"Gramerc-y,knight,"said Rob-in,"My dinner when I have;
I was never so greedy,by dere-worthy God,My dinner for to crave.
But pay ere ye wend,"said Rob-in,"Me thinketh it is good right;
It was never the manner,by dere-worthy God,A yeoman to pay for a knight."
"I have nought in my coffers,"said the knight,"That I may proffer for shame."
"Little John,go look,"said Robin,"Ne let not for no blame.
Tell me truth,"then said Rob-in,"So God have part of thee."
"I have no more but ten shillings,"said the knight,"So God have part of me!"
"If thou have no more,"said Rob-in,"I will not one penn-y;
And if thou have need of any more,More shall I lend thee.
Go now forth,Little John,The truth tell thou me,If there be no more but ten shillings No penny of that I see."
Little John spread down his mantle Full fair upon the ground,And there he found in the knight's coff-er But even half a pound.
Little John let it lie full still,And went to his master full low.
"What tiding-e,John?"said Rob-in.
"Sir,the knight is true enow."
"Fill of the best wine,"said Rob-in,"The knight shall begin;
Much wonder thinketh me Thy clothing is so thin.
Tell me one word,"said Rob-in,"And counsel shall it be;
I trow thou were made a knight of force,Or else of yeomanry;
Or else thou hast been a sorry housband And lived in stroke and strife;
An okerer,or lechour,"said Rob-in,"With wrong hast thou led thy life."
"I am none of them,"said the knight,"By him that mad-e me;
An hundred winter here before,Mine aunsetters knights have be.
But oft it hath befal,Rob-in,A man hath be disgrate;
But God that sitteth in heaven above May amend his state.
Within two or three year,Robin,"he said,"My neighbours well it kend,Four hundred pound of good mon-ey Full well then might I spend.
Now have I no good,"said the knight,"But my children and my wife;
God hath shapen such an end,Till he it may amend."
"In what manner,"said Rob-in,"Hast thou lore thy rich-esse?"