'He has served our Lady many a day,

And yet will securely,

Therefore I trust in her specially,
No wicked death shall he die.

'Therefore be glad,' said Little John,
'And let this morning be;
And I shall be the monkè's guide,
With the might of mild Mary.

'And I will meet him,' said Little John,
'We will go but we two-

*

*

*

*

'Look that ye keep well the trystil tree,*
Under the levys smale;

And spare none of this venison,
That go in this vale.'

Forth they went, these yeomen two,
Little John and Moche infere,

And looked on Moch emy'st house;-
The highway lay full near.

Little John stood at a window in the morning,
And looked forth at a stage;

He was 'ware where the monk came riding,
And with him a little page.

"By my faith,' said Little John to Moche,
'I can tell thee tidings good;
I see where the monk comes riding,
I know him by his wide hood.'

The place of rendezvous. Tryst, in its primitive sense, means hence it came to be used as an engagement on faith to meet at ointed place. Trysting tree, the ordinary phrase, is literally

Pre

tree.

+ Uncle. See post, p. 97, note *.

They went into the way these yeomen both,
As courteous men and hende;*
They spyrrèd tithyngust to the monk,
As they had been his friend.

From whence come ye?' said Little John; "Tell us tithyngus I you pray,

Of a false outlaw, called Robin Hood,
Was taken yesterday.

'He robbed me and my fellows both
Of twenty marks in certain;

If that false outlaw be takèn,

For sooth we would be fain.'

'So did he me,' said the monkè,

"Of an hundred pound, and more;

I laid first handè him upon,

Ye may thank me therefore.'

'I pray God thank you,' said Little John, And we will when we may;

We

will go with you, with your leave,

And bring you on your way.

'For Robin Hood has many a wild fellow, I tell you in certain;

If they wist ye rode this way,

In faith ye should be slain.'

As they went talking by the way,
The monk and Little John,

John took the monk's horse by the head,
Full soon and anon.

John took the monk's horse by the head,
For sooth as I you say;

So did Moche, the little page,

For he should not stir away.

* Gentle.

† Asked tidings.

By the gullet of the hood,

John pulled the monkè down; John was nothing of him aghast, He let him fall on his crown.

Little John was sore aggrieved,

And drew out his sword on high;
The monkè saw he should be dead,
Loud mercy did he cry.

'He was my mayster,' said Little John,
'That thou hast browzed in bale;
Shalt thou never come at our king,
For to tell him tale.'

John smote off the monkè's head,
No longer would he dwell;
So did Moche, the little page,
For fear lest he should tell.

There they buried them both,

In neither moss nor lynge;* And Little John and Moche infere Bare the letters to our king.

*

He kneeled down upon his knee; 'God you save my liege lord, Jesus you save and see.

'God you save my liegè king!"

He

To speak John was full bold; gave him the letters in his hand, The king did it unfold.

The king read the letters anon,

And said, so mot I thee,

'There was never yeoman in merry England

I longèd so sore to see.

* Heather.

'Where is the monk that thou should have

Our king gan say;

"By my troth,' said Little John,

'He died upon the way.'

The king gave Moche and Little John

Twenty pound in certain;

And made them yeomen of the crown,
And bade them go again.

He gave to John the seal in hand,

The sheriff for to bear,

To bring Robin him to,

And no man do him dere.*

John took his leave of our king,
The sooth as I you say;
The next day to Nottingham

To take he went the way.

When John came to Nottingham,
The gates were sparred ichone;

John called up the portèr,

He answered soon anon.

[brought?'

'What is the cause,' said Little John,
'Thou sparrest the gates so fast?'
'Because of Robin Hood,' said the portèr,
'In deep prison is cast.

'John, and Moche, and Will Seathlok,+
For woll as I you say,

They slew our men upon our walls,
And sawtene us every day.'

Little John spyrred after the sheriff,
And soon he him fonde;

He opened the king's privy-seal,
And gave him in his honde.

* Hurt.

† Will Scarlet.

+ Assaulted.

When the sheriff saw the king's seal,

He did off his hood anon;

'Where is the monkè that bore the letters?' He said to Little John.

'He is so fain of him,' said Little John,
For woll as I you say;

He has made him Abbot of Westminster,
A lord of that abbey.'

The sheriff he made John good cheer,
And gave him wine of the best;
At night they went to their bed,
And every man to his rest.

When the sheriff was asleep,

Drunken of wine and ale,
Little John and Moche for sooth,
Took the way unto the jail.

Little John called up the jailor,
And bade him rise anon;
He said Robin Hood had broken prison,
And out of it was gone.

The porter rose anon certàin,

As soon as he heard John call;
Little John was ready with a sword,
And bare him to the wall.

'Now will I be porter,' said Little John,
And take the keys in honde;'*

He took the way to Robin Hood,

And soon he him unbonde.

Here is another instance of the traditional forms and incidents transmitted through the ballads. The same incident, in nearly the same words, occurs in Adam Bell.-See ante, p. 39.