BOOK V
_112. Robyn and Gandelyn_
I
I herde a carpyng[636] of a clerk, Al at yone wodes ende, Of gode Robyn and Gandeleyn; Was ther non other thynge. _Robynn lyth in grene wode bowndyn._
II
Stronge thevys wern tho chylderin none, But bowmen gode and hende[637]; He[638] wentyn to wode to getyn hem fleych, If God wold it hem sende.
III
Al day wentyn tho chylderin two, And fleych fowndyn he non, Til it were ageyn evyn[639]; The chylderin wold gon hom.
IV
Half an honderid of fat falyf der He comyn ayon[640], And alle he wern fayr and fat i-now, But markyd was ther non: ‘Be dere God,’ seyde gode Robyn, ‘Hereof we shul have on[641].’
V
Robyn bent his joly bowe, Ther in he set a flo[642]; The fattest der of alle The herte he clef a to[643].
VI
He hadde not the der i-flawe[644], Ne half out of the hyde, There cam a schrewde[645] arwe out of the west, That felde Robertes pryde.
VII
Gandeleyn lokyd hym est and west, Be every syde: ‘Hoo hat myn mayster slayin? Ho hat don this dede? Shal I never out of grene wode go Til I se his sydis blede.’
VIII
Gandeleyn lokyd hym est and west, And sowt under the sunne; He saw a lytil boy, He clepyn[646] Wrennok of Donne.
IX
A good bowe in his hond, A brod arwe ther-ine, And fowre and twenti goode arwys, Trusyd[647] in a thrumme[648]: ‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn, Her-of thu shalt han summe!
X
‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn, Her of thu gyst[649] plenté!’-- ‘Ever on for an other,’ seyde Gandeleyn; ‘Mysaunter[650] have he shal fle.
XI
‘Qwer-at shal our marke be?’ Seyde Gandeleyn.-- ‘Everyche at otheris herte,’ Seyde Wrennok ageyn.
XII
‘Ho[651] shal yeve the ferste schote?’ Seyde Gandeleyn. ‘And I shul yeve[652] the on be-forn,’ Seyde Wrennok ageyn.
XIII
Wrennok schette a ful good schote, And he schet not to hye; Throw the sanchothis[653] of his bryk[654]; It towcyhd neyther thye.
XIV
‘Now hast thu yovyn me on[655] be-forn,’ Al thus to Wrennok seyde he, ‘And throw the myyt of our lady A bettere I shal yeve the.’
XV
Gandeleyn bent his goode bowe, And set ther-in a flo; He schet throw his grene certyl[656], His herte he clef on too.
XVI
‘Now shall thu never yelpe[657], Wrennok, At ale ne at wyn, That thu hast slawe goode Robyn, And his knave Gandeleyn.
XVII
‘Now shalt thu never yelpe, Wrennok, At wyn ne at ale, That thu hast slawe goode Robyn, And Gandeleyn his knave.’ _Robyn lyth in grene wode bowndyn._
FOOTNOTES:
[636] carpyng = talking, tale.
[637] hende = gracious, courteous.
[638] He = they.
[639] ageyn evyn = towards evening.
[640] He comyn ayon = came over against them, in their path.
[641] on = one.
[642] flo = arrow.
[643] a to = in two.
[644] i-flawe = flayed.
[645] schrewde = sharp.
[646] He clepyn = whom they call.
[647] Trusyd = trussed, bound up.
[648] thrumme = end of a warp.
[649] gyst = gettest.
[650] Mysaunter = misadventure.
[651] Ho = who.
[652] yeve = give.
[653] sanchothis = fork.
[654] bryk = breeches.
[655] yovyn me on = given me one.
[656] certyl = kirtle.
[657] yelpe = brag.
_113. The Birth of Robin Hood_
I
O Willie’s large o’ limb and lith[658], And come o’ high degree, And he is gane to Earl Richard, To serve for meat and fee.
II
Earl Richard had but ae daughter, Fair as a lily-flower, And they made up their love-contract Like proper paramour.
III
It fell upon a simmer’s nicht, Whan the leaves were fair and green, That Willie met his gay ladie Intil the wood alane.
IV
‘O narrow is my gown, Willie, That wont to be sae wide; And gane is a’ my fair colour, That wont to be my pride.
V
‘But gin my father should get word What’s past between us twa, Before that he should eat or drink, He’d hang you o’er that wa’.
VI
‘But ye’ll come to my bower, Willie, Just as the sun gaes down, And kep[659] me in your arms twa, And latna me fa’ down.’
VII
O whan the sun was now gane down, He’s doen him till her bower, And there, by the lee licht o’ the moon, Her window she lookit o’er.
VIII
Intill a robe o’ red scarlèt She lap, fearless o’ harm; And Willie was large o’ lith and limb, And keppit her in his arm.
IX
And they’ve gane to the gude green-wood, And, ere the night was deen, She’s born to him a bonny young son, Amang the leaves sae green.
X
Whan night was gane, and day was come, And the sun began to peep, Up and raise the Earl Richard Out o’ his drowsy sleep.
XI
He’s ca’d upon his merry young men, By ane, by twa, and by three: ‘O what’s come o’ my daughter dear, That she’s nae come to me?
XII
‘I dreamt a dreary dream last night, God grant it come to gude! I dreamt I saw my daughter dear Drown in the saut sea flood.
XIII
‘But gin my daughter be dead or sick, Or yet be stown awa’, I mak a vow, and I’ll keep it true, I’ll hang ye ane and a’!’
XIV
They sought her back, they sought her fore, They sought her up and down; They got her in the gude green-wood, Nursing her bonny young son.
XV
He took the bonny boy in his arms, And kist him tenderlie; Says, ‘Though I would your father hang, Your mother’s dear to me.’
XVI
He kist him o’er and o’er again: ‘My grandson I thee claim, And Robin Hood in gude green-wood, And that shall be your name.’
XVII
And mony ane sings o’ grass, o’ grass, And mony ane sings o’ corn, And mony ane sings o’ Robin Hood Kens little whare he was born.
XVIII
It wasna in the ha’, the ha’, Nor in the painted bower; But it was in the gude green-wood, Amang the lily-flower.
FOOTNOTES:
[658] lith = joint.
[659] kep = catch.
_114. Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudesley_
_Fytte the First_
I
Mery it was in the grene foreste Amonge the levès grene, Wheras men hunt east and west Wyth bowes and arrowes kene;
II
To raise the dere out of theyr denne; Suche sightes hath ofte bene sene; As by thre yemen of the north countrey, By them it is I meane.
III
The one of them hight Adam Bell, The other Clym of the Clough[660], The thyrd was Wyllyam of Cloudesley, An archer good ynough.
IV
They were outlaw’d for venyson, These yemen everych-one; They swore them brethren upon a day, To Englyshe-wood[661] for to gone.
V
Now lith[662] and lysten, gentylmen, That of myrthes loveth to here: Two of them were single men, The third had a wedded fere[663].
VI
Wyllyam was the wedded man, Muche more then was hys care: He sayde to hys brethren upon a day, To Carleile he would fare;
VII
For to speke with fayre Alyce his wife, And with hys chyldren thre. ‘By my trouth,’ sayde Adam Bel, ‘Not by the counsell of me:
VIII
‘For if ye go to Carleile, brother, And from thys wylde wode wende, If that the Justice may you take, Your lyfe were at an ende.’--
IX
‘If that I come not to-morowe, brother, By pryme[664] to you agayne, Truste you then that I am taken, Or else that I am slayne.’
X
He toke his leave of hys brethren two, And to Carleile he is gon: There he knock’d at his owne windòwe Shortlye and anone.
XI
‘Wher be you, fayre Alyce,’ he sayd, ‘My wife and chyldren three? Lyghtly let in thyne owne husbànde, Wyllyam of Cloudesley.’--
XII
‘Alas!’ then sayde fayre Alyce, And syghèd wonderous sore, ‘Thys place hath ben besette for you Thys halfè yere and more.’--
XIII
‘Now am I here,’ sayde Cloudesley, ‘I would that in I were. Now fetche us meate and drynke ynoughe, And let us make good chere.’
XIV
She fetchèd hym meate and drynke plentye, Lyke a true wedded wyfe; And pleasèd hym with that she had, Whom she loved as her lyfe.
XV
There lay an old wyfe in that place, A lytle besyde the fyre, Whych Wyllyam had found[665] of charytye More than seven yere.
XVI
Up she rose, and forth shee goes, Evel mote shee speede therfore! For shee had sett no foote on ground In seven yere before.
XVII
She went unto the Justice Hall, As fast as she could hye: ‘Thys night,’ shee sayd, ‘is come to town Wyllyam of Cloudeslyè.’
XVIII
Thereof the Justice was full fayne[666], And so was the Shirife also: ‘Thou shalt not trauaile hither, dame, for nought, Thy meed thou shalt have or thou go.’
XIX
They gave to her a ryght good goune, Of scarlate, [and of graine]: She toke the gyft, and home she wente, And couchèd her doune agayne.
XX
They raysed the towne of mery Carleile In all the haste they can; And came thronging to Wyllyam’s house, As fast as they might gone.
XXI
There they besette that good yeman Round about on every syde: Wyllyam hearde great noyse of folkes, That thither-ward fast hyed.
XXII
Alyce opened a backe wyndowe, And lokèd all aboute; She was ware of the Justice and Shirife bothe, Wyth a full great route.
XXIII
‘Alas! treason!’ cryed Alyce, ‘Ever wo may thou be! Goe into my chamber, my husband,’ she sayd, ‘Swete Wyllyam of Cloudesley.’
XXIV
He toke hys sword and hys buckler, Hys bow and hys chyldren thre, And wente into hys strongest chamber, Where he thought surest to be.
XXV
Fayre Alyce, like a lover true, Took a polaxe in her hande: Said, ‘He shall dye that cometh in Thys dore, whyle I may stand.’
XXVI
Cloudesley bente a wel good bowe, That was of a trusty tre, He smot the Justice on the brest, That hys arowe brast in three.
XXVII
‘God’s curse on his harte,’ saide Wyllyam, ‘Thys day thy cote dyd on! If it had ben no better then myne, It had gone nere thy bone.’--
XXVIII
‘Yelde the Cloudesley,’ sayd the Justice, ‘And thy bowe and thy arrowes the fro.’-- ‘God’s curse on hys hart,’ sayd fair Alyce, ‘That my husband councelleth so!’--
XXIX
‘Set fyre on the house,’ saide the Sherife, ‘Syth it wyll no better be, And brenne we therin Wyllyam,’ he saide, ‘Hys wyfe and chyldren thre.’
XXX
They fyred the house in many a place, The fyre flew up on hye: ‘Alas!’ then cryèd fayre Alyce, ‘I see we here shall dye.’
XXXI
Wyllyam openyd a backe wyndowe, That was in hys chamber hie, And there with sheetes he did let downe His wyfe and children three.
XXXII
‘Have you here my treasure,’ sayde Wyllyam, ‘My wyfe and my chyldren thre: For Christès love do them no harme, But wreke you all on me.’
XXXIII
Wyllyam shot so wonderous well, Tyll hys arrowes were all agoe, And the fyre so fast upon hym fell, That hys bowstryng brent in two.
XXXIV
The sparkles brent and fell upon Good Wyllyam of Cloudesley: Than was he a wofull man, and sayde, ‘Thys is a cowardes death to me.
XXXV
‘Leever had I,’ sayde Wyllyam, ‘With my sworde in the route to renne, Then here among myne enemyes wode[667] Thus cruelly to bren.’
XXXVI
He toke hys sword and hys buckler, And among them all he ran, Where the people were most in prece[668], He smot downe many a man.
XXXVII
There myght no man abyde hys stroakes, So fersly on them he ran: Then they threw windowes and dores on him, And so toke that good yemàn.
XXXVIII
There they hym bounde both hand and fote, And in a deepe dungeon him cast: ‘Now Cloudesley,’ sayd the Justice, ‘Thou shalt be hangèd in hast.’
XXXIX
‘A payre of new gallowes,’ sayd the Sherife, ‘Now shal I for thee make;’ And the gates of Carleile shal be shutte: No man shal come in therat.
XL
‘Then shall not helpe Clym of the Clough, Nor yet shall Adam Bell, Though they came with a thousand mo, Nor all the devels in hell.’
XLI
Early in the mornynge the Justice uprose, To the gates first can he gone, And commaunded to be shut full close Lightilè everych-one.
XLII
Then went he to the markett place, As fast as he coulde hye; There a payre of new gallowes he set up Besyde the pyllorye.
XLIII
A lytle boy among them asked, What meanèd that gallow-tre? They sayde to hange a good yemàn, Called Wyllyam of Cloudeslèy.
XLIV
That lytle boye was the towne swyne-heard, And kept fayre Alyce’s swyne; Oft he had seene Wyllyam in the wodde, And geven hym there to dyne.
XLV
He went out att a crevis of the wall, And lightly to the woode dyd gone; There met he with these wight yemen Shortly and anone.
XLVI
‘Alas!’ then sayde the lytle boye, ‘Ye tary here all too longe; Cloudeslee is taken, and dampned[669] to death, And readye for to honge.’
XLVII
‘Alas!’ then sayd good Adam Bell, ‘That ever we saw thys daye! He had better have tarryed with us, So ofte as we dyd him praye.
XLVIII
‘He myght have dwelt in grene foreste, Under the shadowes greene, And have kepte both hym and us att reste, Out of all trouble and teene[670].’
XLIX
Adam bent a ryght good bow, A great hart sone hee had slayne: ‘Take that, chylde, to thy dynner, And bryng me myne arrowe agayne.’
L
‘Now go we hence,’ sayed these wight yeomen, ‘Tarry we no longer here; We shall hym borowe[671] by God his grace, Though we buy itt full dere.’
LI
To Carleile wente these bold yemen, All in a mornyng of maye.-- Here is a Fyt of Cloudesley, And another is for to saye.
_Fytte the Second_
LII
And when they came to mery Carleile, In a fayre mornyng tyde, They founde the gates shut them untyll About on every syde.
LIII
‘Alas!’ then sayd good Adam Bell, ‘That ever we were made men! These gates be shut so wonderly well, We may not come therein.’
LIV
Then bespake him Clym of the Clough, ‘With a wyle we wyl us in bryng; Let us say we be messengers, Streyght comen from our King.’
LV
Adam said, ‘I have a letter written, Now let us wysely werke, We wyl saye we have the Kyngè’s seale; I holde the porter no clerke.’
LVI
Then Adam Bell bete on the gates With strokès great and stronge: The porter herde such a noyse therat, And to the gates he thronge[672].
LVII
‘Who is there now,’ sayd the porter, ‘That maketh all thys knockinge?’-- ‘We be two messengers,’ quoth Clym of the Clough, ‘Be come ryght from our Kynge.’--
LVIII
‘We have a letter,’ sayd Adam Bell, ‘To the Justice we must it brynge; Let us in our message to do, That we were agayne to the Kynge.’--
LIX
‘Here commeth none in,’ sayd the porter, ‘By hym that dyed on a tre, Tyll a false thefe be hangèd, Called Wyllyam of Cloudesley.’
LX
Then spake the good yeman, Clym of the Clough, And swore by Mary fre, ‘And if that we stande long wythout, Lyke a thefe hangèd shalt thou be.
LXI
‘Lo! here we have got the Kynge’s seale: What, lordane[673], art thou wode[674]?’ The porter wende[675] it had ben so, And lyghtly dyd off hys hode.
LXII
‘Welcome is my lordes seale,’ he saide; ‘For that ye shall come in.’ He opened the gate right shortlye: An evyl openyng for him!
LXIII
‘Now are we in,’ sayde Adam Bell, ‘Wherof we are full faine; But Christ he knowes, that harowed hell, How we shall come out agayne.’
LXIV
‘Had we the keys,’ said Clym of the Clough, ‘Ryght wel then shoulde we spede, Then might we come out wel ynough When we se tyme and nede.’
LXV
They callèd the porter to counsell, And wrang his necke in two, And caste hym in a depe dungeon, And toke hys keys hym fro.
LXVI
‘Now am I porter,’ sayd Adam Bell, ‘Se, brother, the keys are here! The worst porter to merry Carleile That ye had thys hundred yere.
LXVII
‘And now wyll we our bowès bend, Into the towne wyll we go, For to delyver our dere brothèr, That lyeth in care and wo.’
LXVIII
Then they bent theyr good yew bowes, And lokèd theyr stringes were round[676], The market-place of mery Carleile They beset in that stound[677].
LXIX
And, as they lokèd them besyde, A paire of new galowes they see, And the Justice with a quest of swerers[678], That judged Cloudesley hangèd to be.
LXX
And Cloudesley lay redy in a cart, Fast bound both fote and hand; And a stronge rope about hys necke, All readye for to be hang’d.
LXXI
The Justice called to him a ladde, Cloudesley’s clothes shold hee have, To take the measure of that yeman, Thereafter to make hys grave.
LXXII
‘I have sene as great mervaile,’ said Cloudesley, ‘As betweyne thys and pryme, He that maketh a grave for mee, Hymselfe may lye therin.’
LXXIII
‘Thou speakest proudlye,’ said the Justice, ‘I will thee hange with my hande.’ Full wel herd this his brethren two, There styll as they dyd stande.
LXXIV
Then Cloudesley cast his eyen asyde And saw hys brethren stande At a corner of the market place, With theyr good bowes bent in theyr hand.
LXXV
‘I se comfort,’ sayd Cloudesley; ‘Yet hope I well to fare; If I might have my handes at wyll. Ryght lytell wolde I care.’
LXXVI
Then bespake good Adam Bell To Clym of the Clough so fre, ‘Brother, se you marke the Justyce wel; Lo! yonder you may him se:
LXXVII
‘And at the Sheryfe shote I wyll Strongly wyth an arrowe kene.’-- A better shote in mery Carleile Thys seven yere was not sene.
LXXVIII
They loosed their arrowes both at once, Of no man had they drede; The one hyt the Justice, the other the Sheryfe, That both theyr sides gan blede.
LXXIX
All men voyded[679], that them stode nye, When the Justice fell to the grounde, And the Sheryfe fell nye hym by; Eyther had his deathes wounde.
LXXX
All the citezeyns fast gan flye, They durst no longer abyde: There lyghtly they losèd Cloudesley, Where he with ropes lay tyde.
LXXXI
Wyllyam start to an officer of the towne, Hys axe out hys hand he wronge, On echè syde he smote them downe, Hym thought he taryed to long.
LXXXII
Wyllyam sayde to hys brethren two, ‘Thys daye let us lyve and die, If e’er you have nede, as I have now, The same you shall finde by me.’
LXXXIII
They shot so well in that tyde (Theyr stringes were of silke ful sure) That they kept the stretes on every side; That batayle did long endure.
LXXXIV
They fought together as brethren true, Lyke hardy men and bolde, Many a man to the ground they threw, And many a herte made colde.
LXXXV
But when their arrowes were all gon, Men presyd to them full fast, They drew theyr swordès then anone, And theyr bowès from them cast.
LXXXVI
They went lyghtlye on theyr way, Wyth swordes and bucklers round; By that it was mydd of the day, They had made many a wound.
LXXXVII
There was many an out-horne[680] in Carleile blowen, And the belles backwarde dyd ryng; Many a woman sayde, Alas! And many theyr handes dyd wryng.
LXXXVIII
The Mayre of Carleile forth com was, Wyth hym a ful great route: These thre yemen dred hym full sore, For theyr lyvès stode in doute.
LXXXIX
The Mayre came armèd a full great pace, With a polaxe in hys hande; Many a strong man wyth him was, There in that stowre[681] to stande.
XC
The Mayre smot at Cloudesley with his byll, Hys buckler he brast in two, Full many a yeman with great yll, ‘Alas! Treason!’ they cryed for wo. ‘Kepe well the gatès fast we wyll, That these traytours therout not go.’
XCI
But al for nought was that they wrought, For so fast they downe were layde, Tyll they all thre, that so manfully fought Were gotten without, at a braide[682].
XCII
‘Have here your keys,’ sayd Adam Bell, ‘Myne office I here forsake; And yf you do by my counsell A new porter do ye make.’
XCIII
He threw theyr keys there at theyr hedes, And bad them well to thryve, And all that letteth[683] any good yeman To come and comfort his wyfe.
XCIV
Thus be these good yeman gon to the wode As lyghtly as lefe on lynde[684]; They laughe and be mery in theyr mode, Theyr enemyes were farre behynd.
XCV
When they came to Inglyswode, Under theyr trysty tre, There they found bowès full good, And arrowès great plentye.
XCVI
‘So God me help,’ sayd Adam Bell, And Clym of the Clough so fre, ‘I would we were in mery Carleile, Before that fayre meynye[685].’
XCVII
They set them downe, and made good chere, And eate and dranke full well.-- A second Fyt of the wightye yeomen: Another I wyll you tell.
_Fytte the Third._
XCVIII
As they sat in Inglyswode, Under theyr trysty tre[686], They thought they herd a woman wepe, But her they mought not se.
XCIX
Sore syghèd there fayre Alyce, and sayd ‘That ever I sawe thys day! For nowe is my dere husband slayne: Alas! and wel-a-waye!
C
‘Myght I have spoken wyth hys dere brethren, Or with eyther of them twayne, To show to them what him befell, My hart were out of payne.’
CI
Cloudesley walked a lytle beside, Looked under the grene wood lynde, He was ware of his wife and chyldren three, Full wo in herte and mynde.
CII
‘Welcome, wyfe,’ then sayde Wyllyam, ‘Under this trysty tre: I had wende yesterday, by swete saynt John, Thou sholdest me never have se.’--
CIII
‘Now well is me that ye be here, My harte is out of wo.’-- ‘Dame,’ he sayde, ‘be mery of chere, And thanke my brethren two.’
CIV
‘Herof to speake,’ said Adam Bell, ‘I-wis it is no bote: The meate, that we must supp withall, It runneth yet fast on fote.’
CV
Then went they downe into a launde[687]. These noble archars all thre; Eche of them slew a hart of greece[688]. The best they cold there se.
CVI
‘Have here the best, Alyce, my wyfe,’ Sayde Wyllyam of Cloudesley; ‘By cause ye so bouldly stode me by When I was slayne full nye.’
CVII
Then wente they to theyr suppere Wyth such meate as they had; And thankèd God of theyr fortune: They were both mery and glad.
CVIII
And when that they had suppèd well, Certayne withouten lease[689], Cloudesley sayd, ‘We wyll to our Kynge, To get us a charter of peace.
CIX
‘Alyce shal be at sojournyng In a nunnery here besyde; My tow[690] sonnes shall wyth her go, And there they shall abyde.
CX
‘My eldest son shall go wyth me; For hym have I no care: And he shall bring you worde agayn, How that we do fare.’
CXI
Thus be these wightmen[691] to London gone As fast as they myght hye, Tyll they came to the Kynge’s pallàce, Where they woulde needès be.
CXII
And whan they came to the Kynge’s courte, Unto the pallace gate, Of no man wold they aske no leave, But boldly went in therat.
CXIII
They presyd prestly[692] into the hall, Of no man had they dreade: The porter came after, and dyd them call, And with them began to chyde.
CXIV
The usher sayde, ‘Yemen, what wold ye have? I pray you tell to me. You myght thus make offycers shent[693]: Good syrs, of whence be ye?’--
CXV
‘Syr, we be outlawes of the forest, Certayne withouten lease; And hether we be come to the Kyng, To get us a charter of peace.’
CXVI
And whan they came before our Kynge, As it was the lawe of the lande, They knelèd downe without lettyng[694], And eche held up his hand.
CXVII
They sayd, ‘Lord, we beseche you here That ye wyll graunt us grace; For we have slayne your fat falowe dere In many a sondry place.’
CXVIII
‘What be your names,’ then said our Kynge, ‘Anone that you tell me?’-- They sayd, ‘Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, And Wyllyam of Cloudesley.’--
CXIX
‘Be ye those theves,’ then sayd our Kynge, ‘That men have tolde of to me? Here to God I make an avowe, Ye shal be hangèd al thre.
CXX
‘Ye shal be dead without mercỳ, As I am Kynge of this lande.’ He commanded his officers everich-one, Fast on them to lay hande.
CXXI
There they toke these good yemen, And arested them al thre: ‘So may I thryve,’ sayd Adam Bell, ‘Thys game lyketh not me!
CXXII
‘But, good lorde, we beseche you then, That yee graunt us grace, Insomuche as we be to you comen, Or else we may fro you passe,
CXXIII
‘With such weapons as we have here, Tyll we be out of your place; And yf we lyve this hundred yere, We wyll aske you no grace.’
CXXIV
‘Ye speake proudly,’ sayd the Kynge; ‘Ye shall be hangèd all thre.’ ‘That were great pitye,’ then sayd the Quene, ‘If any grace myght be.
CXXV
‘My lorde, whan I came fyrst into this lande To be your wedded wyfe, The fyrst boone that I wold aske, Ye would graunt it me belyfe[695]:
CXXVI
‘And I asked you never none tyll now; Therefore, lorde, graunt it me!’-- ‘Now aske it, madam,’ sayd the Kynge, ‘And graunted it shal be.’--
CXXVII
‘Then, good my lord, I you beseche, These yemen graunt ye me.’-- ‘Madame, ye myght have asked a boone That shuld have been worth them thre.
CXXVIII
‘Ye myght have askèd towres and townes, Parkes and forestes plentye.’-- ‘None soe pleasant to my pay[696],’ shee sayd; ‘Nor none so lefe[697] to me.’--
CXXIX
‘Madame, sith it is your desyre, Your askyng graunted shal be; But I had lever have geven you Good market-townès thre.’
CXXX
The Quenè was a glad woman, And sayde, ‘Lord, gramarcy! I dare and undertake for them That true men shal they be.
CXXXI
‘But good lord, speke som mery word, That comfort they may se.’-- ‘I graunt you grace,’ then sayd our Kynge; ‘Washe, felows, and to meate go ye.’
CXXXII
They had not setten but a whyle, Certayne without lesynge, There came messengers out of the north With letters to our Kynge.
CXXXIII
And whan they came before the Kynge, They knelt downe on theyr kne; And sayd, ‘Lord, your officers grete you well, Of Carleile in the north countrè.’
CXXXIV
‘How fareth my Justice,’ sayd the Kynge, ‘And my Sheryfe also?’-- ‘Syr, they be slayne, without leasynge, And many an officer mo.’--
CXXXV
‘Who hath them slayne,’ sayd the Kynge, ‘Anone that thou tell me.’-- ‘Adam Bell, and Clym of the Clough, And Wyllyam of Cloudesley.’--
CXXXVI
‘Alas for rewth!’ then sayd our Kynge: ‘My herte is wonderous sore; I had lever than a thousande pounde, I had knowne of thys before;
CXXXVII
‘For I have y-graunted them grace, And that forthynketh[698] me: But had I knowne all thys before, They had been hangèd all thre.’
CXXXVIII
The Kyng hee opened the letter anone, Himselfe he red it thro, And founde how these outlàwes had slain Thre hundred men and mo:
CXXXIX
Fyrst the Justice, and the Sheryfe, And the Mayre of Carleile towne; Of all the constables and catchipolles Alyve were scant left one:
CXL
The baylyes, and the bedyls both, And the sergeauntes of the law, And forty fosters of the fe[699], These outlawes had y-slaw;
CXLI
And broke his parks, and slayne his dere; Of all they chose the best; So perèlous out-lawes as they were Walked not by easte nor west.
CXLII
When the Kynge this letter had red, In hys herte he syghèd sore: ‘Take up the tables,’ anone he bad, ‘For I may eat no more.’
CXLIII
The Kynge callèd hys best archars To the buttes[700] wyth hym to go: ‘I wyll se these felowes shote,’ he sayd, ‘In the north have wrought this wo.’
CXLIV
The Kynge’s bowmen buske them[701] blyve[702], And the Quene’s archers also; So dyd these thre wyght yemen; With them they thought to go.
CXLV
There twyse or thryse they shote about For to assay theyr hande; There was no shote these yemen shot, That any prycke[703] myght stand.
CXLVI
Then spake Wyllyam of Cloudesley: ‘By God that for me dyed, I hold hym never no good archar, That shoteth at buttes so wyde.’--
CXLVII
‘At what a butte now wold ye shote, I pray thee tell to me?’-- ‘Nay, syr,’ he sayd, ‘at such a butte As men use in my countrè.’
CXLVIII
Wyllyam wente into a fyeld, And with him his two brethren: There they set up two hasell roddes Twenty score paces betwene.
CXLIX
‘I hold him an archar,’ said Cloudesley, ‘That yonder wande cleveth in two,’-- ‘Here is none suche,’ sayd the Kynge, ‘Nor no man can so do.’
CL
‘I shall assaye, syr,’ sayd Cloudesley, ‘Or that I farther go.’ Cloudesley with a bearing arowe[704] Clave the wand in two.
CLI
‘Thou art the best archer,’ then said the Kynge, ‘Forsothe that ever I se.’-- ‘And yet for your love,’ sayd Wyllyam, ‘I wyll do more maystery.
CLII
‘I have a sonne is seven yere olde, He is to me full deare; I wyll hym tye unto a stake: All shall se, that be here;
CLIII
‘And lay an apple upon hys head, And go syxe score paces hym fro, And I my selfe with a brode arow Shall cleve the apple in two.’
CLIV
‘Now hastè the,’ then sayd the Kynge, ‘By hym that dyed on a tre, But yf thou do not, as thou hest sayde, Hangèd shall thou be.
CLV
‘An thou touche his head or gowne, In syght that men may se, By all the sayntes that be in heaven, I shall hange you all thre!’
CLVI
‘That I have promised,’ said Wyllyam, ‘That I wyll never forsake.’ And there even before the Kynge In the earth he drove a stake:
CLVII
And bound thereto his eldest sonne, And bad hym stand styll thereat; And turned the childè’s face him fro, Because he should not start.
CLVIII
An apple upon his head he set, And then his bowe he bent: Syxe score paces they were out-met[705], And thether Cloudesley went
CLIX
There he drew out a fayr brode arrowe, --Hys bowe was great and longe,-- He set that arrowe in his bowe, That was both styffe and stronge.
CLX
He prayèd the people, that was there, That they all styll wold stand, ‘For he that shoteth for such a wager, Behoveth a stedfast hand.’
CLXI
Muche people prayèd for Cloudesley, That his lyfe savèd myght be, And whan he made hym redy to shote, There was many weeping e’e.
CLXII
But Cloudesley clefte the apple in two, That many a man it se; ‘Over God’s forbode,’ sayde the Kynge, ‘That thou shold shote at me!’
CLXIII
‘I geve thee eightene pence a day, And my bowè shalt thou bere, And over all the north countrè I make the chyfe rydère[706].’
CLXIV
‘And I thyrtene pence,’ said the Quene, ‘By God, and by my fay; Come feche thy payment when thou wylt, No man shall say the nay.
CLXV
‘Wyllyam, I make the a gentleman Of clothyng, and of fe: And thy brethren yemen of my chambre, For they are so semely to se.
CLXVI
‘Your sonne, for he is tendre of age, Of my wyne-seller he shall be; And when he commeth to mans estate, Better avaunced shall he be.
CLXVII
‘And, Wyllyam, bring me your wife,’ said the Quene, ‘Me longeth her sore to se: She shall be my chefe gentlewoman, To governe my nurserye.’
CLXVIII
The yemen thanked them all courteously, And sayd, ‘To Rome wyl we wend, Of all the synnes, that we have done, To be assoyld at his hand.’
CLXIX
So forth be gone these good yemèn, As fast as they might hye; And after came and dwell’d with the Kynge, And dyed good men all thre.
CLXX
Thus endeth the lyves of these good yemèn; God send them eternall blysse; And all, that with a hand-bowe shoteth: That of heven they may never mysse!
FOOTNOTES:
[660] Clym of the Clough = Clement of the Cliff.
[661] Englyshe-wood = Inglewood, near Carlisle.
[662] lith = hearken.
[663] fere = mate.
[664] pryme = six in the morning.
[665] found = provided for.
[666] fayne = rejoiced.
[667] wode = wild, savage.
[668] prece = press, crowd.
[669] dampned = condemned.
[670] teene = sorrow.
[671] borowe = ransom, redeem.
[672] thronge = hastened.
[673] lordane = dolt.
[674] wode = mad.
[675] wende = weened, thought.
[676] round = i. e. not frayed.
[677] stound = time.
[678] swerers = swearers, jurymen.
[679] voyded = gave room, ran off.
[680] out-horne = a horn blown to call citizens to help the law.
[681] stowre = press of fight.
[682] braide = sudden spring.
[683] letteth = hindereth.
[684] lynde = linden.
[685] meynye = company.
[686] trysty tre = trysting tree.
[687] launde = forest-park.
[688] of greece = of grease, fat.
[689] lease = lying.
[690] tow = two.
[691] wightmen = stout fellows.
[692] presyd prestly = pressed quickly.
[693] shent = ruined.
[694] lettyng = delay.
[695] belyfe = straightway.
[696] pay = satisfaction.
[697] lefe = dear.
[698] forthynketh = repenteth.
[699] fosters of the fe = foresters of the lordship.
[700] buttes = targets.
[701] buske them = busked, made them ready.
[702] blyve = belyfe _supra_, straightway.
[703] prycke = mark.
[704] bearyng arowe = a long arrow, tapered to carry far.
[705] out-met = measured out.
[706] rydère = ranger.
_115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny[707]_
_The First Fytte_
How Robin Hood befriended a poor Knight, Sir Richard at the Lee
I
Lithe[708] and listen, Gentlemen, That be of free-born blood: I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.
II
Robin was a proud outlaw, The while he walked on ground; So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none y-found.
III
Robin stood in Barnèsdale[709], And leaned him to a tree; And by him stood Little John, A good yeoman was he.
IV
And also did good Scathèlock, And Much, the miller’s son; There was none inch of his body, But it was worth a groom[710].
V
Then bespake him Little John All unto Robin Hood: ‘Master, an ye would dine betimes It would do you much good.’
VI
Then bespake him good Robin: ‘To dine I have no lest[711], Till that I have some bold baron, Or some uncouth[712] guest,
VII
‘Till that I have some bold baron That may pay for the best, Or else some knight, or some squièr That dwelleth here by West.’
VIII
A good mannèr then had Robin; In land where that he were[713], Every day ere he would dine Three masses would he hear:
IX
The one in worship of the Father, The other of the Holy Ghost, The third was of Our dear Lady That he loved alder-most[714].
X
Robin loved our dear Lady; For doubt[715] of deadly sin Would he no company do harm That woman was therein.
XI
‘Master,’ then said Little John, ‘An we our board shall spread, Tell us whither we shall go, And what life we shall lead;
XII
‘Where we shall take, where we shall leave, Where we shall abide behind, Where we shall rob, where we shall reave[716], Where we shall beat and bind.’
XIII
‘Thereof no force[717],’ then said Robin; ‘We shall do well enow; But look ye do no husband[718] harm That tilleth with his plough.
XIV
‘No more ye shall no good yeoman That walketh by green-wood shaw[719]; Nor yet no knight nor no squièr That will be a good fellaw.
XV
‘These bishops and these archbishops, Ye shall them beat and bind; The High Sheriff of Nottingham, Him hold ye in your mind.’
XVI
‘This word shall be held,’ said Little John, ‘This lesson we shall lere[720]; It is far days[721]; God send us a guest, That we were at our dinnere.’
XVII
‘Take thy good bow,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Let Much wend with thee, And so shall William Scathèlock, And no man abide with me;
XVIII
‘And walk ye up unto the Sayles[722], And so to Watling Street[723], And wait after some uncouth guest; Upchance[724] ye may them meet.
XIX
‘Be he an earl, or any baron, Abbot, or any knight, Bring ye him to lodge with me; His dinner shall be dight[725].’
XX
Then went they up unto the Sayles, Those yeoman allè three; They lookèd east, they lookèd west, They mightè no man see.
XXI
But as they looked in Barnèsdale, By a dernè[726] street[727], Then came a knight a-riding up; Full soon they gan him meet.
XXII
All dreary then was his semblaunt[728], And little was his pride; His one foot in the stirrup stood, The other waved beside.
XXIII
His hood hang’d in his eyen two; He rode in simple array; A sorrier man than he was one Rode never in summer day.
XXIV
Little John was full courteous, And set him[729] on his knee; ‘Welcome be ye, gentle Knight, Welcome are ye to me.
XXV
‘Welcome be thou to greenè wood. Hendè[730] Knight and free; My master hath abiden you fasting Sir, all these hourès three.’
XXVI
‘Who is thy master?’ said the Knight. John said, ‘Robin Hood.’ ‘He is a good yeoman,’ said the Knight, ‘Of him I have heard much good.
XXVII
‘I grant,’ he said, ‘with you to wend, My brethren, all in fere[731]; My purpose was to have dined to-day At Blyth[732] of Doncastere.’
XXVIII
Forth then went this gentle Knight, With a careful cheer[733]; The tears out of his eyen ran, And fell down by his leer[734].
XXIX
They brought him to the lodgè door; When Robin gan him see, Full courteously did off his hood, And set him on his knee.
XXX
‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ then said Robin, ‘Welcome art thou to me; I have abiden you fasting, sir, All these hourès three.’
XXXI
Then answerèd the gentle Knight, With wordès fair and free; ‘God thee savè, good Robin, And all thy fair meinèe.’
XXXII
They washèd together and wipèd both, And set to their dinnere; Bread and wine they had enough, And numbles[735] of the deer.
XXXIII
Swans and pheasants they had full good, And fowls of the rivere; There failèd none so little a bird That ever was bred on brere[736].
XXXIV
‘Do gladly, Sir Knight,’ said Robin. ‘Gramerci, sir,’ said he; ‘Such a dinner had I not Of all these weekès three.
XXXV
‘If I come again, Robin, Here by this country, As good a dinner I shall thee make As thou hast made to me.’
XXXVI
‘Gramerci, Knight,’ said Robin Hood; ‘My dinner when I have, I was never so greedy, by dear-worth[737] God, My dinner for to crave.
XXXVII
‘But pray ere ye wend,’ said Robin Hood; ‘Me thinketh it is good right; It was never the manner, by dear-worth God, A yeoman to pay for a knight.’
XXXVIII
‘I have nought in my coffers,’ said the Knight, ‘That I may proffer for shame:’ ‘Little John, go look,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Nor let[738] not for no blame.’
XXXIX
‘Tell me truth,’ said Robin Hood, ‘So God have part of thee[739].’-- ‘I have no more than ten shillings, So God have part of me.’
XL
‘If thou hast no more,’ said Robin, ‘I will not one pennỳ; And if thou need of any more, More shall I lendè thee.
XLI
‘Go now forth, Little John, The truthè tell thou me; If there be no more but ten shillings, No penny that I see.’
XLII
Little John his mantle spread Full fair upon the ground, And there he found in the Knight’s coffer But even half a pound.
XLIII
Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master low; ‘What tidings, John?’ said Robin Hood.-- ‘Sir, the Knight is true enow.’
XLIV
‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘The Knight shall begin; Muchè wonder thinketh me Thy clothing is so thin.
XLV
‘Tell me one word,’ said Robin, ‘And counsel[740] shall it be; I trow thou wert made a knight of force[741], Or else of yeomanry[742].
XLVI
‘Or else thou hast been a sorry husband[743], And lived in stroke and strife; An okerer[744], or a lecher[745], With wrong hast led thy life.’
XLVII
‘I am none of thosè,’ said the Knight, ‘By Him that madè me; An hundred winter here before Mine anc’tors knights have be.
XLVIII
‘But oft it hath befal’n, Robin, A man hath been disgrate[746]; But God, that sitteth in heaven above, May amend his state.
XLIX
‘Within these two years, Robin,’ he said, ‘My neighbours well it kenn’d[747], Four hundred pounds of good monèy Full well then might I spend,
L
‘Now have I no good,’ said the Knight, ‘God hath shapen such an end, But my children and my wife, Till God it may amend.’
LI
‘In what mannèr,’ then said Robin, ‘Hast thou lorn[748] thy richess?’ ‘For my great folly,’ he said, ‘And for my kindèness.
LII
‘I had a son forsooth, Robin, That should have been mine heir; When he was twenty winter old In field would joust full fair.
LIII
‘He slew a knight of Lancashire, And a squièr bold; For to save him in his right My goods are set and sold.
LIV
‘My lands are set to wed[749], Robin, Until a certain day, To a rich Abbot here beside Of St. Mary’s Abbèy.’
LV
‘What is the sum?’ said Robin Hood; ‘The truthè tell thou me;’ ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘four hundred pound; The Abbot told[750] it me.’
LVI
‘An thou lose thy land,’ said Robin Hood, ‘What shall fall of[751] thee?’-- ‘Hastily I will me busk[752] Over the saltè sea,
LVII
‘And see where Christ was quick and dead, On the mount of Calvary; Farewell, friend, and have good day; It may no better be.’
LVIII
Tears fell out of his eyen two; He would have gone his way; ‘Farewell, friends, and have good day, I have no more to pay.’
LIX
‘Where be thy friends,’ said Robin Hood. ‘Sir, never one will me know; While I was rich enough at home Great boast then would they blow.
LX
‘And now they run away from me, As beastès in a raw[753]; They takè no more heed of me Than they me never saw.’
LXI
For ruth then weptè Little John, Scathèlock and Much in fere; ‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘For here is a simple cheer.
LXII
‘Hast thou any friends,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Thy borrows[754] that will be?’ ‘I havè none,’ then said the Knight, ‘But Him that died on tree!’
LXIII
‘Do way thy japès[755],’ said Robin, ‘Thereof will I right none; Ween’st thou I would have God to[756] borrow, Peter, Paul or John?
LXIV
‘Nay, by Him that madè me, And shope[757] both sun and moon, Find better borrow,’ said Robin, ‘Or money get’st thou none.’
LXV
‘I have none other,’ said the Knight, ‘The soothè for to say, But if[758] it be Our dear Lady; She fail’d never ere this day.’
LXVI
‘By dear-worth God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘To seek all England thorough, Yet found I never to my pay A muchè better borrow.
LXVII
‘Come now forth, Little John, And go to my treasurỳ, And bringè me four hundred pound, And look well told it be.’
LXVIII
Forth then wentè Little John, And Scathèlock went before; He told him out four hundred pound By eight and twenty score.
LXIX
‘Is this well told?’ said Little Much; John said, ‘What grieveth thee? It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fal’n in poverty.’
LXX
‘Master,’ then said Little John, ‘His clothing is full thin; Ye must give the Knight a livery To lap[759] his body therein.
LXXI
‘For ye have scarlet and green, master, And many a rich array; There is no merchant in merry England So rich, I dare well say.’--
LXXII
‘Take him three yards of each coloùr, And look well mete[760] it be.’-- Little John took no measùre But his bowè-tree.
LXXIII
And at every handful that he met[761] He leapèd o’er feet three; ‘What devilkin’s draper,’ said Little Much, ‘Thinkest thou for to be?’
LXXIV
Scathèlock stood full still and laughed, And said, ‘He meteth right. John may give him good measure, For it costeth him but light.’
LXXV
‘Master,’ then said Little John All unto Robin Hood, ‘Ye must give the Knight a horse To lead home all this good.’
LXXVI
‘Take him a grey courser,’ said Robin, ‘And a saddle new; He is Our Lady’s messenger; God grant that he be true!’
LXXVII
‘And a good palfrey[762],’ said Little Much, ‘To maintain him in his right;’ ‘And a pair of boots,’ said Scathèlock, ‘For he is a gentle knight.’
LXXVIII
‘What shalt thou give him, Little John?’-- ‘Sir, a pair of gilt spurs clean, To pray for all this company; God bring him out of teen[763].’
LXXIX
‘When shall my day be,’ said the Knight, ‘Sir, an your willè be?’-- ‘This day twelve moneth,’ said Robin, ‘Under this green-wood tree.
LXXX
‘It were great shamè,’ said Robin, ‘A knight alone to ride, Withoutè squire, yeoman, or page, To walkè by his side.
LXXXI
‘I shall thee lend Little John, my man, For he shall be thy knave[764]; In a yeoman’s stead he may thee stand, If thou great needè have.’
_The Second Fytte_
How the Knight paid his Creditors against their will
LXXXII
Now is the Knight gone on his way; This game him thought full good; When he looked on Barnèsdale, He blessèd Robin Hood.
LXXXIII
And when he thought on Barnèsdale, On Scathelock, Much, and John, He blessèd them for a company The best he ever in come[765].
LXXXIV
Then spake that gentle Knight, To Little John gan he say, ‘To-morrow I must to York town To Saint Mary’s Abbèy;
LXXXV
‘And to the Abbot of that place Four hundred pound must pay; But[766] I be there upon this night My land is lost for aye.’
LXXXVI
The Abbot said to his Convènt, Where he stood on ground, ‘This day twelve moneth came a knight, And borrowed four hundred pound.
LXXXVII
‘He borrowèd four hundred pound Upon his land and fee[767]; But he come this ilkè[768] day Disherited shall he be.’
LXXXVIII
‘It is full early,’ said the Prior, ‘The day is not yet far gone; I had liever pay an hundred pound, And lay it down anon.
LXXXIX
‘The Knight is far beyond the sea, In England is his right, And suffereth hunger and cold And many a sorry night.
XC
‘It were great pity,’ said the Prior, ‘So to have his land; An ye be so light of your conscience, Ye do him muchè shand[769].’
XCI
‘Thou art ever in my beard[770],’ said the Abbot, ‘By God and Saint Richard!’ With that came in a fat-headed monk, The Highè Cellarèr.
XCII
‘He is dead or hangèd,’ said the monk, ‘By Him that bought me dear, And we shall have to spend in this place Four hundred pound by year.’
XCIII
The Abbot and the High Cellarer Started forth full bold, The High Justice of Engèland The Abbot there did hold.
XCIV
The High Justice and many mo Had taken into their hand Wholly all the Knightès debt, To put that Knight to shand.
XCV
They deemèd[771] the Knight wonder sore[772], The Abbot and his meinèe: ‘But he come this ilkè day, Disherited shall he be.’
XCVI
‘He will not come yet,’ said the Justice, ‘I dare well undertake.’ But in sorry timè for them all The Knight came to the gate.
XCVII
Then bespake that gentle Knight Until[773] his meinèe: ‘Now put on your simple weeds That ye brought from the sea.’
XCVIII
They putten on their simple weeds, They came to the gates anon; The Porter was ready himself, And welcomed them every one.
XCIX
‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ said the Porter, ‘My lord to meat is he, And so is many a gentle man, For the love of thee.’
C
The Porter swore a full great oath: ‘By Him that madè me, Here be the bestè corsèd[774] horse That ever yet I see.
CI
‘Lead them into the stable,’ he said, ‘That easèd might they be’; ‘They shall not come therein,’ said the Knight, ‘By Him that died on tree.’
CII
Lordès were to meat y-set In that Abbot’s hall; The Knight went forth and kneelèd down And salued[775] them great and small.
CIII
‘Do gladly, Sir Abbot,’ said the Knight, ‘I am come to hold my day.’ The first word that the Abbot spake, ‘Hast thou brought me my pay?’
CIV
‘Not one penny,’ said the Knight, ‘By Him that makèd me’: ‘Thou art a shrewd[776] debtor,’ said the Abbot; ‘Sir Justice, drink to me!’
CV
‘What doest thou here,’ said the Abbot, ‘But[777] thou hadst brought thy pay?’ ‘Alack is me,’ then said the Knight, ‘To pray of a longer day!’
CVI
‘Thy day is broke,’ said the Justice, ‘Land gettest thou none.’-- ‘Now, good Sir Justice, be my friend, And fend[778] me of my fone[779]!’
CVII
‘I am held with the Abbot,’ said the Justice, ‘Both with cloth and fee.’-- ‘Now, good Sir Sheriff, be my friend!’ ‘Nay, nay, not I,’ said he.
CVIII
‘Now, good Sir Abbot, be my friend, For thy courtesy, And hold my landès in thy hand Till I have made thee gree[780]
CIX
‘And I will be thy true servànt And truly servè thee, Till ye have four hundred pound Of money good and free.’
CX
The Abbot sware a full great oath, ‘By Him that died on tree, Get thy landès where thou mayst, For thou gettest none of me!’
CXI
‘By dear-worth God,’ then said the Knight, ‘That all this worldè wrought, But I have[781] my land again, Full dear it shall be bought.
CXII
‘God, that was of a maiden born, Give us well to speed! For it is good to assay a friend Ere that a man have need.’
CXIII
The Abbot loathly on him gan look, And villainously him gan call; ‘Out,’ he said, ‘thou falsè Knight, Speed thee out of my hall!’
CXIV
‘Thou liest,’ said the gentle Knight; ‘Abbot, in thy hall; Falsè Knight was I never, By God that made us all.’
CXV
Up then stood that gentle Knight, To the Abbot said he, ‘To suffer a knight to kneel so long, Thou canst[782] no courtesy.
CXVI
‘In joustès and in tournaments Full far then have I be, And put myself as far in press[783] As any that ever I see.’
CXVII
‘What will ye give more,’ said the Justice, ‘An the Knight shall make a release[784]? And ellès[785] dare I safely swear Ye hold never your land in peace.’
CXVIII
‘An hundred pound,’ said the Abbot; The Justice said, ‘Give him two;’ ‘Nay, by God,’ said the Knight, ‘Ye get not my land so.
CXIX
‘Though ye would give a thousand more, Yet were ye never the nigher; Shall there never be mine heir Abbot, Justice, nor Friar.’
CXX
He started to a board anon, Till a table round, And here he shook out of a bag Even four hundred pound.
CXXI
‘Have here thy gold, Sir Abbot,’ he said, ‘Which that thou lentest me; Hadst thou been courteous at my coming, I would have rewarded thee.’
CXXII
The Abbot sat still, and ate no more, For all his royal fare; He cast his head on his shouldèr, And fast began to stare.
CXXIII
‘Take[786] me my gold again.’ he said, ‘Sir Justice, that I took thee.’-- ‘Not a penny,’ said the Justice, ‘By Him that died on tree.’--
CXXIV
‘Sir Abbot, and ye men of law, Now have I held my day; Now shall I have my land again, For aught that you can say.’
CXXV
The Knight out started of the door, Away was all his care, And on he put his good clothing. The other he left there.
CXXVI
He went him forth full merry singing, As men have told in tale; His Lady met him at the gate, At home in Uttersdale.
CXXVII
‘Welcome, my lord,’ said his Lady; ‘Sir, lost is all your good?’-- ‘Be merry, damè,’ said the Knight, ‘And pray for Robin Hood,
CXXVIII
‘That ever his soulè be in bliss: He help me out of teen; Ne had not been[787] his kindèness, Beggars had we been.
CXXIX
‘The Abbot and I accorded be, He is servèd of his pay; The goodè yeoman lent it me, As I came by the way.’
CXXX
This Knight then dwellèd fair at home, The soothè for to say, Till he had got four hundred pound, All ready for to pay.
CXXXI
He purvey’d him an hundred bows, The stringès well y-dight, An hundred sheaf of arrows good, The heads burnish’d full bright;
CXXXII
And every arrow an ellè long, With peacock well y-dight[788], Y-notchèd all with white silvèr; It was a seemly sight.
CXXXIII
He purvey’d him an hundred men, Well harness’d in that stead, And himself in that samè suit, And clothed in white and red.
CXXXIV
He bare a lancegay[789] in his hand, And a man led his mail[790], And roden[791] with a lightè song Unto Barnèsdale.
CXXXV
As he went at a bridge there was a wrestling, And there tarrièd was he, And there was all the best yeomen, Of all the west countrỳ.
CXXXVI
A full fair game there was upset, A white bull up y-pight[792]; A great courser with saddle and bridle, With gold burnish’d full bright;
CXXXVII
A pair of gloves, a red gold ring, A pipe of wine, in good fay: What man beareth him best, i-wis, The prize shall bear away.
CXXXVIII
There was a yeoman in that place, And best worthy was he, And for he was far and frembd bestad[793], I-slain he should have be.
CXXXIX
The Knight had ruth of this yeoman. In place where that he stood, He said that yeoman should have no harm, For love of Robin Hood.
CXL
The Knight pressèd into the place, An hundred followed him free, With bows bent, and arrows sharp, For to shende[794] that company.
CXLI
They shoulder’d all, and made him room, To wete[795] what he would say, He took the yeoman by the hand And gave him all the play;
CXLII
He gave him five mark for his wine, There it lay on the mould, And bade it should be set a-broach, Drink who so would.
CXLIII
Thus long tarried this gentle Knight, Till that play was done ... So long abode Robin fasting, Three hours after the noon.
_The Third Fytte_
How Little John robbed the Sheriff of Nottingham and delivered him into Robin Hood’s hands
CXLIV
Lithe and listen, gentlemen, All that now be here, Of Little John, that was the Knight’s man, Good mirth shall ye hear.
CXLV
It was upon a merry day, That young men would go shete[796]; Little John fet[797] his bow anon, And said he would them meet.
CXLVI
Three times Little John shot about, And alway cleft the wand, The proud Sherìff of Nottingham By the marks gan stand.
CXLVII
The Sheriff swore a full great oath, ‘By Him that died on a tree, This man is the best archèr That yet saw I me.
CXLVIII
‘Say me now, wight[798] young man, What is now thy name? In what country were thou born, And where is thy woning wane[799]?’--
CXLIX
‘In Holderness I was bore, I-wis[800], all of my dame, Men call me Reynold Greenleaf, When I am at hame.’--
CL
‘Say me, Reynold Greenleaf, Wilt thou dwell with me? And every year I will thee give Twenty mark to thy fee.’--
CLI
‘I have a master,’ said Little John, ‘A courteous knight is he May ye get leave of him, The better may it be.’
CLII
The Sheriff got Little John Twelve months of the Knight, Therefore he gave him right anon A good horse and a wight.
CLIII
Now is Little John the Sheriff’s man, He give us well to speed, But alway thought Little John To quit him well his meed[801].
CLIV
‘Now so God me help,’ said Little John, ‘And by my true lewtè[802], I shall be the worst servant to him That ever yet had he.’
CLV
It befell upon a Wednesday, The Sheriff on hunting was gone, And Little John lay in his bed, And was forgotten at home.
CLVI
Therefore he was fasting Till it was past the noon. ‘Good sir steward, I pray thee, Give me to dine,’ said Little John.
CLVII
‘It is too long for Greenleaf, Fasting so long to be; Therefore I pray thee, steward, My dinner give thou me.’
CLVIII
‘Shall thou never eat nor drink,’ said the steward, ‘Till my lord be come to town.’ ‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Little John, ‘I had liefer to crack thy crown.’
CLIX
The butler was full uncourteous, There he stood on floor, He started to the buttery, And shut fast the door.
CLX
Little John gave the butler such a rap, His back yede[803] nigh in two: Tho’ he lived an hundred winter, The worse he should go.
CLXI
He spurn’d the door with his foot, It went up well and fine, And there he made a large livery[804] Both of ale and wine.
CLXII
‘Sith[805] ye will not dine,’ said Little John, ‘I shall give you to drink, And though ye live an hundred winter, On Little John ye shall think.’
CLXIII
Little John ate, and Little John drank, The while that he wolde. The Sheriff had in his kitchen a cook, A stout man and a bold.
CLXIV
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said the cook, ‘Thou art a shrewd hind[806], In an household to dwell, For to ask thus to dine.’
CLXV
And there he lent[807] Little John, Good strokès three. ‘I make mine avow,’ said Little John, ‘These strokes liketh well me.
CLXVI
‘Thou art a bold man and an hardy, And so thinketh me; And or I pass from this place, Assay’d better shalt thou be.’
CLXVII
Little John drew a good sword, The cook took another in hand; They thought nothing for to flee, But stiffly for to stand.
CLXVIII
There they fought sore together, Two mile way and more, Might neither other harm done, The mountenance[808] of an hour.
CLXIX
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Little John, ‘And by my true lewtè, Thou art one of the best swordsmen That ever yet saw I me.
CLXX
‘Couldest thou shoot as well in a bow, To green-wood thou shouldest with me, And two times in the year thy clothing I-changèd should be;
CLXXI
‘And every year of Robin Hood Twenty mark to thy fee.’-- ‘Put up thy sword,’ said the cook, ‘And fellows will we be.’
CLXXII
Then he fette[809] to Little John The numbles of a doe, Good bread and full good wine, They ate and drank thereto.
CLXXIII
And when they had drunken well, Their troths together they plight, That they would be with Robin That ilk same day at night.
CLXXIV
They did them to the treasure-house, As fast as they might gone, The locks that were of good steel They broke them every one;
CLXXV
They took away the silver vessel, And all that they might get, Pieces, masars[810], and spoons, Would they none forget;
CLXXVI
Also they took the good pence, Three hundred pound and three; And did them straight to Robin Hood, Under the green-wood tree.
CLXXVII
‘God thee save, my dear master, And Christ thee save and see!’ And then said Robin to Little John, ‘Welcome might thou be;
CLXXVIII
‘And also be that fair yeoman Thou bringest there with thee. What tidings from Nottingham Little John, tell thou me?’--
CLXXIX
‘Well thee greeteth the proud Sheriff, And send thee here by me His cook and his silver vessel, And three hundred pound and three.’--
CLXXX
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin, ‘And to the Trinity, It was never by his good will, This good is come to me.’
CLXXXI
Little John him there bethought, On a shrewèd wile, Five mile in the forest he ran, Him happèd at his will.
CLXXXII
Then he met the proud Sheriff, Hunting with hound and horn, Little John cou’d[811] his courtesy, And kneelèd him beforn:
CLXXXIII
‘God thee save, my dear master, And Christ thee save and see!’-- ‘Reynold Greenleaf,’ said the Sheriff, ‘Where hast thou now be?’--
CLXXXIV
‘I have been in this forest, A fair sight can I see, It was one of the fairest sights That ever yet saw I me;
CLXXXV
‘Yonder I see a right fair hart, His colour is of green, Seven score of deer upon an herd Be with him all bedene[812];
CLXXXVI
‘His tyndès[813] are so sharp, master, Of sixty and well mo, That I durst not shoot for dread Lest they would me sloo[814].’
CLXXXVII
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said the Sheriff, ‘That sight would I fain see.’ ‘Busk you thitherward, my dear master, Anon, and wend with me.’
CLXXXVIII
The Sheriff rode, and Little John Of foot he was full smart, And when they came afore Robin: ‘Lo, here is the master hart!’
CLXXXIX
Still stood the proud Sheriff, A sorry man was he: ‘Woe worth thee, Reynold Greenleaf! Thou hast now betrayèd me.’
CXC
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Little John, ‘Master, ye be to blame, I was mis-served of my dinner, When I was with you at hame.’
CXCI
Soon he was to supper set, And servèd with silver white; And when the Sheriff saw his vessel, For sorrow he might not eat.
CXCII
‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Sheriff, for charity! And for the love of Little John, Thy life is granted to thee.’
CXCIII
When they had suppèd well, The day was all agone, Robin commanded Little John To draw off his hosen and shoon,
CXCIV
His kirtle and his courtepy[815], That was furrèd well fine, And take him a green mantèl, To lap[816] his body therein.
CXCV
Robin commanded his wight young men, Under the green-wood tree, They shall lie in that same sort; That the Sheriff might them see.
CXCVI
All night lay that proud Sheriff, In his breech and in his shirt, No wonder it was in green-wood, Tho’ his sides do smerte[817].
CXCVII
‘Make glad cheer,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Sheriff, for charity! For this is our ordèr, i-wis, Under the green-wood tree.’
CXCVIII
‘This is harder order,’ said the Sheriff, ‘Than any anchor[818] or frere[819]; For all the gold in merry England I would not long dwell here.’
CXCIX
‘All these twelve months,’ said Robin ‘Thou shalt dwell with me; I shall thee teach, proud Sheriff, An outlaw for to be.’
CC
‘Or I here another night lie,’ said the Sheriff, ‘Robin, now I pray thee, Smite off my head rather to-morne[820], And I forgive it thee.
CCI
‘Let me go,’ then said the Sheriff, ‘For saint Charity! And I will be thy best friend That ever yet had thee.’
CCII
‘Thou shalt swear me an oath,’ said Robin, ‘On my bright brand[821], Thou shalt never await[822] me scathe[823], By water nor by land.
CCIII
‘And if thou find any of my men, By night or by day, Upon thine oath thou shalt swear, To help them that thou may.’
CCIV
Now has the Sheriff i-sworn his oath, And home he began to gone, He was as full of green-wood As ever was hip[824] of stone.
_The Fourth Fytte_
How Robin Hood was repaid his Loan
CCV
The Sheriff dwelled in Nottingham, He was fain that he was gone; And Robin and his merry men Went to wood anon.
CCVI
‘Go we to dinner,’ said Little John: Robin Hood said ‘Nay; For I fear Our Lady be wroth with me, For she sent me not my pay.’
CCVII
‘Have no doubt, master,’ said Little John; ‘Yet is not the sun at rest; For I dare say and safely swear, The Knight is true and trest[825].’
CCVIII
‘Take thy bow in hande,’ said Robin, ‘Let Much wend with thee, And so shall William Scathèlock, And no man abide with me.
CCIX
‘And walk ye up unto the Sayles, And so to Watling Street, And wait after some uncouth guest, Upchance ye may them meet.
CCX
‘Whether he be a messenger, Or a man that mirthès can[826], Of my good he shall have some, If he be a poorè man.’
CCXI
Forth then started Little John, Half in tray and teen[827], And girt him with a full good sword, Under a mantle of green.
CCXII
They wenten up unto the Sayles, Those yeomen allè three; They lookèd east, they lookèd west, They mightè no man see.
CCXIII
But as they looked in Barnèsdale, By the highè-way, Then were they ware of a Black Monk[828], Upon a good palfrèy.
CCXIV
Then bespake him Little John, To Muchè gan he say: ‘I dare well lay my life to wed[829], That Monk hath brought our pay.
CCXV
‘Make glad cheer,’ said Little John, ‘And dress your bows of yew, And look your hearts be seker and sad[830], Your strings trusty and true.
CCXVI
‘The Monk hath two and fifty men, And seven somers[831] strong; There rideth no bishop in this land So royally along.
CCXVII
‘Bretheren,’ said Little John, ‘Here are no more but three; But[832] we bring them to dinnèr, Our master we dare not see.
CCXVIII
‘Bend your bows,’ said Little John, ‘Make all yon press[833] to stand; The foremost Monk, his life and death Is closèd in my hand.
CCXIX
‘Abide, churl Monk!’ said Little John, ‘No further that thou wend; If thou dost, by dear-worth God, Thy death is in my hend[834].
CCXX
‘And evil thrift[835] upon thy head, Right under thy hat’s band! For thou hast made our master wroth, He is so lang fastand.’
CCXXI
‘Who is your master?’ said the Monk.-- Little John said, ‘Robin Hood.’-- ‘He is a strong thief,’ said the Monk, ‘Of him I never heard good.’
CCXXII
‘Thou lìest,’ then said Little John, ‘And that shall ruè thee; He is a yeoman of the forest, To dine he hath bidden thee.’
CCXXIII
Much was ready with a bolt[836], Rathely[837] and anon, He set the Monk to-fore[838] the breast To the ground that he gan gon[839].
CCXXIV
Of two and fifty wight yeomen There abode not one, Save a little page and a groom To lead the somers on.
CCXXV
They brought the Monk to the lodgè door, Whether he were loath or lief[840], For to speak with Robin Hood, Maugre in his teeth[841].
CCXXVI
Robin did a-down his hood, The Monk when that he see; The Monk was not so courteous, His hood he lettè be.
CCXXVII
‘He is a churl, by dear-worth God,’ Then said Little John. ‘Thereof no force[842],’ said Robin Hood, ‘For courtesy can be none.’
CCXXVIII
‘How many men,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Haddè this Monk, Johan?’-- ‘Fifty and two when that we met, But many of them be gane.’
CCXXIX
‘Let blow a horn,’ said Robin Hood, ‘That fellowship may us know.’-- Seven score of wight yeomen Came pricking on a row.
CCXXX
Each of them had a good mantèl Of scarlet and of ray[843]; All they came to good Robin, To wit what he would say.
CCXXXI
They made the Monk to wash and wipe, And sit at his dinnere, Robin Hood and Little John They served him both in fere.
CCXXXII
‘Do gladly, Monk,’ said Robin Hood; ‘Gramerci, sir,’ said he. ‘Where is your Abbey, when you are at home, And who is your avowè[844]?’
CCXXXIII
‘Saint Mary’s Abbey,’ said the Monk, ‘Though I be simple here.’-- ‘In what office?’ said Robin; ‘Sir, the High Cellerèr.’
CCXXXIV
‘Ye be the more welcome,’ said Robin, ‘So ever mote I the[845]: Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘This Monk shall drink to me.
CCXXXV
‘But I have great marvel,’ said Robin, ‘Of all this longè day; I dread Our Lady be wroth with me, She sent me not my pay.’
CCXXXVI
‘Have no doubt, master,’ said Little John, ‘Ye have no need, I say, This Monk hath brought it, I dare well swear, For he is of her Abbèy.’
CCXXXVII
‘And she was a borrow,’ said Robin, ‘Between a Knight and me, Of a little money that I him lent, Under the green-wood tree.
CCXXXVIII
‘And if thou hast that silver brought, I pray thee let me see; And I shall helpè thee eftsoons[846], If thou have need to me.’
CCXXXIX
The Monk swore a full great oath, With a sorry cheer, ‘Of the borrowhood[847] thou speak’st to me Heard I never ere.’--
CCXL
‘I makè mine avow to God, Monk, thou art to blame; For God is held a righteous Man, And so is eke his Dame[848].
CCXLI
‘Thou toldest with thine ownè tongue, Thou mayst not sayè naye, How thou art her servant, And servest her every day.
CCXLII
‘And thou art made her messenger, My money for to pay; Therefore I can thee morè thank Thou art come at thy day.
CCXLIII
‘What is in your coffers?’ said Robin, ‘Truthè tell thou me.’-- ‘Sir,’ he saidè, ‘twenty mark[849], All so mote I the.’
CCXLIV
‘If there be no more,’ said Robin, ‘I will not one pennỳ; If thou hast myster[850] of any more, More I shall lend to thee.
CCXLV
‘And if I find more,’ said Robin, ‘I-wis thou shall it forgone; For of thy spending-silver, Monk, Thereof will I right none.
CCXLVI
‘Go now forth, Little John, The truthè tell thou me; If there be no more but twenty mark, No penny that I see.’
CCXLVII
Little John spread his mantle down, As he had done before, And he told out of the Monkès mail Eight hundred pound and more.
CCXLVIII
Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master in haste; ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘the Monk is true enough, Our Lady hath doubled your cast[851]!’--
CCXLIX
‘I makè mine avow to God, Monk, what told I thee? Our Lady is the truest woman That ever found I me.
CCL
‘By dear-worth God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘To seek all England thorough, Yet found I never to my pay A muchè better borrow.
CCLI
‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘And greet thy Lady hend[852], And if she have need to Robin Hood She shall him find a friend.
CCLII
‘And if she need any more silvèr, Come thou again to me, And, by this token she hath me sent, She shall have suchè three.’
CCLIII
The Monk was going to Londonward, There to hold great moot[853], The Knight that rode so high on horse, To bring him under foot.
CCLIV
‘Whither be ye away?’ said Robin.-- ‘Sir, to manors in this londe, To reckon with our revès, That have done much wrong.’--
CCLV
‘Come now forth, Little John, And hearken to my tale, A better yeoman I know none, To seek[854] a Monkès mail[855].’
CCLVI
‘How much is in yon other forcèr[856]? The soothè must we see:’ ‘By our Lady,’ then said the Monk, ‘That were no courtesy,
CCLVII
‘A man to biddè to dinnèr, And sith[857] him beat and bind.’-- ‘It is our old manner,’ said Robin, ‘To leave but little behind.’
CCLVIII
The Monk took the horse with spur, No longer would he abide; ‘Ask to drink,’ then said Robin, ‘Ere that ye further ride.’
CCLIX
‘Nay, ’fore God,’ then said the Monk, ‘Me rueth I came so near; For better cheap[858] I might have dined In Blyth or Doncastere.’
CCLX
‘Greet well your Abbot,’ said Robin, ‘And your prior, I you pray, And bid him send me such a Monk To dinner every day!’
CCLXI
Now lettè we that Monk be still, And speak we of that Knight: Yet he came to hold his day, The while that it was light.
CCLXII
He did him straight to Barnèsdale, Under the green-wood tree, And he found there Robin Hood, And all his merry meinèe.
CCLXIII
The Knight lit down off his good palfrèy, Robin when he gan see; Courteously he did a-down his hood, And set him on his knee.
CCLXIV
‘God thee savè, Robin Hood, And all this company!’-- ‘Welcome be thou, gentle Knight, Right welcome unto me.’
CCLXV
Then bespake him Robin Hood To that Knight so free: ‘What need driveth thee to greenè-wood? I pray, sir Knight, tell me.
CCLXVI
‘And welcome be thou, gentle Knight, Why hast thou been so long?’-- ‘For the Abbot and the High Justice Would have had my land with wrong.’
CCLXVII
‘Hast thou thy land again?’ said Robin; ‘Truthè tell thou me.’-- ‘Yea, ’fore God,’ said the Knight, ‘That thank I God and thee.
CCLXVIII
‘But take no grief I have been so long; I came by a wrestèling, And there I holp a poor yeoman, With wrong was put behind.’
CCLXIX
‘Nay, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Sir Knight, that thank I thee; What man that helpeth a good yeoman, His friend I willè be.’
CCLXX
‘Have here four hundred pound,’ said the Knight, ‘The which ye lent to me; And here is also twenty mark For your courtesy.’
CCLXXI
‘Nay, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Thou brook[859] it well for aye; For Our Lady, by her Cellarèr, Hath sent to me my pay.
CCLXXII
‘And if I would it twicè take A shame it were to me; But truly now, thou gentle Knight, Welcome art thou to me.’
CCLXXIII
When Robin Hood had told his tale, He laugh’d and made good cheer. ‘By my truthè,’ said the Knight, ‘Your money is ready here.’
CCLXXIV
‘Brook it well,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Thou gentle Knight so free; And welcome be thou, gentle Knight, Under my trystell-tree!
CCLXXV
‘But what shall these bows do,’ said Robin, ‘And these arrows feather’d free?’-- ‘With your will,’ then said the Knight, ‘A poor present to thee.’--
CCLXXVI
‘Come now forth, Little John, And go to my treasurỳ, And bring me thence four hundred pound; The Monk overtold[860] it me.
CCLXXVII
‘Have here four hundred pound, Thou gentle Knight and true, And buy thee horse and harness good, And giltè spurs all new.
CCLXXVIII
‘And if thou fail any spending, Come to Robin Hood, And by my troth thou shalt none fail, While I have any good.
CCLXXIX
‘And brook well thy four hundred pound, Which I lent to thee, And make thyself no more so bare, By the counsel of me.’
CCLXXX
Thus then holp him good Robin, The Knight all of his care: God, that sitt’st in heaven high, Grant us well to fare!
_The Fifth Fytte_
How at Archery in Nottingham Robin Hood was treacherously attacked, but escaped into Sir Richard’s Castle
CCLXXXI
Now hath the Knight his leave i-take, And went him on his way; Robin Hood and his merry men Dwelt still full many a day.
CCLXXXII
Lithe and listen, Gentlemen, And hearken what I shall say, How the proud Sheriff of Nottingham, Did cry a full fair play;
CCLXXXIII
That all the best archers of the North Should come upon a day, ‘And he that shooteth alder-best[861] The game shall bear away.
CCLXXXIV
‘He that shooteth alder-best, Furthest, fair, and law[862], At a pair of fynly[863] butts, Under the green-wood shaw,
CCLXXXV
‘A right good arrow he shall have, The shaft of silver white, The head and feathers of rich red gold, In England is none like.’
CCLXXXVI
This then heardè good Robin, Under his trystell-tree: ‘Make you ready, ye wight young men; That shooting will I see.
CCLXXXVII
‘Busk you, my merry young men, Ye shall go with me; And I will wete[864] the Sheriff’s faith, True an if he be.
CCLXXXVIII
When they had their bows i-bent, Their tackles[865] feather’d free, Seven score of wight young men Stood by Robin’s knee.
CCLXXXIX
When they came to Nottingham, The butts were fair and long; Many was the bold archèr That shot with bowè strong.
CCXC
‘There shall but six shoot with me, The other shall keep my heed, And stand with good bowès bent That I be not deceived.’
CCXCI
The fourth outlaw his bow gan bend, And that was Robin Hood, And that beheld the proud Sheriff, All by the butt he stood.
CCXCII
Thrice Robin shot about, And alway he sliced the wand, And so did good Gilbert, With the white hand.
CCXCIII
Little John and good Scathelock Were archers good and free; Little Much and good Reynold, The worst would they not be.
CCXCIV
When they haddè shot about, These archers fair and good, Evermore was the best, For soothè, Robin Hood.
CCXCV
Him was deliver’d the good arròw, For best worthy was he; He took the gift so courteously, To greenè-wood would he.
CCXCVI
They crièd out on Robin Hood And great horns gan they blow: ‘Woe worth thee[866], treason!’ said Robin, ‘Full evil thou art to know.
CCXCVII
‘And woe be thee, thou proud Sheriff, Thus gladding thy guest; Otherwise, thou behotè[867] me In yonder wild forèst.
CCXCVIII
‘But had I thee in greenè-wood, Under my trystell-tree, Thou shouldest leave me a better wed[868] Than thy true lewtè.’
CCXCIX
Full many a bowè there was bent, And arrows let they glide; Many a kirtle there was rent, And hurt full many a side.
CCC
The outlaws’ shottè was so strong That no man might them drive. And the proudè Sheriff’s men They fled away full blive[869].
CCCI
Robin saw the bushment[870] broke, In green-wood he would be; Many an arrow there was shot Among that company.
CCCII
Little John was hurt full sore, With an arrow in his knee, That he might neither go nor ride; It was full great pity.
CCCIII
‘Master,’ then said Little John, ‘If ever thou lovest me, And for that ilk Lordès love, That died upon a tree,
CCCIV
‘And for the meeds[871] of my service, That I have servèd thee, Let never the proud Sheriff Alive now findè me;
CCCV
‘But take out thy brown sword, And smite all off my head And give me wounds dead[872] and wide, No life on me be left.’
CCCVI
‘I would not that,’ said Robin, ‘John, that thou were slawe, For all the gold in merry England, Though it lay now on a rawe[873].’
CCCVII
‘God forbid,’ said little Much, ‘That died on a tree, That thou shouldest, Little John, Part our company.’
CCCVIII
Up Robin took him on his back, And bare him well a mile; Many a time he laid him down, And shot another while.
CCCIX
Then was there a fair castèll, A little within the wood; Double-ditch’d it was about, And wallèd, by the rood.
CCCX
And there dwelt that gentle Knight, Sir Richard at the Lee, That Robin haddè lent his good, Under the green-wood tree.
CCCXI
In he took good Robin, And all his company: ‘Welcome be thou, Robin Hood, Welcome art thou to me;
CCCXII
‘And much I thank thee of thy comfort, And of thy courtesy, And of thy great kindness, Under the green-wood tree;
CCCXIII
‘I love no man in all this world So much as I do thee; For all the proud Sheriff of Nottingham, Right here shalt thou be.
CCCXIV
‘Shut the gates and draw the bridge, And let no man come in, And arm you well, and make you ready, And to the walls ye win[874].
CCCXV
‘For one thing, Robin, I thee behote[875], I swear by Saint Quintìn, These twelve days thou wonest[876] with me, To sup, eat, and dine.’
CCCXVI
Boards were laid, and cloths spread, Readily and anon; Robin Hood and his merry men To meat gan they gone.
_The Sixth Fytte_
How Sir Richard was cast by the Sheriff into Prison, and rescued by Robin Hood
CCCXVII
Lithe and listen, Gentlemen, And hearken to my song; How the proud Sheriff of Nottingham And men of armès strong
CCCXVIII
Full fast came to the High Sheriff, The country up to rout[877], And they beset the Knight’s castell, The wallès all about.
CCCXIX
The proudè Sheriff loud gan cry, And said, ‘Thou traitor Knight, Thou keep’st here the King’s enemies, Against the law and right.’--
CCCXX
‘Sir, I will avow that I have done, The deeds that here be dight[878], Upon all the lands that I have, As I am a true knight.
CCCXXI
‘Wend forth, sirs, on your way, And doth no more to me, Till ye wit our King his will What he will say to thee.’
CCCXXII
The Sheriff thus had his answère, Without any leasing[879]; Forth he yede[880] to London town, All for to tell our King.
CCCXXIII
There he told him of that Knight, And eke of Robin Hood, And also of the bold archers That were so noble and good.
CCCXXIV
‘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 londe.’
CCCXXV
‘I will be at Nottingham,’ said our King, ‘Within this fortènight, And take I willè Robin Hood, And so I will that Knight.
CCCXXVI
‘Go home, thou proud Sheriff, And do as I bid thee, And ordain good archers enough, Of all the wide countrey.’
CCCXXVII
The Sheriff had his leave i-take, And went him on his way; And Robin Hood to green-wood went Upon a certain day;
CCCXXVIII
And Little John was whole[881] of the arrow, That shot was in his knee, And did him straight to Robin Hood, Under the green-wood tree.
CCCXXIX
Robin Hood walked in the forest Under the leavès green; The proud Sheriff of Nottingham Thereof he had great teen.
CCCXXX
The Sheriff there fail’d of Robin Hood, He might not have his prey; Then he awaited this gentle Knight, Both by night and day.
CCCXXXI
Ever he waited that gentle Knight, Sir Richard at the Lee, As he went hawking by the river side, And let his hawkès flee.
CCCXXXII
Took he there this gentle Knight, With men of armès strong, And led him to Nottingham-ward, Bound both foot and hond.
CCCXXXIII
The Sheriff swore a full great oath, By Him that died on a tree, He had liefer than an hundred pound, That Robin Hood had he.
CCCXXXIV
This heard the Knightès wife, A fair lady and a free; She set her on a good palfrey, To green-wood anon rode she.
CCCXXXV
When she came in the forèst, Under the green-wood tree, Found she there Robin Hood And all his fair meinèe.
CCCXXXVI
‘God thee save, thou good Robin, And all thy company; For Ourè dearè Lady’s sake, A boon grant thou me!
CCCXXXVII
‘Let thou never my wedded Lord Shamefully slayen be; He is fast bound at Nottingham, For the love of thee.’
CCCXXXVIII
Anon then said good Robin, To that lady free, ‘What man hath your lord i-take?’-- ‘The proud Sheriff,’ then said she.
CCCXXXIX
‘The proud Sheriff hath him i-take Forsooth as I thee say; He is not yet three miles, Passèd on his way.’
CCCXL
Up then started good Robin As a man that had been wood[882]; ‘Buskè you, my merry men, For Him that died on rood!
CCCXLI
‘And he that this sorròw forsaketh, By Him that died on a tree, And by Him that all things maketh, No longer shall dwell with me.’
CCCXLII
Soon there were good bows y-bent, More than seven score; Hedge nor ditch they sparèd none That was them before.
CCCXLIII
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin, ‘The Knight would I fain see, And if I may him takè, I-quit then shall he be.’
CCCXLIV
And when they came to Nottingham, They walkèd in the street; And with the proud Sheriff i-wis Soonè gan they meet.
CCCXLV
‘Abide, thou proud Sheriff,’ he said, ‘Abide, and speak with me; Of some tidings of our King I would fain hear of thee.
CCCXLVI
‘This seven year, by dear-worthy God, Ne yede I so fast on foot, I make mine avow to God, thou proud Sheriff, It is not for thy good.’
CCCXLVII
Robin bent a full good bow, An arrow he drew at will; He hit so the proud Sheriff, On the ground he lay full still.
CCCXLVIII
And or he might up arise, On his feet to stand, He smote off the Sheriff’s head, With his bright brand.
CCCXLIX
‘Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff; Evil mote thou thrive: There might no man to thee trust The while thou wert alive.’
CCCL
His men drew out their brightè swords That were so sharp and keen, And laiden on the Sheriff’s men, And drave them down bidene[883].
CCCLI
Robin started to the Knight, And cut in two his band, And took[884] him in his hand a bow, And bade him by him stand.
CCCLII
‘Leave thy horsè thee behind, And learnè for to ren[885]; Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood, Through mire, moss, and fen.
CCCLIII
‘Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood, Without any leasing, Till that I have got us grace Of Edward, our comely King.’
_The Seventh Fytte_
How the King rode out to punish Robin Hood, and how he was entertained
CCCLIV
The King came to Nottingham, With knights in great array, For to take that gentle Knight And Robin, if he may.
CCCLV
He askèd men of that country After Robin Hood, And eke after that gentle Knight That was so bold and good.
CCCLVI
When they had him told the case Our King understood their tale, And he seizèd in his hand The Knightès landès all.
CCCLVII
All the pass[886] of Lancashire He went both far and near, Till he came to Plompton Park, He fail’d many of his deer.
CCCLVIII
There[887] our King was wont to see Herdès many one, He could unneth[888] find one deer That bare any good horn.
CCCLIX
The King was wonder wroth withall, And swore by the Trinity, ‘I would I haddè Robin Hood, With eyes I might him see.
CCCLX
‘And he that would smite off the Knightès head, And bring it unto me He shall have the Knightès lands, Sir Richard at the Lee.
CCCLXI
‘I give it him with my chartèr, And seal it with my hand, To have and hold for evermore In all merry England.’
CCCLXII
Then bespake a fair old Knight That was true in his fay[889]: ‘Ah! my liegè lord the King, One word I shall you say.
CCCLXIII
‘There is no man in this country May have the Knightès lands, While Robin Hood may ride or go, And bear a bow in his hands.
CCCLXIV
‘That he ne shall not lose his head, The best ball in his hood; Give it no man, my lord the King, That ye will[890] any good.’
CCCLXV
Half a year dwelt our comely King In Nottingham, and more; Could he not hear of Robin Hood, In what country he wore.
CCCLXVI
But alway wentè good Robin By halk[891] and eke by hill, And alway slew the Kingès deer, And wielded them at will.
CCCLXVII
Then bespake a proud forstèr[892], That stood by our Kingès knee: ‘If ye will see good Robin Hood, Ye must do after me.
CCCLXVIII
‘Take five of the bestè knights That be in yourè lede[893], And walkè down by yon Abbèy, And get you monkès weed.
CCCLXIX
‘And I will be your leadès-man[894], And leadè you the way, And ere ye come to Nottingham Mine head then dare I lay
CCCLXX
‘That ye shall meet with good Robin, Alive if that he be; Ere ye come to Nottingham With eyes ye shall him see.’
CCCLXXI
Full hastily our King was dight, So were his knightès five. Each of them in monkès weed, And hasted thither blive.
CCCLXXII
Our King was great above his cowl, A broad hat on his crown, Right as he were abbot-like, They rode into the town.
CCCLXXIII
Stiff boots our King had on, Forsooth as I you say; Singing he rode to the greenè-wood, The convent[895] was clothed in gray.
CCCLXXIV
His mail-horse[896] and his great somèrs Followed our King behind, Till they came to greenè-wood A mile under the lind[897].
CCCLXXV
There they met with good Robin, Standing on the way, And so did many a bold archèr, For sooth as I you say.
CCCLXXVI
Robin took the Kingè’s horse Hastily in that stide[898], And said, ‘Sir Abbot, by your leave, A while ye must abide.
CCCLXXVII
‘We be yeomen of this forèst Under the green-wood tree; We livè by our Kingès deer, None other shift have we.
CCCLXXVIII
‘And ye have churches and rentès both And gold full great plentỳ, Give us some of your spending For saintè charity.’
CCCLXXIX
Then bespake our comely King, Anon then saidè he, ‘I have brought no more to greenè-wood But forty pound with me.
CCCLXXX
‘I have lain at Nottingham This fortnight with our King, And spent I have full muchè good On many a great lording[899].
CCCLXXXI
‘And I have but forty pound, No more I have with me: But if I had an hundred pound, I vouch it half on thee.’
CCCLXXXII
Robin took the forty pound, And departed it in twain; Halfen-deal[900] he gave his men, And bade them be full fain.
CCCLXXXIII
Full courteously Robin gan say, ‘Sir, this for your spending! We shall meet another day.’-- ‘Gramerci!’ said our King.
CCCLXXXIV
‘But well thee greeteth Edward our King, And sent to thee his seal, And biddeth thee come to Nottingham, Both to meat and meal.’
CCCLXXXV
He took out the broadè targe[901], And soon he let him see; Robin could his courtesy, And set him on his knee.
CCCLXXXVI
‘I love no man in all the world So well as I do my King; Welcome is my lordès seal; And, Monk, for thy tiding.
CCCLXXXVII
‘Sir Abbot, for thy tidings, To-day thou shalt dine with me, For the lovè of my King, Under my trystell-tree.’
CCCLXXXVIII
Forth he led our comely King Full fairè by the hand; Many a deer there was slain, They were full fast dightànd[902].
CCCLXXXIX
Robin took a full great horn, And loudè he gan blow; Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row.
CCCXC
All they kneelèd on their knee Full fair before Robin; The King said himself until, And swore by Saint Austìn,
CCCXCI
‘Here is a wonder seemly sight; Me thinketh, by God’s pine[903], His men are more at his bidding Than my men be at mine.’
CCCXCII
Full hastily was their dinner dight, And thereto gan they gon; They servèd our King with all their might, Both Robin and Little John.
CCCXCIII
Anon before our King was set The fattè venisoun, The good white bread, the good red wine, Thereto fine ale and brown.
CCCXCIV
‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Abbot, for charity, And for this ilkè tiding, Sir, Blessed mote thou be.
CCCXCV
‘Now shalt thou see what life we lead, Ere thou hennès[904] wend; Then thou mayst inform our King, When ye together lend[905].’
CCCXCVI
Up they started all in haste, Their bows were smartly bent; Our King was never so aghast, He weened to have been shent[906].
CCCXCVII
Two yards[907] there were up set, Thereto gan they gang; By fifty paces, our King said, The markès were too lang.
CCCXCVIII
On every side a rose garlànd, They shot under the line: ‘Who fails of the garland,’ said Robin, ‘His tackle he shall tine[908],
CCCXCIX
‘And yield it unto his mastèr, Be it never so fine; For no man will I spare,’ he said, ‘So drink I ale or wine;
CCCC
‘And bear a buffet on his head I-wis aright all bare:’ And all that fell to Robin’s lot He smote them wonder sair.
CCCCI
Twice Robin shot about, And ever he cleft the wand, And so did eke the good Gilbèrt With the white hand.
CCCCII
Little John and good Scathèlock, For nothing would they spare; When they fail’d of the garlànd Robin smote them sair.
CCCCIII
At the last shot that Robin shot, For all his friendès fare, Yet he fail’d of the garlànd Three fingers and mair.
CCCCIV
Then bespake him good Gilbèrt, And thus he gan him say: ‘Master,’ he said, ‘your tackle is lost, Stand forth and take your pay.’
CCCCV
‘If it be so,’ said Robin Hood, ‘That may no better be, Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow, I pray thee, serve thou me.’
CCCCVI
‘It falls[909] not for mine order,’ said our King, ‘Robin, by thy leave, For to smite no good yeomàn, For doubt I should him grieve.’
CCCCVII
‘Smite on boldly,’ said Robin, ‘I give thee largè leave.’ Anon our King with that same word He folded up his sleeve,
CCCCVIII
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[910].
CCCCIX
‘There is pith in thine arm,’ said Robin, ‘I trow thou canst well shoot.’ Thus our King and Robin Hood Together then they met.
CCCCX
Robin beheld our comely King Wistly in the face, So did Sir Richard at the Lee, And knelt down in that place.
CCCCXI
And so did all the wild outlàws, When they saw them kneel: ‘My lord the King of Engèland, Now I know you weel!’
CCCCXII
‘Mercy then, Robin,’ said our King, ‘Under your trystell-tree, Of thy goodness and thy grace, For my men and me!’
CCCCXIII
‘Yes, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood, ‘And also God me save! I ask mercy, my lord the King, And for my men I crave.’
CCCCXIV
‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said our King, ‘And thereto sent I me, With that thou leave the greenè-wood, And all thy company;
CCCCXV
‘And come home, sir, unto my court, And there dwell with me.’-- ‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin, ‘And right so shall it be.
CCCCXVI
‘I will come unto your court, Your service for to see, And bringè with me of my men Seven score and three.
CCCCXVII
‘But me like[911] well your service, I will come again full soon, And shooten at the dunnè deer, As I am wont to doon.’
_The Eighth Fytte_
How Robin Hood lived a while at the King’s Court, but returned to the Green-wood
CCCCXVIII
‘Hast thou any green cloth?’ said our King, ‘That thou wilt sell now to me?’-- ‘Yea, ’fore God,’ said Robin, ‘Thirty yards and three.’
CCCCXIX
‘Robin,’ said our King, ‘Now pray I thee, To sell me some of that cloth, To me and my meinèe.’
CCCCXX
‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said Robin, ‘Or else I were a fool; Another day ye will me clothe, I trow, against the Yule.’
CCCCXXI
The King cast off his coat then, A green garment he did on, And every knight had so, i-wis, They clothèd them full soon.
CCCCXXII
When they were clothed in Lincoln green, They cast away their gray. ‘Now we shall to Nottingham,’ All thus our King gan say.
CCCCXXIII
Their bows bent and forth they went, Shooting all in fere, Toward the town of Nottingham, Outlaws as they were.
CCCCXXIV
Our King and Robin rode together Forsooth as I you say, And they shot pluck-buffet[912], As they went by the way;
CCCCXXV
And many a buffet our King won, Of Robin Hood that day: And nothing spared good Robin Our King in his pay.
CCCCXXVI
‘So God me help,’ said our King, ‘Thy game is nought to lere[913], I should not get a shot of thee, Though I shot all this year.’
CCCCXXVII
All the people of Nottingham They stood and beheld, They saw nothing but mantles of green That cover’d all the felde;
CCCCXXVIII
Then every man to other gan say, ‘I dread our King be slone; Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis, On life he leaveth not one.’
CCCCXXIX
Full hastily they began to flee, Both yeoman and knaves, The old wives that might evil go, They hippèd[914] on their staves.
CCCCXXX
The King laughed full fast, And commanded them again; When they saw our comely King, I-wis they were full fain.
CCCCXXXI
They ate and drank, and made them glad, And sang with notès high. Then bespake our comely King To Sir Richard at the Lee:
CCCCXXXII
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.
CCCCXXXIII
Robin had dwelt in the Kingès court But twelvè months and three, That he had spent an hundred pound, And all his mennès fee.
CCCCXXXIV
In every place where Robin came, Evermore he laid down[915] Both for knightès and for squires, To get him great renown.
CCCCXXXV
By then[916] the year was all agone He had no man but twain, Little John and good Scathèlock With him all for to gane.
CCCCXXXVI
Robin saw the young men shoot Full far upon a day; ‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood, ‘My wealth is went away.
CCCCXXXVII
‘Sometime I was an archer good, A stiff and eke a strong; I was counted the best archèr That was in merry Englond.
CCCCXXXVIII
‘Alas!’ then said good Robin Hood, ‘Alas and well-a-way! If I dwell longer with the King, Sorrow will me slay.’
CCCCXXXIX
Forth then wentè Robin Hood Till he came to our King: ‘My lord the King of Engèland, Grant me mine asking!
CCCCXL
‘I made a chapel in Barnèsdale That seemly is to see, It is of Mary Magdalen, And thereto would I be.
CCCCXLI
‘I might never in this seven night No timè sleep nor wink, Neither all these seven days Neither eat nor drink.
CCCCXLII
‘Me longeth sore to Barnèsdale, I may not be therefro[917]; Barefoot and woolward[918] I have hight[919] Thither for to go.’
CCCCXLIII
‘If it be so,’ then said our King, ‘It may no better be; Seven night I give thee leave, No longer, to dwell from me.’
CCCCXLIV
‘Gramerci, lord,’ then said Robin, And set him on his knee: He took his leave full courteously, To green-wood then went he.
CCCCXLV
When he came to greenè-wood In a merry mornìng, There he heard the notès small Of birds merry singìng.
CCCCXLVI
‘It is far gone,’ said Robin Hood, ‘That I was latest here; Me list[920] a little for to shoot At the dunnè deer.’
CCCCXLVII
Robin slew a full great hart; His horn then gan he blow, That all the outlaws of that forèst That horn they couldè know,
CCCCXLVIII
And them together gatherèd In a little throw[921]; Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row,
CCCCXLIX
And fairè didden off their hoods, And set them on their knee: ‘Welcome,’ they said. ‘our dear mastèr, Under this green-wood tree!’
CCCCL
Robin dwelt in greenè-wood Twenty year and two; For all dread of Edward our King, Again[922] would he not go.
CCCCLI
Yet he was beguiled, i-wis, Through a wicked woman, The prioress of Kirksley, That nigh was of his kin,
CCCCLII
For the love of a knight, Sir Roger of Doncastèr, That was her own special; Full evil might they fare!
CCCCLIII
They took together their counsel Robin Hood for to sle, And how they might best do that deed, His banis[923] for to be.
CCCCLIV
Then bespake good Robin, In place where as he stood, ‘To-morrow I must to Kirksley, Craftily[924] to be letten blood.’
CCCCLV
Sir Roger [and the prioress A springe[925] for him did] lay, And there they betray’d good Robin Hood, Through their falsè play.
CCCCLVI
Christ have mercy on his soul, That died upon the rood! For he was a good outlàw, And did poor men much good.
FOOTNOTES:
[707] Meiny = retinue.
[708] Lithe = hearken.
[709] Barnèsdale = a forest region between Pontefract and Doncaster.
[710] groom = man.
[711] lest = lust, desire.
[712] uncouth = unknown, strange.
[713] were = might be.
[714] alder = of all.
[715] doubt = fear.
[716] reave = plunder.
[717] force = matter, account.
[718] husband = husbandman.
[719] shaw = grove.
[720] lere = learn.
[721] far days = late in the day.
[722] the Sayles = a small farm near Pontefract.
[723] Watling Street = the great North road.
[724] Upchance = perchance.
[725] dight = prepared.
[726] dernè = hidden, retired.
[727] street = road.
[728] semblaunt = aspect.
[729] And set him, &c. = and knelt down.
[730] Hendè = gracious.
[731] fere = company.
[732] Blyth = near E. Retford.
[733] careful cheer = sad countenance.
[734] leer = cheek.
[735] numbles = inwards, tripe.
[736] brere = briar.
[737] dear-worth = precious.
[738] let = desist.
[739] have part of thee = side with thee, aid thee.
[740] counsel = secret.
[741] of force = by force.
[742] of yeomanry = from the yeoman class.
[743] a sorry husband = a wretched manager.
[744] okerer = usurer.
[745] lecher = an unchaste man.
[746] disgrate = fallen in fortune.
[747] kenn’d = knew.
[748] lorn = lost.
[749] set to wed = put to pledge, mortgaged.
[750] told = counted.
[751] fall of = become of.
[752] busk = make ready to go.
[753] raw = row.
[754] borrows = sureties.
[755] Do way thy japès = away with thy jests.
[756] to = for.
[757] shope = created.
[758] But if = unless.
[759] lap = wrap.
[760] mete = meted, measured.
[761] met = measured.
[762] palfrey = a saddle-horse.
[763] teen = trouble.
[764] knave = servant.
[765] come = came.
[766] But = unless.
[767] fee = property.
[768] ilkè = same.
[769] shand = shame.
[770] in my beard = contradicting, or thwarting me.
[771] deemèd = judged.
[772] wonder sore = monstrous severely.
[773] Until = unto.
[774] corsèd = bodied.
[775] salued = saluted.
[776] shrewd = cursed.
[777] But = if not.
[778] fend = defend.
[779] fone = foes.
[780] gree = satisfaction.
[781] But I have = unless I have.
[782] canst = knowest.
[783] put myself ... in press = adventured myself.
[784] release = quittance.
[785] ellès = else.
[786] Take = give.
[787] Ne had not been = had it not been for.
[788] With peacock ... y-dight = fitted with peacock feathers.
[789] lancegay = a javelin-lance.
[790] his mail = his bag or trunk.
[791] roden = they rode.
[792] y-pight = placed, fixed.
[793] far and frembd bestad = in the plight of one from far and a stranger.
[794] shende = shame.
[795] wete = know.
[796] shete = shoot.
[797] fet = fetched.
[798] wight = strong, brave.
[799] woning wane = usual dwelling-place.
[800] I-wis = assuredly.
[801] meed = reward.
[802] lewtè = loyalty.
[803] yede = went.
[804] livery = allowance of food.
[805] Sith = since.
[806] hind = knave, servant.
[807] lent = gave.
[808] mountenance = extent, space.
[809] fette = fetched.
[810] masars = maple-bowls.
[811] cou’d = knew.
[812] bedene = in company, together.
[813] tyndès = tines, antlers.
[814] sloo = slay.
[815] courtepy = a short coat or cloak.
[816] lap = wrap.
[817] smerte = smart.
[818] anchor = hermit.
[819] frere = friar.
[820] to-morne = to-morrow.
[821] brand = sword.
[822] await = plan, plot.
[823] scathe = harm.
[824] hip = the fruit of the wild rose.
[825] trest = trusty.
[826] that mirthès can = that can crack a joke.
[827] tray and teen = grief and trouble.
[828] a Black Monk = a Benedictine.
[829] wed = wager.
[830] seker and sad = sure and steady.
[831] somers = pack-horses.
[832] But = unless.
[833] press = crowd.
[834] hend = hands.
[835] thrift = thriving, luck.
[836] bolt = a blunt arrow.
[837] Rathely = quickly.
[838] set ... to-fore = hit upon.
[839] gan gon = did go.
[840] lief = glad.
[841] Maugre in his teeth = in spite of him.
[842] no force = no matter.
[843] ray = striped cloth.
[844] avowè = founder, patron.
[845] So ... mote I the = so may I prosper.
[846] eftsoons = soon.
[847] borrowhood = surety.
[848] Dame = Mother.
[849] mark = 13_s._ 4_d._
[850] myster = need.
[851] cast = throw, as in dice.
[852] hend = gracious.
[853] moot = meeting, assembly.
[854] seek = search.
[855] mail = wallet, bag.
[856] forcèr = coffer, strong-box.
[857] sith = then.
[858] For better cheap = more cheaply.
[859] brook = enjoy, use.
[860] overtold = counted over.
[861] alder-best = best of all.
[862] law = low.
[863] fynly = goodly.
[864] wete = know.
[865] tackles = arrows.
[866] worth thee = be to thee.
[867] behotè = didst promise.
[868] wed = pledge, security.
[869] blive = quickly.
[870] bushment = ambush.
[871] meeds = wages.
[872] dead = certain, sure.
[873] rawe = row.
[874] win = go, attain.
[875] behote = promise.
[876] wonest = dwellest.
[877] up to rout = to assemble in a band, to call to arms.
[878] dight = done, performed.
[879] leasing = lying.
[880] yede = went.
[881] whole = healed.
[882] wood = furious, mad.
[883] bidene = together.
[884] took = gave.
[885] ren = run.
[886] pass = limits, extent.
[887] There = where.
[888] unneth = scarcely.
[889] fay = faith.
[890] That ye will = to whom you wish.
[891] halk = nook, hiding-place.
[892] forstèr = forester.
[893] lede = following, retinue.
[894] leadès-man = guide.
[895] convent = company of monks.
[896] mail-horse = baggage-horse.
[897] lind = linden, lime tree.
[898] stide = stead, place.
[899] lording = gentleman.
[900] Halfen-deal = half.
[901] targe = disk (seal).
[902] dightànd = making preparations.
[903] pine = pain, passion.
[904] hennès = hence.
[905] lend = dwell.
[906] shent = put to shame, hurt.
[907] yards = rods.
[908] tine = forfeit.
[909] falls = is proper.
[910] frere = friar.
[911] But me like = unless I like.
[912] pluck-buffet = ‘app. a competition between archers, in which he who missed or failed “caught” a buffet from his competitor’ (_N.E.D._).
[913] lere = learn.
[914] hippèd = hopped, limped.
[915] laid down = spent money.
[916] By then = by the time that.
[917] therefro = turned from it.
[918] woolward = in a rough woollen shirt (as penance).
[919] hight = promised.
[920] Me list = it pleases me.
[921] throw = interval of time.
[922] Again = back.
[923] banis = bane, destruction.
[924] craftily = skilfully.
[925] springe = trap.
_116. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne_
I
When shaws[926] beene sheene[927], and shradds[928] full fayre, And leves both large and longe, Itt is merrye walking in the fayre forrèst To heare the small birds’ songe.
II
The woodweele[929] sang, and wold not cease, [Sitting upon the spraye, Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood, In the grenewood where he lay.
III
‘Now by my faye,’ sayd jollye Robìn, ‘A sweaven[930] I had this night; I dreamt me of two wight[931] yemen, That fast with me can fight.]
IV
‘Methought they did mee beate and binde, And tooke my bow mee fro; If I be Robin alive in this lande, I’ll be wroken[932] on them towe.’
V
‘Sweavens are swift, Master,’ quoth John, ‘As the wind that blowes ore a hill; For if itt be never so loude this night, To-morrow itt may be still.’
VI
‘Buske[933] yee, bowne[934] yee, my merry men all, And John shall goe with mee, For I’le goe seeke yond wight yemen, In grenewood where they bee.’
VII
They cast on them their gownes of grene, [And tooke theyr bowes each one; And all away to the grene forrèst] A shooting forth are gone;
VIII
Until they came to the merry grenewood, Where they had gladdest bee, There were they ware of a wight yemàn, His body lean’d to a tree.
IX
A sword and a dagger he wore by his side, Of manye a man the bane; And he was clad in his capull-hyde[935] Topp and tayll and mayne.
X
‘Stand you still, Master,’ quoth Little John, ‘Under this trusty tree, And I will go to yond wight yeoman To know his meaning trulye.’
XI
‘A! John, by me thou settest noe store, And that’s a farley[936] finde. How offt send I my men beffore, And tarry my selfe behinde?
XII
‘It is noe cunning a knave to ken, An a man but heare him speake; An itt were not for bursting of my bowe, John, I wold thy head breake.’
XIII
As often wordes they breeden bale, So they parted Robin and John: And John is gone to Barnèsdale; The gates[937] he knoweth eche one.
XIV
But when he came to Barnèsdale, Great heavinesse there hee hadd, For he found two of his owne fellòwes Were slaine both in a slade[938].
XV
And Scarlette à-foote he flyinge was Fast over stocke and stone, For the Sheriffe with seven score men Fast after him is gone.
XVI
‘Yet one shoote I’le shoote,’ quoth Little John, ‘With Christ his might and mayne; I’le make yond fellow that flyes soe fast, To stopp he shall be fayne.’
XVII
Then John bent up his good yewe-bowe And fettl’d[939] him to shoote: The bow was made of a tender boughe, And fell downe to his foote.
XVIII
‘Woe worth thee, wicked wood,’ sayd John, ‘That ere thou grew on a tree! For now this day thou art my bale, My boote[940] when thou shold bee.’
XIX
His shoote it was but loosely shott, Yet it flewe not in vaine, For itt met one of the Sheriff’s men, Good William à Trent was slaine.
XX
It had bene better of William à Trent To have hangèd upon a gallòw, Than to be that day in the grene-wood To meet Little John’s arrowe.
XXI
But as it is said, when men be mett Fyve can doe more than three, The Sheriffe hath taken Little John, And bound him fast to a tree.
XXII
‘Thou shalt be drawen by dale and downe, And hangèd hye on a hill.’-- ‘But thou mayst fayle,’ quoth Little John, ‘If itt be Christ his will.’
XXIII
Let us leave talking of Little John, And thinke of Robin Hood, How he is gone to the wight yemàn, Where under the leaves he stood.
XXIV
‘Good morrowe, good fellowe,’ sayd Robin so fayre, ‘Good morrowe, good fellow,’ quoth he: ‘Methinkes by this bowe thou beares in thy hande A good archere thou sholdst bee.’
XXV
‘I am wilfull[941] of my waye,’ quo’ the yeman, ‘And of my morning tyde[942].’ ‘I’le lead thee through the wood,’ sayd Robin; ‘Good fellow, I’le be thy guide.’
XXVI
‘I seeke an outlàwe,’ the straunger sayd, ‘Men call him Robin Hood; Rather I’ld meet with that proud outlàwe, Than fortye pound of go’d.’--
XXVII
‘If you two met, it wold be seene Whether were better man: But let us under the levès grene Some other pastime plan.
XXVIII
‘Let us some other masteryes[943] make Among the woods so even, Wee may chance meet with Robin Hood Here att some unsett steven[944].’
XXIX
They cutt them downe two summer shroggs[945], That grew both under a breere, And sett them threescore rood in twinne[946] To shoot the prickes[947] y-fere.
XXX
‘Leade on, good fellowe,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘Leade on, I doe bidd thee.’-- ‘Nay by my faith, good fellowe,’ hee sayd, ‘My leader thou shalt bee.’
XXXI
The first good shoot that Robin led, He mist but an inch it fro’: The yeoman he was an archer good, But he cold ne’er shoote soe.
XXXII
The second shoote had the wight yemàn, He shote within the garlànde: But Robin he shott far better than hee, For he clave the good pricke wande.
XXXIII
‘God’s blessing upon thy heart!’ he sayd; ‘Good fellowe, thy shooting is goode; For an thy hart be as good as thy hand, Thou wert better than Robin Hood.’
XXXIV
‘Now tell me thy name, good fellowe,’ sayd he, ‘Under the leaves of lyne[948].’-- ‘Nay by my faith,’ quoth good Robìn, ‘Till thou have told me thine.’
XXXV
‘I dwell by dale and downe,’ quoth hee, ‘And Robin to take I’me sworne; And when I am callèd by my right name I am Guy of good Gisborne.’--
XXXVI
‘My dwelling is in this wood,’ sayes Robin, ‘By thee I set right nought: I am Robin Hood of Barnèsdale, Whom thou so long hast sought.’
XXXVII
He that had neither beene kithe nor kin, Might have seene a full fayre sight, To see how together these yemen went With blades both browne and bright:
XXXVIII
To see how these yemen together they fought Two howres of a summer’s day: Yett neither Sir Guy nor Robin Hood Them fettled to flye away.
XXXIX
Robin was reachles on[949] a roote, And stumbled at that tyde; And Guy was quick and nimble with-all, And hitt him o’er the left side.
XL
‘Ah deere Lady!’ sayd Robin Hood, ‘That art both mother and may[950], I think it was never man’s destinye To dye before his day.’
XLI
Robin thought on Our Ladye deere, And soone leapt up againe, And strait he came with an aukward[951] stroke, And he Sir Guy hath slayne.
XLII
He took Sir Guy’s head by the hayre, And stickèd itt on his bowes end: ‘Thou hast been traytor all thy liffe, Which thing must have an ende.’
XLIII
Robin pulled forth an Irish kniffe, And nicked Sir Guy in the face, That he was never on woman born, Cold tell whose head it was.
XLIV
Saies, ‘Lye there, lye there, good Sir Guy, And with me be not wrothe; If thou have had the worse strokes at my hand, Thou shalt have the better clothe.’
XLV
Robin did off his gowne of greene, And on Sir Guy did it throwe, And hee put on that capull-hyde[952], That clad him topp to toe.
XLVI
‘The bowe, the arrowes, and litle horne, Now with me I will beare; For I will away to Barnèsdale, To see how my men doe fare.’
XLVII
Robin sett Guy’s horne to his mouth, A loud blast in it he did blow, That beheard the Sheriffe of Nottingham, As he leaned under a lowe[953].
XLVIII
‘Hearken! hearken!’ sayd the Sheriffe, ‘I heare now tydings good, For yonder I heare Sir Guy’s horne blowe, And he hath slaine Robin Hood.
XLIX
‘Yonder I heare Sir Guy’s horne blowe, Itt blowes soe well in tyde, And yonder comes that wight yemàn, Cladd in his capull-hyde.
L
‘Come hyther, come hyther, thou good Sir Guy, Aske what thou wilt of mee.’-- ‘O I will none of thy gold,’ sayd Robin, ‘Nor I will none of thy fee:
LI
‘But now I have slaine the master,’ he sayes, ‘Let me go strike the knave; This is all the rewarde I aske; Nor noe other will I have.’
LII
‘Thou art a madman,’ said the Sheriffe, ‘Thou sholdest have had a knight’s fee: But seeing thy asking hath beene so bad, Well granted it shall be.’
LIII
When Little John heard his master speake, Well knewe he it was his steven[954]: ‘Now shall I be looset,’ quoth Little John, ‘With Christ his might in heaven.’
LIV
Robin hee hyed him to Little John, He thought to loose him belive[955]; The Sheriffe and all his companye Fast after him did drive.
LV
‘Stand abacke! stand abacke!’ sayd Robin Hood; ‘Why draw you mee soe neere? Itt was never the use in our countrye, One’s shrift another shold heere.’
LVI
But Robin pull’d forth an Irysh kniffe, And losed John hand and foote, And gave him Sir Guy’s bow into his hand, And bade it be his boote.
LVII
Then John he took Guy’s bow in his hand, His boltes and arrowes eche one: When the Sheriffe saw Little John bend his bow, He fettled him to be gone.
LVIII
Towards his house in Nottingham towne He fled full fast away; And soe did all his companye: Not one behind wold stay.
LIX
But he cold neither goe soe fast, Nor away soe fast cold runne, But Little John with an arrowe soe broad, Did cleave his herte in twinne.
FOOTNOTES:
[926] shaws = woods.
[927] sheene = bright.
[928] shradds = coppices(?).
[929] woodweele = woodlark, thrush(?).
[930] sweaven = dream.
[931] wight = sturdy.
[932] wroken = revenged.
[933] Buske = dress.
[934] bowne = get ready.
[935] capull-hyde = horse-hide.
[936] farley = wondrous strange.
[937] gates = ways, paths.
[938] slade = hollow.
[939] fettl’d = prepared.
[940] boote = help.
[941] wilfull = astray.
[942] tyde = time of day.
[943] masteryes = trials of skill.
[944] unsett steven = time not appointed.
[945] shroggs = shrubs.
[946] threescore rood in twinne = sixty rods apart.
[947] prickes = marks.
[948] lyne = linden.
[949] reachles on = reckless, careless of.
[950] may = maid.
[951] aukward = back-handed.
[952] capull-hyde = horse-hide.
[953] lowe = hillock.
[954] steven = voice.
[955] belive = straightway.
_117. Robin Hood and the Monk_
I
In somer, when the shawes[956] be sheyne[957], And leves be large and long, Hit is full mery in feyre foreste To here the foulys song:
II
To se the dere draw to the dale, And leve the hillès hee, And shadow hem in the levë’s grene, Under the grene-wode tre.
III
Hit befel on Whitsontide, Erly in a May mornyng, The Son up feyre can shyne, And the briddis mery can syng.
IV
‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John, ‘Be Hym that dyed on tre; A more mery man then I am one Lyves not in Cristiantë.
V
‘Pluk up thi hert, my dere mayster,’ Litull John can sey, ‘And thynk hit is a full fayre tyme In a mornyng of May.’
VI
‘Ye, on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn, ‘And does my hert mych woo; That I may not no solem day To mas nor matyns goo.
VII
‘Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he, ‘Syn I my Savyour see; To day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn, ‘With the myght of mylde Marye.’
VIII
Than spake Moche, the mylner son,-- Ever more wel hym betyde! ‘Take twelve of thi wyght yemèn[958], Well weppynd, be thi side. Such on wolde thi selfe slon[959], That twelve dar not abyde.’
IX
‘Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn, ‘Be my feith I wil non have, But Litull John shall beyre my bow, Til that me list to drawe.’
X
‘Thou shall beyre thin own,’ seid Litull John, ‘Maister, and I wyl beyre myne, And we well shete a peny[960],’ seid Litull John, ‘Under the grene-wode lyne[961].’
XI
‘I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode, ‘In feith, Litull John, with the, But ever for on as thou shetis,’ seide Robyn, ‘In feith I holde[962] the thre.’
XII
Thus shet thei forth, these yemen two, Bothe at buske[963] and brome, Til Litull John wan of his maister Five shillings to hose and shone.
XIII
A ferly[964] strife fel them betwene, As they went bi the wey; Litull John seid he had won five shillings, And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.
XIV
With that Robyn Hode lyed[965] Litull John, And smote hym with his hande; Litull John waxèd wroth therwith, And pull’d out his bright bronde.
XV
‘Were thou not my maister,’ seid Litull John, ‘Thou shuldis be hit ful sore; Get the a man wher thou wilt, For thou getis me no more.’
XVI
Then Robyn goes to Notyngham, Hym selfe mornyng allone, And Litull John to mery Scherwode, The pathes he knew ilkone[966].
XVII
Whan Robyn came to Notyngham, Sertenly withouten layn[967], He prayed to God and myld Mary To bryng hym out save agayn.
XVIII
He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch, And kneled down before the rode; Alle that e’er were the church within Beheld wel Robyn Hode.
XIX
Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke, I pray to God woo he be! Fful sone he knew gode Robyn, As sone as he hym se.
XX
Out at the durre he ran, Fful sone and anon; Alle the yatis[968] of Notyngham He made to be sparred[969] euerychon.
XXI
‘Rise up,’ he seid, ‘thou prowde Schereff, Buske[970] the and make the bowne[971]; I have spyèd the Kynggis felon, Fforsothe he is in this town.
XXII
‘I have spyèd the false felon, As he stondis at his masse; Hit is long of[972] the,’ seide the munke ‘And ever he fro us passe.
XXIII
‘This traytur name is Robyn Hode, Under the grene-wode lynde; He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound, Hit shalle never out of my mynde.’
XXIV
Up then rose this prowde Shereff, And radly[973] made hym yare[974]; Many was the moder son To the kyrk with hym can fare.
XXV
In at the durres thei throly thrast[975], With stavès ful gode wone[976]; ‘Alas, alas!’ seid Robyn Hode, ‘Now mysse I Litull John.’
XXVI
But Robyn toke out a two-hond sworde, That hangit down be his kne; Ther as the Schereff and his men stode thyckust, Thethurwarde wolde he.
XXVII
Thryes thorowout them he ran then, Forsothe as I yow sey, And woundyt mony a moder son, And twelve he slew that day.
XXVIII
His sworde upon the Schereff hed Sertanly he brake in two; ‘The smyth that the made,’ seid Robyn, ‘I pray to God wyrke hym woo!
XXIX
‘Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn, ‘Alasse! agayn my wylle; But if[977] I may fle these traytors fro, I wot thei wil me kyll.’
XXX
Robyn into the churchë ran, Throout hem everilkon ... [Then word is gone to his yemen In grene-wode wher they wone[978].]
XXXI
Sum fel in swonyng as thei were dede, And lay stil as any stone; Non of theym were in her mynde But only Litull John.
XXXII
‘Let be your rule[979],’ seid Litull John, ‘Ffor his luf that dyed on tre; Ye that shulde be dughty[980] men, Het is gret shame to se.
XXXIII
‘Oure maister has bene hard bystode And yet scapyd away; Pluk up your hertis, and leve this mone[981], And harkyn what I shal say.
XXXIV
‘He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day, And yet wil, securly; Therfor I trust in hir specialy No wyckud deth shal he dye.
XXXV
‘Therfor be glad,’ seid Litull John, ‘And let this mournyng be; And I shal be the munkis gyde[982], With the myght of mylde Mary.’
XXXVI
[Than spake Moche, the mylner son,] ‘We will go but we two.’-- ‘An I mete hym,’ seid Litull John, [‘I trust to wyrke hym woo.]
XXXVII
‘Loke that ye kepe wel owre tristil-tre[983], Under the levys smale[984], And spare non of this venyson, That gose in thys vale.’
XXXVIII
Fforthe then went these yemen two, Litull John and Moche on fere[985], And lokid on Moch’ emys hows[986],-- The hye-way lay full nere.
XXXIX
Litull John stode at a wyndow in the mornyng, And lokid forth at a stage[987]; He was war wher the munke came ridyng, And with hym a litul page.
XL
‘Be my feith,’ seid Litull John to Moch, ‘I can the tel tithyngus[988] gode; I se wher the monke cumys rydyng, I know hym be his wyde hode.’
XLI
They went in to the way, these yemen bothe, As curtes men and hende[989]; Thei spyrred[990] tithyngus at the munke, As they hade bene his frende.
XLII
‘Ffro whens come ye?’ seid Litull John, ‘Tel us tithyngus, I yow pray, Off a false owtlay, callid Robyn Hode, Was takyn yisterday.
XLIII
‘He robbyt me and my felowes bothe Of twenti marke in serten; If that false owtlay be takyn, Ffor sothe we wolde be fayn.’
XLIV
‘So did he me,’ seid the munke, ‘Of a hundred pound and more; I layde furst hande hym apon, Ye may thonke me therfore.’
XLV
‘I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John, ‘And we wil when we may; We wil go with you, with your leve, And bryng yow on your way.
XLVI
‘Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow, I tell you in certen; If thei wist ye rode this way, In feith ye shulde be slayn.’
XLVII
As thei went talking be the way, The munke and Litull John, John toke the munkis horse be the hede, Fful sone and anon.
XLVIII
John toke the munkis horse be the hed, Fforsothe as I yow say; So did Much the litull page, Ffor he shulde not scape away.
XLIX
Be the golett[991] of the hode John pulled the munkè down; John was nothyng of hym agast[992], He lete hym falle on his crown.
L
Litull John was sore agrevyd, And drew owt his swerde in hye[993]; This munkè saw he shulde be ded, Lowd mercy can he crye.
LI
‘He was my maister,’ seid Litull John, ‘That thou hase browght in bale[994]; Shalle thou never cum at our Kyng, Ffor to telle hym tale.’
LII
John smote of the munkis hed, No longer wolde he dwell; So did Moch the litull page, Ffor ferd[995] lest he wolde tell.
LIII
Ther thei beryèd hem bothe, In nouther mosse nor lyng, And Litull John and Much in fere Bare the letturs to oure Kyng.
LIV
[Whan John came unto oure Kyng] He knelid down on his kne: God yow save, my legè lorde, Jhesus yow save and se!
LV
‘God yow save, my legè Kyng!’ To speke John was full bolde; He gaf hym the letturs in his hond, The Kyng did hit unfold.
LVI
The Kyng red the letturs anon, And seid, ‘So mot I the[996], Ther was never yoman in mery Inglond I longut so sore to se.
LVII
‘Wher is the munke that these shuld have brought?’ Ourè Kyng can say: ‘Be my trouth,’ seid Litull John, ‘He dyed after[997] the way.’
LVIII
The Kyng gaf Moch and Litull John Twenti pound in sertan, And made theim yemen of the crown, And bade theim go agayn.
LIX
He gaf John the seel in hand, The Sheref for to bere, To bryng Robyn hym to, And no man do hym dere[998].
LX
John toke his leve at oure Kyng, The sothe as I yow say; The next[999] way to Notyngham To take, he yede[1000] the way.
LXI
Whan John came to Notyngham The yatis were sparred ychon[1001]; John callid up the porter, He answerid sone anon.
LXII
‘What is the cause,’ seid Litull John, ‘Thou sparris the yates so fast?’-- ‘Because of Robyn Hode,’ seid the porter, ‘In depe prison is cast.
LXIII
‘John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok, Ffor sothe as I yow say, Thei slew oure men upon our wallis, And sawten[1002] us every day.’
LXIV
Litull John spyrred after the Schereff, And sone he hym fonde; He oppyned the Kyngus prive seell, And gaf hym in his honde.
LXV
Whan the Scheref saw the Kyngus seell, He did of his hode[1003] anon: ‘Wher is the munke that bare the letturs?’ He seid to Litull John.
LXVI
‘He is so fayn of hym,’ seid Litull John, ‘Fforsothe as I yow say, He has made hym abot of Westmynster, A lorde of that abbay.’
LXVII
The Scheref made John godè chere, And gaf hym wyne of the best; At nyght thei went to her[1004] beddè, And every man to his rest.
LXVIII
When the Scheref was on slepe, Dronken of wyne and ale, Litull John and Moch forsothe Toke the way unto the jale.
LXIX
Litull John callid up the jayler, And bade hym rise anon; He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison, And out of hit was gon.
LXX
The porter rose anon sertan, As sone as he herd John calle; Litull John was redy with a swerd, And bare hym to the walle.
LXXI
‘Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litull John, ‘And take the keyes in honde:’ He toke the way to Robyn Hode, And sone he hym unbonde.
LXXII
He gaf hym a gode swerd in his hond, His hed therwith for to kepe, And ther as the walle was lowyst Anon down can thei lepe.
LXXIII
Be that the cok began to crow, The day began to spryng, The Scheref fond the jaylier ded; The comyn bell[1005] made he ryng.
LXXIV
He made a crye thoroout al the town, Wheder he be yoman or knave, That cowthè bryng hym Robyn Hode, His warison[1006] he shuld have.
LXXV
‘Ffor I dar never,’ said the Scheref, ‘Cum before oure Kyng; Ffor if I do, I wot serten Ffor sothe he wil me heng.’
LXXVI
The Scheref made to seke Notyngham, Bothe be strete and stye[1007], And Robyn was in mery Scherwode, As light as lef on lynde.
LXXVII
Then bespake gode Litull John, To Robyn Hode can he say, ‘I have done the a gode turne for an evyll, Quyte the whan thou may.
LXXVIII
‘I have done the a gode turne,’ seid Litull John, ‘Fforsothe as I yow say; I have brought the under grene-wode lyne; Ffare wel, and have gode day.’
LXXIX
‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode, ‘So shall hit never be; I make the maister,’ seid Robyn Hode, ‘Off alle my men and me.’
LXXX
‘Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John, ‘So shalle hit never be; But lat me be a felow,’ seid Litull John, ‘No noder kepe I be[1008].’
LXXXI
Thus John gate Robyn Hode out of prison, Sertan withoutyn layn; Whan his men saw hym hol and sounde, Fforsothe they were full fayne.
LXXXII
They fillèd in wyne, and made hem glad, Under the levys smale, And yete[1009] pastès of venyson, That gode was with ale.
LXXXIII
Than wordè came to oure Kyng How Robyn Hode was gon, And how the Scheref of Notyngham Durst never loke hym upon.
LXXXIV
Then bespake oure cumly Kyng, In an angur hye: ‘Litull John hase begyled the Schereff, In faith so hase he me.
LXXXV
‘Litull John has begyled us bothe And that full wel I se; Or ellis the Schereff of Notyngham Hye hongut shulde he be.
LXXXVI
‘I made hem yemen of the crowne, And gaf hem fee with my hond; I gaf hem grith[1010],’ seid oure Kyng, ‘Thorowout all mery Inglond.
LXXXVII
‘I gaf theym grith,’ then seid oure Kyng; ‘I say, so mot I the, Fforsothe soch a yeman as he is on In all Inglond ar not thre.
LXXXVIII
‘He is trew to his maister,’ seid our Kyng; ‘I sey, be swete Seynt John, He lovys better Robyn Hode Then he dose us ychon.
LXXXIX
‘Robyn Hode is ever bond to hym, Bothe in strete and stalle; Speke no more of this mater,’ seid oure Kyng, ‘But John has begyled us alle.’
XC
Thus endys the talkyng of the munke And Robyn Hode i-wysse; God, that is ever a crowned kyng, Bryng us all to his blisse!
FOOTNOTES:
[956] shawes = woods.
[957] sheyne = bright, beautiful.
[958] wyght yemèn = sturdy yeomen.
[959] slon = slay.
[960] shete a peny = shoot for a penny.
[961] lyne = linden.
[962] holde = wager.
[963] buske = bush.
[964] ferly = wondrous, strange.
[965] lyed = gave the lie to.
[966] ilkone = each one.
[967] layn = concealment.
[968] yatis = gates.
[969] sparred = barred.
[970] Buske = get ready.
[971] bowne = bound, ready.
[972] long of = along of, i. e. thy fault.
[973] radly = quickly.
[974] yare = ready.
[975] throly thrast = pressed stubbornly.
[976] gode wone = good number, plenty.
[977] But if = unless.
[978] wone = dwelt.
[979] rule = ‘taking on,’ lamenting.
[980] dughty = doughty.
[981] mone = moan.
[982] gyde = be the guide, take charge of.
[983] tristil-tre = trysting-tree, rendezvous.
[984] smale = small.
[985] on fere = in company.
[986] emys hows = uncle’s house.
[987] at a stage = on an upper floor.
[988] tithyngus = tidings.
[989] hende = civil.
[990] spyrred = spiered, inquired.
[991] golett = gullet, throat.
[992] of him agast = alarmed about him.
[993] hye = haste.
[994] bale = harm.
[995] ferd = fear.
[996] mot I the = I thrive.
[997] after = behind on.
[998] dere = injury.
[999] next = nighest.
[1000] yede = went.
[1001] ychon = each one.
[1002] sawten = assault.
[1003] did of his hode = took off his hat.
[1004] her = their.
[1005] comyn bell = town bell.
[1006] warison = reward.
[1007] stye = path, alley.
[1008] kepe I be = care I to be.
[1009] yete = ate.
[1010] grith = charter of peace.
_118. Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar_
_But how many months be in the year? There are thirteen, I say; The midsummer moon is the merryest of all Next to the merry month of May._
I
In summer time, when leaves grow green, And flowers are fresh and gay, Robin Hood and his merry men Were [all] disposed to play.
II
Then some would leap, and some would run, And some use artillery: ‘Which of you can a good bow draw, A good archer to be?
III
‘Which of you can kill a buck? Or who can kill a doe? Or who can kill a hart of grease, Five hundred foot him fro?’
IV
Will Scadlock he kill’d a buck, And Midge he kill’d a doe, And Little John kill’d a hart of grease, Five hundred foot him fro.
V
‘God’s blessing on thy heart,’ said Robin Hood, ‘That hath [shot] such a shot for me; I would ride my horse an hundred miles, To finde one could match with thee’
VI
That caus’d Will Scadlock to laugh, He laugh’d full heartily: ‘There lives a curtal friar in Fountains Abbey Will beat both him and thee.
VII
‘That curtal friar in Fountains Abbey Well can a strong bow draw; He will beat you and your yeomen, Set them all on a row.’
VIII
Robin Hood took a solemn oath, It was by Mary free, That he would neither eat nor drink Till the friar he did see.
IX
Robin Hood put on his harness good, And on his head a cap of steel, Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him weel.
X
He took his bow into his hand, It was made of a trusty tree, With a sheaf of arrows at his belt, To the Fountains Dale went he.
XI
And coming unto Fountain[s] Dale, No further would he ride; There was he aware of a curtal friar, Walking by the water-side.
XII
The friar had on a harness good, And on his head a cap of steel, Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him weel.
XIII
Robin Hood lighted off his horse, And tied him to a thorn: ‘Carry me over the water, thou curtal friar, Or else thy life’s forlorn.’
XIV
The friar took Robin Hood on his back, Deep water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad, Till he came at the other side.
XV
Lightly leapt Robin Hood off the friar’s back; The friar said to him again, ‘Carry me over this water, fine fellow, Or it shall breed thy pain.’
XVI
Robin Hood took the friar on ’s back, Deep water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad, Till he came at the other side.
XVII
Lightly leapt the friar off Robin Hood’s back; Robin Hood said to him again, ‘Carry me over this water, thou curtal friar, Or it shall breed thy pain.’
XVIII
The friar took Robin Hood on’s back again, And stept up to the knee; Till he came at the middle stream, Neither good nor bad spake he.
XIX
And coming to the middle stream, There he threw Robin in: ‘And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellow, Whether thou wilt sink or swim!’
XX
Robin Hood swam to a bush of broom, The friar to a wicker wand; Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore, And took his bow in hand.
XXI
One of his best arrows under his belt To the friar he let flye; The curtal friar, with his steel buckler, He put that arrow by.
XXII
‘Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellòw, Shoot on as thou hast begun; If thou shoot here a summer’s day, Thy mark I will not shun.’
XXIII
Robin Hood shot passing well, Till his arrows all were gone; They took their swords and steel bucklers, And fought with might and maine;
XXIV
From ten o’ th’ clock that day, Till four i’ th’ afternoon; Then Robin Hood came to his knees, Of the friar to beg a boon.
XXV
‘A boon, a boon, thou curtal friar! I beg it on my knee; Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth, And to blow blasts three.’
XXVI
‘That will I do,’ said the curtal friar! ‘Of thy blasts I have no doubt; I hope thou’lt blow so passing well Till both thy eyes fall out.’
XXVII
Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth He blew but blasts three; Half a hundred yeomen, with bows bent, Came raking[1011] over the lee.
XXVIII
‘Whose men are these,’ said the friar, ‘That come so hastily?’ ‘These men are mine,’ said Robin Hood ‘Friar, what is that to thee?’
XXIX
‘A boon, a boon,’ said the curtal friar, ‘The like I gave to thee! Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth, And to whute[1012] whutès three.’
XXX
‘That will I do,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Or else I were to blame; Three whutès in a friar’s fist Would make me glad and fain.’
XXXI
The friar he set his fist to his mouth, And whuted whutès three; Half a hundred good ban-dogs Came running the friar unto.
XXXII
‘Here’s for every man of thine a dog, And I my self for thee!’-- ‘Nay, by my faith,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘Friar, that may not be.’
XXXIII
Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did go, T’ one behind, the other before; Robin Hood’s mantle of Lincoln green Off from his back they tore.
XXXIV
And whether his men shot east or west, Or they shot north or south, The curtal dogs, so taught they were, They kept their arrows in their mouth.
XXXV
‘Take up thy dogs,’ said Little John, ‘Friar, at my bidding be.’-- ‘Whose man art thou,’ said the curtal friar, ‘Comes here to prate with me?’--
XXXVI
‘I am Little John, Robin Hood’s man, Friar, I will not lie; If thou take not up thy dogs soon, I’le take up them and thee.’
XXXVII
Little John had a bow in his hand, He shot with might and main; Soon half a score of the friar’s dogs Lay dead upon the plain.
XXXVIII
‘Hold thy hand, good fellow,’ said the curtal friar, ‘Thy master and I will agree; And we will have new orders taken, With all the haste that may be.’
XXXIX
‘If thou wilt forsake fair Fountains Dale, And Fountains Abbey free, Every Sunday throughout the year, A noble shall be thy fee.
XL
‘And every holy day throughout the year, Changed shall thy garment be, If thou wilt go to fair Nottingham, And there remain with me.’
XLI
This curtal friar had kept Fountains Dale Seven long years or more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earl Could make him yield before.
FOOTNOTES:
[1011] raking = advancing.
[1012] whute = whistle.
_119. Robin Hood and the Butcher_
I
Come, all you brave gallants, and listen a while, That are in the bowers within; For of Robin Hood, that archer good, A song I intend for to sing.
II
Upon a time it chancèd so Bold Robin in forrest did spy A jolly butchèr, with a bonny fine mare, With his flesh to the market did hye.
III
‘Good morrow, good fellow!’ said jolly Robìn, ‘What food hast? tell unto me; And thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell, For I like well thy company.’
IV
The butcher he answered jolly Robin: ‘No matter where I dwell; For a butcher I am, and to Notingham I am going, my flesh to sell.’
V
‘What price thy flesh?’ said jolly Robìn, ‘Come, tell it soon unto me; And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear, For a butcher fain would I be.’
VI
‘The price of my flesh,’ the butcher repli’d, ‘I soon will tell unto thee; With my bonny mare, and they are not dear, Four mark thou must give unto me.’
VII
‘Four mark I will give thee,’ saith jolly Robìn, ‘Four mark it shall be thy fee; Thy mony come count, and let me mount, For a butcher I fain would be.’
VIII
Now Robin he is to Notingham gone, His butcher’s trade for to begin; With good intent, to the Sheriff he went, And there he took up his inn.
IX
When other butchers they opened their meat, Bold Robin he then begun; But how for to sell he knew not well, For a butcher he was but young.
X
When other butchers no meat could sell, Robin got both gold and fee; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for three.
XI
But when he sold his meat so fast, No butcher by him could thrive; For he sold more meat for one peny Than others could do for five.
XII
Which made the butchers of Notingham To study as they did stand, Saying, surely he was some prodigal, That had sold his father’s land.
XIII
The butchers they stepped to jolly Robin, Acquainted with him for to be; ‘Come, brother,’ one said, ‘we be all of one trade, Come, will you go dine with me?’
XIV
‘Accurst of his heart,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘That a butcher doth deny! I will go with you, my brethren true, And as fast as I can hie.’
XV
But when to the Sheriff’s house they came, To dinner they hied apace, And Robin Hood he the man must be Before them all to say grace.
XVI
‘Pray God bless us all,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘And our meat within this place; A cup of sack good, to nourish our blood, And so I do end my grace.
XVII
‘Come fill us more wine,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘Let us merry be while we do stay; For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear, I vow I the reck’ning will pay.
XVIII
‘Come, brothers, be merry,’ said jolly Robìn, ‘Let us drink, and never give o’er; For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way, If it cost me five pounds and more.’
XIX
‘This is a mad blade,’ the butchers then said; Says the Sheriff, ‘He’s some prodigal, That his land has sold, for silver and gold, And meaneth to spend it all.’
XX
‘Hast thou any horn-beasts,’ the Sheriff inquired, ‘Good fellow, to sell unto me?’-- ‘Yea, a plenty I have, good Master Sheriff, I have hundreds two or three.
XXI
‘And a hundred acre of good free land, An it please you go for to see; And I’le make you as good assurance of it As ever my father made me.’
XXII
The Sheriff he saddled a good palfrèy, With three hundred pound in gold, And away he went with bold Robin Hood, His hornèd beasts to behold.
XXIII
Away then the Sheriff and Robin did ride, To the forest of merry Sherwood; Then the Sheriff did say, ‘God bless us this day From a man they call Robin Hood!’
XXIV
But when that a little further they came, Bold Robin he chancèd to spy A hundred head of the good red deer, Come tripping the Sheriff full nigh.
XXV
‘How like you my horn’d beasts, Master Sheriff? They be fat and fair for to see;’ ‘I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone, For I like not thy company.’
XXVI
Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, And blew but blastès three; Then quickly anon there came Little John, And all his company.
XXVII
‘What is your will?’ then said Little John, ‘Good master come tell it to me;’ ‘I have brought hither the Sheriff of Notingham, This day to dine with thee.’
XXVIII
‘He is welcome to me,’ then said Little John, ‘I hope he will honestly pay; I know he has gold, if it be but well told, Will serve us to drink a whole day.’
XXIX
Robin Hood took his mantle from his back, And laid it upon the ground, And out of the Sheriff’s portmantle He told three hundred pound.
XXX
Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood, Set him on his dapple gray: ‘O have me commended, good sir, to your wife!’-- So Robin went laughing away.
_120. Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford_
I
Come, gentlemen all, and listen a while; A story I’ll to you unfold-- How Robin Hood servèd the Bishop, When he robb’d him of his gold.
II
As it befel in merry Barnsdale, And under the green-wood tree, The Bishop of Hereford was to come by, With all his companye.
III
‘Come, kill a ven’son,’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘Come, kill me a good fat deer; The Bishop’s to dine with me to day, And he shall pay well for his cheer.
IV
‘We’ll kill a fat ven’son,’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘And dress’t by the highway-side, And narrowly watch for the Bishop, Lest some other way he should ride.’
V
He dress’d himself up in shepherd’s attire, With six of his men also; And the Bishop of Hereford came thereby, As about the fire they did go.
VI
‘What matter is this?’ said the Bishop; ‘Or for whom do you make this a-do? Or why do you kill the King’s ven’son, When your company is so few?’
VII
‘We are shepherds,’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘And we keep sheep all the year; And we are disposed to be merry this day, And to kill of the King’s fat deer.’
VIII
‘You are brave fellowes,’ said the Bishop, ‘And the King of your doings shall know; Therefore make haste, come along with me, For before the King you shall go.’
IX
‘O pardon, O pardon,’ says bold Robin Hood, ‘O pardon, I thee pray! For it never becomes your lordship’s coat To take so many lives away.’
X
‘No pardon, no pardon!’ the Bishop says; ‘No pardon I thee owe; Therefore make haste, come along with me, For before the King you shall go.’
XI
Robin set his back against a tree, And his foot against a thorn, And from underneath his shepherd’s coat He pull’d out a bugle horn.
XII
He put the little end to his mouth, And a loud blast did he blow, Till threescore and ten of bold Robin’s men Came running all on a row;
XIII
All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood; --’Twas a comely sight for to see: ‘What matter, my master,’ said Little John, ‘That you blow so hastilye?’--
XIV
‘O here is the Bishop of Hereford, And no pardon we shall have.’-- ‘Cut off his head, master,’ said Little John, ‘And throw him into his grave.’--
XV
‘O pardon, O pardon,’ said the Bishop, ‘O pardon, I thee pray! For if I had known it had been you, I’d have gone some other way.’--
XVI
‘No pardon, no pardon!’ said Robin Hood; ‘No pardon I thee owe; Therefore make haste, come along with me, For to merry Barnsdale you shall go.’
XVII
Then Robin has taken the Bishop’s hand And led him to merry Barnsdale; He made him to stay and sup with him that night, And to drink wine, beer and ale.
XVIII
‘Call in the reckoning,’ said the Bishòp, ‘For methinks it grows wondrous high.’-- ‘Lend me your purse, Bishop,’ said Little John, ‘And I’ll tell you by-and-by.’
XIX
Then Little John took the Bishop’s cloak, And spread it upon the ground, And out of the Bishop’s portmantua He told three hundred pound.
XX
‘So now let him go,’ said Robin Hood; Said Little John, ‘That may not be; For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass Before that he go from me.’
XXI
Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand, And bound him fast to a tree, And made him to sing a mass, God wot, To him and his yeomandrye.
XXII
Then Robin Hood brought him through the wood And causèd the music to play, And he made the Bishop to dance in his boots, And they set him on ’s dapple-grey, And they gave the tail within his hand-- And glad he could so get away!
_121. Robin Hood and Alan a Dale_
I
Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will you tell of a bold outlàw, That lived in Nottinghamshire.
II
As Robin Hood in the forest stood, All under the green-wood tree, There was he ware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.
III
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay, And he did frisk it over the plain, And chanted a roundelay.
IV
As Robin Hood next morning stood, Amongst the leaves so gay, There did he espy the same young man Come drooping along the way.
V
The scarlet he wore the day before, It was clean cast away; And every step he fetcht a sigh, ‘Alack and a well a day!’
VI
Then steppèd forth brave Little John, And Much the miller’s son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he saw them come.
VII
‘Stand off, stand off!’ the young man said, ‘What is your will with me?’-- ‘You must come before our master straight, Under yon green-wood tree.’
VIII
And when he came bold Robin before, Robin askt him courteously, ‘O hast thou any money to spare, For my merry men and me?’
IX
‘I have no money,’ the young man said, ‘But five shillings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my weddìng.
X
‘Yesterday I should have married a maid, But she is now from me tane, And chosen to be an old knight’s delight, Whereby my poor heart is slain.’
XI
‘What is thy name?’ then said Robin Hood, ‘Come tell me, without any fail.’-- ‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man, ‘My name it is Alan a Dale.’
XII
‘What wilt thou give me,’ said Robin Hood, ‘In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true-love again, And deliver her unto thee?’
XIII
‘I have no money,’ then quoth the young man, ‘No ready gold nor fee, But I will swear upon a book Thy true servant for to be.’--
XIV
‘But how many miles to thy true-love? Come tell me without any guile.’-- ‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man, ‘It is but five little mile.’
XV
Then Robin he hasted over the plain, He did neither stint nor lin[1013], Until he came unto the church Where Alan should keep his weddìng.
XVI
‘What dost thou do here?’ the Bishop he said, ‘I prithee now tell to me:’ ‘I am a bold harper,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘And the best in the north countrey.’
XVII
‘O welcome, O welcome!’ the Bishop he said, ‘That musick best pleaseth me.’-- ‘You shall have no musick,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.’
XVIII
With that came in a wealthy knight, Which was both grave and old, And after him a finikin lass, Did shine like glistering gold.
XIX
‘This is no fit match,’ quoth bold Robin Hood, ‘That you do seem to make here; For since we are come unto the church, The bride she shall chuse her own dear.’
XX
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth, And blew blasts two or three; When four and twenty bowmen bold Come leaping over the lee.
XXI
And when they came into the churchyard, Marching all on a row, The first man was Alan a Dale, To give bold Robin his bow.
XXII
‘This is thy true-love,’ Robin he said, ‘Young Alan, as I hear say; And you shall be married at this same time, Before we depart away.’
XXIII
‘That shall not be,’ the Bishop he said, ‘For thy word it shall not stand; They shall be three times askt in the church, As the law is of our land.’
XXIV
Robin Hood pull’d off the Bishop’s coat, And put it upon Little John; ‘By the faith of my body,’ then Robin said, ‘This cloath doth make thee a man.’
XXV
When Little John went into the quire, The people began for to laugh; He askt them seven times in the church, Least three should not be enough.
XXVI
‘Who gives me this maid?’ then said Little John; Quoth Robin, ‘That do I! And he that doth take her from Alan a Dale Full dearly he shall her buy.’
XXVII
And thus having ended this merry weddìng The bride lookt as fresh as a queen, And so they return’d to the merry green-wood, Amongst the leaves so green.
FOOTNOTES:
[1013] lin = stop.
_122. Robin Hood and the Widow’s Three Sons_
I
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.
II
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.
III
‘What news? what news, thou silly old woman? What news hast them for me?’ Said she, ‘There’s three squires in Nottingham town To-day is condemn’d to die.’
IV
‘O have they parishes burnt?’ he said, ‘Or have they ministers slain? Or have they robb’d any virgin, Or other men’s wives have ta’en?’--
V
‘They have no parishes burnt, good sir, Nor yet have ministers slain, Nor have they robbed any virgin, Nor other men’s wives have ta’en.’
VI
‘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.’--
VII
‘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 tell it in no better time.’
VIII
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.
IX
‘What news? what news, thou silly old man? What news, I do thee pray?’-- Said he, ‘Three squires in Nottingham town Are condemned to die this day.’--
X
‘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.’--
XI
‘O thine apparel is good,’ he said, ‘And mine is ragged and torn; Wherever you go, wherever you ride, Laugh ne’er an old man to scorn.’--
XII
‘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.’
XIII
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.’
XIV
Then he put on the old man’s cloak, Was patch’d black, blue, and red; He thought no shame, all the day long, To wear the bags of bread.
XV
Then he put on the old man’s breeks, Was patch’d from ballup[1014] to side; ‘By the truth of my body,’ bold Robin can say, ‘This man lov’d little pride!’
XVI
Then he put on the old man’s hose, Were patch’d from knee to wrist; ‘By the truth of my body,’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘I’d laugh if I had any list[1015].’
XVII
Then he put on the old man’s shoes, Were patch’d both beneath and aboon; Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath, ‘It’s good habit that makes a man!’
XVIII
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a down_, And there he met with the proud Sheríff, Was walking along the town.
XIX
‘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?’
XX
‘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.’
XXI
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.’--
XXII
‘I was ne’er a hangman in all my life, Nor yet intends to trade; But curst be he,’ said bold Robin, ‘That first a hangman was made!
XXIII
‘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.
XXIV
‘I have a horn in my pockèt, I got it from Robin Hood, And still when I set it to my mouth, For thee it blows little good.’--
XXV
‘O wind thy horn, thou proud fellòw, Of thee I have no doubt; I wish that thou give such a blast Till both thy eyes fall out.’
XXVI
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.
XXVII
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.
XXVIII
‘O who are yon,’ the Sheriff he said, ‘Come tripping over the lee?’ ‘They’re my attendants,’ brave Robin did say, ‘They’ll pay a visit to thee.’
XXIX
They took the gallows from the slack[1016], They set it in the glen, They hang’d the proud Sheriff on that, And releas’d their own three men.
FOOTNOTES:
[1014] ballup = front, or flap.
[1015] list = inclination, desire for it.
[1016] slack = hollow, dell.
_123. Robin Hood’s Golden Prize_
I
I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood, And of brave Little John, Of Friar Tuck, and Will Scarlet, Locksley, and Maid Marion.
II
But such a tale as this before I think there was never none; For Robin Hood disguised himself, And to the wood is gone.
III
Like to a friar bold Robin Hood Was accouter’d in his array; With hood, gown, beads and crucifix, He pass’d upon the way.
IV
He had not gone miles two or three, But it was his chance to spy Two lusty priests, clad all in black, Come riding gallantly.
V
‘Benedicite,’ then said Robin Hood, ‘Some pity on me take; Cross you my hand with a silver groat, For Our dear Ladye’s sake!
VI
‘For I have been wand’ring all this day, And nothing could I get; Not so much as one poor cup of drink, Nor bit of bread to eat.’
VII
‘By my holydame,’ the priests repli’d, ‘We never a penny have; For we this morning have been robb’d, And could no money save.’
VIII
‘I am much afraid’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘That you both do tell a lye; And now before that you go hence, I am resolv’d to try.’
IX
When as the priests heard him say so, They rode away amain; But Robin betook him to his heels, And soon overtook them again.
X
Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both, And pull’d them down from their horse: ‘O spare, us, friar!’ the priests cry’d out, ‘On us have some remorse!’
XI
‘You said you had no money,’ quoth he; ‘Wherefore without delay We three will fall down on our knees, And for money we will pray.’
XII
The priests they could not him gainsay, But down they kneel’d with speed; ‘Send us, O send us,’ then quoth they, ‘Some money to serve our need!’
XIII
The priests did pray with mournful chear, Sometimes their hands did wring, Sometimes they wept and cried aloud, Whilst Robin did merrily sing.
XIV
When they had pray’d an hour’s space, The priests did still lament; Then quoth bold Robin, ‘Now let’s see What money heaven hath us sent.
XV
‘We will be sharers all alike Of the money that we have; And there is never a one of us That his fellows shall deceive.’
XVI
The priests their hands in their pockets put, But money would find none: ‘We’ll search ourselves,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Each other, one by one.’
XVII
Then Robin took pains to search them both, And he found good store of gold; Five hundred pieces presently Upon the grass was told.
XVIII
‘Here’s a brave show,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Such store of gold to see! And you shall each one have a part, ’Cause you pray’d so heartily.’
XIX
He gave them fifty pound a-piece, And the rest for himself did keep; The priests they durst not speak one word, But they sighèd wondrous deep.
XX
With that the priests rose up from their knees, And thought to have parted so; ‘Nay, stay,’ said Robin Hood, ‘one thing more I have to say ere you go.
XXI
‘You shall be sworn,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Upon this holy grass, That you will never tell lies again, Which way soever you pass.
XXII
‘The second oath that you here must take, All the days of your lives You never shall tempt maids to sin, Nor covet other men’s wives.
XXIII
‘The last oath you shall take, it is this, Be charitable to the poor; Say you have met with a holy friar, And I desire no more.’
XXIV
He set them upon their horses again, And away then they did ride; And he return’d to the merry green-wood, With great joy, mirth and pride.
_124. The Noble Fisherman_
_or Robin Hood’s Preferment_
I
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 sing this song.
II
When the lilly leafe and the elephant[1017] Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere, This outlaw was weary of the wood-side, And chasing of the fallow deere.
III
‘The fisherman brave more mony have Then any merchant, two or three; Therefore I will to Scarboro’ goe, That I a fisherman brave may be.’
IV
This outlaw call’d his merry men all, As they sate under the green-wood tree: If any of you have gold to spend, I pray you heartily spend it with me.
V
‘Now,’ quoth Robin, ‘I’le to Scarboro’ goe, It seemes to be a very faire day’-- He tooke up his inne at a widdow-woman’s house, Hard by upon the water gray:
VI
Who asked of him, ‘Where wert thou born? Or tell to me, where dost thou fare?’-- ‘I am a poore fisherman,’ saith he then, ‘This day intrappèd all in care.’
VII
‘What is thy name, thou fine fellòw? I pray thee heartily tell to me’; ‘In mine own country where I was born, Men called me Simon over the Lee.’
VIII
‘Simon, Simon,’ said the good wife, ‘I wish thou maist well brook[1018] thy name’; The outlaw was ware of her courtesie, And rejoyc’d he had got such a dame.
IX
‘Simon, wilt thou be my man? And good round wages I’le give thee; I have as good a ship of mine owne As any sayle upon the sea.
X
‘Anchors and planks thou shalt want none, Masts and ropes that are so long’-- ‘And if that you thus furnish me,’ Said Simon, ‘nothing shall goe wrong.’
XI
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.
XII
‘It will be long,’ said the master then, ‘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 of no part worthỳ.’
XIII
‘O woe is me,’ said Simon then, ‘This day that ever I came here! I wish I were in Plomton Parke, In chasing of the fallow deere.
XIV
‘For every clowne laughs me to scorne, And they by me set nought at all; If I had them in Plomton Park, I would set as little by them all.’
XV
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, More of a day then two or three; But Simon spied a ship of warre, That sayld towards them most valourouslie.
XVI
‘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[1019].
XVII
‘For your French robbers on the sea, They will not spare of us one man, But carry us to the coast of France, And ligge us in the prison strong.’
XVIII
But Simon said, ‘Doe not feare them, Neither, master, take you no care; Give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare.’--
XIX
‘Hold thy peace, thou long lubber, For thou art nought but braggs and boast; If I should cast thee over-board, There were nothing but a lubber lost.’
XX
Simon grew angry at these words, And so angry then was he That he tooke his bent bow in his hand, And to the ship-hatch goeth he.
XXI
‘Master, tye me to the mast,’ saith he, ‘That at my mark I may stand fair, And give me my bended bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare.’
XXII
He drew his arrow to the very head, And drew it with all might and maine, And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye, To the Frenchman’s heart the arrow did gain.
XXIII
The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch, And under the hatches down below; Another Frenchman that him espy’d The dead corps into the sea doth throw.
XXIV
‘O master, loose me from the mast, And for them all take you no care; And give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare!’
XXV
Then straight they did board the Frenchman’s ship, They lying all dead in their sight; They found within the ship of warre Twelve thousand pound of money bright.
XXVI
‘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.’
XXVII
But now bespake the master then, ‘For so, Simon, it shall not be; For you have won her with your own hand, And the owner of it you shall bee.’--
XXVIII
‘It shall be so, as you have said; And, with this gold, for the opprest An habitation I will build, Where they shall live in peace and rest.’
FOOTNOTES:
[1017] elephant = a weed of the scabious order.
[1018] brook = enjoy, or earn the name of Simon, as a fisherman.
[1019] forlorne = lost.
_125. The Death of Robin Hood_
I
When Robin Hood and Little John _Down a-down, a-down, a-down_ Went o’er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood bold to Little John, ‘We have shot for many a pound _Hey, down a-down, a-down!_
II
‘But I am not able to shoot one shot more, My broad arrows will not flee; But I have a cousin lives down below, Please God, she will bleed me.
III
‘I will never eat nor drink,’ he said, ‘Nor meat will do me good, Till I have been to merry Kirkleys My veins for to let blood.
IV
‘The dame prior is my aunt’s daughter, And nigh unto my kin; I know she wo’ld me no harm this day, For all the world to win.’
V
‘That I rede[1020] not,’ said Little John, ‘Master, by th’assent of me, Without half a hundred of your best bowmen You take to go with yee.’--
VI
‘An thou be afear’d, thou Little John, At home I rede thee be.’-- ‘An you be wroth, my deare mastèr You shall never hear more of me.’
VII
Now Robin is gone to merry Kirkleys And knockèd upon the pin: Up then rose Dame Priorèss And let good Robin in.
VIII
Then Robin gave to Dame Priorèss Twenty pound in gold, And bade her spend while that did last, She sho’ld have more when she wo’ld.
IX
‘Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin, And drink some beer with me?’-- ‘No, I will neither eat nor drink Till I am blooded by thee.’
X
Down then came Dame Priorèss Down she came in that ilk[1021], With a pair of blood-irons in her hands, Were wrappèd all in silk.
XI
‘Set a chafing-dish to the fire,’ she said, ‘And strip thou up thy sleeve.’ --I hold him but an unwise man That will no warning ’leeve[1022]!
XII
She laid the blood-irons to Robin’s vein, Alack, the more pitye! And pierc’d the vein, and let out the blood That full red was to see.
XIII
And first it bled the thick, thick blood, And afterwards the thin, And well then wist good Robin Hood Treason there was within.
XIV
And there she blooded bold Robin Hood While one drop of blood wou’d run; There did he bleed the live-long day, Until the next at noon.
XV
He bethought him then of a casement there, Being lockèd up in the room, But was so weak he could not leap, He could not get him down.
XVI
He bethought him then of his bugle-horn, That hung low down to his knee; He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three.
XVII
Then Little John he heard the horn Where he sat under a tree: ‘I fear my master is now near dead, He blows so wearilye.’
XVIII
Little John is gone to merry Kirkleys, As fast as he can dree; And when he came to merry Kirkleys, He broke locks two or three:
XIX
Until he came bold Robin to see, Then he fell on his knee; ‘A boon, a boon!’ cries Little John, ‘Master, I beg of thee!’
XX
‘What is that boon,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Little John, thou begs of me?’-- ‘It is to burn fair Kirkleys-hall, And all their nunnerye.’
XXI
‘Now nay, now nay,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘That boon I’ll not grant thee; I never hurt woman in all my life, Nor men in their company.
XXII
‘I never hurt maid in all my time, Nor at mine end shall it be; But give me my bent bow in my hand, And a broad arrow I’ll let flee; And where this arrow is taken up There shall my grave digg’d be.
XXIII
‘But lay me a green sod under my head, And another at my feet; And lay my bent bow at my side, Which was my music sweet; And make my grave of gravel and green, Which is most right and meet.
XXIV
‘Let me have length and breadth enough, And under my head a sod; That they may say when I am dead, --_Here lies bold Robin Hood!_’
FOOTNOTES:
[1020] rede = advise.
[1021] in that ilk = in that same (moment), then and there.
[1022] ’leeve = believe.