The Impoverished Knight
Picture: Horse rider on Loxley Common
After getting into bad company, Sir Richard lost all his money to his false friends forcing him to borrow £400 bail money from the Abbot of St Mary's after his son killed two of Lancaster’s knights while jousting. Failure to repay the loan within the allotted time meant his land and castle would belong to the abbot*. Twelve months later, on his way to York to plead for an extension, Robin challenged him at the Saylis. Hearing his sorry story and wanting to help, Robin loaned him the money. Little John acting as his squire accompanied Sir Richard to York where he settled his debt to the abbot. With another year’s grace, the knight set-sail to the Holy Land by permission of the king and returned with enough funds to repay Robin, perhaps with booty gained from the Battle of Auray?*
Twelve months after loaning Sir Richard £400 Robin went with Little John to the Saylis as arranged. Soon the High Cellarer of Saint Marys Abbey came by with another monk at his side. They both denied knowing the knight, saying all they had twenty marks. Unable to believe his eyes, Little John discovered £800 concealed in their bags. Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. Eating their food as fast as possible the two monks galloped away saying, “Blyth and Doncaster were cheaper.” Robin told them to give the Abbot his greetings and say to be sure to send a monk to dine with us every day.
After a long wait, the impoverished knight arrived before it got dark. Holding out the £400 he owed, Robin surprised him by saying, “nay, for our Lady, sent my pay by the High Cellarer, with £400 interest.” After finishing his tale; the knight laughed and said, “By my pledge your money is here already!” “Yes,” said Robin. “The £400 in your hand replaces the money stolen from you; your son is free, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
NOTES:
* The abbots at St. Mary’s were known for their excessive personal fortunes and were frequently in a position to furnish loans to the sovereign. Licences transferring ownership of property in perpetuity granted to the abbey for the acquisition of various properties were numerous. (British history online.)
Sir Henry Green. Knight, High Justice of England, Lord Chancellor, and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench was stripped of his office on charges of corruption in 1365. The Geste tells us the abbot of St, Marys had a hold over the Justice of England. (“The justyce of Englonde, the abbot there dyde holde.”)
* History tells us Sir Richard was licensed by the king to go overseas in 1364. He and the king were at Bestwood together. The Battle of Auray led by de Montfort took place in September that same year.
Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby. All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
After getting into bad company, Sir Richard lost all his money to his false friends forcing him to borrow £400 bail money from the Abbot of St Mary's after his son killed two of Lancaster’s knights while jousting. Failure to repay the loan within the allotted time meant his land and castle would belong to the abbot*. Twelve months later, on his way to York to plead for an extension, Robin challenged him at the Saylis. Hearing his sorry story and wanting to help, Robin loaned him the money. Little John acting as his squire accompanied Sir Richard to York where he settled his debt to the abbot. With another year’s grace, the knight set-sail to the Holy Land by permission of the king and returned with enough funds to repay Robin, perhaps with booty gained from the Battle of Auray?*
Twelve months after loaning Sir Richard £400 Robin went with Little John to the Saylis as arranged. Soon the High Cellarer of Saint Marys Abbey came by with another monk at his side. They both denied knowing the knight, saying all they had twenty marks. Unable to believe his eyes, Little John discovered £800 concealed in their bags. Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. Eating their food as fast as possible the two monks galloped away saying, “Blyth and Doncaster were cheaper.” Robin told them to give the Abbot his greetings and say to be sure to send a monk to dine with us every day.
After a long wait, the impoverished knight arrived before it got dark. Holding out the £400 he owed, Robin surprised him by saying, “nay, for our Lady, sent my pay by the High Cellarer, with £400 interest.” After finishing his tale; the knight laughed and said, “By my pledge your money is here already!” “Yes,” said Robin. “The £400 in your hand replaces the money stolen from you; your son is free, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
NOTES:
* The abbots at St. Mary’s were known for their excessive personal fortunes and were frequently in a position to furnish loans to the sovereign. Licences transferring ownership of property in perpetuity granted to the abbey for the acquisition of various properties were numerous. (British history online.)
Sir Henry Green. Knight, High Justice of England, Lord Chancellor, and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench was stripped of his office on charges of corruption in 1365. The Geste tells us the abbot of St, Marys had a hold over the Justice of England. (“The justyce of Englonde, the abbot there dyde holde.”)
* History tells us Sir Richard was licensed by the king to go overseas in 1364. He and the king were at Bestwood together. The Battle of Auray led by de Montfort took place in September that same year.
Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby. All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
