And little Midge, the millers son,
He shot not much the worse;
He shot within a finger of the prick:135
"Now, bishop, beware thy purse!"
"A boone, a boone," queen Katherine cries,
"I crave it on my bare knee,
That you will angry be with none
That are of my partie."140
"They shall have forty daies to come,
And forty daies to goe,
And three times forty to sport and play;
Then welcome friend or foe."
"Thou art welcome, Robin Hood," said the queene,145
"And so is Little John,
And so is Midge, the millers son;
Thrice welcome every one."
"Is this Robin Hood?" now said the king;
"For it was told to me150
That he was slain in the palace gates,
So far in the north country."
"Is this Robin Hood?" quoth the bishop then,
"As I see well to be:
Had I knowne it had been that bold outlàw,155
I would not [have] bet one peny.
"Hee tooke me late one Saturday at night,
And bound mee fast to a tree,
And made mee sing a masse, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree."160
"What an if I did?" saies Robin Hood,
"Of that masse I was faine;
"For recompence of that," he saies,
"Here's halfe thy gold againe."
"Now nay, now nay," saies Little John,165
"Master, that shall not be;
We must give gifts to the kings officèrs;
That gold will serve thee and mee."
[10], wen.