"Thereof no force!" said ROBIN, "For courtesy can he none! How many men," said ROBIN, "Had this Monk, JOHN?" "Fifty and two when that we met; But many of them be gone." "Let blow a horn!" said ROBIN, "That fellowship may us know!" Seven score of wight yeomen Came pricking on a row, And everych of them a good mantle Of scarlet and of ray, All they came to good ROBIN To wit what he would say. They made the Monk to wash and wipe, And sit at his dinner, ROBIN HOOD and Little JOHN They served him both in-fere. "Do gladly, Monk!" said ROBIN. "Grammercy, Sir!" said he. "Where is your Abbey, when ye are at home; And who is your avow?" "St. Mary's Abbey," said the Monk, "Though I be simple here." "In what office?" said ROBIN. "Sir! the High Cellarer." "Ye be the more welcome," said ROBIN. "So ever might I thee." "Fill of the best wine!" said ROBIN, "This Monk shall drink to me! But I have great marvel," said ROBIN, "Of all this long day, I dread our Lady be wroth with me, She sent me not my pay!" "Have no doubt, Master!" said Little JOHN, "Ye have no need, I say: This Monk, it hath brought, I dare well swear! For he is of her Abbey." "And She was a borrow," said ROBIN, "Between a Knight and me, Of a little money that I him lent Under the green-wood tree; And if thou hast that silver ybrought, I pray thee let me see, And I shall help thee eftsoons If thou have need to me!" The Monk swore a full great oath, With a sorry cheer, "Of the borrowhood thou speakest to me Heard I never ere!" "I make mine avow to God!" said ROBIN, "Monk, thou art to blame! For God is held a righteous man, And so is his dame. Thou toldest with thine own tongue Thou mayst not say 'Nay!' How thou art her servant, And servest her every day: And thou art made her messenger, My money for to pay. Therefore I can the more thanks, Thou art come to thy day! What is in your coffers?" said ROBIN; "True, then, tell thou me?" "Sir!" he said, "twenty marks! Also might I thee!" "If there be no more," said ROBIN, "I will not one penny. If thou hast myster of any more, Sir, more I shall lend to thee! And if I find more," said ROBIN, "Iwis, thou shalt it forgo; For of thy spending silver, Monk! Thereof will I right none." "Go now forth, Little JOHN, And the truth, tell thou me! If there be no more but twenty marks No penny [of] that I see!" Little JOHN spread his mantle down, As he had done before, And he told out of the Monk's mail Eight hundred pound and more. Little JOHN let it lie full still, And went to his Master in haste; "Sir!" he said, "the Monk is true enough; Our Lady hath doubled your cast!" "I make mine avow to God!" said ROBIN, "Monk, what told I thee! Our Lady is the truest woman That ever yet found I me! By dear worthy God!" said ROBIN,