Fast Robin hee hyed him to Little John,
He thought to loose him blive;[32]
The sheriffe and all his companye
Fast after him can drive.
"Stand abacke, stand abacke," sayd Robin,
"Why draw you mee so neere?
It was never the use in our countrye,
One's shrift[33] another shold heere."
But Robin pulled forth an Irish knife,