15 ‘I, that is true,’ the young man said; ‘I, that is true,’ said hee; ‘Or, if they were neer to this place, They soon would set him free. 16 ‘But fare thou well, thou good old man, Farewell, and thanks to thee; If Stutly hanged be this day, Revengd his death will be.’ 17 He was no sooner from the palmer gone, But the gates was opened wide, And out of the castle Will Stutly came, Guarded on every side. 18 When hee was forth from the castle come, And saw no help was nigh, Thus he did say unto the sheriff, Thus he said gallantly: 19 Now seeing that I needs must die, Grant me one boon, says he; For my noble master nere had man That yet was hangd on the tree. 20 Give me a sword all in my hand, And let mee be unbound, And with thee and thy men I’le fight, Vntill I lie dead on the ground. 21 But his desire he would not grant, His wishes were in vain; For the sheriff had sworn he hanged should be, And not by the sword be slain. 22 ‘Do but unbind my hands,’ he saies, ‘I will no weapons crave, And if I hanged be this day, Damnation let me have.’ 23 ‘O no, O no,’ the sheriff he said, ‘Thou shalt on the gallows die, I, and so shall thy master too, If ever in me it lie.’ 24 ‘O dastard coward!’ Stutly cries, ‘Thou faint-heart pesant slave! If ever my master do thee meet, Thou shalt thy paiment have. 25 ‘My noble master thee doth scorn, And all thy cowardly crew; Such silly imps unable are Bold Robin to subdue.’ 26 But when he was to the gallows come, And ready to bid adiew, Out of a bush leaps Little John, And steps Will Stutly to. 27 ‘I pray thee, Will, before thou die, Of thy dear friends take leave; I needs must borrow him a while, How say you, master sheriff?’ 28 ‘Now, as I live,’ the sheriff he said, ‘That varlet will I know; Some sturdy rebell is that same, Therefore let him not go.’ 29 With that Little John so hastily Away cut Stutly’s bands, And from one of the sheriff his men, A sword twicht from his hands. 30 ‘Here, Will, here, take thou this same, Thou canst it better sway; And here defend thy self a while, For aid will come straight way.’ 31 And there they turnd them back to back, In the middle of them that day, Till Robin Hood approached neer, With many an archer gay. 32 With that an arrow by them flew, I wist from Robin Hood; ‘Make haste, make haste,’ the sheriff he said, ‘Make haste, for it is good.’ 33 The sheriff is gone; his doughty men Thought it no boot to stay, But, as their master had them taught They run full fast away. 34 ‘O stay, O stay,’ Will Stutly said, ‘Take leave ere you depart; You nere will catch bold Robin Hood Vnless you dare him meet.’