The Bailiff was a thin quick-tempered man,
He shaved his beard as closely as one can,
Cut in a ring above the ear, his hair
Was short cropped at the front, as priests will wear.
His legs were elongated thin and lean,
Just like two sticks, no muscle to be seen.
He managed well, both granary and bin;
No auditor could easily fault him.
He could closely guess, from how much drought or rain
What his seed would yield when gathered in as grain.
His lord's sheep, his cattle and his dairy,
His pigs, his horses, livestock and poultry,
Were all within this bailiff's competence
It was his job to present a balance
For his lord's age was only twenty years.
No man could charge him with any arrears.
There was no bailiff, herdsman or hand there
Of who's trickery he was not aware,
And they were as frightened of him as of dying.
Upon a beautiful heath and lying
Within the shade of green trees his fair house stood.
He could strike a better deal than his lord could,
And had a hoard of surplus goods put by,
Which he used cleverly to satisfy
His lord, giving or lending him his own,
So earning not just thanks, but hood and gown.
When young he became a master tradesman:
He was a carpenter, a skilled craftsman.
This bailiff rode upon a strong farm horse;
It was a dappled grey, called Scott of course.
He wore a deep blue, calf length over-gown,
And by his side a rusty blade hung down.
This bailiff came from Norfolk, I heard tell,
From near a country town known as Bawdswell.
He tucked up his gown like a friar all the time,
And he always rode at the back of the line.
The Reve was a sclendre colerik man.
His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene,
Ylyk a staf, ther was no calf ysene.
Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn,
The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye,
Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
With grene trees shadwed was his place.
He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
Ful riche he was astored pryvely:
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster;
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This Reve sat upon a ful good stot;
That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.
A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
Of Northfolk was this Reve, of which I telle,
Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.