Chapter XI: Part II: I (2)

Then said the shepherd to bold Robìn,
To that I will agree ;
‘For’ if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn,
I scorn one foot to flee.

Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,
And he blew with mickle main,
Until he espied Little John
Come tripping over the plain.

“O who is yonder, thou proud fellòw,
That comes down yonder hill ?”
“Yonder is John, bold Robin Hoods man,
Shall fight with thee thy fill.”

What is the matter ? saies Little John,
Master, come tell to me.
My case is bad, cries Robin Hood,
For the shepherd hath conquered me. {207}

I am glad of that, cries Little John :
Shepherd, turn thou to me ;
For a bout with thee I mean to have,
Either come fight or flee.

“With all my heart, thou proud fellòw,
For it never shall be said
That a shepherds hook of thy sturdy look
Will one jot be dismaied.”

So they fell to it, full hardy and sore,
Striving for victorie.
Ile know, says John, ere we give o’er,
Whether thou wilt fight or flee.

The shepherd gave John a sturdie blow,
With his hook under the chin.
Beshrew thy heart, said little John,
Thou basely dost begin.

Nay, that is nothing, said the shephèrd,
Either yield to me the daie,
Or I will bang thy back and sides,
Before thou goest thy way.

What ! dost thou think, thou proud fellow,
That thou canst conquer me ?
Nay, thou shalt know, before thou go,
Ile fight before ile flee. {208}

Again the shepherd laid on him,
‘Just as he first begun.’
Hold thy hand, cry’d bold Robìn,
I will yield the wager won.

With all my heart, said Little John,
To that I will agree ;
For he is the flower of shepherd swains,
The like I did never see.

Thus have you heard of Robin Hood,
Also of Little John ;
How a shepherd swain did conquer them :
The like was never known.

{209}

X.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTALL FRYER.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood; corrected by a much earlier one in the Pepysian Library, printed by H. Gosson, about the year 1610; compared with a later one in the same collection. The full title is: “The famous battell betweene Robin Hood and the curtall fryer. To a New Northerne tune.”

“The curtail fryer,” Dr. Stukeley says, “is a cordelier, from the cord or rope which they wore round their wast, to whip themselves with. They were,” adds he, “of the Franciscan order.” Our fryer, however, is undoubtedly so called from his “curtall dogs,” or curs, as we now say (Courtalt, F.) In fact, he is no fryer at all, but a monk of Fountains Abbey, which was of the Cistercian order. {210}

In summer time, when leaves grow green,
And flowers are fresh and gay,
Robin Hood and his merry men
[They] were disposed to play.

Then some would leape, and some would runne,
And some would use artillery :
“Which of you can a good bow draw,
A good archèr for to be ?

Which of you can kill a bucke,
Or who can kill a doe ;
Or who can kill a hart of Greece
Five hundreth foot him fro ?”

Will Scadlòcke he kild a bucke
And Midge he kild a doe ;
And Little John kild a hart of Greece,
Five hundreth foot him fro.

Gods blessing on thy heart, said Robin Hood,
That hath such a shot for me ;
I would ride my horse a hundred miles,
To find one could match thee.

That caused Will Scadlòcke to laugh,
He laught full heartily :
“There lives a curtall fryer in Fountaines-Abbey
Will beate both him and thee. {211}

The curtall fryer in Fountaines-Abbey
Well can a strong bow draw,
He will beat you and your yeomèn,
Set them all on a row.”

Robin Hood he tooke a solemne oath,
It was by Mary free,
That he would neither eate nor drinke,
Till the fryer he did see.

Robin Hood put on his harnesse good,
On his head a cap of steel,
Broad sword and buckler by his side,
And they became him weele.

He tooke his bow into his hand,
It was made of a trusty tree,
With a sheafe of arrowes at his belt,
And to Fountaine-Dale went he.

And comming unto Fountaine-Dale,
No farther he would ride ;
There he was aware of the curtall fryer,
Walking by the water side.

The fryer had on a harnesse good,
On his head a cap of steel,
Broad sword and buckler by his side,
And they became him weele. {212}

Robin Hood lighted off his horse,
And tyed him to a thorne :
“Carry me over the water, thou curtall fryer,
Or else thy life’s forlorne.”

The fryer tooke Robin Hood on his backe,
Deepe water he did bestride,
And spake neither good word nor bad,
Till he came at the other side.

Lightly leapt Robin offe the fryers backe ;
The fryer said to him againe,
Carry me over this water, [thou] fine fellòw,
Or it shall breed thy paine.

Robin Hood took the fryer on his backe,
Deepe water he did bestride,
And spake neither good word nor bad,
Till he came at the other side.

Lightly leapt the fryer off Robin Hoods backe,
Robin Hood said to him againe,
Carry me over this water, thou curtall fryer,
Or it shall breede thy pain.

The fryer tooke Robin on’s backe againe,
And stept in to the knee.
Till he came at the middle streame,
Neither good nor bad spake he, {213}

And comming to the middle streame,
There he threw Robin in :
“And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellòw,
Whether thou wilt sink or swim.”

Robin Hood swam to a bush of broome,
The fryer to a wigger-wand ;
Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore,
And took his bow in his hand.

One of his best arrowes under his belt
To the fryer he let fly ;
The curtall fryer, with his steele bucklèr,
Did put that arrow by.

“Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellòw,
Shoot as thou hast begun,
If thou shoot here a summers day,
Thy marke I will not shun.”

Robin Hood shot passing well,
Till his arrows all were gane ;
They tooke their swords and steele bucklèrs,
They fought with might and maine,

From ten o’th’ clock that [very] day,
Till four i’ th’ afternoon ;
Then Robin Hood came to his knees,
Of the fryer to beg a boone. {214}

“A boone, a boone, thou curtall fryer,
I beg it on my knee ;
Give me leave to set my horne to my mouth,
And to blow blasts three.”

That I will do, said the curtall fryer,
Of my blasts I have no doubt ;
I hope thoult blow so passing well,
Till both thy eyes fall out.

Robin Hood set his horne to his mouth,
He blew out blasts three ;
Halfe a hundreth yeomen, with bowes bent,
Came raking over the lee.

Whose men are these, said the fryèr,
That come so hastily ?
These men are mine, said Robin Hood ;
Fryer, what is that to thee ?

A boone, a boone, said the curtall fryer,
The like I gave to thee ;
Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth,
And to whute whues three.

That will I doe, said Robin Hood,
Or else I were to blame ;
Three whues in a fryers fist
Would make me glad and faine. {215}

The fryer set his fist to his mouth,
And whuted whues three :
Half a hundred good band-dogs
Came running over the lee.

“Here’s for every man a dog,
And I myselfe for thee.”
Nay, by my faith, said Robin Hood,
Fryer, that may not be.

Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did goe,
The one behind, the other before,
Robin Hoods mantle of Lincolne greene
Off from his backe they tore.

And whether his men shot east or west,
Or they shot north or south,
The curtall dogs, so taught they were,
They kept ‘the’ arrows in their mouth.

Take up thy dogs, said Little John,
Fryer, at my bidding be.
Whose man art thou, said the curtall fryer,
Comes here to prate with me ?

“I am Little John, Robin Hoods man,
Fryer, I will not lie ;
If thou take not up thy dogs soone,
I’le take up them and thee.” {216}

Little John had a bow in his hand,
He shot with might and main ;
Soon halfe a score of the fryers dogs
Lay dead upon the plain.

Hold thy hand, good fellow, said the curtall fryer,
Thy master and I will agree ;
And we will have new orders taken,
With all the hast may be.

“If thou wilt forsake fair Fountaines-dale,
And Fountaines-Abbey free,
Every Sunday throwout the yeere,
A noble shall be thy fee :

And every holliday through the yeere,
Changed shall thy garment be,
If thou wilt goe to faire Nottinghàm,
And there remaine with me.”

This curtall fryer had kept Fountaines-dale
Seven long yeeres and more,
There was neither knight, lord, nor earle,
Could make him yeeld before.

{217}

XI.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE STRANGER.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. The title now given to this ballad is that which it seems to have originally borne, having been foolishly altered to “Robin Hood newly revived.” The circumstances attending the second part will be explained in a note.

The tune is already inserted, at the end of “Rood Hood and the Tanner.”

Come listen awhile, you gentlemen all,
_With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
That are this bower within,
For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood,
I purpose now to begin. {218}

What time of day ? quod Robin Hood then.
Quoth Little John, ’Tis in the prime.
“Why then we will to the green wood gang,
For we have no vittles to dine.”

As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along,
It was in the mid of the day,
There he was met of a deft young man,
As ever walkt on the way.

His doublet was of silk ‘’tis’ said,
His stockings like scarlet shone ;
And he walked on along the way,
To Robin Hood then unknown.

A herd of deer was in the bend,
All feeding before his face :
“Now the best of you ile have to my dinner,
And that in a little space.”

Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe,
But he bends and a right good bow,
And the best of all the herd he slew,
Forty good yards him froe.[298]

Well shot, well shot, quod Robin Hood then,
That shot it was shot in time ;
And if thou wilt accept of the place,
Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine. {219}

Go play the chiven, the stranger said,
Make haste and quickly go,
Or with my fist, be sure of this,
Ile give thee buffets sto’.

Thou had’st not best buffet me, quod Robin Hood,
For though I seem forlorn,
Yet I have those will take my part,
If I but blow my horn.

Thou wast not best wind thy horn, the stranger said,
Beest thou never so much in haste,
For I can draw out a good broad sword,
And quickly cut the blast.

Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
To shoot, and that he would fain ;
The stranger he bent a very good bow,
To shoot at bold Robin again.

Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, quod Robin Hood,
To shoot it would be in vain ;
For if we should shoot the one at the other,
The one of us may be slain.

But let’s take our swords and our broad bucklèrs,
And gang under yonder tree,
As I hope to be sav’d, the stranger he said,
One foot I will not flee. {220}

Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow,
’Most scar’d him out of his wit :
Thou never felt blow, the stranger he said,
That shall be better quit.

The stranger he drew out a good broad sword,
And hit Robin on the crown,
That from every haire of bold Robins head
The blood ran trickling down.

God a mercy, good fellow ! quod Robin Hood then,
And for this that thou hast done,
Tell me, good fellow, what thou art,
Tell me where thou doest won.

The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood,
Ile tell thee where I do dwell ;
In Maxwell town I was bred and born,
My name is young Gamwell.

For killing of my own fathers stewàrd,
I am forc’d to this English wood,
And for to seek an uncle of mine,
Some call him Robin Hood.

“But ‘art thou’ a cousin of Robin Hood then ?
The sooner we should have done.”
As I hope to be sav’d, the stranger then said,
I am his own sisters son. {221}

But, lord ! what kissing and courting was there,
When these two cousins did greet !
And they went all that summers day,
And Little John did [not] meet.

But when they met with Little John,
He ‘unto them’ did say,
O master, pray where have you been,
You have tarried so long away ?

I met with a stranger, quod Robin Hood,
Full sore he hath beaten me.
Then I’le have a bout with him, quod Little John,
And try if he can beat me.

Oh [no], oh no, quoth Robin Hood then,
Little John, it may [not] be so ;
For he is my own dear sisters son,
And cousins I have no mo.

But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,
My chief man next to thee ;
And I Robin Hood, and thou Little John,
And ‘Scadlock’ he shall be.

And weel be three of the bravest outlàws
That live in the north country,
If ‘you will’ hear more of bold Robin Hood,
In ‘the’ second part it will be. {222}

[PART THE SECOND.[299]]

Now Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little John,
Are walking over the plain,
With a good fat buck, which Will Scadlòck
With his strong bow had slain. {223}

Jog on, jog on, cries Robin Hood,
The day it runs full fast ;
For tho’ my nephew me a breakfast gave,
I have not yet broke my fast.

Then to yonder lodge let us take our way,
I think it wondrous good,
Where my nephew by my bold yeomèn
Shall be welcom’d unto the green-wood. {224}

With that he took ‘his’ bugle-horn,
Full well he could it blow ;
Streight from the woods came marching down
One hundred tall fellows and mo.

Stand, stand to your arms, says Will Scadlòck,
Lo ! the enemies are within ken.
With that Robin Hood he laugh’d aloud,
Crying, They are my bold yeomèn.

Who, when they arriv’d, and Robin espy’d,
Cry’d, Master, what is your will ?
We thought you had in danger been,
Your horn did sound so shrill.

Nay nay, now nay, quoth Robin Hood,
The danger is past and gone ;
I would have you welcome my nephew here,
That has paid me two for one.

In feasting and sporting they passed the day,
Till Phœbus sunk into the deep ;
Then each one to his quarters hy’d,
His guard there for to keep.

Long had they not walked within the green-wood,
But Robin he soon espy’d,
A[300] beautiful damsel all alone,
That on a black palfrey did ride. {225}

Her riding-suit was of a sable hew black,
Cypress over her face,
Through which her rose-like cheeks did blush,
All with a comely grace.

Come tell me the cause, thou pretty one,
Quoth Robin, and tell me aright,
From whence thou comest, and whither thou goest,
All in this mournful plight ?

From London I came, the damsel reply’d,
From London upon the Thames,
Which circled is, O grief to tell !
Besieg’d with foreign arms,

By the proud prince of Arragon,
Who swears by his martial hand
To have the princess to his spouse,
Or else to waste this land ;

Except such champions can be found,
That dare fight three to three,
Against the prince, and giants twain,
Most horrid for to see ;

Whose grisly looks, and eyes like brands,
Strike terrour where they come,
With serpents hissing on their helms,
Instead of feathered plume. {226}

The princess shall be the victor’s prize,
The king hath vow’d and said,
And he that shall the conquest win,
Shall have her to his bride.

Now we are four damsels sent abroad,
To the east, west, north, and south,
To try whose fortune is so good
To find these champions ‘out.’[301]

But all in vain we have sought about,
For none so bold there are
That dare adventure life and blood,
To free a lady fair.

When is the day ? quoth Robin Hood,
Tell me this and no more.
On Midsummer next, the dam’sel said,
Which is June the twenty-four.

With that the tears trickled down her cheeks,
And silent was her tongue ;
With sighs and sobs she took her leave,
Away her palfrey sprung.

The news struck Robin to the heart,
He fell down on the grass,
His actions and his troubled mind
Shew’d he perplexed was. {227}

Where lies your grief ? quoth Will ‘Scadlòck,’
O, master, tell to me :
If the damsels eyes have pierc’d your heart,
I’ll fetch her back to thee.

Now nay, now nay, quoth Robin Hood,
She doth not cause my smart ;
But ’tis the poor distressed princèss,
That wounds me to the heart ;

I’ll go fight the [prince and] giants all,
To set the lady free.
The devil take my soul, quoth Little John,
If I part with thy company.

Must I stay behind ? quoth Will Scadlòck,
No, no, that must not be ;
I’le make the third man in the fight,
So we shall be three to three.

These words cheer’d Robin to the heart,
Joy shone within his face,
Within his arms he hugg’d them both,
And kindly did imbrace.

Quoth he, We’ll put on mothley grey,
And long staves in our hands,
A scrip and bottle by our sides,
As come from the holy land. {228}

So may we pass along the high-way,
None will ask us from whence we came,
But take us pilgrims for to be,
Or else some holy men.

Now they are on their journey gone,
As fast as they may speed,
Yet for all their haste, ere they arriv’d,
The princess forth was led,

To be deliver’d to the prince,
Who in the list did stand,
Prepar’d to fight, or else receive
His lady by the hand.

With that he walk’d about the lists,
With giants by his side :
Bring forth, said he, your champions,
Or bring me forth my bride.

This is the four and twentieth day,
The day prefixt upon :
Bring forth my bride, or London burns,
I swear by ‘Alcaron.’[302] {229}

Then cries the king, and queen likewise,
Both weeping as they ‘spake,’ {230}
Lo ! we have brought our daughter dear,
Whom we are forc’d to forsake.

With that stept out bold Robin Hood,
Crys, My liege, it must not be so :
Such beauty as the fair princèss
Is not for a tyrants mow.

The prince he then began to storm,
Cries, Fool, fanatick, baboon ![303]
How dare thou stop my valours prize ?
I’ll kill thee with a frown.

Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,
Thus Robin began to reply,
Thy frowns I scorn ; lo ! here’s my gage,
And thus I thee defie.

And for those two Goliahs there,
That stand on either side,
Here are two little Davids by,
That soon can tame their pride.

Then the king did for armour send,
For lances, swords, and shields ;
And thus all three in armour bright,
Came marching to the field. {231}

The trumpets began to sound a charge,
Each singled out his man ;
Their arms in pieces soon were hew’d,
Blood sprang from every vain.

The prince he reacht Robin Hood a blow,
He struck with might and main,
Which forc’d him to reel about the field,
As though he had been slain.

God-a-mercy, quoth Robin, for that blow !
The quarrel shall soon be try’d ;
This stroke shall shew a full divorce
Betwixt thee and thy bride.

So from his shoulders he’s cut his head,
Which on the ground did fall,
And grumbling sore at Robin Hood,
To be so dealt withal.

The giants then began to rage
To see their prince lie dead :
Thou’s be the next, quoth Little John,
Unless thou well guard thy head.

With that his faulchion he wherl’d about,
It was both keen and sharp ;
He clave the giant to the belt,
And cut in twain his heart. {232}

Will Scadlock well had play’d his part,
The giant he had brought to his knee ;
Quoth Will, The devil cannot break his fast,
Unless he have you all three.

So with his faulchion he run him through,
A deep and ‘ghastly’ wound ;
Who dam’d and foam’d, curst and blasphem’d,
And then fell to the ground.

Now all the lists with shouts were fill’d,
The skies they did resound,
Which brought the princess to herself,
Who had fal’n in a swound.

The king and queen, and princess fair,
Came walking to the place,
And gave the champions many thanks,
And did them further grace.

Tell me, quoth the king, whence you are,
That thus disguised came,
Whose valour speaks that noble blood
Doth run through every vain.

A boon, a boon, quoth Robin Hood,
On my knees I beg and crave.
By my crown, quoth the king, I grant,
Ask what, and thou shalt have. {233}

Then pardon I beg for my merry men,
Which are in the green-wood,
For Little John and Will Scadlock,
And for me, bold Robin Hood.

Art thou Robin Hood ? quoth the king ;
For the valour thou hast shewn,
Your pardons I do freely grant,
And welcome every one,

The princess I promise the victor’s prize,
She cannot have you all three.
She shall chuse, quoth Robin. Said Little John,
Then little share falls to me.

Then did the princess view all three,
With a comely lovely grace,
And took Will Scadlock by the hand,
Saying, Here I make my choice.

With that a noble lord stept forth,
Of Maxfield earl was he,
Who look’d Will Scadlock in the face,
And wept most bitterly.

Quoth he, I had a son like thee,
Whom I lov’d wondrous well,
But he is gone, or rather dead,
His name it is young Gamwell. {234}

Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees,
Cries, Father ! father ! here,
Here kneels your son, your young Gamwèll,
You said you lov’d so dear.

But, lord ! what imbracing and kissing was there,
When all these friends were met !
They are gone to the wedding, and so to [the] bedding :
And so I bid you good night.

{235}

XII.

ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE.

From an old black letter copy in a private collection, compared with another in that of Anthony a 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.

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 queene,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_. {236}

If that I live a yeare to an end,
Thus gan 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 wen ;
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.
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.”

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

And when he came to Nottingham,
And had tooke up his inne,
He cals for a pottle of Rhenish wine,
And dranke a health to his queene. {237}

There sate a yeoman by his side,
Tell mee, sweet page, said hee,
What is thy businesse and the 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,
To tell mee of Robin Hood.

“Ile 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.”

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,
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,
And sent it by this lovely page,
For a present unto the queene. {238}

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

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

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[304]
Marching in battle-ray,
And after follows bold Robin Hood,
And all his yeomen gay. {239}

Come hither, Tepus, said the king,
Bow-bearer after mee ;
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,
Three hundred tun of beere ;

Three hundred of the fattest harts
That run on Dallom-lee.”[305]
That’s a princely wager, said the king,
That needs must I tell thee. {240}

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.

“Full fifteene score your marke shall be,
Full fifteene score shall stand.”
Ile lay my bow, said Clifton then,
Ile cleave the willow wand.

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

A boone, a boone, queene Katherine cries,
I crave it on my bare knee ;
Is there any knight of your privy counsèl
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.

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. {241}

The king hath archers of his own,
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.
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 ;
It’s neere an hundred pound.[306]

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.”

With that the kings archers led about,
While it was three and three ;
With that the ladies gave a shout,
“Woodcock, beware thy knee !” {242}

It is three and three, now, said the king,
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 ;
And Clifton with a bearing arrow,
Hee clave the willow wand.

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

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

“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,
And so is Little John,
And so is Midge, the millers son ;
Thrice welcome every one. {243}

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

Is this Robin Hood ? quoth the bishop then,
As ‘it seems’[307] well to be :
Had I knowne ‘it’ had been that bold outlàw,
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.’

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,
Master, that shall not be ;
We must give gifts to the kings officèrs ;
That gold will serve thee and mee.

{244}

XIII.

ROBIN HOOD’S 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 a Wood.

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. {245}

Queen Katherin she a match did[308] make,
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 ;
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,
And all thy yeomen gay.

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

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,
Bold Robin wan it with a grace ;
But after the king was angry with him,
And vowed he would him chace. {246}

What though his pardon granted was,
While he with him did stay ;
But yet the king was vexed at him,
When as 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
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.

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.

And away they went from merry Sherwood,
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 ;
And there ‘he’ stayed hours two or three,
And ‘then’ to Barwick ‘is’[309] gone. {247}

When the king did see how Robin did flee,
He was vexed wondrous sore ;
With a hoop and a hallow he vowed to follow,
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.

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,
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 :
“If it please your grace, I am come to this place
For to speak with king Henry.”

Queen Katherine answered bold Robin[310] again,
The king is gone to merry Sherwood ;
And when he went away to me he did say,
He would go and seek Robin Hood. {248}

“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.”

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,
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,
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 :
And so endeth Robin Hoods chase.

{249}

XIV.

ROBIN HOOD’S 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 a Wood) was entered (amongst others) in the Stationers’ book, by Francis Coule, 13th June 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2d June 1656.

I have heard talk of Robin Hood,
_Derry, derry down_,
And of brave Little John,
Of fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlèt,
Loxley, and maid Mariòn. {250}

But such a tale as this before
I think was never knone :
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And ‘from’[311] the wood is gone.

Like to a fryer bold Robin Hood
Was accoutered in his array ;
With hood, gown, beeds, 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,
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.

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 holy dame, the priests repli’d,
We never a peny have ;
For we this morning have been rob’d,
And could no money save. {251}

I am much afraid, said bold Robin Hood,
That you both do tell a lie ;
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,
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 !

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,
But down they kneeled with speed :
Send us, O send us, then quoth they,
Some mony to serve our need.

The priests did pray with a mournful chear,
Sometimes their hands did wring ;
Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud,
Whilst Robin did merrily sing. {252}

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

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

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[312] took pains to search them both,
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,
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 [they] durst not speak one word,
But they sighed wondrous deep.

{253}

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

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,
That all the days of your lives,
You shall never tempt maids to sin,
Nor lie with other mens wives.

The last oath you shall take, it is this,
Be charitable to the poor ;
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,
With great joy, mirth, and pride.

{254}

XV.

ROBIN HOOD’S RESCUING WILL STUTLY.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. The full title is: “Robin Hood his rescuing Will Stutly from the sheriff and his men, who had taken him prisoner, and was going to hang him. To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.”[313]

When Robin Hood in the green wood liv’d,
_Derry, derry down_,
Under the green wood tree,
Tidings there came to him with speed,
Tidings for certainty ;
_Hey down, derry, derry down_ ; {255}

That Will Stutly surprized was,
And eke in prison lay ;
Three varlets that the sheriff had hired,
Did likely him betray :

“I, and to-morrow hanged must be,
To-morrow as soon as it is day ;
Before they could this victory get,
Two of them did Stutly slay.”

When Robin Hood he heard this news,
Lord ! he was grieved sore ;
And to his merry men he did say,
(Who altogether swore),

That Will Stutly should rescued be,
And be brought ‘back’ again ;
Or else should many a gallant wight
For his sake there be slain.

He cloathed himself in scarlet ‘red,’
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
To see them all on a row ;
With every man a good broad sword,
And eke a good yew bow. {256}

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

And when they came the castle neer,
Whereas Will Stutly lay,
I hold it good, saith Robin Hood,
Wee 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.

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

Tell me, if that thou rightly ken,
When must Will Stutly die,
Who is one of bold Robin’s men,
And here doth prisoner lie ?

Alack ! alass ! the palmer said,
And for ever wo is me !
Will Stutly hanged must be this day,
On yonder gallows-tree. {257}

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

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

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

Hee was no sooner from the palmer gone,
But the gates ‘were’ open’d wide,
And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
Guarded on every side.

When hee was forth of the castle come,
And saw no help was nigh,
Thus he did say to the sherìff,
Thus he said gallantly :

Now seeing that I needs must die,
Grant me one boon, said he,
For my noble master nere had a man,
That yet was hang’d on the tree. {258}

Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let mee be unbound,
And with thee and thy men Ile fight,
Till I lie dead on the ground.

But his desire he would not grant,
His wishes were in vain ;
For the sheriff had sworn he hanged should be,
And not by the sword be slain.

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

O no, O no, the sheriff said,
Thou shalt on the gallows die,
I, and so shall thy master too,
If ever in me it lie.

O, dastard coward ! Stutly cries,
Thou faint-heart pesant slave !
If ever my master do thee meet,
Thou shalt thy paiment have.

My noble master ‘doth thee’ scorn,
And all thy ‘coward’ crew ;
Such silly imps unable are,
Bold Robin to subdue. {259}

But when he was to the gallows come,
And ready to bid adiew,
Out of a bush leaps Little John,
And comes Will Stutly ‘to’ :

“I pray thee, Will, before thou die,
Of thy dear friends take leave :—
I needs must borrow him for a while,
How say you, master ‘shrieve’ ?”

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

Then Little John most hastily,
Away cut Stutly’s bands,
And from one of the ‘sheriffs’ men,
A sword twicht from his hands.

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

And there they turn’d them back to back,
In the middle of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached near,
With many an archer gay. {260}

With that an arrow by them flew,
I wist from Robin Hood ;
Make haste, make haste, the sheriff he said,
Make haste, for it is good.

The sheriff is gon, his ‘doughty’[314] men
Thought it no boot to stay,
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 neere will catch bold Robin Hood,
Unless you dare him meet.

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

I little thought, ‘Will Stutly said,’[315]
When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my masters face.

Thus Stutly was at liberty set,
And safe brought from his foe :
“O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr,
Since here it was not so : {261}

And once again, my fellows [all],
We shall in the green woods meet,
Where we [will] make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet.”

{262}

XVI.

THE NOBLE FISHER-MAN;

OR,

ROBIN HOOD’S 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, &c.”

From three old black letter copies, one in the collection of Anthony a Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a private collection.

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 sing this song,— {263}

When the lilly leafe, and the ‘eglantine,’
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 ;
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,
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 :

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 fellòw,
I pray thee heartily tell it to mee ?”
“In my own country, where I was borne,
Men call me Simon over the Lee.” {264}

Simon, Simon, said the good-wife,
I wish thou mayest well brook thy name.
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,
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.

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,
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 !
I wish I were in Plompton parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere. {265}

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

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,
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, mastèr, take you no care ;
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,
There’s but a simple lubber lost.” {266}

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.

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,
And drew it with all might and maine,
And straightway in the twinkling of an eye,
‘To’ the Frenchmans heart the ‘arrow’s gane.’[316]

The Frenchman fell down on the ship-hatch,
And under the hatches ‘there’ below ;
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,
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. {267}

The one halfe of the ship, said Simon then,
Ile give to my dame and [her] children small ;
The other halfe of the ship Ile bestow
On you that are my fellowes all.

But now bespake the master then,
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
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest.”

{268}

XVII.

ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT:

“Or, a merry combat fought between Robin Hood, Little John, and Will Scarelock, and three stout Keepers in Sheerwood Forrest.

Robin was valiant and stout,
So was Scarelock and John in the field,
But these Keepers stout did give them rout,
And made them all for to yield.
But after the battel ended was,
Bold Robin did make them amends,
For claret and sack they did not lack,
So drank themselves good friends.

To the tune of, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine; or, Robin Hood and the Shepheard.”

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. {269}

There’s some will talk of lords and knights,
_Doun, a doun, a doun_,
And some of yeomen good ;
But I will tell you of Will Scarlòck,
Little John, and Robin Hood.
_Doun, a doun, a doun, a doun._

They were outlaws, ’tis well known,
And men of a noble blood ;
And many a time was their valour shown
In the forrest of merry Sheerwood.

Upon a time it chanced so,
As Robin[317] would have it be,
They all three would a walking go,
The pastime for to see.

And as they walked the forest along,
Upon a Midsummer day,
There was they aware of three keepèrs,
Clad all in green aray.

With brave long faucheons by their sides
And forrest-bills in hand,
They call’d aloud to those bold outlàws,
And charged them to stand. {270}

Why, who are you, cry’d bold Robìn,
That ‘speak’ so boldly here ?
“We three belong to King Henry,
And are keepers of his deer.”

The devil ‘you are !’ sayes Robin Hood,
I am sure that it is not so ;
We be the keepers of this forrèst,
And that you soon shall know.

Come, your coats of green lay on the ground,
And so will we all three,
And take your swords and bucklers round,
And try the victory.

We be content, the keepers said,
We be three, and you no less,
Then why should we be of you afraid,
‘As’ we never did transgress ?

“Why, if you be three keepers in this forrèst,
Then we be three rangers good,
And will make you know before you do go,
You meet with bold Robin Hood.”