Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 12

'Part our company!"

Up he took him on his back, And bare him well nigh a mile: Many a time, he laid him down, And shot another while.

Then was there a fair Castle A little within the wood; Double ditched it was about, And walled, by the rood: And there dwelt that gentle Knight, Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, That ROBIN had lent his good Under the green-wood tree.

In he took good ROBIN And all his company.

"Welcome be thou, ROBIN HOOD!

Welcome art thou, to me!

And much thank thee of thy comfort And of thy courtesy, And of thy great kindness Under the green-wood tree!

I love no man, in all this world So much as I do thee!

For all the proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM; Right here shalt thou be!

Shut the gates, and draw the bridge; And let no man come in!

And arm you well, and make you ready!

And to the wall ye win!

For one thing, ROBIN! I thee behote I swear by St. Quintin!

These twelve days thou wonest with me, To sup, eat, and dine!"

Boards were laid and cloths spread Readily and anon: ROBIN HOOD and his merry men To meat 'gan they gone.

+-- The sixth fytte.+

Lithe and listen, Gentlemen!

And hearken unto your song!

How the proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM And men of armes strong Full fast came to the High Sheriff The country up to rout, And they beset the Knight's Castle, The walls all about.

The proud Sheriff loud 'gan cry And said, "Thou traitor Knight!

Thou keepest here the King's enemy!

Against the laws and right!"

"Sir, I will avow that I have done The deeds that here be dight, Upon all the lands that I have, As I am a true Knight, Wend forth, Sirs, on your way; And do no more to me, Till ye wit our King's will What he will say to thee!"

The Sheriff thus, had his answer Without any leasing.

Forth he yode to London town, All for to tell the King.

There he told them of that Knight, And eke of ROBIN HOOD; And also of the bold archers, That n.o.ble were and good.

He would avow that he had done To maintain the outlaws strong; He would be Lord, and set you at nought In all the North land.

"I will be at Nottingham," said the King, "Within this fortnight!

And take I will, ROBIN HOOD; And so I will that Knight!

Go now home, Sheriff," said the King, "And do as I thee bid.

And ordain good archers ynow Of all the wide country!"

The Sheriff had his leave ytake; And went him on his way.

And ROBIN HOOD to green wood, Upon a certain day, And Little JOHN was whole of the arrow That shot was in his knee; And did him straight to ROBIN HOOD Under the green-wood tree.

ROBIN HOOD walked in the forest Under the leaves green, The proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM, Thereof he had great teen.

The Sheriff there failed of ROBIN HOOD He might not have his prey.

Then he awaited this gentle Knight, Both by night and by day.

Ever he awaited that gentle Knight, Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, As he went on hawking by the river side And let his hawks flee; Took he there, this gentle Knight, With men of armes strong, And led him home to Nottingham ward Ybound both foot and hand.

The Sheriff swore a full great oath, By Him that died on rood, He had lever than a hundred pound That he had ROBIN HOOD.

This heard the Knight's wife A fair Lady and free, She set her on a good palfrey; To green wood anon rode she.

When she came to the forest, Under the green-wood tree, Found she there ROBIN HOOD And all his fair meiny.

"G.o.d [save] thee, good ROBIN!

And all thy company, For our dear Lady's love A boon, grant thou me!

Let thou never my wedded Lord Shamely yslain be!

He is fast ybound to Nottingham ward.

For the love of thee!"

Anon then said good ROBIN, To that Lady free: "What man hath your Lord ytake?"

"For sooth, as I thee say, He is not yet three miles Pa.s.sed on your way."

Up then started good ROBIN, As a man that had been wood; "Busk you, my merry young men, For Him that died on a rood!

And he that this sorrow forsaketh, By Him that died on a tree!

Shall he never in green wood be, Nor longer dwell with me!"

Soon there were good bows ybent, Mo than seven score; Hedge ne ditch spare they none That were them before.

"I make mine avow to G.o.d," said ROBIN, "The Knight would I fain see; And if I may him take, Yquit then shall it be!"

And when they came to Nottingham They walked in the street, And with the proud Sheriff ywis Soon gan they meet.

"Abide, thou proud Sheriff!" he said, "Abide, and speak with me!

Of some tidings of our King I would fain hear of thee!

This seven year, by dear-worthy G.o.d!

Ne yede I so fast on foot; I make mine avow to G.o.d, thou proud Sheriff!

That it is not for thy good."

ROBIN bent a good bow, An arrow he drew at his will; He hit so the proud Sheriff, Upon the ground he lay full still: And or he might up arise, On his feet to stand; He smote off the Sheriff's head, With his bright brand.

"Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff!

Evil might thou thrive!

There might no man to thee trust, The whiles thou wert alive!"

His men drew out their bright swords, That were so sharp and keen, And laid on the Sheriff's men And drived them down bydene.

ROBIN started to that Knight, And cut a two his bond; And took him in his hand a bow, And bade him by him stand.

"Leave thy horse thee behind, And learn for to run!

Thou shalt with me to green wood Through mire, moss, and fen!

Thou shalt with me to green wood Without any leasing, Till that I have got us grace Of EDWARD, our comely King."

+The seventh fytte.+

The King came to Nottingham With Knights in great array For to take that gentle Knight And ROBIN HOOD, if he may.

He asked men of that country After ROBIN HOOD, And after that gentle Knight That was so bold and stout.

When they had told him the case, Our King understood their tale And seized in his hand The Knight's land all.

All the pa.s.s of Lancashire He went both far and near; Till he came to Plom[p]ton Park He failed many of his deer.

There our King was wont to see Herdes many a one, He could unneath find one deer That bare any good horn.

The King was wondrous wroth withal, And swore, "By the Trinity!

I would I had ROBIN HOOD!

With eyen I might him see!

And he that would smite off the Knight's head, And bring it to me; He shall have the Knight's lands Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE.

I give it him with my charter, And seal it [with] my hand, To have and hold for evermore In all merry England."

Then bespake a fair old Knight, That was true in his fay, "O my liege Lord the King, One word I shall you say!

There is no man in this country May have the Knight's lands While ROBIN HOOD may ride or gone And bear a bow in his hands, That he ne shall lose his head, That is the best ball in his hood: Give it to no man, my Lord the King!

That ye will any good!"

Half a year dwelled our comely King In Nottingham, and well more, Could he not hear of ROBIN HOOD, In what country that he were: But always went good ROBIN By halke and eke by hill, And always slew the King's deer And welt them at his will.

Then bespake a proud for'ster That stood by our King's knee, "If ye will see good ROBIN Ye must do after me!

Take five of the best Knights That be in your lead, And walk down by yon Abbey And get you monks' weed!

And I will be your leadsman And lead you the way!

And or ye come to Nottingham, Mine head then dare I lay!

That ye shall meet with good ROBIN, In life if that he be: Or ye come to Nottingham With eyen ye shall him see!"

Full hastily our King was dight, So were his Knightes five, Everych of them in monks' weed, And hasted them thither blithe.

Our King was great above his cowl, A broad hat on his crown.

Right as he were Abbot like, They rode up into the town.

Stiff boots our King had on, For sooth as I you say, He rode singing to green wood, The convent was clothed in grey.

His mail horse and his great somers Followed our King behind, Till they came to green wood A mile under the lynde.

There they met with good ROBIN Standing on the way, And so did many a bold archer, For sooth as I you say.

ROBIN took the King's horse, Hastily in that stead: And said, "Sir Abbot! by your leave; A while ye must abide!