A Bundle of Ballads [26]
He holp me out of my tene; Ne had not be his kind-enesse, Beggars had we been. The abb-ot and I accorded ben, He is served of his pay, The good yeoman lent it me, As I came by the way."
This knight then dwell-ed fair at home, The sooth for to say, Till he had got four hundred pound, All ready for to pay. He p-urveyed him an hundred bows, The string-es well ydight, An hundred sheaf of arrows good, The heads burn-ished full bright, And every arrow an ell-e long, With peacock well ydight, I-nock-ed all with white silv-er, It was a seemly sight. He p-urveyed him an hundred men, Well harneysed in that stead, And h-imself in that sam-e set, And clothed in white and red. He bare a launsgay in his hand, And a man led his male, And ridden with a light song, Unto Barnisdale.
As he went at a bridge there was a wresteling, And there tarried was he, And there was all the best yeom-en Of all the west countree. A full fair game there was upset, A white bull up i-pight; A great cours-er with saddle and bridle, With gold burn-ished full bright; A pair of gloves, a red gold ring, A pipe of wine, in good fay: What man beareth him best, i-wis, The prize shall bear away.
There was a yeoman in that place, And best worth-y was he. And for he was ferre and fremd bestad, I-slain he should have be. The knight had ruth of this yeom-an, In place where that he stood, He said that yeoman should have no harm, For love of Robin Hood. The knight press-ed into the place, An hundred followed him free, With bow-es bent, and arrows sharp, For to shend that company.
They shouldered all, and made him room, To wete what he would say, He took the yeoman by the hand, And gave him all the play; He gave him five mark for his wine, There it lay on the mould, And bade it should be set abroach, Drink-e who so would. Thus long tarried this gentle knight, Till that play was done, So long abode Rob-in fasting, Three hours after the none.
THE THYRDE FYTTE.
Lithe and listen, gentle men, All that now be here, Of Little John, that was the knight's man, Good mirth ye shall hear.
It was upon a merry day, That young men would go shete, Little John fet his bow anon, And said he would them meet. Three times Little John shot about, And always cleft the wand, The proud sher-iff of Nottingham By the marks gan stand. The sheriff swore a full great oath, "By him that died on a tree, This man is the best arch-er That ever yet saw I me. Sa-y me now, wight young man, What is now thy name? In what country were thou born, And where is thy wonning wan?"
"In Hold-ernesse I was bore, I-wis all of my dame, Men call me Reynold Greenleaf, Whan I am at hame."
"Say me, Reynold Greenleaf, Wilt thou dwell with me? And every year I will thee give Twent-y mark to thy fee."
"I have a master," said Little John, "A curteys knight is he, Ma-y ye get leave of him, The better may it be."
The sher-iff gat Little John Twelve months of the knight, Theref-ore he gave him right anon A good horse and a wight.
Now is Little John the sheriff's man, He give us well to speed, But alw-ay thought Little John To quite him well his meed. "Now so God me help," said Little John, "And by my true lewt-e, I sh-all be the worst serv-ant to him 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 fast-ing Till it was past the none. "Good sir Steward, I pray thee, Give me to dine," said Little John; "It is too long for Greenleaf, Fast-ing so long to be; Therefore I pray thee, stew-ard, My dinner give thou me!"
"Shalt thou never eat ne drink," said the stew-ard, "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 stroke His back yede nigh in two, Though he lived
This knight then dwell-ed fair at home, The sooth for to say, Till he had got four hundred pound, All ready for to pay. He p-urveyed him an hundred bows, The string-es well ydight, An hundred sheaf of arrows good, The heads burn-ished full bright, And every arrow an ell-e long, With peacock well ydight, I-nock-ed all with white silv-er, It was a seemly sight. He p-urveyed him an hundred men, Well harneysed in that stead, And h-imself in that sam-e set, And clothed in white and red. He bare a launsgay in his hand, And a man led his male, And ridden with a light song, Unto Barnisdale.
As he went at a bridge there was a wresteling, And there tarried was he, And there was all the best yeom-en Of all the west countree. A full fair game there was upset, A white bull up i-pight; A great cours-er with saddle and bridle, With gold burn-ished full bright; A pair of gloves, a red gold ring, A pipe of wine, in good fay: What man beareth him best, i-wis, The prize shall bear away.
There was a yeoman in that place, And best worth-y was he. And for he was ferre and fremd bestad, I-slain he should have be. The knight had ruth of this yeom-an, In place where that he stood, He said that yeoman should have no harm, For love of Robin Hood. The knight press-ed into the place, An hundred followed him free, With bow-es bent, and arrows sharp, For to shend that company.
They shouldered all, and made him room, To wete what he would say, He took the yeoman by the hand, And gave him all the play; He gave him five mark for his wine, There it lay on the mould, And bade it should be set abroach, Drink-e who so would. Thus long tarried this gentle knight, Till that play was done, So long abode Rob-in fasting, Three hours after the none.
THE THYRDE FYTTE.
Lithe and listen, gentle men, All that now be here, Of Little John, that was the knight's man, Good mirth ye shall hear.
It was upon a merry day, That young men would go shete, Little John fet his bow anon, And said he would them meet. Three times Little John shot about, And always cleft the wand, The proud sher-iff of Nottingham By the marks gan stand. The sheriff swore a full great oath, "By him that died on a tree, This man is the best arch-er That ever yet saw I me. Sa-y me now, wight young man, What is now thy name? In what country were thou born, And where is thy wonning wan?"
"In Hold-ernesse I was bore, I-wis all of my dame, Men call me Reynold Greenleaf, Whan I am at hame."
"Say me, Reynold Greenleaf, Wilt thou dwell with me? And every year I will thee give Twent-y mark to thy fee."
"I have a master," said Little John, "A curteys knight is he, Ma-y ye get leave of him, The better may it be."
The sher-iff gat Little John Twelve months of the knight, Theref-ore he gave him right anon A good horse and a wight.
Now is Little John the sheriff's man, He give us well to speed, But alw-ay thought Little John To quite him well his meed. "Now so God me help," said Little John, "And by my true lewt-e, I sh-all be the worst serv-ant to him 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 fast-ing Till it was past the none. "Good sir Steward, I pray thee, Give me to dine," said Little John; "It is too long for Greenleaf, Fast-ing so long to be; Therefore I pray thee, stew-ard, My dinner give thou me!"
"Shalt thou never eat ne drink," said the stew-ard, "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 stroke His back yede nigh in two, Though he lived