A YEMAN had he, and servantes nomoo no more At that tyme, for him luste ryde soo; it pleased him And he was clad in coote and hood of grene. A shef of pocok arwes[41] bright and kene, arrows Under his belte he bar ful thriftily, bore Wel cowde he dresse his takel yomanly; arrow His arwes drowpud nought with fetheres lowe,[42] arrows And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe. bore A not-heed hadde he, with a broun visage. v. notes, p. 111. Of woode-craft cowde he wel al the usage; knew Upon his arme he bar a gay bracer,[43] bore And by his side a swerd, and a bokeler,[44] buckler And on that other side a gay daggere, Harneysed wel, and scharp at poynt of spere; dressed well A Cristofre on his brest of silver schene. ornament representing St. Christopher An horn he bar, the bawdrik[45] was of grene: A forster was he sothely, as I gesse. forester, truly A yeoman had he (but no suite beside: Without attendants thus he chose to ride,) And he was clad in coat and hood of green. A sheaf of peacock-arrows bright and keen, Under his belt he carried thriftily; Well could he dress an arrow yeomanly! None of his arrows drooped with feathers low And in his hand he held a mighty bow. A knot-head had he, and a sunburnt hue, In woodcraft all the usages he knew; Upon his arm a bracer gay he wore, And by his side buckler and sword he bore, While opposite a dagger dangled free; Polished and smart, no spear could sharpe be. A silver ‘Christopher’ on his breast was seen, A horn he carried by a baldrick green: He was a thorough forester, I guess. The Prioress. [Illustration]