Page:Life and death of Robin Hood, the renowned out-law.pdf/5

 The Abbot of St Mary's rich,
 * To whom he money owed;

His hatred to the Earl was such,
 * That he his downfall wrought;

So being out-lawed, as 'tis told,
 * He with a crew went forth,

Of lusty cutters, stout and bold,
 * And robbed in the North.

Amongst the rest, one Little John,
 * A yeoman bold and free,

Who could (if it stood him upon)
 * With ease encounter three.

One hundred men in all he got.
 * With whom, the story says,

Three hundred common men durst not
 * Hold combat any ways.

The Yorkshire woods frequented much,
 * And Lancashire also;

Wherein the practices were such,
 * That they wrought muckle woe.

None rich durst travel to and fro,
 * Tho' ne'er so strongly arm'd;

But by these thieves, so strong in shew,
 * They still were rob'd and harm'd.