y to Nottingham
To take, he yede the way.

61.
When John came to Nottingham
The gates were sparred each one;
John called up the porter,
He answered soon anon.

62.
'What is the cause,' said Little John,
'Thou sparres the gates so fast?'
'Because of Robin Hood,' said the porter,
'In deep prison is cast.

63.
'John and Much and Will Scathlock,
For sooth as I you say,
They slew our men upon our walles,
And sauten us every day.'

64.
Little John spyrred after the sheriff,
And soon he him found;
He opened the kinges privy seal
And gave him in his hond.

65.
When the sheriff saw the kinges seal,
He did off his hood anon;
'Where is the monk that bare the letters?'
He said to Little John.

66.
'He is so fain of him,' said Little John,
'For sooth as I you say,
He has made him abbot of Westminster,
A lord of that abbay.'

67.
The sheriff made John good cheer,
And gave him wine of the best;
At night they went to their bed,
And every man to his rest.

68.
When the sheriff was on sleep,
Drunken of wine and ale,
Little John and Much for sooth
Took the way unto the jail.

69.
Little John called up the jailor;
And bade him rise anon;
He said Robin Hood had broken prison,
And out of it was gone.

70.
The porter rose anon certain,
As soon as he heard John call;
Little John was ready with a sword,
And bare him to the wall.

71.
'Now will I be porter,' said Little John,
'And take the keys in hond';
He took the way to Robin Hood,
And soon he him unbound.

72.
He gave him a good sword in his hand,
His head therewith for to keep,
And thereas the wall was lowest
Anon down can they leap.

73.
By that the cock began to crow,
The day began to spring;
The sheriff found the jailor dead,
The comyn bell made he ring.

74.
He made a cry throughout all the town,
Whether he be yeoman or knave,
That could bring him Robin Hood,
His warison he should have.

75.
'For I dare never,' said the sheriff,
'Come before our king;
For if I do, I wot certain
For sooth he will me hing.'

76.
The sheriff made to seek Nottingham,
Both by street and sty,
And Robin was in merry Sherwood,
As light as leaf on lynd.

77.
Then bespake good Little John,
To Robin Hood can he say,