sig: [A1] | |
Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn_hode | |
sig: [A1v] | |
¶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 | |
5 | 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 | |
10 | 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 | |
15 | 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 | |
20 | It wolde do you moch good |
Then be_spake good Robyn | |
sig: A2 | |
To dyne I haue no lust | |
Tyll I haue some bolde baron | |
Or some vnketh gest | |
25 | [..........................] 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 | |
30 | 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 | |
35 | 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 | |
40 | 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 | |
45 | 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 | |
50 | We shall do well y_nough |
But loke ye do no housbonde harme | |
That tylleth with his plough | |
sig: [A2v] | |
No more ye shall no good yeman | |
That walketh by grene-wode shawe | |
55 | 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 | |
60 | 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 | |
65 | 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 | |
70 | 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 | |
75 | 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 | |
80 | They myght no man see |
But as they loked in Barnysdale | |
By a derne strete | |
sig: A3 | |
Then came there a knyght rydynge | |
Full sone they gan hym mete | |
85 | 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 | |
90 | 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 | |
95 | 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 | |
sig: [A3v] | |
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 | |
sig: [A4] | |
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 | |
sig: [A4v] | |
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 | |
sig: [A5] | |
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 | |
sig: [A5v] | |
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 | |
sig: [A6] | |
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 | |
sig: [A6v] | |
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 | |
sig: B1 | |
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 |
sig: [B1v] | |
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 |
sig: B2 | |
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 |
sig: [B2v] | |
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 |
sig: B3 | |
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 |
sig: [B3v] | |
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 |
sig: [B4] | |
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
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¶The .viii. fytte |
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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] |