I trow thou wert made a Knight, of force, Or else of yeomanry! Or else thou hast been a sorry husband And lived in stroke and strife, And okerer or else a lecher," said ROBIN, "With wrong hast thou led thy life!" "I am none of them," said the Knight, "By God that made me! A hundred winters herebefore, My ancestors Knights have be But oft it hath befallen, ROBIN! A man hath been disgrate, But God that sitteth in heaven above, May amend his state! Within this two year, ROBIN!" he said, "(My neighbours well it know!) Four hundred pounds of good money Full well then might I spend. Now, have I no goods," said the Knight; "God hath shapen such an end,-- But my children and my wife, Till God it may amend!" "In what manner," said ROBIN, "Hast thou lost thy riches?" "For my great folly," he said, "And for my kindness! I had a son, forsooth, ROBIN! That should have been my heir: When he was twenty winters old, In field would joust full fair. He slew a Knight of Lancashire And a Squire bold. For to save him in his right My goods be set and sold, My lands be set to wed, ROBIN! Until a certain day To a rich Abbot here besides, Of Saint MARY'S Abbey." "What is the sum?" said ROBIN; "Truth then tell thou me!" "Sir," he said, "four hundred pounds, The Abbot told it to me!" "Now, and thou lose thy land!" said ROBIN, "What shall 'fall of thee?" "Hastily I will me busk," said the Knight, "Over the salt sea, And see where CHRIST was quick and dead On the Mount of Calvary! Farewell, friend! and have good day! It may not better be!" Tears fell out of his eyen two, He would have gone his way. "Farewell, friends, and have good day! I ne have more to pay!" "Where be thy friends?" said ROBIN. "Sir! never one will know me! While I was rich enough at home Great boast then would they blow; And now they run away from me As beasts in a row, They take no more heed of me Than they me never saw!" For ruth then wept Little JOHN, SCATHELOCK and MUCH also. "Fill of the best wine!" said ROBIN, "For here is a simple cheer. Hast thou any friends," said ROBIN, "The borrows that will be?" "I have none!" then said the Knight, "But God that died on the tree!" "Do way thy japes!" said ROBIN, "Thereof will I right none! Weenest thou I will have God to borrow, PETER, PAUL, or JOHN? Nay, by Him that me made, And shaped both sun and moon! Find a better borrow," said ROBIN, "Or money gettest thou none!" "I have none other!" said the Knight, "The sooth for to say, But if it be Our dear Lady She failed me never or this day!" "By dear worthy God!" said ROBIN, "To seek all England through, Yet found I never to my pay A much better borrow! Come now forth, Little JOHN! And go to my treasure! And bring me four hundred pound, And look that it well told be!" Forth then went Little JOHN