"I would crave thy mercy," said he.

"As thou hopest for Heaven's mercy, show mercy to me.

Strip me not of my lands and so reduce a true knight to poverty." "Thy day is broken and thy lands forfeit," said the man of law, plucking up his spirits at the Knight's humble speech.
Quoth Sir Richard, "Thou man of law, wilt thou not befriend me in mine hour of need ?" "Nay," said the other, "I hold with this holy Prior, who hath paid me my fees in hard gold, so that I am bounder to him." "Wilt thou not be my friend, Sir Sheriff ?" said Sir Richard.
"Nay, 'fore Heaven," quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham, "this is no business of mine, yet I will do what I may," and he nudged the Prior beneath the cloth with his knee.

"Wilt thou not ease him of some of his debts, Sir Prior ?" At this the Prior smiled grimly.

"Pay me three hundred pounds, Sir Richard," said he, "and I will give thee quittance of thy debt." "Thou knowest, Sir Prior, that it is as easy for me to pay four hundred pounds as three hundred," said Sir Richard.