The Impoverished Knight
Will and Much were in the Saylis when a knight came riding by, his face wet with tears. “Welcome to the Greenwood, Sir Knight,” they said, “my master invites you to dine with us.” “Do I know your master?” Asked the knight. “His name is Robin Hood,” they replied. “He is a good yeoman,” said the knight, “I intended dining at Blyth or Doncaster, but have long wanted to meet Robin Hood.” Telling his tale of woe to Robin, he ended by saying, “My son killed a squire and a knight of Lancaster in a tournament and I had to borrow £400 from Saint Mary’s Abbey to bail him out of jail.”
The knight needed to repay the loan that day, but having no money he could only plead for more time. Afterwards, he intended going across the ‘salty sea’ to where Christ hung and died on the mountain of Golgotha and join him there. Questioning the knight, Robin loaned him the money after he bound himself to the Virgin Mary as his guarantor. Robin then gave the knight fine clothing; a grey pack-horse, a Palfrey, a saddle, a pair of boots, and a pair of gilded spurs. As a bonus, Robin told Little John to be his squire on the journey to York.
Sir Richard arrived at Saint Mary’s Abbey minutes before the deadline. Wanting to know how they helped the needy he pleaded poverty. The abbot and High Justice of England told him his land and castle would belong to them by nightfall if he did not pay there and then. Their selfish, hardened hearts shocked him. Horrified, the gentle knight threw the money loaned to him by Robin on the table and left the building. His property secure thanks to Robin’s generosity and goodwill, he rode home a happy man to tell his wife the good news.
Although clear of debt to the Abbey, he still owed Robin £400. With a fond farewell, the knight kissed his wife goodbye and embarked on his journey to the Holy Land, returning with £400 perhaps from bounties gained in the Battle of Auray? While Robin waited at the Saylis on the agreed day for the impoverished knight to repay his loan, along came the High Cellarer from St. Mary's Abbey with over 50 men and seven pack-horses. Talking to the High Cellarer and his colleague Robin asked about the knight and his £400, to which they replied, riches like that only exist in peoples dreams, adding the money they had with them would only pay for their dinner. Little John must have thought he was dreaming when he found £800 in their packs! Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. He gave them food, and after finishing their meal, they galloped away saying, “We could have dined cheaper at Blyth or Doncaster.” With their money in his hand, Robin told them to “give the abbot his regards and be sure to send a monk to dine with him every day." Without realising it, they told the truth when they said to Robin, “the money they had, would only pay for their dinner.”
On his way to the Saylis, the knight stopped to help another knight but got to Robin before it went dark. Offering Robin the £400 he owed, Robin, refused it, saying “nay, for Lady by her High Cellarer, sent my pay.” When Robin ended his tale, the knight laughed and exclaimed, “By my pledge. Your money is ready here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “Our Dear Lady sent it with £400 interest. The £400 in your hand replaces the money you lost to your scheming friends, your son is out of jail, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
* The Battle of Auray led by de Montfort in the Hundred-Year War took place in September 1364.
* History tells us Sir Richard was licensed by the king to go overseas in 1364. They were at Bestwood together.
* 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.")
Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby. All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
The knight needed to repay the loan that day, but having no money he could only plead for more time. Afterwards, he intended going across the ‘salty sea’ to where Christ hung and died on the mountain of Golgotha and join him there. Questioning the knight, Robin loaned him the money after he bound himself to the Virgin Mary as his guarantor. Robin then gave the knight fine clothing; a grey pack-horse, a Palfrey, a saddle, a pair of boots, and a pair of gilded spurs. As a bonus, Robin told Little John to be his squire on the journey to York.
Sir Richard arrived at Saint Mary’s Abbey minutes before the deadline. Wanting to know how they helped the needy he pleaded poverty. The abbot and High Justice of England told him his land and castle would belong to them by nightfall if he did not pay there and then. Their selfish, hardened hearts shocked him. Horrified, the gentle knight threw the money loaned to him by Robin on the table and left the building. His property secure thanks to Robin’s generosity and goodwill, he rode home a happy man to tell his wife the good news.
Although clear of debt to the Abbey, he still owed Robin £400. With a fond farewell, the knight kissed his wife goodbye and embarked on his journey to the Holy Land, returning with £400 perhaps from bounties gained in the Battle of Auray? While Robin waited at the Saylis on the agreed day for the impoverished knight to repay his loan, along came the High Cellarer from St. Mary's Abbey with over 50 men and seven pack-horses. Talking to the High Cellarer and his colleague Robin asked about the knight and his £400, to which they replied, riches like that only exist in peoples dreams, adding the money they had with them would only pay for their dinner. Little John must have thought he was dreaming when he found £800 in their packs! Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. He gave them food, and after finishing their meal, they galloped away saying, “We could have dined cheaper at Blyth or Doncaster.” With their money in his hand, Robin told them to “give the abbot his regards and be sure to send a monk to dine with him every day." Without realising it, they told the truth when they said to Robin, “the money they had, would only pay for their dinner.”
On his way to the Saylis, the knight stopped to help another knight but got to Robin before it went dark. Offering Robin the £400 he owed, Robin, refused it, saying “nay, for Lady by her High Cellarer, sent my pay.” When Robin ended his tale, the knight laughed and exclaimed, “By my pledge. Your money is ready here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “Our Dear Lady sent it with £400 interest. The £400 in your hand replaces the money you lost to your scheming friends, your son is out of jail, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
* The Battle of Auray led by de Montfort in the Hundred-Year War took place in September 1364.
* History tells us Sir Richard was licensed by the king to go overseas in 1364. They were at Bestwood together.
* 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.")
Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby. All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
