But Robin he lope, and Robin he threw,
He lope over stocke and stone;
But those that saw Ro_bin_ Hood run
Said he was a liuer old man.
11
[Then Robin set his] horne to his mowth,
A loud blast cold h[e] blow;
Ffull three hundred bold yeomen
Came rakinge all on a row.
12
But Robin cast downe his baggs of bread,
Soe did he his staffe with a face,
And in a doublet of red veluett
This yeoman stood in his place.
13
‘But bend yo_u_r bowes, and stroke yo_u_r strings,
Set the gallow-tree aboute,
And Christs cursse on his heart,’ said Robin,
‘That spares the sheriffe and the sergiant!’
14
When the sheriffe see gentle Robin wold shoote,
He held vp both his hands;
Sayes, Aske, good Robin, and thou shalt haue,
Whether it be house or land.
15
‘I will neither haue house nor land,’ said Ro_bin_,
‘Nor gold, nor none of thy ffee,
But I will haue those three squires
To the greene fforest w_i_th me.
16
‘Now marry, Gods forbott,’ said the sheriffe,
‘That euer _tha_t shold bee;
For why, they be the kings ffelons,
They are all condemned to dye.’
17
‘But grant me my askinge,’ said Robin,
‘Or by the faith of my body
Thou shalt be the first man
Shall flower this gallow-tree.’
18
‘But I wi[ll haue t]hose three squires
. . . . . . .
B
#a.# The English Archer, Robin Hood’s Garland, York, N. Nickson, n.
d., p. 65. #b.# The English Archer, etc., Paisley, John Neilson,
1786. #c.# Adventures of Robin Hood, Falkirk, T. Johnston, 1808.
1
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.
2
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.
3
‘What news? what news, thou silly old woman?
What news hast thou for me?’
Said she, There’s three squires in Nottingham town
To-day is condemned to die.
4
‘O have they parishes burnt?’ he said,
‘Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they robbed any virgin,
Or with other men’s wives have lain?’
5
‘They have no parishes burnt, good sir,
Nor yet have ministers slain,
Nor have they robbed any virgin,
Nor with other men’s wives have lain.’
6
‘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.’
7
‘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 not tell it in better time.’
8
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.
9
‘What news? what news, thou silly old man?
What news, I do thee pray?’
Said he, Three squires in Nottingham town
Are condemnd to die this day.
10
‘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.’
11
‘O thine apparel is good,’ he said,
‘And mine is ragged and torn;
Whereever you go, wherever you ride,
Laugh neer an old man to scorn.’
12
‘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.’
13
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.’
14
Then he put on the old man’s cloak,
Was patchd black, blew, and red;
He thought no shame all the day long
To wear the bags of bread.
15
Then he put on the old man’s breeks,
Was patchd from ballup to side;
‘By the truth of my body,’ bold Robin can say,
‘This man lovd little pride.’
16
Then he put on the old man’s hose,
Were patchd from knee to wrist;
‘By the truth of my body,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘I’d laugh if I had any list.’
17
Then he put on the old man’s shoes,
Were patchd both beneath and aboon;
Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
It’s good habit that makes a man.
18
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With a link a down and a down,
And there he met with the proud sheriff,
Was walking along the town.
19
‘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?’
20
‘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.’
21
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.’
22
‘I was neer a hangman in all my life,
Nor yet intends to trade;
But curst be he,’ said bold Robin,
‘That first a hangman was made.
23
‘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.
24
‘I have a horn in my pocket,
I got it from Robin Hood,
And still when I set it to my mouth,
For thee it blows little good.’
25
‘O wind thy horn, thou proud fellow,
Of thee I have no doubt;
I wish that thou give such a blast
Till both thy eyes fall out.’
26
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.
27
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.
28
‘O who are yon,’ the sheriff he said,
‘Come tripping over the lee?’
‘The’re my attendants,’ brave Robin did say,
‘They’ll pay a visit to thee.’
29
They took the gallows from the slack,
They set it in the glen,
They hangd the proud sheriff on that,
Releasd their own three men.
C
Robin Hood’s Garland. #a.# London, printed by W. & C. Dicey, in St.
Mary Aldermary Church Yard, Bow Lane, Cheapside, and sold at the
Warehouse at Northampton, n. d.: p. 74, No 24. #b.# London, printed
by L. How, in Peticoat Lane, n. d.: p. 23. #c.# York, T. Wilson and
R. Spence, n. d.: p. 27. #d.# Preston, W. Sergent, n. d.: p. 62.
#e.# London, printed and sold by J. Marshall & Co., Aldermary Church
Yard, Bow Lane, n. d.: No 24. #f.# Wolverhampton, printed and sold
by J. Smart, n. d.
1
Bold Robin Hood ranging the forest all round,
The forest all round ranged he;
O there did he meet with a gay lady,
She came weeping along the highway.
2
‘Why weep you, why weep you?’ bold Robin he said,
‘What, weep you for gold or fee?
Or do you weep for your maidenhead,
That is taken from your body?’
3
‘I weep not for gold,’ the lady replyed,
‘Neither do I weep for fee;
Nor do I weep for my maidenhead,
That is taken from my body.’
4
‘What weep you for then?’ said jolly Robin,
‘I prithee come tell unto me;’
‘Oh! I do weep for my three sons,
For they are all condemned to die.’
5
‘What church have they robbed?’ said jolly Robin,
‘Or parish-priest have they slain?
What maids have they forced against their will?
Or with other men’s wives have lain?’
6
‘No church have they robbd,’ this lady replied,
‘Nor parish-priest have they slain;
No maids have they forc’d against their will,
Nor with other men’s wives have lain.’
7
‘What have they done then?’ said jolly Robin,
‘Come tell me most speedily:’
‘Oh! it is for killing the king’s fallow deer,
And they are all condemned to die.’
8
‘Get you home, get you home,’ said jolly Robin,
‘Get you home most speedily,
And I will unto fair Nottingham go,
For the sake of the squires all three.’
9
Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes,
For Nottingham town goes he,
O there did he meet with a poor beggar-man,
He came creeping along the highway.
10
‘What news, what news, thou old beggar-man?
What news, come tell unto me:’
‘O there is weeping and wailing in fair Nottingham,
For the death of the squires all three.’
11
This beggar-man had a coat on his back,
’Twas neither green, yellow, nor red;
Bold Robin Hood thought ’twas no disgrace
To be in a beggar-man’s stead.
12
‘Come, pull off thy coat, you old beggar-man,
And you shall put on mine;
And forty good shillings I’ll give thee to boot,
Besides brandy, good beer, ale and wine.’
13
Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came,
Unto Nottingham town came he;
O there did he meet with great master sheriff,
And likewise the squires all three.
14
‘One boon, one boon,’ says jolly Robin,
‘One boon I beg on my knee;
That, as for the deaths of these three squires,
Their hangman I may be.’
15
‘Soon granted, soon granted,’ says great master sheriff,
‘Soon granted unto thee;
And you shall have all their gay cloathing,
Aye, and all their white money.’
16
‘O I will have none of their gay cloathing,
Nor none of their white money,
But I’ll have three blasts on my bugle-horn,
That their souls to heaven may flee.’
17
Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,
Where he blew loud and shrill,
Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hood’s men
They came marching all down the green hill.
18
‘Whose men are they all these?’ says great master sheriff,
‘Whose men are they? tell unto me:’
‘O they are mine, but none of thine,
And they’re come for the squires all three.’
19
‘O take them, O take them,’ says great master sheriff,
‘O take them along with thee;
For there’s never a man in all Nottingham
Can do the like of thee.’
* * * * *
#A.#
1^3. 20[l :].
5^2. _Only one of the_ i’s _is dotted in_ cliit: _Furnivall_.
6^3. said w^m.
9^2. _half a page wanting._
10 _follows_ 12.
11^3. 300[d :].
15^3, 18^1. 3.
17^2. or be me.
18^1. _half a page wanting._
#B. a.#
3^3. Knews.
4^1, 6^1, 11^1, 19^{1,2}, 25^1, 28^1. Oh.
8^2. and a down a.
12^1. chur.
15^1. Teen.
16^2. Where.
17^4. Itts.
24^4. For me.
28^1. are you.
#b.#
Robin Hood rescu’d the Widow’s three Sons from the Sheriff when
going to be hanged.
#c.#
How Robin Hood rescued, etc., ... to be hanged.
#b#, #c#.
2^1. Hood _wanting_.
2^2. a down down.
2^3. met with.
2^4. along the highway.
3^2. to me.
3^4. To-day are.
5^2. Nor have they.
6^3. ’Tis for.
7^3. quoth _wanting_.
8^1. Robin he is.
8^2. a down down and a day.
8^3. old _wanting_.
9^1. silly palmer.
10^2. with _for_ for.
10^3. of _for_ in.
10^4. beer and good wine.
12^1. churl.
14^3. not _for_ no.
14^4. the poor bags.
15^1. Then.
15^2. Were _for_ Was.
15^3. did say.
16^2, 17^2. Were _wanting_.
17^2. both _wanting_.
17^4. ’Tis.
18^1. Robin is unto.
18^2. a down down and a day.
18^4. the highway.
19^2. you may you [may you?].
19^4. That to-day.
20^4. day is.
21^2. stone to stone.
22^1. never: in _wanting_.
23^2. And _wanting_.
24^1. a small horn now in.
24^2. it _wanting_.
24^4. For thee.
25^4. fly out.
26^3. An: Robin’s men.
27^3. Robin’s men.
28^1. are you.
28^2. Comes.
28^3. bold Robin.
29^4. And released.
#b.#
18^3. with _wanting_.
20^2. unto thee.
20^3. pence fourteen.
#c.#
6^2. unto me.
7^2. mad’st.
15^1. poor _for_ old.
20^1. suits and pence fourteen.
20^{2,3}. _wanting._
21^1. turnd.
21^2. jumpd.
22^2. the trade.
24^3. I put.
25^3. gave.
29^2. let _for_ set.
#C.# #a.#
_The Garland is not earlier, and probably not much later, than
1753_, “The Arguments ... in the ... affair of Eliz. Canning ...
robbed ... in Jan^y, 1753,” _occurring in advertisements printed
therewith_.
16^1. of ther.
#b.#
5^4. have they.
6^4. have they.
11^4. in the.
12^4. beside.
16^3. buglee.
17^2. blew both.
18^3. are all.
19^4. That can.
#c.#
1^1. ranged.
3^1. this lady.
4^4. all _wanting_.
5^4. have they.
6^3. they have.
6^4. have they.
7^3. it’s all.
7^4. they’re.
8^3. will then to.
9^1. bold _wanting_: to _for_ for.
11^2. It was.
11^2. or red.
11^3. it was.
11^4. in the.
12^1. thou old.
12^3. give you.
13^1. then to.
13^3. And there.
13^4. Aye and.
14^2. upon my.
14^3. the three.
15^1. great _wanting_.
15^2. Soon grant it I will unto thee.
15^4. Aye _wanting_.
16^1. I’ll.
16^3. of my.
17^2. blew both.
17^4. They _wanting_.
18^3. are all.
19^4. That can.
#d.#
1^3. he did.
3^2. I _wanting_.
6^2. No.
7^2. Come tell unto me speedily.
8^3. will for.
10^3. there’s: fair _wanting_.
11^4. in the.
12^1. thou old.
12^2. thou shalt.
15^1. great _wanting_.
17^1. When.
17^3. Hood’s _wanting_.
17^4. They _wanting_: all _wanting_.
18^1. all _wanting_: great _wanting_.
18^4. And are.
19^3. in fair.
#e.#
5^4. have they.
6^4. have they.
10^3. there’s: fair _wanting_.
11^4. in the.
12^1. thou old.
12^2. thou shalt.
14^3. death.
15^1. great _wanting_.
17^1. When.
17^4. They _wanting_: all _wanting_.
18^1. are they: great _wanting_.
18^2. come tell.
18^4. And are.
19^3. in fair.
#f.#
5^4. have they.
6^4. have they.
7^4. they’re.
10^3. there’s: fair _wanting_.
11^4. in the.
12^1. thou old.
12^2. thou shalt.
14^3. death.
15^1. great _wanting_.
17^1. When.
17^4. They _wanting_: all _wanting_.
18^1. are they: great _wanting_.
18^2. come tell.
18^4. And are come.
19^3. in fair.
APPENDIX
ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHERIFF
Kinloch MSS, V, 288, in Kinloch’s handwriting.
1
Robin Hood’s to Nottinghame gane,
Wi a linkie down and a day,
And there he met wi an auld woman,
Coming weeping alang the highway.
2
‘Weep ye for any of my gold, auld woman?
Or weep ye for my fee?
Or weep ye for any warld’s gear
This day I can grant to thee?’
3
‘I weep not for your gold, kind sir,
I weep not for your fee;
But I weep for my three braw sons,
This day condemned to die.’
4
‘O have they parishes burned?’ he said,
‘Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they forced maidens against their will?
Or wi other men’s wives hae they lain?’
5
‘They have not parishes burned, kind sir,
They have not ministers slain;
They neer forced a maid against her will,
Nor wi no man’s wife hae they lain.’
6
‘O what hae they done then?’ quo Robin Hood,
‘I pray thee tell unto me:’
‘O they killed the king’s fallow deer,
And this day are condemned to die.’
7
‘O have you mind, old mother,’ he said,
‘Since you made my merry men to dine?
And for to repay it back unto thee
Is come in a very good time.’
8
Sae Robin Hood’s to Nottinghame gane,
With a linkie down and a day,
And there he met an old beggar man,
Coming creeping along the high way.
9
‘What news, what news, old father?’ he said,
‘What news hast thou for me?’
‘There’s three merry men,’ quo the poor auld man,
‘This day condemned to die.’
10
‘Will you change your apparel wi me, old father?
Will you change your apparel for mine?
And twenty broad shillings I’ll gie ye to the boot,
To drink gude beer or wine.’
11
‘Thine is of the scarlet fine,
And mine is baith ragged and torn;
Sae never let a young supple youth
Laugh a gude auld man to scorn.’
12
‘Change your apparel wi me, old churl,
And quickly change it for mine,
And thirty broad shillings I’ll gie to the boot,
To drink gude beer or wine.’
13
When Robin put on the auld man’s hat,
It was weary high in the crown;
‘By the hand of my body,’ quo Robin Hood,
‘I am lang whan I loot down.’
14
Whan Robin put on the auld man’s cloak,
There was mony a pock therein;
A pock for meal, and a pock for maut,
And a pock for groats and corn,
And a little wee pockie that hung by his side
That he put in his bugle-horn.
15
Sae Robin Hood’s [to] Nottinghame gane,
Wi a linkie down and a day,
And there he met wi the high sheriff,
Coming riding alang the high way.
16
‘O save you, O save you, high sheriff,’ he said,
‘And weel saved mote you be!
And what will you gie to the silly auld man
Your hangman for to be?’
17
‘Thirteen pence,’ the sheriff replied,
‘That is the hangman’s fee,
But an the claiths of the three young men
This day condemned to die.’
18
‘I never hanged a man in a’ my life,
And intend not to begin;
But ever I hang a man in my life,
High sheriff, thou’s be the ane.
19
‘But I have a horn in my pocket,
I gat it frae Robin Hood,
And gif I tak out my little horn,
For thee it will no blaw gude.’
20
‘Blaw, blaw, bauld beggar,’ he said,
‘Blaw, and fear nae doubt;
I wish you may gie sic a blast
Till your eyne loup out.’
21
Then Robin he gave a skip,
And he skipped frae a stick till a stane;
‘By the hand of my body,’ quo the high sheriff,
‘You are a supple auld man.’
22
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
And he blew baith loud and shrill,
Till sixty-four of bold Robin’s men
Cam marching down the green hill.
23
‘What men are these,’ quo the high sheriff,
‘That comes sae merrily?’
‘They are my men,’ quo Robin Hood,
‘And they’ll pay a visit to thee.’
24
They tack the gallows out of the glen,
And they set it in a slap;
They hanged the sheriff upon it,
And his best men at his back.
25
They took the gallows out o the slap,
And they set [it] back in the glen,
And they hanged the sheriff upon it,
Let the three young men gae hame.
141
ROBIN HOOD RESCUING WILL STUTLY
#a.# Wood, 401, leaf 35 b.
#b.# Garland of 1663, No 7.
#c.# Garland of 1670, No 6.
#d.# Pepys, II, 106, No 93.
This ballad probably occurs in all the larger collections of broadsides.
It was given in Old Ballads, 1723, I, 90. #a# is printed by Ritson,
Robin Hood, 1795, II, 102. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 164,
follows an Aldermary copy.
Robin Hood learns that Will Stutly has been captured and is to be hanged
the next day. Robin and his men go to the rescue, and ask information of
a palmer who is standing under the wall of the castle in which Stutly is
confined; the palmer confirms the news. Stutly is brought out by the
sheriff, of whom he asks to have a sword and die in fight, not on the
tree. This refused, he asks only to have his hands loosed. The sheriff
again refuses; he shall die on the gallows. Little John comes out from
behind a bush, cuts Stutly’s bonds, and gives him a sword twitched by
John from one of the sheriff’s men. An arrow shot by Robin Hood puts the
sheriff to flight, and his men follow. Stutly rejoices that he may go
back to the woods.
This is a ballad made for print, with little of the traditional in the
matter and nothing in the style. It may be considered as an imitation of
The Rescue of the Three Squires, whence the ambush in st. 9 and the
palmer ‘fair’ in 10.
1
When Robin Hood in the green-wood livd,
Derry derry down
Vnder the green-wood tree,
Tidings there came to him with speed,
Tidings for certainty,
Hey down derry derry down
2
That Will Stutly surprized was,
And eke in prison lay;
Three varlets that the sheriff had hired
Did likely him betray.
3
I, and to-morrow hanged must be,
To-morrow as soon as it is day;
But before they could this victory get,
Two of them did Stutly slay.
4
When Robin Hood he heard this news,
Lord! he was grieved sore,
I, and unto his merry men [said],
Who altogether swore,
5
That Will Stutly should rescued be,
And be brought safe again;
Or else should many a gallant wight
For his sake there be slain.
6
He cloathed himself in scarlet then,
His men were all in green;
A finer show, throughout the world,
In no place could be seen.
7
Good lord! it was a gallant sight
To see them all on a row;
With every man a good broad sword,
And eke a good yew bow.
8
Forth of the green wood are they gone,
Yea, all couragiously,
Resolving to bring Stutly home,
Or every man to die.
9
And when they came the castle neer
Whereas Will Stutly lay,
‘I hold it good,’ saith Robin Hood,
‘Wee here in ambush stay,
10
‘And send one forth some news to hear,
To yonder palmer fair,
That stands under the castle-wall;
Some news he may declare.’
11
With that steps forth a brave young man,
Which was of courage bold;
Thus hee did say to the old man:
I pray thee, palmer old,
12
Tell me, if that thou rightly ken,
When must Will Stutly die,
Who is one of bold Robins men,
And here doth prisoner lie?
13
‘Alack, alass,’ the palmer said,
‘And for ever wo is me!
Will Stutly hanged must be this day,
On yonder gallows-tree.
14
‘O had his noble master known,
Hee would some succour send;
A few of his bold yeomandree
Full soon would fetch him hence.’
15
‘I, that is true,’ the young man said;
‘I, that is true,’ said hee;
‘Or, if they were neer to this place,
They soon would set him free.
16
‘But fare thou well, thou good old man,
Farewell, and thanks to thee;
If Stutly hanged be this day,
Revengd his death will be.’
17
He was no sooner from the palmer gone,
But the gates was opened wide,
And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
Guarded on every side.
18
When hee was forth from the castle come,
And saw no help was nigh,
Thus he did say unto the sheriff,
Thus he said gallantly:
19
Now seeing that I needs must die,
Grant me one boon, says he;
For my noble master nere had man
That yet was hangd on the tree.
20
Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let mee be unbound,
And with thee and thy men I’le fight,
Vntill I lie dead on the ground.
21
But his desire he would not grant,
His wishes were in vain;
For the sheriff had sworn he hanged should be,
And not by the sword be slain.
22
‘Do but unbind my hands,’ he saies,
‘I will no weapons crave,
And if I hanged be this day,
Damnation let me have.’
23
‘O no, O no,’ the sheriff he said,
‘Thou shalt on the gallows die,
I, and so shall thy master too,
If ever in me it lie.’
24
‘O dastard coward!’ Stutly cries,
‘Thou faint-heart pesant slave!
If ever my master do thee meet,
Thou shalt thy paiment have.
25
‘My noble master thee doth scorn,
And all thy cowardly crew;
Such silly imps unable are
Bold Robin to subdue.’
26
But when he was to the gallows come,
And ready to bid adiew,
Out of a bush leaps Little John,
And steps Will Stutly to.
27
‘I pray thee, Will, before thou die,
Of thy dear friends take leave;
I needs must borrow him a while,
How say you, master sheriff?’
28
‘Now, as I live,’ the sheriff he said,
‘That varlet will I know;
Some sturdy rebell is that same,
Therefore let him not go.’
29
With that Little John so hastily
Away cut Stutly’s bands,
And from one of the sheriff his men,
A sword twicht from his hands.
30
‘Here, Will, here, take thou this same,
Thou canst it better sway;
And here defend thy self a while,
For aid will come straight way.’
31
And there they turnd them back to back,
In the middle of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached neer,
With many an archer gay.
32
With that an arrow by them flew,
I wist from Robin Hood;
‘Make haste, make haste,’ the sheriff he said,
‘Make haste, for it is good.’
33
The sheriff is gone; his doughty men
Thought it no boot to stay,
But, as their master had them taught
They run full fast away.
34
‘O stay, O stay,’ Will Stutly said,
‘Take leave ere you depart;
You nere will catch bold Robin Hood
Vnless you dare him meet.’
35
‘O ill betide you,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘That you so soon are gone;
My sword may in the scabbord rest,
For here our work is done.’
36
‘I little thought when I came here,
When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my masters face.’
37
Thus Stutly was at liberty set,
And safe brought from his foe;
‘O thanks, O thanks to my master,
Since here it was not so.’
38
‘And once again, my fellows,
We shall in the green woods meet,
Where we will make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet.’
* * * * *
#a.#
Robin Hood his rescuing Will Stutly from the sheriff and his men,
who had taken him prisoner, and was going to hang him.
To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.
London, Printed for F. Grove, on Snow-hill. Entred according to
order. (1620–55: _Chappell_.)
25^1. thou dost.
26^4. too.
29^2. Stutli’s.
33^1. doubtless.
#b.#
_Title as in_ #a#, _except_ rescuing of: were going.
4^3. said _wanting_.
6^3. in all the.
11^1. steps out.
13^1. Alas, alas.
13^4. yonders gallow.
14^2. would soon.
16^4. shall be.
19^4. the _wanting_.
25^1. thou dost.
26^4. too.
28^1. he _wanting_.
33^1. doubtless.
#c.#
_Title as in_ #a#, _except_ were going.
1^4. Tiding for certainly.
3^4. stay.
4^3. men said.
13^1. Alass, alass.
17^2. was _wanting_.
24^2. hearted.
25^1. thee dost.
26^4. too.
29^2. Stutli’s.
33^1. doubtless.
36^2. came hereto,
#d.#
_Title as in_ #a#.
Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–86?)
1^1. livd _wanting_.
3^2. as ’tis.
4^3. and to: men said.
5^2. brought back.
8^1. they are.
9^3. said.
13^1. Alas, alas.
13^3. to day.
14^3. yeomanry.
17^2. gates were.
19^2. said.
19^4. the _wanting_.
21^1. But this.
21^3. swore.
24^2. hearted.
25^1. thee doth.
26^1. gone _for_ come.
28^1. he _wanting_.
29^1. And Little.
29^3. sheriffs.
33^1. doubtless.
35^1. said _for_ quoth.
36^2. came here.
142
LITTLE JOHN A BEGGING
#A.# Percy MS., p. 20; Hales and Furnivall, I, 47.
#B.# ‘Little John and the Four Beggers.’ #a.# Wood, 401, leaf 33 b.
#b.# Garland of 1663, No 16. #c.# Garland of 1670, No 15. #d.#
Pepys, II, 119, No 105.
#B# is also in the Roxburghe collection, III, 10.
#B a# is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 128. Evans, Old
Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 196 follows the Aldermary garland.