‘Four mark I will give thee,’ saith jolly Robìn,
‘Four mark it shall be thy fee;
Thy mony come count, and let me mount,
For a butcher I fain would be.’
VIII
Now Robin he is to Notingham gone,
His butcher’s trade for to begin;
With good intent, to the Sheriff he went,
And there he took up his inn.
IX
When other butchers they opened their meat,
Bold Robin he then begun;
But how for to sell he knew not well,
For a butcher he was but young.
X
When other butchers no meat could sell,
Robin got both gold and fee;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for three.
XI
But when he sold his meat so fast,
No butcher by him could thrive;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for five.