Part 13 (2/2)
ROBIN beheld our comely King, Wistly in the face: So did Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, And kneeled down in that place.
And so did all the wild outlaws, When they see them kneel.
”My Lord, the King of England, Now I know you well.”
”Mercy, then, ROBIN,” said our King, ”Under your trystel tree, Of thy goodness and thy grace, For my men and me!”
”Yes, for G.o.d!” said ROBIN, ”and also G.o.d me save!
I ask mercy, my Lord the King, And for my men I crave!”
”Yes, for G.o.d!” then said our King, ”And thereto 'sent I me; With that thou leave the green wood, And all thy company; And come home, Sir, to my Court, And there dwell with me.”
”I make mine avow to G.o.d!” said ROBIN, ”And right so shall it be, I will come to your Court, Your service for to see!
And bring with me, of my men, Seven score and three.
But me like well your service, I come again full soon; And shoot at the dun deer As I wont to done.”
+The eighth fytte.+
”Hast thou any green cloth,” said our King, ”That thou wilt sell now to me?”
”Yea, for G.o.d!” said ROBIN, ”Thirty yards and three.”
”ROBIN,” said our King, ”Now pray I thee!
Sell me some of that cloth To me and my meiny.”
”Yes, for G.o.d!” then said ROBIN, ”Or else I were a fool!
Another day ye will me clothe, I trow against the yule.”
The King cast off his cowl then, A green garment he did on, And every knight also, i-wis, Another had full soon.
When they were clothed in Lincoln green, They cast away their gray.
”Now we shall to Nottingham!
All thus,” our King 'gan say.
Their bows bent, and forth they went, Shooting all in-fere Toward the town of Nottingham, Outlaws as they were.
Our King and ROBIN rode together, For sooth as I you say, And they shot Pluck-buffet, As they went by the way.
And many a buffet our King won Of ROBIN HOOD that day; And nothing spared good ROBIN Our King in his pay.
”So G.o.d me help!” said our King, ”Thy game is nought to lere; I should not get a shot of thee, Though I shoot all this year!”
All the people of Nottingham, They stood and beheld, They saw nothing but mantles of green That covered all the field: Then every man to other 'gan say, ”I dread our King be slone; Come ROBIN HOOD to the town, ywis In life he left never one!”
Full hastily they began to flee, Both yeomen and knaves, And old wives that might evil go They hipped on their staves.
The King laughed full fast, And commanded them again: When they see our comely King I-wis they were full fain.
They eat and drank and made them glad, And sang with notes high.
Then bespake our comely King To Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE: He gave him there his land again; A good man he bade him be.
ROBIN thanked our comely King And set him on his knee.
Had ROBIN dwelled in the King's Court But twelve months and three; That he had spent an hundred pound, And all his men's fee.
In every place where ROBIN came, Evermore he laid down, Both for Knights and for Squires To get him great renown.
By then the year was all agone He had no man but twain, Little JOHN and good SCATHELOCK With him all for to gone.
ROBIN saw young men shoot Full far upon a day.
”Alas,” then said good ROBIN, ”My wealth is went away!
Sometime I was an archer good, A stiff, and eke a strong, I was counted the best archer That was in merry England.
Alas,” then said good ROBIN, ”Alas, and well a wo!
If I dwell longer with the King, Sorrow will me slo!”
Forth then went ROBIN HOOD, Till he came to our King: ”My Lord the King of England, Grant me mine asking!
I made a chapel in Bernysdale, That seemly is to see: It is of MARY MAGDALENE; And thereto would I be!
I might never in this seven night No time to sleep ne wink; Neither all these seven days Neither eat ne drink: Me longeth sore to Bernysdale.
I may not be therefro, Barefoot and woolward I have hight Thither for to go.”
”If it be so,” then said our King, ”It may no better be!
Seven nights I give thee leave, No longer, to dwell from me.”
”Grammercy, Lord!” then said ROBIN, And set him on his knee.
<script>