Chapter VII: Part 7

"That shall not be," the bishop he said,
"For thy word shall not stand; 90
They shall be three times askt in the church,
As the law is of our land."

Robin Hood pull'd off the bishops coat,
And put it upon Little John;
"By the faith of my body," then Robin said, 95
This cloth does make thee a man."

"When Little John went into the quire,
The people began to laugh;
He askt them seven times in the church,
Lest three times should not be enough. 100

"Who gives me this maid?" said Little John;
Quoth Robin Hood, "That do I,
And he that takes her from Allin a Dale,
Full dearly he shall her buy."

And thus having ende of this merry wedding, 105
The bride lookt like a queen;
And so they return'd to the merry green-wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.

22. Nicke.

ROBIN HOODS RESCUING WILL STUTLY.

From _A Collection of Old Ballads_, i. 90. The full title is: _Robin Hood rescuing Will Stutley from the sheriff and his men, who had taken him prisoner, and were going to hang him, &c. To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Catherine_. The same in Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 106.

When Robin Hood in the green wood stood,
_Derry, derry down_,
Under the green wood tree,
Tidings there came to him with speed,
Tidings for certainty;
_Hey down, derry, derry, down_.

That Will Stutly surprized was, 5
And eke in prison lay;
Three varlets that the king had hir'd,
Did likely him betray.

Ay, and to-morrow hang'd must be,
To-morrow as soon as day; 10
Before they could the victory get,
Two of 'em did Stutly slay.

When Robin Hood did hear this news,
Lord! it did grieve him sore;
And to his merry men he said, 15
(Who altogether swore)

That Will Stutly should rescu'd be,
And be brought back again;
Or else should many a gallant wight
For his sake there be slain. 20

He cloath'd himself in scarlet then,
His men were all in green;
A finer shew, throughout the world,
In no place could be seen.

Good lord! it was a gallant sight 25
To see them all a-row;
With ev'ry man a good broad sword,
And eke a good yew bow.

Forth of the green wood are they gone,
Yea, all couragously, 30
Resolving to bring Stutly home,
Or every man to dye.

And when they came to the castle near
Wherein Will Stutly lay,
"I hold it good," said Robin Hood, 35
"We here in ambush stay,

"And send one forth some news to hear,
To yonder palmer fair,
That stands under the castle wall;
Some news he may declare." 40

With that steps forth a brave young man,
Which was of courage bold;
Thus he did say to the old man:
"I pray thee, palmer old,

"Tell me, if that thou rightly ken, 45
When must Will Stutly dye,
Who is one of bold Robin's men,
And here doth prisoner lye?"

"Alas, alas," the palmer said,
"And for ever woe is me! 50
Will Stutly hang'd will be this day,
On yonder gallows tree.

"O had his noble master known,
He would some succour send;
A few of his bold yeomanry 55
Full soon would fetch him hence."

"Ay, that is true," the young man said;
"Ay, that is true," said he;
"Or, if they were near to this place,
They soon would set him free. 60

"But fare thou well, thou good old man,
Farewel, and thanks to thee;
If Stutly hanged be this day,
Reveng'd his death will be."

No sooner he was from the palmer gone, 65
But the gates were open'd wide,
And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
Guarded on every side.

When he was forth from the castle come,
And saw no help was nigh, 70
Thus he did say unto the sheriff,
Thus he said gallantly:

"Now seeing that I needs must dye,
Grant me one boon," said he,
"For my noble master ne'er had man 75
That yet was hang'd on tree.

"Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let me be unbound,
And with thee and thy men I'll fight,
Till I lye dead on the ground." 80

But this desire he would not grant,
His wishes were in vain;
For the sheriff swore he hang'd should be,
And not by the sword be slain.

"Do but unbind my hands," he says, 85
"I will no weapons crave,
And if I hanged be this day,
Damnation let me have."

"O no, no, no," the sheriff said,
"Thou shalt on gallows dye, 90
Ay, and so shall thy master too,
If ever in me it lye."

"O dastard coward!" Stutly cries,
Faint-hearted peasant slave!
If ever my master do thee meet, 95
Thou shalt thy payment have.

"My noble master thee doth scorn,
And all thy cowardly crew;
Such silly imps unable are
Bold Robin to subdue." 100

But when he was to the gallows gone,
And ready to bid adieu,
Out of a bush steps Little John,
And goes Will Stutly to.

"I pray thee, Will, before thou dye, 105
Of thy dear friends take leave;
I needs must borrow him a while,
How say you, master sheriff?"

"Now, as I live," the sheriff said,
"That varlet will I know; 110
Some sturdy rebel is that same,
Therefore let him not go."

And Little John most hastily
Away cut Stutly's bands,
And from one of the sheriffs men, 115
A sword twich'd from his hands.

"Here, Will Stutly, take thou this same,
Thou canst it better sway;
And here defend thyself awhile,
For aid will come straightway." 120

And there they turn'd them back to back,
In the midst of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached near,
With many an archer gay.

With that an arrow from them flew, 125
I-wis[126] from Robin Hood;[L126]
"Make haste, make haste," the sheriff he said,
"Make haste, for it is not good."

The sheriff is gone; his doughty men
Thought it no boot to stay, 130
But, as their master had them taught,
They run full fast away.

"O stay, O stay," Will Stutly said,
"Take leave ere you depart;
You ne'er will catch bold Robin Hood, 135
Unless you dare him meet."

"O ill betide you," said Robin Hood,
That you so soon are gone;
My sword may in the scabbard rest,
For here our work is done." 140

"I little thought," Will Stutly said,
"When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my master's face."

Thus Stutly he was at liberty set, 145
And safe brought from his foe:
"O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr,
Since here it was not so.

"And once again, my fellows dear,
_Derry, derry down_,
We shall in the green woods meet, 150
Where we will make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet."
_Hey down, derry, derry down_.

126, I wist.

ROBIN HOODS PROGRESS TO NOTTINGHAM.

Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 13.

"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood. It is there said to go 'To the tune of Bold Robin Hood;' and the chorus is repeated in every stanza. To the above title are added the following doggerel lines:--

Where hee met with fifteen forresters all on a row,
And hee desired of them some news for to know,
But with crosse-grain'd words they did him thwart,
For which at last hee made them smart."

One or two corrections made by Gutch from copies in the Roxburghe collection have been admitted.

Robin Hood he was a tall young man,[L1]
_Derry, derry down_,
And fifteen winters old;
And Robin Hood he was a proper young man,
Of courage stout and bold.
_Hey down, derry, derry down_.

Robin Hood hee would unto fair Nottingham,[L5] 5
With the general for to dine;
There was hee aware of fifteen forresters,
And a drinking beer, ale, and wine.[L8]

"What news?" "What news?" said bold Robin Hood,
"What news fain wouldest thou know? 10
Our king hath provided a shooting match,
And I'm ready with my bow."

"We hold it in scorn," said the forresters,
"That ever a boy so young
Should bear a bow before our king, 15
That's not able to draw one string."

"I'le hold you twenty marks," said bold Robin Hood,
"By the leave of our lad[y'],
That I'le hit a mark a hundred rod,
And I'le cause a hart to dye." 20

"We'l hold you twenty mark," then said the forresters,
"By the leave of our lady,
Thou hit'st not the marke a hundred rod,
Nor causest a hart to dye."

Robin Hood he bent up a noble bow, 25
And a broad arrow he let flye,
He hit the mark a hundred rod,
And he caused a hart to dye.

Some say hee brake ribs one or two,
And some say hee brake three; 30
The arrow within the hart would not abide,
But it glanced in two or three.

The hart did skip, and the hart did leap,
And the hart lay on the ground;
"The wager is mine," said bold Robin Hood, 35
"If't were for a thousand pound."

"The wager's none of thine," then said the forresters,
"Although thou beest in haste;
Take up thy bow, and get thee hence,
Lest wee thy sides do baste." 40

Robin Hood he took up his noble bow,
And his broad arrows all amain;
And Robin Hood he laught, and begun to smile,
As hee went over the plain.

Then Robin Hood he bent his noble bow, 45
And his broad arrowes he let flye,
Till fourteen of these fifteen forresters
Upon the ground did lye.

He that did this quarrel first begin
Went tripping over the plain; 50
But Robin Hood he bent his noble bow,
And hee fetcht him back again.

"You said I was no archer," said Robin Hood,
"But say so now again;"
With that he sent another arrow, 55
That split his head in twain.

"You have found mee an archer," said Robin Hood,[L57]
"Which will make your wives for to wring,
And wish that you had never spoke the word,
That I could not draw one string." 60

The people that lived in fair Nottinghàm
Came running out amain,
Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood,
With the forresters that were slain.

Some lost legs, and some lost arms, 65
And some did lose their blood;
But Robin hee took up his noble bow,
And is gone to the merry green wood.

They carried these forresters into fair Nottingham,
As many there did know; 70
They dig'd them graves in their church-yard,
And they buried them all a-row.

1, and he;

5, and to, Ritson.

8, bear.

57, saith. RITSON.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD.

"This excellent ballad, given from the common edition of Aldermary church-yard (compared with the York copy), is supposed to be modern; the story, however, seems alluded to in the ballad of _Renowned Robin Hood_. The full title is _The Bishop of Herefords entertainment by Robin Hood and Little John, &c., in merry Barnsdale_." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 150.

Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood,
And some of barons bold;
But I'll tell you how he serv'd the bishop of Hereford,
When he robb'd him of his gold.

As it befel in merry Barnsdale, 5
All under the green-wood tree,
The bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his company.

"Come, kill [me] a ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
"Come, kill me a good fat deer; 10
The bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.

"We'll kill a fat ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
And dress it by the highway side;
And we will watch the bishop narrowly, 15
Lest some other way he should ride."

Robin Hood dress'd himself in shepherds attire,
With six of his men alsò;
And, when the bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go. 20

"O what is the matter?" then said the bishop,
"Or for whom do you make this a-do?
Or why do you kill the kings ven'son,
When your company is so few?"

"We are shepherds," said bold Robin Hood, 25
"And we keep sheep all the year,
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the kings fat deer."

"You are brave fellows!" said the bishop,
"And the king of your doings shall know: 30
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."

"O pardon, O pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"O pardon, I thee pray!
For it becomes not your lordships coat 35
To take so many lives away."

"No pardon, no pardon," said the bishòp,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go." 40

Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherds coat
He pull'd out a bugle horn.

He put the little end to his mouth, 45
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robins men
Came running all on a row,

All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood;
'Twas a comely sight for to see. 50
"What is the matter, master," said Little John,
"That you blow so hastily?"

"O here is the bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have:"
"Cut off his head, master," said Little John, 55
"And throw him into his grave."

"O pardon, O pardon," said the bishop,
"O pardon, I thee pray,
For if I had known it had been you,
I'd have gone some other way." 60

"No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go."

Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand, 65
And led him to merry Barnsdale;
He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

"Call in a reckoning," said the bishop,
"For methinks it grows wond'rous high:" 70
"Lend me your purse, master," said Little John,
"And I'll tell you bye and bye."

Then Little John took the bishops cloak,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantua 75
He told three hundred pound.

"Here's money enough, master," said Little John,
"And a comely sight 'tis to see;
It makes me in charity with the bishop,
Tho' he heartily loveth not me." 80

Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And he caused the music to play;
And he made the bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad he could so get away.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP.

Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 22.

Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman's house and changed cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of _Robin Hood and the Stranger_.

"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood."

Two trifling corrections have been made from the copy in _Old Ballads_, 1723, (ii. 39,) which is very nearly the same.

Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile,
_Hey down, down, an a down_,
And a story Ile to you unfold;
Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.

As it fell out on a sun-shining day, 5
When Ph[oe]bus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.

And as he walk'd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy, 10
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.

"O what shall I do," said Robin Hood then,
"If the bishop he doth take me?
No mercy he'l show unto me, I know, 15
But hangèd I shall be."

Then Robin was stout, and turn'd him about,
And a little house there he did spy;
And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry. 20

"Why, who art thou?" said the old woman,
"Come tell it to me for good:"[L22]
"I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood;

"And yonder's the bishop and all his men, 25
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he'l work my spight,
And hangèd I shall be."

"If thou be Robin Hood," said the old wife,
"As thou dost seem to be,
I'le for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
From the bishop and his company.

"For I remember one Saturday night,
Thou brought me both shoes and hose;
Therefore I'le provide thy person to hide, 35
And keep thee from thy foes."

"Then give me soon thy coat of grey,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen." 40

And when Robin Hood was thus araid,
He went straight to his company,
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the bishop and his company.

"O who is yonder," quoth Little John, 45
"That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she."

"O hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood then,
"And shoot not thy arrows so keen; 50
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen."

The bishop he came to the old womans house,
And called with furious mood,
"Come let me soon see, and bring unto me, 55
That traitor Robin Hood."

The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himselfe on a dapple gray;
And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
He went laughing all the way. 60

But as they were riding the forrest along,
The bishop he chanc'd for to see
A hundred brave bowmen bold,
Stand under the green-wood tree.

"O who is yonder," the bishop then said, 65
"That's ranging within yonder wood?"
"Marry," says the old woman, "I think it to be
A man call'd Robin Hood."

"Why, who art thou," the bishop he said,
"Which I have here with me?" 70
"Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldy bishop;
Lift up my leg and see."

"Then woe is me," the bishop he said,
"That ever I saw this day!"
He turn'd him about, but Robin Hood stout[L75] 75
Call'd him, and bid him stay.

Then Robin took hold of the bishops horse,
And ty'd him fast to a tree;
Then Little John smil'd his master upon,
For joy of that company. 80

Robin Hood took his mantle from 's back,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.

"Now let him go," said Robin Hood; 85
Said Little John, "That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass,
Before that he goe from me."

Then Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree, 90
And made him sing a mass, god wot,
To him and his yeomandree.

And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple gray,
And gave him the tail within his hand, 95
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.

22, tell to me. RITSON.

75. Robin, RITSON.

ROBIN HOODS GOLDEN PRIZE.

He met two priests upon the way,
And forced them with him to pray;
For gold they prayed, and gold they had,
Enough to make bold Robin glad.
His share came to four hundred pound,
That then was told upon the ground;
Now mark, and you shall hear the jest,
You never heard the like exprest.

Tune is, _Robin Hood was a tall young man, &c._

"This ballad (given from an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood) was entered, amongst others, in the Stationers' book, by Francis Coule, 13th June, 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2nd June, 1656." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 101.

This piece is printed in _A Collection of Old Ballads_, ii. 121, with some variations.

I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood,
_Derry, derry down_,
And of brave Little John,
Of Fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlet,
Loxley, and maid Mariòn.

But such a tale as this before 5
I think was never knone;
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And from the wood is gone.[L8]

Like to a fryer, bold Robin Hood
Was accoutered in his array; 10
With hood, gown, bedes, and crucifix,
He past upon the way.

He had not gone miles two or three,
But it was his chance to spy
Two lusty priests, clad all in black, 15
Come riding gallantly.

"Benedicite," then said Robin Hood,
"Some pitty on me take;
Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
For our dear ladies sake. 20

"For I have been wandring all this day,
And nothing could I get;
Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
Nor bit of bread to eat."

"Now, by our dame," the priests repli'd, 25
We never a penny have;
For we this morning have been rob'd,
And could no money save."

"I am much afraid," said bold Robin Hood,
That you both do tell a lie; 30
And now before you do go hence,
I am resolv'd to try."

When as the priests heard him say so,
Then they rode away amain;
But Robin Hood betook to his heels, 35
And soon overtook them again.

Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
And pull'd them down from their horse:
"O spare us, fryer!" the priests cry'd out,
"On us have some remorse!" 40

"You said you had no mony," quoth he,
"Wherefore, without delay,
We three will fall down on our knees,
And for mony we will pray."

The priests they could not him gainsay, 45
But down they kneeled with speed;
"Send us, O send us," then quoth they,
"Some money to serve our need."

The priests did pray with a mournful chear,
Sometimes their hands did wring; 50
Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud,
Whilst Robin did merrily sing.

When they had been praying an hours space,
The priests did still lament;
Then quoth bold Robin, "Now let's see 55
What mony heaven hath us sent.

"We will be sharers all alike
Of mony that we have;
And there is never a one of us
That his fellow shall deceive." 60

The priests their hands in their pockets put,
But mony would find none:
"We'l search ourselves," said Robin Hood,
"Each other, one by one."

Then Robin Hood took pains to search them both, 65
And he found good store of gold,
Five hundred peeces presently
Upon the grass was told.

"Here is a brave show," said Robin Hood,
"Such store of gold to see, 70
And you shall each one have a part,
Cause you prayed so heartily."

He gave them fifty pounds a-peece,
And the rest for himself did keep:
The priests durst not speak one word, 75
But they sighed wondrous deep.

With that the priests rose up from their knees,
Thinking to have parted so:
"Nay, stay," says Robin Hood, "one thing more
I have to say ere you do go. 80

"You shall be sworn," said bold Robin Hood,
"Upon this holy grass,
That you will never tell lies again,
Which way soever you pass.

"The second oath that you here must take, 85
That all the days of your lives,
You shall never tempt maids to sin,
Nor lye with other mens wives.

"The last oath you shall take, it is this,
Be charitable to the poor; 90
Say, you have met with a holy fryar,
And I desire no more."

He set them on their horses again,
And away then they did ride;
And he return'd to the merry green-wood, 95
With great joy, mirth, and pride.

8 to.

ROBIN HOODS DEATH AND BURIAL:

Shewing how he was taken ill, and how he went to his cousin at Kirkley-hall, who let him blood, which was the cause of his death. Tune of _Robin Hood's last farewel, &c._

"This very old (?) and curious piece is preserved solely in the editions of _Robin Hood's Garland_ printed at York, (or such as have been taken from them,) where it is made to conclude with some foolish lines, (adopted from the London copy of _Robin Hood and the Valiànt Knight_,) in order to introduce the epitaph. It is here given from a collation of two different copies, containing numerous variations, a few of which are retained in the margin." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 187.

When Robin Hood and Little John,
_Down a down, a down, a down_.
Went o'er yon bank of broom,
Said Robin Hood to Little John,
"We have shot for many a pound:
_Hey down, a down, a down_.

"But I am not able to shoot one shot more,
My arrows will not flee;
But I have a cousin lives down below,
Please God, she will bleed me."

Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone,
As fast as he can win; 10
But before he came there, as we do hear,
He was taken very ill.

And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall,
He knock'd all at the ring,
But none was so ready as his cousin herself 15
For to let bold Robin in.

"Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said,
"And drink some beer with me?"
"No, I will neither eat nor drink,
Till I am blooded by thee."[L20] 20

"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said,
"Which you did never see,
And if you please to walk therein,
You blooded by me shall be."[L24]

She took him by the lilly-white hand, 25
And led him to a private room,[L26]
And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,
Whilst one drop of blood would run.

She blooded him in the vein of the arm,
And lock'd him up in the room; 30
There did he bleed all the live-long day,
Untill the next day at noon.

He then bethought him of a casement door,
Thinking for to be gone;[L34]
He was so weak he could not leap, 35
Nor he could not get down.

He then bethought him of his bugle-horn,
Which hung low down to his knee;
He set his horn unto his mouth,
And blew out weak blasts three. 40

Then Little John, when hearing him,
As he sat under the tree,
"I fear my master is near dead,
He blows so wearily."

Then Little John to fair Kirkley is gone, 45
As fast as he can dree;
But when he came to Kirkley-hall,
He broke locks two or three:

Untill he came bold Robin to,
Then he fell on his knee; 50
"A boon, a boon," cries Little John,
"Master, I beg of thee."

"What is that boon," quoth Robin Hood,
"Little John, thou begs of me?"
"It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall, 55
And all their nunnery."

"Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood,
"That boon I'll not grant thee;
I never hurt woman in all my life,[L59]
Nor man in woman's company. 60

"I never hurt fair maid in all my time,
Nor at my end shall it be;
But give me my bent bow in my hand,
And a broad arrow I'll let flee;
And where this arrow is taken up, 65
There shall my grave digg'd be.

"Lay me a green sod under my head,[L67]
And another at my feet;[L68]
And lay my bent bow by my side,
Which was my music sweet; 70
And make my grave of gravel and green,
Which is most right and meet.

"Let me have length and breadth enough,
With under my head a green sod;[L74]
That they may say, when I am dead, 75
Here lies bold Robin Hood."

These words they readily promis'd him,
Which did bold Robin please:
And there they buried bold Robin Hood,
Near to the fair Kirklèys. 80

20. Till I blood letted be.

24. You blood shall letted be.

26, let, Ritson.

34, get down.

59, burnt. This stanza is omitted in one edition.

67, 68.

With verdant sods most neatly put,
weet as the green-wood tree.

74. With a green sod under my head, Ritson.

ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE.

Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 87.

"From an old black-letter copy in a private collection, compared with another in that of Anthony à Wood. The full title is: "_Renowned Robin Hood; or, his famous archery truly related in the worthy exploits he acted before queen Katherine, he being an outlaw man; and how he obtained his own and his fellows pardon_. _To a new tune._

"It is scarcely worth observing that there was no queen consort named Katherine before Henry the Fifth's time: but as Henry the Eighth had no less than three wives so called, the name would be sufficiently familiar to our ballad-maker." RITSON.

Gold tane from the kings harbengers,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_,
As seldome hath beene seene,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_,
And carried by bold Robin Hood
For a present to the queen,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_.

"If that I live a yeare to an end," 5
Thus can queene Katherine say,
"Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend,
And all thy yeomen gay."

The queene is to her chamber gone,
As fast as she can win;[L10] 10
She calls unto her lovely page,
His name was Richard Patrington.

"Come thou hither to mee, thou lovely page,
Come thou hither to mee;
For thou must post to Nottingham, 15
As fast as thou can dree.

"And as thou goest to Nottingham,
Search all the English wood,
Enquire of one good yeoman or another,
That can tell thee of Robin Hood." 20

Sometimes hee went, sometimes hee ran,
As fast as hee could win;
And when hee came to Nottingham,
There hee took up his inne.

And when he came to Nottingham, 25
And had tooke up his inne,
He calls for a pottle of Rhenish wine,
And dranke a health to his queene.

There sate a yeoman by his side,
"Tell mee, sweet page," said hee, 30
"What is thy businesse and thy cause,
So far in the north countrey?"

"This is my businesse and the cause,
Sir, I'le tell it you for good,
To enquire of one good yeoman or another, 35
To tell mee of Robin Hood."

"I'le get my horse betimes in the morne,
By it be break of day,
And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
And all his yeomen gay." 40

When that he came at Robin Hoods place,
Hee fell down on his knee;
"Queen Katherine she doth greet you well,
She greets you well by mee;

"She bids you post to fair London court, 45
Not fearing any thing:
For there shall be a little sport,
And she hath sent you her ring."

Robin Hood tooke his mantle from his back,
It was of the Lincolne greene, 50
And sent it by this lovely page,
For a present unto the queene.

In summer time, when leaves grow green,
It [wa]s a seemely sight to see,
How Robin Hood himselfe had drest, 55
And all his yeomandry.

He clothed his men in Lincolne green,
And himselfe in scarlet red;
Blacke hats, white feathers, all alike,
Now bold Robin Hood is rid. 60

And when hee came at Londons court,
Hee fell downe on his knee.
"Thou art welcome, Locksly," said the queen,
"And all thy good yeomandree."

The king is into Finsbury field,[L65] 65
Marching in battle ray,
And after follows bold Robin Hood,
And all his yeomen gay.

"Come hither, Tepus," said the king,
"Bow-bearer after me; 70
Come measure me out with this line,
How long our mark must be.

"What is the wager?" said the queene,
"That must I now know here:"
"Three hundred tun of Rhenish wine, 75
Three hundred tun of beere;

"Three hundred of the fattest harts
That run on Dallom lee;
That's a princely wager," said the king,
"That needs must I tell thee." 80

With that bespake one Clifton then,
Full quickly and full soone;
"Measure no markes for us, most soveraigne liege,
Wee'l shoot at sun and moone."

"Ful fifteene score your marke shall be, 85
Ful fifteene score shall stand;"
"I'll lay my bow," said Clifton then,
"I'll cleave the willow wand."

With that the kings archers led about,
While it was three and none; 90
With that the ladies began to shout,
"Madam, your game is gone."

"A boone, a boone," queen Katherine cries,
"I crave it on my bare knee;
Is there any knight of your privy counsèl 95
Of queen Katherines part will be?

"Come hither to mee, sir Richard Lee,
Thou art a knight full good;
For I do knowe by thy pedigree
Thou sprung'st from Gowers blood. 100

"Come hither to me, thou bishop of Herefordshire,"
For a noble priest was hee;
"By my silver miter," said the bishop then,
"Ile not bet one peny."

"The king hath archers of his own, 105
Full ready and full light,
And these be strangers every one,
No man knowes what they hight."

"What wilt thou bet," said Robin Hood,
"Thou seest our game the worse?" 110
"By my silver miter," then said the bishop,
"All the money within my purse."

"What is in thy purse?" said Robin Hood,
"Throw it downe on the ground."
"Fifteen score nobles," said the bishop; 115
"It's neere an hundred pound."

Robin Hood took his bagge from his side,
And threw it downe on the greene;
William Scadlocke then went smiling away,
"I know who this money must win." 120

With that the kings archers led about,
While it was three and three;
With that the ladies gave a shout,
"Woodcock, beware thy knee!"

"It is three and three, now," said the king, 125
"The next three pays for all:"
Robin Hood went and whisper'd the queen,
"The kings part shall be but small."

Robin Hood hee led about,
Hee shot it under hand; 130
And Clifton, with a bearing arrow,
Hee clave the willow wand.

And little Midge, the millers son,
He shot not much the worse;
He shot within a finger of the prick: 135
"Now, bishop, beware thy purse!"

"A boone, a boone," queen Katherine cries,
"I crave it on my bare knee,
That you will angry be with none
That are of my partie." 140

"They shall have forty daies to come,
And forty daies to goe,
And three times forty to sport and play;
Then welcome friend or foe."

"Thou art welcome, Robin Hood," said the queene, 145
"And so is Little John,
And so is Midge, the millers son;
Thrice welcome every one."

"Is this Robin Hood?" now said the king;
"For it was told to me 150
That he was slain in the palace gates,
So far in the north country."

"Is this Robin Hood?" quoth the bishop then,
"As I see well to be:
Had I knowne it had been that bold outlàw, 155
I would not [have] bet one peny.

"Hee tooke me late one Saturday at night,
And bound mee fast to a tree,
And made mee sing a masse, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree." 160

"What an if I did?" saies Robin Hood,
"Of that masse I was faine;
"For recompence of that," he saies,
"Here's halfe thy gold againe."

"Now nay, now nay," saies Little John, 165
"Master, that shall not be;
We must give gifts to the kings officèrs;
That gold will serve thee and mee."

10, wen.

65. Ground near Moorfields, London, famous in old times for the
archery practised there. "In the year 1498," says Stow, "all the
gardens which had continued time out of minde, without Mooregate, to
wit, about and beyond the lordship of Fensberry, were destroyed. And
of them was made a plaine field for archers to shoote in." _Survay
of London_, 1598, p. 351. See also p. 77, where it is observed that
"about the feast of S. Bartlemew ... the officers of the city ...
were challengers of all men in the suburbes, ... before the lord
maior, aldermen, and sheriffes, in FENSBERY FIELDE, to shoote the
standarde, broade arrow, and flight, for games."

[The Finsbury] archers are mentioned by Ben Jonson, in _Every man in
his humour_, act i, scene 1: "Because I dwell at Hogsden, I shall
keep company with none but the archers of Finsbury."

The practice of shooting here is alluded to by Cotton, in his
_Virgile travestie_ (b. iv.), 1667:

"And arrows loos'd from Grub-street bow,
"In FINSBURY, to him are slow;"

and continued till within the memory of persons now living. RITSON.

ROBIN HOODS CHASE:

Or, a merry progress between Robin Hood and King Henry: shewing how
Robin Hood led the king his chase from London to London; and when he
had taken his leave of the queen, he returned to merry Sherwood. To
the tune of _Robin Hood and the Beggar_."

"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 96.

Come, you gallants all, to you I do call,
_With hey down, down, an a down_,
That now are in this place;
For a song I will sing of Henry the king,
How he did Robin Hood chase.

Queen Katherin she a match did make,[L5] 5
As plainly doth appear,
For three hundred tun of good red wine,
And three [hundred] tun of beere.

But yet her archers she had to seek,
With their bows and arrows so good; 10
But her mind it was bent, with a good intent,
To send for bold Robin Hood.

But when bold Robin he came there,
Queen Katherin she did say,
"Thou art welcome, Locksley," said the queen, 15
"And all thy yeomen gay;

"For a match of shooting I have made,
And thou on my part, Robin, must be."
"If I miss the mark, be it light or dark,
Then hanged I will be." 20

But when the game came to be played,
Bold Robin he then drew nigh;
With his mantle of green, most brave to be seen,
He let his arrows fly.

And when the game it ended was, 25
Bold Robin wan it with a grace;
But after the king was angry with him,
And vowed he would him chace.

What though his pardon granted was,
While he with him did stay; 30
But yet the king was vexed at him,
Whenas he was gone his way.

Soon after the king from the court did hye,
In a furious angry mood,
And often enquired both far and near 35
After bold Robin Hood.

But when the king to Nottingham came,
Bold Robin was in the wood:
"O come now," said he, "and let me see
Who can find me bold Robin Hood." 40

But when that bold Robin he did hear
The king had him in chase,
Then said Little John, "Tis time to be gone,
And go to some other place."

Then away they went from merry Sherwood, 45
And into Yorkshire he did hye;
And the king did follow, with a hoop and a hallow,
But could not come him nigh.

Yet jolly Robin he passed along,
And went strait to Newcastle town; 50
And there he stayed hours two or three,
And then to Barwick is gone.[L52]

When the king did see how Robin did flee,
He was vexed wondrous sore;
With a hoop and a hallow he vowed to follow, 55
And take him, or never give ore.

"Come now, let's away," then crys Little John,
"Let any man follow that dare;
To Carlisle we'l hye with our company,
And so then to Lancastèr." 60

From Lancaster then to Chester they went,
And so did king Henry;
But Robin [went] away, for he durst not stay,
For fear of some treachery.

Says Robin, "Come, let us for London goe, 65
To see our noble queens face;
It may be she wants our company,
Which makes the king so us chase."

When Robin he came queene Katherin before,
He fell low upon his knee: 70
"If it please your grace, I am come to this place,
For to speak with king Henry."

Queen Katherine answered bold Robin again,[L73]
"The king is gone to merry Sherwood:
And when he went away, to me he did say, 75
He would go and seek Robin Hood."

"Then fare you well, my gracious queen,
For to Sherwood I will hye apace;
For fain would I see what he would with me,
If I could but meet with his grace." 80

But when king Henry he came home,
Full weary, and vexed in mind,
And that he did hear Robin had been there,
He blamed dame Fortune unkind.

"You're welcome home," queen Katherin cryed, 85
"Henry, my soveraign liege;
Bold Robin Hood, that archer good,
Your person hath been to seek."

But when king Henry he did hear,
That Robin had been there him to seeke, 90
This answer he gave, "He's a cunning knave,
For I have sought him this whole three weeks."

"A boon! a boon!" queen Katherin cry'd,
"I beg it here of your grace;--
To pardon his life, and seek not strife," 95
And so endeth Robin Hoods chase.

5, then did.

52, he ... was.

73, Robin Hood.

LITTLE JOHN AND THE FOUR BEGGERS.

"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood: the full title being, _A new merry song of Robin Hood and Little John, shewing how Little John went a begging, and how he fought with the four beggers_. _The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger._" RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 132.

All you that delight to spend some time,
_With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
A merry song for to sing,
Unto me draw neer, and you shall hear
How Little John went a beggìng.

As Robin Hood walked the forest along, 5
And all his yeomandree,
Sayes Robin, "Some of you must a begging go,
And, Little John, it must be thee."

Sayes John, "If I must a begging go,
I will have a palmers weed, 10
With a staff and a coat, and bags of all sort,
The better then I may speed.

"Come, give me now a bag for my bread,
And another for my cheese,
And one for a peny, whenas I get any, 15
That nothing I may leese."

Now Little John he is a begging gone,
Seeking for some relief;
But of all the beggers he met on the way,
Little John he was the chief. 20

But as he was walking himself alone,
Four beggers he chanced to spy,
Some deaf, and some blind, and some came behind;
Says John, "Here's brave company.

"Good-morrow," said John, "my brethren dear, 25
Good fortune I had you to see;
Which way do you go? pray let me know,
For I want some company.

"O what is here to do?" then said Little John,
"Why ring all these bells?" said he; 30
"What dog is a hanging? come, let us be ganging,
That we the truth may see."

"Here is no dog a hanging," then one of them said,
"Good fellow, we tell unto thee;
But here is one dead that will give us cheese and bread,[L35] 35
And it may be one single penny."[L36]

"We have brethren in London," another he said,
"So have we in Coventry,
In Barwick and Dover, and all the world over,
But ne'er a crookt carril like thee. 40

"Therefore stand thee back, thou crooked carel,
And take that knock on the crown:"
"Nay," said Little John, "Ile not yet be gone,
For a bout will I have of you round.

"Now have at you all," then said Little John, 45
"If you be so full of your blows;
Fight on all four, and nere give ore,
Whether you be friends or foes."

John nipped the dumb, and made him to rore,
And the blind he made to see, 50
And he that a cripple had been seven years,[L51]
He made run then faster than he.

And flinging them all against the wall,
With many a sturdie bang,
It made John sing, to hear the gold ring, 55
Which against the walls cryed twang.

Then he got out of the beggers cloak
Three hundred pound in gold;
"Good fortune had I," then said Little John,
"Such a good sight to behold." 60

But what found he in the beggars bag,
But three hundred pound and three?
"If I drink water while this doth last,
Then an ill death may I dye.

"And my begging trade I will now give ore, 65
My fortune hath bin so good;
Therefore Ile not stay, but I will away
To the forrest of merry Sherwood."

And when to the forrest of Sherwood he came,
He quickly there did see 70
His master good, bold Robin Hood,
And all his company.

"What news? What news?" then said Robin Hood,
"Come, Little John, tell unto me;
How hast thou sped with thy beggers trade? 75
For that I fain would see."

"No news but good," said Little John,
"With begging ful wel I have sped;
Six hundred and three I have here for thee,
In silver and gold so red. 80

Then Robin took Little John by the hand,
And danced about the oak tree:
"If we drink water while this doth last,
Then an il death may we die."

So to conclude my merry new song, 85
All you that delight it to sing,
'Tis of Robin Hood, that archer good,
And how Little John went a beggìng.

35, 36. The allusion is of course to the dole at funerals.

51, that could not.

THE NOBLE FISHER-MAN,

OR, ROBIN HOODS PREFERMENT:

Shewing how he won a prize on the sea, and how he gave the one halfe
to his dame, and the other to the building of almes-houses. The tune
is, _In summer time_, etc.

"From three old black-letter copies; one in the collection of Anthony à Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a private collection." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 114.

In summer time, when leaves grow green,
When they doe grow both green and long,--
Of a bold outlaw, call'd Robin Hood,
It is of him I do sing this song,--

When the lilly leafe, and the eglantine,[L5] 5
Doth bud and spring with a merry cheere,
This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,
And chasing of the fallow-deere.

"The fisher-men brave more mony have
Than any merchants two or three; 10
Therefore I will to Scarborough go,
That I a fisherman brave may be."

This outlaw called his merry men all,
As they sate under the green-wood tree:
"If any of you have gold to spend, 15
I pray you heartily spend it with me."

"Now," quoth Robin Hood, "Ile to Scarborough go,
It seems to be a very faire day;"
He tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,
Hard by upon the water gray: 20

Who asked of him, "Where wert thou borne?
Or tell to me where dost thou fare?"
"I am a poor fisherman," said he then,
"This day intrapped all in care."

"What is thy name, thou fine fellow, 25
I pray thee heartily tell it to mee?"
"In my own country, where I was borne,
Men call me Simon over the Lee."

"Simon, Simon," said the good wife,
"I wish thou mayest well brook thy name;" 30
The out-law was ware of her courtesie,
And rejoyced he had got such a dame.

"Simon, wilt thou be my man?
And good round wages Ile give thee;
I have as good a ship of my own 35
As any sails upon the sea.

"Anchors and planks thou shalt not want,
Masts and ropes that are so long:"
"And if you thus do furnish me,"
Said Simon, "nothing shall goe wrong." 40

They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
When others cast in their baited hooks,
The bare lines into the sea cast he.

"It will be long," said the master then, 45
"Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea;
I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,
For in truth he is no part worthy."

"O woe is me!" said Simon then,
"This day that ever I came here! 50
I wish I were in Plompton parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere.

"For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
And they by me set nought at all;
If I had them in Plompton park, 55
I would set as little by them all."

They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three:
But Simon espyed a ship of warre,
That sayled towards them most valorously. 60

"O woe is me!" said the master then,
"This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne.

"For your French robbers on the sea, 65
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong."

But Simon said, "Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care; 70
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."

"Hold thy peace, thou long lubbèr,
For thou art nought but brags and boast;
If I should cast thee over-board, 75
There's but a simple lubber lost."

Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he,
That he took his bent bow in his hand,
And in the ship-hatch goe doth he. 80

"Master, tye me to the mast," saith he,
"That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."

He drew his arrow to the very head, 85
And drewe it with all his might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
Doth the Frenchmans heart the arrow gain.

The Frenchman fell down on the ship hatch,
And under the hatches there below; 90
Another Frenchman, that him espy'd,
The dead corpse into the sea doth throw.

"O master, loose me from the mast," he said,
"And for them all take you no care;
For give me my bent bow in my hand, 95
And never a Frenchman will I spare."

Then streight [they] boarded the French ship,
They lyeing all dead in their sight;
They found within that ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of mony bright. 100

"The one halfe of the ship," said Simon then,
"I'le give to my dame and children small;
The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow
On you that are my fellowes all."

But now bespake the master then, 105
"For so, Simon, it shall not be,
For you have won it with your own hand,
And the owner of it you shall bee."

"It shall be so, as I have said;
And, with this gold, for the opprest 110
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest."

5, elephant.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNERS DAUGHTER.

Gutch's _Robin Hood_, ii. 345.

Communicated to Gutch by Mr. Payne Collier, and derived by him, with _Robin Hood and the Peddlers_, from a volume of MS. ballads, collected, as Mr. C. conjectures, about the date of the Protectorate.

The story is only one of the varieties of the _Douglas Tragedy_. See vol. ii. p. 114.

As Robin Hood sat by a tree,
He espied a prettie may,
And when she chanced him to see,
She turnd her head away.

"O feare me not, thou prettie mayde, 5
And doe not flie from mee,
I am the kindest man," he said,
"That ever eye did see."

Then to her he did doffe his cap,
And to her lowted low, 10
"To meete with thee I hold it good hap,
If thou wilt not say noe."

Then he put his hand around her waste,
Soe small, so tight, and trim,
And after sought her lip to taste, 15
And she to[o] kissed him.

"Where dost thou dwell, my prettie maide,
I prithee tell to mee?"
"I am a tanners daughter," she said,
"John Hobbes of Barneslee." 20

"And whither goest thou, pretty maide?
Shall I be thy true love?"
"If thou art not afeard," she said,
"My true love thou shalt prove."

"What should I feare?" then he replied; 25
"I am thy true love now;"
"I have two brethren, and their pride
Would scorn such one as thou."

"That will we try," quoth Robin Hood,
"I was not made their scorne; 30
Ile shed my blood to doe the[e] good,
As sure as they were borne."

"My brothers are proude and fierce and strong;"
"I am," said he, "the same,
And if they offer thee to wrong, 35
Theyle finde Ile play their game.

"Through the free forrest I can run,
The king may not controll;
They are but barking tanners sons,
To me they shall pay toll. 40

"And if not mine be sheepe and kine,
I have cattle on my land;
On venison eche day I may dine,
Whiles they have none in hand."