And Little John most hastily
Away cut Stutly's bands,
And from one of the sheriffs men,115
A sword twich'd from his hands.
"Here, Will Stutly, take thou this same,
Thou canst it better sway;
And here defend thyself awhile,
For aid will come straightway."120
And there they turn'd them back to back,
In the midst of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached near,
With many an archer gay.
With that an arrow from them flew,125
[I-wis] from Robin Hood;
"Make haste, make haste," the sheriff he said,
"Make haste, for it is not good."
The sheriff is gone; his doughty men
Thought it no boot to stay,130
But, as their master had them taught,
They run full fast away.
"O stay, O stay," Will Stutly said,
"Take leave ere you depart;
You ne'er will catch bold Robin Hood,135
Unless you dare him meet."
"O ill betide you," said Robin Hood,
That you so soon are gone;
My sword may in the scabbard rest,
For here our work is done."140
"I little thought," Will Stutly said,
"When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my master's face."
Thus Stutly he was at liberty set,145
And safe brought from his foe:
"O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr,
Since here it was not so.
"And once again, my fellows dear,
Derry, derry down,
We shall in the green woods meet,150
Where we will make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet."
Hey down, derry, derry down.