XLVII ‘I am none of thosè,’ said the Knight, ‘By Him that madè me; An hundred winter here before Mine anc’tors knights have be. XLVIII ‘But oft it hath befal’n, Robin, A man hath been disgrate[746]; But God, that sitteth in heaven above, May amend his state. XLIX ‘Within these two years, Robin,’ he said, ‘My neighbours well it kenn’d[747], Four hundred pounds of good monèy Full well then might I spend, L ‘Now have I no good,’ said the Knight, ‘God hath shapen such an end, But my children and my wife, Till God it may amend.’ LI ‘In what mannèr,’ then said Robin, ‘Hast thou lorn[748] thy richess?’ ‘For my great folly,’ he said, ‘And for my kindèness. LII ‘I had a son forsooth, Robin, That should have been mine heir; When he was twenty winter old In field would joust full fair. LIII ‘He slew a knight of Lancashire, And a squièr bold; For to save him in his right My goods are set and sold. LIV ‘My lands are set to wed[749], Robin, Until a certain day, To a rich Abbot here beside Of St. Mary’s Abbèy.’ LV ‘What is the sum?’ said Robin Hood; ‘The truthè tell thou me;’ ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘four hundred pound; The Abbot told[750] it me.’ LVI ‘An thou lose thy land,’ said Robin Hood, ‘What shall fall of[751] thee?’-- ‘Hastily I will me busk[752] Over the saltè sea, LVII ‘And see where Christ was quick and dead, On the mount of Calvary; Farewell, friend, and have good day; It may no better be.’ LVIII Tears fell out of his eyen two; He would have gone his way; ‘Farewell, friends, and have good day, I have no more to pay.’ LIX ‘Where be thy friends,’ said Robin Hood. ‘Sir, never one will me know; While I was rich enough at home Great boast then would they blow. LX ‘And now they run away from me, As beastès in a raw[753]; They takè no more heed of me Than they me never saw.’ LXI For ruth then weptè Little John, Scathèlock and Much in fere; ‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘For here is a simple cheer. LXII ‘Hast thou any friends,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Thy borrows[754] that will be?’ ‘I havè none,’ then said the Knight, ‘But Him that died on tree!’ LXIII ‘Do way thy japès[755],’ said Robin, ‘Thereof will I right none; Ween’st thou I would have God to[756] borrow, Peter, Paul or John? LXIV ‘Nay, by Him that madè me, And shope[757] both sun and moon, Find better borrow,’ said Robin, ‘Or money get’st thou none.’ LXV ‘I have none other,’ said the Knight, ‘The soothè for to say, But if[758] it be Our dear Lady; She fail’d never ere this day.’ LXVI