e."

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 our Lady," then said the monk,
"That were no courtes-y
To bid a man to dinner,
And sith him beat and bind."

"It is our old manner," said Rob-in,
"To leave but little behind."

The monk took the horse with spur,
No longer would he abide.

"Ask to drink," then said Rob-in,
"Ere that ye further ride."

"Nay, fore God," then said the monk,
"Me reweth I came so near,
For better cheap I might have dined,
In Blyth or in Doncastere."

"Greet well your abbot," said Rob-in,
"And your prior, I you pray,
And bid him send me such a monk
To dinner every day!"

Now let we that monk be still,
And speak we of that knight,
Yet he came to hold his day
While that it was light.
He did him straight to Barnisdale,
Under the green wood tree,
And he found there Robin Hood,
And all his merry meyn-e.
The knight light downe of his go