"Tomorrow," he said to Little John, "I must be in the city of York, for if I am so much as a day late, my lands are lost forever; and though I were to bring the money, I should not be allowed to redeem them."
Now the man who had lent the money, as well as the Knight, had been counting the days, and the next day he said to his friends, "This day year there came a Knight and borrowed of me four hundred pounds, giving his lands as surety. If he come not to pay his debt before midnight, they will be mine forever."
"It is full early yet," said one; "he may still be coming."
"He is far beyond the sea and suffers from hunger and cold," said the rich man. "How is he to get here?"
"It were a shame," said another, "for you to take his lands. And you do him much wrong if you drive such a hard bargain."
"He is dead or hanged," said a third, "and you will have his lands."
So they went to the High Justiciar, whose duty it would be to declare the Knight's lands forfeited if he did not pay the money.
"If he come not this day," cried the rich man, rubbing his hands, "the lands will be mine."
"He will not come," said the Justiciar, but he knew not that the
Knight was already at the outer gate, and Little John with him.
"Welcome, Sir Knight," said the porter. "The horse that you ride is the noblest that ever I saw. Let me lead it and the steed of your companion to the stable, that they may have food and rest."