"If it be so,"said Rob-in,"That may no better be:
Sir abbot,I deliver thee mine arrow,I pray thee,sir,serve thou me."
"It falleth not for mine order,"said our king;
"Robin,by thy leave,For to smite no good yeom-an,For doubt I should him grieve."
"Smite on boldly!"said Rob-in,"I give thee larg-e leave."
Anon our king,with that word,He fold up his sleeve,And such a buffet he gave Rob-in,To ground he yede full near.
"I make mine avow to God,"said Robin,"Thou art a stalworthy frere;
There is pith in thine arm,"said Rob-in,"I trow thou canst well shoot!"
Thus our king and Robin Hood Together then they met.
Robin beheld our comely king Wistly in the face,So did Sir Richard at the Lee,And kneeled down in that place;
And so did all the wild outl-aws,When they see them kneel.
"My lord the king of Engl-and,Now I know you well.
Merc-y,"then Robin said to our king,"Under your trystal tree,Of thy goodness and thy grace,For my men and me!
Yes,fore God,"said Robin,"And also God me save;
I ask merc-y,my lord the king,And for my men I crave."
"Yes,fore God,"then said our king,"Thy petition I grant thee,With that thou leave the green wood,And all thy compan-y;
And come home,sir,to my court,And there dwell with me."
"I make mine avow,"said Rob-in,"And right so shall it be;
I will come to your court,Your service for to see,And bring with me of my men Seven score and three.
But me like well your serv-ice,I come again full soon,And shoot at the donn-e deer,As I am wont to doon."
THE EIGHTH FYTTE.
"Hast thou any green cloth,"said our king,"That thou wilt sell now to me?"
"Yea,fore God,"said Robin.
"Thirty yards and three."
"Robin,"said our king,"Now pray I thee,To sell me some of that cloth,To me and my meyn-e."
"Yes,fore God,"then said Rob-in,"Or else I were a fool;
Another day ye will me clothe,I trow,against the Yule."
The king cast off his cot-e then,A green garment he did on,And every knight had so,i-wis,They cloth-ed them full soon.