FOOTNOTES:
[707] Meiny = retinue.
[708] Lithe = hearken.
[709] Barnèsdale = a forest region between Pontefract and Doncaster.
[710] groom = man.
[711] lest = lust, desire.
[712] uncouth = unknown, strange.
[713] were = might be.
[714] alder = of all.
[715] doubt = fear.
[716] reave = plunder.
[717] force = matter, account.
[718] husband = husbandman.
[719] shaw = grove.
[720] lere = learn.
[721] far days = late in the day.
[722] the Sayles = a small farm near Pontefract.
[723] Watling Street = the great North road.
[724] Upchance = perchance.
[725] dight = prepared.
[726] dernè = hidden, retired.
[727] street = road.
[728] semblaunt = aspect.
[729] And set him, &c. = and knelt down.
[730] Hendè = gracious.
[731] fere = company.
[732] Blyth = near E. Retford.
[733] careful cheer = sad countenance.
[734] leer = cheek.
[735] numbles = inwards, tripe.
[736] brere = briar.
[737] dear-worth = precious.
[738] let = desist.
[739] have part of thee = side with thee, aid thee.
[740] counsel = secret.
[741] of force = by force.
[742] of yeomanry = from the yeoman class.
[743] a sorry husband = a wretched manager.
[744] okerer = usurer.
[745] lecher = an unchaste man.
[746] disgrate = fallen in fortune.
[747] kenn’d = knew.
[748] lorn = lost.
[749] set to wed = put to pledge, mortgaged.
[750] told = counted.
[751] fall of = become of.
[752] busk = make ready to go.
[753] raw = row.
[754] borrows = sureties.
[755] Do way thy japès = away with thy jests.
[756] to = for.
[757] shope = created.
[758] But if = unless.
[759] lap = wrap.
[760] mete = meted, measured.
[761] met = measured.
[762] palfrey = a saddle-horse.
[763] teen = trouble.
[764] knave = servant.
[765] come = came.
[766] But = unless.
[767] fee = property.
[768] ilkè = same.
[769] shand = shame.
[770] in my beard = contradicting, or thwarting me.
[771] deemèd = judged.
[772] wonder sore = monstrous severely.
[773] Until = unto.
[774] corsèd = bodied.
[775] salued = saluted.
[776] shrewd = cursed.
[777] But = if not.
[778] fend = defend.
[779] fone = foes.
[780] gree = satisfaction.
[781] But I have = unless I have.
[782] canst = knowest.
[783] put myself ... in press = adventured myself.
[784] release = quittance.
[785] ellès = else.
[786] Take = give.
[787] Ne had not been = had it not been for.
[788] With peacock ... y-dight = fitted with peacock feathers.
[789] lancegay = a javelin-lance.
[790] his mail = his bag or trunk.
[791] roden = they rode.
[792] y-pight = placed, fixed.
[793] far and frembd bestad = in the plight of one from far and a stranger.
[794] shende = shame.
[795] wete = know.
[796] shete = shoot.
[797] fet = fetched.
[798] wight = strong, brave.
[799] woning wane = usual dwelling-place.
[800] I-wis = assuredly.
[801] meed = reward.
[802] lewtè = loyalty.
[803] yede = went.
[804] livery = allowance of food.
[805] Sith = since.
[806] hind = knave, servant.
[807] lent = gave.
[808] mountenance = extent, space.
[809] fette = fetched.
[810] masars = maple-bowls.
[811] cou’d = knew.
[812] bedene = in company, together.
[813] tyndès = tines, antlers.
[814] sloo = slay.
[815] courtepy = a short coat or cloak.
[816] lap = wrap.
[817] smerte = smart.
[818] anchor = hermit.
[819] frere = friar.
[820] to-morne = to-morrow.
[821] brand = sword.
[822] await = plan, plot.
[823] scathe = harm.
[824] hip = the fruit of the wild rose.
[825] trest = trusty.
[826] that mirthès can = that can crack a joke.
[827] tray and teen = grief and trouble.
[828] a Black Monk = a Benedictine.
[829] wed = wager.
[830] seker and sad = sure and steady.
[831] somers = pack-horses.
[832] But = unless.
[833] press = crowd.
[834] hend = hands.
[835] thrift = thriving, luck.
[836] bolt = a blunt arrow.
[837] Rathely = quickly.
[838] set ... to-fore = hit upon.
[839] gan gon = did go.
[840] lief = glad.
[841] Maugre in his teeth = in spite of him.
[842] no force = no matter.
[843] ray = striped cloth.
[844] avowè = founder, patron.
[845] So ... mote I the = so may I prosper.
[846] eftsoons = soon.
[847] borrowhood = surety.
[848] Dame = Mother.
[849] mark = 13s. 4d.
[850] myster = need.
[851] cast = throw, as in dice.
[852] hend = gracious.
[853] moot = meeting, assembly.
[854] seek = search.
[855] mail = wallet, bag.
[856] forcèr = coffer, strong-box.
[857] sith = then.
[858] For better cheap = more cheaply.
[859] brook = enjoy, use.
[860] overtold = counted over.
[861] alder-best = best of all.
[862] law = low.
[863] fynly = goodly.
[864] wete = know.
[865] tackles = arrows.
[866] worth thee = be to thee.
[867] behotè = didst promise.
[868] wed = pledge, security.
[869] blive = quickly.
[870] bushment = ambush.
[871] meeds = wages.
[872] dead = certain, sure.
[873] rawe = row.
[874] win = go, attain.
[875] behote = promise.
[876] wonest = dwellest.
[877] up to rout = to assemble in a band, to call to arms.
[878] dight = done, performed.
[879] leasing = lying.
[880] yede = went.
[881] whole = healed.
[882] wood = furious, mad.
[883] bidene = together.
[884] took = gave.
[885] ren = run.
[886] pass = limits, extent.
[887] There = where.
[888] unneth = scarcely.
[889] fay = faith.
[890] That ye will = to whom you wish.
[891] halk = nook, hiding-place.
[892] forstèr = forester.
[893] lede = following, retinue.
[894] leadès-man = guide.
[895] convent = company of monks.
[896] mail-horse = baggage-horse.
[897] lind = linden, lime tree.
[898] stide = stead, place.
[899] lording = gentleman.
[900] Halfen-deal = half.
[901] targe = disk (seal).
[902] dightànd = making preparations.
[903] pine = pain, passion.
[904] hennès = hence.
[905] lend = dwell.
[906] shent = put to shame, hurt.
[907] yards = rods.
[908] tine = forfeit.
[909] falls = is proper.
[910] frere = friar.
[911] But me like = unless I like.
[912] pluck-buffet = ‘app. a competition between archers, in which he who missed or failed “caught” a buffet from his competitor’ (N.E.D.).
[913] lere = learn.
[914] hippèd = hopped, limped.
[915] laid down = spent money.
[916] By then = by the time that.
[917] therefro = turned from it.
[918] woolward = in a rough woollen shirt (as penance).
[919] hight = promised.
[920] Me list = it pleases me.
[921] throw = interval of time.
[922] Again = back.
[923] banis = bane, destruction.
[924] craftily = skilfully.
[925] springe = trap.