he Now good sir Abbot be my friend for thy curtesie and hold my lands in thy hand till I haue made thee gree and I will be thy true seruant till ye haue foure hundreth pound of money good and free The Abbot sware a full great oath by God that died on a tree Get thy land where thou may for thou gettest none of me By deere worthy God said the Knight that all this world wrought but I haue my land againe full deere it shall be bought God that was of a maiden borne send vs well to speed for it is good to assay a friend or that a man haue need The Abbot loathly on them gan looke Out he said thou false Knight step thee out of the hall Thou liest then said the gentle Knight Abbot in thy hall false Knight was I neuer by God that made vs all Vp then stood that gentle Knight to the Abbot said he To suffer a Knight to kneele so long thou canst no curtesie In Iusts and in Tournaments full farre that haue I be and put my selfe as farre in presse as any that euer I see What will ye giue more said the Iustice and the Knight shall make release or else dare I safely say ye hold neuer your land in peace An hundreth pound said the Abbot the Iustice said giue him two Nay by God said the Knight ye get not my land so Though ye would giue a thousād pound more yet were thou neuer the neere Shall there neuer be mine heire Abbot Iustice ne Fryer He stert him to a bourd anon till a table round And there he shooke out of a bag euen foure hundreth pound Haue heere thy gold sir abbot said the Knight which thou lentest me Hadst thou bene curtise at my comming I would haue rewarded thee The Abbot sat still and eat no more for all his royall cheere He cast his head on his shoulder and fast gan to stare Take my gold againe said the Abbot sir Iustice that I tooke to thee Not a penny said the Iustice by God that dyed on a tree Sir Abbot and you men of lawe Now haue I held my day Now shall I haue my land again for ought that you can say The knight start out of the dore away was all his care And on he put his good clothing and the other he left there He went him forthfull mery singing as men haue told in tale His Lady met him at the gate at home in Verisdale Welcome my Lord said his Lady sir lost is all your good Be merry dame said the knight and pray for Robin hood That euer his soule be in blisse he holpe me out of tene Ne had not bee his kindnes beggers had we beene The Abbot and I accorded beene he serued of his pay the good yeoman lent it me as I came on the way This Knight then dwelled faire at home the sooth for to say till he had got foure hundreth pound all ready for to pay He puruaide him an hundreth bowes the strings were well dight An hundreth sheafe of arrowes good the heads burnisht full bright And euery arrow an ell long with Peacocke well ydight And nocked they were with white siluer it was a seemely sight He puruaide him an hundreth men well harnased in that stead And himselfe in that same suite and cloathed in white and red He bare a launce gay in his hand and a man led his male and rode with a light song vnto Bernisdale As he went vp a bridge was a wrastling and there taried was he And there was all the best yeomen of all the west Cuntrie A great courser with a saddle and bridle with gould burnisht full bright A paire of gloues a red gold ring a pipe of wine in good fay What man beareth him best ywis the prize shall beare away There was a yeoman in that place and best worthy was he And for he was farre and friend bested yslaine he should haue be The Knight had ruth of this yeoman in place where that he stood He said the yeoman should haue no harm for the loue of Robin hood The Knight preased into the place an hundreth followed him in feare With bowes bent and arrowes sharpe for to shend that company They shouldred and made him roome to wit what he would say He tooke the yeoman by the hand and gaue him all the play He gaue him fiue markes for his wine there it lay then on the mould and bad it should be set abroach and drinke who so would Thus long taried this gentle Knight till that the play was doone So long abode Robin fasting three houres after noone ¶ The third fitte LYthe and listen Gentlemen all that now be heere Of little Iohn that was the Knights man good mirth ye shall heare It was vpon a merry day that yong men would goe shoote Little Iohn fet his bowe anon and said he would them mnete Three times little Iohn shot about and alway claue the wand The proud Sheriffe of Nottingham by the markes gan stand The Sheriffe swore a full great oath by him that died on a tree this man is the best archer that euer I did see Say me thou wight yong man what is now thy name in what countrie wast thou borne and where is thy wonning wane In Holdernes I was borne ywis of my dame Men call me Reinald Greene-leafe when I am at home Say me Reinald Greene-leafe Wilt thou dwell with me and euery yeare I will thee giue twenty marke to thy fee. I haue a Maister said little Iohn A courteous Knight is he may ye get leaue of him the better may it be The Sheriffe gat little Iohn twelue monthes of the Knight therefore he gaue to him anon a good horse and a wight Now is little Iohn the Sheriffes man he giue vs well to speed But alway thought little Iohn to quite him well his meed Now so God helpe said little Iohn and by my true lewte I shall be the worst seruant to him that euer he had yet It befell vpon a wednesday the Sheriffe on hunting was gone and little Iohn lay in his bed and was forgot at home Therefore he was fasting till it was past noone Good sir Steward I pray thee giue me meat said little Iohn It is long for greene-leafe fasting so long to be Therefore I pray thee Steward my dinner giue thou me Shalt neither eat nor drinke said the Steward till my Lord be come to towne I make mine auow to God said little Iohn I had leuer to crack thy crowne The Butler was vncourteous there he stood on the floore He start to the buttery and shut fast the doore little Iohn gaue the Butler such a rappe his backe yede nigh in two Though he liueth an hundreth winters the worse he still shall goe He spurned the doore with his foote it went ope well and fine And there he made a large liuery both of ale and wine Sith you will not dine said little
in his right my goods both set and sold My Landes be set to wed Robin vntill a certaine day To a rich Abbot heere beside of Saint Mary Abbay What is the summe said Robin truth then tell thou me Sir he said foure hundreth pound the Abbot told it to me Now and thou loose thy land said Robin what shall fall of thee Hastily I will me buske said the Knight ouer the salt Sea And see where Christ was quick dead on the mount of Caluere Farewell friend and haue good day it may no better be Teares fell out of his eyes two he would haue gone his way Farewell friends and haue good day I haue no more to pay Where be thy friends said Robin sir neuer a one will know me Whiles I was rich enough at home great boast then would they blow And now they run away from me As beasts on a rowe They take no more heed of me than they me neuer saw For ruthe they went little Iohn Scathlocke and Much also Fill of the best wine said Robin for here is a simple cheere Hast thou any friends said Robin thy borrowes that will be I haue none said the Knight but God that dyed on a tree Doo away thy iest said Robin thereof I will right none weenest thou I will God to borrow Peter Paul or Iohn Nay by him that made me and shope both Sun and Moone Finde a better borrow said Robin Or money gettest thou none I haue none other said the Knight the sooth for to say But it be our deere Lady she faileth me neuer or this day By deere worthy God said Robin to seech all England thorowe Yet found I neuer to my pay a much better borowe Come now forth little Iohn and goe to my treasure And bring me foure hundreth pound and looke it well tolde be Forth then went little Iohn and Scathelocke went before He tolde forth foure hundreth pound by eighteene score Is this well tolde said little Much Iohn said what grieued thee It is almes to help a gentle knight that is fallen in pouertie Maister then said little Iohn his clothing is full thinne Ye must giue the knight a liuery to wrap his body therein For ye haue Scarlet and greene maister and much rich aray there is no marchant in mery England so rich I dare well say Take him three yeards of euery colour and looke that well ymet it be Little Iohn tooke none other measure but his bowe tree And of euery handfull that he met he leped ouer foots three What diuels draper said little Much thinkest thou to be Scathelocke stood still and laught and said by God almight Iohn may giue him the better measure by God it cost him but light Maister said little Iohn All vnto Robin hood Ye must giue the knight an horse to lede home all his good Take him a gray courser said Robin and a saddle new He is our Ladies messenger God lend that it be true And a good Palfray said little much to maintaine him in his right And a paire of boots said Scathelocke for he is a gentle knight what shalt thou giue him litle Iohn said Robin sir a paire of gilte spurres clene to pray for all this company God bring them out of tene When shall my day be said the Knight sir and your will be This day twelue months said Robin vnder the greene wood tree It were great shame said Robin a Knight alone to ride without squire yeomen or page to walke by his side I shall thee lend little Iohn my man for he shall be thy knaue In a yeomans sted he may stand if thou great need haue ¶ The second fitte NOw is the Knight gon on his way this game he thought full good When he looked on Bernisdale he blessed Robin hood And when he thought on Bernisdale on Scathelocke much and Iohn He blessed them for the best company that euer he in came Then spake the gentle Knight to little Iohn gan he say tomorrow I must to Yorke towne to saint Mary Abbay And to the Abbot of that place foure hundreth pound I must pay And but I be there this night my land is lost for aye The Abbot said to his couent there he stood on ground this day xii months came a Knight and borrowed four◠hundreth pound Vpon his land and fee But he come this ilke day disberited shall he be It is full early said the priour the day is not yet farre gone I had leuer to pay a hundreth pound and lay it downe anone The Knight is farre beyond the sea in England is his right And suffereth hunger and cold and many a sore night It were great pittie said the priour So to haue his land And ye be so light of your conscience you doe him much wrong Thou art euer in my berde said the Abbot by God and saint Richad With that came in a fat headed muncke the high sellerere He is dead or hanged said the Muncke by God that bought me deere Ind we shall haue to spend in this place foure hundreth pounds by yeere The Abbot and high sellerere stert forth full bolde The high Iustice of England the Abbot there did holde The high Iustice and many mo had taken into their hand Wholly all the knights det to put that knight to wrong They demed the knight wonder sore the Abbot and his meiny But he comes this ylke day disherited shall he be He will come yet said the Iustice I dare well vndertake But in sorrow time to them all The knight came to the gate Then bespake that gentle knight vntill his menye Now put on your simple weeds that ye brought fro the sea They came to the gates anon the porter was redy himselfe and welcommed them euerie chone Welcome sir knight said the porter my Lord to meat is he And so is many a gentleman for the loue of thee The Porter swore a full great oath by God that made me Heere be the best corse horse that euer yet saw me Lede them to the stable he said that eased might they be they shall not come there said the knight by God that dyed on a tree Lords were to meat yset in that Abbots hall the knight went foorth kneeled downe and saluted them great and small Doe gladly sir Abbot said the Knight I am come to hold my day The first word the Abbot spake hast thou brought me my pay Not one penny said the Knight by God that hath made me Thou art a shrewde debter said that Abbot sir Iustice drinke to me What doest thou heere said the Abbot but thou hadst brought thy pay For God then said the Knight to desire of a longer day Thy day is broake said the Iustice land gettest thou none Now good sir Iustice be my friend and defend me against my fone I am hold with the Abbot said the Iustice both with cloath and fee Now good sir Sheriffe be my friend nay for God said
if I had a hundreth pound I would giue it to thee Robin tooke the forty pound and deuided it then did he Halfe he gaue to his merry men and bad them merry be Full curteously Robin gan say haue this for your spending we shall meet another day gramercy then said our King but well thee greeteth Edward our king he hath sent to thee his Seale And biddeth thee come to Nottingham both to meat and meale He tooke out the broad Seale and soone he let him see Robin could his curtesie and set him on his knee I loue no man in all the world so well as I doe my King Welcome be my Lords Seale and Monk for thy tyding Sir Abbot for thy tyding to day thou shalt dine with mee For the loue of my King vnder the trusty tree Foorth he had our comely King full faire by the hand Many a Deere there was slaine and full was fast dight and Robin tooke a full great horne and loud he gan it blowe Seauen score of wight yeomen came running on a rowe All they kneeled on their knee full faire before Robin The King said himselfe vntill and swore by saint Austin Here is a wonder seemely sight me thinketh by Gods pine His men are more at his bidding then my men be at mine Full hastily was their dinner dight and thereto can they gone they serued our king with all their might both Robin and little Iohn Anon before our King was set the fat Venison the good white bread the good red wine and thereto the good Ale browne Make good cheere said Robin Abbot for charitie And for this ylke tiding blessed may thou be Now shalt thou see what life I lead or that thou hence wend then thou maist enforme our King when ye together be lend Vp they start all in haste their Bowes were smartly bent Our King was neuer so sore agast he went to haue beene shent Two yardes there were vp set thereto can they gang By fiftye pace our King said the markes were too long On euery side a rose garland they shot vnder the line who so faileth of the rose garland said Robin his tackle he shall tine And yeeld it to his maister be it neuer so fine For no man will I spare so drink I ale or wine A good buffet on his head beare for this shall be his fine And those that fell to Robins lot he smote them wonder sare twice Robin shot about and euer he claue the wand And so did good Gilbert with the lilly white hand Little Iohn and good Scathlock for nothing would they spare When they failed of the garland Robin smote them full sare At the last shoote that Robin shot fore all his freends faire Yet he failed the garland three fingers and more Then bespake good Gilbert and then he gan say Master he said your tackle is lost stand foorth and take your pay If it be so said Robin that may no better be Sir Abbot I deliuer thee mine arrow I pray thee serue thou me It falleth not for mine order said the King Robin be thy leaue For to smite no good yeoman for dout I should him greue Smite one boldely said Robin I giue thee largely leaue Anon our King with that word he folded vp his sleue And such a buffet he gaue Robin to ground he yede full neere I make mine auow to God said Robin thou art a tall Frier There is pith in thine arme said Robin I trow thou can well shoot Thus our King and Robin hood togither gan they meet Robin beheld our comely King stedfast in the face So did Sir Richard at the Lee and kneeled downe in that place And so did all the said outlawes when they sawe them kneele My Lord the King of England now I know you well Mercy then said Robin to our King vnder this trusly tree Of thy goodnes and thy grace for my men and for mee And yet said good Robin as good God do me saue I aske thee mercy my Lord the King and for my men I it craue Yes for God said our King thy petition I graunt thee So that thou wilt leaue the greenwood and all thy company And come home to my Court there to dwell with me I make mine auow to God said Robin and right so shall it be I will come to your Court your seruice for to see And bring with me of my men seuenscore and three But and I like not your seruice I will come again full soon And shoot at the dunne deere as I was wunt to doon ¶ The viii fit HAst thou any green cloth said our king that thou wilt sell to me Yea for God said Robin thirtie yardes and three Robin said our king now pray I thee To sell me some of that cloth to me and my meynye Yes for God then said Robin or els I were a foole An other day ye will me clothe Itrowe against the yule The king cast of his cote then a green garment he did on And euery knight had so ywis they clothed them full soon When they were clothed in Lincoln green they cast a way the gray Now shall we to Notingham all this our king can say They bent their bowes and forth they went shooting all in fere toward the towne of Nottingham outlawes as thy were Our king and Robin rode togither forsooth as I you say And all they shot pluck buffet as thy went by the way And many a buffet our King wan of Robin hood that day And nothing spared good Robin our King when he did pay So God me helpe said the King thy game is naught to lere I should not get a shot of thee though I shot all this yeere All the people of Nottingham they stood and beheld they saw nothing but mantles of greene that couered all the field Then euery man togither can say I drede our King be stone Come Robin hood to the towne ywis on liue he leaueth not one Full hastely they began to flee both yeomen and knaues And olde wiues that might euill goe they hipped on their staues The King lough full fast and commaunded them to come againe when they saw our comely King ywis they were full faine They eat and drank made them glad and sung with notes hye Then bespake our comely King to sir Richard of the Lee He gaue him there his land again a good man he had him be Robin hood thanked our comely King and set him on his knee Robin hood dwelled in the Kings court but twelue moneths and three that he had spent an hundreth pound and all his mens fee. In euery place where Robin came euermore he laid downe Both for Knights and Squires to get him a great renowne By than the yere was all gone he had no man but twaine Little Iohn and good Scathelock with all for to gone Robin saw young men shoot full faire vpon a day Alas then said good Robin my wealth is wend away Sometime
in this land so royall I vnderstand Bretheren said little Iohn heere are no more but we three but we bring them to dinner our Maister dare we not see Bend your bowes said little Iohn make you youder Priest to stand the formost Monk his life and his death is cloased in my hand Abide churle Monke said little Iohn no farther that thou gon if thou doest by deere worthy God thy death is in my hand An euill thrift on thy head said little Iohn right vnder thy hattes band for thou hast made our Maister wrath he is fasting so long What hight your Maister said the Monke Little Iohn said Robin hood He is a strong theefe said the Monke of him heard I neuer good Thou liest then said little Iohn and that shall sore rue thee He is a yeoman of the Forrest to dine he hath bode thee Much was ready with a Bowe ready and anone He set the monke to fore the brest to the ground he gan gone Of two and fiftie wight yeomen there abode but one Saue a little Page and a groome to leade the sommers with little Iohn they brought the monk to the lodge dore whither he were loth or leefe For to speake with Robin mangre in their teeth Robin did downe his hood the monke when he did see the monke was not so curteise his hood then let it be He is a churle maister by deere worthy God then said little Iohn Thereof no force said Robin for curtesie can he none How many men said Robin had this monke Iohn Fifty and two when that we met but many of them be gon Let blowe we a horne said Robin that fellowship may vs knowe Seuen score of wight yeomen came pricking on a rowe And euerich of them a good mantell of scarlet and of raye All they came to good Robin to wete what he would saie They made the monke to wash wipe and sit at his diner Robin hood and little Iohn they serued him both in fere Doo gladly monke said Robin gramercy sir said hee Where is your abbay when you are at home and who is your auowe Saint Mary abbay said the monke though I be simple here In what office said Robin sir the hie Sellerere Ye be the more welcome said Robin So mote I thriue of thee Fill of the best wine said Robin this monke shall drinke to me But I haue great maruaile said Robin of all this long day I dread our Lady be wrath with me she sent me not my pay haue no dout maister said little Iohn swere you neede not so to say This monk hath brought it I dare well for he is of her abbay She was a borrowe said Robin betweene a knight and me Of a little money that I him lent vnder the greene wood tree And if thou hast the mony brought I pray thee let me see And I shall helpe thee eft againe if thou haue need of me The Monke swore a full great oath with a sorry cheere of the borrowhood thou speakest to me heard I neuer ere I make my auow to God said Robin Monke thou art too blame for God is hold a right wise man and so is his Dame Thou toldest with thine owne tongue thou maist it not denay how thou art her seruant and seruest her euery day And thou art her Messenger my money for to pay therefore I doe thee thanke thou art come at thy day What is in your coffers said Robin truth then tell thou me Sir he said twenty marke so mought I thriue and thee If there be no more said Robin I will not take one penny if thou hast need of any more sir more shall I lend thee And if I finde more said Robin ywis thou shalt it forgone for of thy spending money Monke thereof I will haue none Goe now foorth little Iohn and the truth tell thou me if there be no more but twenty marke no penny let me see Little Iohn laid his mantle downe as he had done before and told out of the Mankes male eight hundreth pound and more Little Iohn let it lie full still and went to his Maister in hast Sir he said the Monke is true now our Lady hath doubled your cost I make mine auow to God said Robin Monke that told I thee Our Lady is the truest woman that euer yet found I me By deere worthy God said Robin to seeke all England thorow yet found I neuer to my pay a much better borrow Fill of the best wine to him drinke said Robin and greet well thy Lady hend and if she haue need of Robin hood a friend she shall him finde And if she haue need of any more siluer come thou againe to me and by this token she hath me sent she shall haue such three The Monk was going to Londonward there to hold great mote the Knight that rode so hie on horse to bring him vnder foot Whither be ye away said Robin sir to manners in this land to reckon with our reues that haue done much wrong Come now foorth little Iohn and hearken to my tale a better yeoman I know none to seeke a Monkes male And what is in the other coffer said Robin the soothe we must see By our Lady said the Monk that were no curtesie To bid a man to dinner and sith him beate and binde It is our olde manner said Robin to leaue but little behinde The Monk tooke the horse with spurre no longer would abide Aske to drinke then said Robin or that ye farther ride Nay for God said the Monk Me rueth I came so neere For better chepe I might haue dined in Blithe or Dancaster Greet well your Abbot said Robin and your Priour I you pray And bid hun send me such a Monk to dinner euery day Now let we that Monk be still and speake we of that knight Yet he came to holde his day while that it was light He did him straight to Bernesdale vnder the greenwood tree And he found there Robin hood and all his merry menie The Knight light from his good palfrey Robin when he can see Right curteously he did down his hood and set him on his knee God thee saue good Robin hood and all this company Welcome be thou gentle Knight and right welcome to me Then bespoke good Robin to that Knight so free What need driueth thee to greene-wood I pray thee sir Knight tell me and welcome be thou gentle Knight why hast thou be so long The Abbot and the high Iustice they would haue had my land Hast thou thy land againe said Robin truth then tell thou me Yea for God then said the Knight and thanke I God and thee But take no griefe said the Knight that I haue be so long I came by a wrastling and there did I helpe a poore yeoman with wrong they put behinde Now by my truth then said Robin for that Knight thanke I thee what man that helpeth a good yeoman his friend then will