"The first good shoot that Robin ledd,
Did not shoote an inch the pricke ffroe;
Guy was an archer good enoughe,
But he cold neere shoote soe.
The second shoote Sir Guy shott,
He shott within the garlande;
But Robin Hood shott it better than hee,
For he clove the good pricke-wande.
'Gods blessing on thy heart!' sayes Guy,
'Goode ffellow, thy shooting is goode;
For an thy hart be as good as thy hands,
Thou were better than Robin Hood.'
Tell me thy name, good ffellow,' quoth Guy,
'Under the leaves of lyne:'
'Nay, by my faith,' quoth good Robin,
'Till thou have told me thine.'
'I dwell by dale and downe,'' quoth Guy,
'And I have done many a curst turn;
And he that calles me by my right name,
Calles me Guy of good Gysborne.'
'My dwelling is in the wood,' sayes Robin;
'By thee I set right nought;
My name is Robin Hood of Barnesdale,
A ffellow thou has long sought.'"
-Author and date unknown
