I am wilfulle of my waye, quo' the yeman, Ile lead thee through the wood, fayd Robin; I feeke an outlawe, the ftraunger fayd, Men call him Robin Hood ; 100 We may chance to meete with Robin Hood Here at fome unfett fteven. They cutt them down two fummer fhroggs, 110 And fett them threefcore rood in twaine 115 To fhoote the prickes y-fere. Leade on, good fellowe, quo Robin Hood, Leade on, I do bidd thee. Nay by my faith, good fellowe, hee sayd, My leader thou shalt bee. 120 The The first time Robin fhot at the pricke, The yeoman he was an archer good, But he cold never do foe. The fecond shoote had the wightye yeman, 125 He shot within the garland: But Robin he fhott far better than hee, A bleffing upon thy heart, he fayd; Good fellowe, thy fhooting is goode; For an thy hart be as good as thy hand, Thou wert better than Robin Hoode. 130 Now tell me thy name, good fellowe, fayd he, Under the leaves of lyne. Nay by my faith, quoth bolde Robin, Till thou have told me thine. 135 I dwell by dale and downe, quoth hee, And Robin to take Ime fworne, And when I am called by my right name 140 I am Guy of good Gisborne. My dwelling is in this wood, 'fayes Robin, By thee I fet right nought: I am Robin Hood of Barnèfdale, Whom thou fo long haft fought. He He that had neyther beene kithe nor kin, To fee how these yeomen together they fought Yett neither Robin Hood nor fir Guy Them fettled to flye away. Robin was reachles on a roote, 145 159 And ftumbled at that tyde; And Guy was quicke and nimble with-all, 155 And hitt him upon the syde. Ah deere Ladye, fayd Robin Hoode tho, That art but mother and may', I think it was never mans destinye To dye before his day. Robin thought on our ladye deere, And foone leapt up againe, And strait he came with a backward' ftroke, He tooke fir Guys head by the hayre, G 2 Ver. 163. awkwarde. MS. 160 165 Robin Robin pulled forth an Irish knife, And nicked fir Guy in the face, 170 That he was never on woman born, Sayes, Lye there, lye there, now fir Guye, Iff thou have had the worst strokes at my hand, 175 Thy bowe, thy arrowes, and litle horne, Now with me I will beare; For I will away to Barnèsdale, To fee how my men doe fare. 180 Robin Hood fett Guyes horne to his mouth, 185 And a loud blaft in it did blow. Hearken, hearken, fayd the sheriffe, I heare nowe tydings good, For yonder I heare fir Guyes horne blow, And he hath flaine Robin Hoode. 190 Yonder Yonder I heare fir Guyes horne blowe, Itt blowes foe well in tyde, And yonder comes that wightye yeoman, 195 Cladd in his capull hyde. Come hyther, come hyther, thou good fir Guy, Afke what thou wilt of mee. O I,will none of thy gold, fayd Robin, But now I have flaine the master, he fayes, Let me goe ftrike the knave, For this is all the meede I aske, None other rewarde I'le have. Thou art a madman, fayd the sheriffe, Thou sholdst have had a knightes fee: But feeing thy asking hath beene foe bad, Well granted it shal bee. When Little John heard his master speake, Faft Robin hee hyed him to Little John, The fheriffe and all his companye Faft after him can drive. G 3 200 205 210 215 Stand |