Part 51

“He is trew to his maister,” seide oure kynge, “I say, be swete seynt Johne; He louys bettur Robyn Hode, Then he dose vs ychone.

“Robyne Hode is euer bond to him, Bothe in strete and stalle; Speke no more of this matter,” seid oure kynge, “But John has begyled vs alle.”

Thus endys the talkyng of the munke And Robyne Hode i-wysse; God, that is euer a crowned kyng, Bryng vs alle to his blisse.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE POTTER

IN schomer, when the leves spryng, The bloschems on every bowe, So merey doyt the berdys syng Yn wodys merey now.

Herkens, god yemen, Comley, corteysse, and god, On of the best that yever bar bou, Hes name was Roben Hode.

Roben Hood was the yemans name, That was boyt corteys and fre; For the loffe of owr ladey, All wemen werschep he.

Bot as the god yemen stod on a day, Among hes mery manèy, He was war of a prowd potter, Cam dryfyng owyr the ley.

“Yonder comet a prod potter,” seyde Roben, “That long hayt hantyd this wey; He was never so corteys a man On peney of pawage to pay.”

“Y met hem bot at Wentbreg,” seyde Lytyll John, “And therfor yeffell mot he the, Seche thre strokes he me gafe, Yet they cleffe by my seydys.

“Y ley forty shillings,” seyde Lytyll John, “To pay het thes same day, Ther ys nat a man arnong hus all A wed schall make hem ley.”

“Her ys forty shillings,” seyde Roben, “Mor, and thow dar say, That y schall make that prowde potter, A wed to me schall he ley.”

Ther thes money they leyde, They toke bot a yeman to kepe; Roben befor the potter he breyde, And bad hem stond stell.

Handys apon hes horse he leyde, And bad the potter stonde foll stell; The potter schorteley to hem seyde, “Felow, what ys they well?”

“All thes thre yer, and mor, potter,” he seyde, “Thow hast hantyd thes wey, Yet wer tow never so cortys a man One peney of pauage to pay.”

“What ys they name,” seyde the potter, “For pauage thow ask of me?” “Roben Hod ys mey name, A wed schall thow leffe me.”

“Well well y non leffe,” seyde the potter, “Nor pavag well y non pay; Away they honde fro mey horse, Y well the tene eyls, be me fay.”

The potter to hes cart he went, He was not to seke; A god to-hande staffe therowt he hent, Befor Roben he lepe.

Roben howt with a swerd bent, A bokeler en hes honde [therto]; The potter to Roben he went, And seyde, “Felow, let mey horse go.”

Togeder then went thes two yemen, Het was a god seyt to se; Therof low Robyn hes men, Ther they stod onder a tre.

Leytell John to hes felowhes seyde, “Yend potter welle steffeley stonde:” The potter, with an acward stroke, Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde;

And ar Roben meyt get hem agen Hes bokeler at hes fette, The potter yn the neke hem toke, To the gronde sone he yede.

That saw Roben hes men, As they stode ender a bow; “Let us helpe owr master,” seyed Lytell John, “Yonder potter els well hem sclo.”

Thes yemen went with a breyde, To ther master they cam. Leytell John to hes master seyde, “He haet the wager won?

“Schall y haff yowr forty shillings,” seyde Lytel John, “Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?” “Yeff they wer a hundred,” seyde Roben, “Y feythe, they ben all theyne.”

“Het ys fol leytell cortesey,” seyde the potter, “As y haffe harde weyse men saye, Yeff a por yeman com drywyng ower the wey, To let hem of hes gorney.”

“Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt,” seyde Roben, “Thow seys god yemenrey; And thow dreyffe forthe yevery day, Thow schalt never be let for me.

“Y well prey the, god potter, A felischepe well thow haffe? Geffe me they clothyng, and thow schalt hafe myne; Y well go to Notynggam.”