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12 With banquetting and merriment,

And having used them well.

He to their Lord them safely sent.

and willed them to tell.

That if he would be pleas'd at last,

To beg of our good King,

That he might pardon what was past,

And him to favour bring,

He could surrender back again

The money that before

Was taken by him and his men

From him and many more.

Poor men might safely go by him,

And some that may did chose,

For well they knew that to help them,

He evermore did use

But where he knew a miser rich,

That did the poor oppress,

To feel their coin his hands did itch,

He had it more or less.

Nay, sometimes when the highway fails;

Then be his courage reused,

He and his men have oft assaulted

Such rich men in their houses.

So their dread of Robin Hood,

And his adventurous crew,

The misers keep great store of men,

Who else maintained but few.

King Richard of that name the First,

Sir-named Ceur de Lyon,