The sheriff made to seek Nottingham
Both by street and stye,

And Robin was in merry Sherwood,
As light as leaf on [tree].

Then bespake good Little John,

To Robin Hood gan he say—

"I have done thee a good turn for an ill,— Quite me when thou may!

"I have done thee a good turn," said Little John,"Forsooth as I you say:

I have brought thee under green-wood lyne,-
Farewell, and have Good-day!"

"Nay! by my troth," said Robin Hood,-
"So shall it never be !

I make thee master," said Robin Hood,"Of all my men and me."

"Nay! by my troth," said Little John "So shall it never be;

But let me be fellow!" said Little John,"None other kepe I'll be."

Thus John gat Robin Hood out of prison,
Certain withouten, layne;

When his men saw him whole and sound,
Forsooth they were full fain.

They fill'd [him] wine and made him glad
Under the leavès small,

And ate pasties of venison,
That good was with[al].

Then word came to our King,
How Robin Hood was gone,

And how the sheriff of Nottingham
Durst never look him upon.

Then bespake our comely King,

In an anger hie,—

"Little John has beguiled the sheriff, I' faith so has he me.

"Little John has beguiled us both,
And that full well I see,

Or else the sheriff of Nottingham
Hie hanged should he be.

"I made them yeomen of the Crown
And gave them fee with my hand;
I gave them grithe," said our King
Throughout all merry Englànd.

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"I gave them grithe," said our King,—
"I say, so might I the,

Forsooth such a yeoman as he is one
In all England are not three.

"He is true to his master: " said our King,

"I say, by sweet St. John,

He loves better Robin Hood

Than he does us each one.

"Robin Hood is ever bound to him,

Both in street and stall.

Speak no more of this matter!" said our King,—

"But John has beguiled us all."

Thus ends the talking of the Monk
And Robin Hood I wis:

God, that is ever a crowned King,

Bring us all to his bliss!

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP.

Come, gentlemen all! and listen awhile;

And a story I'll to you unfold:

I'll tell you how Robin Hood served the Bishop When he robb'd him of his gold.

As it fell out, on a sun-shiny day,
When Phoebus was in prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.

And as he walk'd the forest along,
Some pastime for to spy,

There was he aware of a proud Bishop

And all his company.

"O what shall I do?" said Robin Hood then,"If the Bishop he doth take me,

No mercy he'll show to me, I know,
But hanged I shall be."

Then Robin was stout, and turn'd him about,

And a little house there he did spy;

And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry.

"Why, who art thou?" said the old woman,— "Come tell to me for good!"

"I am an outlaw, as many do know, My name it is Robin Hood.

"And yonder's the Bishop and all his men,

And if that I taken be,

Then day and night he'll work my spite,
And hanged I shall be."

"If thou be Robin Hood," said the old wife,"As thou dost seem to be,

I'll for thee provide, and thee I will hide
From the Bishop and his company.

"For I remember, one Saturday night

Thou brought me both shoes and hose: Therefore I'll provide thy person to hide And keep thee from thy foes."

"Then give me soon thy coat of grey,
And take thou my mantle of green!
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen!"

And when Robin Hood was so array'd

He went straight to his company;

With his spindle and twine, he oft look'd behind For the Bishop and his company.

"O who is yonder," quoth Little John,— "That now comes over the lea?

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An arrow I will at her let fly,

So like an old witch looks she."

"O hold thy hand!" said Robin Hood then,—
"And shoot not thy arrows so keen!

I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen."

The Bishop he came to the old woman's house, And call'd, with furious mood,

"Come, let me soon see and bring unto me That traitor Robin Hood!"

The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himself on a dapple grey ;

And for joy that he had got Robin Hood
He went laughing all the way.

But as they were riding the forest along,
The Bishop he chanced for to see

A hundred brave bowmen bold

Stand under the green-wood tree.

"O who is yonder," the Bishop then said,"That's ranging within yonder wood?

"Marry!" says the old woman,-" I think it to be A man call'd Robin Hood."

"Why, who art thou," the Bishop he said,"Which I have here with me?

Why I am an old woman, thou [silly old] Bishop! [Look well at me] and see!"

"Then woe is me," the Bishop he said,-
"That ever I saw this day!"

He turn'd him about, but Robin stout
Call'd him and bid him stay.

Then Robin took hold of the Bishop's horse,
And tied him fast to a tree;

Then Little John smiled his master upon,
For joy of that company.

Robin Hood took his mantle from his back
And spread it upon the ground;
And out of the Bishop's portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.

"Now let him go!" said Robin Hood;

Said Little John-" That may not be :

For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass
Before that he go from me.”

Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand,

And bound him fast to a tree,

And made him sing a mass, God wot,

For him and his yeomanry.

And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple grey,

And gave him the tail within his hand,
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.