The Impoverished Knight
Picture: Horse rider on Loxley Common
Back in England after Poitiers Robin presumably returned to his yeoman duties. They included charging carters for travelling through the forest in the spring when the deer were fawning, but the foresters extended it to include the whole year, keeping the money for themselves. Likewise in the ballad “Robin Hood and the Potter,” Robin attempted to charge the potter pavage tax but failed.
When Sir Richard arrived at the Saylis, Robin stopped him as was his custom. It turned out the knight’s false friends had stolen his life savings and now he was in debt to the tune of £400 after borrowing the money from the Abbot of Saint Mary to release his son from jail. His son had killed two knights of Lancaster while jousting. Should he fail to repay his debt within the allotted time the knight would lose his home to the abbot*. So now, one year later and still destitute he was going to York intending to plead for more time.
Hearing about the knight’s troubles, our heroic archer, merchant, knight and moneylender loaned him £400 on the same terms and conditions as the abbot except the Virgin Mary was the guarantor. So now, should the knight not repay Robin’s loan, it would be Robin who gained possession of his home. Little John acting as his squire, accompanied the knight to York, where he paid off his debt to them. From there, Sir Richard crossed the salty sea by permission of the king who had given him license to do so. (family tree) When he reached foreign soil, fortune favoured him, and he returned home with enough money to repay Robin.
Twelve months after providing the loan, Robin went with Little John to meet Sir Richard at the Saylis as arranged. Soon the High Cellarer of Saint Mary’s Abbey came by with another monk at his side. Both men denied knowing the knight and said they only had twenty marks. Imagine Little John’s surprise when he found £800 concealed in their bags. Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. The monks ate the meal, Robin gave them as fast as they could and galloping away, shouted: “Blyth and Doncaster are cheaper!” Robin replied, “give the Abbot my greetings and tell him to send a monk to dine with us every day.”
Sir Richard arrived before it got dark. He apologised for his lateness while holding out the £400 he owed. Much to his surprise, Robin refused it, saying, “Nay, our Lady sent my pay by the High Cellarer with £400 interest.” After Robin finished his tale the knight laughed, “By my pledge, your money is already here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “I have my due, the money stolen from you has been restored to you, your son is free, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
NOTES:
* The abbots of St. Marys 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
Back in England after Poitiers Robin presumably returned to his yeoman duties. They included charging carters for travelling through the forest in the spring when the deer were fawning, but the foresters extended it to include the whole year, keeping the money for themselves. Likewise in the ballad “Robin Hood and the Potter,” Robin attempted to charge the potter pavage tax but failed.
When Sir Richard arrived at the Saylis, Robin stopped him as was his custom. It turned out the knight’s false friends had stolen his life savings and now he was in debt to the tune of £400 after borrowing the money from the Abbot of Saint Mary to release his son from jail. His son had killed two knights of Lancaster while jousting. Should he fail to repay his debt within the allotted time the knight would lose his home to the abbot*. So now, one year later and still destitute he was going to York intending to plead for more time.
Hearing about the knight’s troubles, our heroic archer, merchant, knight and moneylender loaned him £400 on the same terms and conditions as the abbot except the Virgin Mary was the guarantor. So now, should the knight not repay Robin’s loan, it would be Robin who gained possession of his home. Little John acting as his squire, accompanied the knight to York, where he paid off his debt to them. From there, Sir Richard crossed the salty sea by permission of the king who had given him license to do so. (family tree) When he reached foreign soil, fortune favoured him, and he returned home with enough money to repay Robin.
Twelve months after providing the loan, Robin went with Little John to meet Sir Richard at the Saylis as arranged. Soon the High Cellarer of Saint Mary’s Abbey came by with another monk at his side. Both men denied knowing the knight and said they only had twenty marks. Imagine Little John’s surprise when he found £800 concealed in their bags. Robin concluded the Virgin Mary sent the money to help the poor. The monks ate the meal, Robin gave them as fast as they could and galloping away, shouted: “Blyth and Doncaster are cheaper!” Robin replied, “give the Abbot my greetings and tell him to send a monk to dine with us every day.”
Sir Richard arrived before it got dark. He apologised for his lateness while holding out the £400 he owed. Much to his surprise, Robin refused it, saying, “Nay, our Lady sent my pay by the High Cellarer with £400 interest.” After Robin finished his tale the knight laughed, “By my pledge, your money is already here!” “Yes,” said Robin, “I have my due, the money stolen from you has been restored to you, your son is free, and we both have £400 more than this time last year.”
NOTES:
* The abbots of St. Marys 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
