8 Now Robin he is to Notingham gone, His butcher’s trade for to begin; With good intent, to the sheriff he went, And there he took up his inn. 9 When other butchers they opened their meat, Bold Robin he then begun; But how for to sell he knew not well, For a butcher he was but young. 10 When other butchers no meat could sell, Robin got both gold and fee; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for three. 11 But when he sold his meat so fast, No butcher by him could thrive; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for five. 12 Which made the butchers of Notingham To study as they did stand, Saying, surely he was some prodigal, That had sold his father’s land. 13 The butchers they stepped to jolly Robin, Acquainted with him for to be; ‘Come, brother,’ one said, ‘we be all of one trade, Come, will you go dine with me?’ 14 ‘Accurst of his heart,’ said jolly Robin, ‘That a butcher doth deny; I will go with you, my brethren true, And as fast as I can hie.’ 15 But when to the sheriff’s house they came, To dinner they hied apace, And Robin he the man must be Before them all to say grace. 16 ‘Pray God bless us all,’ said jolly Robin, ‘And our meat within this place; A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood, And so I do end my grace. 17 ‘Come fill us more wine,’ said jolly Robin, ‘Let us merry be while we do stay; For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear, I vow I the reckning will pay. 18 ‘Come, brother[s], be merry,’ said jolly Robin, ‘Let us drink, and never give ore; For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way, If it cost me five pounds and more.’ 19 ‘This is a mad blade,’ the butchers then said; Saies the sheriff, He is some prodigal, That some land has sold, for silver and gold, And now he doth mean to spend all. 20 ‘Hast thou any horn-beasts,’ the sheriff repli’d, ‘Good fellow, to sell unto me?’ ‘Yes, that I have, good Master Sheriff, I have hundreds two or three. 21 ‘And a hundred aker of good free land, If you please it to see; And I’le make you as good assurance of it As ever my father made me.’ 22 The sheriff he saddled a good palfrey, With three hundred pound in gold, And away he went with bold Robin Hood, His horned beasts to behold. 23 Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride, To the forrest of merry Sherwood; Then the sheriff did say, God bless us this day From a man they call Robin Hood! 24 But when that a little further they came, Bold Robin he chancëd to spy A hundred head of good red deer, Come tripping the sheriff full nigh. 25 ‘How like you my hornd beasts, good Master Sheriff? They be fat and fair for to see;’ ‘I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone, For I like not thy company.’