"
The fourth outlaw his bow gan bend,
And that was Robin Hood,
And that beheld the proud sher-iff,
All by the butt he stood.
Thri-es Robin shot about,
And alway he cleft the wand,
And so did good Gilbert,
With the whit-e hand.
Little John and good Scathelock
Were archers good and free;
Little Much and good Reynold,
The worst would they not be.
When they had shot about,
These archers fair and good,
Evermore was the best,
For sooth, Robin Hood.
Him was delivered the good arr-ow,
For best worthy was he;
He took the gift so courteysly
To green wood wold-e he.
They cri-ed out on Robin Hood,
And great horns gan they blow.
"Wo worth thee! treason!" said Rob-in,
"Full evil thou art to know!
And woe be thou, thou proud sher-iff,
Thus gladding thy guest,
Otherwise thou behot-e me
In yonder wild for-est;
But had I thee in green wood,
Under my trystell tree,
Thou shouldest leave me a better wed
Than thy true lewt-e."
Full many a bow there was bent,
And arrows let they glide,
Many a kirtle there was rent,
And hurt man-y a side.
The outlaw-es shot was so strong,
That no man might them drive,
And the proud sherif-es men
They fled away full blive.
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