"Abide, thou proud sher-iff," he said, "Abide and speak with me, Of some tidings of our king, I would fain hear of thee.

This seven year, by dere-worthy G.o.d, Ne yede I so fast on foot, I make mine avow, thou proud sheriff, Is not for thy good."

Robin bent a good bow-e, An arrow he drew at his will, He hit so the proud sher-iff, On the ground he lay full still; And ere he might up arise, On his feet to stand, He smote off the sheriff's head, With his bright brand.

"Lie thou there, thou proud sher-iff, Evil mote thou thrive; There might no man to thee trust, The whiles thou were alive."

His men drew out their bright swords That were so sharp and keen, And laid on the sher-iff's men, And drived them down bidene.

Robin stert to that knight, And cut atwo his band, And took him in his hand a bow, And bade him by him stand.

"Leav-e thy horse thee behind, And learn for to ren; Thou shalt with me to green wood, Through mire, moss, and fen; Thou shalt with me to green wood, Without an-y leas-ing, Till that I have get us grace, Of Edward our comely king."

THE SEVENTH FYTTE.

The king came to Nottingham, With knights in great array, For to take that gentle knight, And Robin Hood, if he may.

He asked men of that countr-e, After Robin Hood, And after that gentle knight, That was so bold and stout.

When they had told him the case, Our king understood their tale, And seised in his hand The knight-es landes all, All the pa.s.s of Lancashire, He went both far and near, Till he came to Plompton park, He failed many of his deer.

Where our king was wont to see Herd-es many one He could unneth find one deer, That bare an-y good horn.

The king was wonder wroth withal, And swore by the trinit-e, "I would I had Robin Hood, With eyen I might him see; And he that would smite off the knight-es head.

And bring it to me, He shall have the knight-es lands, Sir Rychard at the Lee; I give it him with my chart-er, And seal it with my hand, To have and hold for ever-more, In all merr-y Engl-and."

Then bespake a fair old knight, That was true in his fay, "Ah, my lieg-e lord the king, One word I shall you say: There is no man in this countr-y May have the knight-es lands, While Robin Hood may ride or gon, And bear a bow in his hands, That he ne shall lose his head, That is the best ball in his hood: Give it no man, my lord the king, That ye will any good!"

Half a year dwelled our comely king, In Nottingham, and well more, Could he not hear of Robin Hood, In what country that he were; But alw-ay went good Rob-in By halk and eke by hill, And alway slew the king-es deer, And welt them at his will.

Then bespake a proud forstere, That stood by our king's knee, "If ye will see good Rob-in, Ye must do after me.

Take five of the best knyght-es That be in your lede, And walk down by your abb-ey, And get you monk-es weed.

And I will be your led-es man, And led-e you the way, And ere ye come to Nottingham, Mine head then dare I lay, That ye shall meet with good Rob-in, Alive if that he be, Ere ye come to Nottingham, With eyen ye shall him see."

Full hastily our king was dight, So were his knight-es five, Each of them in monk-es weed, And hasted them thither blithe.

Our king was great above his cowl, A broad hat on his crown, Right as he were abbot-like, They rode up into the town.

Stiff boots our king had on, Forsooth as I you say, He rode sing-ing to green wood, The convent was clothed in gray, His mail horse, and his great som-ers, Followed our king behind, Till they came to green-e wood, A mile under the lind: There they met with good Rob-in, Standing on the way, And so did many a bold arch-er, For sooth as I you say.

Robin took the king-es horse, Hastily in that stead, And said, "Sir abbot, by your leave, A while ye must abide; We be yeom-en of this for-est, Under the green wood tree, We live by our king-es deer, Other shift have not we; And ye have churches and rent-es both, And gold full great plent-y; Give us some of your spend-ing, For saint Charity."

Than bespake our comely king, Anon then said he, "I brought no more to green-e wood, But forty pound with me.

I have lain at Nottingham, This fortnight with our king, And spent I have full much good, On many a great lording; And I have but forty pound, No more then have I me; But if I had an hundred pound, I would give it to thee."

Robin took the forty pound, And departed it in two part-ye, Halfendell he gave his merry men, And bade them merr-y to be.

Full courteously Rob-in gan say, "Sir, have this for your spend-ing, We shall meet another day."

"Gramerc-y," then said our king, "But well thee greeteth Edw-ard our king, And sent to thee his seal, And biddeth thee come to Nottingham, Both to meat and meal."

He took out the broad tarpe, And soon he let him see; Robin coud his courtesy, And set him on his knee: "I love no man in all the world So well as I do my king, Welcome is my lord-es seal; And, monk, for thy tid-ing, Sir abbot, for thy tiding-es, To-day thou shalt dine with me, For the love of my king, Under my trystell tree."

Forth he led our comely king, Full fair by the hand, Many a deer there was slain, And full fast dightand.

Robin took a full great horn, And loud he gan blow; Seven score of wight young men, Came ready on a row, All they kneel-ed on their knee, Full fair before Rob-in.

The king said himself unto, And swore by saint Austin, "Here is a wonder seemly sight, Me thinketh, by G.o.ddes pine; His men are more at his bidd-ing, Than my men be at mine!"

Full hastily was their dinner i-dight, And thereto gan they gon, They served our king with all their might, Both Robin and Little John.

Anon before our king was set The fatt-e venison, The good white bread, the good red wine, And thereto the fine ale brown.

"Mak-e good cheer," said Rob-in, "Abb-ot, for charit-y; And for this ilk-e tiding-e, Bless-ed mote thou be.

Now shalt thou see what life we lead, Or thou henn-es wend, Then thou may inform our king, When ye together lend."

Up they stert all in haste, Their bows were smartly bent, Our king was never so sore agast, He weened to have be shent.

Two yard-es there were up set, Thereto gan they gang; But fifty pace, our king said, The mark-es were too long.

On every side a rose garl-and, They shot under the line.

"Whoso faileth of the rose garland," said Robin, "His tackle he shall tine, And yield it to his master, Be it never so fine,-- For no man will I spare, So drinke I ale or wine,-- And bear a buffet on his head I-wys right all bare."

And all that fell in Robin's lot, He smote them wonder sair.

Twi-es Robin shot about, And ever he cleaved the wand, And so did good Gilb-ert, With the lily white hand; Little John and good Scath-elock, For nothing would they spare, When they failed of the garl-and, Robin smote them fall sair.

At the last shot that Robin shot, For all his friends fair, Yet he failed of the garl-and, Three fingers and mair.

Then bespak-e good Gilb-ert, And thus he gan say, "Master," he said, "your tackle is lost, Stand forth and take your pay."

"If it be so," said Rob-in, "That may no better be: Sir abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow, I pray thee, sir, serve thou me."

"It falleth not for mine order," said our king; "Robin, by thy leave, For to smite no good yeom-an, For doubt I should him grieve."

"Smite on boldly!" said Rob-in, "I give thee larg-e leave."

Anon our king, with that word, He fold up his sleeve, And such a buffet he gave Rob-in, To ground he yede full near.

"I make mine avow to G.o.d," said Robin, "Thou art a stalworthy frere; There is pith in thine arm," said Rob-in, "I trow thou canst well shoot!"

Thus our king and Robin Hood Together then they met.

Robin beheld our comely king Wistly in the face, So did Sir Richard at the Lee, And kneeled down in that place; And so did all the wild outl-aws, When they see them kneel.

"My lord the king of Engl-and, Now I know you well.

Merc-y," then Robin said to our king, "Under your trystal tree, Of thy goodness and thy grace, For my men and me!

Yes, fore G.o.d," said Robin, "And also G.o.d me save; I ask merc-y, my lord the king, And for my men I crave."

"Yes, fore G.o.d," then said our king, "Thy pet.i.tion I grant thee, With that thou leave the green wood, And all thy compan-y; And come home, sir, to my court, And there dwell with me."

"I make mine avow," said Rob-in, "And right so shall it be; I will come to your court, Your service for to see, And bring with me of my men Seven score and three.

But me like well your serv-ice, I come again full soon, And shoot at the donn-e deer, As I am wont to doon."

THE EIGHTH FYTTE.

"Hast thou any green cloth," said our king, "That thou wilt sell now to me?"

"Yea, fore G.o.d," said Robin.

"Thirty yards and three."

"Robin," said our king, "Now pray I thee, To sell me some of that cloth, To me and my meyn-e."