3. "Me thought they did mee beate and binde,

And tooke my bowe mee froe;
If I bee Robin alive in this lande,
I'le be wrocken 10 on both them
towe."

4. "Sweavens11 are swift, master," quoth John,

"As the wind that blowes ore a hill; Ffor if itt be never soe lowde this night,

To-morrow it may be still."

5. "Buske12 yee, bowne13 yee, my merry men all,

Ffor John shall goe with mee;
For I'le goe seeke yond wight yeomen
In greenwood where the14 bee."

9. "A, John, by me thou setts noe store,
And that's a ffarley 16 thinge;
How offt send I my men beffore,
And tarry my-selfe behinde?

10. "It is noe cunning a knave to ken, And a man but heare him speake; And itt were not for bursting of my bowe,

John, I wold thy head breake."

II. But often words they breeden bale;17
That parted Robin and John;
John is gone to Barn[e]sdale,

The gates18 he knowes eche one.

10 avenged.

13 dress yourselves.

mett,

Did not shoote an inch the pricke

ffroe;

Guy was an archer good enoughe,

But he cold neere shoote soe.

31. The second shoote Sir Guy shott, He shott within the garlande; But Robin Hoode shott it better than hee,

For he clove the good prickewande.

' dealing.