Robin Hood, disguised as a friar, asks charity of two priests. They pretend to have been robbed, and not to have a penny. Robin pulls them from their horses, saying, Since you have no money, we will pray for some, and keeps them at their prayers for an hour. Now, he says, we will see what heaven has sent us; but the monks can find nothing in their pockets. We must search one another, Robin says, and beginning the operation finds five hundred pounds on the monks. Of this he gives fifty pounds to each of the priests to pay for their prayers, keeping the remainder. The priests would now move on, but Robin requires three oaths of them, of truth, chastity and charity, before he lets them go. The kernel of the story is an old tale which we find represented in Pauli’s Schimpf und Ernst, 1533, Österley, p. 397, Anhang, No 14, ‘Wie drey lantzknecht vmb ein zerung batten.’ Three soldiers, out of service, meet the cellarer of a rich Benedictine cloister, who has a bag hanging at his saddle-bow, with four hundred ducats in it. They ask for some money, for God’s sake and good fellowship’s. The cellarer answers that he has no money: there is nothing but letters in his bag. Then, since we all four are without money, they say, we will kneel down and pray for some. After a brief orison, the three jump up, search the bag, and find four hundred ducats. The cellarer offers them a handsome douceur, and says he had the money in the bag before; but to this they will give no credence. They give the monk his share of one hundred, and thank God devoutly for his grace. Retold by Waldis, with a supplement, Esopus, IV, 21, ed. Kurz, II, 64; and by others, see Oesterley’s notes, p. 552, Kurz’s, p. 156. #a# seems to be signed L. P., and these would most naturally be the initials of the versifier. Translated by Doenniges, p. 198, by Anastasius Grün, p. 131. 1 I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood, Derry derry down And of brave Little John, Of Fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlet, Loxley, and Maid Marion. Hey down derry derry down 2 But such a tale as this before I think there was never none; For Robin Hood disguised himself, And to the wood is gone. 3 Like to a fryer, bold Robin Hood Was accoutered in his array; With hood, gown, beads and crucifix, He past upon the way. 4 He had not gone [past] miles two or three, But it was his chance to spy Two lusty priests, clad all in black, Come riding gallantly. 5 ‘Benedicete,’ then said Robin Hood, ‘Some pitty on me take; Cross you my hand with a silver groat, For Our dear Ladies sake. 6 ‘For I have been wandring all this day, And nothing could I get; Not so much as one poor cup of drink, Nor bit of bread to eat.’ 7 ‘Now, by my holydame,’ the priests repli’d, ‘We never a peny have; For we this morning have been robd, And could no mony save.’