"And greet well thy Lady hend,And if she have need of Robin Hood,A friend she shall him find;
And if she needeth any more silv-er,Come thou again to me,And,by this token she hath me sent,She shall have such three!"
The monk was going to London ward,There to hold great mote,The knight that rode so high on horse,To bring him under foot.
"Whither be ye away?"said Robin.
"Sir,to manors in this lond,To reckon with our rev-es,That have done much wrong."
"Come now forth,Little John,And hearken to my tale,A better yeoman I know none,To search a monk-es mail.
How much is in yonder other courser?"said Robin,"The sooth must we see."
"By our Lady,"then said the monk,"That were no courtes-y To bid a man to dinner,And sith him beat and bind."
"It is our old manner,"said Rob-in,"To leave but little behind."
The monk took the horse with spur,No longer would he abide.
"Ask to drink,"then said Rob-in,"Ere that ye further ride."
"Nay,fore God,"then said the monk,"Me reweth I came so near,For better cheap I might have dined,In Blyth or in Doncastere."
"Greet well your abbot,"said Rob-in,"And your prior,I you pray,And bid him send me such a monk To dinner every day!"
Now let we that monk be still,And speak we of that knight,Yet he came to hold his day While that it was light.
He did him straight to Barnisdale,Under the green wood tree,And he found there Robin Hood,And all his merry meyn-e.
The knight light downe of his good palfr-ey,Rob-in when he gan see.
So courteysly he did adown his hood,And set him on his knee.
"God thee save,good Robin Hood,And all this company."
"Welcome be thou,gentle knight,And right welc-ome to me."
Then bespake him Robin Hood,To that knight so free,"What need driveth thee to green wood?
I pray thee,sir knight,tell me.
And welcome be thou,gentle knight,Why hast thou be so long?"
"For the abbot and the high justice Would have had my lond."
"Hast thou thy land again?"said Robin,"Truth then tell thou me."
"Yea,fore God,"said the knight,"And that thank I God and thee.