The tennure of this letter was That Robbin would submit, And be true liegeman to his grace In any thing that's fit, 320 So that his highnesse would forgive Him and his merry men all; If not, he must i' th' green wood live, And take what chance did fall. The king would faine have pardoned him, 325 But that some lords did say "This president will much condemn Your grace another day." While that the king and lords did stay Debating on this thing, 330 Some of these outlawes fled away Unto the Scottish king. For they suppos'd, if he were tane, Or to the king did yeeld, By th' commons all the rest of 's train 335 Full quickely would be quell'd. Of more than full an hundred men, But forty tarryed still, Who were resolv'd to sticke to him Let fortune worke her will. 340 If none had fled, all for his sake Had got their pardon free; The king to favour meant to take His merry men and he. But e're the pardon to him came 345 This famous archer dy'd: His death and manner of the same I'le presently describe. For, being vext to think upon His followers revolt, 350 In melancholly passiòn He did recount his fault. "Perfideous traytors!" sayd he then, "In all your dangers past Have I you guarded as my men, 355 To leave me thus at last!" This sad perplexity did cause A feaver, as some say, Which him unto confusion drawes, Though by a stranger way. 360 This deadly danger to prevent, He hie'd him with all speede Unto a nunnery, with intent For his healths-sake to bleede. A faithlesse fryer did pretend 365 In love to let him blood, But he by falshood wrought the end Of famous Robbin Hood. The fryer, as some say, did this To vindicate the wrong 370 Which to the clergy he and his Had done by power strong. Thus dyed he by trechery, That could not dye by force: Had he liv'd longer, certainely 375 King Richard, in remorse, Had unto favour him receiv'd, His brave men elevated: 'Tis pitty he was of life bereav'd By one which he so hated. 380 A treacherous leach this fryer was, To let him bleed to death; And Robbin was, methinks, an asse To trust him with his breath. His corpse the prioress of the place, 385 The next day that he dy'd, Caused to be buried, in mean case, Close by the high-way side.