"God a mercy, good fellow!" quod Robin Hood then,
"And for this that thou hast done,
Tell me, good fellow, what thou art,
Tell me where thou doest [wone]."
The stranger then answer'd bold Robin Hood,65
"Ile tell thee where I do dwell;
In Maxwell town I was bred and born,
My name is young Gamwell.
"For killing of my own fathers steward,
I am forc'd to this English wood,70
And for to seek an uncle of mine,
Some call him Robin Hood."
"But art thou a cousin of Robin Hood then?
The sooner we should have done:"
"As I hope to be sav'd," the stranger then said,75
"I am his own sisters son."
But, lord! what kissing and courting was there,
When these two cousins did greet!
And they went all that summers day,
And Little John did [not] meet.80
But when they met with Little John,
He unto them did say,
"O master, pray where have you been,
You have tarried so long away?"
"I met with a stranger," quod Robin Hood,85
"Full sore he hath beaten me:"
"Then I'le have a bout with him," quod Little John,
"And try if he can beat me."
"Oh [no], oh no," quoth Robin Hood then,
"Little John, it may [not] be so;90
For he is my own dear sisters son,
And cousins I have no mo.
"But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,
My chief man next to thee;
And I Robin Hood, and thou Little John,95
And Scadlock he shall be:
"And weel be three of the bravest outlàws
That live in the north country."
If you will hear more of bold Robin Hood,
In the second part it will be.100