“Come, begone! and a right pleasaunt journey to you!” But I woulde not thus be putten offe, and dyd trye with my menne to bringe forth the bayles of clothe from the caves, but the robbers tooke them from us, giving us many cuffes and kickes for oure pains. Anon I demanded my mules, but Robyn dyd say: “Nay, brother, I have keeped ye mules for ten days for thee, and now I will keepe them longer for mine owne use. Dere meate may become scarce, then will mule meate be plentie.” Then I dyd try and seize ye rascal by his ears, to give him som chastisement, for we monkes be manie of us strong menne, being used to much huntinge and hawkinge arounde our monasteries. Thereupon dyd the giant Lytell John seize me and my men, and bynde us face downwardes on our mules, and with many stripes of their bowes and quarter-staves, they dyd beat us on ye uppermoste parts till we dyd fairlie crye oute for mercie. Then dyd Robyn say-- “I doe gif you a present each of a mule. Commende me to your good master the Abbot, and begge hym to give us hys company in the merrie Maye dayes, and he shall meet with cheer over and above that which you have received. Fare ye welle.” Then the robbers dyd thwacke us again, tyll Robert Baldrow dyd slyp from hys mule by ye breakynge of hys strappes, and dyd begge Robyn to allow hym to remain and become one of hys menne. Atte which Robyn dyd laugh and give hys consent right readilie, striking hym on ye backe with hys palm to showe hys pleasure thereat. In three dayes we dyd return us to Crowlande Abbey, hungry nigh untoe dethe, and sore; where being kindlie entreated we dyd recover, and in the quiet of mine owne cell, I have written thys parchement to cleare my character of guilt. Shoulde ever I com across that rascal robber, Robyn Hode, I will soe bange hys carcase with my staffe, that hys skin shall be like a poke filled with odde bones. “Syned, ROGER AYLMER, “Jany. 10, 1197.” “CROWLANDE ABBEY, “_Marche, 1495_. “I, John Wybourne, a monk of Crowlande Abbey, dyd fynde, in a strong chist of ye Ladye Chapelle, a document written by one Roger Aylmer in 1197, which dyd showe how he was taken by ye thief Robyn Hode and dyd spend ten dayes with hym in Wintertyde: the sayd document being soe badlie written and so badelie spelt that I have corrected itte to conform with oure modern spellynge. “Althoughe I have altered the wordes I have not altered the sense of the document, but merely for the sayk of our Abbey, I have set my hande to yts correction, that those who com after doe not blushe for shayme at Roger Alymer hys badde spellynge.” * * * * *