Now is the knight gone on his way.

This game he thought full good.

When he looked on the greenwood,

He blessed Robin Hood.

           

When he thought on Bernsdale,

On Scarlett, Much and John,

He blessed them for the best company

He’d ever come upon.

 

Then spoke that gentle knight,

To Little John he did say,

“Tomorrow I must to Yorktown,

To Saint Mary’s Abbey.

 

“And to the abbot of that place

Four hundred pounds deliver.

If I’m not there by tomorrow night

My land is lost forever.”

 

The abbot said to his convent,

There he stood on ground,

“Twelve months ago a knight came here

And borrowed four hundred pounds.

 

“He borrowed four hundred pounds

Against all his land free.

If he doesn’t come this very day,

Disinherited shall he be.”

 

"It’s too early,” said the prior.

"The day is not far gone.

If I were you, I’d pay the hundred pounds

According to the law.

 

“The knight is far beyond the sea,

For England gone to fight.

He suffers hunger and cold

And many a sorry night.

 

“It would be a great pity,” said the prior,

“To have his land this way.

If ye be so light of your conscience

You’ll do him wrong today.”

 

“Thou art ever in my beard,” said the abbot,

“By God and Saint Richard!”

With that came in a fat-headed monk,

The high steward.

 

“He is dead or hanged,” said the monk,

“By God that bought me dear,

And we shall get to spend in this place

Four hundred pounds a year.”

 

The abbot and the high steward

Started forth full bold.

The chief justice of England

The abbot there controlled.

 

The chief justice and many more

Had taken into their hands

All the knight’s debt,

To have that knight’s land.

           

They wouldn’t give the knight a minute,

The abbot and his men.

“Unless he comes this very day,

He loses all his land.”

           

“He won’t come soon,” said the justice.

“We have not long to wait.”

But in sorrow time for them all

The knight came to the gate.

 

Then said that gentle knight,

To all his men said he,

“Now put on your simple clothes

That you brought from the sea.”

 

They put on their simple clothes.

They came to the gates soon.

The porter was ready to let them in

And welcomed them everyone.

 

“Welcome, sir knight,” said the porter.

“My lord to measure is he,

And so is many a gentleman,

For the love of thee.”

 

The porter swore a full great oath,

“By God that made me,

Here is the best looking horse

Ever I yet did see.

           

“Lead them to the stable,” he said,

“So they can take their ease.”

“They’ll not go in there,” said the knight,

“By God that died on a tree.”

           

Lords have gone to measure

Inside that abbot’s hall.

The knight went forth and kneeled

And saluted them great and small.

 

“How do you do, sir abbot,” said the knight.

“I’ve come to hold my day.”

The first word the abbot spoke,

“Have you brought my pay?”

 

“Not one penny,” said the knight,

“By God that made me.”

“You’re a shrewd debtor,” said the abbot.

“Sir justice, drink to me.”

 

“What are you doing here,” said the abbot,

“If you didn’t bring your pay?”

“For God,” then said the knight,

“To pray for a longer day.”

 

“Your day is broke,” said the justice.

“You can’t pay what you owe.”

“Now good sir justice, be my friend,

And defend me from my foes.”

 

“I hold with the abbot,” said the justice.

“He gave me some clothes and a fee.”

“Now good sir sheriff, be my friend.”

“No, by God,” said he.

 

“Now good sir abbot, be my friend,

And show some courtesy,

And hold my lands in thy hand

Til we can all agree.

           

“And I will be your true servant

And serve you faithfully,

Until you have four hundred pounds

Of money, good and free.”

                                               

The abbot swore a full great oath,

“By God that died on a tree,

Get the land where you can,

For you’ll get none from me.”

 

“By dear worthy God,” then said the knight,

“That all this world wrought,

If ever I have my land again

Full dear it shall be bought.

 

“God that was of a maiden born,

Grant us all His help,

For it is good to help a friend

When he cannot help himself.”

 

The abbot loathely on him looked

And names began to call.

“Out,” he said, “you false knight,

Get out of my hall.”

 

“You lie,” then said the gentle knight,

“Abbot, in your hall.

False knight I never was,

By God that made us all.”

 

Up then stood that gentle knight.

To the abbot said he,

“To suffer a knight to kneel so long,

You show no courtesy.

           

“In jousts and in tournaments

Full fair have I always been,

And put myself as thick in the fight

As any I’ve ever seen.”

 

“How much will you give,” said the justice,

“For the knight to make a release?

Or else I dare safely swear

You’ll never hold your land in peace.”

 

“A hundred pounds,” said the abbot.

The justice said, “Give him two.”

“No, by God,” said the knight.

“You’ll not get it so.

 

“Though you give me a thousand more,

Yet were you never the nearer.

You shall never be my heir,

Abbot, justice or friar.”

 

He started for the board then,

To a table round,

And there he shook out of a bag

An even four hundred pounds.

 

“Here is your gold, sir abbot,” said the knight,

“Which you loaned to me.

Had you been courteous at my coming,

Rewarded you would be.”

           

The abbot sat still and said no more,

For all his royal fare.

He cast his head on his shoulders

And fast began to stare.

           

“Give me my gold,” said the abbot,

“Sir justice, that I gave thee.”

“Not a penny,” said the justice,

“By God that died on a tree.”

 

“Sir abbot and you men of law,

Now I have held my day.

Now I shall have my land again,

For all that you can say.”

 

The knight walked out the door.

Gone was all his care.

He put on his good clothes,

The others he left there.

 

He went forth merrily singing

As men have told in tale.

His lady met him at the gate

At home in Verysdale.

 

“Welcome, my lord,” said his lady.

“Have you lost your goods?”

“Be merry, dame,” said the knight,

“And pray for Robin Hood,

 

“That ever his soul may be in bliss.

He’s helped you and me.

Had it not been for his kindness,

Beggars we would be.

 

“The abbot and I are settled.

He’s got all his pay.

The good yeoman loaned it to me

As I came by the way.”

           

This knight then dwelled at home,

Doing what he could,

Til he had four hundred pounds

To pay back Robin Hood.

 

He bought a hundred bows,

The strings were furnished right.

A hundred sheaths of arrows gold,

The heads were burnished bright.

 

And every arrow an ell long

With peacock feathers bright,

Nocked all with white silver.

It was a handsome sight.

 

He got a hundred men

And decked them out alike,

And he dressed himself in the same suit

With cloth of red and white.

 

He held a lance in his hand,

Light glistened off his mail.

He rode with a light song

Along the greenwood trail.

 

But as he came to a bridge,

He stopped awhile to watch.

The best yeomen of the west were there

Having a wrestling match.

 

A full fair game it was.

A white bull was put up,

A great horse with saddle and bridle

And a bright gold stirrup.

           

A pair of gloves, a red gold ring,

A cask of wine — the play:

The man that beareth himself the best

Shall bear the prize away.

 

There was a yeoman in that place

And the worthiest one was he.

But because he was a stranger there,

Slain he soon would be.

 

The knight had pity on this yeoman

In the place where he stood.

He said that yeoman should have no harm

For love of Robin Hood.

 

The knight pressed into the place,

A hundred followed him free,

With bows bent and arrows sharp

To part that company.

 

They shouldered all and made him room

To see what he would say.

He took the yeoman by the hand

And awarded him the play.

 

He gave him five marks for his wine,

There it lay on the ground,

And he had it tapped and set running,

For drinks all around.

 

A long time tarried this gentle knight

Til that game was through.

So long waited Robin fasting

Three hours after the noon.

	The materials on this website may be copied for non-commercial, personal use only. ©2002 Bob Frank.
	If you find any errors please contact the webmaster. Last modified 4/13/02