The sheryf had his leve itake,
And went hym on his way;
And Robyn Hode to grene wode [went]
Upon a certayn day.
And Lytell Johan was hole of the arowe,45
That shote was in his kne,
And dyde hym strayte to Robyn Hode,
Under the grene wode tre.
Robyn Hode walked in the foreste,
Under the leves grene;50
The proud sheryfe of Notyngham,
Therfore he had grete tene.
The sheryf there fayled of Robyn Hode,
He myght not have his pray;
Then he awayted that gentyll knyght,55
Bothe by nyght and by daye.
Ever he awayted that gentyll knyght,
Syr Rychard at the Lee;
As he went on haukynge by the ryver syde
And let his haukes flee,60
Toke he there this gentyll knyght,
With men of armes stronge,
And lad hym home to Notyngham warde,
Ibonde both [fote and honde].
The sheryf swore a full grete othe,65
By hym that dyed [on rode],
He had lever than an hondrede pounde,
That he had Robyn Hode.
Then the lady, the knyghtes wyfe,
A fayre lady and fre,70
She set her on a gode palfrày,
To grene wode anon rode she.
When she came to the forèst,
Under the grene wode tre,
Founde she there Robyn Hode,75
And all his fayre meynè.
"God the save, [good Robyn Hode],
And all thy company;
For our dere [ladyes] love,
A bone graunte thou me.80