‘I have done the a gode turne,’ seid Litull John, ‘Fforsothe as I yow say; I have brought the under grene-wode lyne; Ffare wel, and have gode day.’ LXXIX ‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode, ‘So shall hit never be; I make the maister,’ seid Robyn Hode, ‘Off alle my men and me.’ LXXX ‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John, ‘So shalle hit never be; But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John, ‘No noder kepe I be[1008].’ LXXXI Thus John gate Robyn Hode out of prison, Sertan withoutyn layn; Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde, Fforsothe they were full fayne. LXXXII They fillèd in wyne, and made hem glad, Under the levys smale, And yete[1009] pastès of venyson, That gode was with ale. LXXXIII Than wordè came to oure Kyng How Robyn Hode was gon, And how the Scheref of Notyngham Durst never loke hym upon. LXXXIV Then bespake oure cumly Kyng, In an angur hye: ‘Litull John hase begyled the Schereff, In faith so hase he me. LXXXV ‘Litull John has begyled us bothe And that full wel I se; Or ellis the Schereff of Notyngham Hye hongut shulde he be. LXXXVI ‘I made hem yemen of the crowne, And gaf hem fee with my hond; I gaf hem grith[1010],’ seid oure Kyng, ‘Thorowout all mery Inglond. LXXXVII ‘I gaf theym grith,’ then seid oure Kyng; ‘I say, so mot I the, Fforsothe soch a yeman as he is on In all Inglond ar not thre. LXXXVIII ‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our Kyng; ‘I sey, be swete Seynt John, He lovys better Robyn Hode Then he dose us ychon. LXXXIX ‘Robyn Hode is ever bond to hym, Bothe in strete and stalle; Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure Kyng, ‘But John has begyled us alle.’ XC Thus endys the talkyng of the munke And Robyn Hode i-wysse; God, that is ever a crowned kyng, Bryng us all to his blisse! FOOTNOTES: [956] shawes = woods. [957] sheyne = bright, beautiful. [958] wyght yemèn = sturdy yeomen. [959] slon = slay. [960] shete a peny = shoot for a penny. [961] lyne = linden. [962] holde = wager. [963] buske = bush. [964] ferly = wondrous, strange. [965] lyed = gave the lie to. [966] ilkone = each one. [967] layn = concealment. [968] yatis = gates. [969] sparred = barred. [970] Buske = get ready. [971] bowne = bound, ready. [972] long of = along of, i. e. thy fault. [973] radly = quickly. [974] yare = ready. [975] throly thrast = pressed stubbornly. [976] gode wone = good number, plenty. [977] But if = unless. [978] wone = dwelt. [979] rule = ‘taking on,’ lamenting. [980] dughty = doughty. [981] mone = moan. [982] gyde = be the guide, take charge of. [983] tristil-tre = trysting-tree, rendezvous. [984] smale = small. [985] on fere = in company. [986] emys hows = uncle’s house.