"Good morrowe, good fellowe," sayd Robin so fayre,
"Good morrowe, good fellow," quoth he:
Methinkes by this bowe thou beares in thy hande
"A good archere thou sholdst bee."
"I am wilfull of my waye," quo' the yeman,
"And of my morning tyde."
"Ile lead thee through the wood," sayd Robin;
"Good fellow, Ile be thy guide."
"I seeke an outlawe," the straunger sayd,
"Men call him Robin Hood;
Rather Ild meet with that proud outlawe,
Than fortye pound so good."
"Now come with me, thou wight yemàn,
And Robin thou soone shalt see:
But first let us some pastime find
Under the greenwood tree.
"First let us some masterye make
Among the woods so even,
Wee may chance to meet with Robin Hood
Here att some unsett steven."
They cut them downe two summer shroggs,
That grew both under a breere,
And sett them threescore rood in twaine
To shoot the prickes y-fere:
"Lead on, good fellowe," quoth Robin Hood,
"Lead on, I doe bidd thee."
"Nay by my faith, good fellowe," hee sayd,
"My leader thou shalt bee."
The first time Robin shot at the pricke,
He mist but an inch it froe:
The yeoman he was an archer good,
But he cold never shoote soe.
The second shoote had the wightye yemàn,
He shote within the garlande:
But Robin he shott far better than hee,
For he clave the good pricke wande.
"A blessing upon thy heart," he sayd;
"Good fellowe, thy shooting is goode;
For an thy hart be as good as thy hand,
Thou wert better then Robin Hoode.
"Now tell me thy name, good fellowe," sayd he,
"Under the leaves of lyne."
"Nay by my faith," quoth bolde Robin,
Till thou have told me thine."