His chiefest spight to th' clergie was,
That liv'd in monstrous pride:
No one of them he would let passe
Along the highway side,60
But first they must to dinner go,
And afterwards to shrift:
Full many a one he served so,
Thus while he liv'd by theft.
No monks nor fryers would he let goe,65
Without paying their fees:
If they thought much to be us'd so,
Their stones he made them leese.
For such as they the country fill'd
With bastards in those dayes;70
Which to prevent, these sparkes did geld
All that came by their ways.
But Robbin Hood so gentle was,
And bore so brave a minde,
If any in distresse did passe,75
To them he was so kinde,
That he would give and lend to them,
To helpe them in their neede;
This made all poore men pray for him,
And wish he well might speede.80
The widdow and the fatherlesse
He would send meanes unto;
And those whom famine did oppresse
Found him a friendly foe.
Nor would he doe a woman wrong,85
But see her safe conveid:
He would protect with power strong
All those who crav'd his ayde.
The abbot of Saint Maries then,
Who him undid before,90
Was riding with two hundred men,
And gold and silver store.
But Robbin Hood upon him set,
With his couragious sparkes,
And all the coyne perforce did get,95
Which was twelve thousand markes.