"What news?" "What news?" said bold Robin Hood, "What news fain wouldest thou know? 10 Our king hath provided a shooting match, And I'm ready with my bow." "We hold it in scorn," said the forresters, "That ever a boy so young Should bear a bow before our king, 15 That's not able to draw one string." "I'le hold you twenty marks," said bold Robin Hood, "By the leave of our lad[y'], That I'le hit a mark a hundred rod, And I'le cause a hart to dye." 20 "We'l hold you twenty mark," then said the forresters, "By the leave of our lady, Thou hit'st not the marke a hundred rod, Nor causest a hart to dye." Robin Hood he bent up a noble bow, 25 And a broad arrow he let flye, He hit the mark a hundred rod, And he caused a hart to dye. Some say hee brake ribs one or two, And some say hee brake three; 30 The arrow within the hart would not abide, But it glanced in two or three. The hart did skip, and the hart did leap, And the hart lay on the ground; "The wager is mine," said bold Robin Hood, 35 "If't were for a thousand pound." "The wager's none of thine," then said the forresters, "Although thou beest in haste; Take up thy bow, and get thee hence, Lest wee thy sides do baste." 40 Robin Hood he took up his noble bow, And his broad arrows all amain; And Robin Hood he laught, and begun to smile, As hee went over the plain. Then Robin Hood he bent his noble bow, 45 And his broad arrowes he let flye, Till fourteen of these fifteen forresters Upon the ground did lye. He that did this quarrel first begin Went tripping over the plain; 50 But Robin Hood he bent his noble bow, And hee fetcht him back again. "You said I was no archer," said Robin Hood, "But say so now again;" With that he sent another arrow, 55 That split his head in twain. "You have found mee an archer," said Robin Hood,[L57] "Which will make your wives for to wring, And wish that you had never spoke the word, That I could not draw one string." 60 The people that lived in fair Nottinghàm Came running out amain, Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood, With the forresters that were slain. Some lost legs, and some lost arms, 65 And some did lose their blood; But Robin hee took up his noble bow, And is gone to the merry green wood. They carried these forresters into fair Nottingham, As many there did know; 70 They dig'd them graves in their church-yard, And they buried them all a-row.