"They shall not come therein,"said the knight,"By him that died on a tree."
Lord-es were to meat iset In that abb-ot-es hall,The knight went forth and kneel-ed down,And salved them great and small.
"Do gladly,sir abb-ot,"said the knight,"I am come to hold my day."
The first word the abbot spake,"Hast th-ou brought m-y pay?"
"Not one penny,"said the knight,"By him that mak-ed me."
"Thou art a shrewd debtor!"said the abb-ot;
"Sir justice,drink to me!
What dost thou here,"said the abb-ot,"But thou hadst brought thy pay?"
"For-e God,"then said the knight,"To pray of a longer day."
"Thy day is broke,"said the justice,"Land gettest thou none."
"Now,good sir justice,be my friend,And fend me of my fone."
"I am hold with the abbot,"said the justice,"Both with cloth and fee."
"Now,good sir sheriff,be my friend."
"Nay,for-e God,"said he.
"Now,good sir abbot,be my friend,For thy curteys-e,And hold my land-es in thy hand Till I have made thee gree;
And I will be thy true serv-ant,And truly serv-e thee,Till ye have fo-ur hundred pound Of money good and free."
The abbot sware a full great oath,"By him that died on a tree,Get the land where thou may,For thou gettest none of me."
"By dere-worthy God,"then said the knight,"That all this world wrought,But I have my land again,Full dear it shall be bought;
God,that was of a maiden borne,Lene us well to speed!
For it is good to assay a friend Ere that a man have need."
The abb-ot loathl-y on him gan look,And villainousl-y gan call;
"Out,"he said,"thou fals-e knight!
Speed thee out of my hall!"
"Thou liest,"then said the gentle knight,"Abbot in thy hall;
Fals-e knight was I nev-er,By him that made us all."
Up then stood that gentle knight,To the abb-ot said he,"To suffer a knight to kneel so long,Thou canst no courtes-y.
In joust-es and in tournem-ent Full far then have I be,And put myself as far in press As any that e'er I see."
"What will ye give more?"said the just-ice,"And the knight shall make a release;