52 And as he was betwixt them past, They leapt upon him baith; The one his pike-staff gripped fast, They feared for its scaith. 53 The other he held in his sight A drawn dirk to his breast, And said, False carl, quit thy staff, Or I shall be thy priest. 54 His pike-staff they have taken him frae, And stuck it in the green; He was full leath to let [it] gae, If better might have been. 55 The beggar was the feardest man Of one that ever might be; To win away no way he can, Nor help him with his tree. 56 He wist not wherefore he was tane, Nor how many was there; He thought his life-days had been gone, And grew into despair. 57 ‘Grant me my life,’ the beggar said, ‘For him that died on tree, And take away that ugly knife, Or then for fear I’ll die. 58 ‘I grievd you never in all my life, By late nor yet by ayre; Ye have great sin, if ye should slay A silly poor beggar.’ 59 ‘Thou lies, false lown,’ they said again, ‘By all that may be sworn; Thou hast near slain the gentlest man That ever yet was born. 60 ‘And back again thou shalt be led, And fast bound shalt thou be, To see if he will have thee slain, Or hanged on a tree.’ 61 The beggar then thought all was wrong; They were set for his wrack; He saw nothing appearing then But ill upon worse back. 62 Were he out of their hands, he thought, And had again his tree, He should not be had back for nought, With such as he did see. 63 Then he bethought him on a wile, If it could take effect, How he the young men might beguile, And give them a begeck. 64 Thus for to do them shame or ill His beastly breast was bent; He found the wind grew something shril, To further his intent. 65 He said, Brave gentlemen, be good, And let the poor man be; When ye have taken a beggar’s blood, It helps you not a flee. 66 It was but in my own defence, If he hath gotten skaith; But I will make a recompence, Much better for you baith. 67 If ye will set me safe and free, And do me no danger, An hundred pounds I will you give, And much more good silver, 68 That I have gathered these many years, Under this clouted cloak, And hid up wonder privately, In bottom of my pock. 69 The young men to a council yeed, And let the beggar gae; They wist how well he had no speed From them to run away. 70 They thought they would the money take, Come after what so may, And then they would not bring him back, But in that part him slay. 71 By that good Robin would not know That they had gotten coin; It would content him for to show That there they had him slain. 72 They said, False carl, soon have done And tell forth that money; For the ill turn thou hast done ’Tis but a simple fee.