16_The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 3 (of 5)

‘Nay, more than that,’ said Robin Hood,

‘For good king Richard’s sake,

If you had as much gold as ever I told,

I would not one penny take.’

Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,

And a loud blast he did blow,

Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hood’s men

Came marching all of a row.

And when they came bold Robin before,

Each man did bend his knee;

‘O,’ thought the king, ‘’tis a gallant thing,

And a seemly sight to see.’

Within himself the king did say,

These men of Robin Hood’s

More humble be than mine to me;

So the court may learn of the woods.

So then they all to dinner went,

Upon a carpet green;

Black, yellow, red, finely minglëd,

Most curious to be seen.

Venison and fowls were plenty there,

With fish out of the river:

King Richard swore, on sea or shore,

He neer was feasted better.

Then Robin takes a can of ale:

‘Come, let us now begin;

Come, every man shall have his can;

Here’s a health unto the king.’

The king himself drank to the king,

So round about it went;

Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,

To pledge that health were spent.

And after that, a bowl of wine

In his hand took Robin Hood;

‘Until I die, I’ll drink wine,’ said he,

‘While I live in the green-wood.

‘Bend all your bows,’ said Robin Hood,

‘And with the grey goose wing

Such sport now shew as you would do

In the presence of the king.’

They shewd such brave archery,

By cleaving sticks and wands,

That the king did say, Such men as they

Live not in many lands.

‘Well, Robin Hood,’ then says the king,

‘If I could thy pardon get,

To serve the king in every thing

Wouldst thou thy mind firm set?’

‘Yes, with all my heart,’ bold Robin said,

So they flung off their hoods;

To serve the king in every thing,

They swore they would spend their bloods.

‘For a clergyman was first my bane,

Which makes me hate them all;

But if you’ll be so kind to me,

Love them again I shall.’

The king no longer could forbear,

For he was movd with ruth;

[‘Robin,’ said he, ‘I now tell thee

The very naked truth.]

‘I am the king, thy sovereign king,

That appears before you all;’

When Robin see that it was he,

Strait then he down did fall.

‘Stand up again,’ then said the king,

‘I’ll thee thy pardon give;

Stand up, my friend; who can contend,

When I give leave to live?’

So they are all gone to Nottingham,

All shouting as they came;

But when the people them did see,

They thought the king was slain,

And for that cause the outlaws were come,

To rule all as they list;

And for to shun, which way to run

The people did not wist.

The plowman left the plow in the fields,

The smith ran from his shop;

Old folks also, that scarce could go,

Over their sticks did hop.

The king soon let them understand

He had been in the green wood,

And from that day, for evermore,

He’d forgiven Robin Hood.

When the people they did hear,

And the truth was known,

They all did sing, ‘God save the king!

Hang care, the town’s our own!’

‘What’s that Robin Hood?’ then said the sheriff;

‘That varlet I do hate;

Both me and mine he causd to dine,

And servd us all with one plate.’

‘Ho, ho,’ said Robin, ‘I know what you mean;

Come, take your gold again;

Be friends with me, and I with thee,

And so with every man.

‘Now, master sheriff, you are paid,

And since you are beginner,

As well as you give me my due;

For you neer paid for that dinner.

‘But if that it should please the king

So much your house to grace

To sup with you, for to speak true,

[I] know you neer was base.’

The sheriff could not [that] gain say,

For a trick was put upon him;

A supper was drest, the king was guest,

But he thought ’twould have undone him.

They are all gone to London court,

Robin Hood, with all his train;

He once was there a noble peer,

And now he’s there again.

Many such pranks brave Robin playd

While he lived in the green wood:

Now, my friends, attend, and hear an end

Of honest Robin Hood.

* * * * *

The King’s Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood.

To a Northern Tune.

#a.#

9^1. thyself, thyself.

9^3. yon.

28^4. spent.

29^1. ban.

30^2. with truth.

30^{3,4}. _Supplied from R. H.’s Garland, York, Thomas Wilson &

Son, 1811._

#b#, #c#.

3^3. with free.

6^1. #c#, livd.

9^1. O thyself thou.

13^1. said.

14^3. that kind.

18^1. bold _wanting_.

21^1. was.

23^4. was.

26^4. #c#, Lived.

27^2. I [s]hould.

27^4. would.

28^2. they _wanting_.

28^4. they’d.

29^1. ban.

30^2. with truth.

30^{3,4}. _wanting._

33^1. #c#, they’re.

34^1. was.

35^1. his plow: field.

36^4. #b#, Ha’d: #c#, Had.

37^2. And that.

38^4. #b#, with plate: #c#, in plate.

40^2. are the.

41^1. #c#, it _wanting_.

41^4. #b#, I _wanting_: #c#, I know.

42^1. that gain say.

42^4. it would undone.

43^1. They’re.

#d.#

3^3. with one.

5^3. he had seen.

6^4. lives.

9^1. Thyself thou cursest said.

10^3. who give.

14^1. king he then did.

16^1. quoth _for_ said.

21^4. never.

22^3. And every.

23^4. was spent.

28^4. blood.

29^1. bane.

30^2. with truth.

30^{3,4}. _wanting._

31^3. saw _for_ see.

36^1. did let.

37^1. Then.

41^4. I _wanting_.

42^1. that _wanting_.

42^4. a guest.

152

ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW

#a.# Robin Hood’s Garland, London, W. and C. Dicey, St Mary Aldermary

Church-yard, Bow-Lane, n. d., p. 80, No 26. #b.# Robin Hood’s

Garland, London, R. Marshall, in Aldermary Church-yard, Bow-Lane, n.

d., p. 84, No 26. #c.# Robin Hood’s Garland, Preston, Printed and

sold by W. Sergent, n. d.

Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 226, and Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795,

II, 171, from an Aldermary garland. Gutch, II, 289, from Ritson,

“compared with the York edition.”

The ballad is not found in a garland of 1749.

The first twenty-three stanzas are based upon The Gest, sts 282–95. The

remainder is mostly taken up with John’s astute device for sending

information to the sheriff. The two concluding lines are for connection

with R. H. and the Valiant Knight, which follows in some garlands, as

here.

According to Martin Parker’s True Tale, Robin Hood shot a letter

addressed to the king into Nottingham, on an arrow-head, offering to

submit upon terms: sts 78–81. Two cases of a message shot on an arrow

are cited by Rochholz, Tell u. Gessler in Sage u. Geschichte, p. 28 and

note.

Translated by A. Grün, p. 140.

When as the sheriff of Nottingham

Was come, with mickle grief,

He talkd no good of Robin Hood,

That strong and sturdy thief.

Fal lal dal de

So unto London-road he past,

His losses to unfold

To King Richard, who did regard

The tale that he had told.

‘Why,’ quoth the king, ‘what shall I do?

Art thou not sheriff for me?

The law is in force, go take thy course

Of them that injure thee.

‘Go get thee gone, and by thyself

Devise some tricking game

For to enthral yon rebels all;

Go take thy course with them.’

So away the sheriff he returnd,

And by the way he thought

Of the words of the king, and how the thing

To pass might well be brought.

For within his mind he imagined

That when such matches were,

Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,

Would be the bowmen there.

So an arrow with a golden head

And shaft of silver white,

Who won the day should bear away

For his own proper right.

Tidings came to brave Robin Hood,

Under the green-wood tree:

‘Come prepare you then, my merry men,

We’ll go yon sport to see.’

With that stept forth a brave young man,

David of Doncaster:

‘Master,’ said he, ‘be ruld by me,

From the green-wood we’ll not stir.

‘To tell the truth, I’m well informed

Yon match is a wile;

The sheriff, I wiss, devises this

Us archers to beguile.’

‘O thou smells of a coward,’ said Robin Hood,

‘Thy words does not please me;

Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skill

At yon brave archery.’

O then bespoke brave Little John:

Come, let us thither gang;

Come listen to me, how it shall be

That we need not be kend.

Our mantles, all of Lincoln green,

Behind us we will leave;

We’ll dress us all so several

They shall not us perceive.

One shall wear white, another red,

One yellow, another blue;

Thus in disguise, to the exercise

We’ll gang, whateer ensue.

Forth from the green-wood they are gone,

With hearts all firm and stout,

Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s men

To have a hearty bout.

So themselves they mixed with the rest,

To prevent all suspicion;

For if they should together hold

They thought [it] no discretion.

So the sheriff looking round about,

Amongst eight hundred men,

But could not see the sight that he

Had long expected then.

Some said, If Robin Hood was here,

And all his men to boot,

Sure none of them could pass these men,

So bravely they do shoot.

‘Ay,’ quoth the sheriff, and scratchd his head,

‘I thought he would have been here;

I thought he would, but, tho he’s bold,

He durst not now appear.’

O that word grieved Robin Hood to the heart;

He vexëd in his blood;

Eer long, thought he, thou shalt well see

That here was Robin Hood.

Some cried, Blue jacket! another cried, Brown!

And the third cried, Brave Yellow!

But the fourth man said, Yon man in red

In this place has no fellow.

For that was Robin Hood himself,

For he was cloathd in red;

At every shot the prize he got,

For he was both sure and dead.

So the arrow with the golden head

And shaft of silver white

Brave Robin Hood won, and bore with him

For his own proper right.

These outlaws there, that very day,

To shun all kind of doubt,

By three or four, no less no more,

As they went in came out.

Until they all assembled were

Under the green-wood shade,

Where they report, in pleasant sport,

What brave pastime they made.

Says Robin Hood, All my care is,

How that yon sheriff may

Know certainly that it was I

That bore his arrow away.

Says Little John, My counsel good

Did take effect before,

So therefore now, if you’ll allow,

I will advise once more.

‘Speak on, speak on,’ said Robin Hood,

‘Thy wit’s both quick and sound;

[I know no man amongst us can

For wit like thee be found.’]

‘This I advise,’ said Little John;

‘That a letter shall be pend,

And when it is done, to Nottingham

You to the sheriff shall send.’

‘That is well advised,’ said Robin Hood,

‘But how must it be sent?’

‘Pugh! when you please, it’s done with ease,

Master, be you content.

‘I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,

And shoot it into the town;

The mark shall show where it must go,

When ever it lights down.’

The project it was full performd;

The sheriff that letter had;

Which when he read, he scratchd his head,

And rav’d like one that’s mad.

So we’ll leave him chafing in his grease,

Which will do him no good;

Now, my friends, attend, and hear the end

Of honest Robin Hood.

* * * * *

#a.#

12^2. hither.

25^3. relate _for_ report.

28^{3,4}. _supplied from R. H.’s Garland, York, Thomas Wilson &

Son, 1811._

#b#, #c#.

3^3. to take.

6^3. without all.

10^1. the _wanting_.

10^2. it is.

11^1. O _wanting_.

11^2. do not.

12^2. thither.

14^3. in the.

15^3. then _wanting_.

16^4. thought it.

17^4. suspected.

19^3. #c#, but _wanting_.

21^2. a third.

22^1. #c#, bold Robin.

24^2. kinds.

24^3. nor more.

25^3. relate.

28^{3,4}. _wanting._

31^3. must show.

32^1. well _for_ full.

33^1. in the.

153

ROBIN HOOD AND THE VALIANT KNIGHT

#a.# Robin Hood’s Garland, London, C. Dicey, Bow Church Yard, n. d.,

but before 1741, p. 88, Bodleian Library, Douce H H, 88. #b.# Robin

Hood’s Garland, 1749, without place or printer, p. 101, No 24. #c.#

Robin Hood’s Garland, London, R. Marshall, in Aldermary Church-Yard,

Bow-Lane, n. d., p. 87, No 27.

Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 232, from an Aldermary garland;

Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 178, from an Aldermary garland, corrected

by a York copy.

Written, perhaps, because it was thought that authority should in the

end be vindicated against outlaws, which may explain why this piece

surpasses in platitude everything that goes before.

Translated by Loève-Veimars, p. 219.

When Robin Hood, and his merry men all,

Derry, etc.

Had reigned many years,

The king was then told they had been too bold

To his bishops and noble peers.

Hey, etc.

Therefore they called a council of state,

To know what was best to be done

For to quell their pride, or else, they reply’d,

The land would be over-run.

Having consulted a whole summers day,

At length it was agreed

That one should be sent to try the event,

And fetch him away with speed.

Therefore a trusty and worthy knight

The king was pleasd to call,

Sir William by name; when to him he came,

He told him his pleasure all.

‘Go you from hence to bold Robin Hood,

And bid him, without more a-do,

Surrender himself, or else the proud elf

Shall suffer with all his crew.

‘Take here a hundred bowmen brave,

All chosen men of might,

Of excellent art for to take thy part,

In glittering armour bright.’

Then said the knight, My sovereign liege,

By me they shall be led;

I’ll venture my blood against bold Robin Hood,

And bring him alive or dead.

One hundred men were chosen straight,

As proper as eer men saw;

On Midsummer-day they marched away,

To conquer that brave outlaw.

With long yew bows and shining spears,

They marchd in mickle pride,

And never delayd, or halted, or stayd,

Till they came to the greenwood-side.

Said he to his archers, Tarry here;

Your bows make ready all,

That, if need should be, you may follow me;

And see you observe my call.

‘I’ll go in person first,’ he cry’d,

‘With the letters of my good king,

Both signd and seald, and if he will yield,

We need not draw one string,’

He wanderd about till at length he came

To the tent of Robin Hood;

The letter he shews; bold Robin arose,

And there on his guard he stood.

‘They’d have me surrender,’ quoth bold Robin Hood,

‘And lie at their mercy then;

But tell them from me, that never shall be,

While I have full seven-score men.’

Sir William the knight, both hardy and bold,

Did offer to seize him there,

Which William Locksly by fortune did see,

And bid him that trick forbear.

Then Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth,

And blew a blast or twain,

And so did the knight, at which there in sight

The archers came all amain.

Sir William with care he drew up his men,

And plac’d them in battle array;

Bold Robin, we find, he was not behind;

Now this was a bloody fray.

The archers on both sides bent their bows,

And the clouds of arrows flew;

The very first flight, that honoured knight

Did there bid the world adieu.

Yet nevertheless their fight did last

From morning till almost noon;

Both parties were stout, and loath to give out;

This was on the last [day] of June.

At length they went off; one part they went

To London with right good-will;

And Robin Hood he to the green-wood tree,

And there he was taken ill.

He sent for a monk, who let him blood,

And took his life away;

Now this being done, his archers they run,

It was not a time to stay.

Some got on board and crossd the seas,

To Flanders, France, and Spain,

And others to Rome, for fear of their doom,

But soon returnd again.

Thus he that never feard bow nor spear

Was murderd by letting of blood;

And so, loving friends, the story doth end

Of valiant bold Robin Hood.

There’s nothing remains but his epitaph now,

Which, reader, here you have;

To this very day, and read it you may,

As it was upon his grave.

Robin Hood’s Epitaph,

Set on his tomb

By the Prioress of Birkslay Monastery, in Yorkshire.

Robin, Earl of Huntington,

Lies under this little stone.

No archer was like him so good;

His wildness nam’d him Robin Hood.

Full thirteen years, and something more,

These northern parts he vexed sore.

Such outlaws as he and his men

May England never know again!

* * * * *

Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight; together with an account of his

Death and Burial, &c. Tune of Robin Hood and the Fifteen

Foresters.

#a.#

_Inside the cover is written, William Stukely, 1741._

18^4. day _found in_ #b.#

#b.#

_A carelessly printed book, with only twenty-four ballads. It

belonged to Bishop Percy. Burden omitted._

1^1. When bold Robin and.

1^3. had been told he.

1^4. With his.

2^1. the best.

2^4. will be.

3. _wanting._

6^1. Take an.

6^3. art to.

7^3. again Robin.

12^1. till at last.

12^2. of bold.

13^1. would have: bold, Hood, _wanting_.

13^3. that it.

13^4. Whilst.

15^1. Robin he set.

17^4. there _wanting_.

18^1. the fight.

18^4. last day.

19^2. For London.

19^3. he _wanting_.

20^1. to let.

20^2. done away they ran.

21. _wanting._

22^1. that neither.

24^3. it _wanting_.

24^4. it were.

_The epitaph is not given._

#c.#

_Burden_: Derry down down: Hey down derry derry down.

1^3. that they had been bold.

2^2. best _wanting_.

5^1. Go you.

6^1. an.

7^3. bold _wanting_.

10^4. see that.

11^3. Well signd.

14^4. bid them: to forbear.

18^4. day _wanting_.

19^1. party.

19^2. For London.

20^1. to let.

20^2. Who took.

20^4. a _wanting_.

21^1. Some went.

23^3. and _wanting_.

154

A TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD

Martin Parker’s True Tale of Robin Hood was entered to Francis Grove the

29th of February, 1632: Stationers’ Registers, Arber, IV, 273. A copy in

the British Museum (press-mark C. 39. a. 52), which is here reprinted,

is assumed by Mr W. C. Hazlitt, Handbook, p. 439, and Mr George Bullen,

Brit. Mus. Catalogue, to be of this first edition. The title of this

copy is: A True Tale of Robbin [Hood], or, A briefe touch of the life

and death o[f that] Renowned Outlaw, Robert Earle of Huntin[gton]

vulgarly called Robbin Hood, who lived and died in [A. D.] 1198, being

the 9. yeare of the reigne of King Ric[hard] the first, commonly called

Richard Cuer de Lyon. Carefully collected out of the truest Writers of

our English C[hroni]cles. And published for the satisfaction of those

who desire to s[ee] Truth purged from falsehood. By Martin Parker.

Printed at London for T. Cotes, and are to be sold by F. Grove

dwellin[g] upon Snow-hill, neare the Saracen[s head].[120]

Martin Parker professes in st. 117 to follow chronicles, not “fained

tales.” Perhaps he regards broadside-ballads with historical names in

them as chronicles: at any rate, though he reports some things which are

found in Grafton, and in Major as cited by Grafton, much the larger part

of his True Tale is now to be found only in ballads. When he does not

agree with ballads which have come down to us, he may have used earlier

copies, or he may have invented. The story of the abbot in 23–26 is at

least from the same source as Robin Hood and the Bishop; the plundering

of King Richard’s receivers in 33 is evidently the same event as that

referred to in the first stanza of Robin Hood and Queen Katherine; Robin

Hood is said to have built eight almshouses in 71, and one in the last

stanza of The Noble Fisherman. The Gest could hardly have been unknown

to Parker. Stanzas 3–9, concerning Robin’s rank, prodigality, and

outlawry, may have been based upon Munday’s play; but nothing is said of

Maid Marian. 44–50 and 56–65 may report the substance of some lost

broadside.

Perhaps Parker calls his compilation a _True_ Tale because a tale of

Robin Hood was a proverb for an incredible story: “Tales of Robin Hood

are good for fools.”

Both gentlemen, or yeomen bould,

Or whatsoever you are,

To have a stately story tould,

Attention now prepare.

It is a tale of Robin Hood,

Which I to you will tell,

Which being rightly understood,

I know will please you well.

This Robbin, so much talked on,

Was once a man of fame,

Instiled Earle of Huntington,

Lord Robert Hood by name.

In courtship and magnificence,

His carriage won him prayse,

And greater favour with his prince

Than any in his dayes.

In bounteous liberality

He too much did excell,

And loved men of quality

More than exceeding well.

His great revennues all he sould

For wine and costly cheere;

He kept three hundred bowmen bold,

He shooting lovd so deare.

No archer living in his time

With him might well compare;

He practisd all his youthfull prime

That exercise most rare.

At last, by his profuse expence,

He had consumd his wealth,

And being outlawed by his prince,

In woods he livd by stealth.

The abbot of S_aint_ Maries rich,

To whom he mony ought,

His hatred to this earle was such

That he his downefall wrought.

So being outlawed, as ’tis told,

He with a crew went forth

Of lusty cutters, stout and bold,

And robbed in the North.

Among the rest, one Little John,

A yeoman bold and free,

Who could, if it stood him upon,

With ease encounter three.

One hundred men in all he got,

With whom, the story sayes,

Three hundred common men durst not

Hold combate any wayes.

They Yorkshire woods frequented much,

And Lancashire also,

Wherein their practises were such

That they wrought mickle woe.

None rich durst travell to and fro,

Though nere so strongly armd,

But by these theeves, so strong in show,

They still were robd and harmd.

His chiefest spight to the clergie was,

That lived in monstrous pride;

No one of them he would let passe

Along the high-way side,

But first they must to dinner goe,

And afterwards to shrift:

Full many a one he served so,

Thus while he livd by theft.

No monkes nor fryers he would let goe,

Without paying their fees:

If they thought much to be usd so,

Their stones he made them leese.

For such as they the country filld

With bastards in those dayes;

Which to prevent, these sparkes did geld

All that came by their wayes.

But Robbin Hood so gentle was,

And bore so brave a minde,

If any in distresse did passe,

To them he was so kinde

That he would give and lend to them,

To helpe them at their neede:

This made all poore men pray for him,

And wish he well might speede.

The widdow and the fatherlesse

He would send meanes unto,

And those whom famine did oppresse

Found him a friendly foe.

Nor would he doe a woman wrong,

But see her safe conveid;

He would protect with power strong

All those who crav’d his ayde.

The abbot of Saint Maries then,

Who him undid before,

Was riding with two hundred men,

And gold and silver store.

But Robbin Hood upon him set

With his couragious sparkes,

And all the coyne perforce did get,

Which was twelve thousand markes.

He bound the abbot to a tree,

And would not let him passe

Before that to his men and he

His lordship had sayd masse.

Which being done, upon his horse

He set him fast astride,

And with his face towards his ar—

He forced him to ride.

His men were faine to be his guide,

For he rode backward home;

The abbot, being thus villifide,

Did sorely chafe and fume.

Thus Robbin Hood did vindicate

His former wrongs receivd;

For ’twas this covetous prelate

That him of land bereavd.

The abbot he rode to the king

With all the haste he could,

And to his Grace he every thing

Exactly did unfold.

And sayd if that no course were tane,

By force or stratagem,

To take this rebell and his traine,

No man should passe for them.

The king protested by and by

Unto the abbot then

That Robbin Hood with speed should dye,

With all his merry men.

But ere the king did any send,

He did another feate,

Which did his Grace much more offend;

The fact indeed was great.

For in a short time after that,

The kings receivers went

Towards London with the coyne they got,

For’s Highnesse northerne rent.

Bold Robbin Hood and Little John,

With the rest of their traine,

Not dreading law, set them upon,

And did their gold obtaine.

The king much moved at the same,

And the abbots talke also,

In this his anger did proclaime,

And sent word to and fro,

That whosoere, alive or dead,

Could bring him Robbin Hood,

Should have one thousand markes, well payd

In gold and silver good.

This promise of the king did make

Full many yeomen bold

Attempt stout Robbin Hood to take,

With all the force they could.

But still when any came to him,

Within the gay greene wood,

He entertainement gave to them,

With venison fat and good.

And shewd to them such martiall sport,

With his long bow and arrow,

That they of him did give report,

How that it was great sorow,

That such a worthy man as he

Should thus be put to shift,

Being late a lord of high degree,

Of living quite bereft.

The king, to take him, more and more

Sent men of mickle might,

But he and his still beate them sore,

And conquered them in fight.

Or else, with love and courtesie,

To him he won their hearts:

Thus still he lived by robbery,

Throughout the northerne parts.

And all the country stood in dread

Of Robbin Hood and’s men;

For stouter lads nere livd by bread,

In those dayes nor since then.

The abbot which before I nam’d

Sought all the meanes he could

To have by force this rebell tane,

And his adherents bold.

Therefore he armd five hundred men,

With furniture compleate,

But the outlawes slew halfe of them,

And made the rest retreate.

The long bow and the arrow keene

They were so usd unto

That still they kept the forest greene,

In spight o th’ proudest foe.

Twelve of the abbots men he tooke,

Who came him to have tane,

When all the rest the field forsooke;

These he did entertaine