CCCCXXIV
Our King and Robin rode together
Forsooth as I you say,
And they shot pluck-buffet[912],
As they went by the way;
CCCCXXV
And many a buffet our King won,
Of Robin Hood that day:
And nothing spared good Robin
Our King in his pay.
CCCCXXVI
‘So God me help,’ said our King,
‘Thy game is nought to lere[913],
I should not get a shot of thee,
Though I shot all this year.’
CCCCXXVII
All the people of Nottingham
They stood and beheld,
They saw nothing but mantles of green
That cover’d all the felde;
CCCCXXVIII
Then every man to other gan say,
‘I dread our King be slone;
Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis,
On life he leaveth not one.’