12. And when he came to Barnësdale, Great heaviness there he had; He found two of his fellows Were slain both in a slade, 13. And Scarlet afoot flying was, Over stocks and stone, For the sheriff with seven score men Fast after him is gone. 14. ‘Yet one shot I’ll shoot,’ says Little John, ‘With Christ his might and main; I’ll make yond fellow that flies so fast To be both glad and fain.’ 15. John bent up a good yew bow, And fettled him to shoot; The bow was made of a tender bough, And fell down to his foot. 16. ‘Woe worth thee, wicked wood,’ said Little John, ‘That e’er thou grew on a tree! For this day thou art my bale, My boot when thou should be.’ 17. This shot it was but loosely shot, The arrow flew in vain, And it met one of the sheriff’s men; Good William a Trent was slain. 18. It had been better for William a Trent To hang upon a gallow Than for to lie in the greenwood, There slain with an arrow. 19. And it is said, when men be met, Six can do more than three: And they have ta’en Little John, And bound him fast to a tree. 20. ‘Thou shalt be drawn by dale and down, And hanged high on a hill.’ ‘But thou may fail,’ quoth Little John, ‘If it be Christ’s own will.’ 21. Let us leave talking of Little John, For he is bound fast to a tree, And talk of Guy and Robin Hood In the greenwood where they be; 22. How these two yeomen together they met, Under the leaves of lyne, To see what merchandise they made Even at that same time. 23. ‘Good morrow, good fellow,’ quoth Sir Guy; ‘Good morrow, good fellow,’ quoth he; ‘Methinks by this bow thou bears in thy hand, A good archer thou seems to be. 24. ‘I am wilful of my way,’ quoth Sir Guy, ‘And of my morning tide.’ ‘I’ll lead thee through the wood,’ quoth Robin, ‘Good fellow, I’ll be thy guide.’ 25. ‘I seek an outlaw,’ quoth Sir Guy, ‘Men call him Robin Hood; I had rathèr meet with him upon a day Than forty pound of gold.’ 26. ‘If you two met, it would be seen whether were better Afore ye did part away; Let us some other pastime find, Good fellow, I thee pray. 27. ‘Let us some other masteries make, And we will walk in the woods even; We may chance meet with Robin Hood At some unset steven.’ 28. They cut them down the summer shroggs Which grew both under a briar, And set them three score rood in twain, To shoot the pricks full near. 29. ‘Lead on, good fellow,’ said Sir Guy, ‘Lead on, I do bid thee.’ ‘Nay by my faith,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘The leader thou shalt be.’ 30. The first good shot that Robin led, Did not shoot an inch the prick fro; Guy was an archer good enough, But he could ne’er shoot so.