I wolde vouch it safe on thee.’
382.
382.3 ‘Halfendell’ = halfen deal (which survives in Somerset dialect), the half portion: deal, as in ‘a great deal’ = dole, or that which is dealt.
Robyn toke the forty pounde,
And departed it in two partye;
Halfendell he gave his mery men,
And bad them mery to be.
383.
Full curteysly Robyn gan say;
‘Syr, have this for your spendyng;