Chapter XXIII: Book V: 112. Robyn and Gandelyn (3)
When shaws[926] beene sheene[927], and shradds[928] full fayre,
And leves both large and longe,
Itt is merrye walking in the fayre forrèst
To heare the small birds’ songe.
II
The woodweele[929] sang, and wold not cease,
[Sitting upon the spraye,
Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood,
In the grenewood where he lay.
III
‘Now by my faye,’ sayd jollye Robìn,
‘A sweaven[930] I had this night;
I dreamt me of two wight[931] yemen,
That fast with me can fight.]
IV
‘Methought they did mee beate and binde,
And tooke my bow mee fro;
If I be Robin alive in this lande,
I’ll be wroken[932] on them towe.’
V
‘Sweavens are swift, Master,’ quoth John,
‘As the wind that blowes ore a hill;
For if itt be never so loude this night,
To-morrow itt may be still.’
VI
‘Buske[933] yee, bowne[934] yee, my merry men all,
And John shall goe with mee,
For I’le goe seeke yond wight yemen,
In grenewood where they bee.’
VII
They cast on them their gownes of grene,
[And tooke theyr bowes each one;
And all away to the grene forrèst]
A shooting forth are gone;
VIII
Until they came to the merry grenewood,
Where they had gladdest bee,
There were they ware of a wight yemàn,
His body lean’d to a tree.
IX
A sword and a dagger he wore by his side,
Of manye a man the bane;
And he was clad in his capull-hyde[935]
Topp and tayll and mayne.
X
‘Stand you still, Master,’ quoth Little John,
‘Under this trusty tree,
And I will go to yond wight yeoman
To know his meaning trulye.’
XI
‘A! John, by me thou settest noe store,
And that’s a farley[936] finde.
How offt send I my men beffore,
And tarry my selfe behinde?
XII
‘It is noe cunning a knave to ken,
An a man but heare him speake;
An itt were not for bursting of my bowe,
John, I wold thy head breake.’
XIII
As often wordes they breeden bale,
So they parted Robin and John:
And John is gone to Barnèsdale;
The gates[937] he knoweth eche one.
XIV
But when he came to Barnèsdale,
Great heavinesse there hee hadd,
For he found two of his owne fellòwes
Were slaine both in a slade[938].
XV
And Scarlette à-foote he flyinge was
Fast over stocke and stone,
For the Sheriffe with seven score men
Fast after him is gone.
XVI
‘Yet one shoote I’le shoote,’ quoth Little John,
‘With Christ his might and mayne;
I’le make yond fellow that flyes soe fast,
To stopp he shall be fayne.’
XVII
Then John bent up his good yewe-bowe
And fettl’d[939] him to shoote:
The bow was made of a tender boughe,
And fell downe to his foote.
XVIII
‘Woe worth thee, wicked wood,’ sayd John,
‘That ere thou grew on a tree!
For now this day thou art my bale,
My boote[940] when thou shold bee.’
XIX
His shoote it was but loosely shott,
Yet it flewe not in vaine,
For itt met one of the Sheriff’s men,
Good William à Trent was slaine.
XX
It had bene better of William à Trent
To have hangèd upon a gallòw,
Than to be that day in the grene-wood
To meet Little John’s arrowe.
XXI
But as it is said, when men be mett
Fyve can doe more than three,
The Sheriffe hath taken Little John,
And bound him fast to a tree.
XXII
‘Thou shalt be drawen by dale and downe,
And hangèd hye on a hill.’--
‘But thou mayst fayle,’ quoth Little John,
‘If itt be Christ his will.’
XXIII
Let us leave talking of Little John,
And thinke of Robin Hood,
How he is gone to the wight yemàn,
Where under the leaves he stood.
XXIV
‘Good morrowe, good fellowe,’ sayd Robin so fayre,
‘Good morrowe, good fellow,’ quoth he:
‘Methinkes by this bowe thou beares in thy hande
A good archere thou sholdst bee.’
XXV
‘I am wilfull[941] of my waye,’ quo’ the yeman,
‘And of my morning tyde[942].’
‘I’le lead thee through the wood,’ sayd Robin;
‘Good fellow, I’le be thy guide.’
XXVI
‘I seeke an outlàwe,’ the straunger sayd,
‘Men call him Robin Hood;
Rather I’ld meet with that proud outlàwe,
Than fortye pound of go’d.’--
XXVII
‘If you two met, it wold be seene
Whether were better man:
But let us under the levès grene
Some other pastime plan.
XXVIII
‘Let us some other masteryes[943] make
Among the woods so even,
Wee may chance meet with Robin Hood
Here att some unsett steven[944].’
XXIX
They cutt them downe two summer shroggs[945],
That grew both under a breere,
And sett them threescore rood in twinne[946]
To shoot the prickes[947] y-fere.
XXX
‘Leade on, good fellowe,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘Leade on, I doe bidd thee.’--
‘Nay by my faith, good fellowe,’ hee sayd,
‘My leader thou shalt bee.’
XXXI
The first good shoot that Robin led,
He mist but an inch it fro’:
The yeoman he was an archer good,
But he cold ne’er shoote soe.
XXXII
The second shoote had the wight yemàn,
He shote within the garlànde:
But Robin he shott far better than hee,
For he clave the good pricke wande.
XXXIII
‘God’s blessing upon thy heart!’ he sayd;
‘Good fellowe, thy shooting is goode;
For an thy hart be as good as thy hand,
Thou wert better than Robin Hood.’
XXXIV
‘Now tell me thy name, good fellowe,’ sayd he,
‘Under the leaves of lyne[948].’--
‘Nay by my faith,’ quoth good Robìn,
‘Till thou have told me thine.’
XXXV
‘I dwell by dale and downe,’ quoth hee,
‘And Robin to take I’me sworne;
And when I am callèd by my right name
I am Guy of good Gisborne.’--
XXXVI
‘My dwelling is in this wood,’ sayes Robin,
‘By thee I set right nought:
I am Robin Hood of Barnèsdale,
Whom thou so long hast sought.’
XXXVII
He that had neither beene kithe nor kin,
Might have seene a full fayre sight,
To see how together these yemen went
With blades both browne and bright:
XXXVIII
To see how these yemen together they fought
Two howres of a summer’s day:
Yett neither Sir Guy nor Robin Hood
Them fettled to flye away.
XXXIX
Robin was reachles on[949] a roote,
And stumbled at that tyde;
And Guy was quick and nimble with-all,
And hitt him o’er the left side.
XL
‘Ah deere Lady!’ sayd Robin Hood,
‘That art both mother and may[950],
I think it was never man’s destinye
To dye before his day.’
XLI
Robin thought on Our Ladye deere,
And soone leapt up againe,
And strait he came with an aukward[951] stroke,
And he Sir Guy hath slayne.
XLII
He took Sir Guy’s head by the hayre,
And stickèd itt on his bowes end:
‘Thou hast been traytor all thy liffe,
Which thing must have an ende.’
XLIII
Robin pulled forth an Irish kniffe,
And nicked Sir Guy in the face,
That he was never on woman born,
Cold tell whose head it was.
XLIV
Saies, ‘Lye there, lye there, good Sir Guy,
And with me be not wrothe;
If thou have had the worse strokes at my hand,
Thou shalt have the better clothe.’
XLV
Robin did off his gowne of greene,
And on Sir Guy did it throwe,
And hee put on that capull-hyde[952],
That clad him topp to toe.
XLVI
‘The bowe, the arrowes, and litle horne,
Now with me I will beare;
For I will away to Barnèsdale,
To see how my men doe fare.’
XLVII
Robin sett Guy’s horne to his mouth,
A loud blast in it he did blow,
That beheard the Sheriffe of Nottingham,
As he leaned under a lowe[953].
XLVIII
‘Hearken! hearken!’ sayd the Sheriffe,
‘I heare now tydings good,
For yonder I heare Sir Guy’s horne blowe,
And he hath slaine Robin Hood.
XLIX
‘Yonder I heare Sir Guy’s horne blowe,
Itt blowes soe well in tyde,
And yonder comes that wight yemàn,
Cladd in his capull-hyde.
L
‘Come hyther, come hyther, thou good Sir Guy,
Aske what thou wilt of mee.’--
‘O I will none of thy gold,’ sayd Robin,
‘Nor I will none of thy fee:
LI
‘But now I have slaine the master,’ he sayes,
‘Let me go strike the knave;
This is all the rewarde I aske;
Nor noe other will I have.’
LII
‘Thou art a madman,’ said the Sheriffe,
‘Thou sholdest have had a knight’s fee:
But seeing thy asking hath beene so bad,
Well granted it shall be.’
LIII
When Little John heard his master speake,
Well knewe he it was his steven[954]:
‘Now shall I be looset,’ quoth Little John,
‘With Christ his might in heaven.’
LIV
Robin hee hyed him to Little John,
He thought to loose him belive[955];
The Sheriffe and all his companye
Fast after him did drive.
LV
‘Stand abacke! stand abacke!’ sayd Robin Hood;
‘Why draw you mee soe neere?
Itt was never the use in our countrye,
One’s shrift another shold heere.’
LVI
But Robin pull’d forth an Irysh kniffe,
And losed John hand and foote,
And gave him Sir Guy’s bow into his hand,
And bade it be his boote.
LVII
Then John he took Guy’s bow in his hand,
His boltes and arrowes eche one:
When the Sheriffe saw Little John bend his bow,
He fettled him to be gone.
LVIII
Towards his house in Nottingham towne
He fled full fast away;
And soe did all his companye:
Not one behind wold stay.
LIX
But he cold neither goe soe fast,
Nor away soe fast cold runne,
But Little John with an arrowe soe broad,
Did cleave his herte in twinne.
FOOTNOTES:
[926] shaws = woods.
[927] sheene = bright.
[928] shradds = coppices(?).
[929] woodweele = woodlark, thrush(?).
[930] sweaven = dream.
[931] wight = sturdy.
[932] wroken = revenged.
[933] Buske = dress.
[934] bowne = get ready.
[935] capull-hyde = horse-hide.
[936] farley = wondrous strange.
[937] gates = ways, paths.
[938] slade = hollow.
[939] fettl’d = prepared.
[940] boote = help.
[941] wilfull = astray.
[942] tyde = time of day.
[943] masteryes = trials of skill.
[944] unsett steven = time not appointed.
[945] shroggs = shrubs.
[946] threescore rood in twinne = sixty rods apart.
[947] prickes = marks.
[948] lyne = linden.
[949] reachles on = reckless, careless of.
[950] may = maid.
[951] aukward = back-handed.
[952] capull-hyde = horse-hide.
[953] lowe = hillock.
[954] steven = voice.
[955] belive = straightway.
_117. Robin Hood and the Monk_
I
In somer, when the shawes[956] be sheyne[957],
And leves be large and long,
Hit is full mery in feyre foreste
To here the foulys song:
II
To se the dere draw to the dale,
And leve the hillès hee,
And shadow hem in the levë’s grene,
Under the grene-wode tre.
III
Hit befel on Whitsontide,
Erly in a May mornyng,
The Son up feyre can shyne,
And the briddis mery can syng.
IV
‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,
‘Be Hym that dyed on tre;
A more mery man then I am one
Lyves not in Cristiantë.
V
‘Pluk up thi hert, my dere mayster,’
Litull John can sey,
‘And thynk hit is a full fayre tyme
In a mornyng of May.’
VI
‘Ye, on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn,
‘And does my hert mych woo;
That I may not no solem day
To mas nor matyns goo.
VII
‘Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he,
‘Syn I my Savyour see;
To day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn,
‘With the myght of mylde Marye.’
VIII
Than spake Moche, the mylner son,--
Ever more wel hym betyde!
‘Take twelve of thi wyght yemèn[958],
Well weppynd, be thi side.
Such on wolde thi selfe slon[959],
That twelve dar not abyde.’
IX
‘Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn,
‘Be my feith I wil non have,
But Litull John shall beyre my bow,
Til that me list to drawe.’
X
‘Thou shall beyre thin own,’ seid Litull John,
‘Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,
And we well shete a peny[960],’ seid Litull John,
‘Under the grene-wode lyne[961].’
XI
‘I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode,
‘In feith, Litull John, with the,
But ever for on as thou shetis,’ seide Robyn,
‘In feith I holde[962] the thre.’
XII
Thus shet thei forth, these yemen two,
Bothe at buske[963] and brome,
Til Litull John wan of his maister
Five shillings to hose and shone.
XIII
A ferly[964] strife fel them betwene,
As they went bi the wey;
Litull John seid he had won five shillings,
And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.
XIV
With that Robyn Hode lyed[965] Litull John,
And smote hym with his hande;
Litull John waxèd wroth therwith,
And pull’d out his bright bronde.
XV
‘Were thou not my maister,’ seid Litull John,
‘Thou shuldis be hit ful sore;
Get the a man wher thou wilt,
For thou getis me no more.’
XVI
Then Robyn goes to Notyngham,
Hym selfe mornyng allone,
And Litull John to mery Scherwode,
The pathes he knew ilkone[966].
XVII
Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,
Sertenly withouten layn[967],
He prayed to God and myld Mary
To bryng hym out save agayn.
XVIII
He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,
And kneled down before the rode;
Alle that e’er were the church within
Beheld wel Robyn Hode.
XIX
Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,
I pray to God woo he be!
Fful sone he knew gode Robyn,
As sone as he hym se.
XX
Out at the durre he ran,
Fful sone and anon;
Alle the yatis[968] of Notyngham
He made to be sparred[969] euerychon.
XXI
‘Rise up,’ he seid, ‘thou prowde Schereff,
Buske[970] the and make the bowne[971];
I have spyèd the Kynggis felon,
Fforsothe he is in this town.
XXII
‘I have spyèd the false felon,
As he stondis at his masse;
Hit is long of[972] the,’ seide the munke
‘And ever he fro us passe.
XXIII
‘This traytur name is Robyn Hode,
Under the grene-wode lynde;
He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,
Hit shalle never out of my mynde.’
XXIV
Up then rose this prowde Shereff,
And radly[973] made hym yare[974];
Many was the moder son
To the kyrk with hym can fare.
XXV
In at the durres thei throly thrast[975],
With stavès ful gode wone[976];
‘Alas, alas!’ seid Robyn Hode,
‘Now mysse I Litull John.’
XXVI
But Robyn toke out a two-hond sworde,
That hangit down be his kne;
Ther as the Schereff and his men stode thyckust,
Thethurwarde wolde he.
XXVII
Thryes thorowout them he ran then,
Forsothe as I yow sey,
And woundyt mony a moder son,
And twelve he slew that day.
XXVIII
His sworde upon the Schereff hed
Sertanly he brake in two;
‘The smyth that the made,’ seid Robyn,
‘I pray to God wyrke hym woo!
XXIX
‘Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn,
‘Alasse! agayn my wylle;
But if[977] I may fle these traytors fro,
I wot thei wil me kyll.’
XXX
Robyn into the churchë ran,
Throout hem everilkon ...
[Then word is gone to his yemen
In grene-wode wher they wone[978].]
XXXI
Sum fel in swonyng as thei were dede,
And lay stil as any stone;
Non of theym were in her mynde
But only Litull John.
XXXII
‘Let be your rule[979],’ seid Litull John,
‘Ffor his luf that dyed on tre;
Ye that shulde be dughty[980] men,
Het is gret shame to se.
XXXIII
‘Oure maister has bene hard bystode
And yet scapyd away;
Pluk up your hertis, and leve this mone[981],
And harkyn what I shal say.
XXXIV
‘He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day,
And yet wil, securly;
Therfor I trust in hir specialy
No wyckud deth shal he dye.
XXXV
‘Therfor be glad,’ seid Litull John,
‘And let this mournyng be;
And I shal be the munkis gyde[982],
With the myght of mylde Mary.’
XXXVI
[Than spake Moche, the mylner son,]
‘We will go but we two.’--
‘An I mete hym,’ seid Litull John,
[‘I trust to wyrke hym woo.]
XXXVII
‘Loke that ye kepe wel owre tristil-tre[983],
Under the levys smale[984],
And spare non of this venyson,
That gose in thys vale.’
XXXVIII
Fforthe then went these yemen two,
Litull John and Moche on fere[985],
And lokid on Moch’ emys hows[986],--
The hye-way lay full nere.
XXXIX
Litull John stode at a wyndow in the mornyng,
And lokid forth at a stage[987];
He was war wher the munke came ridyng,
And with hym a litul page.
XL
‘Be my feith,’ seid Litull John to Moch,
‘I can the tel tithyngus[988] gode;
I se wher the monke cumys rydyng,
I know hym be his wyde hode.’
XLI
They went in to the way, these yemen bothe,
As curtes men and hende[989];
Thei spyrred[990] tithyngus at the munke,
As they hade bene his frende.
XLII
‘Ffro whens come ye?’ seid Litull John,
‘Tel us tithyngus, I yow pray,
Off a false owtlay, callid Robyn Hode,
Was takyn yisterday.
XLIII
‘He robbyt me and my felowes bothe
Of twenti marke in serten;
If that false owtlay be takyn,
Ffor sothe we wolde be fayn.’
XLIV
‘So did he me,’ seid the munke,
‘Of a hundred pound and more;
I layde furst hande hym apon,
Ye may thonke me therfore.’
XLV
‘I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John,
‘And we wil when we may;
We wil go with you, with your leve,
And bryng yow on your way.
XLVI
‘Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,
I tell you in certen;
If thei wist ye rode this way,
In feith ye shulde be slayn.’
XLVII
As thei went talking be the way,
The munke and Litull John,
John toke the munkis horse be the hede,
Fful sone and anon.
XLVIII
John toke the munkis horse be the hed,
Fforsothe as I yow say;
So did Much the litull page,
Ffor he shulde not scape away.
XLIX
Be the golett[991] of the hode
John pulled the munkè down;
John was nothyng of hym agast[992],
He lete hym falle on his crown.
L
Litull John was sore agrevyd,
And drew owt his swerde in hye[993];
This munkè saw he shulde be ded,
Lowd mercy can he crye.
LI
‘He was my maister,’ seid Litull John,
‘That thou hase browght in bale[994];
Shalle thou never cum at our Kyng,
Ffor to telle hym tale.’
LII
John smote of the munkis hed,
No longer wolde he dwell;
So did Moch the litull page,
Ffor ferd[995] lest he wolde tell.
LIII
Ther thei beryèd hem bothe,
In nouther mosse nor lyng,
And Litull John and Much in fere
Bare the letturs to oure Kyng.
LIV
[Whan John came unto oure Kyng]
He knelid down on his kne:
God yow save, my legè lorde,
Jhesus yow save and se!
LV
‘God yow save, my legè Kyng!’
To speke John was full bolde;
He gaf hym the letturs in his hond,
The Kyng did hit unfold.
LVI
The Kyng red the letturs anon,
And seid, ‘So mot I the[996],
Ther was never yoman in mery Inglond
I longut so sore to se.
LVII
‘Wher is the munke that these shuld have brought?’
Ourè Kyng can say:
‘Be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,
‘He dyed after[997] the way.’
LVIII
The Kyng gaf Moch and Litull John
Twenti pound in sertan,
And made theim yemen of the crown,
And bade theim go agayn.
LIX
He gaf John the seel in hand,
The Sheref for to bere,
To bryng Robyn hym to,
And no man do hym dere[998].
LX
John toke his leve at oure Kyng,
The sothe as I yow say;
The next[999] way to Notyngham
To take, he yede[1000] the way.
LXI
Whan John came to Notyngham
The yatis were sparred ychon[1001];
John callid up the porter,
He answerid sone anon.
LXII
‘What is the cause,’ seid Litull John,
‘Thou sparris the yates so fast?’--
‘Because of Robyn Hode,’ seid the porter,
‘In depe prison is cast.
LXIII
‘John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok,
Ffor sothe as I yow say,
Thei slew oure men upon our wallis,
And sawten[1002] us every day.’
LXIV
Litull John spyrred after the Schereff,
And sone he hym fonde;
He oppyned the Kyngus prive seell,
And gaf hym in his honde.
LXV
Whan the Scheref saw the Kyngus seell,
He did of his hode[1003] anon:
‘Wher is the munke that bare the letturs?’
He seid to Litull John.
LXVI
‘He is so fayn of hym,’ seid Litull John,
‘Fforsothe as I yow say,
He has made hym abot of Westmynster,
A lorde of that abbay.’
LXVII
The Scheref made John godè chere,
And gaf hym wyne of the best;
At nyght thei went to her[1004] beddè,
And every man to his rest.
LXVIII
When the Scheref was on slepe,
Dronken of wyne and ale,
Litull John and Moch forsothe
Toke the way unto the jale.
LXIX
Litull John callid up the jayler,
And bade hym rise anon;
He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,
And out of hit was gon.
LXX
The porter rose anon sertan,
As sone as he herd John calle;
Litull John was redy with a swerd,
And bare hym to the walle.
LXXI
‘Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litull John,
‘And take the keyes in honde:’
He toke the way to Robyn Hode,
And sone he hym unbonde.
LXXII
He gaf hym a gode swerd in his hond,
His hed therwith for to kepe,
And ther as the walle was lowyst
Anon down can thei lepe.
LXXIII
Be that the cok began to crow,
The day began to spryng,
The Scheref fond the jaylier ded;
The comyn bell[1005] made he ryng.
LXXIV
He made a crye thoroout al the town,
Wheder he be yoman or knave,
That cowthè bryng hym Robyn Hode,
His warison[1006] he shuld have.
LXXV
‘Ffor I dar never,’ said the Scheref,
‘Cum before oure Kyng;
Ffor if I do, I wot serten
Ffor sothe he wil me heng.’
LXXVI
The Scheref made to seke Notyngham,
Bothe be strete and stye[1007],
And Robyn was in mery Scherwode,
As light as lef on lynde.
LXXVII
Then bespake gode Litull John,
To Robyn Hode can he say,
‘I have done the a gode turne for an evyll,
Quyte the whan thou may.
LXXVIII
‘I have done the a gode turne,’ seid Litull John,
‘Fforsothe as I yow say;
I have brought the under grene-wode lyne;
Ffare wel, and have gode day.’
LXXIX
‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode,
‘So shall hit never be;
I make the maister,’ seid Robyn Hode,
‘Off alle my men and me.’
LXXX
‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,
‘So shalle hit never be;
But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John,
‘No noder kepe I be[1008].’
LXXXI
Thus John gate Robyn Hode out of prison,
Sertan withoutyn layn;
Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde,
Fforsothe they were full fayne.
LXXXII
They fillèd in wyne, and made hem glad,
Under the levys smale,
And yete[1009] pastès of venyson,
That gode was with ale.
LXXXIII
Than wordè came to oure Kyng
How Robyn Hode was gon,
And how the Scheref of Notyngham
Durst never loke hym upon.
LXXXIV
Then bespake oure cumly Kyng,
In an angur hye:
‘Litull John hase begyled the Schereff,
In faith so hase he me.
LXXXV
‘Litull John has begyled us bothe
And that full wel I se;
Or ellis the Schereff of Notyngham
Hye hongut shulde he be.
LXXXVI
‘I made hem yemen of the crowne,
And gaf hem fee with my hond;
I gaf hem grith[1010],’ seid oure Kyng,
‘Thorowout all mery Inglond.
LXXXVII
‘I gaf theym grith,’ then seid oure Kyng;
‘I say, so mot I the,
Fforsothe soch a yeman as he is on
In all Inglond ar not thre.
LXXXVIII
‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our Kyng;
‘I sey, be swete Seynt John,
He lovys better Robyn Hode
Then he dose us ychon.
LXXXIX
‘Robyn Hode is ever bond to hym,
Bothe in strete and stalle;
Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure Kyng,
‘But John has begyled us alle.’
XC
Thus endys the talkyng of the munke
And Robyn Hode i-wysse;
God, that is ever a crowned kyng,
Bryng us all to his blisse!
FOOTNOTES:
[956] shawes = woods.
[957] sheyne = bright, beautiful.
[958] wyght yemèn = sturdy yeomen.
[959] slon = slay.
[960] shete a peny = shoot for a penny.
[961] lyne = linden.
[962] holde = wager.
[963] buske = bush.
[964] ferly = wondrous, strange.
[965] lyed = gave the lie to.
[966] ilkone = each one.
[967] layn = concealment.
[968] yatis = gates.
[969] sparred = barred.
[970] Buske = get ready.
[971] bowne = bound, ready.
[972] long of = along of, i. e. thy fault.
[973] radly = quickly.
[974] yare = ready.
[975] throly thrast = pressed stubbornly.
[976] gode wone = good number, plenty.
[977] But if = unless.
[978] wone = dwelt.
[979] rule = ‘taking on,’ lamenting.
[980] dughty = doughty.
[981] mone = moan.
[982] gyde = be the guide, take charge of.
[983] tristil-tre = trysting-tree, rendezvous.
[984] smale = small.
[985] on fere = in company.
[986] emys hows = uncle’s house.
[987] at a stage = on an upper floor.
[988] tithyngus = tidings.
[989] hende = civil.
[990] spyrred = spiered, inquired.
[991] golett = gullet, throat.
[992] of him agast = alarmed about him.
[993] hye = haste.
[994] bale = harm.
[995] ferd = fear.
[996] mot I the = I thrive.
[997] after = behind on.
[998] dere = injury.
[999] next = nighest.
[1000] yede = went.
[1001] ychon = each one.
[1002] sawten = assault.
[1003] did of his hode = took off his hat.
[1004] her = their.
[1005] comyn bell = town bell.
[1006] warison = reward.
[1007] stye = path, alley.
[1008] kepe I be = care I to be.
[1009] yete = ate.
[1010] grith = charter of peace.
_118. Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar_
_But how many months be in the year?
There are thirteen, I say;
The midsummer moon is the merryest of all
Next to the merry month of May._
I
In summer time, when leaves grow green,
And flowers are fresh and gay,
Robin Hood and his merry men
Were [all] disposed to play.
II
Then some would leap, and some would run,
And some use artillery:
‘Which of you can a good bow draw,
A good archer to be?
III
‘Which of you can kill a buck?
Or who can kill a doe?
Or who can kill a hart of grease,
Five hundred foot him fro?’
IV
Will Scadlock he kill’d a buck,
And Midge he kill’d a doe,
And Little John kill’d a hart of grease,
Five hundred foot him fro.
V
‘God’s blessing on thy heart,’ said Robin Hood,
‘That hath [shot] such a shot for me;
I would ride my horse an hundred miles,
To finde one could match with thee’
VI
That caus’d Will Scadlock to laugh,
He laugh’d full heartily:
‘There lives a curtal friar in Fountains Abbey
Will beat both him and thee.
VII
‘That curtal friar in Fountains Abbey
Well can a strong bow draw;
He will beat you and your yeomen,
Set them all on a row.’
VIII
Robin Hood took a solemn oath,
It was by Mary free,
That he would neither eat nor drink
Till the friar he did see.
IX
Robin Hood put on his harness good,
And on his head a cap of steel,
Broad sword and buckler by his side,
And they became him weel.
X
He took his bow into his hand,
It was made of a trusty tree,
With a sheaf of arrows at his belt,
To the Fountains Dale went he.
XI
And coming unto Fountain[s] Dale,
No further would he ride;
There was he aware of a curtal friar,
Walking by the water-side.
XII
The friar had on a harness good,
And on his head a cap of steel,
Broad sword and buckler by his side,
And they became him weel.
XIII
Robin Hood lighted off his horse,
And tied him to a thorn:
‘Carry me over the water, thou curtal friar,
Or else thy life’s forlorn.’
XIV
The friar took Robin Hood on his back,
Deep water he did bestride,
And spake neither good word nor bad,
Till he came at the other side.
XV
Lightly leapt Robin Hood off the friar’s back;
The friar said to him again,
‘Carry me over this water, fine fellow,
Or it shall breed thy pain.’
XVI
Robin Hood took the friar on ’s back,
Deep water he did bestride,
And spake neither good word nor bad,
Till he came at the other side.
XVII
Lightly leapt the friar off Robin Hood’s back;
Robin Hood said to him again,
‘Carry me over this water, thou curtal friar,
Or it shall breed thy pain.’
XVIII
The friar took Robin Hood on’s back again,
And stept up to the knee;
Till he came at the middle stream,
Neither good nor bad spake he.
XIX
And coming to the middle stream,
There he threw Robin in:
‘And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellow,
Whether thou wilt sink or swim!’
XX
Robin Hood swam to a bush of broom,
The friar to a wicker wand;
Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore,
And took his bow in hand.
XXI
One of his best arrows under his belt
To the friar he let flye;
The curtal friar, with his steel buckler,
He put that arrow by.
XXII
‘Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellòw,
Shoot on as thou hast begun;
If thou shoot here a summer’s day,
Thy mark I will not shun.’
XXIII
Robin Hood shot passing well,
Till his arrows all were gone;
They took their swords and steel bucklers,
And fought with might and maine;
XXIV
From ten o’ th’ clock that day,
Till four i’ th’ afternoon;
Then Robin Hood came to his knees,
Of the friar to beg a boon.
XXV
‘A boon, a boon, thou curtal friar!
I beg it on my knee;
Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth,
And to blow blasts three.’
XXVI
‘That will I do,’ said the curtal friar!
‘Of thy blasts I have no doubt;
I hope thou’lt blow so passing well
Till both thy eyes fall out.’
XXVII
Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth
He blew but blasts three;
Half a hundred yeomen, with bows bent,
Came raking[1011] over the lee.
XXVIII
‘Whose men are these,’ said the friar,
‘That come so hastily?’
‘These men are mine,’ said Robin Hood
‘Friar, what is that to thee?’
XXIX
‘A boon, a boon,’ said the curtal friar,
‘The like I gave to thee!
Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth,
And to whute[1012] whutès three.’
XXX
‘That will I do,’ said Robin Hood,
‘Or else I were to blame;
Three whutès in a friar’s fist
Would make me glad and fain.’
XXXI
The friar he set his fist to his mouth,
And whuted whutès three;
Half a hundred good ban-dogs
Came running the friar unto.
XXXII
‘Here’s for every man of thine a dog,
And I my self for thee!’--
‘Nay, by my faith,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘Friar, that may not be.’
XXXIII
Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did go,
T’ one behind, the other before;
Robin Hood’s mantle of Lincoln green
Off from his back they tore.
XXXIV
And whether his men shot east or west,
Or they shot north or south,
The curtal dogs, so taught they were,
They kept their arrows in their mouth.
XXXV
‘Take up thy dogs,’ said Little John,
‘Friar, at my bidding be.’--
‘Whose man art thou,’ said the curtal friar,
‘Comes here to prate with me?’--
XXXVI
‘I am Little John, Robin Hood’s man,
Friar, I will not lie;
If thou take not up thy dogs soon,
I’le take up them and thee.’
XXXVII
Little John had a bow in his hand,
He shot with might and main;
Soon half a score of the friar’s dogs
Lay dead upon the plain.
XXXVIII
‘Hold thy hand, good fellow,’ said the curtal friar,
‘Thy master and I will agree;
And we will have new orders taken,
With all the haste that may be.’
XXXIX
‘If thou wilt forsake fair Fountains Dale,
And Fountains Abbey free,
Every Sunday throughout the year,
A noble shall be thy fee.
XL
‘And every holy day throughout the year,
Changed shall thy garment be,
If thou wilt go to fair Nottingham,
And there remain with me.’
XLI
This curtal friar had kept Fountains Dale
Seven long years or more;
There was neither knight, lord, nor earl
Could make him yield before.
FOOTNOTES:
[1011] raking = advancing.
[1012] whute = whistle.
_119. Robin Hood and the Butcher_
I
Come, all you brave gallants, and listen a while,
That are in the bowers within;
For of Robin Hood, that archer good,
A song I intend for to sing.
II
Upon a time it chancèd so
Bold Robin in forrest did spy
A jolly butchèr, with a bonny fine mare,
With his flesh to the market did hye.
III
‘Good morrow, good fellow!’ said jolly Robìn,
‘What food hast? tell unto me;
And thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,
For I like well thy company.’
IV
The butcher he answered jolly Robin:
‘No matter where I dwell;
For a butcher I am, and to Notingham
I am going, my flesh to sell.’
V
‘What price thy flesh?’ said jolly Robìn,
‘Come, tell it soon unto me;
And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,
For a butcher fain would I be.’
VI
‘The price of my flesh,’ the butcher repli’d,
‘I soon will tell unto thee;
With my bonny mare, and they are not dear,
Four mark thou must give unto me.’
VII
‘Four mark I will give thee,’ saith jolly Robìn,
‘Four mark it shall be thy fee;
Thy mony come count, and let me mount,
For a butcher I fain would be.’
VIII
Now Robin he is to Notingham gone,
His butcher’s trade for to begin;
With good intent, to the Sheriff he went,
And there he took up his inn.
IX
When other butchers they opened their meat,
Bold Robin he then begun;
But how for to sell he knew not well,
For a butcher he was but young.
X
When other butchers no meat could sell,
Robin got both gold and fee;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for three.
XI
But when he sold his meat so fast,
No butcher by him could thrive;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for five.
XII
Which made the butchers of Notingham
To study as they did stand,
Saying, surely he was some prodigal,
That had sold his father’s land.
XIII
The butchers they stepped to jolly Robin,
Acquainted with him for to be;
‘Come, brother,’ one said, ‘we be all of one trade,
Come, will you go dine with me?’
XIV
‘Accurst of his heart,’ said jolly Robìn,
‘That a butcher doth deny!
I will go with you, my brethren true,
And as fast as I can hie.’
XV
But when to the Sheriff’s house they came,
To dinner they hied apace,
And Robin Hood he the man must be
Before them all to say grace.
XVI
‘Pray God bless us all,’ said jolly Robìn,
‘And our meat within this place;
A cup of sack good, to nourish our blood,
And so I do end my grace.
XVII
‘Come fill us more wine,’ said jolly Robìn,
‘Let us merry be while we do stay;
For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,
I vow I the reck’ning will pay.
XVIII
‘Come, brothers, be merry,’ said jolly Robìn,
‘Let us drink, and never give o’er;
For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,
If it cost me five pounds and more.’
XIX
‘This is a mad blade,’ the butchers then said;
Says the Sheriff, ‘He’s some prodigal,
That his land has sold, for silver and gold,
And meaneth to spend it all.’
XX
‘Hast thou any horn-beasts,’ the Sheriff inquired,
‘Good fellow, to sell unto me?’--
‘Yea, a plenty I have, good Master Sheriff,
I have hundreds two or three.
XXI
‘And a hundred acre of good free land,
An it please you go for to see;
And I’le make you as good assurance of it
As ever my father made me.’
XXII
The Sheriff he saddled a good palfrèy,
With three hundred pound in gold,
And away he went with bold Robin Hood,
His hornèd beasts to behold.
XXIII
Away then the Sheriff and Robin did ride,
To the forest of merry Sherwood;
Then the Sheriff did say, ‘God bless us this day
From a man they call Robin Hood!’
XXIV
But when that a little further they came,
Bold Robin he chancèd to spy
A hundred head of the good red deer,
Come tripping the Sheriff full nigh.
XXV
‘How like you my horn’d beasts, Master Sheriff?
They be fat and fair for to see;’
‘I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone,
For I like not thy company.’
XXVI
Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,
And blew but blastès three;
Then quickly anon there came Little John,
And all his company.
XXVII
‘What is your will?’ then said Little John,
‘Good master come tell it to me;’
‘I have brought hither the Sheriff of Notingham,
This day to dine with thee.’
XXVIII
‘He is welcome to me,’ then said Little John,
‘I hope he will honestly pay;
I know he has gold, if it be but well told,
Will serve us to drink a whole day.’
XXIX
Robin Hood took his mantle from his back,
And laid it upon the ground,
And out of the Sheriff’s portmantle
He told three hundred pound.
XXX
Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood,
Set him on his dapple gray:
‘O have me commended, good sir, to your wife!’--
So Robin went laughing away.
_120. Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford_
I
Come, gentlemen all, and listen a while;
A story I’ll to you unfold--
How Robin Hood servèd the Bishop,
When he robb’d him of his gold.
II
As it befel in merry Barnsdale,
And under the green-wood tree,
The Bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his companye.
III
‘Come, kill a ven’son,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘Come, kill me a good fat deer;
The Bishop’s to dine with me to day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.
IV
‘We’ll kill a fat ven’son,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘And dress’t by the highway-side,
And narrowly watch for the Bishop,
Lest some other way he should ride.’
V
He dress’d himself up in shepherd’s attire,
With six of his men also;
And the Bishop of Hereford came thereby,
As about the fire they did go.
VI
‘What matter is this?’ said the Bishop;
‘Or for whom do you make this a-do?
Or why do you kill the King’s ven’son,
When your company is so few?’
VII
‘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.’
VIII
‘You are brave fellowes,’ said the Bishop,
‘And the King of your doings shall know;
Therefore make haste, come along with me,
For before the King you shall go.’
IX
‘O pardon, O pardon,’ says bold Robin Hood,
‘O pardon, I thee pray!
For it never becomes your lordship’s coat
To take so many lives away.’
X
‘No pardon, no pardon!’ the Bishop says;
‘No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, come along with me,
For before the King you shall go.’
XI
Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherd’s coat
He pull’d out a bugle horn.
XII
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;
XIII
All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood;
--’Twas a comely sight for to see:
‘What matter, my master,’ said Little John,
‘That you blow so hastilye?’--
XIV
‘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.’--
XV
‘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.’--
XVI
‘No pardon, no pardon!’ said Robin Hood;
‘No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go.’
XVII
Then Robin has taken the Bishop’s 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.
XVIII
‘Call in the reckoning,’ said the Bishòp,
‘For methinks it grows wondrous high.’--
‘Lend me your purse, Bishop,’ said Little John,
‘And I’ll tell you by-and-by.’
XIX
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.
XX
‘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 go from me.’
XXI
Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree,
And made him to sing a mass, God wot,
To him and his yeomandrye.
XXII
Then Robin Hood brought him through the wood
And causèd the music to play,
And he made the Bishop to dance in his boots,
And they set him on ’s dapple-grey,
And they gave the tail within his hand--
And glad he could so get away!
_121. Robin Hood and Alan a Dale_
I
Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that love mirth for to hear,
And I will you tell of a bold outlàw,
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
II
As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.
III
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.
IV
As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.
V
The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was clean cast away;
And every step he fetcht a sigh,
‘Alack and a well a day!’
VI
Then steppèd forth brave Little John,
And Much the miller’s son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he saw them come.
VII
‘Stand off, stand off!’ the young man said,
‘What is your will with me?’--
‘You must come before our master straight,
Under yon green-wood tree.’
VIII
And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin askt him courteously,
‘O hast thou any money to spare,
For my merry men and me?’
IX
‘I have no money,’ the young man said,
‘But five shillings and a ring;
And that I have kept this seven long years,
To have it at my weddìng.
X
‘Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she is now from me tane,
And chosen to be an old knight’s delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.’
XI
‘What is thy name?’ then said Robin Hood,
‘Come tell me, without any fail.’--
‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man,
‘My name it is Alan a Dale.’
XII
‘What wilt thou give me,’ said Robin Hood,
‘In ready gold or fee,
To help thee to thy true-love again,
And deliver her unto thee?’
XIII
‘I have no money,’ then quoth the young man,
‘No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be.’--
XIV
‘But how many miles to thy true-love?
Come tell me without any guile.’--
‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man,
‘It is but five little mile.’
XV
Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor lin[1013],
Until he came unto the church
Where Alan should keep his weddìng.
XVI
‘What dost thou do here?’ the Bishop he said,
‘I prithee now tell to me:’
‘I am a bold harper,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘And the best in the north countrey.’
XVII
‘O welcome, O welcome!’ the Bishop he said,
‘That musick best pleaseth me.’--
‘You shall have no musick,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.’
XVIII
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old,
And after him a finikin lass,
Did shine like glistering gold.
XIX
‘This is no fit match,’ quoth bold Robin Hood,
‘That you do seem to make here;
For since we are come unto the church,
The bride she shall chuse her own dear.’
XX
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;
When four and twenty bowmen bold
Come leaping over the lee.
XXI
And when they came into the churchyard,
Marching all on a row,
The first man was Alan a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.
XXII
‘This is thy true-love,’ Robin he said,
‘Young Alan, as I hear say;
And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.’
XXIII
‘That shall not be,’ the Bishop he said,
‘For thy word it shall not stand;
They shall be three times askt in the church,
As the law is of our land.’
XXIV
Robin Hood pull’d off the Bishop’s coat,
And put it upon Little John;
‘By the faith of my body,’ then Robin said,
‘This cloath doth make thee a man.’
XXV
When Little John went into the quire,
The people began for to laugh;
He askt them seven times in the church,
Least three should not be enough.
XXVI
‘Who gives me this maid?’ then said Little John;
Quoth Robin, ‘That do I!
And he that doth take her from Alan a Dale
Full dearly he shall her buy.’
XXVII
And thus having ended this merry weddìng
The bride lookt as fresh as a queen,
And so they return’d to the merry green-wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.
FOOTNOTES:
[1013] lin = stop.
_122. Robin Hood and the Widow’s Three Sons_
I
There are twelve months in all the year,
As I hear many men say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.
II
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
_With a link a down and a day_,
And there he met a silly old woman,
Was weeping on the way.
III
‘What news? what news, thou silly old woman?
What news hast them for me?’
Said she, ‘There’s three squires in Nottingham town
To-day is condemn’d to die.’
IV
‘O have they parishes burnt?’ he said,
‘Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they robb’d any virgin,
Or other men’s wives have ta’en?’--
V
‘They have no parishes burnt, good sir,
Nor yet have ministers slain,
Nor have they robbed any virgin,
Nor other men’s wives have ta’en.’
VI
‘O what have they done?’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘I pray thee tell to me.’--
‘It’s for slaying of the King’s fallow deer,
Bearing their long bows with thee.’--
VII
‘Dost thou not mind, old woman,’ he said,
‘Since thou made me sup and dine?
By the truth of my body,’ quoth bold Robin Hood,
‘You could tell it in no better time.’
VIII
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
_With a link a down and a day_,
And there he met with a silly old palmer,
Was walking along the highway.
IX
‘What news? what news, thou silly old man?
What news, I do thee pray?’--
Said he, ‘Three squires in Nottingham town
Are condemned to die this day.’--
X
‘Come change thy apparel with me, old man,
Come change thy apparel for mine;
Here is forty shillings in good silver,
Go drink it in beer or wine.’--
XI
‘O thine apparel is good,’ he said,
‘And mine is ragged and torn;
Wherever you go, wherever you ride,
Laugh ne’er an old man to scorn.’--
XII
‘Come change thy apparel with me, old churl,
Come change thy apparel with mine;
Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold,
Go feast thy brethren with wine.’
XIII
Then he put on the old man’s hat,
It stood full high on the crown:
‘The first bold bargain that I come at,
It shall make thee come down.’
XIV
Then he put on the old man’s cloak,
Was patch’d black, blue, and red;
He thought no shame, all the day long,
To wear the bags of bread.
XV
Then he put on the old man’s breeks,
Was patch’d from ballup[1014] to side;
‘By the truth of my body,’ bold Robin can say,
‘This man lov’d little pride!’
XVI
Then he put on the old man’s hose,
Were patch’d from knee to wrist;
‘By the truth of my body,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘I’d laugh if I had any list[1015].’
XVII
Then he put on the old man’s shoes,
Were patch’d both beneath and aboon;
Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
‘It’s good habit that makes a man!’
XVIII
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
_With a link a down and a down_,
And there he met with the proud Sheríff,
Was walking along the town.
XIX
‘O save, O save, O Sheriff,’ he said,
‘O save, and you may see!
And what will you give to a silly old man
To-day will your hangman be?’
XX
‘Some suits, some suits,’ the Sheriff he said,
‘Some suits I’ll give to thee;
Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen
To-day’s a hangman’s fee.’
XXI
Then Robin he turns him round about,
And jumps from stock to stone;
‘By the truth of my body,’ the Sheriff he said,
‘That’s well jumpt, thou nimble old man.’--
XXII
‘I was ne’er a hangman in all my life,
Nor yet intends to trade;
But curst be he,’ said bold Robin,
‘That first a hangman was made!
XXIII
‘I’ve a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,
And a bag for barley and corn;
A bag for bread, and a bag for beef,
And a bag for my little small horn.
XXIV
‘I have a horn in my pockèt,
I got it from Robin Hood,
And still when I set it to my mouth,
For thee it blows little good.’--
XXV
‘O wind thy horn, thou proud fellòw,
Of thee I have no doubt;
I wish that thou give such a blast
Till both thy eyes fall out.’
XXVI
The first loud blast that he did blow,
He blew both loud and shrill;
A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood’s men
Came riding over the hill.
XXVII
The next loud blast that he did give,
He blew both loud and amain;
And quickly sixty of Robin Hood’s men
Came shining over the plain.
XXVIII
‘O who are yon,’ the Sheriff he said,
‘Come tripping over the lee?’
‘They’re my attendants,’ brave Robin did say,
‘They’ll pay a visit to thee.’
XXIX
They took the gallows from the slack[1016],
They set it in the glen,
They hang’d the proud Sheriff on that,
And releas’d their own three men.
FOOTNOTES:
[1014] ballup = front, or flap.
[1015] list = inclination, desire for it.
[1016] slack = hollow, dell.
_123. Robin Hood’s Golden Prize_
I
I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood,
And of brave Little John,
Of Friar Tuck, and Will Scarlet,
Locksley, and Maid Marion.
II
But such a tale as this before
I think there was never none;
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And to the wood is gone.
III
Like to a friar bold Robin Hood
Was accouter’d in his array;
With hood, gown, beads and crucifix,
He pass’d upon the way.
IV
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.
V
‘Benedicite,’ then said Robin Hood,
‘Some pity on me take;
Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
For Our dear Ladye’s sake!
VI
‘For I have been wand’ring all this day,
And nothing could I get;
Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
Nor bit of bread to eat.’
VII
‘By my holydame,’ the priests repli’d,
‘We never a penny have;
For we this morning have been robb’d,
And could no money save.’
VIII
‘I am much afraid’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘That you both do tell a lye;
And now before that you go hence,
I am resolv’d to try.’
IX
When as the priests heard him say so,
They rode away amain;
But Robin betook him to his heels,
And soon overtook them again.
X
Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
And pull’d them down from their horse:
‘O spare, us, friar!’ the priests cry’d out,
‘On us have some remorse!’
XI
‘You said you had no money,’ quoth he;
‘Wherefore without delay
We three will fall down on our knees,
And for money we will pray.’
XII
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The Oxford Book of BalladsChapter XXIII: Book V: 112. Robyn and Gandelyn (3)
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