"I am wilfulle of my waye," quo' the yemàn,
"And of my morning tyde:"
"Ile lead thee through the wood," sayd Robin,
"Good, fellow, Ile be thy guide."100
"I seeke an outlawe," the straunger sayd,
"Men call him Robin Hood:
Rather Ild meet with that proud outlawe
Than fortye pound soe good."
"Now come with me, thou [wight] yemàn,105
And Robin thou soone shalt see;
But first let us some pastime find
Under the greenwood tree.
"First let us some masterye make
Among the woods so even;110
We may chance to meet with Robin Hood
Here att some unsett steven."
They cutt them downe two summer shroggs,
That grew both under a breere,
And sett them threescore rood in twaine,115
To shoote the prickes y-fere.
"Leade on, good fellowe," quoth Robin Hood,
"Leade on, I do bidd thee;"
"Nay, by my faith, good fellowe," hee sayd,
"My leader thou shalt bee."120
The first time Robin shot at the pricke,
He mist but an inch it fro;
The yeoman was an archer good,
But he cold never shoote soe.
The second shoote had the [wighte] yemàn,125
He shote within the garlànde;
But Robin he shott far better than hee,
For he clave the good pricke-wande.
"A blessing upon thy heart," he sayd,
"Good fellowe, thy shooting is goode;130
For an thy hart be as good as thy hand,
Thou wert better then Robin Hoode.
"Now tell me thy name, good fellowe," sayd he,
"Under the leaves of lyne;"
"Nay, by my faith," quoth bolde Robin,135
"Till thou have told me thine."