With brave long faucheons by their sides,
And forrest-bills in hand,
They call'd aloud to those bold outlàws,
And charged them to stand.20
"Why, who are you," cry'd bold Robìn,
"That speak so boldly here?"
"We three belong to King Henry,
And are keepers of his deer."
"The devil you are!" sayes Robin Hood,25
"I am sure that it is not so;
We be the keepers of this forrèst,
And that you soon shall know.
"Come, your coats of green lay on the ground,
And so will we all three,30
And take your swords and bucklers round,
And try the victory."
"We be content," the keepers said,
"We be three, and you no less,
Then why should we be of you afraid,35
As we never did transgress?"
"Why, if you be three keepers in this forrèst,
Then we be three rangers good,
And will make you know before you do go,
You meet with bold Robin Hood."40
"We be content, thou bold outlàw,
Our valour here to try,
And will make you know, before we do go,
We will fight before we will fly.
"Then, come draw your swords, you bold outlàws,45
No longer stand to prate,
But let us try it out with blows,
For cowards we do hate.
"Here is one of us for Will Scarlock,
And another for Little John,50
And I myself for Robin Hood,
Because he is stout and strong."
So they fell to it hard and sore,
It was on a Midsummers day;
From eight of the clock till two and past,55
They all shewed gallant play.