And yield it to his master,
Be it never so fine,--
For no man will I spare,
So drinke I ale or wine,--
And bear a buffet on his head
I-wys right all bare."

And all that fell in Robin's lot,
He smote them wonder sair.
Twi-es Robin shot about,
And ever he cleaved the wand,
And so did good Gilb-ert,
With the lily white hand;
Little John and good Scath-elock,
For nothing would they spare,
When they failed of the garl-and,
Robin smote them fall sair.
At the last shot that Robin shot,
For all his friends fair,
Yet he failed of the garl-and,
Three fingers and mair.

Then bespak-e good Gilb-ert,
And thus he gan say,
"Master," he said, "your tackle is lost,
Stand forth and take your pay."
"If it be so," said Rob-in,
"That may no better be:
Sir abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,
I pray thee, sir, serve thou me."

"It falleth not for mine order," said our king;
"Robin, by thy leave,
For to smite no good yeom-an,
For doubt I should him grieve."

"Smite on boldly!" said Rob-in,
"I give thee larg-e leave."

Anon our king, with that word,
He fold up his sleeve,
And such a buffet he gave Rob-in,
To ground he yede full near.

"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
"Thou art a stalworthy frere;
There is pith in thine arm," said Rob-in,
"I trow thou canst well shoot!"

Thus our king and Robin Hood
Together then they met.

Robin beheld our comely king
Wistly in the face,
So did Sir Richard at the Lee,
And kneeled down in that place;
And so did all the wild outl-aws,
When they see them kneel.
"My lord the king of Engl-and,
Now I know you well.
Merc-y," then Robin said to our king,
"Under your trystal tree,
Of thy goodness and thy grace,
For my men and me!
Yes, fore God," said Robin,
"And also God me save;
I ask merc-y, my lord the king,
And for my men I crave."

"Yes, fore God," then said our king,
"Thy petition I grant thee,
With that thou leave the green wood,
And all thy compan-y;
And come home, sir, to my court,
And there dwell with me."

"I make mine avow," said Rob-in,
"And right so shall it be