Queen Katherin she a match [did] make,5
As plainly doth appear,
For three hundred tun of good red wine,
And three [hundred] tun of beere.
But yet her archers she had to seek,
With their bows and arrows so good;10
But her mind it was bent, with a good intent,
To send for bold Robin Hood.
But when bold Robin he came there,
Queen Katherin she did say,
"Thou art welcome, Locksley," said the queen,15
"And all thy yeomen gay;
"For a match of shooting I have made,
And thou on my part, Robin, must be."
"If I miss the mark, be it light or dark,
Then hanged I will be."20
But when the game came to be played,
Bold Robin he then drew nigh;
With his mantle of green, most brave to be seen,
He let his arrows fly.
And when the game it ended was,25
Bold Robin wan it with a grace;
But after the king was angry with him,
And vowed he would him chace.
What though his pardon granted was,
While he with him did stay;30
But yet the king was vexed at him,
Whenas he was gone his way.
Soon after the king from the court did hye,
In a furious angry mood,
And often enquired both far and near35
After bold Robin Hood.
But when the king to Nottingham came,
Bold Robin was in the wood:
"O come now," said he, "and let me see
Who can find me bold Robin Hood."40
But when that bold Robin he did hear
The king had him in chase,
Then said Little John, "Tis time to be gone,
And go to some other place."