"Sir Justice, drink to me! What doest thou here," said the Abbot, "But thou hadst brought thy pay?" "For God!" then said the Knight, "To pray of a longer day!" "Thy day is broke!" said the Justice; "Land gettest thou none!" "Now, good Sir Justice! be my friend! And fend me of my fone!" "I am hold with the Abbot!" said the Justice, "Both with cloth and fee!" "Now, good Sir Sheriff! be my friend!" "Nay, for God!" said he. "Now, good Sir Abbot! be my friend! For thy courtesy; And hold my lands in thy hand Till I have made thee gree: And I will be thy true servant And truly serve thee Till ye have four hundred pounds Of money good and free." The Abbot sware a full great oath, "By God that died on a tree! Get thee land where thou mayest; For thou gettest none of me!" "By dear worthy God," then said the Knight, "That all this world wrought! But I have my land again, Full dear it shall be bought! God that was of Maiden born, Leave us well to speed! For it is good to assay a friend Or that a man have need!" The Abbot loathly on him 'gan call: And villainously him 'gan look: "Out," he said, "thou false Knight! Speed thee out of my hall!" "Thou liest!" then said the gentle Knight, "Abbot in thy hall! False Knight was I never, By God that made us all!" Up then stood that gentle Knight: To the Abbot, said he, "To suffer a Knight to kneel so long, Thou canst no courtesy! In jousts and in tournament Full far then have I be; And put myself as far in press As any that ever I see." "What will ye give more," said the Justice, "And the Knight shall make a release? And else I dare safely swear Ye hold never your land in peace!" "An hundred pounds!" said the Abbot. The Justice said, "Give him two!" "Nay, by God!" said the Knight, "Yet get ye it not so! Though ye would give a thousand more, Yet wert thou never the near! Shalt there never be mine heir, Abbot! Justice! ne Friar!" He started him to a board anon, Till a table round, And there he shook out of a bag Even four hundred pound. "Have here thy gold, Sir Abbot!" said the Knight, "Which that thou lentest me! Hadst thou been courteous at my coming, Rewarded shouldst thou have be!" The Abbot sat still, and eat no more, For all his royal fare: He cast his head on his shoulder, And fast began to stare. "Take me my gold again!" said the Abbot, "Sir Justice, that I took thee!" "Not a penny!" said the Justice, "By God that died on the tree!" "Sir Abbot, and ye Men of Law! Now have I held my day! Now shall I have my land again For ought that you can say!"