And a man but heare him speake ;

And it were not for bursting of my bowe,

John, I thy head wold breake.”

As often wordes they breeden bale,

So they parted Robin and John :

And John is gone to Barnesdale ;

The gates he knoweth eche one.

But when he came to Barnesdale,

Great heavinesse there he hadd,

For he found tow of his own fellòwes,