Archive of Our Own

2

Robin was a proud outlaw,

The years he walked on ground:

As noble an outlaw as he was one

The like was never found.

3

Robin stood in Barnesdale,

And leaned against a tree.

By his side stood Little John,

A good yeoman was he.

4

Also there was good Scarlock,

And Much, the miller’s son:

Inches short of a man was he

Yet had the full worth of one.

5

Then spoke out did Little John,

Addressing Robin Hood:

“Master, if you would dine posthaste

It would do you much good."

6

Then spoke to him did good Robin:

“To dine I have no zest,

Until I have some bold baron,

Or unexpected guest."

7

“Perhaps a lord or royal sire

That may pay for the best,

Else unsuspecting knight or squire

That dwells here in the West."

8

A pious custom Robin kept;

In lands both far and near,

Every day before he dined

Three masses would he hear.

9

One worshipping the Father,

The next the Holy Ghost,

The third for Our Dear Lady,

Who of all he loved the most.

10

Robin loved Our Dear Lady,

And fearing deadly sin,

He would harm no company

That any woman was in.

11

“Master," then said Little John,

“So we may our table spread,

Tell us where we are to go,

And what life there shall be led."

12

“Where we shall take, where we shall leave,

Where we shall wait behind;

Where we shall rob, where we shall reave,

Where we shall beat and bind."

13

“That matters not," then said Robin;

“Well enough we’ll do;

But look you do no farmer harm,

That with his plough tills through.”

14

“Nor shall you harm a good yeoman

That walks by greenwood tree,

Nor any knight, nor any squire

That would make good company."

15

“These bishops and archbishops,

You shall them beat and bind;

The High Sheriff of Nottingham,

You hold him in your mind."

16

“We’ll keep these words," said Little John,

“Their lesson we shall learn;

The day grows late, God send a guest,

So to dining we may turn!"

17

“Take your good bow in your hand," said Robin;

“And Much as company:

And also take William Scarlock,

Let no man wait with me."

18

“And walk up to the Saylis,

And so to Watling Street,

To seek some unexpected guest,

By chance you may them meet."

19

“If he be earl, or any baron,

Abbot, or any knight,

Bring him to this lodge with me;

He shall dine here tonight."

20

They went up to the Saylis,

These good yeomen all three;

They checked the east, they checked the west;

And still did no man see.

21

But as they looked to Barnesdale,

Along a hidden street,

There came that way a knight riding,

And soon they did him meet.

22

All mournful was his countenance,

And feeble was his pride;

His one foot in the stirrup stood,

The other waved beside.

23

His hood hung in his weary eyes;

He dressed in plain array,

A sorrier man than he was one

Never rode in summers’ day.

24

Little John was most courteous,

And went down on his knee:

“Welcome be you, noble knight,

Welcome are you to me."

25

“Welcome be to the greenwood,

Gallant knight and free;

My master awaits you fasting, sir,

For all these hours three."

26

“Who is your master?" said the knight;

John told him, "Robin Hood."

“He is a good yeoman," said the knight,

“Of him I have heard much good.”

27

“I cede," he said, “with you to go,

As brethren, all together;

My intent was to have dined today

At Blyth or Doncaster."

28

Onward went this noble knight,

With a mournful face;

The tears out of his eyes ran,

And down his cheeks did race.

29

They brought him to the cabin door;

When Robin did him see,

He courteously took off his hood

And went down on his knee.

30

“Welcome, sir knight," then said Robin,

“Welcome are you to me;

I have awaited you fasting, sir,

For all these hours three."

31

Then answered the noble knight,

With words both fair and free:

“God save you, good Robin,

And all your company."

32

They washed together and dried their hands,

And soon set to their fare;

Bread and wine they had plentiful,

And loin cuts of the deer.

33

Swans and pheasants they had to spare,

And fowls of the river-bank;

Not even the smallest bird they lacked

That ever was bred on branch.

34

“Eat well, sir knight," said Robin;

“Thank you, sir," said he,

“Such a dinner I have had not

For all of these weeks three."

35

“If I come again, Robin,

Here by this country,

As good a dinner I shall make you

As that you have made for me."

36

“Thank you, knight," said Robin,

“For that dinner, when it I eat;

I was never so hungry, by dear worthy God,

My dinner for to entreat.”

37

“But pay before you go," said Robin;

“I think it only right;

It was never the custom, by dear worthy God,

A yeoman to pay for a knight."

38

“I have naught in my coffers," said the knight,

“That I may proffer, for shame."

“Little John, go look," said good Robin,

“Without delay for blame.”

39

“Tell me truly,” said Robin,

“So God shall take your side.”

“I have just ten shillings,” said the knight,

“May God with me abide.”

40

“If you have no more," said good Robin,

“I will not take one penny,

And if you have need of any more,

Then I shall lend you any."

41

"Go along now, Little John,

And bring the truth to me:

If there are no more than ten shillings,

Not a penny shall I see.”

42

Little John spread out his own mantle

Stretched out upon the ground,

And there he found in the knight’s coffer

Exactly half a pound.

43

Little John let it lie at rest,

And went to his master’s side;

“What tidings, John?" said good Robin;

“Sir, the knight here has not lied."

44

“Bring out the best wine," said Robin,

“Sir knight, your tale begin;

For now I wonder greatly why

Your clothing is so thin."

45

“Tell me one thing," said Robin,

“Explain your state to me:

I think you were forced to your knighthood,

Else raised from yeomanry.”

46

“Or else have been a bad husband,

And lived in struggle and strife,

A moneylender or a lecher," said Robin,

“With wrong to lead your life."

47

“None of those am I," said the knight,

“By God that made me;

A hundred winters here before

Are knights my ancestry."

48

“But often it befalls, Robin,

Disgrace is a man’s fate,

Unless God that sits in heaven above

Will amend his state."

49

“Only two years ago, Robin,” he said,

“My neighbours could not contend,

Four hundred pounds of good money

I had to freely spend.”

50

“Now I own nothing," said the knight,

“God has shaped such an end,

I have naught but my children and wife,

Until God it will amend."

51

“In what manner,” then said Robin,

“Have you lost your riches?”

“For my great folly,” said the knight,

“And for my softheartedness.”

52

“I had a son, in truth, Robin,

That should have been my heir,

When he was twenty winters old,

In field did joust most fair."

53

“He slew a knight of Lancaster,

And a squire bold;

For to save him in his plight

My wealth was pledged and sold."

54

“My lands are bound in debt, Robin,

Until a certain day,

To a rich abbot hereabouts

Of Saint Mary’s Abbey."

55

"What is the sum?" said good Robin;

"Speak you the truth to me."

"Sir," he said, "four hundred pounds;

The abbot told it to me."

56

"Now if you lose your land," said Robin,

"What would befall to you?"

"Hastily I would go," said the knight,

"Over the briny blue."

57

"And see where Christ both lived and died,

On the mount of Calvary;

Farewell, my friend, and have a good day;

No better it may be."

58

Tears fell out of his weary eyes;

He would have gone his way.

“Farewell, friend, and have a good day;

I have no more to pay."

59

“Where are your friends?" said good Robin.

“Sir, not one will now me know:

Though while I was rich at home

Great boast then would they blow."

60

“And now they run away from me,

Like beasts one by one they flee;

They take no more heed of me

Than if me they could not see.”

61

For pity then wept Little John,

Scarlock and Much shed tears;

“Fill of the best wine," said Robin,

“For here is simple cheer."

62

“Have you any friend," said Robin,

“Your guarantor would be?"

“I have none," then said the knight,

“But God that died on tree."

63

“Forget your jokes," then said Robin,

“Of that I will have none;

Think you I would get God to lend,

Peter, Paul, or John?"

64

“No, by Him that me made,

And shaped both moon and sun,

Find me a better guarantor," said Robin,

“Or money you’ll have none."

65

“I have no other," said the knight,

“The truth for me to say,

Unless it be Our Dear Lady;

She failed me never to this day."

66

“By dear worthy God," said good Robin,

“Search England shore to shore,

Yet found I never to my joy

A much better guarantor."

67

“Come along now, Little John.

Go to my treasury,

And bring to me four hundred pounds,

See that counted well it be."

68

Onward then went Little John,

And Scarlock went before;

He counted out four hundred pounds

By eighteen and two score.

69

“Is this counted well?" said little Much;

John said, "Why be so miserly?

It is alms to help a noble knight,

That is fallen in poverty."

70

“Master," then said Little John,

“His clothing is too thin;

You must give the knight a livery,

To wrap his body in."

71

“For you have scarlet and green, master,

And many a rich array;

There is no merchant in merry England

So rich, I dare well say."

72

“Give him three yards of every shade,

See that measured well it be.”

Little John took no other measure

But his bow-stave tree.

73

For every handful measured out

He added on feet three.

“What devil's draper," said little Much,

“Do you think yourself to be?"

74

Scarlock stood most still and laughed,

And said, "By God Almighty,

John may give him good measure,

For it costs him but lightly."

75

“Master," then said Little John

To noble Robin Hood,

“You must give the knight a horse,

To carry home these goods."

76

“Take him a gray courser," said Robin,

“And a saddle new;

He is Our Lady's messenger;

God grant that he be true."

77

“And a good palfrey," said little Much,

“To maintain him in his right."

“And a pair of boots," said Scarlock,

“For he is a noble knight."

78

“What shall you give him, Little John?" said Robin;

“Sir, a pair of gilded spurs,

To pray, for all this company,

God delivers him from this curse.”

79

“When shall I pay you," said the knight,

“Sir, if your will this be?"

“Twelve months from today," said Robin,

“Under this greenwood tree."

80

“It would be great shame," said Robin,

“A knight alone to ride,

Without squire, yeoman, or page,

To walk by his side.”

81

"I shall lend you Little John, my man,

For he shall be your valet;

In a yeoman’s stead he may you stand,

If you have great need of it.”