The King cast off his coat then, A green garment he did on, And every knight had so, i-wis, They clothèd them full soon. CCCCXXII When they were clothed in Lincoln green, They cast away their gray. ‘Now we shall to Nottingham,’ All thus our King gan say. CCCCXXIII Their bows bent and forth they went, Shooting all in fere, Toward the town of Nottingham, Outlaws as they were. CCCCXXIV Our King and Robin rode together Forsooth as I you say, And they shot pluck-buffet[912], As they went by the way; CCCCXXV And many a buffet our King won, Of Robin Hood that day: And nothing spared good Robin Our King in his pay. CCCCXXVI ‘So God me help,’ said our King, ‘Thy game is nought to lere[913], I should not get a shot of thee, Though I shot all this year.’ CCCCXXVII All the people of Nottingham They stood and beheld, They saw nothing but mantles of green That cover’d all the felde; CCCCXXVIII Then every man to other gan say, ‘I dread our King be slone; Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis, On life he leaveth not one.’ CCCCXXIX Full hastily they began to flee, Both yeoman and knaves, The old wives that might evil go, They hippèd[914] on their staves. CCCCXXX The King laughed full fast, And commanded them again; When they saw our comely King, I-wis they were full fain. CCCCXXXI They ate and drank, and made them glad, And sang with notès high. Then bespake our comely King To Sir Richard at the Lee: CCCCXXXII He gave him there his land again, A good man he bade him be. Robin thanked our comely King, And set him on his knee. CCCCXXXIII Robin had dwelt in the Kingès court But twelvè months and three, That he had spent an hundred pound, And all his mennès fee. CCCCXXXIV In every place where Robin came, Evermore he laid down[915] Both for knightès and for squires, To get him great renown. CCCCXXXV By then[916] the year was all agone He had no man but twain, Little John and good Scathèlock With him all for to gane. CCCCXXXVI Robin saw the young men shoot Full far upon a day; ‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood, ‘My wealth is went away. CCCCXXXVII ‘Sometime I was an archer good, A stiff and eke a strong; I was counted the best archèr That was in merry Englond. CCCCXXXVIII ‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood, ‘Alas and well-a-way! If I dwell longer with the King, Sorrow will me slay.’ CCCCXXXIX Forth then wentè Robin Hood Till he came to our King: ‘My lord the King of Engèland, Grant me mine asking! CCCCXL