A Little Gest of Robin Hood

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Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn_hode

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¶Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn_hode. and his meyne And of the proude Sheryfe of Notyngham.

LIthe and lysten gentylmen

That be of fre-bore blode

I shall you tell of a good yeman

His name was Robyn_hode

Robyn was a proude outlawe

Whyles he walked on grounde

So curteyse an outlawe as he was one

Was neuer none y_founde

Robyn stode in bernysdale

And lened hym to a tree

And by hym stode lytell_Iohan

A good yeman was he

And also dyde good Scathelock

And Much the myllers sone

There was no ynche of his body

But it was worthe a grome

Then bespake hym lytell_Iohan

All vnto Robyn_hode

Mayster yf ye wolde dyne betyme

It wolde do you moch good

Then be_spake good Robyn

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To dyne I haue no lust

Tyll I haue some bolde baron

Or some vnketh gest

[..........................] this line is wanting in all texts; Dobson and Taylor suggest: "Till that I have som bolde baron"

That may paye for the best

Or some knyg[h]t or some squyere knyght] knygot B

That dwelleth here by west

A good maner than had Robyn

In londe where that he were

Euery daye or he wolde dyne

Thre messes wolde he here

The one in the worshyp of the fader

The other of the holy-goost

The thyrde was of our dere lady

That he loued [allther] moste allther] all other B, allther A

Robyn loued our dere lady

For doute of dedely synne

Wolde he neuer do company harme

That ony woman was ynne

Mayster than sayd lytell_Iohan

And we our borde shall sprede

Tell vs whether we shall gone

And what lyfe we shall lede

Where we shall take where we shall leue

Where we shall abyde behynde

Where we shall robbe where we shall reue

Where we shall bete and bynde

Ther-of no fors sayd Robyn

We shall do well y_nough

But loke ye do no housbonde harme

That tylleth with his plough

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No more ye shall no good yeman

That walketh by grene-wode shawe

Ne no knyght ne no squyer

That wolde be a good felawe

These bysshoppes and thyse archebysshoppes

Ye shall them bete and bynde

The hye sheryfe of notynghame

Hym holde in your mynde

This worde shall be holde sayd lytyll_I[oh]an Iohan] Ihoan B

And this lesson shall we lere

It is ferre dayes god sende vs a gest

That we were at our dynere

Take thy good bowe in thy hande sayd Robyn

Lete moche wende with the

And so shall Wyllyam_Scathelocke

And no man abyde with me

And walke vp to the sayles

And so to watlynge_strete

And wayte after some vnketh gest

Up chaunce ye mowe them mete

Be he Erle or ony baron

Abbot or ony knyght

Brynge hym to lodge to me

His dyner shall be dyght

They wente vnto the sayles

These yemen all thre

They loked est they loked west

They myght no man see

But as they loked in Barnysdale

By a derne strete

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Then came there a knyght rydynge

Full sone they gan hym mete

All drery then was all his semblaunte all] A omits

And lytell was his pryde

His one fote in the sterope stode

That other waued besyde

His hode hangynge ouer his eyen two

He rode in symple a_ray

A soryer man than he was one

Rode neuer in somers day

Lytell_Iohan was curteyse

And set hym on his kne

Welcome be ye gentyll knyght

Welcome are you to me

Welcome be thou to grene-wode

Hende knyght and fre

My mayster hath a_byden you fastynge

100

Syr all these oures thre

Who is your mayster sayd the knyght

Iohan sayd R[o]byn_hode Robyn] Rabyn B

He is a good yeman sayd the knyght

Of hym I haue herde moch good

105

I graunte he sayd with you to wende

My brethern all thre

My purpose was to haue dyned to_day dyned] deyned B, dyned A

At blythe or dankastere

Forthe than went that gentyll knyght

110

With a care_full chere

The teres out of his eyen ran

And fell downe by his lere

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They brought hym vnto the lodge-dore

Whan Robyn gan hym se

115

Full curteysly dyde of his hode

And set hym on his kne

Welcome syr knyght then sayd Robyn

Welcome thou arte to me

I haue abyde[n] you fastynge syr abyden] abyde B, abyden A

120

All these houres thre

Then answered the gentyll knyght

With wordes fayre and fre

God the saue good Robyn

And all thy fayre meyne

125

They wasshed togyder and wyped bothe

And set tyll theyr dynere

Brede and wyne they had ynough

And nombles of the dere

Swannes and fesauntes they had full good

130

And foules of the reuere

There fayled neuer so lytell a byrde

That euer was bred on brere

Do gladly syr knyght sayd Robyn

Gramercy syr sayd he

135

Suche a dyner had I not

Of all these wekes thre

If I come agayne Robyn

Here by this countre

As good a dyner I shall the make

140

As thou hast made to me

Gramercy knyght sayd Robyn

My dyner whan I haue

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I was neuer so gredy by dere-worthy god

My dyner for to craue

145

But pay or ye wende sayd Robyn

Me-thynketh it is good ryght

It was neuer the maner by dere-worthy god

A yeman pay for a knyght

I haue nought in my cofers sayd the knyght

150

That I may profer for shame

Lytell_Iohan go loke sayd Robyn_hode

Ne let not for no blame

Tell me trouth sayd Robyn

So god haue parte of the

155

I haue no more but .x. s. sayd the knyght

So god haue parte of me

Yf thou haue no more sayd Robyn

I wyll not one peny

And yf thou haue nede of ony more

160

More shall I len the

Go now forth lytell_Iohan

The trouthe tell thou me

Yf there be no more but .x. s.

Not one peny that I se

165

Lytell_Iohan spred downe his mantell

Full fayre vp-on the grounde

And there he founde in the knyghtes cofer

But euen halfe a pounde

Lytyll_Iohan lete it lye full styll

170

And went to his mayster full lowe

What tydynge Iohan sayd Robyn

Syr the knyght is trewe I_nough

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Fyll of the best wyne sayd Robyn

The knyght shall begynne

175

Moch wonder thynketh me

Thy clothynge is so thynne

Tell me one worde sayd Robyn

And counsell shall it be

I trowe thou were made a knyght of forse

180

Or elles of yemanry

Or elles thou hast ben a sory housband

And leued in stroke and stryfe

[An] okerer or elles a lechoure sayd Robyn An] And B, An F

With wronge hast thou lede thy lyfe

185

I am none of them sayd the knyght

By god that made me

An .C. wynter here-be_fore

My aunsetters knyghtes haue be

But ofte it hath befal Robyn

190

A man hath be dysgrate

But god that syt[t]eth in heuen aboue sytteth] syteth B, sitteth A

May a_mend his state

Within two or thre yere Robyn he sayd

My neyghbores well it knowe

195

Foure hondreth pounde of good money

Full wel than myght I spende

Now haue I no good sayd the knyght

[God hath shapen such an ende

But my chyldren and my wyfe] This and the previous line are transposed in all texts

200

Tyll god it may a_mende

In what maner sayd Robyn

Hast thou lore thy ryches

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For my grete foly he sayd

And for my kyndenesse

205

I had a sone for-soth Robyn

That sholde haue ben my eyre

When he was twenty wynter olde

In felde wolde Iuste full feyre

He slewe a knyght on lancastshyre on] of A

210

And a squyre bolde

For to saue hym in his ryght

My goodes both sette and solde

My londes beth sette to wedde Robyn

Untyll a certayne daye

215

To a ryche abbot here-besyde

Of saynt_Mary abbay

What is the somme sayd Robyn

Trouthe than tell thou me

Syr he sayd foure hondred pounde

220

The abbot tolde it to me

Now and thou lese thy londe sayd Robyn

What shall fall of the

Hastely I wyll me buske sayd the knyght

Ouer the salte see

225

And se where cryst was quycke and deed

On the mounte of caluare

Fare-well frende and haue good-daye

It may not better be

Teeres fell out of his eyen two

230

He wolde haue gone his waye

Fare-well frendes and haue good-day

I ne haue more to pay

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Where be thy frendes sayd Robyn

Syr neuer one wyll [me knowe] me knowe] knowe me B, me knowe A

235

Whyle I was ryche I_now a[t] home at] a B, at A

Grete bost then wolde they blowe

And now th[e]y renne a_waye fro me they] thy B, they A

As bestes on a rowe

They take no more hede of me

240

Then they me neuer sawe

For ruthe then wepte lytell_Iohan

Scathelocke and Much also

Fyll of the best wyne sayd Robyn

For here is a symple chere

245

Hast thou ony frendes sayd robyn

The borowes that wyll be The] Thy A

I haue none then sayd the knyght

But god that dyed on a tree

Do waye thy Iapes sayd Robyn

250

Therof wyll I right none

Wenest thou I wyll haue god to borowe wyll] wolde A

Peter Poule or Iohan

Nay by hym that me made

And shope both sonne and mone

255

Fynde a better borowe sayd Robyn

Or mony getest thou none

I haue none other sayd the knyght

The sothe for to say

But yf it be our dere lady

260

She fayled me neuer or this day

By dere-worthy god sayd Robyn

To seche all Englond thorowe

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Yet founde I neuer to my pay

A moch better borowe

265

Come now forthe lytell_Iohan

And goo to my tresoure

And brynge me foure hondred pounde

And loke that it well tolde be

Forthe then wente lytell_Iohan

270

And Scathelocke went before

He tolde out foure houndred pounde

By [eyght and twenty] score eyght and twenty] eyghtene B, .xxviij. A

Is this well tolde sayd lytell Much

Iohan sayd what greueth the

275

It is almes to helpe a gentyll knyght

That is fall in pouerte

Mayster than sayd lytell_Iohan

His clothynge is full thynne

Ye must gyue the knyght a lyueray

280

To helpe his body ther-in

For ye haue scarlet and grene mayster

And many a ryche aray

There is no marchaunt in mery Englonde

So ryche I dare well saye

285

Take hym thre yerdes of euery coloure

And loke [that] well mete it be that] it B, that A

Lytell_Iohan toke none other mesure

But his bowe-tre

And of euery handfull that he met

290

He lept ouer fotes thre

What deuylkyns draper sayd lytell Much

Thynkyst thou to be

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Scathelocke stoode full styll and lough

And sayd by god all-myght

295

Iohan may gyue hym the better mesure

By god it cost hym but lyght

Mayster sayd lytell_Iohan

All vnto Robyn_hode

Ye must gyue the knight an hors

300

To lede home al this good B runs this line onto the preceding line

Take hym a gray courser sayd Robyn

And a sadell newe

He is our ladyes messengere

God leue that he be trewe

305

And a good pallfraye sayd lytell Moch

To mayntayne hym in his ryght

And a payre of botes sayd Scathelocke

For he is a gentyll knyght

What shalt thou gy[u]e hym lytel_Iohan sayd Robyn

310

Syr a payre of gylte spores cle[n]e clene] clere B, A, clene F, G

To praye for all this company

God brynge hym out of tene

Whan shall my daye be sayd the knyght

Syr and your wyll be

315

This daye twelue moneth sayd Robyn

Under this grene-wode tree

It were grete shame sayd Robyn

A knyght a_lone to ryde

Without squyer yeman or page

320

To walke by his syde

I shall the lene lytyll_Iohan my man

For he shall be thy knaue

In a yemans steed he may the stonde

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Yf thou grete nede haue

¶The seconde fytte.

325

NOwe is the knyght went on his way

This game he thought full good

When he loked on bernysdale

He blyssed Robyn_hode

And whan he be_thought on bernysdale

330

On Scathelock Much and Iohan

He blyssed them for the best company

That euer he in come

Then spake that gentyll knyght

To lytel_Iohan gan he saye

335

To_morowe I must to yorke toune

To saynt_mary abbay

And to the abbot of that place

Foure hondred pounde I must pay

And but I be there vpon this nyght

340

My londe is lost for ay

The abbot sayd to his couent

There he stode on grounde

This day twelfe moneth came there a knyght

And borowed foure hondred pounde

345

[He borowed foure hondred pounde] this line is wanting in all texts; reading supplied from Child

Upon all his londe fre

But he come this ylke day

Dysheryte shall he be

It is full erely sayd the pryoure

350

The daye is not yet ferre gone

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I had leuer to pay an hondr[e]d pound hondred] hondrde B

And lay [it] downe a_none it] B omits, it G

The knyght is ferre be_yonde the see

In Englonde [is his] ryght is his] he is B, is his F, G

355

And suffreth honger and colde

And many a sory nyght

It were grete pyte sayd the pryoure

So to haue his londe

And ye be so lyght of your consyence

360

Ye do to hym moch wronge

Thou arte euer in my berde sayd the abbot

By god and saynt Rycharde

With that cam in a fat heded monke

The heygh selerer

365

He is dede or hanged sayd the monke

By god that bought me dere

And we shall haue to spende in this place

Foure hondred pounde by yere

The abbot and the hy selerer

370

Sterte forthe full bolde

The [hye] Iustyce of Englonde hye] B omits, highe F, high G

The abbot there dyde holde

The hye Iustyce and many mo

Had take in-to they[r] honde theyr] they B, theyr Child

375

Holy all the knyghtes det

To put that knyght to wronge

They demed the knyght wonder sore

The abbot and his meyne

But he come this ylke day

380

Dysheryte shall he be

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He wyll not come yet sayd the Iustyce

I dare well vnder_take

But in sorowe-tyme for them all

The knyght came to the gate

385

Than be_spake that gentyll knyght

Untyll his meyne

Now put on your symple wedes

That ye brought fro the see

[They put on theyr symple wedes] this line is wanting in all texts; reading supplied from Child

390

They came to the gates anone

The porter was redy hym-selfe

And welcomed them euerychone

Welcome syr knyght sayd the porter

My lorde to mete is he

395

And so is many a gentyll-man

For the loue of the

The porter swore a full grete othe

By god that made me

Here be the best-coresed hors

400

That euer yet sawe I me

Lede them in-to the stable he sayd

That eased myght they be

They shall not come therin sayd the knyght

By god that dyed on a tre

405

Lordes were to mete I_sette

In that abbotes hall

The knyght went forth and kneled downe

And salued them grete and small

Do gladly syr abbot sayd the knyght

410

I am come to holde my day

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The fyrst word the abbot spake

Hast thou brought my pay

Not one peny sayd the knyght

By god that maked me

415

Thou art a shrewed dettour sayd the abbot

Syr Iustyce drynke to me

What doost thou here sayd the abbot

But thou haddest brought thy pay

For god than sayd the knyght

420

To pray of a lenger daye

Thy daye is broke sayd the Iustyce

Londe getest thou none

Now good syr Iustyce be my frende

And fende me of my fone

425

I am holde with the abbot sayd the Iustyce

Both with cloth and fee

Now good syr sheryf be my frende

Nay for god sayd he

Now good syr abbot be my frende

430

For thy curteyse

And holde my londes in thy honde

Tyll I haue made the gree

And I wyll be thy true seruaunte

And trewely serue the

435

Tyl ye haue foure hondred pounde

Of money good and free

The abbot sware a full grete othe

By god that dyed on a tree

Get the londe where thou may

440

For thou getest none of me

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By dere-worthy god then sayd the knyght

That all this worlde wrought

But I haue my londe agayne

Full dere it shall be bought

445

God that was of a mayden borne

Leue vs well to spede

For it is good to assay a frende

Or that a man haue nede

The abbot lothely on hym gan loke

450

And vylaynesly hym gan [call] call] loke B, call Child

Out he sayd thou false knyght

Spede the out of my hall

Thou lyest then sayd the gentyll knyght

Abbot in thy hal

455

False knyght was I neuer

By god that made vs all

Up then stode that gentyll knyght

To the abbot sayd he

To suffre a knyght to knele so longe

460

Thou canst no curteysye

In Ioustes and in tournement

Full ferre than haue I be

And put my-selfe as ferre in prees

As ony that euer I se

465

What wyll ye gyue more sayd the Iustyce

And the knyght shall make a releyse

And elles I dare safly swere

Ye holde neuer your londe in pees

An hondred pounde sayd the abbot

470

The Iustyce sayd gyue hym two

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Nay be god sayd the knyght

Yet [gete] ye it not soo gete] grete B, gete A, get F, G

Though ye wolde gyue a thousande more

Yet were thou neuer the nere

475

Shall there neuer be myn eyre

Abbot Iustyse ne frere

He sterte hym to a borde a_none

Tyll a table rounde

And there he shoke out of a bagge

480

Euen foure hondred pounde

Haue here thy golde syr abbot sayd the knyght

Which that thou lentest me

Haddest thou ben curteys at my comynge

Rewarde sholdest thou haue be

485

The abbot sat styll and ete no more

For all his ryall chere

He cast his hede on his sholder

And fast began to stare

Take me my golde agayne sayd the abbot

490

Syr Iustyce that I toke the

Not a peny sayd the Iustyce

By god that dyed on a tree

Syr abbot and ye men of lawe

Now haue I holde my daye

495

Now shall I haue my londe a_gayne

For ought that you can saye

The knyght stert out of the dore

A_waye was all his care

And on he put his good clothynge

500

The other he lefte there

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He wente hym forth full mery syngynge

As men haue tolde in tale

His lady met hym at the gate

And home i[n] verysdale

505

Welcome my lorde sayd his lady

Syr lost is all your good

Be mery dame sayd the knyght

And praye for Robyn_hode

That euer his soule be in blysse

510

He holpe me out of my tene

Ne had not be his kyndenesse

Beggers had we ben

The abbot and I acordyd ben

He is serued of his pay

515

The good yeman lent it me

As I came by the way

This knyght than dwelled fayre at home

The soth for to say

Tyll he had got foure hondreth pounde

520

All-redy for too paye

He purueyed hym an hondred bowes

The strenges welle dyght

An hondred shefe of arowes good

The hedes burnyshed full bryght

525

And euery arowe an elle longe

With pecocke well y_dyght

I_nocked all with whyte syluer

It was a semly syght

He purueyed hym an hondreth men

530

Well harneysed in that stede

sig: [B4v]

And hym-selfe in that same sete

And clothed in whyte and rede

He bare a launsgay in his honde

And a man ledde his male

535

And [rode] with a lyght songe rode] reden B, rode F, G

Unto bernysdale

But as he went at a brydge ther was a wrastelyng

And there taryed was he

And there was all the best yemen

540

Of all the west-countree

A full fayre game there was vp_set

A whyte bulle [vp I]_pyght vp I_pyght] I vp pyght B, vp ypyght F

A grete courser with sadle and brydil

With golde burneyshed full bryght

545

A payre of gloues a rede-golde rynge

A pype of wyne in good fay

What man bereth hym best I_wys

The pryce shall bere a_way

There was a yeman in that place

550

And best worthy was he

And for he was ferre and fre[m]d bestad fremd] frend B, frembde A, frend F, friend G

I_slayne he sholde haue be

The knyght had reuthe of this yeman

In place where that he stode

555

He sayd that yoman sholde haue no harme

For loue of Robyn_hode

The knyght presed into the place

An hondred folowed hym f[ree] free] fere B, A omits, in fere F, in feare G, free Child

With bowes bent and arowes sharpe

560

For to shende that company

sig: [B5]

They sholdred all and made hym rome

To wete what he wolde say

He toke the yeman by the honde

And gaue hym all the playe

565

He gaue hym fyue marke for his wyne

There it laye on the molde

And bad it sholde be sette a_broche

Drynke who-so wolde

Thus longe taryed this gentyll knyght

570

Tyll that playe was done

So longe a_bode Robyn fastynge

Thre houres after the none

The thyrde fytte

LYth and lysten gentyll-men

All that now be here

575

Of lytell_Iohan that was the knyghtes man

Good myrthe ye shall here

It was vpon a mery day

That yonge men wolde go sh[e]te shete] shote B, shete A, shute F

Lytell_Iohan fet his bowe a_none

580

And sayd he wolde them mete

Thre tymes lytell_Iohan shot a_bout

And alway he sleste the wande

The proude sheryf of Notyngham

By the markes gan stande

585

The sheryf swore a full grete othe

By hym that dyed on a tree

This man is the best archere

sig: [B5v]

That [euer] yet sawe I me euer] B omits, euer A

Say me now wyght yonge man

590

What is now thy name

In what countre were thou born

And where is thy wonnynge-wan[e] wane] wan B, wane A

In holdernesse I was bore

I_wys all of my dame

595

Men call me Reynolde_grenelefe

Whan I am at hame

Saye me Reynaud_grenelefe

Wolte thou dwell with me

And euery yere I wyll the gyue

600

Twenty marke to thy fee

I haue a mayster sayd lytell_Iohan

A curteys knyght is he

May ye gete leue of hym:

The better may it bee B runs this line onto the preceding line

605

The sheryfe gate lytell_Iohan

Twelue monethes of the knyght

Therfore he gaue hym ryght a_none

A good hors and a wyght

Now is lytel_Iohan the sheryffes man

610

G[od] gyue vs well to spede God] Ge B, God A, He F, G

But all-way thought lytell_Iohan

To quyte hym well his mede

Now so god me helpe sayd lytell_Iohan

And be my trewe lewte

615

I shall be the worste seruaunte to hym

That euer yet had he

It befell vpon a wednesday

The sheryfe on hontynge was gone

sig: [B6]

and lytel_Iohan lay in his bed

620

and was for_yete at home B runs this line onto the preceding line

Therfore he was fastynge

Tyl it was past the none B runs this line onto the preceding line

Good syr stuarde I praye the

Gyue me to dyne sayd lytell_Iohan

625

It is longe for grene_lefe.

Fastynge so longe to be B runs this line onto the preceding line

Therfore I pray the stuarde

My dyner gyue thou me B runs this line onto the preceding line

Shalt thou neuer ete ne drynke sayd the st[u]arde

630

Tyll my lorde be come to towne

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd lytell_Iohan

I had leuer to cracke thy crowne

The butler was full vncurteys

There he stode on flore

635

He sterte to [the] buttery the] B omits, the A

And shet fast the dore B runs this line onto the preceding line

Lytell_Iohan gaue the buteler such a rap

His backe yede nygh on two

Tho he lyued an .c. wynter

640

The wors he sholde go B runs this line onto the preceding line

He sporned the dore with his fote

It went vp wel and fyne B runs this line onto the preceding linevp] open A, vp F, ope G

And there he made a large lyueray

Both of ale and wyne

645

Syth y[e] wyll not dyne sayd lytell_Iohan ye] yr B

I shall gyue you to drynke

And though ye lyue an hondred wynter

On lytell_Iohan ye shall thynk

Lytell_Iohan ete and lytell[_Iohan] dronke lytell_Iohan] lytell B, Litel_Iohn A

650

Ye whyle [that] he wolde B runs this line onto the preceding linethat] B omits, that A, F

The sheryfe had in his kechyn a coke

A stoute man and a bolde

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd the coke

Thou arte a shrewde hynde

655

In an housholde to dwel.

For to ask thus to dyne B runs this line onto the preceding line

And there he lent lytell_Iohan

sig: [B6v]

Good strokes thre [to tell] to tell] all texts omit

I make myn a_vowe sayd lytell_Iohan

660

These strokes lyketh well

Thou arte a bolde man and an hardy

And so thynketh me

And or I passe fro this place

Asayed better shalt thou be

665

Lytell_Iohan drewe a good swerde

The coke toke a nother in honde

They thought nothynge for to fle

But styfly for to stonde

There they fought sore to_gyder

670

Two myle way and more

Myght neyther other harme done

The mountenaunce of an houre

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd lytell_Iohan

And be my trewe lewte

675

Thou art one of the best swerde-men

That euer yet sawe I me

Cowdest thou shote as well in a bowe

To grene-wode thou sholdest with me

And two tymes in the yere thy clothynge

680

I_chaunged sholde be

And euery yere of Robyn_hode

Twenty marke to thy fee

Put vp thy swerde sayd the coke

And felowes wyll we be

685

Then he fette to lytell_Iohan

The numbles of a doo

Good brede and full good wyne

sig: C1

They ete and dranke therto

And whan they had dronken well

690

Ther trouthes to_gyder they plyght

That they wolde be with Robyn

That ylke same [nyght] nyght] day B, A, day at nyght F, G

They dyde them to the tresure-hous

As fast as they myght gone

695

The lockes that were good stele

They brake them euery_chone

They toke a_waye the syluer vessell

And all that they myght get

Peces masars and spones

700

Wolde they none for_gete

Also they toke the good pence

Thre hondred pounde and more

And dyde hym strayt to Robyn_hode hym] them A, F, G

Under the grene-wode tre

705

God the saue my dere mayster

And cryst the saue and se

And than sayd Robyn to lytell_Iohan

Welcome myght thou be

And also be that fayre yeman

710

Thou bryngest there with the

What tydynges fro notyngham

Lytell_Iohan tell thou me

Well the greteth the proude sheryfe

And sende the here by me

715

His coke and his syluer vessell

And thre hondred pounde and thre

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd Robyn

sig: [C1v]

And to the trenyte

It was neuer by his good-wyll

720

This good is co[m]e to me come] cone B

Lytell_Iohan hym there be_thought

On a shrewed whyle

Fyue myle in the forest he ran B runs this line onto the preceding line

Hym happed at his wyll at] all A, at F, G

725

Than he met the proud sheryf

Huntynge with hounde and horne

Lytell_Iohan coud his curteysye

And kneled hym beforne

God the saue my dere mayster

730

And cryst the saue and see

Raynolde_grenelefe sayd the sheryfe

Where hast thou nowe be

I haue be in this forest

A fayre syght can I se

735

It was one of the fayrest syght[es] syghtes] syght B, syghtes A, F, G

That euer yet sawe I me

Yonder I se a ryght fayre hart

His coloure is of grene

Seuen score of dere vpon an herde

740

Be with hym all be_dene

His tynde are so sharp mayster

Of sexty and well mo

That I durst not shote for drede

Lest they wolde me sloo

745

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd the sheryf

That syght wolde I fayn se

Buske you thyderwarde my dere mayster

A_none and wende with me

sig: C2

The sheryfe rode and lytell_Iohan

750

Of fote he was full smarte

And whan they came afore Robyn

Lo here is the mayster-hart

Styll stode the proude sheryf

A sory man was he

755

Wo the worthe Raynolde_grenelefe

Thou hast now be_trayed me

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd lytell_Iohan

Mayster ye be to blame

I was mysserued of my dynere

760

Whan I was with you at hame

Soone he was to super sette

And serued with syluer whyte

And whan the sheryf se his vessell

For sorowe he myght not ete

765

Make good chere sayd Robyn_hode

Sheryfe for charyte

And for the loue of lytell_Iohan

Thy lyfe is graunted to the

Whan they had supped well

770

The day was all a_gone

Robyn commaunded lytell_Iohan

To drawe of his hosen and his shone

His kyrtell and his cote_a_pye

That was furred well [and] fyne and] B omits, and A, F, G

775

And toke hym a grene mantell

To lappe his body therin

Robyn commaunded his wyght yong men

Under the grene-wode tre

sig: [C2v]

They shall lay in that same so[r]te sorte] sote B, sute A, sorte F, G

780

That the sheryf myght them se

All nyght laye that proud sheryf

In his breche and [i]n his sherte in] n B

No wonder it was in grene-wode

Tho his sydes do smerte

785

Make glad chere sayd Robyn_hode

Sheryfe for charyte

For this is our order I_wys

Under the grene-wode tre

This is harder order sayd the sheryfe

790

Than ony anker or frere

For all the golde in mery E[n]glonde Englonde] Eeglonde B

I wolde not longe dwell here

All these twelue monethes sayd Robyn

Thou shalte dwell with me

795

I shall the teche proud sheryfe

An out_lawe for to be

Or I [be] here a nother nyght sayd the sheryfe be] B omits, be A

Robyn nowe I praye the

Smyte of my hede rather to_morne

800

And I for_gyue it the

Lete me go then sayd the sheryf

For saynt charyte

And I wyll be thy best frende

That yet had the

805

Thou shalte swere me an othe sayd Robyn

On my bryght bronde

Thou shalt neuer a_wayte me scathe

By water ne by londe

sig: C3

And yf thou fynde ony of my men

810

By nyght or by day

Upon thyne othe thou shalt swere

To helpe them that thou may

Now haue the sheryf I_swore his othe

And home he be_gan to gone

815

He was as full of grene-wode

As euer was hepe of stone

¶The fourth fytte

THe sheryf dwelled in notynghame

He was fayne that he was gone

And Robyn [and] his mery men and] had B, and A

820

Went to wode anone

Go we to dyner sayd lytell_Iohan

Robyn_hode sayd nay

For I drede our lady be wroth with me

For she sent me not my pay

825

Haue no dout mayster sayd lytell_Iohan

Yet is not the sonne at rest sonne] sonne not B] sonne A

For I dare saye and saufly swere

The knyght is trewe and trust[e] truste] trusty B, truste A

Take thy bowe in thy hande sayd Robyn

830

Let Moch wende with the

And so shall Wyllyam_Scathelock

And no man a_byde with me

And walke vp vnder the sayles

And to watlynge_strete

835

And wayte after such vnketh gest

sig: [C3v]

Up chaunce ye may them mete

Whether he be messengere

Or a man that myrthes can

Or yf he be a pore man

840

Of my good he shall haue some

Forth then stert lytel_Iohan

Half in tray and tene

And gyrde hym with a full good swerde

Under a mantel of grene

845

They went vp to the sayles

These yemen all thre

They loked est they loked west

They myght no man se

But as [they] loked in bernysdale they] he B, they G, Child

850

By the hye-waye

Than were they ware of two blacke monkes

Eche on a good palferay

Then be_spake lytell_Iohan

To Much he gan say

855

I dare lay my lyfe to wedde

That [these] monkes haue brought our pay these] B omits, these F, G

Make glad chere sayd lytell_Iohan

And frese our bowes of ewe frese] bende we F, bend we G

And loke your hertes be seker and sad

860

Your strynges trusty and trewe

The monke hath .lii. [men] men] B omits, men F, man G

And seuen somers full stronge

There rydeth no bysshop in this londe

So ryally I vnderstond

865

Brethern sayd lytell_Iohan

sig: [C4]

Here are no more but we thre

But we brynge them to dyner

Our mayster dare we not se

Bende your bowes sayd lytell_Iohan

870

Make all you prese to stonde

The formost monke his lyfe and his deth

Is closed in my honde

A_byde chorle monke sayd lytell_Iohan

No ferther that thou gone

875

Yf thou doost by dere-worthy god

Thy deth is in my honde

[An] euyll thryfte on thy hede sayd lytell_Iohan An] And B, An F, G

Ryght vnder thy hattes bonde

For thou hast made our mayster wroth

880

He is fastynge so longe

Who is your mayster sayd the monke

Lytell_Iohan sayd Robyn_hode

He is a stronge thefe sayd the monke

Of hym herde I neuer good

885

Thou lyest than sayd lytell_Iohan

And that shall rewe the

He is a yeman of the forest

To dyne he hath bode the

Much was redy with a bolte

890

Redly and a_none

He set the monke to_fore the brest

To the grounde that he can gone

Of .lii. wyght yonge yemen

There a_bode not one

895

Saf a lytell page and a grome

sig: [C4v]

To lede the somers with lytel_Iohan

They brought the monke to the lodge-dore

Whether he were loth or lefe

For to speke with Robyn_hode

900

Maugre in theyr tethe

Robyn dyde a_downe his hode

The monke whan that he se

The monke was not so curteyse

His hode then let he be

905

He is a chorle mayster by dere-worthy god

Than sayd lytell_Iohan

There-of no force sayd Robyn

For curteysy can he none

How many men sayd Robyn

910

Had this monke Iohan

Fyfty and two whan that we met

But many of them be gone

Let blowe a horne sayd Robyn

That felaushyp may vs knowe

915

Seuen score of wyght yemen

Came pryckynge on a rowe

And euerych of them a good mantell [wore] wore] all texts omit

Of scarlet and of raye

All they came to good Robyn

920

To wyte what he wolde say

They made the monke to wasshe and wype

And syt at his denere

Robyn_hode and lytell_Iohan

They serued them both in fere

925

Do gladly monke sayd Robyn

sig: [C5]

Gramercy syr sayd he

Where is your abbay whan ye are at home

And who is your a_vowe

Saynt_Mary abbay sayd the monke

930

Though I be symple here

In what offyce sayd Robyn

Syr the hye selerer

Ye be the more welcome sayd Robyn

So euer mote I the

935

Fyll of the best wyne sayd Robyn

This monke shall drynke to me

But I haue grete meruayle sayd Robyn

Of all this longe day

I drede our lady be wroth with me

940

She sent me not my pay

Haue no doute mayster sayd lytell_Iohan

Ye haue no nede I saye

This monke it hath brought I dare well swere

For he is of her abbay

945

And she was a borowe sayd Robyn

Betwene a knyght and me

Of a lytell money that I hym lent

Under the grene-wode tree

And yf thou hast that syluer I_brought

950

I praye the let me se

And I shall helpe the eftsones

Yf thou haue nede to me

The monke swore a full grete othe

With a sory chere

955

Of the borowehode thou spekest to me

sig: [C5v]

Herde I neuer ere

I make myn avowe to god sayd Robyn

Monke thou arte to blame

For god is holde a ryghtwys man

960

And so is his [d]ame dame] name B, dame A, F, G

Thou toldest with thyn owne tonge

Thou may not say nay

How thou arte her seruaunt

And seruest her euery day

965

And thou art [m]ade her messengere made] nade B

My money for to pay

Therfore I cun the more thanke

Thou arte come at thy day

What is in your cofers sayd Robyn

970

Trewe than tell thou me

Syr he sayd twenty marke

Also mote I the

Yf there be no more sayd Robyn

I wyll not one peny

975

Yf thou hast myster of ony more

Syr more I shall lende to the

And yf I fynde [more sayd] Robyn more sayd] B omits, more sayd F, more said G

I_wys thou shalte it for_gone

For of thy spendynge-syluer monke

980

Therof wyll I ryght none

Go nowe forthe lytell_Iohan

And the trouth tell thou me

If there be no more but twenty marke

No peny that I se

985

Lytell_Iohan spred his mantell downe

sig: [C6]

As he had done be_fore

And he tolde out of the monkes male

Eyght [hondred] pounde and more hondred] B omits, hundreth F, G

Lytell_Iohan let it lye full styll

990

And went to his mayster in hast

Syr he sayd the monke is trewe ynowe

Our lady hath doubled your cast

I make myn avowe to god sayd Robyn

Monke what tolde I the

995

Our lady is the trewest woman

That euer yet founde I me

By dere-worthy god sayd Robyn

To seche all englond thorowe

Yet founde I neuer to my pay

1000

A moche better borowe

Fyll of the best wyne and do hym drynke sayd Robyn

And grete well thy lady hende

And yf she haue nede to Robyn_hode

A frende she shall hym fynde

1005

And yf she nedeth ony more syluer

Come thou agayne to me

And by this token she hath me sent

She shall haue such thre

The monke was goynge to London-ward

1010

There to holde grete mote

The knyght that rode so hye on hors

To brynge hym vnder-fote

Whether be ye away sayd Robyn

Syr to maners in this londe

1015

Too reken with our reues

sig: [C6v]

That haue done moch wronge

Come now forth lytell_Iohan

And harken to my tale

A better yeman I knowe none

1020

To seke a monkes male

How moch is in yonder other corser sayd Robyn

The soth must we see

By our lady than sayd the monke

That were no curteysye

1025

To bydde a man to dyner

And syth hym bete and bynde

It is our olde maner sayd Robyn

To leue but lytell be_hynde

The monke toke the hors with spore

1030

No lenger wolde he a_byde

Aske to drynke than sayd Robyn

Or that ye forther ryde

Nay for god than sayd the monke

Me reweth I cam so nere

1035

For better chepe I myght haue dyned

In blythe or in dankestere

Grete well your abbot sayd Robyn

And your pryour I you pray

And byd hym send me such a monke

1040

To dyner euery day

Now lete we that monke be styll

And speke we of that knyght

Yet he came to holde his day

Whyle that it was lyght

1045

He dyde hym streyt to bernysdale

sig: D1

Under the grene-wode tre

And he founde ther Robyn_hode

And all [his] mery meyne his] thy all texts, his Child

The knyght lyght doune of his good palfray

1050

Robyn whan he gan see

So curteysly he dyde adoune his hode

And set hym on his knee

God the saue Robyn_hode

And all this company

1055

Welcome be thou gentyll knyght

And ryght welcome to me

Then bespake hym Robyn_hode

To that knyght so fre

What nede dryueth the to grenewode

1060

I praye the syr knyght tell me

And welcome be thou ge[n]tyll knyght gentyll] getyll B

Why hast thou be so longe

For the abbot and the hye Iustyce

Wolde haue had my londe

1065

Hast thou thy londe [a]gayne sayd Robyn agayne] gayne B, agayne F

Treuth than tell thou me

Ye for god sayd the knyght

And that thanke I god and the

But take not a_grefe sayd the knyght that I haue be so longe This line is printed as two lines in B, F

1070

I came by a wrastelynge

And there I holpe a pore yeman

With wronge was put be_hynde

Nay for god sayd Robyn

Syr knyght that thanke I the

sig: [D1v]

1075

What man that helpeth a good yeman

His frende than wyll I be

Haue here foure hondred pounde than sayd the knyght

The whiche ye lent to me

And here is also twenty marke

1080

For your curteysy B runs this line onto preceding line

Nay for god than sayd Robyn

Thou broke it well for ay

For our lady by her selerer

Hath sent to me my pay

1085

And yf I toke it twyse twyse] I twyse B, twyse F, twice G

A shame it were to me

But trewely gentyll knyght

Welcom arte thou to me

Whan Robyn had tolde his tale

1090

He leugh and had good chere

By my trouthe then sayd the knyght

Your money is redy here

Broke it well sayd Robyn

Thou gentyll knyght so fre

1095

And welcome be thou ge[n]tyll knyght gentyll] getyll B

Under my trystell-tre

But what shall these bowes do sayd Robyn

And these arowes I_fedred fre

By god than sayd the knyght

1100

A pore present to the

Come now forth lytell_Iohan

And go to my treasure

And brynge me there foure hondred pounde

The monke ouer_tolde it me

1105

Haue here foure hondred pounde

sig: [D2]

Thou gentyll knyght and trewe

And bye hors and harnes good

And gylte thy spores all newe

And yf thou fayle ony spendynge

1110

Come to Robyn_hode

And by my trouth thou shalt none fayle

The whyles I haue any good

And broke well thy .cccc. li.

Whiche I lent to the

1115

And make thy-selfe no more so bare

By the counsell of me

Thus than holpe hym good Robyn

The knyght all of this care all of this] of all his F, G

God that syt in heuen hye

1120

Graunte vs well to fare

The fyfth fytte

NOw hath the knyght his leue I_take

And went hym o[n] his way

Robyn_hode and his mery men

Dwelled styll full many a day

1125

Lyth and lysten gentil-men

And herken what I shall say

How the proud sheryfe of Notyngham

Dyde crye a full fayre play

That all the best archers of the north

1130

Sholde come vpon a day

And [he] that shoteth allther best he] B omits, they F, G, he Child; allther] all ther B, all thee D

The game shall bere a_way

sig: [D2v]

He that shoteth all[ther] best allther] all theyre B, all there D, al of the F, all of the G

Furthest fayre and lowe

1135

At a payre of fynly buttes

Under the grene-wode shawe

A ryght good arowe he shall haue

The shaft of syluer whyte

The hede and the feders of ryche rede Golde

1140

In Englond is none lyke

This than herde good Robyn

Under his trystell-tre

Make you redy ye wyght yonge men

That shotynge wyll I se

1145

Buske you my mery yonge men

Ye shall go with me

And I wyll wete the shryues fayth

Trewe and yf he be

Whan they had theyr bowes I_bent

1150

Theyr takles fedred fre

Seuen score of wyght yonge men

Stode by Robyns kne

Whan they cam to Notyngham

The buttes were fayre and longe

1155

Many was the bolde archere

That shoted with bowes stronge

There shall but syx shote with me

The other shal kepe my hede

And stande with good bowes bent

1160

That I be not desceyued

The fourth out_lawe his bowe gan bende

And that was Robyn_hode

sig: D3

And that be_helde the proud sheryfe

All by the but he stode

1165

Thryes Robyn shot a_bout

And alway they slist the wand they] he A, F, G, they D

And so dyde good gylberte

Wyth the whyte hande

Lytell_Iohan and good Scatheloke

1170

Were archers good and fre

Lytell Much and good Reynolde

The worst wolde they not be

Whan they had shot aboute

These archours fayre and good

1175

Euer-more was the best

For-soth Robyn_hode

Hym was delyuered the good arowe

For best worthy was he

He toke the yeft so curteysly

1180

To grene-wode wolde he

They cryed out on Robyn_hode

And grete hornes gan they blowe

Wo worth the treason sayd Robyn

Full euyll thou art to knowe

1185

And wo be thou: thou proude sheryf

Thus gladdynge thy gest

Other-wyse thou behote me

In yonder wylde forest

But had I the in grene-wode

1190

Under my trystell-tre

Thou sholdest leue me a better wedde

Than thy trewe lewte

sig: [D3v]

Full many a bowe there was bent

And arowes let they glyde

1195

Many a kyrtell there was rent

And hurt many a syde

The outlawes shot was so stronge

That no man myght them dryue

And the proud sheryfes men

1200

They fled a_way full blyue

Robyn sawe the busshement to broke

In grene-wode he wolde haue be

Many an arowe there was shot

A_monge that company

1205

Lytell_Iohan was hurte full sore

With an arowe in his kne

That he myght neyther go nor ryde

It was full grete pyte

Mayster then sayd lytell_Iohan

1210

If euer thou louest me

And for that ylke lordes loue

That dyed vpon a tre

And for the medes of my seruyce

That I haue serued the

1215

Lete neuer the proude sheryf

Alyue now fynde me

But take out thy browne swerde

And smyte all of my hede

And gyue me woundes de[p]e and wyde depe] dede B, depe D

1220

No lyfe on me be lefte

I wolde not that sayd Robyn

Iohan that thou were slawe

sig: [D4]

For all the golde in mery Englonde

Though it lay now on a rawe

1225

God for_bede sayd lytell Much

That dyed on a tre

That thou sholdest lytell_Iohan

Parte our company

Up he toke hym on his backe

1230

And bare hym well a myle

Many a tyme he layd hym downe

And shot a nother whyle

Then was there a fayre castell

A lytell with-in the wode

1235

Double-dyched it was a_bout

And walled by the rode

And there dwelled that gentyll knyght

Syr Rychard_at_the_lee

That Robyn had lent his good

1240

Under the grene-wode tree

In he toke good Robyn

And all his company

Welcome be thou Robyn_hode

Welcome arte thou to me

1245

And moche [I] thanke the of thy confort I] B omits, I F, G

And of thy curteysye

And of thy grete kyndenesse

Under the grene-wode tre

I loue no man in all this worlde

1250

So moch as I do the

For all the proud sheryf of Notyngham

Ryght here shalt thou be

sig: [D4v]

Shyt the gates and drawe the brydge

And let no man com in

1255

And arme you well and make you redy

And to the walle ye wynne

For one thynge Robyn I the be_hote

I swere by saynt Quyntyn

These twelue dayes thou wonest with me

1260

To suppe ete and dyne

Bordes were layed and clothes spred

Reddely and a_none

Robyn_hode and his mery men

To mete gan they gone

¶The .vi. fytte

1265

LYthe and lysten gentylmen

And herken vnto your songe your] the F, G

How the proud sheryf of Notyngham

And men of armes stronge

Full faste came to the hye sheryfe

1270

The countre vp to rout

And they beset the knyghtes castell

The walles all about

The proude sheryf loud gan crye

And sayd thou traytour knyght

1275

Thou kepeste here the kynges enemye

Agayne the lawes and ryght

Syr I wyll a_vowe that I haue done

The dedes th[at] here be dyght that] thou B, [t]hou D, that A, F, G

Up_on all the londes that I haue

sig: [D5]

1280

As I am a trewe knyght

Wende forthe syrs on your waye

And doth no more to me

Tyll ye wytte our kynges wyll

What he woll say to the

1285

The sheref thus had his answere

With-out ony leasynge

Forthe he yode to London toune

All for to tel our kynge

There he tolde hem of that knyght

1290

And eke of Robyn_hode

And also of the bolde archeres

That noble were and good

He wolde a_vowe that he had done

To mayntayne the outlawes stronge

1295

He wolde be lorde and set you at nought

In all the north-londe

I woll be at Notyngham sayd the kynge

Within this fourtynyght

And take I wyll Robyn_hode

1300

And so I wyll that knyght

Go home thou proud sheryf

And do as I [bydde the] bydde the] the bydde B, D, F, byd the A, you bid G

And ordayne good archeres I_nowe

Of all the wyde countree

1305

The sheryf had his leue I_take

And went hym on his way

And Robyn_hode [went] to grene-wode went] B omits, wente P

Upon a certayn day

And lytell_Iohan was hole of the arowe

sig: [D5v]

1310

That shote was in his kne

And dyde hym strayte to Robyn_hode

Under the grene-wode tre

Robyn_hode walked in the foreste

Under the leues grene

1315

The proud sheryfe of Notyngham

Therfore he had grete tene

The sheryf there fayled of Robyn_hode

He myght not haue his pray

Then he a_wayted this gentyll knyght

1320

Bothe by nyght and by daye

Euer he a_wayted that gentyll knyght

Syr Rychard_at_the_lee

As he went on_haukynge by the ryuer-syde

And let his haukes flee

1325

Toke he there this gentyll knyght

With men_of_armes stronge

And lad hym home to Notyngham-warde

I_bonde both [fote and honde] fote and honde] honde and fote B, fote and hande A

The sheryf swore a full grete othe

1330

By hym that dyed on a tre

He had leuer than an hondred pounde

That he had Robyn_hode

This lady the knyghtes wyfe

A fayre lady and fre

1335

She set her on a good palfray

To grene-wode a_non rode she

Whan she came to the forest

Under the grene-wode tre tre] tre tre B

Founde she there Robyn_hode

sig: [D6]

1340

And all his fayre meyne

God the [saue] good Robyn saue] B omits, saue A

And all thy company

For our dere lady loue

A bone graunte thou me

1345

Late thou neuer my wedded lorde

Shamly I_slayne be

He is fast I_bounde to Notyngham-warde

For the loue of the

A_none then sayd good Robyn

1350

To that lady fre

What man hath your lorde I_take

[The proude shirife than sayd she] line wanting in B; reading supplied from F (cf. G)

[..........................] line wanting in B

For-soth as I the say

1355

He is not yet thre myles

Passed on your waye your] his A, [y]our D

Up then sterte good Robyn

As a man that had be wode

Buske you my mery yo[n]ge men

1360

For hym that dyed on a rode

And he that this sorowe forsaketh

By hym that dyed on a tre

Shall he neuer in grene-wode be

Nor lenger dwell with me

1365

Sone there were good bowes I_bent

Mo than seuen score

Hedge ne dyche spare they none

That was them before

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd Robyn

1370

The knyght wolde I fayn se

And yf I may hym take

sig: [D6v]

I_quyt than shall it be

And whan they came to Notyngham

They walked in the strete

1375

And with the proud sheryf I_wys

Sone gan they mete

A_byde thou proud sheryf he sayd

A_byde and speke with me

Of some tydynges of our kynge

1380

I wolde fayne here of the

This seuen yere by dere-worthy god

Ne yede I so fast on fote

I make myne a_vowe to god thou proud sheryfe

[I]t is not for thy good It] At B, It A, D, That F

1385

Robyn bent a good bowe

An arowe he drewe at his wyll

He hyt so the proud sheryf

Upon the grounde he lay full styll

And or he myght vp_aryse

1390

On his fete to stonde

He smote of the sheryffes hede

With his bryght bronde

Lye thou there thou proud sheryf

Euyll mote thou thryue

1395

There myght no man to the trust

The whyles thou were a_lyue

His men drewe out theyr bryght swerdes

That were so sharpe and kene

And layde on the sheryues men

1400

And dryued them downe by_dene

Robyn stert to that knyght

sig: E1

And cut a_two his hoode

And toke hym in his hand a bowe

And bad hym by hym stonde

1405

Leue thy hors the be_hynde

And lerne for to renne

Thou shalt with me to grene-wode

Through myre mosse and fenne

Thou shalt with me to grene-wode

1410

With-out ony leasynge

Tyll that I haue gete vs grace

Of Edwarde our comly kynge

¶The .vii. fytte

THe kynge came to Notynghame

With knyghtes in grete araye

1415

For to take that gentyll knyght

And Robyn_hode and yf he may

He asked men of that countre

After Robyn_hode

And after that gentyll knyght

1420

That was so bolde and stout

Whan they had tolde hym the case

Our kynge vnder_stonde ther tale

And seased in his honde

The knyghtes londes all

1425

All the [com]passe of lancasshyre compasse] passe B, compasse F, G

He went both ferre and nere

Tyll he came to plomton_parke

He faylyd many of his dere

sig: [E1v]

There our kynge was wont to se

1430

Herdes many one

He coud vnneth fynde one dere

That bare ony good horne

The kynge was wonder wroth with-all

And swore by the trynyte

1435

I wolde I had Robyn_hode

With eyen I myght hym se

And he that wolde smyte of the knyghtes hede

And brynge it to me

He shall haue the knyghtes londes

1440

Syr Rycharde_at_the_le

I gyue it hym with my charter

And sele it [with] my honde with] B omits, with F, G

To haue and holde for euer-more

In all mery Englonde

1445

Than bespake a fayre olde knyght

That was treue in his fay

A my leege-lorde the kynge

One worde I shall you say

There is no man in this countre

1450

May ha[u]e the knyghtes londes

Whyle Robyn_hode may ryde or gone

And bere a bowe in his hondes

That he ne shall lese his hede

That is the best ball in his hode

1455

Gyue it to no man my lorde the kynge

That ye wyll any good

Half a yere dwelled our comly kynge

In Notyngham and well more

sig: [E2]

Coude he not here of Robyn_hode

1460

In what countre that he were

But alway went good Robyn

By halke and eke by hyll

And alway slewe the kynges dere

And welt them at his wyll

1465

Than be_spake a proude fostere

That stode by our kynges kne

Yf ye wyll se good R[o]byn Robyn] Rabyn B

Ye must do after me

Take fyue of the best knyghtes

1470

That be in your lede

And walke downe by your abbay walke] walked B, F

And gete you monkes wede

And I wyll be your ledes-man

And lede you the way

1475

And or ye come to Notyngham

Myn hede then dare I lay

That ye shall mete with good Robyn

On_lyue yf that he be

Or ye come to Notyngham

1480

With eyen ye shall hym se

Full hastly our kynge was dyght

So were his knyghtes fyue

Euerych of them in monkes wede

And hasted them thyder blyth

1485

Our kynge was grete a_boue his cole

A brode hat on his crowne

Ryght as he were abbot lyke

They rode vp in-to the towne

sig: [E2v]

Styf botes our kynge had on

1490

Forsoth as I you say

He rode syngynge to grene-wode

The couent was clothed in graye

His male-hors and his grete somers

Folowed our kynge be_hynde

1495

Tyll they came to grene-wode

A myle vnder the lynde

There they met with good Robyn

Stondynge on the waye

And so dyde many a bolde archere

1500

For-soth as I you say

Robyn toke the kynges hors

Hastely in that stede

And sayd syr abbot by your leue

A whyle ye must abyde

1505

We be yemen of this foreste

Under the grene-wode tre

We lyue by our kynges dere

[Other shyft haue not we] Other shyft haue not we] Under the grene wode tre B, Other shyft haue not we F, Other shift haue not wee G

And ye haue chyrches and rentes both

1510

And gold full grete plente

Gyue vs some of your spendynge

For saynt charyte

Than be_spake our cumly kynge

A_none than sayd he

1515

I brought no more to grene-wode

But forty pounde with me

I haue layne at Notyngham

This fourtynyght with our kynge

sig: E3

And spent I haue full moche good

1520

On many a grete lordynge

And I haue but forty pounde

No more than haue I me

But yf I had an hondred pounde

I vouch it halfe on the

1525

Robyn toke the forty pounde

And departed it in two partye

Half_endell he gaue his mery men

And bad them mery to be

Full curteysly Robyn gan say

1530

Syr haue this for your spendyng

We shall mete a nother day

Gramercy than sayd our kynge

But well the greteth Edwarde our kynge

And sent to the his seale

1535

And byddeth the com to Notyngham

Both to mete and mele

He toke out the brode tar[g]e targe] tarpe B, seale F, G, targe Child

And sone he lete hym se

Robyn coud his courteysy

1540

And set hym on his kne

I loue no man in all the worlde

So well as I do my kynge

Welcome is my lordes seale

And monke for thy tydynge

1545

Syr abbot for thy tydynges

To_day thou shalt dyne with me

For the loue of my kynge

Under my trystell-tre

sig: [E3v]

Forth he lad our comly kynge

1550

Full fayre by the honde

Many a dere there was slayne

And full fast dyghtande

Robyn toke a full grete horne

And loude he gan blowe

1555

Seuen score of wyght yonge men

Came redy on a rowe

All they kneled on theyr kne

Full fayre be_fore Robyn

The kynge sayd hym-selfe vntyll

1560

And swore by saynt Austyn

Here is a wonder semely syght

Me-thynketh by goddes pyne

His men are more at his byddynge

Then my men be at myn

1565

Full hastly was theyr dyner I_dyght

And therto gan they gone

They serued our kynge with al theyr myght

Both Robyn and lytell_Iohan

A_none before our kynge was set

1570

The fatte venyson

The good whyte brede the good rede wyne

And therto the fyne ale and browne

Make good chere sayd Robyn

Abbot for charyte

1575

And for this ylke tydynge

Blyssed mote thou be

Now shalte thou se what lyfe we lede

Or thou hens wende

sig: E4

Than thou may enfourme our kynge

1580

Whan ye to_gyder lende

Up they sterte all in hast

Theyr bowes were smartly bent

Our kynge was neuer so sore a_gast

He wende to haue be shent

1585

Two yerdes there were vp_set

There-to gan they gange

By fyfty pase our kynge sayd

The merkes were to longe

On euery syde a rose-garlonde

1590

They shot vnder the lyne

Who-so fayleth of the rose-garlonde sayd Robyn

His takyll he shall tyne

And yelde it to his mayster

Be it neuer so fyne

1595

For no man wyll I spare

So drynke I ale or wyne

And bere a buffet on his hede

[I_]wys ryght all bare I_wys] A wys B, I_wys Child

And all that fell in Robyns lote

1600

He smote them wonder sare

Twyse Robyn shot a_boute

And euer he cleued the wande

And so dyde good Gylberte

With the good whyte hande

1605

Lytell_Iohan and good Scathelocke

For nothynge wolde they spare

Whan they fayled of the garlonde

Robyn smote them full sore

sig: [E4v]

At the last shot / that Robyn shot

1610

For all his frendes fare

Yet he fayled of the garlonde

Thre fyngers and mare

Than be_spake good Gylberte

And thus he gan say

1615

Mayster he sayd your takyll is lost

Stande forth and take your pay

If it be so sayd Robyn

That may no better be

Syr abbot I delyuer the myn arowe

1620

I pray the syr serue thou me

It falleth not for myn ordre sayd our kynge

Robyn by thy leue

For to smyte no good yeman

For doute I sholde hym greue

1625

Smyte on boldely sayd Robyn

I gyue the large leue

A_none our kynge with that worde

He folde vp his sleue

And sych a buffet he gaue Robyn

1630

To grounde he yede full nere

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd Robyn

Thou arte a stalworthe frere

There is pith in thyn arme sayd Robyn

I trowe thou canst well shote

1635

Thus our kynge and Robyn_hode

To_geder than they met

Robyn behelde our comly kynge

Wystly in the face

sig: [E5]

So dyde syr Rycharde_at_the_le

1640

And kneled downe in that place

And so dyde all the wylde outlawes

Whan they se them knele

My lorde the kynge of Englonde

Now I knowe you well

1645

Mercy then Robyn sayd our kynge

Under your trystyll-tre

Of thy goodnesse and thy grace

For my men and me

Yes for god sayd Robyn

1650

And also god me saue

I aske mercy my lorde the kynge

And for my men I craue

Yes for god than sayd our kynge

And therto sent I me

1655

With that thou leue the grene-wode

And all thy company

And come home syr to my courte

And there dwell with me

I make myn a_vowe to god sayd Robyn

1660

And ryght so shall it be

I wyll come to your courte

Your seruyse for to se

And brynge with me of my men

Seuen score and thre

1665

But me lyke well your seruyse

I [wyll] come a_gayne full soone wyll] B omits, wyll F, will G

And shote at the donne dere

As I am wonte to done

sig: [E5v]< /l

¶The .viii. fytte

1670

HAste thou ony grene cloth sayd our kynge

That thou wylte sell nowe to me

Ye for god sayd Robyn

Thyrty yerdes and thre

Robyn / sayd our kynge

1675

Now pray I the

Sell me some of that cloth

To me and my meyne

Yes for god then sayd Robyn

Or elles I were a fole

1680

A nother day ye wyll me clothe

I trowe ayenst the yole

The kynge kest of his cole then

A grene garment he dyde on

And euery knyght [also] I_wys also] had so all texts, also Child

1685

A nother had full sone

Whan they were clothed in Lyncolne-grene

They keste a_way theyr graye

Now we shall to Notyngham

All thus our kynge gan say

1690

Theyr bowes bente and forth they went

Shotynge all in fere

Towarde the towne of Notyngham

Out_lawes as they were

Our kynge and Robyn rode to_gyder

1695

For-soth as I you say

And they shote plucke-buffet

As they went by the way

sig: [E6]

And many a buffet our kynge wan

of Robyn_hode that day

1700

And nothynge spared good Robyn

Our kynge in his pay

So god me helpe sayd our kynge

Thy game is nought to lere

I sholde not get a shote of the

1705

Though I shote all this yere

All the people of Notyngham

They stode and be_helde

They sawe nothynge but mantels of grene

That couered all the felde

1710

Than euery man to other gan say

I drede our kynge be slone

Come Robyn_hode to the towne I_wys

On_lyue he lefte neuer one

Full hastly they be_gan to fle

1715

Both yemen and knaues

And olde wyues that myght euyll goo

They hypped on theyr staues

The kynge l[o]ughe full fast loughe] lughe B, loughe Child

And commaunded theym a_gayne

1720

When they se our comly kynge

I_wys they were full fayne

They ete and dranke and made them glad

And sange with notes hye

Than be_spake our comly kynge

1725

To syr Rycharde_at_the_lee

He gaue hym there his londe a_gayne

A good-man he bad hym be

sig: [E6v]

Robyn thanked our comly kynge

And set hym on his kne

1730

Had Robyn dwelled in the kynges courte

But .xii. monethes and thre

That [he had] spent an hondred pounde he had] B omits, he had F, G

And all his mennes fe

In euery place where Robyn came

1735

Euer-more he layde downe

Both for knyghtes and for squyres

To gete hym grete renowne

By than the yere was all a_gone

He had no man but twayne

1740

Lytell_Iohan and good Scathelocke

With hym all for to gone

Robyn sawe yonge men shote

Full ferre vpon a day ferre] fayre F, faire G

Alas than sayd good Robyn

1745

My welthe is went a_way

Somtyme I was an archere good

A styffe and eke a stronge

I was [compted] the best archere compted] commytted B, commended for F, G, committed P, compted Child

That was in mery Englonde

1750

Alas then sayd good Robyn

Alas and well_a_woo

Yf I dwele lenger with the kynge

Sorowe wyll me sloo

Forth than went Robyn_hode

1755

Tyll he came to our kynge

My lorde the kynge of Englonde

Graunte me myn askynge

sig: [F1]

I made a chapell in bernysda[l]e bernysdale] bernysdade B

That semely is to se

1760

It is of mary_Magdaleyne

And there-to wolde I be

I myght neuer in this seuen-nyght

No tyme to slepe ne wynke

Nother all these seuen dayes

1765

Nother ete ne drynke

Me longeth sore to bernysdale

I may not be therfro

Bare-fote and wolwarde I haue hyght

Thyder for to go

1770

Yf it be so than sayd our kynge be so] be he so B

It may no better be

Seuen-nyght I gyue the leue

No lengre to dwell fro me

Gramercy lorde then sayd Robyn

1775

And set hym on his kne

He toke his leue full courteysly

To grene-wode then went he

Whan he came to grene-wode

In a mery mornynge

1780

There he herde the notes small

Of byrdes mery syngynge

It is ferre gone sayd Robyn

That I was last here

Me lyste a lytell for to shote

1785

At the donne dere

Robyn slewe a full grete harte

His horne than gan he blow

sig: [F1v]

That all the outlawes of that forest

That horne coud they knowe

1790

And gadred them to_gyder

In a lytell throwe

Seuen score of wyght yonge men

Came redy on a rowe

And fayre dyde of theyr hodes

1795

And set them on theyr kne

Welcome they sayd our [dere] mayster dere] B omits, dere P

Under this grene-wode tre

Robyn dwelled in grene-wode

Twenty yere and two

1800

For all drede of Edwarde our kynge

Agayne wolde he not goo

Yet he was begyled I_wys

Through a wycked woman

The pryoresse of kyrkesly

1805

That nye was of his kynne was] was was B

For the loue of a knyght

Syr Roger of donkesly

That was her owne speciall

Full euyll mote they the

1810

They toke to_gyder theyr counsell

Robyn_hode for to sle

And how they myght best do that dede

His banis for to be

Than be_spake good Robyn

1815

In place where-as he stode place] places B, place Child

To_morow I muste to kyrke[s]ley kyrkesley] kyrkeley B

Craftely to be leten blode

sig: [F2]

Syr Roger of donkestere

By the pryoresse he lay

1820

And there they be_trayed good Robyn_hode

Through theyr false playe

Cryst haue mercy on his soule

That dyed on the rode

For he was a good out_lawe

1825

And dyde pore men moch god

¶Explycit. Kynge Edwarde and Robyn_hode and Lytell_Iohan Enprented at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sone By Wynken_de_Worde

sig: [F2v]