Chapter XIV: Appendix: Robin Hood and the Sheriff (1)

Kinloch MSS, V, 288, in Kinloch’s handwriting.

1
Robin Hood’s to Nottinghame gane,
Wi a linkie down and a day,
And there he met wi an auld woman,
Coming weeping alang the highway.

2
‘Weep ye for any of my gold, auld woman?
Or weep ye for my fee?
Or weep ye for any warld’s gear
This day I can grant to thee?’

3
‘I weep not for your gold, kind sir,
I weep not for your fee;
But I weep for my three braw sons,
This day condemned to die.’

4
‘O have they parishes burned?’ he said,
‘Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they forced maidens against their will?
Or wi other men’s wives hae they lain?’

5
‘They have not parishes burned, kind sir,
They have not ministers slain;
They neer forced a maid against her will,
Nor wi no man’s wife hae they lain.’

6
‘O what hae they done then?’ quo Robin Hood,
‘I pray thee tell unto me:’
‘O they killed the king’s fallow deer,
And this day are condemned to die.’

7
‘O have you mind, old mother,’ he said,
‘Since you made my merry men to dine?
And for to repay it back unto thee
Is come in a very good time.’

8
Sae Robin Hood’s to Nottinghame gane,
With a linkie down and a day,
And there he met an old beggar man,
Coming creeping along the high way.

9
‘What news, what news, old father?’ he said,
‘What news hast thou for me?’
‘There’s three merry men,’ quo the poor auld man,
‘This day condemned to die.’

10
‘Will you change your apparel wi me, old father?
Will you change your apparel for mine?
And twenty broad shillings I’ll gie ye to the boot,
To drink gude beer or wine.’

11
‘Thine is of the scarlet fine,
And mine is baith ragged and torn;
Sae never let a young supple youth
Laugh a gude auld man to scorn.’

12
‘Change your apparel wi me, old churl,
And quickly change it for mine,
And thirty broad shillings I’ll gie to the boot,
To drink gude beer or wine.’

13
When Robin put on the auld man’s hat,
It was weary high in the crown;
‘By the hand of my body,’ quo Robin Hood,
‘I am lang whan I loot down.’

14
Whan Robin put on the auld man’s cloak,
There was mony a pock therein;
A pock for meal, and a pock for maut,
And a pock for groats and corn,
And a little wee pockie that hung by his side
That he put in his bugle-horn.

15
Sae Robin Hood’s [to] Nottinghame gane,
Wi a linkie down and a day,
And there he met wi the high sheriff,
Coming riding alang the high way.

16
‘O save you, O save you, high sheriff,’ he said,
‘And weel saved mote you be!
And what will you gie to the silly auld man
Your hangman for to be?’

17
‘Thirteen pence,’ the sheriff replied,
‘That is the hangman’s fee,
But an the claiths of the three young men
This day condemned to die.’

18
‘I never hanged a man in a’ my life,
And intend not to begin;
But ever I hang a man in my life,
High sheriff, thou’s be the ane.

19
‘But I have a horn in my pocket,
I gat it frae Robin Hood,
And gif I tak out my little horn,
For thee it will no blaw gude.’

20
‘Blaw, blaw, bauld beggar,’ he said,
‘Blaw, and fear nae doubt;
I wish you may gie sic a blast
Till your eyne loup out.’

21
Then Robin he gave a skip,
And he skipped frae a stick till a stane;
‘By the hand of my body,’ quo the high sheriff,
‘You are a supple auld man.’

22
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
And he blew baith loud and shrill,
Till sixty-four of bold Robin’s men
Cam marching down the green hill.

23
‘What men are these,’ quo the high sheriff,
‘That comes sae merrily?’
‘They are my men,’ quo Robin Hood,
‘And they’ll pay a visit to thee.’

24
They tack the gallows out of the glen,
And they set it in a slap;
They hanged the sheriff upon it,
And his best men at his back.

25
They took the gallows out o the slap,
And they set [it] back in the glen,
And they hanged the sheriff upon it,
Let the three young men gae hame.

141

ROBIN HOOD RESCUING WILL STUTLY

#a.# Wood, 401, leaf 35 b.

#b.# Garland of 1663, No 7.

#c.# Garland of 1670, No 6.

#d.# Pepys, II, 106, No 93.

This ballad probably occurs in all the larger collections of broadsides. It was given in Old Ballads, 1723, I, 90. #a# is printed by Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 102. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 164, follows an Aldermary copy.

Robin Hood learns that Will Stutly has been captured and is to be hanged the next day. Robin and his men go to the rescue, and ask information of a palmer who is standing under the wall of the castle in which Stutly is confined; the palmer confirms the news. Stutly is brought out by the sheriff, of whom he asks to have a sword and die in fight, not on the tree. This refused, he asks only to have his hands loosed. The sheriff again refuses; he shall die on the gallows. Little John comes out from behind a bush, cuts Stutly’s bonds, and gives him a sword twitched by John from one of the sheriff’s men. An arrow shot by Robin Hood puts the sheriff to flight, and his men follow. Stutly rejoices that he may go back to the woods.

This is a ballad made for print, with little of the traditional in the matter and nothing in the style. It may be considered as an imitation of The Rescue of the Three Squires, whence the ambush in st. 9 and the palmer ‘fair’ in 10.

1
When Robin Hood in the green-wood livd,
Derry derry down
Vnder the green-wood tree,
Tidings there came to him with speed,
Tidings for certainty,
Hey down derry derry down

2
That Will Stutly surprized was,
And eke in prison lay;
Three varlets that the sheriff had hired
Did likely him betray.

3
I, and to-morrow hanged must be,
To-morrow as soon as it is day;
But before they could this victory get,
Two of them did Stutly slay.

4
When Robin Hood he heard this news,
Lord! he was grieved sore,
I, and unto his merry men [said],
Who altogether swore,

5
That Will Stutly should rescued be,
And be brought safe again;
Or else should many a gallant wight
For his sake there be slain.

6
He cloathed himself in scarlet then,
His men were all in green;
A finer show, throughout the world,
In no place could be seen.

7
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.

8
Forth of the green wood are they gone,
Yea, all couragiously,
Resolving to bring Stutly home,
Or every man to die.

9
And when they came the castle neer
Whereas Will Stutly lay,
‘I hold it good,’ saith Robin Hood,
‘Wee here in ambush stay,

10
‘And send one forth some news to hear,
To yonder palmer fair,
That stands under the castle-wall;
Some news he may declare.’

11
With that steps forth a brave young man,
Which was of courage bold;
Thus hee did say to the old man:
I pray thee, palmer old,

12
Tell me, if that thou rightly ken,
When must Will Stutly die,
Who is one of bold Robins men,
And here doth prisoner lie?

13
‘Alack, alass,’ the palmer said,
‘And for ever wo is me!
Will Stutly hanged must be this day,
On yonder gallows-tree.

14
‘O had his noble master known,
Hee would some succour send;
A few of his bold yeomandree
Full soon would fetch him hence.’

15
‘I, that is true,’ the young man said;
‘I, that is true,’ said hee;
‘Or, if they were neer to this place,
They soon would set him free.

16
‘But fare thou well, thou good old man,
Farewell, and thanks to thee;
If Stutly hanged be this day,
Revengd his death will be.’

17
He was no sooner from the palmer gone,
But the gates was opened wide,
And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
Guarded on every side.

18
When hee was forth from the castle come,
And saw no help was nigh,
Thus he did say unto the sheriff,
Thus he said gallantly:

19
Now seeing that I needs must die,
Grant me one boon, says he;
For my noble master nere had man
That yet was hangd on the tree.

20
Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let mee be unbound,
And with thee and thy men I’le fight,
Vntill I lie dead on the ground.

21
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.

22
‘Do but unbind my hands,’ he saies,
‘I will no weapons crave,
And if I hanged be this day,
Damnation let me have.’

23
‘O no, O no,’ the sheriff he said,
‘Thou shalt on the gallows die,
I, and so shall thy master too,
If ever in me it lie.’

24
‘O dastard coward!’ Stutly cries,
‘Thou faint-heart pesant slave!
If ever my master do thee meet,
Thou shalt thy paiment have.

25
‘My noble master thee doth scorn,
And all thy cowardly crew;
Such silly imps unable are
Bold Robin to subdue.’

26
But when he was to the gallows come,
And ready to bid adiew,
Out of a bush leaps Little John,
And steps Will Stutly to.

27
‘I pray thee, Will, before thou die,
Of thy dear friends take leave;
I needs must borrow him a while,
How say you, master sheriff?’

28
‘Now, as I live,’ the sheriff he said,
‘That varlet will I know;
Some sturdy rebell is that same,
Therefore let him not go.’

29
With that Little John so hastily
Away cut Stutly’s bands,
And from one of the sheriff his men,
A sword twicht from his hands.

30
‘Here, Will, here, take thou this same,
Thou canst it better sway;
And here defend thy self a while,
For aid will come straight way.’

31
And there they turnd them back to back,
In the middle of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached neer,
With many an archer gay.

32
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.’

33
The sheriff is gone; his doughty men
Thought it no boot to stay,
But, as their master had them taught
They run full fast away.

34
‘O stay, O stay,’ Will Stutly said,
‘Take leave ere you depart;
You nere will catch bold Robin Hood
Vnless you dare him meet.’

35
‘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.’

36
‘I little thought when I came here,
When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my masters face.’

37
Thus Stutly was at liberty set,
And safe brought from his foe;
‘O thanks, O thanks to my master,
Since here it was not so.’

38
‘And once again, my fellows,
We shall in the green woods meet,
Where we will make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet.’

* * * * *

#a.#

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.

London, Printed for F. Grove, on Snow-hill. Entred according to
order. (1620–55: _Chappell_.)

25^1. thou dost.

26^4. too.

29^2. Stutli’s.

33^1. doubtless.

#b.#

_Title as in_ #a#, _except_ rescuing of: were going.

4^3. said _wanting_.

6^3. in all the.

11^1. steps out.

13^1. Alas, alas.

13^4. yonders gallow.

14^2. would soon.

16^4. shall be.

19^4. the _wanting_.

25^1. thou dost.

26^4. too.

28^1. he _wanting_.

33^1. doubtless.

#c.#

_Title as in_ #a#, _except_ were going.

1^4. Tiding for certainly.

3^4. stay.

4^3. men said.

13^1. Alass, alass.

17^2. was _wanting_.

24^2. hearted.

25^1. thee dost.

26^4. too.

29^2. Stutli’s.

33^1. doubtless.

36^2. came hereto,

#d.#

_Title as in_ #a#.

Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–86?)

1^1. livd _wanting_.

3^2. as ’tis.

4^3. and to: men said.

5^2. brought back.

8^1. they are.

9^3. said.

13^1. Alas, alas.

13^3. to day.

14^3. yeomanry.

17^2. gates were.

19^2. said.

19^4. the _wanting_.

21^1. But this.

21^3. swore.

24^2. hearted.

25^1. thee doth.

26^1. gone _for_ come.

28^1. he _wanting_.

29^1. And Little.

29^3. sheriffs.

33^1. doubtless.

35^1. said _for_ quoth.

36^2. came here.

142

LITTLE JOHN A BEGGING

#A.# Percy MS., p. 20; Hales and Furnivall, I, 47.

#B.# ‘Little John and the Four Beggers.’ #a.# Wood, 401, leaf 33 b.
#b.# Garland of 1663, No 16. #c.# Garland of 1670, No 15. #d.#
Pepys, II, 119, No 105.

#B# is also in the Roxburghe collection, III, 10.

#B a# is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 128. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 196 follows the Aldermary garland.

#A.# Little John, meaning to go a begging, induces an old mendicant to change clothes with him and to give him some hints how to conduct himself. Thus prepared he attempts to attach himself to three palmers, who, however, do not covet his company. One of the palmers gives John a whack on the head. We may conjecture, from the course of the story in #B#, that John serves them all accordingly, and takes from them so much money that, if he had kept on in this way, he might, as he says, have bought churches.

The beginning of #A# is very like that of Robin Hood rescuing Three Squires, #A#; but the disguise is for a different object. We are reminded again of Hind Horn, and particularly of versions #C#, #G#, #H#, in which the beggar, after change of clothes, is asked for instructions.

#B.# John is deputed by Robin to go a begging, and asks to be provided with staff, coat, and bags. He joins four sham beggars, one of whom takes him a knock on the crown. John makes the dumb to speak and the halt to run, and bangs them against the wall, then gets from one’s cloak three hundred pound, and from another’s bag three hundred and three, which he thinks is doing well enough to warrant his return to Sherwood.

#B# is translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 155.

A

Percy MS., p. 20; Hales and Furnivall, I, 47.

* * * * *

1
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . beggar,’ he sayes,
‘W_i_th none such fellows as thee.’

2
‘I am not in iest,’ said Litle Iohn,
‘I sweare all by the roode;
Change w_i_th mee,’ said Little Iohn,
‘And I will giue thee some boote.’

3
But he has gotten on this old mans gowne,
It reacht not to his wrist;
‘Christ’s curse on’s hart,’ said Litle Iohn,
‘That thinkes my gowne amisse.’

4
But he has gotten on this old mans shoes,
Are clouted nine fold about;
‘Beshrew his hart,’ says Litle Iohn,
‘That bryer or thorne does doubt.

5
‘Wilt teach me some phrase of thy begging?’ says Iohn;
‘I pray thee, tell it mee,
How I may be as beggar-like
As any in my companie.’

6
‘Thou must goe two foote on a staffe,
The third vpon a tree;
Full loud that thou must cry and fare,
When nothing ayleth thee.’

7
But Iohn he walket the hills soe high,
Soe did [he] the hills soe browne;
The ready way that he cold take
Was towards Nottingham towne.

8
But as he was on the hills soe high,
He mett w_i_th palmers three;
Sayes, God you saue, my brethren all,
Now God you saue and see!

9
This seuen yeere I haue you sought;
Before I cold neuer you see!
Said they, Wee had leuer such a cankred carle
Were neuer in our companie.

10
But one of them tooke Litle Iohn on his head,
The blood ran over his eye;
Little Iohn turned him twise about
. . . . . . .

* * * * *

11
‘If I . . . . . . .
As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the best churches
That stands by any highway.’

B

#a.# Wood, 401, leaf 33 b. #b.# Garland of 1663, No 16. #c.# Garland
of 1670, No 15. #d.# Pepys, II, 119, No 105.

1
All you that delight to spend some time
With a hey down down a down down
A merry song for to sing,
Vnto me draw neer, and you shall hear
How Little John went a begging.

2
As Robin Hood walked the forrest along,
And all his yeomandree,
Sayes Robin, Some of you must a begging go,
And, Little John, it must be thee.

3
Sayes John, If I must a begging go,
I will have a palmers weed,
With a staff and a coat, and bags of all sort,
The better then I shall speed.

4
Come, give me now a bag for my bread,
And another for my cheese,
And one for a peny, when as I get any,
That nothing I may leese.

5
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.

6
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!

7
‘Good-morrow,’ said John, ‘my brethren dear,
Good fortune I had you to see;
Which way do you go? pray let me know,
For I want some company.

8
‘O what is here to do?’ then said Little John,
‘Why rings all these bells?’ said he;
‘What dog is a hanging? come, let us be ganging,
That we the truth may see.’

9
‘Here is no dog a hanging,’ then one of them said,
‘Good fellow, we tell unto thee;
But here is one dead wil give us cheese and bred,
And it may be one single peny.’

10
‘We have brethren in London,’ another he said,
‘So have we in Coventry,
In Barwick and Dover, and all the world over,
But nere a crookt carril like thee.

11
‘Therefore stand thee back, thou crooked carel,
And take that knock on the crown;’
‘Nay,’ said Little John, ‘I’le not yet be gone,
For a bout will I have with you round.

12
‘Now have at you all,’ then said Little John,
‘If you be so full of your blows;
Fight on, all four, and nere give ore,
Whether you be friends or foes.’

13
John nipped the dumb, and made him to rore,
And the blind that could not see,
And he that a cripple had been seven years,
He made him run faster then he.

14
And flinging them all against the wall,
With many a sturdie bang,
It made John sing, to hear the gold ring,
Which against the walls cryed twang.

15
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.’

16
But what found he in a beggers bag,
But three hundred pound and three?
‘If I drink water while this doth last,
Then an ill death may I dye!

17
‘And my begging-trade I will now give ore,
My fortune hath bin so good;
Therefore I’le not stay, but I will away
To the forrest of merry Sherwood.’

18
And when to the forrest of Sherwood he came,
He quickly there did see
His master good, bold Robin Hood,
And all his company.

19
‘What news? What news?’ then said Robin Hood,
‘Come, Little John, tell unto me;
How hast thou sped with thy beggers trade?
For that I fain would see.’

20
‘No news but good,’ then 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.’

21
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!’

22
So to conclude my merry new song,
All you that delight it to sing,
’Tis of Robin Hood, that archer good,
And how Little John went a begging.

* * * * *

#A.#

_Half a page wanting at the beginning, and after 10^3._

3^2. his crest.

4^2. 9.

6^1. 2.

6^2. 3^d.

8^2, 11^3. 3.

9^1. 7.

9^3. had neuer.

10^2. him 2[s :].

#B. a.#

Little John and the Four Beggers: A new merry song of Robin Hood
and Little John, shewing how Little John went a begging, and how
he fought with Four Beggers, and what a prize he got of the Four
Beggers.

The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger.

Printed for William Gilber[t]son. (1640–63.)

13^4. them _for_ him.

14^4. Whih again.

22^4. beggiug.

#b.#

_Title as in_ #a#.

11^2. on thy.

11^4. I will.

12^3. never.

13^4. made him.

14^4. again.

20^3. Three hundred.

#c.#

_Title as in #a#, except_: from these four Beggers. To the tune of
Robin Hood and the Begger.

_Burden_: _last_ down _wanting_.

8^3. a _wanting_: let’s.

9^2. I _for_ we.

10^1. he _wanting_.

12^3. never.

13^4. made him: than.

14^4. against.

19^4. I fain would fain.

20^1. then _wanting_.

20^3. Three hundred.

22^2. it _wanting_.

#d.#

_Title as in #a#, except_: Or, a new. To the tune of Robin Hood,
&c.

Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger.
(1670–86?)

1^2. for _wanting_.

3^3. sorts.

3^4. then shall I.

4^3. as _wanting_.

5^{1,4}. he _wanting_.

7^1. my children.

10^2. in the Country.

13^4. made run then.

14^4. against.

16^1. in the.

17^2. it hath.

18^1. But when.

19^3. with the.

22^2. And you.

143

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP

‘Robin Hood and the Bishop.’ #a.# Wood, 401, leaf 11 b.

#b.# Garland of 1663, No 5.

#c.# Garland of 1670, No 4.

#d.# Pepys, II, 109, No 96.

#e.# Roxburghe, I, 362, in the Ballad Societys reprint, II, 448.

Also Pepys, II, 122, No 107, by Alexander Milbourne (1670–97): Old Ballads, 1723, II, 39.

#a# is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 19. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 102, apparently follows the Aldermary Churchyard garland.

Robin Hood, while ranging the forest, sees a bishop and all his men coming, and, knowing that if he is taken no mercy will be given him, asks the help of an old woman, to whom he makes himself known. The old woman has had a kindness from him, and wishes to return it. She consents to exchange her gray coat and spindle for his green mantle and arrows, and Robin makes for his band in this disguise. The bishop carries off the old woman on a horse, making no doubt that he has Robin in custody, but, as he proceeds through the wood, sees a hundred bowmen, and asks his prisoner what this may be. I think it be Robin Hood, says the supposed outlaw. “And who are you?” “Why, I am an old woman.” The bishop turns about, but Robin stays him, ties him to a tree, takes five hundred pound from his portmantle, and then is willing he should go. But Little John will not let him off till he has sung a mass; after which the bishop is mounted on his dapple-gray, with his face to the tail, and told to pray for Robin Hood.

This ballad and the following are variations upon the theme of Robin Hood and the Monk, in the Gest. The disguise as a woman occurs in other outlaw stories; as in Eustace the Monk, Michel, p. 43. Also in Blind Harry’s Wallace, ed. Moir, Book I, 239, and Book IV, 764, pp 9, 72: in the first case Wallace has a rock and sits spinning. See also the ballad of Gude Wallace, further on.

We hear again of the forced mass, st. 23, in Robin Hood and Queen Katherine, #A# 31, #B# 40; and of money borrowed against the bishop’s will, in #A# 32 of the same. It is the Bishop of Hereford who suffers: see the ballad which follows.

Translated by Doenniges, p. 203; Anastasius Grün, p. 113.

1
Come, gentlemen all, and listen a while,
Hey down down an a down
And a story I’le to you unfold;
I’le tell you how Robin Hood served the Bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.

2
As it fell out on a sun-shining day,
When Phebus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.

3
And as he walkd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy,
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.

4
‘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,
But hanged I shall be.’

5
Then Robin was stout, and turnd 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.

6
‘Why, who art thou?’ said the old woman,
‘Come tell it to me for good:’
‘I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood.

7
‘And yonder’s the Bishop and all his men,
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he’l work me spight,
And hanged I shall be.’

8
‘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.

9
‘For I well remember, one Saturday night
Thou bought me both shoos and hose;
Therefore I’le provide thy person to hide,
And keep thee from thy foes.’

10
‘Then give me soon thy coat of gray,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen.’

11
And when that Robin Hood was so araid,
He went straight to his company;
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the Bishop and his company.

12
‘O who is yonder,’ quoth Little John,
‘That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she.’

13
‘O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin then,
‘And shoot not thy arrows so keen;
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen.’

14
The Bishop he came to the old womans house,
And he called with furious mood,
‘Come let me soon see, and bring unto me,
That traitor Robin Hood.’

15
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.

16
But as they were riding the forrest along,
The Bishop he chanc’d for to see
A hundred brave bow-men bold
Stand under the green-wood tree.

17
‘O who is yonder,’ the Bishop then said,
‘That’s ranging within yonder wood?’
‘Marry,’ says the old woman, ‘I think it to be
A man calld Robin Hood.’

18
‘Why, who art thou,’ the Bishop he said,
‘Which I have here with me?’
‘Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldly bishop;
Lift up my leg and see.’

19
‘Then woe is me,’ the Bishop he said,
‘That ever I saw this day!’
He turnd him about, but Robin so stout
Calld him, and bid him stay.

20
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.

21
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.

22
‘So now let him go,’ said Robin Hood;
Said Little John, That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass
Before that he goe from me.

23
Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree,
And made him sing a mass, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree.

24
And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple-gray,
And gave the tail within his hand,
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.

* * * * *

#a.#

Robin Hood and the Bishop: Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old
womans 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.

London, Printed for F. Grove on Snow-Hill. (1620–55.)

_Burden_: _sometimes_ With a hey, _etc._; With hey, _etc._

2^2. her _for_ his: _cf._ #b#, #c#.

8^2. doth: _cf._ #b#, #c#, #d#, #e#.

9^1. on _for_ one: _cf._ #e#.

16^2. chance.

#b.#

_Title as in #a#. Burden: with the same variations as in #a#._

2^2. in his.

5^4. for _wanting_.

8^1. then said.

8^2. dost.

9^1. on.

14^3. soon _wanting_.

16^2. chanc’d.

17^1. then _wanting_.

17^2. yonders.

18^3. cuckoldy.

19^1. to me.

19^3. Robin Hood.

#c.#

_Title as in #a#. Burden: always_ With a hey, _etc._

2^2. in his.

4^4. _wanting._

5^{3,4}. for _wanting_.

8^2. dost.

9^1. on.

16^1. long.

16^2. chanced.

17^1. he said.

18^3. cuckoldy.

19^1. to me.

19^3. Robin Hood.

24^4. bid.

#d.#

_Title as in #a#, except_, escape: robbed him: sing mass.

_Burden_: With a hey down down and a down.

2^1. of a.

2^2. in her.

2^3. That _for_ Then.

4^4. shall I.

5^4. for _wanting_.

7^3. my _for_ me.

8^1. old woman.

8^2. dost.

9^1. well _wanting_: on.

11^1. that _wanting_: thus _for_ so.

13^1. Robin Hood.

16^2. chanc’d.

18^3. am a woman: cuckoldy.

19^3. Robin Hood.

20^4. of his.

22^1. So _wanting_.

23^1. by’th.

24^1. And when.

#e.#

_Title as in #a#, except_, escape: robbed him: sing mass.

London, Printed by and for W. O[nley], _etc._ (1650–1702.)

_Burden_: With a hey down down an a down.

1^2. to you I’ll.

1^3. to you.

2^1. of a.

2^2. in her.

2^3. Bold Robin Hood.

3^3. he _wanting_. (?)

4^1. saith.

4^4. shall I.

5^2. did he.

5^3. for _wanting_.

5^4. aloud began to.

7^3. my _for_ me.

7^4. shall I.

8^1. then said the old woman.

8^2. dost.

9^1. well _wanting_: one.

9^2. brought.

10^2. the _for_ my.

11^1. thus _for_ so.

11^3. and _wanting_.

12^3. at her I will.

13^1. saith.

16^2. chanc’d.

17^4. A _wanting_.

18^3. am a woman.

19^3. Robin Hood.

19^4. to him.

20^4. of this.

22^1. So _wanting_.

23^1. by th’.

144

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD

#A. a.# Robin Hood’s Garland, London, J. Marshall & Co., Aldermary
Churchyard, No 23. #b.# ‘Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford,’
Douce Ballads, III, 123 b, London, C. Sheppard, 1791. #c.#
Chappell’s Popular Music of the Olden Time, p. 395, from a broadside
printed for Daniel Wright, next the Sun Tavern in Holborn. #d.#
Robin Hood’s Garland, 1749, No 23.

#B.# E. Cochrane’s Song-Book, p. 149, No 113.

#A a# in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 146, “compared with the York copy,” that is, with two or three slight changes: Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 211. #B#, the Scottish copy, is very likely only an imperfect remembrance of a broadside, but the date of the MS., though this is perhaps not determinable, has been put as early as 1730.

Robin Hood, expecting the Bishop of Hereford to pass near Barnsdale, has a deer killed for his dinner. He dresses himself and six of his men in shepherd’s attire, and when the Bishop approaches they make an ado to attract his attention. The Bishop interrogates them. Robin owns that they mean to make merry with the king’s venison. The Bishop will show them no mercy; they must go before the king with him. Robin summons his band with his horn and it is the Bishop’s turn to cry mercy. Robin will not let him off, but takes him to Barnsdale, and makes him great cheer. The Bishop foresees that there will be a heavy reckoning. Little John searches the Bishop’s portmanteau, and takes out three hundred pound; enough, he says, to make him in charity with the churchman. They make the Bishop dance in his boots, #A#, or sing a mass, #B#, and he is glad to get off so lightly.

The Bishop of Hereford appears in the next ballad, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. He there tells us that Robin had made him sing a mass out of hours, and had borrowed money of him against his will.

The conclusion of this ballad is to the same effect as that of the preceding, and was probably suggested by the Gest. No copy has been found, in print or writing, earlier than the last century; a fact of no special importance. Whenever written, if written it was, it is far superior to most of the seventeenth century broadsides. Mr Chappell speaks of it as being now (thirty years ago) the most popular of the Robin Hood set.

Translated by Talvj, Charakteristik, p. 493; Anastasius Grün, p. 151; Loève-Veimars, p. 204.

A

#a.# Robin Hood’s Garland, Aldermary Churchyard, No 23. #b.# Douce
Ballads, III, 123 b, 1791. #c.# Chappell’s Popular Music of the
Olden Time, p. 395, from a broadside printed for Daniel Wright, #d.#
Robin Hood’s Garland, without place, 1749, No 23, p. 98.

1
Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood,
And some of barons bold,
But I’ll tell you how he servd the Bishop of Hereford,
When he robbd him of his gold.

2
As it befel in merry Barnsdale,
And under the green-wood tree,
The Bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his company.

3
‘Come, kill a venson,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘Come, kill me a good fat deer;
The Bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.

4
‘We’ll kill a fat venson,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘And dress it by the highway-side;
And we will watch the Bishop narrowly,
Lest some other way he should ride.’

5
Robin Hood dressd himself in shepherd’s attire,
With six of his men also;
And, when the Bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go.

6
‘O what is the matter?’ then said the Bishop,
‘Or for whom do you make this a-do?
Or why do you kill the king’s venson,
When your company is so few?’

7
‘We are shepherds,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘And we keep sheep all the year,
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the king’s fat deer.’

8
‘You are brave fellows!’ said the Bishop,
‘And the king of your doings shall know;
Therefore make haste and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go.’

9 ‘O pardon, O pardon,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘O pardon, I thee pray!
For it becomes not your lordship’s coat
To take so many lives away.’

10
‘No pardon, no pardon,’ says the Bishop,
‘No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go.’

11
Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherd’s coat
He pulld out a bugle-horn.

12
He put the little end to his mouth,
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robin’s men
Came running all on a row;

13
All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood;
’Twas a comely sight for to see:
‘What is the matter, master,’ said Little John,
‘That you blow so hastily?’

14
‘O here is the Bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have:’
‘Cut off his head, master,’ said Little John,
‘And throw him into his grave.’

15
‘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.’

16
‘No pardon, no pardon,’ said Robin Hood,
‘No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go.’

17
Then Robin he took the Bishop by the hand,
And led him to merry Barnsdale;
He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

18
‘Call in the reckoning,’ said the Bishop,
‘For methinks it grows wondrous high:’
‘Lend me your purse, Bishop,’ said Little John,
‘And I’ll tell you bye and bye.’

19
Then Little John took the bishop’s cloak,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishop’s portmantua
He told three hundred pound.

20
‘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.’

21
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.

B

E. Cochrane’s Song-Book, p. 149, No 113.

1
Some talk of lords, and some talk of lairds,
And some talk of barrons bold,
But I’ll tell you a story of bold Robin Hood,
How he robbed the Bishop of his gold.

2
‘Cause kill us a venison,’ sayes Robin Hood,
‘And we’ll dress it by the high-way side,
And we will watch narrowly for the Bishop,
Lest some other way he do ride.’

3
‘Now who is this,’ sayes the Bishop,
‘That makes so boldly here
To kill the king’s poor small venison,
And so few of his company here?’

4
‘We are shepherds,’ says Robin Hood,
‘And do keep sheep all the year;
And we thought it fit to be merry on a day,
And kill one of the king’s fallow deer.’

5
‘Thou art a bold fellow,’ the Bishop replyes,
‘And your boldness you do show;
Make hast, make hast, and go along with me,
For the king of your doings shall know.’

6
He leand his back unto a brae,
His foot against a thorn,
And out from beneath his long shepherds coat
He pulled a blowing-horn.

7
He put his horn in to his mouth,
And a snell blast he did blow,
Till four and twenty of bold Robins men
Came riding up all in a row.

8
‘Come, give us a reckoning,’ says the Bishop,
‘For I think you drink wondrous large:’
‘Come, give me your purse,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘And I will pay all your charge.’

9
He pulled off his long shepherds coat,
And he spread it on the ground,
And out of the Bishops long trunk-hose,
He pulled a hundred pound.

10
‘O master,’ quoth Litle John,
‘It’s a very bony sight for to see;
It makes me to favour the Bishop,
Tho in heart he loves not me.’

11
‘Come, sing us a mass,’ sayes bold Robin Hood,
‘Come, sing us a mass all anon;
Come, sing us a mass,’ sayes bold Robin Hood,
‘Take a kick in the a—se, and be gone.’

* * * * *

#A. a.#

The Bishop of Hereford’s Entertainment by Robin Hood and Little
John, &c., in merry Barnsdale.

8^4. Forr.

18^3. master _for_ Bishop: _cf._ #b#.

#b.#

London, Published April 7th, 1791, by C. Sheppard, No 19, Lambert
Hill, Doctors Commons.

3^3. ’s to.

7^4. to taste.

10^1. said.

11^4. out his.

12^2. he did.

12^3. Robin Hood’s.

13^2. for _wanting_.

13^3. What’s.

14^2. Says no.

17^1. he _wanting_.

17^3. him stay and dine with him that day.

18^2. For I think.

18^3. bishop _for_ master.

20^3. me have charity for.

21^3. And _wanting_: the old.

#c.#

_Title as in_ #a#.

1^1. O some: of brave.

1^3. ye.

1^4. And robbd.

2^1. All under.

3^1. kill me.

3^3. ’s to.

10^1. said.

16^1. said bold.

18^1. in a.

18^3. purse, master.

21^3. the old.

#d.#

_Title as in_ #a#: &c _wanting_.

1^1. they _wanting_.

1^3. of Hereford _wanting_.

1^4. his _wanting_.

3^1. Hood _wanting_.

3^3. to-day _wanting_.

3^4. well _wanting_.

4^1. kill the vension.

5^1. Hood he.

5^2. And six: men likewise.

5^4. Then _for_ They.

6^1. then _wanting_.

6^3. of the.

6^4. And your: so small.

7^1. Hood _wanting_.

9^1. bold _wanting_.

10^1. said.

10^4. you must.

11^4. out his fine.

12^2. he did.

12^4. marching down in a.

13^3. master _wanting_.

14^4. into the.

15^4. I would: gone another.

16^1. bold Robin: Hood _wanting_.

17^1. he _wanting_.

17^2. And he.

17^3. to _wanting_.

18^1. in a.

18^2. Methinks it runs.

18^3. master _wanting_.

19^3. portmantle.

19^4. He took.

20^1. master _wanting_.

20^2. And it is: ’tis _wanting_.

21^1. Robin he took.

21^2. he _wanting_.

21^3. And _wanting_.

21^4. so _wanting_.

145

ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE

#A.# ‘Robin Hoode and Quene Kath[erine],’ Percy MS., p. 15; Hales and
Furnivall, I, 37.

#B.# ‘Renowned Robin Hood,’ etc. #a.# Wood, 502, leaf 10. #b.#
Roxburghe, I, 356, in the Ballad Society’s reprint, II, 419. #c.#
Garland of 1663, No 9. #d.# Garland of 1670, No 8. #e.# Wood, 401,
leaf 31 b. #f.# Pepys, II, 103, No 90.

#C.# ‘Robin Hood, Scarlet and John,’ etc., Garland of 1663, No 1.

A copy in Roxburghe, III, 450, printed by L. How, in Petticoat Lane, is of the eighteenth century. In Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 82, “from an old black-letter copy in a private collection, compared with another in that of Anthony a Wood.” In Evans’s Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 149, from an Aldermary garland.

Robin Hood has made Queen Katherine his friend by presenting her with a sum of gold which he had taken from the king’s harbingers. The king has offered a heavy wager that his archers cannot be excelled, and the queen may have her choice of all other bowmen in England. Availing herself of these terms, the queen summons Robin Hood and his men, who are to come to London on St George’s day, under changed names. She hopes to have Robin relieved of his outlawry. The king’s archers lead off, and make three. The ladies think the queen has no chance. She asks Sir Richard Lee, known to us already from the Gest, to be on her side. Sir Richard Lee, we are told, is sprung from Gawain’s blood (#A#, Gower’s, Gowrie’s in other texts), and naturally would deny nothing to a lady. The Bishop of Hereford declines to be of the queen’s party, but stakes a large sum on the king’s men. The queen’s archers shoot, and the game stands three and three; the queen bids the king beware. The third three shall pay for all, says the king. It is now time for the outlaws to do their best. Loxly, as Robin Hood is called, leads off. The particulars of the outlaws’ exploits are wanting in #A#.

In #B#, #C#, Robin’s feat is obscurely described. Clifton, who represents Scarlet (for in #B#, #C#, contrary to older tradition, Scarlet seems to be put before John), cleaves the willow wand, and Midge (Mutch), the Miller’s Son, who, according to #A# 10, is John, is but little behind him.[117] The queen, to assure the safety of her men, begs the boon that the king will not be angry with any of her party, and the king replies, Welcome, friend or foe.

After this there is no occasion for concealment. The Bishop of Hereford, learning who Loxly is, says that Robin is only too old an acquaintance; Robin had once made him say a mass at two in the afternoon, and borrowed money of him which had never been repaid. Robin offers to pay him for the mass by giving half of the gold back. Small thanks, says the bishop, for paying me with my own money. King Henry, quite outstripping even the easiness of Edward in the Gest, says he loves Robin never the worse, and invites him to leave his outlaws and come live at the court, a proposal which is peremptorily rejected. This is a very pleasant ballad, with all the exaggeration, and it is much to be regretted that one half of #A# is lost.

#C# is a piece of regular hack-work, and could not maintain itself in competition with #B#, upon which, perhaps, it was formed. It will be observed that Sir Richard Lee is changed into Sir Robert Lee in #C#, and that the thirty-fourth stanza represents the king as subsequently making Robin Hood Earl of Huntington.

The adventure of the Bishop of Hereford with Robin Hood is the subject of a separate ballad, now found only in a late form: see No 144.

Loxly, the name given to Robin in the present ballad, is, according to the Life in the Sloane MS., a town in Yorkshire, “or after others in Nottinghamshire,” where Robin was born. The ballad of Robin Hood’s Birth, Breeding, etc., following the same tradition, or invention, says “Locksly town in Nottinghamshire.” It appears from Spencer Hall’s Forester’s Offering, London, 1841, that there is a Loxley Chase near Sheffield, in Yorkshire, and a Loxley River too: Gutch, I, 75.

Finsbury field was long a noted place for the practice of archery. In the year 1498, says Stow, all the gardens which had continued time out of mind without Moorgate, to wit, about and beyond the lordship of Fensberry, were destroyed. And of them was made a plain field for archers to shoot in. Survey of London, 1598, p. 351, cited, with other things pertinent, by Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 86 f.

R. H. and the Shepherd, R. H. rescuing Will Stutly, and R. H.’s Delight, are directed to be sung to the tune of R. H. and Queen Katherine, #B#, and may therefore be inferred to be of later date. R. H.’s Progress to Nottingham is to be sung to “Bold Robin Hood,” and as this conjunction of words occurs several times in R. H. and Queen Katherine, and the burden and its disposition, in the Progress to Nottingham, are the same as in R. H. and Queen Katherine, “Bold Robin Hood” may indicate this present ballad. R. H. and Queen Katherine, #C#, is directed to be sung to the tune of The Pinder of Wakefield.

R. H.’s Chase is a sequel to R. H. and Queen Katherine.

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 172.

A

Percy MS., p. 15; Hales and Furnivall, I, 37.

1
Now list you, lithe you, gentlemen,
A while for a litle space,
And I shall tell you how Queene Katterine
Gott Robin Hood his grace.

2
Gold taken from the kings harbengers
Seldome times hath beene seene,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

* * * * *

3
. . . . . . .
‘Queene Katherine, I say to thee;’
‘That’s a princly wager,’ q_uo_th Queene Katherine,
‘Betweene yo_u_r grace and me.

4
‘Where must I haue mine archers?’ says Queene Katherine;
‘You haue the flower of archery:’
‘Now take yo_u_r choice, dame,’ he sayes,
‘Thorow out all England free.

5
‘Yea from North Wales to Westchester,
And also to Couentry;
And when you haue chosen the best you can,
The wager must goe w_i_th mee.’

6
‘If that prooue,’ says Queene Katherine,
‘Soone that wilbe tride and knowne;
Many a man counts of another mans pursse,
And after looseth his owne.’

7
The queene is to her palace gone,
To her page thus shee can say:
Come hither to me, Dicke Patrinton,
Trusty and trew this day.

8
Thou must bring me the names of my archers all,
All strangers must they bee,
Yea from North Wales to West Chester,
And alsoe to Couentrie.

9
Com_m_end me to Robin Hood, says Queene Katherine,
And alsoe to Litle John,
And specially to Will Scarlett,
Ffryar Tucke and Maid Marryan.

10
Robin Hood we must call Loxly,
And Little John the Millers sonne;
Thus wee then must change their names,
They must be strangers euery one.

11
Com_m_end mee to Robin Hood, sayes Queene Katherine,
And marke, page, what I say;
In London they must be w_i_th me
[Vpon S^t Georges day.]

* * * * *

12
. . . . . . .
‘These words hath sent by me;
Att London you must be w_i_th her
Vpon S^t Georg[e]s day.

13
‘Vpon S^t Georg[e]s day att noone
Att London needs must you bee;
Shee wold not misse yo_u_r companie
For all the gold in Cristinty.

14
‘Shee hath tane a shooting for yo_u_r sake,
The greatest in Christentie,
And her part you must needs take
Against her prince, Henery.

15
‘Shee sends you heere her gay gold ring
A trew token for to bee;
And, as you are [a] banisht man,
Shee trusts to sett you free.’

16
‘And I loose that wager,’ says bold Robin Hoode,
‘I’le bring mony to pay for me;
And wether that I win or loose,
On my queenes part I will be.’

17
In som_m_er time when leaues grow greene,
And flowers are fresh and gay,
Then Ro_bin_ Hood he deckt his men
Eche one in braue array.

18
He deckt his men in Lincolne greene,
Himselfe in scarlett red;
Fayre of theire brest then was it seene
When his siluer armes were spread.

19
With hatt_i_s white and fethers blacke,
And bowes and arrowes keene,
And thus he ietted towards louly London,
To p_re_sent Queene Katherine.

20
But when they cam to louly London,
They kneeled vpon their knee;
Sayes, God you saue, Queene Katherine,
And all yo_u_r dignitie!

* * * * *

21
. . . . . . . of my guard,’
Thus can King Henry say,
‘And those that wilbe of Queene Katerines side,
They are welcome to me this day.’

22
‘Then come hither to me, S_i_r Richard Lee,
Thou art a knight full good;
Well it is knowen ffrom thy pedygree
Thou came from Gawiins blood.

23
‘Come hither, Bishopp of Hereford,’ q_uo_th Queene Katherine—
A good preacher I watt was hee—
‘And stand thou heere vpon a odd side,
On my side for to bee.’

24
‘I like not that,’ sayes the bishopp then,
‘By faikine of my body,
For if I might haue my owne will,
On the kings I wold bee.’

25
‘What will thou be[t] against vs,’ says Loxly then,
‘And stake it on the ground?’
‘That will I doe, fine fellow,’ he says,
‘And it drawes to fiue hundreth pound.’

26
‘There is a bett,’ says Loxly then;
‘Wee’le stake it merrily;’
But Loxly knew full well in his mind
And whose that gold shold bee.

27
Then the queenes archers they shot about
Till it was three and three;
Then the lady’s gaue a merry shout,
Sayes, Woodcocke, beware thine eye!

28
‘Well, gam and gam,’ then q_uo_th our king,
‘The third three payes for all;’
Then Robine rounded w_i_th our queene,
Says, The kings p_ar_t shall be small.

29
Loxly puld forth a broad arrowe,
He shott it vnder hand,
. . . . s vnto . .
. . . . . . .

* * * * *

30
. . . . . . .
‘For once he vndidd mee;
If I had thought it had beene bold Ro_bin_ Hoode,
I wold not haue betted one peny.

31
‘Is this Ro_bin_ Hood?’ says the bishopp againe;
‘Once I knew him to soone;
He made me say a masse against my will,
Att two a clocke in the afternoone.

32
‘He bound me fast vnto a tree,
Soe did he my merry men;
He borrowed ten pound against my will,
But he neuer paid me againe.’

33
‘What and if I did?’ says bold Ro_bin_ Hood,
‘Of that masse I was full faine;
In recompence, befor king and queene
Take halfe of thy gold againe.’

34
‘I thanke thee for nothing,’ says the bishopp,
‘Thy large gift to well is knowne,
_Tha_t will borrow a mans mony against his will,
And pay him againe w_i_th his owne.’

35
‘What if he did soe?’ says King Henery,
‘For that I loue him neuer the worsse;
Take vp thy gold againe, bold Robin Hood,
And put [it] in thy pursse.

36
‘If thou woldest leaue thy bold outlawes,
And come and dwell w_i_th me,
Then I wold say thou art welcome, bold Ro_bin_ Hood,
The flower of archery.’

37
‘I will not leaue my bold outlawes
For all the gold in Christentie;
In merry Sherwood I’le take my end,
Vnder my trusty tree.