‘By dear-worth God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘To seek all England thorough, Yet found I never to my pay A muchè better borrow. LXVII ‘Come now forth, Little John, And go to my treasurỳ, And bringè me four hundred pound, And look well told it be.’ LXVIII Forth then wentè Little John, And Scathèlock went before; He told him out four hundred pound By eight and twenty score. LXIX ‘Is this well told?’ said Little Much; John said, ‘What grieveth thee? It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fal’n in poverty.’ LXX ‘Master,’ then said Little John, ‘His clothing is full thin; Ye must give the Knight a livery To lap[759] his body therein. LXXI ‘For ye have scarlet and green, master, And many a rich array; There is no merchant in merry England So rich, I dare well say.’-- LXXII ‘Take him three yards of each coloùr, And look well mete[760] it be.’-- Little John took no measùre But his bowè-tree. LXXIII And at every handful that he met[761] He leapèd o’er feet three; ‘What devilkin’s draper,’ said Little Much, ‘Thinkest thou for to be?’ LXXIV Scathèlock stood full still and laughed, And said, ‘He meteth right. John may give him good measure, For it costeth him but light.’ LXXV ‘Master,’ then said Little John All unto Robin Hood, ‘Ye must give the Knight a horse To lead home all this good.’ LXXVI ‘Take him a grey courser,’ said Robin, ‘And a saddle new; He is Our Lady’s messenger; God grant that he be true!’ LXXVII ‘And a good palfrey[762],’ said Little Much, ‘To maintain him in his right;’ ‘And a pair of boots,’ said Scathèlock, ‘For he is a gentle knight.’ LXXVIII ‘What shalt thou give him, Little John?’-- ‘Sir, a pair of gilt spurs clean, To pray for all this company; God bring him out of teen[763].’ LXXIX ‘When shall my day be,’ said the Knight, ‘Sir, an your willè be?’-- ‘This day twelve moneth,’ said Robin, ‘Under this green-wood tree. LXXX ‘It were great shamè,’ said Robin, ‘A knight alone to ride, Withoutè squire, yeoman, or page, To walkè by his side. LXXXI ‘I shall thee lend Little John, my man, For he shall be thy knave[764]; In a yeoman’s stead he may thee stand, If thou great needè have.’ _The Second Fytte_ How the Knight paid his Creditors against their will LXXXII Now is the Knight gone on his way; This game him thought full good; When he looked on Barnèsdale, He blessèd Robin Hood. LXXXIII And when he thought on Barnèsdale, On Scathelock, Much, and John, He blessèd them for a company The best he ever in come[765]. LXXXIV