THE KNIGHT MOUNTED. B From the Tomb of Aymer de Valence, murdered in 1323. (Gough.) THE SECONDE FYTTE.9 Now is the knight went on his way, This game he thought full good, When he looked on Barnisdale, He blesséd Robin Hood; And when he thought on Barnisdale, On Scathelock, Much, and John, Then spake that gentle knight, And to the abbot of that place Four hundred pound I must pay. And but 10 I be there upon this night My land is lost for aye." 330 "Under this green wood tree It were great shamé," said Robin, "A knight alone to ride, Without squyér, yeoman or page, To walké by his side. I shall thee lend Little Johan my man, For he shall be thy knave; In a yeoman's stead he may thee stand, If thou great need have.” 320 370 380 "But 10 thou hadst brought thy pay?" "Foré God," then said the knight, "To pray of a longer day." "Thy day is broke," said the justice, Land gettest thou none." "Now, good sir justice, be my friend, And fend me of my fone." 11 "I am hold with the abbot," said the justice, "Both with cloth and fee." "Now, good sir sheriff, be my friend." "Nay, foré God," said he. "Now, good sir abbot, be my friend, For thy curteysé, And hold my landés in thy hand Till I have made thee gree; 12 And I will be thy true servánt, And truly servé thee, Till ye have four hundred pound The abbot sware a full great oath, Get the land where thou may, For thou gettest none of me." "By dere-worthy God," then said the knight, "That all this world wrought, But I have my land again Ful! dear it shall be bought; God, that was of a maiden borne, For it is good to assay a friend 6 Coresed (French "cuirassé "), harnessed. 7 Salved, saluted (French "saluer "); said "Salve," hail. 420 430 440 The abbot loathlý on him gan look And villainouslý gan call; "Out," he said, "thou falsé knight! Speed thee out of my hall!" "Thou liest," then said the gentle knight, 450 "Abbot in thy hall; Falsé knight was I nevér, By [him] that made us all." Up then stood that gentle knight, To the abbót said he, "To suffer a knight to kneel so long, Thou canst no courtesy. In joustés and in tournement Full far then have I be, And put myself as far in press As any that ever I see." "What will ye give more?" said the justice, "And the knight shall make a release; And ellés dare I safely swear Ye hold never your land in peace." "An hundred pound," said the abbót. The justice said, "Give him two." "Nay, by God," said the knight, COUNTING THE COIN. From a Window Painting of an Old Mansion in Lower Street, Islington, date about 1471. (Carter.) 490 For aught that you can say." I Ferre and fremd bestad, one from afar and among strangers. have ventured to read "fremd" for "frend." Frem-sted is still used in Scotland for one who is placed away from friends and dependent upon strangers: in that sense the yeoman was fremd bestad. Strangers also are still frem'd persons in the dialect of the North of England; and sybbe or fremmede was an old antithesis for "kindred or no kindred." 7 Shend (First English "scendan "), to confound, shame. German "schänden." 8 Wete (First English "witan"), know. That ever yet had he!" It befell upon a Wednesday, The sheriff a-hunting was gone, And Little John lay in his bed, And was forgot at home. Therefore he was fasting Till it was past the none. "Put up thy sword," said the cook, 66 And fellows will we be." 680 "It is too long for Greenleaf, Fasting so long to be; Therefore I pray thee, steward, My dinner give thou me!" "Shalt thou never eat ne drink," said the steward, "Till my lord be come to town." "I make mine avow," said Little John, "I had liever to crack thy crown!" The butler was full uncurteys, There he stood on floor, He stert to the buttery, And shut fast the door. Little John gave the butler such a He spurned the door with his foot, It went up well and fine, 630 Then he fet to Little John They ate and drank thereto. Would they none forget; 690 |