Let me go,"then said the sher-iff,"For saint Charit-e,And I will be thy best friend That ever yet had thee."
"Thou shalt swear me an oath,"said Robin,"On my bright brand,Thou shalt never awayte me scathe,By water ne by land;
And if thou find any of my men,By night or by day,Upon thine oath thou shalt swear,To help them that thou may."
Now hath the sheriff i-swore his oath,And home he gan to gone,He was as full of green wood As ever was heap of stone.
THE FOURTH FYTTE.
The sheriff dwelled in Nottingham,He was fain that he was gone,And Robin and his merry men Went to wood anone.
"Go we to dinner,"said Little John.
Robin Hood said,"Nay;
For I dread Our Lady be wroth with me,For she sent me not my pay."
"Have no doubt,master,"said Little John,"Yet is not the sun at rest,For I dare say,and safely sware,The knight is true and trust."
"Take thy bow in thy hand,"said Robin,"Let Much wende with thee,And so shall William Scathelock,And no man abide with me,And walk up into the Sa-yl-es,And to Watling Street,And wait after such unketh gest,Up-chance ye may them meet.
Whether he be messeng-er,Or a man that mirth-es can,Or if he be a poor man,Of my good he shall have some."
Forth then stert Little John,Half in tray and teen,And girded him with a full good sword,Under a mantle of green.
They went up to the Sa-yl-es,These yeomen all three;
They look-ed east,they look-ed west,They might no man see.
But as he looked in Barnisdale,By the high way,Then were they ware of two black monks,Each on a good palfray.
Then bespak-e Little John,To Much he gan say,"I dare lay my life to wed,That these monks have brought our pay.
Make glad cheer,"said Little John,"And frese our bows of yew,And look your hearts be sicker and sad,Your strings trust-y and true.
The monk hath fifty-two men,And seven som-ers full strong,There rideth no bishop in this land So royally,I understond.
Brethren,"said Little John,"Here are no more but we three;
But we bring them to dinn-er,Our master dare we not see.
Bend your bows,"said Little John,"Make all yon press to stand!
The foremost monk,his life and his death Is clos-ed in my hand!
Abide,churl monk,"said Little John,"No farther that thou gone;
If thou dost,by dere-worthy God,Thy death is in my hond.
And evil thrift on thy head,"said Little John,"Right under thy hat's bond,For thou hast made our master wroth,He is fast-ing so long."
"Who is your master?"said the monk.
Little John said,"Robin Hood."
"He is a strong thief,"said the monk,"Of him heard I never good."
"Thou liest!"then said Little John,"And that shall rew-e thee;
He is a yeoman of the for-est,To dine hath bod-e thee."
Much was ready with a bolt,Redly and anon,He set the monk tofore the breast,To the ground that he can gon.
Of fifty-two wight young men,There abode not one,Save a little page,and a groom To lead the somers with Little John.
They brought the monk to the lodge door,Whether be were loth or lief,For to speak with Robin Hood,Maugr-e in their teeth.
Robin did adown his hood,The monk when that he see;
The monk was not so courteyous,His hood then let he be.
"He is a churl,master,by dere-worthy God,"
Then said Little John.
"Thereof no force,"said Rob-in,"For courtesy can he none.
How man-y men,"said Rob-in,"Had this monk,John?"
"Fifty and two when that we met,But many of them be gone."
"Let blow a horn,"said Robin,"That fellowship may us know."
Seven score of wight yeomen,Came pricking on a row,And everich of them a good mant-ell,Of scarlet and of ray,All they came to good Rob-in,To wite what he would say.
They made the monk to wash and wipe,And sit at his dinere,Robin Hood and Little John They served them both infere.
"Do gladly,monk,"said Robin.
"Gram-ercy,sir,"said he.
"Where is your abbey,whan ye are at home,And who is your avow-e?"
"Saint Mary abbey,"said the monk,"Though I be simple here."
"In what offic-e?"said Rob-in.
"Sir,the high cellarer."
"Ye be the more welcome,"said Rob-in,"So ever mote I thee.
Fill of the best wine,"said Rob-in,"This monk shall drink to me.
But I have great marvel,"said Rob-in,"Of all this long-e day,I dread Our Lady be wroth with me,She sent me not my pay."
"Have no doubt,master,"said Little John,"Ye have no need I say,This monk it hath brought,I dare well swear,For he is of her abbay."
"And she was a borow,"said Robin,"Between a knight and me,Of a little money that I him lent,Under the green wood tree;
And if thou hast that silver i-brought,I pray thee let me see,And I shall help thee eftsoons,If thou have need of me."
The monk swore a full great oath,With a sorry cheer,"Of the borowhood thou speakest to me,Heard I never ere!"
"I make mine avow to God,"said Robin,"Monk,thou art to blame,For God is hold a righteous man,And so is his dame.
Thou toldest with thine own tongue,Thou may not say nay,How that thou art her serv-ant And servest her every day,And thou art made her messenger,My money for to pay,Therefore I con thee more thank,Thou art come at thy day.
What is in your coffers?"said Robin,"True then tell thou me."
"Sir,"he said,"twenty mark,All so mote I thee."
"If there be no more,"said Robin,"I will not one penny;
If thou hast mister of any more,Sir,more I shall lend to thee;
And if I find more,"said Robin,"I-wis thou shalt it forgone;
For of thy spending silver,monk,Thereof will I right none.
Go now forth,Little John,And the truth tell thou me;
If there be no more but twenty mark,No penny of that I see."
Little John spread his mantle down,As he had done before,And he told out of the monk-es mail,Eight hundred pound and more.
Little John let it lie full still,And went to his master in haste;
"Sir,"he said,"the monk is true enow,Our lady hath doubled your cost."
"I make mine avow to God,"said Robin,"Monk,what told I thee?
Our Lady is the truest woman,That ever yet found I me.
By dere-worthy God,"said Robin,"To seek all England thorowe,Yet found I never to my pay A much better borowe.
Fill of the best wine,do him drink,"said Robin;
