‘A! John, by me thou settest noe store,
And that’s a farley[936] finde.
How offt send I my men beffore,
And tarry my selfe behinde?

XII

‘It is noe cunning a knave to ken,
An a man but heare him speake;
An itt were not for bursting of my bowe,
John, I wold thy head breake.’

XIII

As often wordes they breeden bale,
So they parted Robin and John:
And John is gone to Barnèsdale;
The gates[937] he knoweth eche one.

XIV

But when he came to Barnèsdale,
Great heavinesse there hee hadd,
For he found two of his owne fellòwes
Were slaine both in a slade[938].

XV

And Scarlette à-foote he flyinge was
Fast over stocke and stone,
For the Sheriffe with seven score men
Fast after him is gone.

XVI