Chapter 7

Lithe and listen, Gentlemen! And hearken unto your song! How the proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM And men of armès strong Full fast came to the High Sheriff The country up to rout, And they beset the Knight's Castle, The walls all about. The proud Sheriff loud 'gan cry And said, "Thou traitor Knight! Thou keepest here the King's enemy! Against the laws and right!" "Sir, I will avow that I have done The deeds that here be dight, Upon all the lands that I have, As I am a true Knight, Wend forth, Sirs, on your way; And do no more to me, Till ye wit our King's will What he will say to thee!" The Sheriff thus, had his answer Without any leasing. Forth he yode to London town, All for to tell the King. There he told them of that Knight, And eke of ROBIN HOOD; And also of the bold archers, That noble were and good. He would avow that he had done To maintain the outlaws strong; He would be Lord, and set you at nought In all the North land. "I will be at Nottingham," said the King, "Within this fortnight! And take I will, ROBIN HOOD; And so I will that Knight! Go now home, Sheriff," said the King, "And do as I thee bid. And ordain good archers ynow Of all the wide country!" The Sheriff had his leave ytake; And went him on his way. And ROBIN HOOD to green wood, Upon a certain day, And Little JOHN was whole of the arrow That shot was in his knee; And did him straight to ROBIN HOOD Under the green-wood tree. ROBIN HOOD walked in the forest Under the leavès green, The proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM, Thereof he had great teen. The Sheriff there failed of ROBIN HOOD He might not have his prey. Then he awaited this gentle Knight, Both by night and by day. Ever he awaited that gentle Knight, Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, As he went on hawking by the river side And let his hawks flee; Took he there, this gentle Knight, With men of armès strong, And led him home to Nottingham ward Ybound both foot and hand. The Sheriff swore a full great oath, By Him that died on rood, He had lever than a hundred pound That he had ROBIN HOOD. This heard the Knight's wife A fair Lady and free, She set her on a good palfrey; To green wood anon rode she. When she came to the forest, Under the green-wood tree, Found she there ROBIN HOOD And all his fair meiny. "God [save] thee, good ROBIN! And all thy company, For our dear Lady's love A boon, grant thou me! Let thou never my wedded Lord Shamely yslain be! He is fast ybound to Nottingham ward. For the love of thee!" Anon then said good ROBIN, To that Lady free: "What man hath your Lord ytake?" "For sooth, as I thee say, He is not yet three miles Passèd on your way." Up then started good ROBIN, As a man that had been wood; "Busk you, my merry young men, For Him that died on a rood! And he that this sorrow forsaketh, By Him that died on a tree! Shall he never in green wood be, Nor longer dwell with me!" Soon there were good bows ybent, Mo than seven score; Hedge ne ditch spare they none That were them before. "I make mine avow to God," said ROBIN, "The Knight would I fain see; And if I may him take, Yquit then shall it be!" And when they came to Nottingham They walkèd in the street, And with the proud Sheriff ywis Soon gan they meet. "Abide, thou proud Sheriff!" he said, "Abide, and speak with me! Of some tidings of our King I would fain hear of thee! This seven year, by dear-worthy God! Ne yede I so fast on foot; I make mine avow to God, thou proud Sheriff! That it is not for thy good." ROBIN bent a good bow, An arrow he drew at his will; He hit so the proud Sheriff, Upon the ground he lay full still: And or he might up arise, On his feet to stand; He smote off the Sheriff's head, With his bright brand. "Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff! Evil might thou thrive! There might no man to thee trust, The whiles thou wert alive!" His men drew out their bright swords, That were so sharp and keen, And laid on the Sheriff's men And drived them down bydene. ROBIN started to that Knight, And cut a two his bond; And took him in his hand a bow, And bade him by him stand. "Leave thy horse thee behind, And learn for to run! Thou shalt with me to green wood Through mire, moss, and fen! Thou shalt with me to green wood Without any leasing, Till that I have got us grace Of EDWARD, our comely King."

+The seventh fytte.+

The King came to Nottingham With Knights in great array For to take that gentle Knight And ROBIN HOOD, if he may. He asked men of that country After ROBIN HOOD, And after that gentle Knight That was so bold and stout. When they had told him the case, Our King understood their tale And seizèd in his hand The Knight's land all. All the pass of Lancashire He went both far and near; Till he came to Plom[p]ton Park He failed many of his deer. There our King was wont to see Herdès many a one, He could unneath find one deer That bare any good horn. The King was wondrous wroth withal, And swore, "By the Trinity! I would I had ROBIN HOOD! With eyen I might him see! And he that would smite off the Knight's head, And bring it to me; He shall have the Knight's lands Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE. I give it him with my charter, And seal it [with] my hand, To have and hold for evermore In all merry England." Then bespake a fair old Knight, That was true in his fay, "O my liege Lord the King, One word I shall you say! There is no man in this country May have the Knight's lands While ROBIN HOOD may ride or gone And bear a bow in his hands, That he ne shall lose his head, That is the best ball in his hood: Give it to no man, my Lord the King! That ye will any good!" Half a year dwelled our comely King In Nottingham, and well more, Could he not hear of ROBIN HOOD, In what country that he were: But always went good ROBIN By halke and eke by hill, And always slew the King's deer And welt them at his will. Then bespake a proud for'ster That stood by our King's knee, "If ye will see good ROBIN Ye must do after me! Take five of the best Knights That be in your lead, And walk down by yon Abbey And get you monks' weed! And I will be your leadsman And lead you the way! And or ye come to Nottingham, Mine head then dare I lay! That ye shall meet with good ROBIN, In life if that he be: Or ye come to Nottingham With eyen ye shall him see!" Full hastily our King was dight, So were his Knightès five, Everych of them in monks' weed, And hasted them thither blithe. Our King was great above his cowl, A broad hat on his crown. Right as he were Abbot like, They rode up into the town. Stiff boots our King had on, For sooth as I you say, He rode singing to green wood, The convent was clothed in grey. His mail horse and his great somers Followed our King behind, Till they came to green wood A mile under the lynde. There they met with good ROBIN Standing on the way, And so did many a bold archer, For sooth as I you say. ROBIN took the King's horse, Hastily in that stead: And said, "Sir Abbot! by your leave; A while ye must abide! We be yeoman of this forest, Under the green-wood tree, We live by our King's deer, Under the green-wood tree; And ye have churches and rents both, And gold full great plenty: Give us some of your spending, For saint charity!" Then bespake our comely King, Anon then said he, "I brought no more to green wood. But forty pounds with me. I have lain at Nottingham, This fortnight with our King; And spent I have full much good On many a great Lording: And I have but forty pounds, No more than have I me. But if I had a hundred pounds, I would give it to thee!" ROBIN took the forty pounds, And departed it in two parts: Halfendell he gave his merry men, And bade them merry to be. Full courteously ROBIN 'gan say, "Sir, have this for your spending! We shall meet another day." "Grammercy!" then said our King. "But well thee greeteth EDWARD our King, And sent to thee his seal; And biddeth thee come to Nottingham, Both to meat and meal!" He took out the broad targe And soon he let him see. ROBIN could his courtesy, And set him on his knee. "I love no man in all the world So well as I do my King! Welcome is my Lord's seal! And monk for thy tiding, Sir Abbot, for thy tidings, To-day, thou shalt dine with me! For the love of my King, Under my trystel tree." Forth he led our comely King Full fair by the hand; Many a deer there was slain, And full fast dightand. ROBIN took a full great horn, And loud he 'gan blow, Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row. All they kneeled on their knee Full fair before ROBIN. The King said, himself until, And swore, "By Saint AUSTIN! Here is a wondrous seemly sight! Methinketh, by God's pine! His men are more at his bidding Than my men be at mine." Full hastily was their dinner ydight, And thereto 'gan they gone; They served our King with all their might, Both ROBIN and Little JOHN. Anon before our King was set The fat venison, The good white bread, the good red wine, And thereto the fine ale brown. "Make good cheer!" said ROBIN, "Abbot, for charity! And for this ilk tiding Blessèd might thou be! Now shalt thou see what life we lead, Or thou hence wend, That thou may inform our King When ye together lend." Up they start all in haste, Their bows were smartly bent: Our King was never so sore aghast; He wended to have been shent! Two yards there were up set Thereto 'gan they gang. "By fifty paces," our King said, "The marks were too long!" On every side a rose garland, They shot under the line. "Whoso faileth of the rose garland," saith ROBIN, "His tackle he shall tine, And yield it to his Master, Be it never so fine! (For no man will I spare, So drink I ale or wine!) And bear a buffet on his head Iwis right all bare." And all that fell in ROBIN's lot, He smote them wondrous sore. Twice ROBIN shot about, And ever he cleaved the wand; And so did good "GILBERT, With the good white hand." Little JOHN and good SCATHELOCK, For nothing would they spare. When they failed of the garland ROBIN smote them full sore. At the last shot, that ROBIN shot For all his friends' fare; Yet he failed of the garland Three fingers and more. Then bespake good GILBERT, And thus he 'gan say, "Master," he said, "your tackle is lost, Stand forth and take your pay!" "If it be so," said ROBIN, "That may no better be; Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow! I pray thee, Sir, serve thou me!" "It falleth not for mine order," said our King, "ROBIN, by thy leave, For to smite no good yeoman, For doubt I should him grieve." "Smite on boldly," said ROBIN, "I give thee large leave!" Anon our King, with that word, He folded up his sleeve, And such a buffet he gave ROBIN, To ground he yede full near. "I make mine avow to God," said ROBIN, "Thou art a stalwart frere! There is pith in thine arm," said ROBIN, "I trow thou canst well shoot."

Thus our King and ROBIN HOOD, Together then they met. ROBIN beheld our comely King, Wistly in the face: So did Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE, And kneeled down in that place. And so did all the wild outlaws, When they see them kneel. "My Lord, the King of England, Now I know you well." "Mercy, then, ROBIN," said our King, "Under your trystel tree, Of thy goodness and thy grace, For my men and me!" "Yes, for God!" said ROBIN, "and also God me save! I ask mercy, my Lord the King, And for my men I crave!" "Yes, for God!" then said our King, "And thereto 'sent I me; With that thou leave the green wood, And all thy company; And come home, Sir, to my Court, And there dwell with me." "I make mine avow to God!" said ROBIN, "And right so shall it be, I will come to your Court, Your service for to see! And bring with me, of my men, Seven score and three. But me like well your service, I come again full soon; And shoot at the dun deer As I wont to done."

+The eighth fytte.+

"Hast thou any green cloth," said our King, "That thou wilt sell now to me?" "Yea, for God!" said ROBIN, "Thirty yards and three." "ROBIN," said our King, "Now pray I thee! Sell me some of that cloth To me and my meiny." "Yes, for God!" then said ROBIN, "Or else I were a fool! Another day ye will me clothe, I trow against the yule." The King cast off his cowl then, A green garment he did on, And every knight also, i-wis, Another had full soon. When they were clothed in Lincoln green, They cast away their gray. "Now we shall to Nottingham! All thus," our King 'gan say. Their bows bent, and forth they went, Shooting all in-fere Toward the town of Nottingham, Outlaws as they were. Our King and ROBIN rode together, For sooth as I you say, And they shot Pluck-buffet, As they went by the way. And many a buffet our King won Of ROBIN HOOD that day; And nothing spared good ROBIN Our King in his pay. "So God me help!" said our King, "Thy game is nought to lere; I should not get a shot of thee, Though I shoot all this year!"

All the people of Nottingham, They stood and beheld, They saw nothing but mantles of green That covered all the field: Then every man to other 'gan say, "I dread our King be slone; Come ROBIN HOOD to the town, ywis In life he left never one!" Full hastily they began to flee, Both yeomen and knaves, And old wives that might evil go They hippèd on their staves. The King laughed full fast, And commanded them again: When they see our comely King I-wis they were full fain. They eat and drank and made them glad, And sang with notès high. Then bespake our comely King To Sir RICHARD AT THE LEE: He gave him there his land again; A good man he bade him be. ROBIN thanked our comely King And set him on his knee.

Had ROBIN dwelled in the King's Court But twelve months and three; That he had spent an hundred pound, And all his men's fee. In every place where ROBIN came, Evermore he laid down, Both for Knights and for Squires To get him great renown. By then the year was all agone He had no man but twain, Little JOHN and good SCATHELOCK With him all for to gone. ROBIN saw young men shoot Full far upon a day. "Alas," then said good ROBIN, "My wealth is went away! Sometime I was an archer good, A stiff, and eke a strong, I was counted the best archèr That was in merry England. Alas," then said good ROBIN, "Alas, and well a wo! If I dwell longer with the King, Sorrow will me slo!" Forth then went ROBIN HOOD, Till he came to our King: "My Lord the King of England, Grant me mine asking! I made a chapel in Bernysdale, That seemly is to see: It is of MARY MAGDALENE; And thereto would I be! I might never in this seven night No time to sleep ne wink; Neither all these seven days Neither eat ne drink: Me longeth sore to Bernysdale. I may not be therefro, Barefoot and woolward I have hight Thither for to go." "If it be so," then said our King, "It may no better be! Seven nights I give thee leave, No longer, to dwell from me." "Grammercy, Lord!" then said ROBIN, And set him on his knee. He took his leave full courteously To green wood then went he.

When he came to green wood In a merry morning, There he heard the notès small Of birds, merry singing. "It is far gone," said ROBIN, "That I was last here. Me list a little for to shoot At the dun deer." ROBIN slew a full great hart, His horn then 'gan he blow, That all the outlaws of that forest, That horn could they know. And gathered them together In a little throw, Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row, And fair did off their hoods And set them on their knee. "Welcome!" they said, "our Master! Under this green-wood tree!" ROBIN dwelled in green wood Twenty years and two; For all dread of EDWARD our King Again would he not go. Yet was he beguiled i-wis Through a wicked woman, The Prioress of Kirkesley. That nigh was of his kin, For the love of a Knight, Sir ROGER of Donkesley. That was her own special (Full evil might they thee!) They took together their counsel ROBIN HOOD for to slee, And how they might best do that deed His banes for to be.

Then bespake good ROBIN, In place where as he stood, "To-morrow, I must to Kirkesley Craftily to be let blood!" Sir ROGER of Doncaster, By the Prioress he lay: And there they betrayed good ROBIN HOOD Through their false play.

CHRIST have mercy on his soul! (That died on the rood) For he was a good outlaw, And did poor men much good.

+Explicit. King Edward and Robin Hood and Little John. Imprinted at London in Fleet street at the sign of the Sun. By Wynken de Worde.+

_English Carols._ [From a Manuscript at Balliol College, Oxford.]

=Written before 1500.=

=From a Balliol MS. of c. 1540=

_English Carols._ From a Manuscript at Balliol College, Oxford.

_Mater, ora filium, ut post hoc exilium nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium!_

Fair maiden, who is this bairn That thou bearest in thine arm? Sir it is a Kinges Son, That in Heaven above doth wone. _Mater, ora, etc._

Man to father he hath none, But Himself God alone! Of a maiden He would be born, To save mankind that was forlorn! _Mater, ora, etc._

The Kings brought him presents, Gold, myrrh, and frankincense To my Son full of might, King of Kings and Lord of right! _Mater, ora, etc._

Fair maiden pray for us Unto thy Son, sweet Jesus, That He will send us of His grace In heaven on high to have a place! _Mater, ora, etc._

_Ave Maria, now say we so, Maid and mother were never no mo!_

Gaude Maria! Christes mother, Mary mild of thee I mean; Thou bare my Lord, thou bare my brother, Thou bare a lovely child and clean! Thou stoodest full still without blin When in thy ear that errand was done so, Tho gracious God thee light within. _Gabrielis nuncio!_

Gaude Maria! [preva]lent with grace When Jesus thy Son on thee was bore, Full nigh thy breast thou gan Him brace, He sucked, He sighed, He wept full sore. Thou fed'st the flower that never shall fade With maiden's milk, and sung thereto Lullay, my sweet! I bare thee, babe! _Cum pudoris lilio._

Gaude Maria! thy mirth was away, When Christ on cross, thy Son, gan die, Full dolefully on Good Friday, That many a mother's son it sy. His blood us brought from care and strife His watery wound us washed from woe, The third day from death to life _Fulget resurrectio._

Gaude Maria! thou bird so bright, Brighter than blossom that bloweth on hill! Joyfull thou were to see that sight, When the Apostles, so sweet of will, All and some did shriek full shrill When the fairest of shape went you fro, From earth to heaven he styed full still, _Motu quod fertur proprio._

Gaude Maria! thou rose of Ryse! Maiden and mother both gentle and free, Precious princess, peerless of price, Thy bower is next the Trinity! Thy Son as law asketh a right, In body and soul thee took Him to, Thou reignes with Him right as we find. _In coeli palatio._

Now, blessed bird, we pray thee a boon, Before thy Son for us thou fall, And pray Him, as He was on the rood done And for us drank eisell and gall, That we may wone within that wall Wherever is well without woe, And grant that grace unto us all. _In perenni gaudio._

_Of a rose, a lovely rose And of a rose I sing a song!_

Hearken to me both old and young, How a rose began to spring, A fairer rose to my liking _Sprung there never in Kinges land._

Six branches are on that rose beme, They be both bright and sheen. The rose is called Mary, heaven queen, _Of her bosom a blossom sprung._

The first branch was of great might, That sprung on Christmas night! The star shone over Bethlehem bright, _That men might see both broad and long._

The second branch was of great honour, It was sent from heaven tower! Blessed be that fair flower, _Break it shall the fiendes bonds!_

The third branch wide spread, There Mary lay in her bed, The bright stream three Kings led _To Bethlem there that branch they found._

The fourth branch sprung into hell, The fiendes boast for to fell, There might no soul therein dwell, _Blessed be that time that branch gan spring!_

The fifth branch was fair in foot, That sprung to heaven, top and root, There to dwell and be our bote, _And yet is seen in priestes hands._

The sixth branch by and by, It is the five joys of mild Mary! Now Christ save all this company, _And send us good life and long!_

_Make me merry both more and less, For now is the time of Christymas!_

Let no man come into this hall, Groom, page, nor yet marshall, But that some sport he bring withal! _For now is the time of Christmas!_

If that he say, he can not sing, Some other sport then let him bring! That it may please at this feasting! _For now is the time of Christmas!_

If he say he can naught do, Then for my love ask him no mo! But to the stocks then let him go! _For now is the time of Christmas!_

_Can I not sing but Hoy! The jolly shepherd made so much joy!_

The shepherd upon a hill he sat, He had on him his tabard and his hat, His tarbox, his pipe, and his flagat, His name was called Jolly, Jolly Wat! For he was a good herds-boy, Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy. _Can I not sing but hoy._

The shepherd upon a hill was laid, His dog to his girdle was tayd, He had not slept but a little braid But "gloria in excelsis" was to him said Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._

The shepherd on a hill he stood, Round about him his sheep they yode, He put his hand under his hood, He saw a star as red as blood. Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy. _Can I not sing, etc._

Now farewell Mall, and also Will, For my love go ye all still, Unto I come again you till, And ever more will ring well thy bell. Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._

Now must I go there Christ was born, Farewell! I come again to-morn, Dog, keep well my sheep fro the corn! And warn well Warroke when I blow my horn! Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._

When Wat to Bethlehem come was, He sweat, he had gone faster than a pace, He found Jesus in a simple place, Between an ox and an ass. Ut hoy! For in [his] pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._

The shepherd said anon right: I will go see yon farly sight, Where as the angel singeth on height, And the star that shineth so bright! Ut hoy! For in [his] pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._

Jesus, I offer to thee here my pipe, My skirt, my tarbox and my scrip, Home to my fellows now will I skip, And also look unto my sheep! Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! _Can I not sing, etc._