Then spake that gentle Knight, To Little John gan he say, ‘To-morrow I must to York town To Saint Mary’s Abbèy; LXXXV ‘And to the Abbot of that place Four hundred pound must pay; But[766] I be there upon this night My land is lost for aye.’ LXXXVI The Abbot said to his Convènt, Where he stood on ground, ‘This day twelve moneth came a knight, And borrowed four hundred pound. LXXXVII ‘He borrowèd four hundred pound Upon his land and fee[767]; But he come this ilkè[768] day Disherited shall he be.’ LXXXVIII ‘It is full early,’ said the Prior, ‘The day is not yet far gone; I had liever pay an hundred pound, And lay it down anon. LXXXIX ‘The Knight is far beyond the sea, In England is his right, And suffereth hunger and cold And many a sorry night. XC ‘It were great pity,’ said the Prior, ‘So to have his land; An ye be so light of your conscience, Ye do him muchè shand[769].’ XCI ‘Thou art ever in my beard[770],’ said the Abbot, ‘By God and Saint Richard!’ With that came in a fat-headed monk, The Highè Cellarèr. XCII ‘He is dead or hangèd,’ said the monk, ‘By Him that bought me dear, And we shall have to spend in this place Four hundred pound by year.’ XCIII The Abbot and the High Cellarer Started forth full bold, The High Justice of Engèland The Abbot there did hold. XCIV The High Justice and many mo Had taken into their hand Wholly all the Knightès debt, To put that Knight to shand. XCV They deemèd[771] the Knight wonder sore[772], The Abbot and his meinèe: ‘But he come this ilkè day, Disherited shall he be.’ XCVI ‘He will not come yet,’ said the Justice, ‘I dare well undertake.’ But in sorry timè for them all The Knight came to the gate. XCVII Then bespake that gentle Knight Until[773] his meinèe: ‘Now put on your simple weeds That ye brought from the sea.’ XCVIII They putten on their simple weeds, They came to the gates anon; The Porter was ready himself, And welcomed them every one. XCIX ‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ said the Porter, ‘My lord to meat is he, And so is many a gentle man, For the love of thee.’ C The Porter swore a full great oath: ‘By Him that madè me, Here be the bestè corsèd[774] horse That ever yet I see. CI ‘Lead them into the stable,’ he said, ‘That easèd might they be’; ‘They shall not come therein,’ said the Knight, ‘By Him that died on tree.’ CII Lordès were to meat y-set In that Abbot’s hall; The Knight went forth and kneelèd down And salued[775] them great and small. CIII