English and Scottish Ballads
Chapter 226 : "Fight on, fight on," said Robin Hood then, "This game well pleaseth me

"Fight on, fight on," said Robin Hood then, "This game well pleaseth me;" 50 For every blow that Robin gave, The beggar gave buffets three.

And fighting there full hard and sore, Not far from Nottingham town, They never fled, till from Robin Hoods head 55 The blood came trickling down.

"O hold thy hand," said Robin Hood then, "And thou and I will agree;"

"If that be true," the beggar he said, "Thy mantle come give unto me." 60

"Now a change, a change," cri'd Robin Hood, "Thy bags and coat give me; And this mantle of mine Ile to thee resign, My horse and my braverie."

When Robin Hood had got the beggars clothes, 65 He looked round about; "Methinks," said he, "I seem to be A beggar brave and stout.

"For now I have a bag for my bread, So have I another for corn; 70 I have one for salt, and another for malt, And one for my little horn.

"And now I will a begging goe, Some charitie for to find:"

And if any more of Robin you'll know, 75 In the second part 'tis behind.

24. Robin Hood.

46, he had.

[THE SECOND PART.]

Now Robin he is to Nottingham bound, With his bag hanging down to his knee, His staff, and his coat, scarce worth a groat, Yet merrilie pa.s.sed he. 80

As Robin he pa.s.sed the streets along, He heard a pittiful cry; Three brethren dear, as he did hear, Condemned were to dye.

Then Robin he highed to the sheriffs, 85 Some reliefe for to seek; He skipt, and leapt, and capered full high, As he went along the street.

But when to the sheriffs doore he came, There a gentleman fine and brave, 90 "Thou beggar," said he, "come tell unto me What it is thou wouldest have."

"No meat, nor drink," said Robin Hood then, "That I come here to crave; But to get the lives of yeomen three, 95 And that I fain would have."

"That cannot be, thou bold beggar, Their fact it is so cleer; I tell to thee, they hanged must be, For stealing of our kings deer." 100

But when to the gallows they did come, There was many a weeping eye: "O hold your peace," said Robin Hood then, "For certainly they shall not dye."

Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, 105 And he blew out blastes three, Till a hundred bold archers brave Came kneeling down to his knee.

"What is your will, master?" they said, "We are here at your command:" 110 "Shoot east, shoot west," said Robin Hood then, "And see you spare no man."

Then they shot east, then they shot west, Their arrows were so keen, The sheriffe he, and his companie, 115 No longer could be seen.

Then he stept to those brethren three, And away he has them tane; The sheriffe was crost, and many a man lost, That dead lay on the plain. 120

And away they went into the merry green wood, And sung with a merry glee; Then Robin Hood took those brethren good To be of his yeomandrie.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE OLD MAN.

A FRAGMENT.

From Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, ii. 49, where it was printed "_verbatim et literatim_" from the Percy Ma.n.u.script.

This is the same story with the two ballads which follow and the Second Part of the preceding.

In faith, thou shalt have mine, And 20s. in thy purse, To spend at ale and wine."

"Though your clothes are of light Lincolne green, And mine gray russet, and torne, 5 Yet it doth not you beseme To doe an old man scorne."

"I scorne thee not, old man," says Robin,[L8]

"By the faith of my body; Doe of thy clothes, thou shalt have mine, 10 For it may noe better be."

But Robin did on the old mans hose, The were torn in the wrist; "When I looke on my leggs," said Robin, "Then for to laugh I list." 15

But Robin did on the old mans shoes, And the were chitt full cleane; "Now by my faith," says Little John, "These are good for thornes keene."

But Robin did on the old mans cloake, 20 And it was torne in the necke; "Now by my faith," said William Scarlett, "Heere shold be set a specke."

But Robin did on the old mans hood, Itt goggled on his crowne; 25 "When I come into Nottingham," said Robin, "My hood it will lightly downe.[L27]

"But yonder is an outwood," said Robin, "An outwood all and a shade, And thither I reede you, my merrymen all, 30 The ready way to take.

"And when you heare my little horne blow, Come raking all on a rowte,[L33]

* * horne to his mouth, A loud blast cold he blow, 35 Full three hundred bold yeomen Came raking all on a row.

But Robin cast downe his baggs of bread, Soe did he his staffe with a face, And in a doublet of red velvett 40 This yeoman stood in his place.

But Robin he lope, and Robin he threw, He lope over stocke and stone, But those that saw Robin Hood run Said he was a liver old man. 45

"But bend your bowes, and stroke your strings, Set the gallow tree aboute, And Christes curse on his head," said Robin, "That spares the sheriff and the sergeant.[L49]

When the sheriffe see gentle Robin wold shoote, 50 He held up both his hands, Says, "Aske, good Robin, and thou shalt have, Whether it be house or land."

"I will neither have house nor land," said Robin, "Nor gold, nor none of thy fee, 55 But I will have those 3 squires, To greene forest with mee."

"Now marry, G.o.ds forbott," said the sheriffe, "That ever that shold be, Ffor why, they be the kings felons; 60 They are all condemned to dye."

"But grant me my askynge," said Robin, "Or by the faith of my body,[L63]

Thou shalt be the first man Shall flower this gallow tree." 65