So perilous outlaws as they were,

Walked not by east nor west.

When the king this letter had read,

In his heart he sighed sore;

"Take up the table anon," he bad,

"For I may eat no more."

The king called his best archers,

To the butts with him to go;

"I will see these fellows shoot," he said,

"In the north have wrought this woe."