A Bundle of Ballads [29]
a little page, and a groom To lead the somers with Little John.
They brought the monk to the lodge door, Whether be were loth or lief, For to speak with Robin Hood, Maugr-e in their teeth. Robin did adown his hood, The monk when that he see; The monk was not so courteyous, His hood then let he be.
"He is a churl, master, by dere-worthy God," Then said Little John.
"Thereof no force," said Rob-in, "For courtesy can he none. How man-y men," said Rob-in, "Had this monk, John?"
"Fifty and two when that we met, But many of them be gone."
"Let blow a horn," said Robin, "That fellowship may us know."
Seven score of wight yeomen, Came pricking on a row, And everich of them a good mant-ell, Of scarlet and of ray, All they came to good Rob-in, To wite what he would say. They made the monk to wash and wipe, And sit at his dinere, Robin Hood and Little John They served them both infere. "Do gladly, monk," said Robin. "Gram-ercy, sir," said he. "Where is your abbey, whan ye are at home, And who is your avow-e?"
"Saint Mary abbey," said the monk, "Though I be simple here." "In what offic-e?" said Rob-in. "Sir, the high cellarer." "Ye be the more welcome," said Rob-in, "So ever mote I thee. Fill of the best wine," said Rob-in, "This monk shall drink to me. But I have great marvel," said Rob-in, "Of all this long-e day, I dread Our Lady be wroth with me, She sent me not my pay."
"Have no doubt, master," said Little John, "Ye have no need I say, This monk it hath brought, I dare well swear, For he is of her abbay."
"And she was a borow," said Robin, "Between a knight and me, Of a little money that I him lent, Under the green wood tree; And if thou hast that silver i-brought, I pray thee let me see, And I shall help thee eftsoons, If thou have need of me."
The monk swore a full great oath, With a sorry cheer, "Of the borowhood thou speakest to me, Heard I never ere!"
"I make mine avow to God," said Robin, "Monk, thou art to blame, For God is hold a righteous man, And so is his dame. Thou toldest with thine own tongue, Thou may not say nay, How that thou art her serv-ant And servest her every day, And thou art made her messenger, My money for to pay, Therefore I con thee more thank, Thou art come at thy day. What is in your coffers?" said Robin, "True then tell thou me." "Sir," he said, "twenty mark, All so mote I thee."
"If there be no more," said Robin, "I will not one penny; If thou hast mister of any more, Sir, more I shall lend to thee; And if I find more," said Robin, "I-wis thou shalt it forgone; For of thy spending silver, monk, Thereof will I right none. Go now forth, Little John, And the truth tell thou me; If there be no more but twenty mark, No penny of that I see."
Little John spread his mantle down, As he had done before, And he told out of the monk-es mail, Eight hundred pound and more. Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master in haste; "Sir," he said, "the monk is true enow, Our lady hath doubled your cost."
"I make mine avow to God," said Robin, "Monk, what told I thee? Our Lady is the truest woman, That ever yet found I me. By dere-worthy God," said Robin, "To seek all England thorowe, Yet found I never to my pay A much better borowe. Fill of the best wine, do him drink," said Robin; "And greet well thy Lady hend, And if she have need of Robin Hood, A friend she shall him find; And if she needeth any more silv-er, Come thou again to me, And, by this token she hath me sent, She shall have such three!"
The monk was going to London ward, There to hold great mote, The knight that rode so high on horse, To bring him under foot.
"Whither be ye away?" said Robin.
"Sir, to manors in this lond, To reckon with our rev-es, That have done much wrong."
"Come now forth, Little John, And hearken to my tale, A better yeoman I know none, To search a monk-es mail. How much is in yonder other courser?" said Robin, "The sooth must we see."
"By
They brought the monk to the lodge door, Whether be were loth or lief, For to speak with Robin Hood, Maugr-e in their teeth. Robin did adown his hood, The monk when that he see; The monk was not so courteyous, His hood then let he be.
"He is a churl, master, by dere-worthy God," Then said Little John.
"Thereof no force," said Rob-in, "For courtesy can he none. How man-y men," said Rob-in, "Had this monk, John?"
"Fifty and two when that we met, But many of them be gone."
"Let blow a horn," said Robin, "That fellowship may us know."
Seven score of wight yeomen, Came pricking on a row, And everich of them a good mant-ell, Of scarlet and of ray, All they came to good Rob-in, To wite what he would say. They made the monk to wash and wipe, And sit at his dinere, Robin Hood and Little John They served them both infere. "Do gladly, monk," said Robin. "Gram-ercy, sir," said he. "Where is your abbey, whan ye are at home, And who is your avow-e?"
"Saint Mary abbey," said the monk, "Though I be simple here." "In what offic-e?" said Rob-in. "Sir, the high cellarer." "Ye be the more welcome," said Rob-in, "So ever mote I thee. Fill of the best wine," said Rob-in, "This monk shall drink to me. But I have great marvel," said Rob-in, "Of all this long-e day, I dread Our Lady be wroth with me, She sent me not my pay."
"Have no doubt, master," said Little John, "Ye have no need I say, This monk it hath brought, I dare well swear, For he is of her abbay."
"And she was a borow," said Robin, "Between a knight and me, Of a little money that I him lent, Under the green wood tree; And if thou hast that silver i-brought, I pray thee let me see, And I shall help thee eftsoons, If thou have need of me."
The monk swore a full great oath, With a sorry cheer, "Of the borowhood thou speakest to me, Heard I never ere!"
"I make mine avow to God," said Robin, "Monk, thou art to blame, For God is hold a righteous man, And so is his dame. Thou toldest with thine own tongue, Thou may not say nay, How that thou art her serv-ant And servest her every day, And thou art made her messenger, My money for to pay, Therefore I con thee more thank, Thou art come at thy day. What is in your coffers?" said Robin, "True then tell thou me." "Sir," he said, "twenty mark, All so mote I thee."
"If there be no more," said Robin, "I will not one penny; If thou hast mister of any more, Sir, more I shall lend to thee; And if I find more," said Robin, "I-wis thou shalt it forgone; For of thy spending silver, monk, Thereof will I right none. Go now forth, Little John, And the truth tell thou me; If there be no more but twenty mark, No penny of that I see."
Little John spread his mantle down, As he had done before, And he told out of the monk-es mail, Eight hundred pound and more. Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master in haste; "Sir," he said, "the monk is true enow, Our lady hath doubled your cost."
"I make mine avow to God," said Robin, "Monk, what told I thee? Our Lady is the truest woman, That ever yet found I me. By dere-worthy God," said Robin, "To seek all England thorowe, Yet found I never to my pay A much better borowe. Fill of the best wine, do him drink," said Robin; "And greet well thy Lady hend, And if she have need of Robin Hood, A friend she shall him find; And if she needeth any more silv-er, Come thou again to me, And, by this token she hath me sent, She shall have such three!"
The monk was going to London ward, There to hold great mote, The knight that rode so high on horse, To bring him under foot.
"Whither be ye away?" said Robin.
"Sir, to manors in this lond, To reckon with our rev-es, That have done much wrong."
"Come now forth, Little John, And hearken to my tale, A better yeoman I know none, To search a monk-es mail. How much is in yonder other courser?" said Robin, "The sooth must we see."
"By