‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘And greet thy Lady hend[852], And if she have need to Robin Hood She shall him find a friend. CCLII ‘And if she need any more silvèr, Come thou again to me, And, by this token she hath me sent, She shall have suchè three.’ CCLIII The Monk was going to Londonward, There to hold great moot[853], The Knight that rode so high on horse, To bring him under foot. CCLIV ‘Whither be ye away?’ said Robin.-- ‘Sir, to manors in this londe, To reckon with our revès, That have done much wrong.’-- CCLV ‘Come now forth, Little John, And hearken to my tale, A better yeoman I know none, To seek[854] a Monkès mail[855].’ CCLVI ‘How much is in yon other forcèr[856]? The soothè must we see:’ ‘By our Lady,’ then said the Monk, ‘That were no courtesy, CCLVII ‘A man to biddè to dinnèr, And sith[857] him beat and bind.’-- ‘It is our old manner,’ said Robin, ‘To leave but little behind.’ CCLVIII The Monk took the horse with spur, No longer would he abide; ‘Ask to drink,’ then said Robin, ‘Ere that ye further ride.’ CCLIX ‘Nay, ’fore God,’ then said the Monk, ‘Me rueth I came so near; For better cheap[858] I might have dined In Blyth or Doncastere.’ CCLX ‘Greet well your Abbot,’ said Robin, ‘And your prior, I you pray, And bid him send me such a Monk To dinner every day!’ CCLXI Now lettè we that Monk be still, And speak we of that Knight: Yet he came to hold his day, The while that it was light. CCLXII He did him straight to Barnèsdale, Under the green-wood tree, And he found there Robin Hood, And all his merry meinèe. CCLXIII The Knight lit down off his good palfrèy, Robin when he gan see; Courteously he did a-down his hood, And set him on his knee. CCLXIV ‘God thee savè, Robin Hood, And all this company!’-- ‘Welcome be thou, gentle Knight, Right welcome unto me.’ CCLXV Then bespake him Robin Hood To that Knight so free: ‘What need driveth thee to greenè-wood? I pray, sir Knight, tell me. CCLXVI ‘And welcome be thou, gentle Knight, Why hast thou been so long?’-- ‘For the Abbot and the High Justice Would have had my land with wrong.’ CCLXVII ‘Hast thou thy land again?’ said Robin; ‘Truthè tell thou me.’-- ‘Yea, ’fore God,’ said the Knight, ‘That thank I God and thee. CCLXVIII ‘But take no grief I have been so long; I came by a wrestèling, And there I holp a poor yeoman, With wrong was put behind.’ CCLXIX ‘Nay, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Sir Knight, that thank I thee; What man that helpeth a good yeoman, His friend I willè be.’ CCLXX