But take not a grief,"said the knight,"That I have been so long;
I came by a wresteling,And there I did help a poor yeom-an,With wrong was put behind."
"Nay,fore God,"said Rob-in,"Sir knight,that thank I thee;
What man that helpeth a good yeom-an,His friend then will I be."
"Have here four hundred pound,"then said the knight,"The which ye lent to me;
And here is also twenty mark For your courtes-y."
"Nay,fore God,"then said Robin,"Thou brook it well for aye,For our Lady,by her cellarer,Hath sent to me my pay;
And if I took it twice,A shame it were to me:
But truly,gentle knight,Welc-ome art thou to me."
When Rob-in had told his tale,He laughed and had good cheer.
"By my troth,"then said the knight,"Your money is ready here."
"Brook it well,"said Rob-in,"Thou gentle knight so free;
And welcome be thou,gentle knight,Under my trystell tree.
But what shall these bows do?"said Robin,"And these arrows i-feathered free?"
"It is,"then said the knight,"A poor pres-ent to thee."
"Come now forth,Little John,And go to my treasur-y,And bring me there four hundred pound,The monk over-told it to me.
Have here four hundred pound,Thou gentle knight and true,And buy horse and harness good,And gild thy spurs all new:
And if thou fail an-y spend-ing,Come to Robin Hood,And by my troth thou shalt none fail The whiles I have any good.
And brook well thy four hundred pound,Which I lent to thee,And make thyself no more so bare,By the counsel of me."
Thus then holp him good Rob-in,The knight of all his care.
God,that sitteth in heaven high,Grant us well to fare.
THE FIFTH FYTTE.
Now hath the knight his leave i-take,And went him on his way;
Robin Hood and his merry men Dwelled still full many a day.
Lithe and listen,gentle men,And hearken what I shall say,How the proud sheriff of Nottingham Did cry a full fair play;
That all the best archers of the north Should come upon a day,And they that shoot all of the best The game shall bear away.
'He that shooteth all of the best Furthest fair and law,At a pair of fynly butts,Under the green wood shaw,A right good arrow he shall have,The shaft of silver white,The head and the feathers of rich red gold,In England is none like.'