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52 A LYTELL GESTE OF ROBYN HODE.
Yfthere.be no more but ten shillings, Not one peny that I se."
Lytell Johan spred downe his mantell, 105
Full fayre upon the grounde, And there he found in the knyghtes cofer
But even halfe a pounde.
Lytyll Johan let it lye full styll,
And went to his mayster full lowe : iro
" What tydynge, Johan ? " sayd Robyn:
" Syr, the knyght is trewe inough."
" Fyll of the best wyne," sayd Robyn,
" The knyght shall begynne ; Moch wonder thynketh me ire
Thy clothynge is so thynne.
u Tell me one worde," sayd Eobyn,
" And counsell shall it be; I trowe thou were made a knyght of forse,
Or elles of yemanry ; iso
. " Or elles thou hast ben a sory housband, And leved in stroke and stryfe ;
179. " This stanza is remarkable for containing a reference to one of the old grievances of the people of England. In the reign of Henry the Third, and his son, and grandson, the compelling persons, some of them of no great estate, to take upon them the honour of knighthood, or pay a large sum to bo excused, was felt as a heavy oppression."—Huntek. |
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