by statutes of the first three Edwards (see _Notes and
Queries_, First Series, vol. vi. p. 479). The knight, pretending he has
not brought the money, requests an extension of time; but the abbot
will not hear of it, and is supported in his refusal by the justice:
the knight's lands will be forfeited. The justice advises the abbot
(117, etc.) to give the knight a sum to 'make a release' and prevent
subsequent legal difficulties. The knight brings the matter to an end by
paying down the four hundred pounds, saying that had the abbot been more
courteous, he should have had interest on the loan.

The knight returns to his home in Wyresdale, and saves up the sum to
be repaid to Robin Hood. As he sets out for Barnsdale with a goodly
company, he finds a great wrestling-match taking place at Wentbridge,[1]
which delays him a while.

The word 'frembde' (138.3) is now obsolete except in Scots and
north-country dialect, and is spelled in various ways. It occurs more
than once in Chaucer, and twice in Sidney's _Arcadia_. 'Fremit,' the
common Scots form, may be found in Burns. More recently, it appears in
books of Westmoreland, Cumberland, or Northumberland dialect. Cp. Mrs.
Gaskell, _Sylvia's Lovers_: 'There's a fremd man i' t' house.' It means
'foreign' or 'strange.'

[Footnote 2: Wentbridge is mentioned in _Robin Hood and the
Potter_, 6.1. The river Went is the northern boundary of
Barnsdale.]

THE SECOND FYTTE

82.
Now is the knight gone on his way;
This game hym thought full gode;
Whanne he loked on Bernesdale
He blessyd Robyn Hode.

83.
And whanne he thought on Bernysdale,
On Scarlok, Much and Johnn
He blyssyd them for the best company
That ever he in come.

84.
Then spake that gentyll knyght,
To Lytel Johan gan he saye,
'To-morrowe I must to Yorke toune,
To Saynt Mary abbay.

85.
'And to the abbot of that place
Foure hondred pounde I must pay;
And but I be there upon this nyght
My londe is lost for ay.'

86.
The abbot sayd to his covent,
There he stode on grounde,
'This day twelfe moneth came there a knyght
And borowed foure hondred pounde.

87.
['He borowed four hondred pounde]
Upon all his londe fre;
But he come this ylke day
Disherited shall he be.'

88.
'It is full erely,' sayd the pryoure,
The day is not yet ferre gone;
I had lever to pay an hondred pounde,
And lay downe anone.