The yemen thanked them all courteously, And sayd, ‘To Rome wyl we wend, Of all the synnes, that we have done, To be assoyld at his hand.’
So forth be gone these good yemèn, As fast as they might hye; And after came and dwell’d with the Kynge, And dyed good men all thre.
Thus endeth the lyves of these good yemèn; God send them eternall blysse; And all, that with a hand-bowe shoteth: That of heven they may never mysse!
[660] Clym of the Clough = Clement of the Cliff.
[661] Englyshe-wood = Inglewood, near Carlisle.
[680] out-horne = a horn blown to call citizens to help the law.
[699] fosters of the fe = foresters of the lordship.
[701] buske them = busked, made them ready.
[702] blyve = belyfe _supra_, straightway.
[704] bearyng arowe = a long arrow, tapered to carry far.
_115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny[707]_
How Robin Hood befriended a poor Knight, Sir Richard at the Lee
Lithe[708] and listen, Gentlemen, That be of free-born blood: I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.
Robin was a proud outlaw, The while he walked on ground; So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none y-found.
Robin stood in Barnèsdale[709], And leaned him to a tree; And by him stood Little John, A good yeoman was he.
And also did good Scathèlock, And Much, the miller’s son; There was none inch of his body, But it was worth a groom[710].
Then bespake him Little John All unto Robin Hood: ‘Master, an ye would dine betimes It would do you much good.’
Then bespake him good Robin: ‘To dine I have no lest[711], Till that I have some bold baron, Or some uncouth[712] guest,
‘Till that I have some bold baron That may pay for the best, Or else some knight, or some squièr That dwelleth here by West.’
A good mannèr then had Robin; In land where that he were[713], Every day ere he would dine Three masses would he hear:
The one in worship of the Father, The other of the Holy Ghost, The third was of Our dear Lady That he loved alder-most[714].
Robin loved our dear Lady; For doubt[715] of deadly sin Would he no company do harm That woman was therein.
‘Master,’ then said Little John, ‘An we our board shall spread, Tell us whither we shall go, And what life we shall lead;
‘Where we shall take, where we shall leave, Where we shall abide behind, Where we shall rob, where we shall reave[716], Where we shall beat and bind.’