Soon, however, the sheriff gathered a great number of men, and himself set out to take Gamelyn.  “My counsel is this,” said Adam.  “Let us go to the forest before they come.  It is better to be homeless in the woods than to be shut up in prison.”  They agreed to go together and, having pledged each other in a cup of wine, they took good horses and rode away as fast as they might.

Gamelyn and Adam went all day through the forest until they began to grow hungry and weary with pushing through the thick bushes, which scratched them and tore their clothes, when suddenly they heard a noise as of many men talking.  They went nearer to it and, peering through the leaves, Gamelyn perceived a great company of men, about seven score in number, who were sitting down to a feast.  “Here’s good luck,” he whispered, “for I think I see meat and drink.”  “God grant we get some of it,” said Adam, “for I am famished and in need of a good meal.”  As he said this the chief of the men saw them as they stood among the bushes, and cried out, “By the rood, here are some guests to our feast!  Yonder are two young men, and perhaps more behind them, Go and fetch them to me.”  Up then started seven outlaws and came to Gamelyn and the steward.  “Yield up your bows and arrows,” they commanded.  “That will I never do,” replied Gamelyn boldly, “even if there were a dozen of you, I would fight you all.”  When they saw he was not afraid they did not attempt to harm him, but asked him civilly to come before their master.  “Who is your master?” said Gamelyn, and they all answered, “Our master is the crowned king of the outlaws.”  “Adam, let us go to him,” said Gamelyn.  “This man is probably courteous and of gentle birth; he will not, for shame, refuse us food and drink.”  So they went together to the outlaw king.  “Who are you and what do you seek here?” he asked.  “We come here because, like you, we dare not stay at home.  We shall do no harm except perhaps to shoot a deer or two for food.”  “You shall have enough to eat,” said the king.  “Sit down and eat and drink of our best.”  So they stayed with the outlaws that night.

In the morning the outlaws began to talk amongst themselves, and at last one of them told the king that his guest was Gamelyn, whose deeds were well known amongst them.  So the king honoured Gamelyn and made him a chief of the outlaws, next in rank to himself.

Three weeks went by, and the two led a merry life amongst the outlaws.  Then the king heard to his great delight that his offences were pardoned, and he could go home to live in peace.  The outlaws had to appoint a new king.  They wasted no time in electing Gamelyn, and for some time he led all their expeditions.