5
And loved men of quality
More than become him well,
His great revenues all he fold,
For wine and costly cheer,
He kept three hundred bowmen bold,
He shooting lov'd ſo dear,
No archer living in his time,
With him might well compare,
He practic'd all his youthful prime
In exercise most rare.
At last by his profute expence.
He had conſum'd his wealth,
And being outlaw'd by his prince,
In woods he lived by stealth,
The Abbot of St Mary's church,
To whom he money ow'd,
His hatred to the Earl was such,
That he his downfal prov'd.
So being outlaw'd as tis told,
He with a crew went forth,
Of lusty cutters stout and bold,
Who robbed in the North.
Among the reſt one Little John,
A yeoman bold and free;
Who could, if need stood him up.
With ease encounter three.
One hundred men in all he got,
With whom the story says,
Three hundred men in arms durst not,
Keep combat any ways.
