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."