"For I have been wandring all this day,
And nothing could I get;
Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
Nor bit of bread to eat."
"Now, by our dame," the priests repli'd,25
We never a penny have;
For we this morning have been rob'd,
And could no money save."
"I am much afraid," said bold Robin Hood,
That you both do tell a lie;30
And now before you do go hence,
I am resolv'd to try."
When as the priests heard him say so,
Then they rode away amain;
But Robin Hood betook to his heels,35
And soon overtook them again.
Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
And pull'd them down from their horse:
"O spare us, fryer!" the priests cry'd out,
"On us have some remorse!"40
"You said you had no mony," quoth he,
"Wherefore, without delay,
We three will fall down on our knees,
And for mony we will pray."
The priests they could not him gainsay,45
But down they kneeled with speed;
"Send us, O send us," then quoth they,
"Some money to serve our need."
The priests did pray with a mournful chear,
Sometimes their hands did wring;50
Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud,
Whilst Robin did merrily sing.
When they had been praying an hours space,
The priests did still lament;
Then quoth bold Robin, "Now let's see55
What mony heaven hath us sent.
"We will be sharers all alike
Of mony that we have;
And there is never a one of us
That his fellow shall deceive."60