good will,
This good is come to me."

Little John him there bethought,
On a shrewed wile,
Five mile in the for-est he ran,
Him happ-ed at his will;
Then be met the proud sher-iff,
Hunt-ing with hound and horn,
Little John coud his curteysye,
And kneel-ed him beforn:
"God thee save, my dear mast-er,
And Christ thee save and see."

"Raynold Greenleaf," said the sher-iff,
"Where hast thou now be?"

"I have be in this for-est,
A fair sight can I see,
It was one of the fairest sights
That ever yet saw I me;
Yonder I see a right fair hart,
His colour is of green,
Seven score of deer upon an herd,
Be with him all bedene;
His tynde are so sharp, mast-er,
Of sixty and well mo,
That I durst not shoot for drede
Lest they wold me slo."

"I make mine avow to God," said the sheriff,
"That sight would I fain see."

"Busk you thitherward, my dear mast-er,
Anon, and wend with me."

The sheriff rode, and Little John
Of foot he was full smart,
And when they came afore Robin:
"Lo, here is the master hart!"

Still stood the proud sher-iff,
A sorry man was he:
"Wo worth thee, Raynold Greenleaf!
Thou hast now betray-ed me."

"I make mine avow," said Little John,
"Mast-er, ye be to blame,
I was misserved of my dinere,
When I was with you at hame."

Soon he was to supper set,
And served with silver white;
And when the sher-iff see his vess-el,
For sorrow he might not eat.
"Make good cheer," said Robin Hood,
"Sher-iff, for charit-y,
And for the love of Little John;
Thy life is granted to thee."

When they had supp-ed well,
The day was all agone,
Robin commanded Little John
To draw off his hosen and his shone,
His kirtle and his coat a pye,
That was furr-ed well fine,
And take him a green mant-ell,
To lap his body therein.
Robin commanded his wight young men,
Under the green wood tree,
They shall lie in that same sort,
That the sheriff might them see.
All night lay that proud sher-iff
In his breche and in his sherte,
No wonder it was, in green wood,
Though his sides do smerte.
"Make glad cheer," said Robin Hood,