So that bold Robbin and his traine
Did live unhurt of them,
Untill king Richard came againe
From faire Jerusalem.260
And then the talke of Robbin Hood
His royal eares did fill;
His grace admir'd that i' th' greene wood
He thus continued still.
So that the country farre and neare265
Did give him great applause;
For none of them neede stand in feare,
But such as broke the lawes.
He wished well unto the king,
And prayed still for his health,270
And never practis'd any thing
Against the common-wealth.
Onely, because he was undone
By th' crewele clergie then,
All meanes that he could thinke upon275
To vexe such kinde of men,
He enterpriz'd with hateful spleene;
For which he was to blame,
For fault of some to wreake his teene
On all that by him came.280
With wealth which he by robbery got
Eight almes-houses he built,
Thinking thereby to purge the blot
Of blood which he had spilt.
Such was their blinde devotion then,285
Depending on their workes;
Which, if 'twere true, we Christian men
Inferiour were to Turkes.
But, to speak true of Robbin Hood,
And wrong him not a jot,290
He never would shed any mans blood
That him invaded not.
Nor would he injure husbandmen,
That toyld at cart and plough;
For well he knew, were't not for them295
To live no man knew how.