That Robin had been there him to seeke, 90
This answer he gave, "He's a cunning knave,
For I have sought him this whole three weeks."
"A boon! a boon!" queen Katherin cry'd,
"I beg it here of your grace;--
To pardon his life, and seek not strife," 95
And so endeth Robin Hoods chase.
5, then did.
52, he ... was.
73, Robin Hood.
LITTLE JOHN AND THE FOUR BEGGERS.
"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood:
the full title being, _A new merry song of Robin Hood and Little John,
shewing how Little John went a begging, and how he fought with the
four beggers_. _The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger._" RITSON'S
_Robin Hood_, ii. 132.
All you that delight to spend some time,
_With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
A merry song for to sing,
Unto me draw neer, and you shall hear
How Little John went a beggìng.
As Robin Hood walked the forest along, 5
And all his yeomandree,
Sayes Robin, "Some of you must a begging go,
And, Little John, it must be thee."
Sayes John, "If I must a begging go,
I will have a palmers weed, 10
With a staff and a coat, and bags of all sort,
The better then I may speed.
"Come, give me now a bag for my bread,
And another for my cheese,
And one for a peny, whenas I get any, 15
That nothing I may leese."
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. 20
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.
"Good-morrow," said John, "my brethren dear, 25
Good fortune I had you to see;
Which way do you go? pray let me know,
For I want some company.
"O what is here to do?" then said Little John,
"Why ring all these bells?" said he; 30
"What dog is a hanging? come, let us be ganging,
That we the truth may see."
"Here is no dog a hanging," then one of them said,
"Good fellow, we tell unto thee;
But here is one dead that will give us cheese and bread,[L35] 35
And it may be one single penny."[L36]
"We have brethren in London," another he said,
"So have we in Coventry,
In Barwick and Dover, and all the world over,
But ne'er a crookt carril like thee. 40
"Therefore stand thee back, thou crooked carel,
And take that knock on the crown:"
"Nay," said Little John, "Ile not yet be gone,
For a bout will I have of you round.
"Now have at you all," then said Little John, 45
"If you be so full of your blows;
Fight on all four, and nere give ore,
Whether you be friends or foes."
John nipped the dumb, and made him to rore,
And the blind he made to see, 50
And he that a cripple had been seven years,[L51]
He made run then faster than he.
And flinging them all against the wall,
With many a sturdie bang,
It made John sing, to hear the gold ring, 55
Which against the walls cryed twang.
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." 60
But what found he in the beggars bag,
But three hundred pound and three?
"If I drink water while this doth last,
Then an ill death may I dye.
"And my begging trade I will now give ore, 65
My fortune hath bin so good;
Therefore Ile not stay, but I will away
To the forrest of merry Sherwood."
And when to the forrest of Sherwood he came,
He quickly there did see 70
His master good, bold Robin Hood,
And all his company.
"What news? What news?" then said Robin Hood,
"Come, Little John, tell unto me;
How hast thou sped with thy beggers trade? 75
For that I fain would see."
"No news but good," 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. 80
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."
So to conclude my merry new song, 85
All you that delight it to sing,
'Tis of Robin Hood, that archer good,
And how Little John went a beggìng.
35, 36. The allusion is of course to the dole at funerals.
51, that could not.
THE NOBLE FISHER-MAN,
OR, ROBIN HOODS PREFERMENT:
Shewing how he won a prize on the sea, and how he gave the one halfe
to his dame, and the other to the building of almes-houses. The tune
is, _In summer time_, etc.
"From three old black-letter copies; one in the collection of Anthony
à Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a private
collection." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 114.
In summer time, when leaves grow green,
When they doe grow both green and long,--
Of a bold outlaw, call'd Robin Hood,
It is of him I do sing this song,--
When the lilly leafe, and the eglantine,[L5] 5
Doth bud and spring with a merry cheere,
This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,
And chasing of the fallow-deere.
"The fisher-men brave more mony have
Than any merchants two or three; 10
Therefore I will to Scarborough go,
That I a fisherman brave may be."
This outlaw called his merry men all,
As they sate under the green-wood tree:
"If any of you have gold to spend, 15
I pray you heartily spend it with me."
"Now," quoth Robin Hood, "Ile to Scarborough go,
It seems to be a very faire day;"
He tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,
Hard by upon the water gray: 20
Who asked of him, "Where wert thou borne?
Or tell to me where dost thou fare?"
"I am a poor fisherman," said he then,
"This day intrapped all in care."
"What is thy name, thou fine fellow, 25
I pray thee heartily tell it to mee?"
"In my own country, where I was borne,
Men call me Simon over the Lee."
"Simon, Simon," said the good wife,
"I wish thou mayest well brook thy name;" 30
The out-law was ware of her courtesie,
And rejoyced he had got such a dame.
"Simon, wilt thou be my man?
And good round wages Ile give thee;
I have as good a ship of my own 35
As any sails upon the sea.
"Anchors and planks thou shalt not want,
Masts and ropes that are so long:"
"And if you thus do furnish me,"
Said Simon, "nothing shall goe wrong." 40
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
When others cast in their baited hooks,
The bare lines into the sea cast he.
"It will be long," said the master then, 45
"Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea;
I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,
For in truth he is no part worthy."
"O woe is me!" said Simon then,
"This day that ever I came here! 50
I wish I were in Plompton parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere.
"For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
And they by me set nought at all;
If I had them in Plompton park, 55
I would set as little by them all."
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three:
But Simon espyed a ship of warre,
That sayled towards them most valorously. 60
"O woe is me!" said the master then,
"This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne.
"For your French robbers on the sea, 65
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong."
But Simon said, "Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care; 70
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
"Hold thy peace, thou long lubbèr,
For thou art nought but brags and boast;
If I should cast thee over-board, 75
There's but a simple lubber lost."
Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he,
That he took his bent bow in his hand,
And in the ship-hatch goe doth he. 80
"Master, tye me to the mast," saith he,
"That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
He drew his arrow to the very head, 85
And drewe it with all his might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
Doth the Frenchmans heart the arrow gain.
The Frenchman fell down on the ship hatch,
And under the hatches there below; 90
Another Frenchman, that him espy'd,
The dead corpse into the sea doth throw.
"O master, loose me from the mast," he said,
"And for them all take you no care;
For give me my bent bow in my hand, 95
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
Then streight [they] boarded the French ship,
They lyeing all dead in their sight;
They found within that ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of mony bright. 100
"The one halfe of the ship," said Simon then,
"I'le give to my dame and children small;
The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow
On you that are my fellowes all."
But now bespake the master then, 105
"For so, Simon, it shall not be,
For you have won it with your own hand,
And the owner of it you shall bee."
"It shall be so, as I have said;
And, with this gold, for the opprest 110
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest."
5, elephant.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNERS DAUGHTER.
Gutch's _Robin Hood_, ii. 345.
Communicated to Gutch by Mr. Payne Collier, and derived by him, with
_Robin Hood and the Peddlers_, from a volume of MS. ballads,
collected, as Mr. C. conjectures, about the date of the Protectorate.
The story is only one of the varieties of the _Douglas Tragedy_. See
vol. ii. p. 114.
As Robin Hood sat by a tree,
He espied a prettie may,
And when she chanced him to see,
She turnd her head away.
"O feare me not, thou prettie mayde, 5
And doe not flie from mee,
I am the kindest man," he said,
"That ever eye did see."
Then to her he did doffe his cap,
And to her lowted low, 10
"To meete with thee I hold it good hap,
If thou wilt not say noe."
Then he put his hand around her waste,
Soe small, so tight, and trim,
And after sought her lip to taste, 15
And she to[o] kissed him.
"Where dost thou dwell, my prettie maide,
I prithee tell to mee?"
"I am a tanners daughter," she said,
"John Hobbes of Barneslee." 20
"And whither goest thou, pretty maide?
Shall I be thy true love?"
"If thou art not afeard," she said,
"My true love thou shalt prove."
"What should I feare?" then he replied; 25
"I am thy true love now;"
"I have two brethren, and their pride
Would scorn such one as thou."
"That will we try," quoth Robin Hood,
"I was not made their scorne; 30
Ile shed my blood to doe the[e] good,
As sure as they were borne."
"My brothers are proude and fierce and strong;"
"I am," said he, "the same,
And if they offer thee to wrong, 35
Theyle finde Ile play their game.
"Through the free forrest I can run,
The king may not controll;
They are but barking tanners sons,
To me they shall pay toll. 40
"And if not mine be sheepe and kine,
I have cattle on my land;
On venison eche day I may dine,
Whiles they have none in hand."
These wordes had Robin Hood scarce spoke, 45
When they two men did see,
Come riding till their horses smoke:
"My brothers both," cried shee.
Each had a good sword by his side,
And furiouslie they rode 50
To where they Robin Hood espied,
That with the maiden stood.
"Flee hence, flee hence, away with speede!"
Cried she to Robin Hood,
"For if thou stay, thoult surely bleede; 55
I could not see thy blood."
"With us, false maiden, come away,
And leave that outlawe bolde;
Why fledst thou from thy home this day,
And left thy father olde?" 60
Robin stept backe but paces five,
Unto a sturdie tree;
"Ile fight whiles I am left alive;
Stay, thou sweete maide, with mee."
He stood before, she stoode behinde, 65
The brothers two drewe nie;
"Our sister now to us resign,
Or thou full sure shalt die."
Then cried the maide, "My brethren deare,
With ye Ile freely wend, 70
But harm not this young forrester,
Noe ill doth he pretend."
"Stande up, sweete maide, I plight my troth;
Fall thou not on thy knee;
Ile force thy cruell brothers both 75
To bend the knee to thee.
"Stand thou behinde this sturdie oke,
I soone will quell their pride;
Thoult see my sword with furie smoke,
And in their hearts blood died." 80
He set his backe against a tree,
His foote against a stone;
The first blow that he gave so free
Cleft one man to the bone.
The tanners bold they fought right well, 85
And it was one to two;
But Robin did them both refell,
All in the damsells viewe.
The red blood ran from Robins brow,
All downe unto his knee; 90
"O holde your handes, my brethren now,
I will goe backe with yee."
"Stand backe, stand backe, my pretty maide,
Stand backe and let me fight;
By sweete St. James be no afraide 95
But I will it requite."
Then Robin did his sword uplift,
And let it fall againe;
The oldest brothers head it cleft,
Right through unto his braine. 100
"O hold thy hand, bolde forrester,
Or ill may thee betide;
Slay not my youngest brother here,
He is my fathers pride."
"Away, for I would scorne to owe, 105
My life to the[e], false maide!"
The youngest cried, and aim'd a blow
That lit on Robins head.
Then Robin leand against the tree,
His life nie gone did seeme; 110
His eyes did swim, he could not see
The maiden start betweene.
It was not long ere Robin Hood
Could welde his sword so bright;
Upon his feete he firmly stood, 115
And did renew the fight;
Untill the tanner scarce could heave
His weapon in the aire;
But Robin would not him bereave
Of life, and left him there. 120
Then to the greenewood did he fly,
And with him went the maide;
For him she vowd that she would dye,
He'd live for her, he said.
Finis. T. Fleming.
APPENDIX.
ROBIN HOODS BIRTH, BREEDING, VALOUR, AND MARRIAGE.
Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 1.
Ritson printed this piece from a black-letter copy in a large and
valuable collection of old ballads which successively belonged to
Major Pearson, the Duke of Roxburghe, and Mr. Bright, but which is now
in the British Museum.
The full title of the original is: _A new ballad of bold Robin Hood;
shewing his birth, breeding, valour, and marriage at Tilbury
Bull-running. Calculated for the meridian of Staffordshire, but may
serve for Derbyshire or Kent_.
The copy in _A Collection of Old Ballads_, i. 67, is the same.
Kind gentlemen, will you be patient awhile?
Ay, and then you shall hear anon
A very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,
And of his brave man Little John.
In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire, 5
In merry sweet Locksly town,
There bold Robin Hood he was born and was bred,
Bold Robin of famous renown.
The father of Robin a forrester was,
And he shot in a lusty strong bow, 10
Two north country miles and an inch at a shot,
As the Pinder of Wakefield does know.
For he brought Adam Bell, and Clim of the Clough,
And William of Clowdesle,[L14]
To shoot with our forrester for forty mark, 15
And the forrester beat them all three.
His mother was neece to the Coventry knight,
Which Warwickshire men call sir Guy;
For he slew the blue bore that hangs up at the gate,
Or mine host of the Bull tells a lie. 20
Her brother was Gamwel, of Great Gamwel-Hall,
A noble house-keeper was he,
Ay, as ever broke bread in sweet Nottinghamshire,
And a 'squire of famous degree.
The mother of Robin said to her husbànd, 25
"My honey, my love, and my dear,
Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel,
To taste of my brother's good cheer."
And he said, "I grant thee thy boon, gentle Joan,
Take one of my horses, I pray: 30
The sun is arising, and therefore make haste,
For to-morrow is Christmas-day."
Then Robin Hood's father's grey gelding was brought,
And sadled and bridled was he;
God wot a blue bonnet, his new suit of cloaths, 35
And a cloak that did reach to his knee.
She got on her holyday kirtle and gown,
They were of a light Lincoln green;
The cloath was homespun, but for colour and make
It might a beseem'd our queen. 40
And then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword,
And his dagger on his tother side;
And said, "My dear mother, let's haste to be gone,
We have forty long miles to ride."
When Robin had mounted his gelding so grey, 45
His father, without any trouble,
Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear,
For his gelding had oft carried double.[L48]
And when she was settled, they rode to their neighbours,
And drank and shook hands with them all; 50
And then Robin gallopt, and never gave o're,
'Till they lighted at Gamwel-Hall.
And now you may think the right worshipful 'squire
Was joyful his sister to see;
For he kist her, and kist her, and swore a great oath, 55
"Thou art welcome, kind sister, to me."
To-morrow, when mass had been said in the chappel,
Six tables were covered in the hall,
And in comes the 'squire, and makes a short speech,
It was, "Neighbours, you're welcome all. 60
"But not a man here shall taste my March beer,
'Till a Christmas carrol he does sing:"
Then all clapt their hands, and they shouted and sung,
'Till the hall and the parlour did ring.
Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb pies, 65
Were set upon every table:
And noble George Gamwel said, "Eat and be merry
And drink too as long as you're able."
When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,
And, "Be merry, my friends," said the 'squire; 70
"It rains, and it blows, but call for more ale,
And lay some more wood on the fire.
"And now call ye Little John hither to me,
For Little John is a fine lad
At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks, 75
As shall make you both merry and glad.
When Little John came, to gambols they went,
Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown;
And what do you think? Why, as true as I live,
Bold Robin Hood put them all down. 80
And now you may think the right worshipful 'squire
Was joyful this sight for to see;
For he said, "Cousin Robin, thou'st go no more home,
But tarry and dwell here with me.
"Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then, 85
Thou shalt be the staff of my age:"
"Then grant me my boon, dear uncle," said Robin,
"That Little John may be my page."
And he said, "Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon;
With all my heart, so let it be;" 90
"Then come hither, Little John," said Robin Hood,
"Come hither, my page, unto me.
"Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,
And broad arrows, one, two, or three;
For when 'tis fair weather we'll into Sherwood, 95
Some merry pastime to see."
When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,
He winded his bugle so clear;
And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold
Before Robin Hood did appear. 100
"Where are your companions all?" said Robin Hood,
"For still I want forty and three:"
Then said a bold yeoman, "Lo, yonder they stand,
All under the green wood tree."[L104]
As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by, 105
The queen of the shepherds was she;
And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,
And her buskin did reach to her knee.
Her gait it was graceful, her body was straight,
And her countenance free from pride; 110
A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrows
Hung dangling by her sweet side.
Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,
And her skin was as smooth as glass;
Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too; 215
Sets with Robin Hood such a lass!
Said Robin Hood, "Lady fair, whither away?
O whither, fair lady, away?"
And she made him an answer, "To kill a fat buck;
For to-morrow is Titbury day." 120
Said Robin Hood, "Lady fair, wander with me
A little to yonder green bower;
There set down to rest you, and you shall be sure
Of a brace or a leash in an hour."[L124]
And as we were going towàrds the green bower, 125
Two hundred good bucks we espy'd;
She chose out the fattest that was in the herd,[L127]
And she shot him through side and side.
"By the faith of my body," said bold Robin Hood,
"I never saw woman like thee; 130
And com'st thou from east, or com'st thou from west,
Thou needst not beg venison of me.
"However, along to my bower you shall go,
And taste of a forrester's meat:"
And when we came thither we found as good cheer 135
As any man needs for to eat.
For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,
Cream clouted, with honey-combs plenty;
And the servitors they were, besides Little John,
Good yeomen at least four and twenty. 140
Clorinda said, "Tell me your name, gentle sir;"
And he said, "'Tis bold Robin Hood:
'Squire Gamwel's my uncle, but all my delight
Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood;
"For 'tis a fine life, and 'tis void of all strife." 145
"So 'tis, sir," Clorinda reply'd.
"But oh," said bold Robin, "how sweet would it be,
If Clorinda would be my bride!"
She blusht at the motion; yet, after a pause
Said, "Yes, sir, and with all my heart:" 150
"Then let us send for a priest," said Robin Hood,
"And be married before we do part."
But she said, "It may not be so, gentle sir,'
For I must be at Titbury feast;
And if Robin Hood will go thither with me, 155
I'll make him the most welcome guest."
Said Robin Hood, "Reach me that buck, Little John,
For I'll go along with my dear;
And bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks,
And meet me to-morrow just here." 160
Before he had ridden five Staffordshire miles,
Eight yeomen, that were too bold,
Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck;
A truer tale never was told.
"I will not, faith," said bold Robin; "come, John, 165
Stand by me, and we'll beat 'em all:"
Then both drew their swords, and so cut 'em, and slasht 'em,
That five of them did fall.
The three that remain'd call'd to Robin for quarter,
And pitiful John begg'd their lives; 170
When John's boon was granted, he gave them good counsel,
And sent them all home to their wives.
This battle was fought near to Titbury town,
When the bagpipes baited the bull;[L174]
I'm the king of the fidlers, and I swear 'tis truth, 175
And I call him that doubts it a gull:
For I saw them fighting, and fiddled the while,
And Clorinda sung "Hey derry down!
The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob,
And now let's dance into the town." 180
Before we came in, we heard a strange shouting,
And all that were in it look'd madly;
For some were on bull-back, some dancing a morris,
And some singing _Arthur-a-Bradley_.
And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk, 185
And Mary, to whom he was kind;
For Tom rode before her, and call'd Mary madam,
And kiss'd her full sweetly behind:
And so may your worships. But we went to dinner,
With Thomas and Mary, and Nan; 190
They all drank a health to Clorinda and told her
Bold Robin Hood was a fine man.
When dinner was ended, sir Roger, the parson
Of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste:
He brought his mass-book, and he bad them take hands, 195
And joyn'd them in marriage full fast.
And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet bride
Went hand in hand to the green bower,
The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,
And 'twas a most joyful hour. 200
And when Robin came in sight of the bower,
"Where are my yeomen?" said he:
And Little John answer'd, "Lo, yonder they stand,
All under the green wood tree."
Then a garland they brought her by two and by two, 205
And plac'd them all on the bride's head:
The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,
'Till the bride and bridegroom were a-bed.
And what they did there must be counsel to me,
Because they lay long the next day; 210
And I had haste home, but I got a good piece
Of bride-cake, and so came away.
Now out, alas! I had forgotten to tell ye,
That marry'd they were with a ring;
And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden, 215
And now let us pray for the king:
That he may get children, and they may get more,
To govern and do us some good:
And then I'll make ballads in Robin Hood's bower,
And sing 'em in merry Sherwood. 220
14, Clowdel le.
48, has.
104, a.
124, lease.
127, choose.