The monke toke the hors with spore, No lenger wolde he abyde: "Aske to drynke," than sayd Robyn, 215 "Or that ye forther ryde." "Nay, for god," than sayd the monke, "Me reweth I cam so nere; For better chepe I myght have dyned In Blythe or in Dankestere." 220 "Grete well your abbot," sayd Robyn, "And your pryour, I you pray, And byd hym send me such a monke To dyner every day." Now lete we that monke be styll, 225 And speke we of that knyght: Yet he came to holde his day, Whyle that it was lyght. He dyde him streyt to Bernysdale, Under the grene wode tre, 230 And he founde there Robyn Hode, And all his mery meynè. The knyght lyght downe of his good palfrày; Robyn whan he gan see, So curteysly he dyde adoune his hode, 235 And set hym on his knee. "God the save, good Robyn Hode, And al this company:" "Welcome be thou, gentyll knyght, And ryght welcome to me." 240 Than bespake hym Robyn Hode, To that knyght so fre, "What nede dryveth the to grene wode? I pray the, syr knyght, tell me. "And welcome be thou, gentyl knyght, 245 Why hast thou be so longe?" "For the abbot and the hye justyce Wolde have had my londe." "Hast thou thy londe agayne?" sayd Robyn;[L249] "Treuth than tell thou me." 250 "Ye, for god," sayd the knyght, "And that thanke I god and the. "But take not a grefe, I have be so longe;[L253] I came by a wrastelynge, And there I dyd holpe a pore yemàn, 255 With wronge was put behynde." "Nay, for god," sayd Robyn, "Syr knyght, that thanke I the; What man that helpeth a good yemàn, His frende than wyll I be." 260 "Have here foure hondred pounde," than sayd the knyght, "The whiche ye lent to me; And here is also twenty marke For your curteysy." "Nay, for god," than sayd Robyn, 265 "Thou broke it well for ay; For our lady, by her selerer, Hath sent to me my pay. "And yf I toke it twyse,[L269] A shame it were to me: 270 But trewely, gentyll knyght, Welcom arte thou to me." Whan Robyn had tolde his tale, He leugh and had good chere: "By my trouthe," then sayd the knyght. 275 "Your money is redy here." "Broke it well," sayd Robyn, "Thou gentyll knyght so fre; And welcome be thou, gentill knyght, Under my trystell tree.[L280] 280 "But what shall these bowes do?" sayd Robyn, "And these arowes ifedered fre?" "By god," than sayd the knyght, "A pore present to the."