Robin Hood and the valiant Knight

When Robin Hood and his merry men all Had reigned many long years, The King was then told they had been too bold To his Bishops and noble peers. Therefore he call'd a Council of state, To know what was best to be done, For to quell their pride or else it was fear'd The land would be over-run Having consulted a long summer's day, At length it was agreed, That one should be sent to try the event, And fetch him away with speed. Therefore, a trusty most worthy Knight, The King was pleas'd to call, Sir William by name, when to him he came, He told him his pleasure and all. Go then from hence to bold Robin Hood, Bid him without more ado, Surrender himself, or else the proud elf Shall suffer with all his bold crew. He wander'd about till at length he came To the tent of bold Robin Hood; His bus'ness he shews, bold Robin arose, And there on his guard did stand, They'd have me surrender, quoth Robin Hood, And lie at their mercy then; But tell them from me, that never shall be, While I have seven score men Then Robin set his horn to his mouth, And blew a blast or twain; And so did Knight, at which there in sight, The archers came all amain. The archers on both sides bent their bows, And the clouds of arrows flew; The very first fight, that honor'd Knight Did there bid the world adieu. At length they went off, the party they went, For London with right good will, And Robin Hood he to the greenwood-tree, And there he was taken ill.