17 The king did command that the way should be Straight mete with a line that was good; The answer was made to him presently, By lusty bold Robin Hood. 18 ‘Let there be no mark measured,’ then said he soon; ‘I,’ so said Scarlet and John, ‘For we will shoot to the sun or the moon; We scorn to be outreacht with none.’ 19 ‘What shall the wager be?’ then said the queen, ‘Pray tell me before you begin:’ ‘Three hundred tuns of good wine shall be seen, And as much of strong bear for to win. 20 ‘Three hundred of lusty fat bucks, sweet, beside, Shall now be our royal lay:’ Quoth Robin Hood, What ere does betide, I’le bear this brave purchase away. 21 ‘Full fifteenscore,’ saith the king, ‘it shall be;’ Then straight did the bow-men begin, And Robin Hoods side gave them leave certainly A while some credit to win. 22 The royal queen Katharine aloud cried she, Is here no lord, nor yet knight, That will take my part in this bold enmity? Sir Robert Lee, pray do me right. 23 Then to the bold Bishop of Herefordshire Most mildly spoke our good queen; But he straight refused to lay any more, Such ods on their parties were seen. 24 ‘What wilt thou bet, seeing our game is the worse?’ Unto him then said Robin Hood: ‘Why then,’ quoth the bishop, ‘all that’s in my purse;’ Quoth Scarlet, That bargain is good. 25 ‘A hundred good pounds there is in the same,’ The bishop unto him did say; Then said Robin Hood, Now here’s for the game, And to bear this your money away. 26 Then did the kings archer his arrows command Most bravely and with great might, But brave jolly Robin shot under his hand, And then did hit the mark right. 27 And Clifton he then, with his arrow so good, The willow-wood cleaved in two; The Miller’s young son came not short, by the rood, His skill he most bravely did show. 28 Thus Robin Hood and his crew won the rich prize, From all archers that there could be; Then loudly unto the king Queen Katherine cries, Forgive all my company! 29 The king then did say, that for forty daies, Free leave then to come or go, For any man there, though he got the praise, ‘Be he friend,’ quoth he, ‘or be he foe.’ 30 Then quoth the queen, Welcome thou art, Robin Hood, And welcome, brave bow-men all three; Then straight quoth the king, I did hear, by the rood, That slain he was in the countrey. 31 ‘Is this Robin Hood?’ the bishop did say, ‘Is this Robin Hood certainly? He made me to say him mass last Saturday, To him and his bold yeomendry.’ 32 ‘Well,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘in requital thereof, Half thy gold I give unto thee;’ ‘Nay, nay,’ then said Little John in a scoff, ‘‘Twill serue us ith’ North Countrey.’