‘I made a chapel in Barnèsdale That seemly is to see, It is of Mary Magdalen, And thereto would I be. CCCCXLI ‘I might never in this seven night No timè sleep nor wink, Neither all these seven days Neither eat nor drink. CCCCXLII ‘Me longeth sore to Barnèsdale, I may not be therefro[917]; Barefoot and woolward[918] I have hight[919] Thither for to go.’ CCCCXLIII ‘If it be so,’ then said our King, ‘It may no better be; Seven night I give thee leave, No longer, to dwell from me.’ CCCCXLIV ‘Gramerci, lord,’ then said Robin, And set him on his knee: He took his leave full courteously, To green-wood then went he. CCCCXLV When he came to greenè-wood In a merry mornìng, There he heard the notès small Of birds merry singìng. CCCCXLVI ‘It is far gone,’ said Robin Hood, ‘That I was latest here; Me list[920] a little for to shoot At the dunnè deer.’ CCCCXLVII Robin slew a full great hart; His horn then gan he blow, That all the outlaws of that forèst That horn they couldè know, CCCCXLVIII And them together gatherèd In a little throw[921]; Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row, CCCCXLIX And fairè didden off their hoods, And set them on their knee: ‘Welcome,’ they said. ‘our dear mastèr, Under this green-wood tree!’ CCCCL Robin dwelt in greenè-wood Twenty year and two; For all dread of Edward our King, Again[922] would he not go. CCCCLI Yet he was beguiled, i-wis, Through a wicked woman, The prioress of Kirksley, That nigh was of his kin, CCCCLII For the love of a knight, Sir Roger of Doncastèr, That was her own special; Full evil might they fare! CCCCLIII They took together their counsel Robin Hood for to sle, And how they might best do that deed, His banis[923] for to be. CCCCLIV Then bespake good Robin, In place where as he stood, ‘To-morrow I must to Kirksley, Craftily[924] to be letten blood.’ CCCCLV Sir Roger [and the prioress A springe[925] for him did] lay, And there they betray’d good Robin Hood, Through their falsè play. CCCCLVI Christ have mercy on his soul, That died upon the rood! For he was a good outlàw, And did poor men much good. FOOTNOTES: [707] Meiny = retinue. [708] Lithe = hearken. [709] Barnèsdale = a forest region between Pontefract and Doncaster. [710] groom = man. [711] lest = lust, desire. [712] uncouth = unknown, strange. [713] were = might be. [714] alder = of all. [715] doubt = fear. [716] reave = plunder. [717] force = matter, account. [718] husband = husbandman. [719] shaw = grove. [720] lere = learn. [721] far days = late in the day.