THE FIFTH FYTTE.
Now hath the knight his leave i-take,
And went him on his way;
Robin Hood and his merry men
Dwelled still full many a day.
Lithe and listen, gentle men,
And hearken what I shall say,
How the proud sheriff of Nottingham
Did cry a full fair play;
That all the best archers of the north
Should come upon a day,
And they that shoot all of the best
The game shall bear away.
'He that shooteth all of the best
Furthest fair and law,
At a pair of fynly butts,
Under the green wood shaw,
A right good arrow he shall have,
The shaft of silver white,
The head and the feathers of rich red gold,
In England is none like.'
This then heard good Rob-in,
Under his trystell tree:
"Make you ready, ye wight young men,
That shooting will I see.
Busk you, my merr-y young men,
Ye shall go with me;
And I will wete the sheriff's faith,
True an if he be."
When they had their bows i-bent,
Their tackles feathered free,
Seven score of wight young men
Stood by Robin's knee.
When they came to Nottingham,
The butts were fair and long,
Many was the bold arch-er
That shooted with bow-es strong.
"There shall but six shoot with me,
The other shall keep my head,
And stand with good bow-es bent
That I be not deceived."
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.
Robin saw the busshement to-broke,
In green wood he would have be,
Many an arrow there was shot
Among that company.
Little John was hurt full sore,
With an arrow in his knee,
That he might neither go nor ride:
It was full great pit-e.
"Master," then said Little John,
"If ever thou lovest me,
And for that ilk-e Lord-es love,
That died upon a tree,
And for the meeds of my serv-ice,
That I have serv-ed thee,
Let nev-er the proud sher-iff
Aliv-e now find me;
But take out thy brown sword,
And smite all off my head,
And give me wound-es dead and wide,
That I after eat no bread."
"I wold-e not that," said Rob-in,
"John, that thou wer-e slawe,
For all the gold in merry England,
Though it lay now on a rawe."
"God forbid," said Little Much,
"That died on a tree,
That thou shouldest, Little John,
Part our company!"
Up he took him on his back,
And bare him well a mile,
Many a time he laid him down,
And shot another while.
Then was there a fair cast-ell,
A little within the wood,
Double-ditched it was about,
And wall-ed, by the rood;
And there dwelled that gentle knight,
Sir Richard at the Lee,
That Rob-in had lent his good,
Under the green wood tree.
In he took good Rob-in,
And all his compan-y:
"Welcome be thou, Robin Hood,
Welc-ome art thou me;
And much thank thee of thy comf-ort,
And of thy courtesy,
And of thy great kind-eness,
Under the green wood tree;
I love no man in all this world
So much as I do thee;
For all the proud sheriff of Nottingham,
Right here shalt thou be.
Shut the gates, and draw the bridge,
And let no man come in;
And arm you well, and make you read-y,
And to the wall ye win.
For one thing, Rob-in, I thee behote,
I swear by Saint Quin-tin,
These twelve days thou wonest with me,
To sup, eat, and dine."
Boards were laid, and cloth-es spread,
Readily and anon;
Robin Hood and his merry men
To meat gan they gon.
THE SIXTH FYTTE.
Lithe and listen, gentle men,
And hearken unto your song;
How the proud sheriff of Nottingham,
And men of arm-es strong,
Full fast came to the high sher-iff,
The country up to rout,
And they beset the knight's cast-ell,
The wall-es all about.
The proud sher-iff loud-e gan cry,
And said, "Thou traitor knight,
Thou keepest here the king's enemy,
Against the laws and right!"
"Sir, I will avow that I have done,
The deeds that here be dight,
Upon all the land-es that I have,
As I am a true knight.
Wend-e forth, sirs, on your way,
And doth no more to me,
Till ye wite our king-es will
What he will say to thee."
The sheriff thus had his answ-er,
Without an-y leas-ing,
Forth he yode to London town,
All for to tell our king.
There he told him of that knight,
And eke of Robin Hood,
And also of the bold arch-ers,
That noble were and good.
"He would avow that he had done,
To maintain the outlaws strong;
He would be lord, and set you at nought,
In all the north lond."
"I will be at Nottingham," said the king,
"Within this fortnight,
And take I will Robin Hood,
And so I will that knight.
Go home, thou proud sher-iff,
And do as I bid thee,
And ordain good arch-ers enow,
Of all the wide countree."
The sheriff had his leave i-take,
And went him on his way;
And Robin Hood to green wood
Upon a certain day;
And Little John was whole of the arrow,
That shot was in his knee,
And did him straight to Robin Hood,
Under the green wood tree.
Robin Hood walked in the for-est,
Under the leav-es green,
The proud sher-iff of Nottingham,
Therefore he had great teen.
The sheriff there failed of Robin Hood,
He might not have his prey,
Then he awaited that gentle knight,
Both by night and by day.
Ever he awaited that gentle knight,
Sir Richard at the Lee.
As he went on hawking by the river side,
And let his hawk-es flee,
Took he there this gentle knight,
With men of arm-es strong,
And led him home to Nottingham ward,
I-bound both foot and hond.
The sheriff swore a full great oath,
By him that died on a tree,
He had liever than an hundred pound,
That Robin Hood had he.
Then the lad-y, the knight-es wife,
A fair lad-y and free,
She set her on a good palfr-ey,
To green wood anon rode she.
When she came to the for-est,
Under the green wood tree,
Found-e she there Robin Hood,
And all his fair meyn-e.
"God thee save, good Robin Hood,
And all thy compan-y;
For our deare Ladyes love,
A boon grant thou to me.
Let thou never my wedded lord
Shamefully slain to be;
He is fast i-bounde to Nottingham ward,
For the love of thee."
Anon then said good Rob-in,
To that lad-ye free,
"What man hath your lord i-take?"
"The proud sheriff," then said she.
"Forsooth as I thee say;
He is not yet three mil-es
Pass-ed on your way."
Up then stert-e good Rob-in,
As a man that had be wode:
"Busk you, my merr-y young men,
For him that died on a rode;
And he that this sorrow forsaketh,
By him that died on a tree,
Shall he never in green wood be,
Nor longer dwell with me."
Soon there were good bows i-bent,
More than seven score,
Hedge ne ditch spar-ed they none,
That was them before.
"I make mine avow," said Robin,
"The knight would I fain see,
And if I ma-y him take,
Iquit then shall he be."
And when they came to Nottingham,
They walk-ed in the street,
And with the proud sheriff, i-wis,
Soon-e gan they meet.
"Abide, thou proud sher-iff," he said,
"Abide and speak with me,
Of some tidings of our king,
I would fain hear of thee.
This seven year, by dere-worthy God,
Ne yede I so fast on foot,
I make mine avow, thou proud sheriff,
Is not for thy good."
Robin bent a good bow-e,
An arrow he drew at his will,
He hit so the proud sher-iff,
On the ground he lay full still;
And ere he might up arise,
On his feet to stand,
He smote off the sheriff's head,
With his bright brand.
"Lie thou there, thou proud sher-iff,
Evil mote thou thrive;
There might no man to thee trust,
The whiles thou were alive."
His men drew out their bright swords
That were so sharp and keen,
And laid on the sher-iff's men,
And drived them down bidene.
Robin stert to that knight,
And cut atwo his band,
And took him in his hand a bow,
And bade him by him stand.
"Leav-e thy horse thee behind,
And learn for to ren;
Thou shalt with me to green wood,
Through mire, moss, and fen;
Thou shalt with me to green wood,
Without an-y leas-ing,
Till that I have get us grace,
Of Edward our comely king."
THE SEVENTH FYTTE.
The king came to Nottingham,
With knights in great array,
For to take that gentle knight,
And Robin Hood, if he may.
He asked men of that countr-e,
After Robin Hood,
And after that gentle knight,
That was so bold and stout.
When they had told him the case,
Our king understood their tale,
And seised in his hand
The knight-es landes all,
All the pass of Lancashire,
He went both far and near,
Till he came to Plompton park,
He failed many of his deer.
Where our king was wont to see
Herd-es many one
He could unneth find one deer,
That bare an-y good horn.
The king was wonder wroth withal,
And swore by the trinit-e,
"I would I had Robin Hood,
With eyen I might him see;
And he that would smite off the knight-es head.
And bring it to me,
He shall have the knight-es lands,
Sir Rychard at the Lee;
I give it him with my chart-er,
And seal it with my hand,
To have and hold for ever-more,
In all merr-y Engl-and."
Then bespake a fair old knight,
That was true in his fay,
"Ah, my lieg-e lord the king,
One word I shall you say:
There is no man in this countr-y
May have the knight-es lands,
While Robin Hood may ride or gon,
And bear a bow in his hands,
That he ne shall lose his head,
That is the best ball in his hood:
Give it no man, my lord the king,
That ye will any good!"
Half a year dwelled our comely king,
In Nottingham, and well more,
Could he not hear of Robin Hood,
In what country that he were;
But alw-ay went good Rob-in
By halk and eke by hill,
And alway slew the king-es deer,
And welt them at his will.
Then bespake a proud forstere,
That stood by our king's knee,
"If ye will see good Rob-in,
Ye must do after me.
Take five of the best knyght-es
That be in your lede,
And walk down by your abb-ey,
And get you monk-es weed.
And I will be your led-es man,
And led-e you the way,
And ere ye come to Nottingham,
Mine head then dare I lay,
That ye shall meet with good Rob-in,
Alive if that he be,
Ere ye come to Nottingham,
With eyen ye shall him see."
Full hastily our king was dight,
So were his knight-es five,
Each of them in monk-es weed,
And hasted them thither blithe.
Our king was great above his cowl,
A broad hat on his crown,
Right as he were abbot-like,
They rode up into the town.
Stiff boots our king had on,
Forsooth as I you say,
He rode sing-ing to green wood,
The convent was clothed in gray,
His mail horse, and his great som-ers,
Followed our king behind,
Till they came to green-e wood,
A mile under the lind:
There they met with good Rob-in,
Standing on the way,
And so did many a bold arch-er,
For sooth as I you say.
Robin took the king-es horse,
Hastily in that stead,
And said, "Sir abbot, by your leave,
A while ye must abide;
We be yeom-en of this for-est,
Under the green wood tree,
We live by our king-es deer,
Other shift have not we;
And ye have churches and rent-es both,
And gold full great plent-y;
Give us some of your spend-ing,
For saint Charity."
Than bespake our comely king,
Anon then said he,
"I brought no more to green-e wood,
But forty pound with me.
I have lain at Nottingham,
This fortnight with our king,
And spent I have full much good,
On many a great lording;
And I have but forty pound,
No more then have I me;
But if I had an hundred pound,
I would give it to thee."
Robin took the forty pound,
And departed it in two part-ye,
Halfendell he gave his merry men,
And bade them merr-y to be.
Full courteously Rob-in gan say,
"Sir, have this for your spend-ing,
We shall meet another day."
"Gramerc-y," then said our king,
"But well thee greeteth Edw-ard our king,
And sent to thee his seal,
And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,
Both to meat and meal."
He took out the broad tarpe,
And soon he let him see;
Robin coud his courtesy,
And set him on his knee:
"I love no man in all the world
So well as I do my king,
Welcome is my lord-es seal;
And, monk, for thy tid-ing,
Sir abbot, for thy tiding-es,
To-day thou shalt dine with me,
For the love of my king,
Under my trystell tree."
Forth he led our comely king,
Full fair by the hand,
Many a deer there was slain,
And full fast dightand.
Robin took a full great horn,
And loud he gan blow;
Seven score of wight young men,
Came ready on a row,
All they kneel-ed on their knee,
Full fair before Rob-in.
The king said himself unto,
And swore by saint Austin,
"Here is a wonder seemly sight,
Me thinketh, by Goddes pine;
His men are more at his bidd-ing,
Than my men be at mine!"
Full hastily was their dinner i-dight,
And thereto gan they gon,
They served our king with all their might,
Both Robin and Little John.
Anon before our king was set
The fatt-e venison,
The good white bread, the good red wine,
And thereto the fine ale brown.
"Mak-e good cheer," said Rob-in,
"Abb-ot, for charit-y;
And for this ilk-e tiding-e,
Bless-ed mote thou be.
Now shalt thou see what life we lead,
Or thou henn-es wend,
Then thou may inform our king,
When ye together lend."
Up they stert all in haste,
Their bows were smartly bent,
Our king was never so sore agast,
He weened to have be shent.
Two yard-es there were up set,
Thereto gan they gang;
But fifty pace, our king said,
The mark-es were too long.
On every side a rose garl-and,
They shot under the line.
"Whoso faileth of the rose garland," said Robin,
"His tackle he shall tine,
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;
I will come to your court,
Your service for to see,
And bring with me of my men
Seven score and three.
But me like well your serv-ice,
I come again full soon,
And shoot at the donn-e deer,
As I am wont to doon."