And Little John most hastily Away cut Stutly's bands, And from one of the sheriffs men, 115 A sword twich'd from his hands. "Here, Will Stutly, take thou this same, Thou canst it better sway; And here defend thyself awhile, For aid will come straightway." 120 And there they turn'd them back to back, In the midst of them that day, Till Robin Hood approached near, With many an archer gay. With that an arrow from them flew, 125 I-wis[126] from Robin Hood;[L126] "Make haste, make haste," the sheriff he said, "Make haste, for it is not good." The sheriff is gone; his doughty men Thought it no boot to stay, 130 But, as their master had them taught, They run full fast away. "O stay, O stay," Will Stutly said, "Take leave ere you depart; You ne'er will catch bold Robin Hood, 135 Unless you dare him meet." "O ill betide you," said Robin Hood, That you so soon are gone; My sword may in the scabbard rest, For here our work is done." 140 "I little thought," Will Stutly said, "When I came to this place, For to have met with Little John, Or seen my master's face." Thus Stutly he was at liberty set, 145 And safe brought from his foe: "O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr, Since here it was not so. "And once again, my fellows dear, _Derry, derry down_, We shall in the green woods meet, 150 Where we will make our bow-strings twang, Musick for us most sweet." _Hey down, derry, derry down_. 126, I wist. ROBIN HOODS PROGRESS TO NOTTINGHAM. Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 13. "From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood. It is there said to go 'To the tune of Bold Robin Hood;' and the chorus is repeated in every stanza. To the above title are added the following doggerel lines:-- Where hee met with fifteen forresters all on a row, And hee desired of them some news for to know, But with crosse-grain'd words they did him thwart, For which at last hee made them smart." One or two corrections made by Gutch from copies in the Roxburghe collection have been admitted. Robin Hood he was a tall young man,[L1] _Derry, derry down_, And fifteen winters old; And Robin Hood he was a proper young man, Of courage stout and bold. _Hey down, derry, derry down_. Robin Hood hee would unto fair Nottingham,[L5] 5 With the general for to dine; There was hee aware of fifteen forresters, And a drinking beer, ale, and wine.[L8]