Lithe and listen, Gentlemen! And hearken unto your song! How the proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM And men of armes strong Full fast came to the High Sheriff The country up to rout, And they beset the Knight's Castle, The walls all about. The proud Sheriff loud 'gan cry And said, "Thou traitor Knight! Thou keepest here the King's enemy! Against the laws and right!" "Sir, I will avow that I have done The deeds that here be dight, Upon all the lands that I have, As I am a true Knight, Wend forth, Sirs, on your way; And do no more to me, Till ye wit our King's will What he will say to thee!" The Sheriff thus, had his answer Without any leasing. Forth he yode to London town, All for to tell the King. There he told them of that Knight, And eke of ROBIN HOOD; And also of the bold archers, That noble were and good. He would avow that he had done To maintain the outlaws strong; He would be Lord, and set you at nought In all the North land. "I will be at Nottingham," said the King, "Within this fortnight! And take I will, ROBIN HOOD; And so I will that Knight! Go now home, Sheriff," said the King, "And do as I thee bid. And ordain good archers ynow Of all the wide country!" The Sheriff had his leave ytake; And went him on his way. And ROBIN HOOD to green wood, Upon a certain day, And Little JOHN was whole of the arrow That shot was in his knee; And did him straight to ROBIN HOOD Under the green-wood tree. ROBIN HOOD walked in the forest Under the leaves green, The proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM, Thereof he had great teen. The Sheriff there failed of ROBIN HOOD He might not have his prey. Then he awaited this gentle Knight, Both by night and by day. Ever he awaited that gentle Knight, Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, As he went on hawking by the river side And let his hawks flee; Took he there, this gentle Knight, With men of armes strong, And led him home to Nottingham ward Ybound both foot and hand. The Sheriff swore a full great oath, By Him that died on rood, He had lever than a hundred pound That he had ROBIN HOOD. This heard the Knight's wife A fair Lady and free, She set her on a good palfrey; To green wood anon rode she. When she came to the forest, Under the green-wood tree, Found she there ROBIN HOOD And all his fair meiny. "God [save] thee, good ROBIN! And all thy company, For our dear Lady's love A boon, grant thou me! Let thou never my wedded Lord Shamely yslain be! He is fast ybound to Nottingham ward. For the love of thee!" Anon then said good ROBIN, To that Lady free: "What man hath your Lord ytake?" "For sooth, as I thee say, He is not yet three miles Passed on your way." Up then started good ROBIN, As a man that had been wood; "Busk you, my merry young men, For Him that died on a rood! And he that this sorrow forsaketh,