Chapter VI: Appendix: The Second Part of Adam Bell (3)

231
They made the monke to wasshe and wype,
And syt at his denere,
Robyn Hode and Lytell Joha_n_
They serued him both in-fere.

232
‘Do gladly, monke,’ sayd Robyn.
‘Gramercy, syr,’ sayd he.
‘Where is your abbay, whan ye are at home,
And who is your avowë?’

233
‘Saynt Mary abbay,’ sayd the monke,
‘Though I be symple here.’
‘In what offyce?’ sayd Robyn:
‘Syr, the hyë selerer.’

234
‘Ye be the more welcome,’ sayd Robyn,
‘So euer mote I the;
Fyll of the best wyne,’ sayd Robyn,
‘This monke shall drynke to me.

235
‘But I haue grete meruayle,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Of all this longë day;
I drede Our Lady be wroth with me,
She sent me not my pay.’

236
‘Haue no doute, mayster,’ sayd Lytell Johan,
‘Ye haue no nede, I saye;
This monke it hath brought, I dare well swere,
For he is of her abbay.’

237
‘And she was a borowe,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Betwene a knyght and me,
Of a lytell money that I hym lent,
Under the grëne-wode tree.

238
‘And yf thou hast that syluer ibrought,
I pray the let me se;
And I shall helpë the eftsones,
Yf thou haue nede to me.’

239
The monke swore a full grete othe,
With a sory chere,
‘Of the borowehode thou spekest to me,
Herde I neuer ere.’

240
‘I make myn avowe to God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Monke, thou art to blame;
For God is holde a ryghtwys man,
And so is his dame.

241
‘Thou toldest with thyn ownë tonge,
Thou may not say nay,
How thou arte her seruaunt,
And seruest her euery day.

242
‘And thou art made her messengere,
My money for to pay;
Therfore I cun the morë thanke
Thou arte come at thy day.

243
‘What is in your cofers?’ sayd Robyn,
‘Trewe than tell thou me:’
‘Syr,’ he sayd, ‘twenty marke,
Al so mote I the.’

244
‘Yf there be no more,’ sayd Robyn,
‘I wyll not one peny;
Yf thou hast myster of ony more,
Syr, more I shall lende to the.

245
‘And yf I fyndë [more,’ sayd] Robyn,
‘I-wys thou shalte it for gone;
For of thy spendynge-syluer, monke,
Thereof wyll I ryght none.

246
‘Go nowe forthe, Lytell Johan,
And the trouth tell thou me;
If there be no more but twenty marke,
No peny that I se.’

247
Lytell Johan spred his mantell downe,
As he had done before,
And he tolde out of the monkës male
Eyght [hondred] pounde and more.

248
Lytell Johan let it lye full styll,
And went to his mayster in hast;
‘Syr,’ he sayd, ‘the monke is trewe ynowe,
Our Lady hath doubled your cast.’

249
‘I make myn avowe to God,’ sayd Robyn—
‘Monke, what tolde I the?—
Our Lady is the trewest woman
That euer yet founde I me.

250
‘By dere worthy God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘To seche all Englond thorowe,
Yet founde I neuer to my pay
A moche better borowe.

251
‘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.

252
‘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.’

253
The monke was goynge to London ward,
There to holde grete mote,
The knyght that rode so hye on hors,
To brynge hym vnder fote.

254
‘Whether be ye away?’ sayd Robyn:
‘Syr, to maners in this londe,
Too reken with our reues,
That haue done moch wronge.’

255
‘Come now forth, Lytell Johan,
And harken to my tale;
A better yemen I knowe none,
To seke a monkës male.’

256
‘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,

257
‘To bydde a man to dyner,
And syth hym bete and bynde.’
‘It is our oldë maner,’ sayd Robyn,
‘To leue but lytell behynde.’

258
The monke toke the hors with spore,
No lenger wolde he abyde:
‘Askë to drynkë,’ than sayd Robyn,
‘Or that ye forther ryde.’

259
‘Nay, for God,’ than sayd the monke,
‘Me reweth I cam so nere;
For better chepe I myght haue dyned
In Blythe or in Dankestere.’

260
‘Grete well your abbot,’ sayd Robyn,
‘And your pryour, I you pray,
And byd hym send me such a monke
To dyner euery day.’

261
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.

262
He dyde him streyt to Bernysdale,
Under the grenë-wode tre,
And he founde there Robyn Hode,
And all his mery meynë.

263
The knyght lyght doune of his good palfray;
Robyn whan he gan see,
So curteysly he dyde adoune his hode,
And set hym on his knee.

264
‘God the sauë, Robyn Hode,
And all this company:’
‘Welcome be thou, gentyll knyght,
And ryght welcome to me.’

265
Than bespake hym Robyn Hode,
To that knyght so fre:
What nedë dryueth the to grenë wode?
I praye the, syr knyght, tell me.

266
‘And welcome be thou, ge[n]tyll knyght,
Why hast thou be so longe?’
‘For the abbot and the hyë iustyce
Wolde haue had my londe.’

267
‘Hast thou thy londe [a]gayne?’ sayd Robyn;
‘Treuth than tell thou me:’
‘Ye, for God,’ sayd the knyght,
‘And that thanke I God and the.

268
‘But take not a grefe,’ sayd the knyght, ‘that I haue be so longe;
I came by a wrastelynge,
And there I holpe a porë yeman,
With wronge was put behynde.’

269
‘Nay, for God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Syr knyght, that thanke I the;
What man that helpeth a good yeman,
His frende than wyll I be.’

270
‘Haue here foure ho_n_dred pounde,’ tha_n_ sayd the knyght,
‘The whiche ye lent to me;
And here is also twenty marke
For your curteysy.’

271
‘Nay, for God,’ than sayd Robyn,
‘Thou broke it well for ay;
For Our Lady, by her [hyë] selerer,
Hath sent to me my pay.

272
‘And yf I toke it i-twyse,
A shame it were to me;
But trewely, gentyll knyght,
Welcom arte thou to me.’

273
Whan Robyn had tolde his tale,
He leugh and had good chere:
‘By my trouthe,’ then sayd the knyght,
‘Your money is redy here.’

274
‘Broke it well,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Thou gentyll knyght so fre;
And welcome be thou, ge[n]tyll knyght,
Under my trystell-tre.

275
‘But what shall these bowës do?’ sayd Robyn,
‘And these arowës ifedred fre?’
‘By God,’ than sayd the knyght,
‘A porë present to the.’

276
‘Come now forth, Lytell Johan,
And go to my treasurë,
And brynge me there foure hondred pounde;
The monke ouer-tolde it me.

277
‘Haue here foure hondred pounde,
Thou gentyll knyght and trewe,
And bye hors and harnes good,
And gylte thy spores all newe.

278
‘And yf thou fayle ony spendynge,
Com to Robyn Hode,
And by my trouth thou shalt none fayle,
The whyles I haue any good.

279
‘And broke well thy foure hondred pound,
Whiche I lent to the,
And make thy selfe no more so bare,
By the counsell of me.’

280
Thus than holpe hym good Robyn,
The knyght all of his care:
God, that syt in heuen hye,
Graunte vs well to fare!

THE FYFTH FYTTE.

281
Now hath the knyght his leue i-take,
And wente hym on his way;
Robyn Hode and his mery men
Dwelled styll full many a day.

282
Lyth and lysten, gentil men,
And herken what I shall say,
How the proud[ë] sheryfe of Notyngham
Dyde crye a full fayre play;

283
That all the best archers of the north
Sholde come vpon a day,
And [he] that shoteth allther best
The game shall bere a way.

284
He that shoteth allther best,
Furthest fayre and lowe,
At a payre of fynly buttes,
Under the grenë-wode shawe,

285
A ryght good arowe he shall haue,
The shaft of syluer whyte,
The hede and the feders of ryche rede golde,
In Englond is none lyke.

286
This than herde good Robyn,
Under his trystell-tre:
‘Make you redy, ye wyght yonge men;
That shotynge wyll I se.

287
‘Buske you, my mery yonge men,
Ye shall go with me;
And I wyll wete the shryuës fayth,
Trewe and yf he be.’

288
Whan they had theyr bowes i-bent,
Theyr takles fedred fre,
Seuen score of wyght yonge men
Stode by Robyns kne.

289
Whan they cam to Notyngham,
The buttes were fayre and longe;
Many was the bolde archere
That shoted with bowës stronge.

290
‘There shall but syx shote with me;
The other shal kepe my he[ue]de,
And standë with good bowës bent,
That I be not desceyued.’

291
The fourth outlawe his bowe gan bende,
And that was Robyn Hode,
And that behelde the proud[ë] sheryfe,
All by the but [as] he stode.

292
Thryës Robyn shot about,
And alway he slist the wand,
And so dyde good Gylberte
Wyth the whytë hande.

293
Lytell Johan and good Scatheloke
Were archers good and fre;
Lytell Much and good Reynolde,
The worste wolde they not be.

294
Whan they had shot aboute,
These archours fayre and good,
Euermore was the best,
For soth, Robyn Hode.

295
Hym was delyuered the good arowe,
For best worthy was he;
He toke the yeft so curteysly,
To grenë wode wolde he.

296
They cryed out on Robyn Hode,
And grete hornës gan they blowe:
‘Wo worth the, treason!’ sayd Robyn,
‘Full euyl thou art to knowe.

297
‘And wo be thou! thou proudë sheryf,
Thus gladdynge thy gest;
Other wyse thou behotë me
In yonder wylde forest.

298
‘But had I the in grenë wode,
Under my trystell-tre,
Thou sholdest leue me a better wedde
Than thy trewe lewtë.’

299
Full many a bowë there was bent,
And arowës let they glyde;
Many a kyrtell there was rent,
And hurt many a syde.

300
The outlawes shot was so stronge
That no man myght them dryue,
And the proud[ë] sheryfës men,
They fled away full blyue.

301
Robyn sawe the busshement to-broke,
In grenë wode he wolde haue be;
Many an arowe there was shot
Amonge that company.

302
Lytell Johan was hurte full sore,
With an arowe in his kne,
That he myght neyther go nor ryde;
It was full grete pytë.

303
‘Mayster,’ then sayd Lytell Johan,
‘If euer thou loue[d]st me,
And for that ylkë lordës loue
That dyed vpon a tre,

304
‘And for the medes of my seruyce,
That I haue serued the,
Lete neuer the proudë sheryf
Alyue now fyndë me.

305
‘But take out thy brownë swerde,
And smyte all of my hede,
And gyue me woundës depe and wyde;
No lyfe on me be lefte.’

306
‘I wolde not that,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Johan, that thou were slawe,
For all the golde in mery Englonde,
Though it lay now on a rawe.’

307
‘God forbede,’ sayd Lytell Much,
‘That dyed on a tre,
That thou sholdest, Lytell Johan,
Parte our company.’

308
Up he toke hym on his backe,
And bare hym well a myle;
Many a tyme he layd hym downe,
And shot another whyle.

309
Then was there a fayre castell,
A lytell within the wode;
Double-dyched it was about,
And walled, by the rode.

310
And there dwelled that gentyll knyght,
Syr Rychard at the Lee,
That Robyn had lent his good,
Under the grenë-wode tree.

311
In he toke good Robyn,
And all his company:
‘Welcome be thou, Robyn Hode,
Welcome arte thou to me;

312
‘And moche [I] thanke the of thy confort,
And of thy curteysye,
And of thy gretë kyndënesse,
Under the grenë-wode tre.

313
‘I loue no man in all this worlde
So much as I do the;
For all the proud[ë] sheryf of Notyngham,
Ryght here shalt thou be.

314
‘Shyt the gates, and drawe the brydge,
#a.#
And let no man come in,
And arme you well, and make you redy,
And to the walles ye wynne.

315
‘For one thynge, Robyn, I the behote;
I swere by Saynt Quyntyne,
These forty dayes thou wonnest with me,
To soupe, ete, and dyne.’

316
Bordes were layde, and clothes were spredde,
Redely and anone;
Roby_n_ Hode and his mery me_n_
To metë can they gone.

THE VI. FYTTE.

317
Lythe and lysten, gentylmen,
And herkyn to your songe;
Howe the proudë shyref of Notyngham,
And men of armys stronge,

318
Full fast cam to the hyë shyref,
The contrë vp to route,
And they besette the knyghtës castell,
The wallës all aboute.

319
The proudë shyref loude gan crye,
And sayde, Thou traytour knight,
Thou kepest here the kynges enemys,
Agaynst the lawe and right.

320
‘Syr, I wyll auowe that I haue done,
The dedys that here be dyght,
Vpon all the landës that I haue,
As I am a trewë knyght.

321
‘Wende furth, sirs, on your way,
And do no more to me
Tyll ye wyt oure kyngës wille,
What he wyll say to the.’

322
The shyref thus had his answere,
Without any lesynge;
[Fu]rth he yede to London towne,
All for to tel our ki_n_ge.

323
Ther he telde hi_m_ of that knight,
And eke of Robyn Hode,
And also of the bolde archars,
That were soo noble and gode.

324
‘He wyll auowe that he hath done,
To mayntene the outlawes stronge;
He wyll be lorde, and set you at nought,
In all the northe londe.’

325
‘I wil be at Notyngham,’ saide our kynge,
‘Within this fourteenyght,
And take I wyll Roby_n_ Hode,
And so I wyll th_a_t knight.

326
‘Go nowe home, shyref,’ sayde our kynge,
‘And do as I byd the;
And ordey_n_ gode archers ynowe,
Of all the wydë contrë.’

327
The shyref had his leue i-take,
And went hym on his way,
And Robyn Hode to grenë wode,
Vpon a certen day.

328
And Lytel John was hole of the arowe
That shot was in his kne,
And dyd hym streyght to Robyn Hode,
Vnder the grenë-wode tree.

329
Roby_n_ Hode walked in the forest,
Vnder the leuys grene;
The proudë shyref of Notyngham
Thereof he had grete tene.

330
The shyref there fayled of Robyn Hode,
He myght not haue his pray;
Than he awayted this gentyll knyght,
Bothe by nyght and day.

331
Euer he wayted the gentyll knyght,
Syr Richarde at the Lee,
As he went on haukynge by the ryuer-syde,
And lete [his] haukës flee.

332
Toke he there this gentyll knight,
With men of armys stronge,
And led hym to Notyngham warde,
Bounde bothe fote and hande.

333
The sheref sware a full grete othe,
Bi hy_m_ th_a_t dyed on rode,
He had leuer tha_n_ an hundred pound
That he had Roby_n_ Hode.

334
This harde the knyghtës wyfe,
A fayr lady and a free;
She set hir on a gode palfrey,
To grenë wode anone rode she.

335
Wha_n_ne she ca_m_ in the forest,
Vnd_er_ the grenë-wode tree,
Fonde she there Roby_n_ Hode,
And al his fayre menë.

336
‘God the sauë, godë Robyn,
And all thy company;
For Our derë Ladyes sake,
A bonë graunte thou me.

337
‘Late neuer my wedded lorde
Shamefully slayne be;
He is fast bowne to Notingham warde,
For the loue of the.’

338
Anone than saide goode Robyn
To that lady so fre,
What man hath your lorde [i-]take?
. . . . . .

339
. . . . . .
‘For soth as I the say;
He is nat yet thre mylës
Passed on his way.’

340
Vp than sterte gode Robyn,
As man that had ben wode:
‘Buske you, my mery men,
For hym that dyed on rode.

341
‘And he that this sorowe forsaketh,
By hym that dyed on tre,
Shall he neuer in grenë wode
No lenger dwel with me.’

342
Sone there were gode bowës bent,
Mo than seuen score;
Hedge ne dyche spared they none
That was them before.

343
‘I make myn auowe to God,’ sayde Robyn,
‘The sherif wolde I fayne see;
And if I may hy_m_ take,
I-quyte shall it be.’

344
And whan they came to Notingham,
They walked i_n_ the strete;
And w_i_t_h_ the proudë sherif i-wys
Sonë can they mete.

345
‘Abyde, thou proudë sherif,’ he sayde,
‘Abyde, and speke with me;
Of some tidi_n_ges of oure kinge
I wolde fayne here of the.

346
‘This seuen yere, by dere worthy God,
Ne yede I this fast on fote;
I make myn auowe to God, thou proudë sherif,
It is nat for thy gode.’

347
Robyn bent a full goode bowe,
An arrowe he drowe at wyll;
He hit so the proudë sherife
Vpon the grounde he lay full still.

348
And or he myght vp aryse,
On his fete to stonde,
He smote of the sherifs hede
With his bright[ë] bronde.

349
‘Lye thou there, thou proudë sherife,
Euyll mote thou cheue!
There myght no man to the truste
#b.#
The whyles thou were a lyue.’

350
His men drewe out theyr bryght swerdes,
That were so sharpe and kene,
And layde on the sheryues men,
And dryued them downe bydene.

351
Robyn stert to that knyght,
And cut a two his bonde,
And toke hym in his hand a bowe,
And bad hym by hym stonde.

352
‘Leue thy hors the behynde,
And lerne for to renne;
Thou shalt with me to grenë wode,
Through myrë, mosse, and fenne.

353
‘Thou shalt with me to grenë wode,
Without ony leasynge,
Tyll that I haue gete vs grace
Of Edwarde, our comly kynge.’

THE VII. FYTTE.

354
The kynge came to Notynghame,
With knyghtës in grete araye,
For to take that gentyll knyght
And Robyn Hode, and yf he may.

355
He asked men of that countrë
After Robyn Hode,
And after that gentyll knyght,
That was so bolde and stout.

356
Whan they had tolde hym the case
Our kynge vnderstode ther tale,
And seased in his honde
The knyghtës londës all.

357
All the passe of Lancasshyre
He went both ferre and nere,
Tyll he came to Plomton Parke;
He faylyd many of his dere.

358
There our kynge was wont to se
Herdës many one,
He coud vnneth fynde one dere,
That bare ony good horne.

359
The kynge was wonder wroth withall,
And swore by the Trynytë,
‘I wolde I had Robyn Hode,
With eyen I myght hym se.

360
‘And he that wolde smyte of the knyghtës hede,
And brynge it to me,
He shall haue the knyghtës londes,
Syr Rycharde at the Le.

361
‘I gyue it hym with my charter,
And sele it [with] my honde,
To haue and holde for euer more,
In all mery Englonde.’

362
Than bespake a fayre olde knyght,
That was treue in his fay:
A, my leegë lorde the kynge,
One worde I shall you say.

363
There is no man in this countrë
May haue the knyghtës londes,
Whyle Robyn Hode may ryde or gone,
And bere a bowe in his hondes,

364
That he ne shall lese his hede,
That is the best ball in his hode:
Giue it no man, my lorde the kynge,
That ye wyll any good.

365
Half a yere dwelled our comly kynge
In Notyngham, and well more;
Coude he not here of Robyn Hode,
In what countrë that he were.

366
But alway went good Robyn
By halke and eke by hyll,
And alway slewe the kyngës dere,
And welt them at his wyll.

367
Than bespake a proude fostere,
That stode by our kyngës kne:
Yf ye wyll se good Robyn,
Ye must do after me.

368
Take fyue of the best knyghtës
That be in your lede,
And walke downe by yon abbay,
And gete you monkës wede.

369
And I wyll be your ledës-man,
And lede you the way,
And or ye come to Notyngham,
Myn hede then dare I lay,

370
That ye shall mete with good Robyn,
On lyue yf that he be;
Or ye come to Notyngham,
With eyen ye shall hym se.

371
Full hast[ë]ly our kynge was dyght,
So were his knyghtës fyue,
Euerych of them in monkës wede,
And hasted them thyder blyve.

372
Our kynge was grete aboue his cole,
A brode hat on his crowne,
Ryght as he were abbot-lyke,
They rode up in-to the towne.

373
Styf botës our kynge had on,
Forsoth as I you say;
He rode syngynge to grenë wode,
The couent was clothed in graye.

374
His male-hors and his gretë somers
Folowed our kynge behynde,
Tyll they came to grenë wode,
A myle vnder the lynde.

375
There they met with good Robyn,
Stondynge on the waye,
And so dyde many a bolde archere,
For soth as I you say.

376
Robyn toke the kyngës hors,
Hastëly in that stede,
And sayd, Syr abbot, by your leue,
A whyle ye must abyde.

377
‘We be yemen of this foreste,
Vnder the grenë-wode tre;
We lyue by our kyngës dere,
[Other shyft haue not wee.]

378
‘And ye haue chyrches and rentës both,
And gold full grete plentë;
Gyue vs some of your spendynge,
For saynt[ë] charytë.’

379
Than bespake our cumly kynge,
Anone than sayd he;
I brought no more to grenë wode
But forty pounde with me.

380
I haue layne at Notyngham
This fourtynyght with our kynge,
And spent I haue full moche good,
On many a grete lordynge.

381
And I haue but forty pounde,
No more than haue I me;
But yf I had an hondred pounde,
I wolde vouch it safe on the.

382
Robyn toke the forty pounde,
And departed it in two partye;
Halfendell he gaue his mery men,
And bad them mery to be.

383
Full curteysly Roby_n_ gan say;
Syr, haue this for your spendyng;
We shall mete another day;
‘Gramercy,’ than sayd our kynge.

384
‘But well the greteth Edwarde, our kynge,
And sent to the his seale,
And byddeth the com to Notyngham,
Both to mete and mele.’

385
He toke out the brodë targe,
And sone he lete hym se;
Robyn coud his courteysy,
And set hym on his kne.

386
‘I loue no man in all the worlde
So well as I do my kynge;
Welcome is my lordës seale;
And, monke, for thy tydynge,

387
‘Syr abbot, for thy tydynges,
To day thou shalt dyne with me,
For the loue of my kynge,
Under my trystell-tre.’

388
Forth he lad our comly kynge,
Full fayre by the honde;
Many a dere there was slayne,
And full fast dyghtande.

389
Robyn toke a full grete horne,
And loude he gan blowe;
Seuen score of wyght yonge men
Came redy on a rowe.

390
All they kneled on theyr kne,
Full fayre before Robyn:
The kynge sayd hym selfe vntyll,
And swore by Saynt Austyn,

391
‘Here is a wonder semely syght;
Me thynketh, by Goddës pyne,
His men are more at his byddynge
Then my men be at myn.’

392
Full hast[ë]ly was theyr dyner idyght,
And therto gan they gone;
They serued our kynge with al theyr myght,
Both Robyn and Lytell Johan.

393
Anone before our kynge was set
The fattë venyson,
The good whyte brede, the good rede wyne,
And therto the fyne ale and browne.

394
‘Make good chere,’ said Robyn,
‘Abbot, for charytë;
And for this ylkë tydynge,
Blyssed mote thou be.

395
‘Now shalte thou se what lyfe we lede,
Or thou hens wende;
Than thou may enfourme our kynge,
Whan ye togyder lende.’

396
Up they stertë all in hast,
Theyr bowës were smartly bent;
Our kynge was neuer so sore agast,
He wende to haue be shente.

397
Two yerdës there were vp set,
Thereto gan they gange;
By fyfty pase, our kynge sayd,
The merkës were to longe.

398
On euery syde a rose-garlonde,
They shot vnder the lyne:
‘Who so fayleth of the rose-garlonde,’ sayd Robyn,
‘His takyll he shall tyne,

399
‘And yelde it to his mayster,
Be it neuer so fyne;
For no man wyll I spare,
So drynke I ale or wyne:

400
‘And bere a buffet on his hede,
I-wys ryght all bare:’
And all that fell in Robyns lote,
He smote them wonder sare.

401
Twyse Robyn shot aboute,
And euer he cleued the wande,
And so dyde good Gylberte
With the Whytë Hande.

402
Lytell Johan and good Scathelocke,
For nothynge wolde they spare;
When they fayled of the garlonde,
Robyn smote them full sore.

403
At the last shot that Robyn shot,
For all his frendës fare,
Yet he fayled of the garlonde
Thre fyngers and mare.

404
Than bespake good Gylberte,
And thus he gan say;
‘Mayster,’ he sayd, ‘your takyll is lost,
Stande forth and take your pay.’

405
‘If it be so,’ sayd Robyn,
‘That may no better be,
Syr abbot, I delyuer the myn arowe,
I pray the, syr, serue thou me.’

406
‘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.’

407
‘Smyte on boldely,’ sayd Robyn,
‘I giue the largë leue:’
Anone our kynge, with that worde,
He folde vp his sleue,

408
And sych a buffet he gaue Robyn,
To grounde he yede full nere:
‘I make myn avowe to God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Thou arte a stalworthe frere.

409
‘There is pith in thyn arme,’ sayd Robyn,
‘I trowe thou canst well shete:’
Thus our kynge and Robyn Hode
Togeder gan they mete.

410
Robyn behelde our comly kynge
Wystly in the face,
So dyde Syr Rycharde at the Le,
And kneled downe in that place.

411
And so dyde all the wylde outlawes,
Whan they se them knele:
‘My lorde the kynge of Englonde,
Now I knowe you well.

412
‘Mercy then, Robyn,’ sayd our kynge,
‘Vnder your trystyll-tre,
Of thy goodnesse and thy grace,
For my men and me!’

413
‘Yes, for God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘And also God me saue,
I askë mercy, my lorde the kynge,
And for my men I craue.’

414
‘Yes, for God,’ than sayd our kynge,
‘And therto sent I me.
With that thou leue the grenë wode,
And all thy company;

415
‘And come home, syr, to my courte,
And there dwell with me.’
‘I make myn avowe to God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘And ryght so shall it be.

416
‘I wyll come to your courte,
Your seruyse for to se,
And brynge with me of my men
Seuen score and thre.

417
‘But me lykë well your seruyse,
I [wyll] come agayne full soone,
And shote at the donnë dere,
As I am wonte to done.’

THE VIII. FYTTE.

418
‘Haste thou ony grenë cloth,’ sayd our kynge,
‘That thou wylte sell nowe to me?’
‘Ye, for God,’ sayd Robyn,
‘Thyrty yerdës and thre.’

419
‘Robyn,’ sayd our kynge,
‘Now pray I the,
Sell me some of that cloth,
To me and my meynë.’

420
‘Yes, for God,’ then sayd Robyn,
‘Or elles I were a fole;
Another day ye wyll me clothe,
I trowe, ayenst the Yole.’

421
The kynge kest of his colë then,
A grene garment he dyde on,
And euery knyght also, i-wys,
Another had full sone.

422
Whan they were clothed in Lyncolne grene,
They keste away theyr graye;
‘Now we shall to Notyngham,’
All thus our kynge gan say.

423
They bente theyr bowes, and forth they went,
Shotynge all in-fere,
Towarde the towne of Notyngham,
Outlawes as they were.

424
Our kynge and Robyn rode togyder,
For soth as I you say,
And they shote plucke-buffet,
As they went by the way.

425
And many a buffet our kynge wan
Of Robyn Hode that day,
And nothynge spared good Robyn
Our kynge in his pay.

426
‘So God me helpë,’ sayd our kynge,
‘Thy game is nought to lere;
I sholde not get a shote of the,
Though I shote all this yere.’

427
All the people of Notyngham
They stode and behelde;
They sawe nothynge but mantels of grene
That couered all the felde.

428
Than euery man to other gan say,
‘I drede our kynge be slone;
Comë Robyn Hode to the towne, i-wys
On lyue he lefte neuer one.’

429
Full hast[ë]ly they began to fle,
Both yemen and knaues,
And olde wyues that myght euyll goo,
They hypped on theyr staues.

430
The kynge l[o]ughe full fast,
And commaunded theym agayue;
When they se our comly kynge,
I-wys they were full fayne.

431
They ete and dranke, and made them glad,
And sange with notës hye;
Than bespake our comly kynge
To Syr Rycharde at the Lee.

432
He gaue hym there his londe agayne,
A good man he bad hym be;
Robyn thanked our comly kynge,
And set hym on his kne.

433
Had Robyn dwelled in the kyngës courte
But twelue monethes and thre,
That [he had] spent an hondred pounde,
And all his mennes fe.

434
In euery place where Robyn came
Euer more he layde downe,
Both for knyghtës and for squyres,
To gete hym grete renowne.

435
By than the yere was all agone
He had no man but twayne,
Lytell Johan and good Scathelocke,
With hym all for to gone.

436
Robyn sawe yonge men shote
Full fayre vpon a day;
‘Alas!’ than sayd good Robyn,
‘My welthe is went away.

437
‘Somtyme I was an archere good,
A styffe and eke a stronge;
I was compted the best archere
That was in mery Englonde.

438
‘Alas!’ then sayd good Robyn,
‘Alas and well a woo!
Yf I dwele lenger with the kynge,
Sorowe wyll me sloo.’

439
Forth than went Robyn Hode
Tyll he came to our kynge:
‘My lorde the kynge of Englonde,
Graunte me myn askynge.

440
‘I made a chapell in Bernysdale,
That semely is to se,
It is of Mary Magdaleyne,
And thereto wolde I be.

441
‘I myght neuer in this seuen nyght
No tyme to slepe ne wynke,
Nother all these seuen dayes
Nother ete ne drynke.

442
‘Me longeth sore to Bernysdale,
I may not be therfro;
Barefote and wolwarde I haue hyght
Thyder for to go.’

443
‘Yf it be so,’ than sayd our kynge,
‘It may no better be,
Seuen nyght I gyue the leue,
No lengre, to dwell fro me.’

444
‘Gramercy, lorde,’ then sayd Robyn,
And set hym on his kne;
He toke his leuë full courteysly,
To grenë wode then went he.

445
Whan he came to grenë wode,
In a mery mornynge,
There he herde the notës small
Of byrdës mery syngynge.

446
‘It is ferre gone,’ sayd Robyn,
‘That I was last here;
Me lyste a lytell for to shote
At the donnë dere.’

447
Robyn slewe a full grete harte;
His horne than gan he blow,
That all the outlawes of that forest
That horne coud they knowe,

448
And gadred them togyder,
In a lytell throwe.
Seuen score of wyght yonge men
Came redy on a rowe,

449
And fayre dyde of theyr hodes,
And set them on theyr kne:
‘Welcome,’ they sayd, ‘our [derë] mayster,
Under this grenë-wode tre.’

450
Robyn dwelled in grenë wode
Twenty yere and two;
For all drede of Edwarde our kynge,
Agayne wolde he not goo.

451
Yet he was begyled, i-wys,
Through a wycked woman,
The pryoresse of Kyrkësly,
That nye was of hys kynne:

452
For the loue of a knyght,
Syr Roger of Donkesly,
That was her ownë speciall;
Full euyll motë they the!

453
They toke togyder theyr counsell
Robyn Hode for to sle,
And how they myght best do that dede,
His banis for to be.

454
Than bespake good Robyn,
In place where as he stode,
‘To morow I muste to Kyrke[s]ly,
Craftely to be leten blode.’

455
Syr Roger of Donkestere,
By the pryoresse he lay,
And there they betrayed good Robyn Hode,
Through theyr falsë playe.

456
Cryst haue mercy on his soule,
That dyed on the rode!
For he was a good outlawe,
And dyde pore men moch god.

* * * * *

#a.#

Here begynneth a gest of Robyn Hode.

1–12. _Printed without division of stanzas or verses._

2^{2,3}. _Deficiency supplied from_ #b#.

4^1. gooe.

4^2. milsers.

4^3. yuch.

6^4. vnkoutg.

7^1. _lacking in all._

8^4. .iij. messis.

9^3. The .iij.

9^4. all ther.

13^4. tillet.

15^4. mynge.

18^3. vnknuth.

32^3. ynought.

33^1. felsauntes.

37^1. wened.

38^3. Late _for_ Litell, _which all the others have_.

39^2. of _for_ haue.

39^3. but .xx.: _see_ 42^4.

41^1. nowne.

41^3. .xx. felinges.

46^2. in strocte.

46^3. And.

47^3. And.

47^4. haue bene.

50^{2,3}. _The verses are transposed._

50^2. God had.

54^2. Vutyll.

66^3. to may.

68^4. Bo .xxviij.

70^4. To helpe: _cf._ 194^4.

77^3. betes.

78^2. clere.

79^3. .xij.

82^1. ou.

82^3. bernedtale.

83^3. for he.

83^4–118^3. _wanting_; _supplied from_ #b#.

119^1. a .M.

120^4. Eue_n_ .cccc.

121^2. thon.

123^4. Bi god ... on tree. _The tops of_ d _and of_ th, _and a
part of_ dy, _remain_.

124^1. Sir ... n of lawe.

124^2. _Only the top of_ N _remains_.

124^2–127^3. _wanting_, _being torn away_; _supplied from_ #b#.

128^2. Ha.

130^3. .cccc. li.

131^{1,3}. an .C.

131^3. aros we.

132^1. an ille.

132^3. Worked all.

133^{1,2}. He purneyed hym an. _Only a part of_ n _in the last
word remains_. Well harness. _Only a part of_ n _and the tops
of_ ess _remaining_.

133^3–136^3. _wanting; supplied from_ #b#.

138^2. Bnd.

143^1. louge.

143^2. doue.

150^4. tho thy.

160^3. Thougt: an C.

160^4. he be go.

161^3. And therfore.

162^2. gyne.

163^2. he wol be.

164^2. _read_ hyne?

165^3. anowe.

168^4. mountnauuce.

175^3. wasars.

179^2. sende the. _Perhaps_ sent the, _as in_ 384^2 (#b#).

180^1. abowe.

181^3. v myle.

182^2. Hnntynge.

183^3. Rrynolde.

185^3. vij. score.

187^1. shyrel.

199^1. this xij.

201^3. thy best.

202^3. scade.

206^1. Johū.

206^4. pray.

208^4–314^1. _wanting; supplied from_ #b#.

315^3. These xl.: with men.

321^3. welle.

330^1. fayles.

331^3. ryner.

333^3. an C. li.

339^3. myeles.

349^3. to thy.

_From_ 349^4 _wanting; supplied from_ #b#.

#b.# _Title-page_: Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn hode. _At the
head of the poem_: Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn hode
and his meyne, And of the proude Sheryfe of Notyngham.

2^4. y-founde.

3^3. Iohan: _and always_.

4^1. Scathelock.

4^3. no.

5^1. be spake hym.

5^3. yf ye.

6^1. hym _wanting_.

6^2. I haue.

6^3. that _wanting_.

6^4. vnketh.

7^1. _wanting._

7^3. knygot or some squyere.

8^4. Thre.

9^2. The other.

9^3. was of.

9^4. all other moste.

11^3. that _wanting_: gone.

11^4. that _wanting_.

13^1. than _wanting_.

13^4. tylleth.

14^4. wolde.

15^4. ye _wanting_.

16^1. beholde: Ihoan.

16^2. shall we.

17^1. Robyn.

17^3. Scathelocke.

18^3. vnketh.

20. vnto.

20^2. yemen.

21^1. to _wanting_.

21^3. came there.

22^1. then was all his semblaunte.

23^1. hangynge ouer.

23^4. somers.

24^1. full _wanting_.

24^4. you.

26^1. is your.

26^3. is a.

27^2. all thre.

28^1. went that.

29^1. vnto.

29^2. gan hym.

30^2. thou arte.

30^3. abyde.

32^2. set tyll.

32^3. right _wanting_.

33^3. neuer so.

35^4. that _wanting_.

36^2. whan I haue.

38^3. Lytell Iohan: Robyn hode.

39^1. than _wanting_.

39^2. god haue.

39^3, 41^3. but .x. s.

40^1. thou haue.

40^4. len.

41^4. Not one.

42^4. halfe a.

43^2. full lowe.

43^3. tydynge.

43^4. inough.

44^4. clothynge: thynne.

45^1. one worde.

45^3. thou were.

46^2. in stroke.

46^4. hast thou.

47^1. of them.

47^3. An .C. wynter.

47^4. haue be.

49^1. within two or thre.

49^3. hondreth.

50^{2,3}. _The verses are transposed._

50^2. hath shapen.

51^1. than _wanting_.

53^1. of Lancastshyre.

53^4. both.

54^1. beth.

56^2. What shall.

57^4. may not.

58^3. frendes.

59^2. knowe me.

60^4. had _wanting_.

61^2. Scathelocke and Much also.

62^1. frendes.

62^2. borowes that wyll.

62^4. on a.

63^1. waye: than _wanting_.

63^3. I wyll.

64^3. me _wanting_.

67^4. loke that it well tolde.

68^2, 74^1, 77^3, 83^2. Scathelocke.

68^4. By eyghtene.

69^1. lytell Much.

69^2. greueth.

70^4. To helpe.

71^2. many a.

72^2. it well mete it be.

73^1. And of.

73^2. lept ouer.

73^3. deuylkyns.

73^4. for _wanting_.

74^3. hym the better.

74^4. Bygod it cost him.

75^1. than _wanting_.

75^2. All vnto Robyn.

75^3. an hors.

75^4. al th_is_.

76^4. God leue.

78^2. clere.

80^3. Without.

81^1. lene.

82^1. went on.

82^2. he thought.

83^1. bethought.

87^1. _wanting._

88^3. hondrde.

89^2. he is ryght.

98^1. _wanting._

113^2. gan loke.

118^4. grete ye.

119^2. were thou.

121^4. Rewarde.

123^4. By god that dyed on a tree.

124^1. Syr abbot, and ye men of lawe.

128^2. of my.

128^3. not be.

130^3. got foure hondreth.

131^2. dyght.

132^3. I nocked.

133^{1,2}.
purueyed hym an hondreth men
Well harneysed in that stede.

135^1. _Qy?_ But at Wentbrydge ther was.

136^2. bulle I vp pyght.

137^2. in good fay.

137^3. that _wanting_.

138^3. frend bestad.

138^4. I-slayne.

139^2. where that.

140^2. hondred: fere _for_ free.

145^2. shote.

146^1. shot.

146^2. sleste.

146^4. gan.

147^4. euer _wanting_: I me.

148^4. wan.

149^1. sir _wanting_: bore.

150^2. Wolte.

151^3. gete leue.

153^2. Ge gyue.

155^1. befell.

156^3. to _wanting_.

156^4. me to dyne.

157^2. so longe to be.

157^3. sir _wanting_.

157^4. gyue thou.

159^3. the _wanting_.

160^1. a rap.

160^2. yede nygh on two.

160^3. an .c. wynter.

160^4. wors he sholde go.

161^2. we_n_t vp.

161^3. there: made a.

161^4. and wyne.

163^1. _second_ John _wanting_.

163^2. whyle he.

164^3. an householde to.

165^3. to God _wanting_.

165^4. lyketh: me _wanting_.

166^1. and an.

167^1. ful _wanting_.

168^2. well _wanting_.

169^4. I me.

170^4. I-chaunged.

173^4. same day.

174^3. of full _wanting_.

175^3. and spones.

175^4. they none.

176^1. they toke.

176^3. dyde hym.

176^4. wode tre.

178^1. And also.

179^2. sende the: _cf._ 384^2.

181^1. hym there.

181^2. whyle.

181^4. at his.

182^2. hounde.

182^3. coud his.

184^3. syght.

185^1. I se.

185^3. an herde.

186^1. His tynde.

188^3. afore.

188^4. sir _wanting_.

189^4. now be trayed.

191^2. well _wanting_.

191^3. se his.

192^1. Make good.

192^4. lyfe is graunted.

193^2. a gone.

193^3. commaunded.

194^1. cote a pye.

194^2. well fyne.

194^3. toke.

195^3. They shall lay: sote.

196^1. laye that.

196^4. sydes do smerte.

199^1. All these.

200^1. Or I here a nother nyght sayd.

200^2. I praye.

200^3. to-morne.

201^3. the best.

201^4. That yet had the.

202^3. Thou shalt neuer a wayte me scathe.

203^2. or by.

204^1. haue: I-swore.

205^2. that he was gone.

205^3. had his.

206^4. pay.

207^4. trusty.

208^3. Scathelock.

209^3. after such.

210^{3,4}.
Or yf he be a pore man
Of my good he shall haue some.

214^4. these _wanting_.

215^2. frese our: leese your? dress your?

216^1. .lii.: men _wanting_.

218^2. you _for_ yon.

224^1. .lii.

231^4. serued them.

240^3. ryghtwysman.

240^4. his name.

242^1. art nade.

243^4. Also.

245^1. more sayd _wanting_.

247^4. hondred _wanting_.

267^1. gayne.

272^1. I toke it I twyse: _the second_ I _is probably a misprint_.

279^1. thy .cccc. li.

280^2. all of this.

283^3. all ther best.

284^1. all theyre best.

292^2. they slist.

293^2. acchers.

299^1. beut.

305^3. dede, _second_ d _inverted_.

314^4. walle.

315^3. These twelue: with me.

316^1. were _wanting_.

316^4. gan they.

317^2. vnto.

319^3. enemye.

319^4. Agayne the lawes.

320^2. dedes thou.

321^2. doth.

322^3. yode.

323^1. tolde.

323^4. That noble were.

324^1. He wolde: had.

324^3. He wolde.

325^1. woll: sayd the.

326^1. nowe _wanting_: thou proud sheryf: sayde our kynge
_wanting_.

326^2. the bydde.

329^4. Therfore.

330^1. fayled.

330^4. and by.

331^1. a wayted that.

331^4. let his.

332^3. hym home.

332^4. honde and fote.

333^2. on a tre.

334^1. harde _wanting_: This the lady, the.

334^2. and fre.

335^1. to the.

335^2. tre tre.

336^1. God the good: saue _wanting_.

336^3. lady loue.

337^1. Late thou neuer.

337^2. Shamly I slayne be.

337^3. fast I-bounde.

338^2. lady fre.

338^3. I take.

338^4, 339^1. _wanting._

339^4. on your.

340^2. As a: be.

340^3. yonge men.

340^4. on a.

341^2. on a.

341^3. wode be.

341^1. Nor.

342^1. i bent.

342^3. spare.

343^2. The knyght.

343^4. I-quyt than.

344^4. gan.

346^2. so fast.

346^4. At is.

347^1. full _wanting_.

347^2. at his.

349^2. thou thryue.

349^3. to the.

351^2. his hoode.

356^2. vnder-stonde.

363^2. hane.

368^3. walked; _qy?_ walketh: by your.

371^4. blyth.

377^4. _repeats verse_ 2: Other shyft haue not we, _Copland and
Ed. White’s copies_.

381^4. I vouch it halfe on the. #f# _and_ #g#: I would geue it to
thee.

385^1. brode tarpe. _Copland and Ed. White’s copies_: seale _for_
tarpe.

400^2. A wys.

401^4. the good whyte.

402^4. sore.

409^2. shote.

409^4. than they met. #f#, they gan: #g#, gan they mete.

412^{1,2}. _Copland and Ed. White_: sayd Robyn to our king, Vnder
this.

417^2. _Copland and Ed. White_: I wyll come.

421^3. had so I wys: _so Copland and Ed. White_.

423^1. Theyr bowes bente: _cf._ #f#, #g#.

433^2. .xii.

433^3. he had _in Copland and Ed. White_.

436^2. ferre: fayre _in_ #c#, _Copland and Ed. White_.

437^3. was commytted. _Copland and Ed. White_: was commended for.

440^1. bernysdade.

441^2. _Qy?_ No tymë slepe.

443^1. he so.

449^3. our dere _in_ #e#.

454^2. places.

Explycit. kynge Edwarde and Robyn hode and Lytell Johan Enprented
at London in fletestrete at the sygne of the sone By Wynken de
Worde.

a bode, a gast, a gone, a nother, a vowe, be fore, be gan, be
spake, for gone, i brought, launs gay, out lawes, to gyder,
vnder take, _etc., etc., are printed_ abode, etc., etc.; I wys,
i-wys; & and.

_It will be understood that not all probable cases of ë have been
indicated._

#c.#

26^4. myche.

28^4. ere _for_ lere.

29^2. hym gan, _as in_ #a#.

29^3. he _wanting_.

30^3. a byde.

30^4. oures.

32^1. wesshe.

32^2. sat tyll.

32^3. ryght inough, _as in_ #a#.

33^3. non so lytell, _as in_ #a#.

34^2. Garmercy.

34^4. all this.

35^4. that _wanting, as in_ #b#.

36^2. it _wanting_.

37^2. Me thynke.

38^3. Lytell Johan, _as in_ #b#.

39^1. then sayd, _as in_ #a#.

39^2. haue parte of the.

39^3, 41^3. .x. s..

40^1. haue, _as in_ #b#.

40^4. len, _as in_ #b#.

41^4. Not one, _as in_ #b#.

42^4. halfe a.

43^2. full lowe, _as in_ #b#.

43^3. tydynge, _as in_ #b#.

44^3. Myche, thyket.

45^1. one worde, _as in_ #b#.

45^3. were, _as in_ #b#.

46^1. haste be.

46^2. stroke.

46^3. And, _as in_ #a#.

46^4. hast led, _as in_ #a#.

47^1. nene of tho.

47^3. An .c. wynter.

47^4. haue be.

48^3. that syt.

49^1. this two yere, _as in_ #a#.

49^2. well knowe.

50^{2,3}. _order as in_ #a#, #b#.

50^2. hath shapen, _as in_ #b#.

51^1. than _wanting, as in_ #b#.

51^2. thou lose.

53^1. lancasesshyre.

53^4. bothe, _as in_ #a#, #b#.

54^1. bothe, _as in_ #a#.

56^2. shall fall, _as in_ #b#.

57^1. wher.

57^4. noo better, _as in_ #a#.

58^1. eyen _has fallen into the next line_ (eyen way).

58^3. frende, _as in_ #a#.

58^4. I ne haue noo nother.

59^1. the frendes.

#d.#

280^2. all of this, _as in_ #b#.

281^4. full styll.

282^2. [her] keneth.

283^3. all thee beste.

284^1. all there beste.

286^3. ye _wanting_.

287^4, 288^{1,2,3}. _cut off._

289^{1,2}. _transposed._

290^3. I bent.

291^1. can bende.

291^4. as he.

292^1. shet.

292^2. they clyft.

293^1. Scathelocke.

293^2. good in fere.

295^4. then wolde.

296^2. can they.

296^3. the _wanting_.

297. _cut off, except_ ylde forest _in line_ 4.

302^2. on his.

302^3. go ne.

303^2. louest.

305^1. all out.

305^3. woundes depe.

306^{1–3}. _cut off._

306^4. now _wanting: only the lower part of the words of this line
remains_.

307^2. vpon.

310^3. Robyn hode lente.

312^1. myche thanket he of the.

312^3. the grete.

314^4. walle, _as in_ #b#.

315. _nearly all cut away._

317^2. herkeneth to.

319^3. enmye, _as in_ #b#.

319^4. lawes, _as in_ #b#.

320^2. [t]hou here, _as in_ #b#.

323^{3,4}, 324^{1,2}. _wanting._

324^3. He wolde, _as in_ #b#.

326^1. Goo home thou proude sheryf, _as in_ #b#.

326^2. the bydde, _as in_ #b#.

329^4. Therfore, _as in_ #b#.

331^1. wayted thys gentyll.

331^4. his haukes.

332^{3,4}, 333^{1,2}. _wanting._

334^2. and a, _as in_ #a#.

334^3. a _wanting_.

336^3. ladye loue, _as in_ #b#.

337^3. bounde, _as in_ #b#.

338^2. so _wanting_.

338^3. I take.

338^4, 339^1. _wanting, as in_ #a#, #b#.

339^4. _has only_ [y]our way.

340^2. be wode.

340^3. mery yonge men, _as in_ #b#.

340^4. on rode, _as in_ #a#.

341^2. _only_ [th]at dyed on _preserved_.

342. _wanting._

343^4. then shall, _as in_ #b#.

344^4. can they, _as in_ #a#.

346^2. so faste, _as in_ #b#.

346^4. It is not, _as in_ #a#.

347^1. full godd, _as in_ #a#.

347^2. at wyll, _as in_ #a#.

349^2. thryue, _as in_ #b#.

349^3. to the struste.

350^2. bothe sharp.

#e.#

436^2. Full fayre.

436^4. is gone.

437^3. cōmitted.

441^2. to slepe.

441^3. Nor of all.

441^4. Noutter ete nor.

442^1. longeth so sore to be in.

442^{3,4}, 443^{1,2}. _wanting._

446^4. donde.

447^2. can he.

447^3. outlawes in.

449^3. our dere.

#f.#

_Title_: A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe, wyth a newe
playe for to be played in Maye games, very plesaunte and full of
pastyme. _At the head of the poem_: Here begynneth a lyttell
geste of Robyn hoode and his mery men, and of the proude Shyryfe
of Notyngham.

_Insignificant variations of spelling are not noted._

1^2. freborne.

2^4. yfounde.

3^2. lened vpon a.

3^3. stode _wanting_.

4^1. Scathelocke: _and always_.

4^2. mylners.

4^3. was no.

5^3. if ye.

6^1. hym _wanting_.

6^4. vnketh.

7^1. _wanting._

7^3. or some squyer.

9^2. The other.

9^3. was of.

9^4. of all other.

11^3. that _wanting_: shall gone.

11^4. that _wanting_.

13^1. than _wanting_.

13^3. husbandeman.

13^4. with the.

14^4. That would.

15^4. ye _wanting_.

16^2. shall we.

16^3. farre.

18^1. Nowe walke ye vp vnto the Sayle.

18^3. vnketh.

18^4. By chaunce some may ye.

19^1. cearle _misprinted for_ earle.

19^3. hym then to.

20^1. went anone vnto.

21^1. loked in B.

21^2. deme (_for_ derne) strate.

21^3. there _wanting_.

22^1. drousli (droufli?) than: semblaunt.

23^1. hanged ouer: eyes.

23^4. on sommers.

24^1. full _wanting_.

24^4. are you.

25^3. you _wanting_.

26^1. is your.

26^3. is a.

26^4. haue I harde.

27^1. graunt the: wynde.

27^2. brethren all three.

28^1. went that.

28^3. eyes.

29^1. vnto.

29^2. gan hym.

29^4. downe on.

30^2. thou art.

30^3. you _wanting_.

32^3. right _wanting_.

33^3. fayleth neuer so.

33^4. was spred.

35^4. that _wanting_.

36^1. I thank the, knyght, then said.

36^2. when I haue.

36^3. By god I was neuer so gredy.

37^3. dere _wanting_.

38^3. Lytell John: Robyn hoode.

39^1. than _wanting_.

40^1. thou haue.

40^3. I shall lende.

41^4. Not any penny.

42^4. halfe a.

43^2. full lowe.

43^4. inowe _wanting_.

45^1. me one.

45^3. thou were.

46^1. Or yls els: haste by.

46^2. stroke.

46^4. thou _wanting_.

47^1. of them.

47^3, 49^3, 55^3, _etc._ hundreth.

48^2. hat be.

49^1. two or three yerers.

49^2. _wanting._

50^{2,3}. _transposed._

50^2. hath shopen.

50^4. god it amende.

51^1. than _wanting_.

51^2. lost thy.

52^3. wenters.

53^1. Lancastshyre.

56^2. What shall.

58^1. eyes.

58^3. frendes.

58^4. ne _wanting_.

59^2. knowe mee.

59^3. Whyles.

59^4. boste that.

60^4. had _wanting_: neuer me.

61^2. Much also.

62^1. frendes.

62^2. borowes: wyll.

62^3. than _wanting_.

62^4. on a.

63^1. than _wanting_.

63^3. I haue.

64^1. made me.

64^3. me _wanting_.

65^3. yf _wanting_.

67^4. it well tolde.

68^4. eyghten score.

69^1. lyttell Much.

69^2. greueth.

70^4. To wrappe.

71^2. muche ryche.

72^2. that well mete it.

73^1. And of.

73^2. lept ouer.

73^3. What the deuils.

73^4. for _wanting_.

74^1. lought.

74^3. hym the better.

74^4. By god it cost.

75^1. than _wanting_.

75^2. All unto R.

75^3. that knight an.

75^4. al this.

76^4. God lende that it.

78^1. shal.

78^2. clene.

78^4. out _wanting_.

79^4. Under the.

81^3. may stande.

82^2. he thought.

83^4. came.

84^1. spake the.

86^3. xij monethes.

87^1. _wanting._

87^2. his lande and fee.

87^4, 95^4. Disherited.

89^2. is his.

89^4. sore.

91^3. came.

92^4. poundes.

93^3. The highe.

94^2. taken.

96^1. not _wanting_.

96^3. teme to.

98^1. _wanting._

100^3. corese.

101^3. The shal.

102^4. saluted.

103^3. that the.

103^4. me my.

104^2. hath made.

105^4. To desyre you of.

106^4. defend me from.

111^1. then _wanting_.

112^2. Sende.

112^3. a assaye.

113^1. on then gan.

113^2. _wanting._

115^4. canst not.

118^4. Ye get ye it.

119^2. were thou.

120^3. of _wanting_.

121^3. Haddest thou.

121^4. I would haue rewarded thee.

122^2. royall chere.

122^4. fast gan.

123^4. on a.

124^3. I shall.

128^3. not be.

129^2. is _wanting_.

129^4. came.

130^3. got.

131^2. stringes were well dyght.

132^3. And nocked y^e were with.

133^3. sute.

134^3. And rode.

135^1. But _wanting_: by a bridg was.

136^2. vp ypyght.

136^4. burnisshed.

137^2. in good fay.

137^3. that _wanting_.

138^3. fayre and frend.

139^2. where y^e he.

140^1. the _wanting_.

140^2. him in fere.

141^1. sholdreth and: come _for_ rome.

142^2. laye than.

142^4. And drynke.

143^4. the _wanting_.

145^2. shute.

146^2. alway cleft.

146^4. gan.

147^2. a _wanting_.

147^4. That euer I dyd see.

148^1. me thou.

148^3. thou wast.

148^4. wining.

149^1. sir _wanting_.

150^2. Wylt.

151^3. gete leue.

152^3. gaue to him anone.

153^2. He geue vs.

154^1. me _wanting_.

154^4. he had yete.

156^3. to _wanting_.

156^4. me meate.

157^1. to long.

157^2. Fasting so long to.

157^3. sir _wanting_.

157^4. geue thou.

158^4. had lere.

160^1. rappe.

160^2. backe yede nygh into.

160^3. lyueth an hundreth wynter.

160^4. worse he should go.

161^2. went vp.

161^3. And there: a _wanting_.

161^4. of _wanting_.

162^3. liue this.

162^4. shall ye.

163^1. and also dronke.

163^2. that he.

164^2. hyne, _perhaps rightly_.

164^3. an householde to.

164^4. For _wanting_.

165^3. to God _wanting_.

165^4. do lyke wel me.

166^1. a hardy.

167^1. ful _wanting_.

167^3. for _wanting_.

168^2. wel _wanting_.

169^4. I me.

170^4. Chaunged it should.

173^4. same day at nyght.

174^1. The hyed.

175^1. the _wanting_.

175^3. masers and.

175^4. they non.

176^1. they toke.

176^2. and three.

176^3. And hyed.

176^4. wode tree.

177^4. Welcome thou art to me.

178^1. And so is that good.

178^2. That thou hast brought wyth the.

179^2. And he hath send the.

179^3. His cope.

180^1. advow.

181^1. there _wanting_.

181^4. at his.

182^3. coulde his.

184^1. haue nowe.

185^1. I se.

185^3. of _wanting_: a.

186^1. tyndes be.

187^3. Buske the.

188^3. afore.

188^4. sir _wanting_.

189^3. worthe the.

189^4. now betrayed.

191^2. well _wanting_.

192^1. good chere.

192^4. lyfe is graunted.

193^3. commaunded.

194^1. cote a pye.

194^3. toke.

195^1. wight yemen.

195^3. shall: in that sorte.

196^1. that proude.

196^4. sydes do smarte.

197^1. chere _wanting_.

198^4. dwel longe.

199^1. these.

200^1. Or I here another nyght lye.

201^3. the best.

202^3. Thou shalt neuer wayte me skathe.

202^4. nor by.

203^2. by day.

204^1. swore.

204^2. he _wanting_.

204^4. was any man.

205^2. that he was gone.

206^2. Hode _wanting_.

206^4. pay.

209^1. walke _wanting_: into the.

209^3. And loke for some straunge.

209^4. By chaunce you.

210^2. a _wanting_.

210^{3,4}. _as in_ #b#.

211^1. sterte.

211^2. fraye.

212^1. went than vnto.

213^1. as he.

214^2. can.

214^4. these monkes.

215^2. And bende we.

215^3. harte.

216^1. but lii men.

218^2. Make you yonder preste.

220^1. An euell.

220^2. vnder the.

221^1. What hyght your.

222^2. shall sore rewe.

223^1. a bowe.

223^2. Redy.

223^4. gan.

224^1. twoo and fifty wyght yemen.

224^2. abode but.

226^2. whan he did se.

229^1. an.

231^1. The made.

231^4. serued them.

234^2. mote I thryue or the.

236^2. Ye nede not so to saye.

236^3. hath brought it.

237^1. And _wanting_.

238^1. broughte.

238^3. the eft agayne.

238^4. of me.

240^3. right wise.

241^2. mayest.

242^1. made _wanting_.

242^3. I do the thanke.

243^4. So mote I thryue or the.

244^2. not out one.

244^3. hast nede.

244^4. shall I: to _wanting_.

245^1. fyne more sayd.

245^4. Thereof I wyll haue.

247^1. John layd.

247^3. he _wanting_.

247^4. hundreth poundes.

248^4. cost.

249^2. that tolde.

249^3. the trust.

252^1. A_n_d she haue nede of ony.

256^1. And what is on the other courser.

256^2. sothe we must.

256^3. than _wanting_.

259^4. _second_ in _wanting_.

263^1. light fro his.

263^2. can.

263^3. Right curteysly.

265^1. good Robin.

266^4. They would.

267^1. agayne.

267^3. than sayd.

267^4. that _wanting_.

268^1. no grefe: _printed in two lines_.

268^3. dyd helpe.

269^1. Now, by my treuthe than sayd.

269^2. For that, knight, thanke.

270^1. poundes.

270^3. there.

270^{3,4}. _printed in one line._

271^1. than _wanting_.

271^3. her high.

272^1. And I should take: twyse.

272^4. thou art.

273^1. And whan.

273^2. laughed and made.

274^4. Under this trusty.

275^2. fethered.

275^3. gentyl knyght.

276^2. My wyll done that it be.

277^3. bye the a hors.

277^4. the _for_ thy (_as_ me, be _for_ my, by).

279^2. I dyd lende.

280^2. of all his.

280^3. sytteth.

283^3. they that shote al of the best.

283^4. The best.

284^1. al of the best.

284^3. of goodly.

285^3. fethers.

286^2. his trusty.

286^3, 288^3. wyght yemen.

287^1. mery yemen.

287^3. I shall knowe.

288^2. Their arowes fethere free.

289^3. archers.

289^4. shote.

291^1. can.

292^2. he clefte.

292^4. the lylly white.

294^1. Whan that.

294^3. than was.

294^4. good Robin.

295^1. To him.

295^3. gyft full.

295^4. than would.

296^2. gan the.

297^2. Thus chering.

297^3. Another promyse thou made to me.

297^4. Within the wylde.

298^1. And I had y^e in the gr[e]ne forest.

298^2. trusty tree.

298^3. me leue.

300^4. away belyue.

301^4. Amonge the.

302^1. John he was hort.

302^2. in the.

303^2. loues.

304^4. nowe to.