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 pass 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.