[142]: Augustin Thierry, IV, 56. Robin Hood, édition Ritson.
In somer when the shawes be sheyne,
And leves be large and longe,
Hit is fulle mery in feyre foreste
To here the foulys song;
To se the dere draw to the dale,
And leve the hilles hee,
And shadow hem in the leves grene
Undur the grene wode tree....
Ah! John, by me thou settest noe store.
And that I farley finde:
How offt send I my men before,
And tarry myselfe behinde?
It is no cunning a knave to ken,
And a man but heare him speake;
And it were not for bursting of my bowe,
John, I thy head wold breake....
He that had neyther beene kythe nor kin,
Might have scene a full fayre fight,
To see how together these yeomen went
With blades both browne and bright.
To see how these yeomen together they fought.
Two houres of a summers day
Yet neither Robin Hood nor sir Guy
Them fettled to flye away.
God haffe mersey on Robin Hodys solle
And saffe all god yemanry.
[144]: Pinder. Son emploi était de taxer le bétail qui vaguait sur le communal.