Over stocks and stone, For the sheriff with seven score men Fast after him is gone. (_farley_, strange. _bale_, mischief or sorrow. _slade_, valley.) "Yet one shot I'll shoot," says Little John, "With Christ his might and main; I'll make yond fellow that flies so fast, To be both glad and fain." John bent up a good yew bow, And fettled him to shoot: The bow was made of a tender bough, And fell down to his foot. "Woe worth thee, wicked wood," said Little John, "That ere thou grew on a tree! For this day thou art my bale, My boot when thou should be." This shot it was but loosely shot, The arrow flew in vain, And it met one of the sheriffs men, Good William a Trent was slain. It had been better for William a Trent To have been upon a gallow, Than for to lie in the greenwood There slain with an arrow. And it is said, when men be met Six can do more than three, And they have taen Little John, And bound him fast to a tree. (_fettled_, made ready.) "Thou shalt be drawn by dale and down," quoth the sheriff, "And hanged high on a hill;" "But thou may fail," quoth John, "If it be Christs own will." Let us leave talking of Little John, For he is bound fast to a tree, And talk of Guy and Robin Hood, In the green wood where they be. How these two yeomen together they met, Under the leaves of line, To see what merchandise they made, Even at that same time. "Good morrow, good fellow," quoth Sir Guy, "Good morrow, good fellow," quoth he: "Methinks by this bow thou bears in thy hand, A good archer thou seems to be. "I am wilful of my way," quoth Sir Guy, "And of my morning tide:" "I'll lead thee through the wood,"quoth Robin, "Good fellow, I'll be thy guide." "I seek an outlaw," quoth Sir Guy, "Men call him Robin Hood: I'd rather meet with him upon a day, Than forty pound of gold." (_line_, tree.) "If you two met, it would be seen whether were better, Afore ye did part away; Let us some other pastime find, Good fellow, I thee pray. "Let us some masteries make, And we will walk in the woods even; We may chance meet with Robin Hood Here at some unset steven." They cut them down two summer shrogs, Which grew both under a briar, And set them threescore rood in twin, To shoot the pricks full near. "Lead on, good fellow," said Sir Guy, "Lead on, I do bid thee;" "Nay, by my faith," quoth Robin Hood, "The leader thou shalt be." The first good shot that Robin led Did not shoot an inch the prick fro'; Guy was an archer good enough, But he could ne er shoot so. (_unset steven_, unappointed time. _shrogs_, shrubs. _in twin_, apart.) The second shot Sir Guy shot, He shot within the garland; But Robin Hood shot it better than he, For he clove the good prick-wand.