"O pardon, I thee pray!
For it becomes not your lordships coat 35
To take so many lives away."
"No pardon, no pardon," said the bishòp,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go." 40
Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherds coat
He pull'd out a bugle horn.
He put the little end to his mouth, 45
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robins men
Came running all on a row,
All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood;
'Twas a comely sight for to see. 50
"What is the matter, master," said Little John,
"That you blow so hastily?"
"O here is the bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have:"
"Cut off his head, master," said Little John, 55
"And throw him into his grave."
"O pardon, O pardon," said the bishop,
"O pardon, I thee pray,
For if I had known it had been you,
I'd have gone some other way." 60
"No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go."
Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand, 65
And led him to merry Barnsdale;
He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.
"Call in a reckoning," said the bishop,
"For methinks it grows wond'rous high:" 70
"Lend me your purse, master," said Little John,
"And I'll tell you bye and bye."
Then Little John took the bishops cloak,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantua 75
He told three hundred pound.
"Here's money enough, master," said Little John,
"And a comely sight 'tis to see;
It makes me in charity with the bishop,
Tho' he heartily loveth not me." 80
Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And he caused the music to play;
And he made the bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad he could so get away.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP.
Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 22.
Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman's house and changed
cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the
bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of
_Robin Hood and the Stranger_.
"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood."
Two trifling corrections have been made from the copy in _Old
Ballads_, 1723, (ii. 39,) which is very nearly the same.
Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile,
_Hey down, down, an a down_,
And a story Ile to you unfold;
Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.
As it fell out on a sun-shining day, 5
When Ph[oe]bus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.
And as he walk'd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy, 10
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.
"O what shall I do," said Robin Hood then,
"If the bishop he doth take me?
No mercy he'l show unto me, I know, 15
But hangèd I shall be."
Then Robin was stout, and turn'd him about,
And a little house there he did spy;
And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry. 20
"Why, who art thou?" said the old woman,
"Come tell it to me for good:"[L22]
"I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood;
"And yonder's the bishop and all his men, 25
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he'l work my spight,
And hangèd I shall be."
"If thou be Robin Hood," said the old wife,
"As thou dost seem to be,
I'le for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
From the bishop and his company.
"For I remember one Saturday night,
Thou brought me both shoes and hose;
Therefore I'le provide thy person to hide, 35
And keep thee from thy foes."
"Then give me soon thy coat of grey,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen." 40
And when Robin Hood was thus araid,
He went straight to his company,
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the bishop and his company.
"O who is yonder," quoth Little John, 45
"That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she."
"O hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood then,
"And shoot not thy arrows so keen; 50
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen."
The bishop he came to the old womans house,
And called with furious mood,
"Come let me soon see, and bring unto me, 55
That traitor Robin Hood."
The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himselfe on a dapple gray;
And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
He went laughing all the way. 60
But as they were riding the forrest along,
The bishop he chanc'd for to see
A hundred brave bowmen bold,
Stand under the green-wood tree.
"O who is yonder," the bishop then said, 65
"That's ranging within yonder wood?"
"Marry," says the old woman, "I think it to be
A man call'd Robin Hood."
"Why, who art thou," the bishop he said,
"Which I have here with me?" 70
"Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldy bishop;
Lift up my leg and see."
"Then woe is me," the bishop he said,
"That ever I saw this day!"
He turn'd him about, but Robin Hood stout[L75] 75
Call'd him, and bid him stay.
Then Robin took hold of the bishops horse,
And ty'd him fast to a tree;
Then Little John smil'd his master upon,
For joy of that company. 80
Robin Hood took his mantle from 's back,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.
"Now let him go," said Robin Hood; 85
Said Little John, "That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass,
Before that he goe from me."
Then Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree, 90
And made him sing a mass, god wot,
To him and his yeomandree.
And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple gray,
And gave him the tail within his hand, 95
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.
22, tell to me. RITSON.
75. Robin, RITSON.
ROBIN HOODS GOLDEN PRIZE.
He met two priests upon the way,
And forced them with him to pray;
For gold they prayed, and gold they had,
Enough to make bold Robin glad.
His share came to four hundred pound,
That then was told upon the ground;
Now mark, and you shall hear the jest,
You never heard the like exprest.
Tune is, _Robin Hood was a tall young man, &c._
"This ballad (given from an old black-letter copy in the collection of
Anthony à Wood) was entered, amongst others, in the Stationers' book,
by Francis Coule, 13th June, 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2nd June,
1656." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 101.
This piece is printed in _A Collection of Old Ballads_, ii. 121, with
some variations.
I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood,
_Derry, derry down_,
And of brave Little John,
Of Fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlet,
Loxley, and maid Mariòn.
But such a tale as this before 5
I think was never knone;
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And from the wood is gone.[L8]
Like to a fryer, bold Robin Hood
Was accoutered in his array; 10
With hood, gown, bedes, and crucifix,
He past upon the way.
He had not gone miles two or three,
But it was his chance to spy
Two lusty priests, clad all in black, 15
Come riding gallantly.
"Benedicite," then said Robin Hood,
"Some pitty on me take;
Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
For our dear ladies sake. 20
"For I have been wandring all this day,
And nothing could I get;
Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
Nor bit of bread to eat."
"Now, by our dame," the priests repli'd, 25
We never a penny have;
For we this morning have been rob'd,
And could no money save."
"I am much afraid," said bold Robin Hood,
That you both do tell a lie; 30
And now before you do go hence,
I am resolv'd to try."
When as the priests heard him say so,
Then they rode away amain;
But Robin Hood betook to his heels, 35
And soon overtook them again.
Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
And pull'd them down from their horse:
"O spare us, fryer!" the priests cry'd out,
"On us have some remorse!" 40
"You said you had no mony," quoth he,
"Wherefore, without delay,
We three will fall down on our knees,
And for mony we will pray."
The priests they could not him gainsay, 45
But down they kneeled with speed;
"Send us, O send us," then quoth they,
"Some money to serve our need."
The priests did pray with a mournful chear,
Sometimes their hands did wring; 50
Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud,
Whilst Robin did merrily sing.
When they had been praying an hours space,
The priests did still lament;
Then quoth bold Robin, "Now let's see 55
What mony heaven hath us sent.
"We will be sharers all alike
Of mony that we have;
And there is never a one of us
That his fellow shall deceive." 60
The priests their hands in their pockets put,
But mony would find none:
"We'l search ourselves," said Robin Hood,
"Each other, one by one."
Then Robin Hood took pains to search them both, 65
And he found good store of gold,
Five hundred peeces presently
Upon the grass was told.
"Here is a brave show," said Robin Hood,
"Such store of gold to see, 70
And you shall each one have a part,
Cause you prayed so heartily."
He gave them fifty pounds a-peece,
And the rest for himself did keep:
The priests durst not speak one word, 75
But they sighed wondrous deep.
With that the priests rose up from their knees,
Thinking to have parted so:
"Nay, stay," says Robin Hood, "one thing more
I have to say ere you do go. 80
"You shall be sworn," said bold Robin Hood,
"Upon this holy grass,
That you will never tell lies again,
Which way soever you pass.
"The second oath that you here must take, 85
That all the days of your lives,
You shall never tempt maids to sin,
Nor lye with other mens wives.
"The last oath you shall take, it is this,
Be charitable to the poor; 90
Say, you have met with a holy fryar,
And I desire no more."
He set them on their horses again,
And away then they did ride;
And he return'd to the merry green-wood, 95
With great joy, mirth, and pride.
8 to.
ROBIN HOODS DEATH AND BURIAL:
Shewing how he was taken ill, and how he went to his cousin at
Kirkley-hall, who let him blood, which was the cause of his death.
Tune of _Robin Hood's last farewel, &c._
"This very old (?) and curious piece is preserved solely in the
editions of _Robin Hood's Garland_ printed at York, (or such as have
been taken from them,) where it is made to conclude with some foolish
lines, (adopted from the London copy of _Robin Hood and the Valiànt
Knight_,) in order to introduce the epitaph. It is here given from a
collation of two different copies, containing numerous variations, a
few of which are retained in the margin." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii.
187.
When Robin Hood and Little John,
_Down a down, a down, a down_.
Went o'er yon bank of broom,
Said Robin Hood to Little John,
"We have shot for many a pound:
_Hey down, a down, a down_.
"But I am not able to shoot one shot more,
My arrows will not flee;
But I have a cousin lives down below,
Please God, she will bleed me."
Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone,
As fast as he can win; 10
But before he came there, as we do hear,
He was taken very ill.
And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall,
He knock'd all at the ring,
But none was so ready as his cousin herself 15
For to let bold Robin in.
"Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said,
"And drink some beer with me?"
"No, I will neither eat nor drink,
Till I am blooded by thee."[L20] 20
"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said,
"Which you did never see,
And if you please to walk therein,
You blooded by me shall be."[L24]
She took him by the lilly-white hand, 25
And led him to a private room,[L26]
And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,
Whilst one drop of blood would run.
She blooded him in the vein of the arm,
And lock'd him up in the room; 30
There did he bleed all the live-long day,
Untill the next day at noon.
He then bethought him of a casement door,
Thinking for to be gone;[L34]
He was so weak he could not leap, 35
Nor he could not get down.
He then bethought him of his bugle-horn,
Which hung low down to his knee;
He set his horn unto his mouth,
And blew out weak blasts three. 40
Then Little John, when hearing him,
As he sat under the tree,
"I fear my master is near dead,
He blows so wearily."
Then Little John to fair Kirkley is gone, 45
As fast as he can dree;
But when he came to Kirkley-hall,
He broke locks two or three:
Untill he came bold Robin to,
Then he fell on his knee; 50
"A boon, a boon," cries Little John,
"Master, I beg of thee."
"What is that boon," quoth Robin Hood,
"Little John, thou begs of me?"
"It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall, 55
And all their nunnery."
"Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood,
"That boon I'll not grant thee;
I never hurt woman in all my life,[L59]
Nor man in woman's company. 60
"I never hurt fair maid in all my time,
Nor at my end shall it be;
But give me my bent bow in my hand,
And a broad arrow I'll let flee;
And where this arrow is taken up, 65
There shall my grave digg'd be.
"Lay me a green sod under my head,[L67]
And another at my feet;[L68]
And lay my bent bow by my side,
Which was my music sweet; 70
And make my grave of gravel and green,
Which is most right and meet.
"Let me have length and breadth enough,
With under my head a green sod;[L74]
That they may say, when I am dead, 75
Here lies bold Robin Hood."
These words they readily promis'd him,
Which did bold Robin please:
And there they buried bold Robin Hood,
Near to the fair Kirklèys. 80
20. Till I blood letted be.
24. You blood shall letted be.
26, let, Ritson.
34, get down.
59, burnt. This stanza is omitted in one edition.
67, 68.
With verdant sods most neatly put,
weet as the green-wood tree.
74. With a green sod under my head, Ritson.
ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE.
Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 87.
"From an old black-letter copy in a private collection, compared with
another in that of Anthony à Wood. The full title is: "_Renowned Robin
Hood; or, his famous archery truly related in the worthy exploits he
acted before queen Katherine, he being an outlaw man; and how he
obtained his own and his fellows pardon_. _To a new tune._
"It is scarcely worth observing that there was no queen consort named
Katherine before Henry the Fifth's time: but as Henry the Eighth had
no less than three wives so called, the name would be sufficiently
familiar to our ballad-maker." RITSON.
Gold tane from the kings harbengers,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_,
As seldome hath beene seene,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_,
And carried by bold Robin Hood
For a present to the queen,
_Downe, a downe, a downe_.
"If that I live a yeare to an end," 5
Thus can queene Katherine say,
"Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend,
And all thy yeomen gay."
The queene is to her chamber gone,
As fast as she can win;[L10] 10
She calls unto her lovely page,
His name was Richard Patrington.
"Come thou hither to mee, thou lovely page,
Come thou hither to mee;
For thou must post to Nottingham, 15
As fast as thou can dree.
"And as thou goest to Nottingham,
Search all the English wood,
Enquire of one good yeoman or another,
That can tell thee of Robin Hood." 20
Sometimes hee went, sometimes hee ran,
As fast as hee could win;
And when hee came to Nottingham,
There hee took up his inne.
And when he came to Nottingham, 25
And had tooke up his inne,
He calls for a pottle of Rhenish wine,
And dranke a health to his queene.
There sate a yeoman by his side,
"Tell mee, sweet page," said hee, 30
"What is thy businesse and thy cause,
So far in the north countrey?"
"This is my businesse and the cause,
Sir, I'le tell it you for good,
To enquire of one good yeoman or another, 35
To tell mee of Robin Hood."
"I'le get my horse betimes in the morne,
By it be break of day,
And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
And all his yeomen gay." 40
When that he came at Robin Hoods place,
Hee fell down on his knee;
"Queen Katherine she doth greet you well,
She greets you well by mee;
"She bids you post to fair London court, 45
Not fearing any thing:
For there shall be a little sport,
And she hath sent you her ring."
Robin Hood tooke his mantle from his back,
It was of the Lincolne greene, 50
And sent it by this lovely page,
For a present unto the queene.
In summer time, when leaves grow green,
It [wa]s a seemely sight to see,
How Robin Hood himselfe had drest, 55
And all his yeomandry.
He clothed his men in Lincolne green,
And himselfe in scarlet red;
Blacke hats, white feathers, all alike,
Now bold Robin Hood is rid. 60
And when hee came at Londons court,
Hee fell downe on his knee.
"Thou art welcome, Locksly," said the queen,
"And all thy good yeomandree."
The king is into Finsbury field,[L65] 65
Marching in battle ray,
And after follows bold Robin Hood,
And all his yeomen gay.
"Come hither, Tepus," said the king,
"Bow-bearer after me; 70
Come measure me out with this line,
How long our mark must be.
"What is the wager?" said the queene,
"That must I now know here:"
"Three hundred tun of Rhenish wine, 75
Three hundred tun of beere;
"Three hundred of the fattest harts
That run on Dallom lee;
That's a princely wager," said the king,
"That needs must I tell thee." 80
With that bespake one Clifton then,
Full quickly and full soone;
"Measure no markes for us, most soveraigne liege,
Wee'l shoot at sun and moone."
"Ful fifteene score your marke shall be, 85
Ful fifteene score shall stand;"
"I'll lay my bow," said Clifton then,
"I'll cleave the willow wand."
With that the kings archers led about,
While it was three and none; 90
With that the ladies began to shout,
"Madam, your game is gone."
"A boone, a boone," queen Katherine cries,
"I crave it on my bare knee;
Is there any knight of your privy counsèl 95
Of queen Katherines part will be?
"Come hither to mee, sir Richard Lee,
Thou art a knight full good;
For I do knowe by thy pedigree
Thou sprung'st from Gowers blood. 100
"Come hither to me, thou bishop of Herefordshire,"
For a noble priest was hee;
"By my silver miter," said the bishop then,
"Ile not bet one peny."
"The king hath archers of his own, 105
Full ready and full light,
And these be strangers every one,
No man knowes what they hight."
"What wilt thou bet," said Robin Hood,
"Thou seest our game the worse?" 110
"By my silver miter," then said the bishop,
"All the money within my purse."
"What is in thy purse?" said Robin Hood,
"Throw it downe on the ground."
"Fifteen score nobles," said the bishop; 115
"It's neere an hundred pound."
Robin Hood took his bagge from his side,
And threw it downe on the greene;
William Scadlocke then went smiling away,
"I know who this money must win." 120
With that the kings archers led about,
While it was three and three;
With that the ladies gave a shout,
"Woodcock, beware thy knee!"
"It is three and three, now," said the king, 125
"The next three pays for all:"
Robin Hood went and whisper'd the queen,
"The kings part shall be but small."
Robin Hood hee led about,
Hee shot it under hand; 130
And Clifton, with a bearing arrow,
Hee clave the willow wand.
And little Midge, the millers son,
He shot not much the worse;
He shot within a finger of the prick: 135
"Now, bishop, beware thy purse!"
"A boone, a boone," queen Katherine cries,
"I crave it on my bare knee,
That you will angry be with none
That are of my partie." 140
"They shall have forty daies to come,
And forty daies to goe,
And three times forty to sport and play;
Then welcome friend or foe."
"Thou art welcome, Robin Hood," said the queene, 145
"And so is Little John,
And so is Midge, the millers son;
Thrice welcome every one."
"Is this Robin Hood?" now said the king;
"For it was told to me 150
That he was slain in the palace gates,
So far in the north country."
"Is this Robin Hood?" quoth the bishop then,
"As I see well to be:
Had I knowne it had been that bold outlàw, 155
I would not [have] bet one peny.
"Hee tooke me late one Saturday at night,
And bound mee fast to a tree,
And made mee sing a masse, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree." 160
"What an if I did?" saies Robin Hood,
"Of that masse I was faine;
"For recompence of that," he saies,
"Here's halfe thy gold againe."
"Now nay, now nay," saies Little John, 165
"Master, that shall not be;
We must give gifts to the kings officèrs;
That gold will serve thee and mee."
10, wen.
65. Ground near Moorfields, London, famous in old times for the
archery practised there. "In the year 1498," says Stow, "all the
gardens which had continued time out of minde, without Mooregate, to
wit, about and beyond the lordship of Fensberry, were destroyed. And
of them was made a plaine field for archers to shoote in." _Survay
of London_, 1598, p. 351. See also p. 77, where it is observed that
"about the feast of S. Bartlemew ... the officers of the city ...
were challengers of all men in the suburbes, ... before the lord
maior, aldermen, and sheriffes, in FENSBERY FIELDE, to shoote the
standarde, broade arrow, and flight, for games."
[The Finsbury] archers are mentioned by Ben Jonson, in _Every man in
his humour_, act i, scene 1: "Because I dwell at Hogsden, I shall
keep company with none but the archers of Finsbury."
The practice of shooting here is alluded to by Cotton, in his
_Virgile travestie_ (b. iv.), 1667:
"And arrows loos'd from Grub-street bow,
"In FINSBURY, to him are slow;"
and continued till within the memory of persons now living. RITSON.
ROBIN HOODS CHASE:
Or, a merry progress between Robin Hood and King Henry: shewing how
Robin Hood led the king his chase from London to London; and when he
had taken his leave of the queen, he returned to merry Sherwood. To
the tune of _Robin Hood and the Beggar_."
"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood."
RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 96.
Come, you gallants all, to you I do call,
_With hey down, down, an a down_,
That now are in this place;
For a song I will sing of Henry the king,
How he did Robin Hood chase.
Queen Katherin she a match did make,[L5] 5
As plainly doth appear,
For three hundred tun of good red wine,
And three [hundred] tun of beere.
But yet her archers she had to seek,
With their bows and arrows so good; 10
But her mind it was bent, with a good intent,
To send for bold Robin Hood.
But when bold Robin he came there,
Queen Katherin she did say,
"Thou art welcome, Locksley," said the queen, 15
"And all thy yeomen gay;
"For a match of shooting I have made,
And thou on my part, Robin, must be."
"If I miss the mark, be it light or dark,
Then hanged I will be." 20
But when the game came to be played,
Bold Robin he then drew nigh;
With his mantle of green, most brave to be seen,
He let his arrows fly.
And when the game it ended was, 25
Bold Robin wan it with a grace;
But after the king was angry with him,
And vowed he would him chace.
What though his pardon granted was,
While he with him did stay; 30
But yet the king was vexed at him,
Whenas he was gone his way.
Soon after the king from the court did hye,
In a furious angry mood,
And often enquired both far and near 35
After bold Robin Hood.
But when the king to Nottingham came,
Bold Robin was in the wood:
"O come now," said he, "and let me see
Who can find me bold Robin Hood." 40
But when that bold Robin he did hear
The king had him in chase,
Then said Little John, "Tis time to be gone,
And go to some other place."
Then away they went from merry Sherwood, 45
And into Yorkshire he did hye;
And the king did follow, with a hoop and a hallow,
But could not come him nigh.
Yet jolly Robin he passed along,
And went strait to Newcastle town; 50
And there he stayed hours two or three,
And then to Barwick is gone.[L52]
When the king did see how Robin did flee,
He was vexed wondrous sore;
With a hoop and a hallow he vowed to follow, 55
And take him, or never give ore.
"Come now, let's away," then crys Little John,
"Let any man follow that dare;
To Carlisle we'l hye with our company,
And so then to Lancastèr." 60
From Lancaster then to Chester they went,
And so did king Henry;
But Robin [went] away, for he durst not stay,
For fear of some treachery.
Says Robin, "Come, let us for London goe, 65
To see our noble queens face;
It may be she wants our company,
Which makes the king so us chase."
When Robin he came queene Katherin before,
He fell low upon his knee: 70
"If it please your grace, I am come to this place,
For to speak with king Henry."
Queen Katherine answered bold Robin again,[L73]
"The king is gone to merry Sherwood:
And when he went away, to me he did say, 75
He would go and seek Robin Hood."
"Then fare you well, my gracious queen,
For to Sherwood I will hye apace;
For fain would I see what he would with me,
If I could but meet with his grace." 80
But when king Henry he came home,
Full weary, and vexed in mind,
And that he did hear Robin had been there,
He blamed dame Fortune unkind.
"You're welcome home," queen Katherin cryed, 85
"Henry, my soveraign liege;
Bold Robin Hood, that archer good,
Your person hath been to seek."