69, 70. "The Sayles," is a place no longer known, but it is certain that there was formerly a place of the name in Barnsdale or near it. "It was a very small tenancy of the manor of Pontefract, being not more than the tenth of a knight's fee" (Hunter). Watling Street stands here for the great North Road, probably a Roman highway, which crosses Barnsdale. 85. all his. PCC. 106, so R. (ed. 1489): all three, W. C. (de Worde & Copland). 109, this, R. that, W. C. 112, ere, R. 148, to pay, R. pay, W. C. 151, Robyn, R. Robyn Hoode, W. C. 179. "This stanza is remarkable for containing a reference to one of the old grievances of the people of England. In the reign of Henry the Third, and his son, and grandson, the compelling persons, some of them of no great estate, to take upon them the honour of knighthood, or pay a large sum to be excused, was felt as a heavy oppression."--HUNTER. 193, two yere, R. 194, knowe, OCC. 200, it may amende, OCC. 209, lancasesshyre, R. 228, not W. C. 233, by W. C. 234. So R. knowe me, W. C. The fragment of de Worde's older ed. ends with v. 239. 242, also, PCC. for 'in fere.' 243. Wyme, PCC. 272. I.e. by so many score to the hundred. It is certainly a very hyperbolical expression, but he measures the cloth in the same way.--RITSON. 280, helpe, W. wrappe, C. 304. leue, W. lende, C THE SECONDE FYTTE. Nowe is the knyght went on his way,[L1] This game hym thought full good;[L2] When he loked on Bernysdale, He blyssed Robyn Hode; And whan he thought on Bernysdale, 5 On Scathelock, Much, and Johan, He blyssed them for the best company That ever he in come. Then spake that gentyll knyght, To Lytel Johan gan he saye, 10 "To-morrowe I must to Yorke toune, To Saynt Mary abbay; "And to the abbot of that place Foure hondred pounde I must pay; And but I be there upon this nyght 15 My londe is lost for ay." The abbot sayd to his covent, There he stode on grounde, "This day twelfe moneth came there a knyght And borowed foure hondred pounde. 20 "[He borowed foure hondred pounde,] Upon all his londe fre, But he come this ylke day Dysheryte shall he be." "It is full erely," sayd the pryoure,[L25] 25 "The day is not yet ferre gone; I had lever to pay an hondred pounde, And lay it downe anone. "The knight is ferre beyonde the see, In Englonde is his ryght, 30 And suffreth honger and colde, And many a sory nyght. "It were grete pytè," said the pryoure, "So to have his londe; And ye be so lyght of your conseyence, 35 Ye do to him moch wronge."