"I make myn avowe to god," sayd Robyn, 105 "The sheryf wolde I fayn se,[L106] And yf I may hym take, Iquyt than shall he bee."[L108] And whan they came to Notyngham, They walked in the strete, 110 And with the proud sheryf, i-wys, Sone gan they mete. "Abyde, thou proud sheryf," he sayd, "Abyde and speake with me, Of some tydynges of our kynge, 115 I wolde fayne here of the. "This seven yere, by dere worthy god, Ne yede I so fast on fote; I make myn avowe to god, thou proude sheryfe, That is not for thy good."[L120] 120 Robyn bent a good bowe, An arrowe he drewe at his wyll, He hyt so the proud sheryf, Upon the ground he lay full styll. And or he myght up aryse, 125 On his fete to stonde, He smote of the sheryves hede, With his bryght bronde. "Lye thou there, thou proude sheryf, Evyll mote thou thryve; 130 There myght no man to the trust, The whyles thou were alyve." His men drewe out theyr bryght swerdes, That were so sharpe and kene, And layde on the sheryves men, 135 And dryved them downe bydene. Robyn stert to that knyght, And cut a two his bonde,[L138] And toke hym in his hand a bowe, And bade hym by hym stonde. 140 "Leve thy hors the behynde, And lerne for to renne; Thou shalt with me to grene wode, Through myre, mosse, and fenne. "Thou shalt with me to grene wode, 145 Without ony leasynge, Tyll that I have gete us grace Of Edwarde, our comly kynge." 14, thou, W. 38, the bydde, OCC. 64, honde and fote, W. foote and hande, C. 66, on a tre, R. rode, Ch. & M. 77. God the good Robyn, W. 79, lady, W. 81. Late. 82. Shamly I slayne be, W. 88. Forsoth as I the say, W. 92, your waye, W. You may them over take, C. 99, 100. Shall he never in grene wode be, Nor longer dwell with me. W. 106, sherif, Ch. & M. knyght, R. 108, it, W. 120. At, W. That, C. boote for good, Wh. 138, hoode, W. bande, C. THE SEVENTH FYTTE. The kynge came to Notynghame, With knyghtes in grete araye, For to take that gentyll knyght And Robyn Hode, yf he may.[L4] He asked men of that countrè, 5 After Robyn Hode, And after that gentyll knyght, That was so bolde and stout. Whan they had tolde hym the case Our kynge understonde ther tale, 10 And seased in his honde The knyghtes londes all. All the passe of Lancasshyre He went both ferre and nere; Tyll he came to Plomton parke,[L15] 15 He faylyd many of his dere.