48.
'Thou shall have a bow,' said the sheriff,
'The best that thou will choose of three;
Thou seemest a stalwart and a strong,
Assay[ed] shall thou be.'

49.
The sheriff commanded a yeoman that stood them by,
After bows to wend;
The best bow that the yeoman brought,
Robin set on a string.

50.
'Now shall I wot and thou be good,
And pull it up to thine ear.'
'So God me help,' said the proud potter,
'This is but right weak gear.'

51.
To a quiver Robin went,
A good bolt out he took;
So nigh unto the mark he went,
He failed not a foot.

52.
All they shot about again,
The sheriff's men and he;
Of the mark he would not fail,
He cleft the prick in three.

53.
The sheriff's men thought great shame
The potter the mastery won;
The sheriff laughed and made good game,
And said, 'Potter, thou art a man.

54.
... ... ...
... ... ...
'Thou art worthy to bear a bow
In what place that thou go.'

55.
'In my cart I have a bow,
Forsooth,' he said, 'and that a good;
In my cart is the bow
That gave me Robin Hood.'

56.
'Knowest thou Robin Hood?' said the sheriff;
'Potter, I pray thee tell thou me.'
'A hundred turn I have shot with him,
Under his trystell-tree.'

57.
'I had liefer nor a hundred pound,' said the sheriff,
And sware by the Trinity,
' ... ... ...
That the false outlaw stood by me.'

58.
'And ye will do after my rede,' said the potter,
'And boldly go with me,
And tomorrow, ere we eat bread,
Robin Hood will we see.'

59.
'I will quite thee,' quoth the sheriff,
'I swear by God of might.'
Shooting they left and home they went,
Their supper was ready dight.

60.
Upon the morrow, when it was day,
He busked him forth to ride;
The potter his cart forth gan ray,
And would not leave behind.

61.
He took leave of the sherriff's wife,
And thanked her of all thing:
'Dame, for my love and you will this wear,
I give you here a gold ring.'

62.
'Gramercy,' said the wife,
'Sir, God yield it thee.'
The sheriff's heart was never so light,
The fair forest to see.

63.
And when he came into the forest,
Under the leaves green,
Birdes there sang on boughes prest,
It was great joy to see.

64.
'Here it is merry to be,' said Robin,
'For a man that h