The king came to Nottingham,With knights in great array,For to take that gentle knight,And Robin Hood,if he may.
He asked men of that countr-e,After Robin Hood,And after that gentle knight,That was so bold and stout.
When they had told him the case,Our king understood their tale,And seised in his hand The knight-es landes all,All the pass of Lancashire,He went both far and near,Till he came to Plompton park,He failed many of his deer.
Where our king was wont to see Herd-es many one He could unneth find one deer,That bare an-y good horn.
The king was wonder wroth withal,And swore by the trinit-e,"I would I had Robin Hood,With eyen I might him see;
And he that would smite off the knight-es head.
And bring it to me,He shall have the knight-es lands,Sir Rychard at the Lee;
I give it him with my chart-er,And seal it with my hand,To have and hold for ever-more,In all merr-y Engl-and."
Then bespake a fair old knight,That was true in his fay,"Ah,my lieg-e lord the king,One word I shall you say:
There is no man in this countr-y May have the knight-es lands,While Robin Hood may ride or gon,And bear a bow in his hands,That he ne shall lose his head,That is the best ball in his hood:
Give it no man,my lord the king,That ye will any good!"
Half a year dwelled our comely king,In Nottingham,and well more,Could he not hear of Robin Hood,In what country that he were;
But alw-ay went good Rob-in By halk and eke by hill,And alway slew the king-es deer,And welt them at his will.
Then bespake a proud forstere,That stood by our king's knee,"If ye will see good Rob-in,Ye must do after me.
Take five of the best knyght-es That be in your lede,And walk down by your abb-ey,And get you monk-es weed.
And I will be your led-es man,And led-e you the way,And ere ye come to Nottingham,Mine head then dare I lay,That ye shall meet with good Rob-in,Alive if that he be,Ere ye come to Nottingham,With eyen ye shall him see."
Full hastily our king was dight,So were his knight-es five,Each of them in monk-es weed,And hasted them thither blithe.