CCCXXI
‘Wend forth, sirs, on your way,
And doth no more to me,
Till ye wit our King his will
What he will say to thee.’
CCCXXII
The Sheriff thus had his answère,
Without any leasing[879];
Forth he yede[880] to London town,
All for to tell our King.
CCCXXIII
There he told him of that Knight,
And eke of Robin Hood,
And also of the bold archers
That were so noble and good.
CCCXXIV
‘He would avow that he had done,
To maintain the outlaws strong,
He would be lord, and set you at nought,
In all the north londe.’
CCCXXV
‘I will be at Nottingham,’ said our King,
‘Within this fortènight,
And take I willè Robin Hood,
And so I will that Knight.