Lytell Johan and good Scatheloke
Were archers good and fre;50
Lytell Much and good Reynolde,
The worste wolde they not be.
Whan they had shot aboute,
These archours fayre and good,
Evermore was the best,55
Forsoth, Robyn Hode.
Hym was delyvered the goode aròw,
For best worthy was he;
He toke the yeft so curteysly,
To grene wode wolde he.60
They cryed out on Robyn Hode,
And great hornes gan they blowe:
"Wo worth the, treason!" sayd Robyn,
"Full evyl thou art to knowe.
"And wo be thou, thou proud sheryf,65
Thus gladdynge thy gest;
Other wyse thou behote me
In yonder wylde forest.
"But had I the in grene wode,
Under my trystell tre,70
Thou sholdest leve me a better wedde
Than thy trewe lewtè."
Full many a bowe there was bent,
And arowes let they glyde,
Many a kyrtell there was rent,75
And hurt many a syde.
The outlaws shot was so stronge,
That no man myght them dryve,
And the proud sheryfes men
They fled away full [blyve].80
Robyn sawe the busshement to-broke,
In grene wode he wolde have be;
Many an arowe there was shot
Amonge that company.
Lytell Johan was hurte full sore,85
With an arowe in his kne,
That he myght neyther go nor ryde;
It was full grete pytè.