"What news?" "What news?" said bold Robin Hood,
"What news fain wouldest thou know?10
Our king hath provided a shooting match,
And I'm ready with my bow."
"We hold it in scorn," said the forresters,
"That ever a boy so young
Should bear a bow before our king,15
That's not able to draw one string."
"I'le hold you twenty marks," said bold Robin Hood,
"By the leave of our lad[y'],
That I'le hit a mark a hundred rod,
And I'le cause a hart to dye."20
"We'l hold you twenty mark," then said the forresters,
"By the leave of our lady,
Thou hit'st not the marke a hundred rod,
Nor causest a hart to dye."
Robin Hood he bent up a noble bow,25
And a broad arrow he let flye,
He hit the mark a hundred rod,
And he caused a hart to dye.
Some say hee brake ribs one or two,
And some say hee brake three;30
The arrow within the hart would not abide,
But it glanced in two or three.
The hart did skip, and the hart did leap,
And the hart lay on the ground;
"The wager is mine," said bold Robin Hood,35
"If't were for a thousand pound."
"The wager's none of thine," then said the forresters,
"Although thou beest in haste;
Take up thy bow, and get thee hence,
Lest wee thy sides do baste."40
Robin Hood he took up his noble bow,
And his broad arrows all amain;
And Robin Hood he laught, and begun to smile,
As hee went over the plain.
Then Robin Hood he bent his noble bow,45
And his broad arrowes he let flye,
Till fourteen of these fifteen forresters
Upon the ground did lye.