od palfr-ey,
Rob-in when he gan see.
So courteysly he did adown his hood,
And set him on his knee.

"God thee save, good Robin Hood,
And all this company."

"Welcome be thou, gentle knight,
And right welc-ome to me."
Then bespake him Robin Hood,
To that knight so free,
"What need driveth thee to green wood?
I pray thee, sir knight, tell me.
And welcome be thou, gentle knight,
Why hast thou be so long?"

"For the abbot and the high justice
Would have had my lond."

"Hast thou thy land again?" said Robin,
"Truth then tell thou me."

"Yea, fore God," said the knight,
"And that thank I God and thee.
But take not a grief," said the knight,
"That I have been so long;
I came by a wresteling,
And there I did help a poor yeom-an,
With wrong was put behind."

"Nay, fore God," said Rob-in,
"Sir knight, that thank I thee;
What man that helpeth a good yeom-an,
His friend then will I be."

"Have here four hundred pound," then said the knight,
"The which ye lent to me;
And here is also twenty mark
For your courtes-y."

"Nay, fore God," then said Robin,
"Thou brook it well for aye,
For our Lady, by her cellarer,
Hath sent to me my pay;
And if I took it twice,
A shame it were to me:
But truly, gentle knight,
Welc-ome art thou to me."

When Rob-in had told his tale,
He laughed and had good cheer.
"By my troth," then said the knight,
"Your money is ready here."

"Brook it well," said Rob-in,
"Thou gentle knight so free;
And welcome be thou, gentle knight,
Under my trystell tree.
But what shall these bows do?" said Robin,
"And these arrows i-feathered free?"

"It is," then said the knight,
"A poor pres-ent to thee."

"Come now forth, Little John,
And go to my treasur-y,
And bring me there four hundred pound,
The monk over-told it to me.
Have here four hundred pound,
Thou gentle knight and true,
And buy horse and harness good,
And gild thy spurs all new:
And if thou fail an-y spend-ing,
Come to Robin Hood,
And by my troth thou shalt none fail
The whiles I have any good.
And brook well thy four hundred pound,
W