacock well y-dight[788],Y-notchèd all with white silvèr;It was a seemly sight.

He purvey’d him an hundred men,Well harness’d in that stead,And himself in that samè suit,And clothed in white and red.

He bare a lancegay[789]in his hand,And a man led his mail[790],And roden[791]with a lightè songUnto Barnèsdale.

As he went at a bridge there was a wrestling,And there tarrièd was he,And there was all the best yeomen,Of all the west countrỳ.

A full fair game there was upset,A white bull up y-pight[792];A great courser with saddle and bridle,With gold burnish’d full bright;

A pair of gloves, a red gold ring,A pipe of wine, in good fay:What man beareth him best, i-wis,The prize shall bear away.

There was a yeoman in that place,And best worthy was he,And for he was far and frembd bestad[793],I-slain he should have be.

The Knight had ruth of this yeoman.In place where that he stood,He said that yeoman should have no harm,For love of Robin Hood.

The Knight pressèd into the place,An hundred followed him free,With bows bent, and arrows sharp,For to shende[794]that company.

They shoulder’d all, and made him room,To wete[795]what he would say,He took the yeoman by the handAnd gave him all the play;

He gave him five mark for his wine,There it lay on the mould,And bade it should be set a-broach,Drink who so would.

Thus long tarried this gentle Knight,Till that play was done ...So long abode Robin fasting,Three hours after the noon.

How Little John robbed the Sheriff of Nottingham and delivered him into Robin Hood’s hands

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