;
Thereas the sheriff and his men stood thickest,
Thitherward would he.

27.
Thrice throughout them he ran then
For sooth as I you say,
And wounded many a mother son,
And twelve he slew that day.

28.
His sword upon the sheriff head
Certainly he brake in two;
'The smith that thee made,' said Robin,
'I pray God work him woe.'

29.
'For now am I weaponless,' said Robin,
'Alas! against my will;
But if I may flee these traitors fro,
I wot they will me kill.'

30.
Robin into the churche ran,
Throughout them everilkone,
... ... ...
... ... ...

31.
Some fell in swooning as they were dead,
And lay still as any stone;
None of them were in their mind
But only Little John.

32.
'Let be your rule,' said Little John,
'For his love that died on tree;
Ye that should be doughty men;
It is great shame to see.

33.
'Our master has been hard bestood,
And yet scaped away;
Pluck up your hearts and leave this moan,
And hearken what I shall say.

34.
'He has served Our Lady many a day,
And yet will, securly;
Therefore I trust her specially
No wicked death shall he die.

35.
'Therefore be glad,' said Little John,
'And let this mourning be;
And I shall be the monkes guide,
With the might of mild Marie.'

36.
... ... ...
'We will go but we two;
And I meet him,' said Little John,
... ... ...

37.
'Look that ye keep well our tristel-tree,
Under the leaves smale,
And spare none of this venison
That goes in this vale.'

38.
Forth then went these yeomen two,
Little John and Much on fere,
And looked on Much emes house,
The highway lay full near.

39.
Little John stood at a window in the morning,
And looked forth at a stage;
He was ware where the monk came riding,
And with him a little page.

40.
'By my faith,' said Little John to Much,
'I can thee tell tidinges good;
I see where the monke comes riding,
I know him by his wide hood.'

41.
They went into the way, these yeomen both,
As curteis men and hend;
They spyrred tidinges at the monk,
As they had been his friende.

42.
'Fro whence come ye?' said Little John,
'Tell us tidinges, I you pray,
Of a false outlaw, called Robin Hood,
Was taken yesterday.

43.
'He robbed me and my fellows both