"Come now forth, Lytell Johan, 285 And go to my treasurè, And brynge me there foure hondred pounde, The monke over-tolde it me. "Have here foure hondred pounde, Thou gentyll knyght and trewe, 290 And bye hors and harnes good, And gylte thy spores all newe. "And yf thou fayle ony spendynge, Com to Robyn Hode, And by my trouth thou shalt none fayle, 295 The whyles I have any good. "And broke well thy four hundred pound, Whiche I lent to the, And make thy selfe no more so bare, By the counsell of me." 300 Thus than holpe hym good Robyn, The knyght all of his care:[L302] God, that sytteth in heven hye,[L303] Graunte us well to fare. 19, such, W. 54, you, W. Make you yonder preste, C. 77, yemen, C. 80, Lytell Johan. O. CC. 108, them bothe, O. CC. 136, to, W. 149, nade, W. not in C. 172. Eyght pounde, W. 187, to, W. 205, corser, W. courser, C. 249, gayne, W. 253. But take not a grefe, sayd the knyght, That I have be so longe. O. CC. 269. I twyse, W. 280, thi trusty, C. THE FYFTH FYTTE. Now hath the knyght his leve itake, And wente hym on his way; Robyn Hode and his mery men Dwelled styll full many a day. Lyth and lysten, gentilmen, 5 And herken what I shall say, How the proud sheryfe of Notyngham Dyde crye a full fayre play; That all the best archers of the north Sholde come upon a daye, 10 And he that shoteth altherbest[L11] The game shall bere away. He that shoteth altherbest[L13] Furthest fayre and lowe, At a payre of fynly buttes, 15 Under the grene wode shawe, A ryght good arowe he shall have, The shaft of sylver whyte, The heade and the feders of ryche rede golde, In Englond is none lyke. 20 This then herde good Robyn, Under his trystell tre: "Make you redy, ye wyght yonge men; That shotynge wyll I se. "Buske you, my mery yonge men, 25 Ye shall go with me; And I wyll wete the shryves fayth, Trewe and yf he be." Whan they had theyr bowes ibent, Theyr takles fedred fre, 30 Seven score of wyght yonge men Stode by Robyns kne. "Whan they cam to Notyngham, The buttes were fayre and longe; Many was the bolde archere 35 That shoted with bowes stronge. "There shall but syx shote with me; The other shal kepe my hede. And stande with good bowes bent, That I be not desceyved." 40