d welcom-ed them every one.

"Welc-ome, sir knyght," said the port-er,
"My lord to meat is he,
And so is many a gentle man,
For the love of thee."
The porter swore a full great oath,
"By him that mad-e me,
Here be the best cores-ed horse
That ever yet saw I me.
Lead them into the stable," he said,
"That eas-ed might they be."

"They shall not come therein," said the knight,
"By him that died on a tree."

Lord-es were to meat iset
In that abb-ot-es hall,
The knight went forth and kneel-ed down,
And salved them great and small.
"Do gladly, sir abb-ot," said the knight,
"I am come to hold my day."

The first word the abbot spake,
"Hast th-ou brought m-y pay?"

"Not one penny," said the knight,
"By him that mak-ed me."

"Thou art a shrewd debtor!" said the abb-ot;
"Sir justice, drink to me!
What dost thou here," said the abb-ot,
"But thou hadst brought thy pay?"

"For-e 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."

"I am hold with the abbot," said the justice,
"Both with cloth and fee."

"Now, good sir sheriff, be my friend."

"Nay, for-e God," said he.

"Now, good sir abbot, be my friend,
For thy curteys-e,
And hold my land-es in thy hand
Till I have made thee gree;
And I will be thy true serv-ant,
And truly serv-e thee,
Till ye have fo-ur hundred pound
Of money good and free."

The abbot sware a full great oath,
"By him that died on a tree,
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,
Full dear it shall be bought;
God, that was of a maiden borne,
Lene us well to speed!
For it is good to assay a friend
Ere that a man have need."

The abb-ot loathl-y on him gan look,
And villainousl-y gan call;
"Out," he said, "thou fals-e knight!
Speed thee out of my hall!"

"Thou liest," then said the gentle knight,
"Abbot in thy hall;
Fals-e knight was I nev-er,
By him t