So unto London road he past,5
His losses to unfold
To king Richàrd, who did regard
The tale that he had told.
"Why," quoth the king, "what shall I do?
Art thou not sheriff for me"10
The law is in force, to take thy course
Of them that injure thee.
"Go get thee gone, and by thyself
Devise some tricking game
For to enthral yon rebels all;15
Go take thy course with them."
So away the sheriff he return'd,
And by the way he thought
Of th' words of the king, and how the thing
To pass might well be brought.20
For within his mind he imagined,
That when such matches were,
Those outlaws stout, without all doubt,
Would be the bowmen there.
So an arrow with a golden head25
And shaft of silver-white,
Who [won the day] should bear away
For his own proper right.
Tidings came to bold Robin Hood,
Under the green-wood tree:30
"Come prepare you then, my merry men,
We'll go yon sport to see."
With that stept forth a brave young man,
David of Doncastèr:
"Master," said he, "be rul'd by me,35
From the green-wood we'll not stir.
"To tell the truth, I'm well inform'd
Yon match it is a wile;
The sheriff, i-wiss, devises this
Us archers to beguile."40
"Thou smells of a coward," said Robin Hood,
"Thy words do not please me;
Come on't what will, I'll try my skill,
At yon brave archery."