‘Four mark I will give thee,’ saith jolly Robìn, ‘Four mark it shall be thy fee; Thy mony come count, and let me mount, For a butcher I fain would be.’ VIII Now Robin he is to Notingham gone, His butcher’s trade for to begin; With good intent, to the Sheriff he went, And there he took up his inn. IX When other butchers they opened their meat, Bold Robin he then begun; But how for to sell he knew not well, For a butcher he was but young. X When other butchers no meat could sell, Robin got both gold and fee; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for three. XI But when he sold his meat so fast, No butcher by him could thrive; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for five. XII Which made the butchers of Notingham To study as they did stand, Saying, surely he was some prodigal, That had sold his father’s land. XIII The butchers they stepped to jolly Robin, Acquainted with him for to be; ‘Come, brother,’ one said, ‘we be all of one trade, Come, will you go dine with me?’ XIV ‘Accurst of his heart,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘That a butcher doth deny! I will go with you, my brethren true, And as fast as I can hie.’ XV But when to the Sheriff’s house they came, To dinner they hied apace, And Robin Hood he the man must be Before them all to say grace. XVI ‘Pray God bless us all,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘And our meat within this place; A cup of sack good, to nourish our blood, And so I do end my grace. XVII ‘Come fill us more wine,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘Let us merry be while we do stay; For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear, I vow I the reck’ning will pay. XVIII ‘Come, brothers, be merry,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘Let us drink, and never give o’er; For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way, If it cost me five pounds and more.’ XIX ‘This is a mad blade,’ the butchers then said; Says the Sheriff, ‘He’s some prodigal, That his land has sold, for silver and gold, And meaneth to spend it all.’ XX ‘Hast thou any horn-beasts,’ the Sheriff inquired, ‘Good fellow, to sell unto me?’-- ‘Yea, a plenty I have, good Master Sheriff, I have hundreds two or three. XXI ‘And a hundred acre of good free land, An it please you go for to see; And I’le make you as good assurance of it As ever my father made me.’ XXII The Sheriff he saddled a good palfrèy, With three hundred pound in gold, And away he went with bold Robin Hood, His hornèd beasts to behold. XXIII Away then the Sheriff and Robin did ride, To the forest of merry Sherwood; Then the Sheriff did say, ‘God bless us this day From a man they call Robin Hood!’ XXIV