Now lete we that monke be styll,225
And speke we of that knyght:
Yet he came to holde his day,
Whyle that it was lyght.
He dyde him streyt to Bernysdale,
Under the grene wode tre,230
And he founde there Robyn Hode,
And all his mery meynè.
The knyght lyght downe of his good palfrày;
Robyn whan he gan see,
So curteysly he dyde adoune his hode,235
And set hym on his knee.
"God the save, good Robyn Hode,
And al this company:"
"Welcome be thou, gentyll knyght,
And ryght welcome to me."240
Than bespake hym Robyn Hode,
To that knyght so fre,
"What nede dryveth the to grene wode?
I pray the, syr knyght, tell me.
"And welcome be thou, gentyl knyght,245
Why hast thou be so longe?"
"For the abbot and the hye justyce
Wolde have had my londe."
"Hast thou thy londe [agayne]?" sayd Robyn;
"Treuth than tell thou me."250
"Ye, for god," sayd the knyght,
"And that thanke I god and the.
["But take not a grefe, I have be so longe;]
[I came by a wrastelynge,]
And there I dyd holpe a pore yemàn,255
With wronge was put behynde."
"Nay, for god," sayd Robyn,
"Syr knyght, that thanke I the;
What man that helpeth a good yemàn,
His frende than wyll I be."260
"Have here foure hondred pounde," than sayd the knyght,
"The whiche ye lent to me;
And here is also twenty marke
For your curteysy."