"The bowe, the arrowes, and litle horne,
Now with me I will beare;
For I will away to Bàrnèsdale,
To see how my men doe fare.
Robin Hood sett Guyes horne to his mouth,
And a loud blast in it did blow.
That beheard the sheriffe of Nottingham,
As he leaned under a lowe.
"Hearken, hearken," sayd the sheriffe,
"I heare now tydings good,
For yonder I heare Sir Guyes horne blowe,
And he hath slaine Robin Hoode.
"Yonder I heare Sir Guyes horne blowe,
Itt blowes soe well in tyde,
And yonder comes that wightye yeomàn,
Cladd in his capull hyde.
"Come hyther, come hyther, thou good Sir Guy,
Aske what thou wilt of mee."
"O I will none of thy gold," sayd Robin,
"Nor I will none of thy fee:
"But now I have slaine the master," he sayes,
"Let me go strike the knave;
This is all the rewarde I aske;
Nor noe other will I have.
"Thou art a madman," said the sheriffe,
"Thou sholdest have had a knights fee:
But seeing thy asking hath beene soe bad,
Well granted it shale be."
When Litle John heard his master speake,
Well knewe he it was his steven:
"Now shall I be looset," quoth Litle John,
"With Christ his might in heaven."
Fast Robin hee hyed him to Litle John,
He thought to loose him belive;
The sheriffe and all his companye
Fast after him did drive.
"Stand abacke, stand abacke," sayd Robin;
"Why draw you mee soe neere?
Itt was never the use in our countrye,
Ones shrift another shold heere.
But Robin pulled forth an Irysh knife,
And losed John hand and foote,
And gave him Sir Guyes bow into his hand,
And bade it be his boote.