The abbot which before I nam'd Sought all the meanes he could To have by force this rebele ta'ne, 175 And his adherents bold. Therefore he arm'd five hundred men, With furniture compleate; But the outlawes slewe halfe of them, And made the rest retreate. 180 The long bow and the arrow keene They were so us'd unto, That still he kept the forrest greene In spite o' th' proudest foe. Twelve of the abbots men he tooke, 185 Who came him to have ta'ne, When all the rest the field forsooke; These he did entertaine With banquetting and merriment, And, having us'd them well, 190 He to their lord them safely sent, And will'd them him to tell, That if he would be pleas'd at last To beg of our good king That he might pardon what was past, 195 And him to favour bring, He would surrender backe again The money which before Was taken by him and his men From him and many more. 200 Poore men might safely passe by him, And some that way would chuse, For well they knew that to helpe them He evermore did use. But where he knew a miser rich 205 That did the poore oppresse, To feel his coyne his hands did itch; He'd have it, more or lesse. And sometimes, when the high-way fayl'd, Then he his courage rouses, 210 He and his men have oft assayld Such rich men in their houses. So that, through dread of Robbin then, And his adventurous crew, The mizers kept great store of men, 215 Which else maintayn'd but few. King Richard of that name the first, Sirnamed Cuer de Lyon, Went to defeate the Pagans curst, Who kept the coasts of Syon. 220 The bishop of Ely, chancelor, Was left a vice-roy here, Who like a potent emperor Did proudly domminere. Our chronicles of him report, 225 That commonly he rode With a thousand horse from court to court, Where he would make abode. He, riding down towards the north, With his aforesayd train, 230 Robbin and his men did issue forth, Them all to entertaine; And with the gallant gray-goose wing They shewd to them such playe, That made their horses kicke and fling, 235 And downe their riders lay. Full glad and faine the bishop was, For all his thousand men, To seek what meanes he could to passe From out of Robbins ken. 240 Two hundred of his men were kil'd, And fourescore horses good; Thirty, who did as captives yeeld, Were carryed to the greene wood;