32. MS. ther.39. MS. th' now.93. See the Fourth Fit of theLyttell Geste.100. MS. gode wone.125. MS. rule.195. MS. so.269, gale.305. MS. Quyte the.352. MS. mere.
32. MS. ther.
39. MS. th' now.
93. See the Fourth Fit of theLyttell Geste.
100. MS. gode wone.
125. MS. rule.
195. MS. so.
269, gale.
305. MS. Quyte the.
352. MS. mere.
From Ritson'sRobin Hood, i. 81. "This curious, and hitherto unpublished, and even unheard of old piece," remarks that editor, "is given from a manuscript among Bishop More's collections, in the Public Library of the University of Cambridge (Ee. 4. 35). The writing, which is evidently that of a vulgar and illiterate person, appears to be of the age of Henry VII., that is, about the year 1500; but the composition (which he has irremediably corrupted) is probably of an earlier period, and much older, no doubt, thanThe Play of Robyn Hode, which seems allusive to the same story."
Mr. Wright thinks the manuscript is proved to be of the time of Henry VI. by a memorandum on one page, setting forth the expenses of the feast on the marriage of the king with Margaret:—"Thys ys exspences of fflesche at the mariage of my ladey Marg'et, that sche had owt off Eynglonde." But this memorandum is more likely to apply to Margaret, daughter of Henry VII., who was married "outof England," that is, in Scotland, to James IV., than to the Margaret who was marriedinEngland to Henry VI. (Ed. Rev.lxxxvi. 126.)
The adventure in the first part of this story,—the encounter between Robin Hood and a sturdy fellow who proves his match or his superior—forms the subject of a large number of this circle of ballads, the antagonist being in one case a beggar, in another a tanner, a tinker, the pinder of Wakefield, &c. (See the preface toRobin Hood and the Beggar, p. 188.)The story of the second part is found again inRobin Hood and the Butcher, and, with considerable differences, in the third fit of theLytell Geste.
It is in the disguise of a potter that the Saxon Hereward penetrates into the Norman court, and that Eustace the Monk eludes the vengeance of the Count of Boulogne. Eustace also drew his enemy into an ambush by nearly the same stratagem which Robin employs to entice the sheriff of Nottingham into the forest. (See the romances abridged in Wright'sEssays, ii. 108, 133, 135, 184.)
In schomer, when the leves spryng,The bloschems on every bowe,So merey doyt the berdys syngYn wodys merey now.Herkens, god yemen,5Comley,corteysse, and god,On of the best that yever bar bou,Hes name was Roben Hode.Roben Hood was the yemans name,That was boyt corteys and fre;10For the loffe of owr ladey,All wemen werschephe.Bot as the god yemen stod on a day,Among hes mery manèy,He was war of a prowd potter,15Cam dryfyng owyr theley."Yonder comet a prod potter,"seydeRoben,"That long hayt hantyd this wey;He was never so corteys a manOn peney of pawage to pay."20"Y met hem bot at Wentbreg,"seydeLytyll John,"And therfor yeffell mot he the,Seche thre strokes he me gafe,Yet they cleffe by my seydys."Y ley forty shillings," seyde Lytyll John,25"To pay het thes same day,Ther ys nat a man among hus allA wed schall make hemley.""Her ys forty shillings," seyde Roben,"Mor, and thow dar say,30That y schall make that prowde potter,A wed to me schall he ley."Ther thes money they leyde,They toke het a yeman to kepe;Roben befor the potter he breyde,35Andbad hem stond stell.Handys apon hes horse he leyde,And bad the potter stonde foll stell;The potter schorteley to hem seyde,"Felow, what ys they well?"40"All thes thre yer, and mor, potter," he seyde,"Thow hast hantyd thes wey,Yet wer tow never so cortys a manOne peney of pauage to pay.""What ys they name," seyde the potter,45"For pauage thow ask of me?""Roben Hod ys mey name,A wed schall thow leffe me.""Wed well y non leffe," seyde the potter,"Nor pavag well y non pay;50Awey they honde fro mey horse,Y well the tene eyls, be mey fay."The potter to hes cart he went,He was not to seke;A god to-hande staffe therowt he hent,55Befor Roben helepe.Roben howt with a swerd bent,A bokeler en hes honde [therto];The potter to Roben he went,And seyde, "Felow, let mey horse go."60Togeder then went thes two yemen,Het was a god seyt to se;Therof low Robyn hes men,Ther they stod onder a tre.Leytell John to hesfelowhesseyde,65"Yend potter welle steffeley stonde:"The potter, withan acwardstroke,Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde;Andar Roben meyt get hem agenHes bokeler at hes fette,70The potter yn the neke hem toke,To the gronde sone he yede.That saw Roben hes men,As thay stode ender a bow;"Let us helpe owr master," seyed Lytell John,75"Yonder potter els well hem sclo."Thesyemen wentwith a breyde,Tothermaster they cam.Leytell John to hes master seyde,"Ho haet the wager won?80"Schall y haff yowr forty shillings," seyde Lytel John,"Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?""Yeff they wer a hundred," seyde Roben,"Y feythe, they ben all theyne.""Het ys fol leytell cortesey," seyde the potter,85"As y haffe harde weyse men saye,Yeff a por yeman com drywyng ower the wey,To let hem of hes gorney.""Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt," seyde Roben,"Thow seys godyemenrey;90And thow dreyffe forthe yevery day,Thow schalt never be let for me."Y well prey the, god potter,A felischepe well thow haffe?Geffe me they clothyng, and thow schalt hafe myne;95Y well go to Notynggam.""Ygranttherto," seyde the potter,"Thow schalt feynde me a felow gode;Bot thow can sell mey pottes well,Come ayen as thowyode."100"Nay, be mey trowt," seyde Roben,"And then y bescro mey hedeYeffe y bryng eney pottes ayen,And eney weyffe well hem chepe."Than spake Leytell John,105And all hes felowhes heynd,"Master, be well war of the screffe of Notynggam,For he ys leytell howr frende.""Heyt war howte," seyde Roben,"Felowhes, let me alone;110Thorow the helpe of howr ladey,To Notynggam well y gon."Robyn went to Notynggam,Thes pottes for to sell;The potter abode with Robens men,115Ther he fered not eylle.Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,So merey ower the londe:Heres mor and affter ys to saye,The best ys beheynde.120
In schomer, when the leves spryng,The bloschems on every bowe,So merey doyt the berdys syngYn wodys merey now.
Herkens, god yemen,5Comley,corteysse, and god,On of the best that yever bar bou,Hes name was Roben Hode.
Roben Hood was the yemans name,That was boyt corteys and fre;10For the loffe of owr ladey,All wemen werschephe.
Bot as the god yemen stod on a day,Among hes mery manèy,He was war of a prowd potter,15Cam dryfyng owyr theley.
"Yonder comet a prod potter,"seydeRoben,"That long hayt hantyd this wey;He was never so corteys a manOn peney of pawage to pay."20
"Y met hem bot at Wentbreg,"seydeLytyll John,"And therfor yeffell mot he the,Seche thre strokes he me gafe,Yet they cleffe by my seydys.
"Y ley forty shillings," seyde Lytyll John,25"To pay het thes same day,Ther ys nat a man among hus allA wed schall make hemley."
"Her ys forty shillings," seyde Roben,"Mor, and thow dar say,30That y schall make that prowde potter,A wed to me schall he ley."
Ther thes money they leyde,They toke het a yeman to kepe;Roben befor the potter he breyde,35Andbad hem stond stell.
Handys apon hes horse he leyde,And bad the potter stonde foll stell;The potter schorteley to hem seyde,"Felow, what ys they well?"40
"All thes thre yer, and mor, potter," he seyde,"Thow hast hantyd thes wey,Yet wer tow never so cortys a manOne peney of pauage to pay."
"What ys they name," seyde the potter,45"For pauage thow ask of me?""Roben Hod ys mey name,A wed schall thow leffe me."
"Wed well y non leffe," seyde the potter,"Nor pavag well y non pay;50Awey they honde fro mey horse,Y well the tene eyls, be mey fay."
The potter to hes cart he went,He was not to seke;A god to-hande staffe therowt he hent,55Befor Roben helepe.
Roben howt with a swerd bent,A bokeler en hes honde [therto];The potter to Roben he went,And seyde, "Felow, let mey horse go."60
Togeder then went thes two yemen,Het was a god seyt to se;Therof low Robyn hes men,Ther they stod onder a tre.
Leytell John to hesfelowhesseyde,65"Yend potter welle steffeley stonde:"The potter, withan acwardstroke,Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde;
Andar Roben meyt get hem agenHes bokeler at hes fette,70The potter yn the neke hem toke,To the gronde sone he yede.
That saw Roben hes men,As thay stode ender a bow;"Let us helpe owr master," seyed Lytell John,75"Yonder potter els well hem sclo."
Thesyemen wentwith a breyde,Tothermaster they cam.Leytell John to hes master seyde,"Ho haet the wager won?80
"Schall y haff yowr forty shillings," seyde Lytel John,"Or ye, master, schall haffe myne?""Yeff they wer a hundred," seyde Roben,"Y feythe, they ben all theyne."
"Het ys fol leytell cortesey," seyde the potter,85"As y haffe harde weyse men saye,Yeff a por yeman com drywyng ower the wey,To let hem of hes gorney."
"Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt," seyde Roben,"Thow seys godyemenrey;90And thow dreyffe forthe yevery day,Thow schalt never be let for me.
"Y well prey the, god potter,A felischepe well thow haffe?Geffe me they clothyng, and thow schalt hafe myne;95Y well go to Notynggam."
"Ygranttherto," seyde the potter,"Thow schalt feynde me a felow gode;Bot thow can sell mey pottes well,Come ayen as thowyode."100
"Nay, be mey trowt," seyde Roben,"And then y bescro mey hedeYeffe y bryng eney pottes ayen,And eney weyffe well hem chepe."
Than spake Leytell John,105And all hes felowhes heynd,"Master, be well war of the screffe of Notynggam,For he ys leytell howr frende."
"Heyt war howte," seyde Roben,"Felowhes, let me alone;110Thorow the helpe of howr ladey,To Notynggam well y gon."
Robyn went to Notynggam,Thes pottes for to sell;The potter abode with Robens men,115Ther he fered not eylle.
Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,So merey ower the londe:Heres mor and affter ys to saye,The best ys beheynde.120
When Roben cam to Notynggam,The soyt yef y scholde saye,He set op hes horse anon,And gaffe hem hotys and haye.Yn the medys of the towne,125Ther he schowed hes war;"Pottys! pottys!" he gan crey foll sone,"Haffe hansell for the mar."Foll effen agenest the screffeys gateSchowed he hes chaffar;130Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,And chepyd fast of hes war.Yet, "Pottys, gret chepe!" creyed Royn,"Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde;"And all thatsawhem sell,135Seyde he had be no potter long.The pottys that wer werthe pens feyffe,He sold tham for pens thre;Preveley seyde man and weyffe,"Ywnder potter schall never the."140Thos Roben solde foll fast,Tell he had pottys bot feyffe;Op he hem toke of his ear,And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.Therof sche was foll fayne,145"Gramarsey, sir," than seyde sche;"When ye com to thes contre ayen,Y schall bey oftheypottys, so mot y the.""Ye schall haffe of the best," seyde Roben,And swar be the treneytè;150Foll corteysley she ganhemcall,"Com deyne with the screfe and me.""Godamarsey," seyde Roben,"Yowr bedyng schalle be doyn;A mayden yn the pottys gan ber,155Roben and the screffe weyffe folowed anon.Whan Roben ynto the hall cam,The screffe sone he met;The potter cowed of corteysey,And sone the screffe he gret.160"Lokethwhat thes potter hayt geffe yow and me;Feyffe pottys smalle and grete!""He ys fol wellcom," seyd the screffe,"Let os was, andgo tomete."As they sat at her methe,165With a nobell cher,Two of the screffes men gan spekeOff a gret wagèr,Was made the thother daye,Off a schotyng was god and feyne,170Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,Who scholde thes wager wen.Styll than sat thes prowde potter,Thos than thowt he;"As y am a trow Cerstyn man,175Thes schotyng well y se."Whan they had fared of the best.With bred and ale and weyne,To thebottys theymade them prest,With bowes andboltysfoll feyne.180The screffes men schot foll fast,As archares that weren godde;Ther cam non ner ney the markeBey halfe a god archares bowe.Stell then stod the prowde potter,185Thos than seyde he;"And y had a bow, be the rode,On schot scholde yow se.""Thow schall haffe a bow," seyde the screffe,"The best that thow well cheys of thre;190Thousemysta stalward and a stronge,Asay schall thow be."The screffe commandyd a yeman that stod hem beyAffter bowhes to wende;The best bow that the yeman browthe195Roben set on a stryng."Now schall y wet and thow be god,And polle het op to they ner;""So god me helpe," seyde the prowde potter,"Thys ys bot rygzt weke ger."200To a quequer Roben went,A god bolt owthe he toke;So ney on to the marke he went,He fayled not a fothe.All they schot abowthe agen,205The screffes men and he;Off the marke he welde not fayle,He cleffed the preke on thre.The screffes men thowt gret schame,The potter the mastry wan;210The screffe lowe and made god game,And seyde, "Potter, thow art a man;Thow art worthey to ber a bowe,Yn what plas that thowgang.""Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,215Forsoyt," he seyde, "and that a godde;Yn mey cart ys the bowThatI had of Robyn Hode.""Knowest thow Robyn Hode?" seyde the screffe,"Potter, y prey the tell thou me;"220"A hundred torne y haffe schot with hem,Under hes tortyll tree.""Y had lever nar a hundred ponde," seyde the screffe,And swar be the trenitè,["Y had lever nar a hundred ponde," he seyde,]225That the fals owtelawe stod be me."And ye well do afftyr mey red," seyde the potter,"And boldeley go with me,And to morow, or we het bred,Roben Hode wel we se."230"Y well queyt the," kod the screffe,And swer be god ofmeythe;Schetyng thay left, and hom they went,Her scoper was redey deythe.Upon the morow, when het was day,235He boskyd hem forthe to reyde;The potter hes carte forthe gan ray,And wolde not [be] leffe beheynde.He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,And thankyd her of all thyng:240"Dam, for mey loffe, and ye well thys wer,Y geffe yow her a golde ryng.""Gramarsey," seyde the weyffe,"Sir, god eylde het the;"The screffes hart was never so leythe,245The feyr forest to se.And when he cam ynto the foreyst,Yonder the leffes grene,Berdys ther sange on bowhes prest,Het was gretjoyto sene.250"Her het ys merey tobe," seyde Roben,"For a man that had hawt to spende;Be mey horne we schall awetYeff Roben Hodebener hande."Roben set hes horne to hes mowthe,255And blow a blast that was foll god,That herde hes men that ther stode,Ferdowne yn the wodde;"I her mey master" seyde Leytell John;They ran as thay wer wode.260Whan thay to thar master cam,Leytell John wold not spar;"Master, how haffe yow far yn Notynggam?How haffe yow solde yowr war?""Ye, be mey trowthe,LeytyllJohn,265Loke thow take no car;Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,For all howr chaffar.""He ys foll wellcom," seyde Lytyll John,"Thes tydyng ys foll godde;270The screffe had lever nar a hundred ponde[He had never sene Roben Hode.]"Had I westthat beforen,At Notynggam when we wer,Thow scholde not com yn feyr forest275Of all thes thowsande eyr.""That wot y well," seyde Roben,"Y thanke god that ye be her;Therfor schall ye leffe yowr horse with hos,And all your hother ger."280"That fend I godys forbode," kod the screffe,"So to lese mey godde;""Hetheryecam on horse foll hey,And hom schall ye go on fote;And gret well they weyffe at home,285The woman ys foll godde."Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het hambellet as the weynde;Ner for the loffe of yowr weyffe,Off mor sorow scholde yow seyng."290Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe,To Notynggam he toke the waye;Hes weyffe feyr welcomed hem hom,And to hem gan sche saye:"Seyr, how haffe yow fared yn grene foreyst?Haffe ye browt Roben hom?"296"Dam, the deyell spede him, bothe bodey and bon,Y haffe hade a foll grete skorne."Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,He hayt take het fro me,300All bot this feyr palffrey,That he hayt sende to the."With that sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,And swhar be hem that deyed on tre,"Now haffe yow payed for all the pottys305That Roben gaffe to me."Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,Ye schall haffe god ynowe;"Now speke we of Roben Hode,And of the pottyr onder the grenebowhe.310"Potter, what was they pottys wortheTo Notynggam that y ledde with me?""They wer worth two nobellys," seyd he,"So mot y treyffe or the;So cowde y had for tham,315And y hadther be.""Thow schalt hafe ten ponde," seyde Roben,"Of money feyr and fre;And yever whan thou comest to grene wod,Wellcom, potter to me."320Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,Ondernethe the grene-wod tre;God haffe mersey on Robyn Hodys solle,And saffe all god yemanrey!
When Roben cam to Notynggam,The soyt yef y scholde saye,He set op hes horse anon,And gaffe hem hotys and haye.
Yn the medys of the towne,125Ther he schowed hes war;"Pottys! pottys!" he gan crey foll sone,"Haffe hansell for the mar."
Foll effen agenest the screffeys gateSchowed he hes chaffar;130Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,And chepyd fast of hes war.
Yet, "Pottys, gret chepe!" creyed Royn,"Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde;"And all thatsawhem sell,135Seyde he had be no potter long.
The pottys that wer werthe pens feyffe,He sold tham for pens thre;Preveley seyde man and weyffe,"Ywnder potter schall never the."140
Thos Roben solde foll fast,Tell he had pottys bot feyffe;Op he hem toke of his ear,And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.
Therof sche was foll fayne,145"Gramarsey, sir," than seyde sche;"When ye com to thes contre ayen,Y schall bey oftheypottys, so mot y the."
"Ye schall haffe of the best," seyde Roben,And swar be the treneytè;150Foll corteysley she ganhemcall,"Com deyne with the screfe and me."
"Godamarsey," seyde Roben,"Yowr bedyng schalle be doyn;A mayden yn the pottys gan ber,155Roben and the screffe weyffe folowed anon.
Whan Roben ynto the hall cam,The screffe sone he met;The potter cowed of corteysey,And sone the screffe he gret.160
"Lokethwhat thes potter hayt geffe yow and me;Feyffe pottys smalle and grete!""He ys fol wellcom," seyd the screffe,"Let os was, andgo tomete."
As they sat at her methe,165With a nobell cher,Two of the screffes men gan spekeOff a gret wagèr,
Was made the thother daye,Off a schotyng was god and feyne,170Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,Who scholde thes wager wen.
Styll than sat thes prowde potter,Thos than thowt he;"As y am a trow Cerstyn man,175Thes schotyng well y se."
Whan they had fared of the best.With bred and ale and weyne,To thebottys theymade them prest,With bowes andboltysfoll feyne.180
The screffes men schot foll fast,As archares that weren godde;Ther cam non ner ney the markeBey halfe a god archares bowe.
Stell then stod the prowde potter,185Thos than seyde he;"And y had a bow, be the rode,On schot scholde yow se."
"Thow schall haffe a bow," seyde the screffe,"The best that thow well cheys of thre;190Thousemysta stalward and a stronge,Asay schall thow be."
The screffe commandyd a yeman that stod hem beyAffter bowhes to wende;The best bow that the yeman browthe195Roben set on a stryng.
"Now schall y wet and thow be god,And polle het op to they ner;""So god me helpe," seyde the prowde potter,"Thys ys bot rygzt weke ger."200
To a quequer Roben went,A god bolt owthe he toke;So ney on to the marke he went,He fayled not a fothe.
All they schot abowthe agen,205The screffes men and he;Off the marke he welde not fayle,He cleffed the preke on thre.
The screffes men thowt gret schame,The potter the mastry wan;210The screffe lowe and made god game,And seyde, "Potter, thow art a man;Thow art worthey to ber a bowe,Yn what plas that thowgang."
"Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,215Forsoyt," he seyde, "and that a godde;Yn mey cart ys the bowThatI had of Robyn Hode."
"Knowest thow Robyn Hode?" seyde the screffe,"Potter, y prey the tell thou me;"220"A hundred torne y haffe schot with hem,Under hes tortyll tree."
"Y had lever nar a hundred ponde," seyde the screffe,And swar be the trenitè,["Y had lever nar a hundred ponde," he seyde,]225That the fals owtelawe stod be me.
"And ye well do afftyr mey red," seyde the potter,"And boldeley go with me,And to morow, or we het bred,Roben Hode wel we se."230
"Y well queyt the," kod the screffe,And swer be god ofmeythe;Schetyng thay left, and hom they went,Her scoper was redey deythe.
Upon the morow, when het was day,235He boskyd hem forthe to reyde;The potter hes carte forthe gan ray,And wolde not [be] leffe beheynde.
He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,And thankyd her of all thyng:240"Dam, for mey loffe, and ye well thys wer,Y geffe yow her a golde ryng."
"Gramarsey," seyde the weyffe,"Sir, god eylde het the;"The screffes hart was never so leythe,245The feyr forest to se.
And when he cam ynto the foreyst,Yonder the leffes grene,Berdys ther sange on bowhes prest,Het was gretjoyto sene.250
"Her het ys merey tobe," seyde Roben,"For a man that had hawt to spende;Be mey horne we schall awetYeff Roben Hodebener hande."
Roben set hes horne to hes mowthe,255And blow a blast that was foll god,That herde hes men that ther stode,Ferdowne yn the wodde;"I her mey master" seyde Leytell John;They ran as thay wer wode.260
Whan thay to thar master cam,Leytell John wold not spar;"Master, how haffe yow far yn Notynggam?How haffe yow solde yowr war?"
"Ye, be mey trowthe,LeytyllJohn,265Loke thow take no car;Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,For all howr chaffar."
"He ys foll wellcom," seyde Lytyll John,"Thes tydyng ys foll godde;270The screffe had lever nar a hundred ponde[He had never sene Roben Hode.]
"Had I westthat beforen,At Notynggam when we wer,Thow scholde not com yn feyr forest275Of all thes thowsande eyr."
"That wot y well," seyde Roben,"Y thanke god that ye be her;Therfor schall ye leffe yowr horse with hos,And all your hother ger."280
"That fend I godys forbode," kod the screffe,"So to lese mey godde;""Hetheryecam on horse foll hey,And hom schall ye go on fote;And gret well they weyffe at home,285The woman ys foll godde.
"Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,Het hambellet as the weynde;Ner for the loffe of yowr weyffe,Off mor sorow scholde yow seyng."290
Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe,To Notynggam he toke the waye;Hes weyffe feyr welcomed hem hom,And to hem gan sche saye:
"Seyr, how haffe yow fared yn grene foreyst?Haffe ye browt Roben hom?"296"Dam, the deyell spede him, bothe bodey and bon,Y haffe hade a foll grete skorne.
"Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,He hayt take het fro me,300All bot this feyr palffrey,That he hayt sende to the."
With that sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,And swhar be hem that deyed on tre,"Now haffe yow payed for all the pottys305That Roben gaffe to me.
"Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,Ye schall haffe god ynowe;"Now speke we of Roben Hode,And of the pottyr onder the grenebowhe.310
"Potter, what was they pottys wortheTo Notynggam that y ledde with me?""They wer worth two nobellys," seyd he,"So mot y treyffe or the;So cowde y had for tham,315And y hadther be."
"Thow schalt hafe ten ponde," seyde Roben,"Of money feyr and fre;And yever whan thou comest to grene wod,Wellcom, potter to me."320
Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,Ondernethe the grene-wod tre;God haffe mersey on Robyn Hodys solle,And saffe all god yemanrey!
MS.6, cortessey.12, ye.16, lefe.MS.17,21, syde.28, leffe.36, A.MS.56, leppyd.MS.65, felow he.67, a caward.69, A.76, seyde hels.77, went yemen.78, thes.MS.90, yemerey.97, grat.100, yede.109-112. These lines stand in the MS. in the order 3, 2, 1, 4.113-116. This stanza is wrongly placed in the MS. after v. 96. It should be either in the place where it stands, or else begin the next fit.MS.135, say.MS.146, Gereamarsey, sir, seyde sche s'than.MS.148, the.MS.151, he.MS.161, loseth. 164, to to.MS.164, to to.164. This ceremony [of washing,] which, in former times, was constantly practised as well before as after meat, seems to have fallen into disuse on the introduction of forks, about the year 1620; as before that period our ancestors supplied the place of this necessary utensil with their fingers.—Ritson.169, 170, transposed in MS.MS.179, pottys the.180, bolt yt.191, senyst.MS.214, goe.218, Robyng gaffe me.232, mey they.MS.250, goy.251, se.254, he.255, her.258. For.MS.265, I leyty.273, He had west.283, y.287. The MS. repeats this line after the following: Het ambellet be mey sey.MS.310, bowhes.316, be ther.
MS.6, cortessey.
12, ye.
16, lefe.
MS.17,21, syde.
28, leffe.
36, A.
MS.56, leppyd.
MS.65, felow he.
67, a caward.
69, A.
76, seyde hels.
77, went yemen.
78, thes.
MS.90, yemerey.
97, grat.
100, yede.
109-112. These lines stand in the MS. in the order 3, 2, 1, 4.
113-116. This stanza is wrongly placed in the MS. after v. 96. It should be either in the place where it stands, or else begin the next fit.
MS.135, say.
MS.146, Gereamarsey, sir, seyde sche s'than.
MS.148, the.
MS.151, he.
MS.161, loseth. 164, to to.
MS.164, to to.
164. This ceremony [of washing,] which, in former times, was constantly practised as well before as after meat, seems to have fallen into disuse on the introduction of forks, about the year 1620; as before that period our ancestors supplied the place of this necessary utensil with their fingers.—Ritson.
169, 170, transposed in MS.
MS.179, pottys the.
180, bolt yt.
191, senyst.
MS.214, goe.
218, Robyng gaffe me.
232, mey they.
MS.250, goy.
251, se.
254, he.
255, her.
258. For.
MS.265, I leyty.
273, He had west.
283, y.
287. The MS. repeats this line after the following: Het ambellet be mey sey.
MS.310, bowhes.
316, be ther.
Ritson'sRobin Hood, ii. 27. Printed from an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood. The story is the same as in the second part ofRobin Hood and the Potter.
Come, all you brave gallants, and listen awhile,With hey down, down, an a down,That are in the bowers within;For of Robin Hood, that archer good,A song I intend for to sing.Upon a time it chancèd so,5Bold Robin in forrest did 'spyA jolly butcher, with a bonny fine mare,With his flesh to the market did hye."Good morrow, good fellow," said jolly Robin,"What food hast [thou]? tell unto me;10Thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,For I like well thy company."The butcher he answer'd jolly Robin,"No matter where I dwell;For a butcher I am, and to Nottingham15I am going, my flesh to sell.""What's [the] priceof thy flesh?" said jolly Robin,"Come, tell it soon unto me;And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,For a butcher fain would I be."20"The price of my flesh," the butcher repli'd,"I soon will tell unto thee;With my bonny mare, and they are not too dear,Four mark thou must give unto me."Four mark I will give thee," saith jolly Robin,25"Four mark it shall be thy fee;The mony come count, and let me mount,For a butcher I fain would be."Now Robin he is to Nottingham gone,His butchers trade to begin;30With good intent to the sheriff he went,And there he took up his inn.When other butchers did open their meat,Bold Robin he then begun;But how for to sell he knew not well,35For a butcher he was but young.When other butchers no meat could sell,Robin got both gold and fee;For he sold more meat for one penyThen others could do for three.40But when he sold his meat so fast,No butcher by him could thrive;For he sold more meat for one penyThan others could do for five.Which made the butchers of Nottingham45To study as they did stand,Saying, "Surely he 'is' some prodigal,That hath sold his fathers land."The butchers stepped to jolly Robin,Acquainted with him for to be;50"Come, brother," one said, "we be all of one trade,"Come, will you go dine with me?""Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin,"That a butcher doth deny;I will go with you, my brethren true,55As fast as I can hie."But when to the sheriffs house they came,To dinner they hied apace,And Robin Hood he the man must beBefore them all to say grace.60"Pray God bless us all," said jolly Robin,"And our meat within this place;A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood,And so do I end my grace."Come fill us more wine," said jolly Robin,65"Let us be merry while we do stay;For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,I vow I the reck'ning will pay."Come, 'brothers,' be merry," said jolly Robin,"Let us drink, and never give ore;70For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,If it cost me five pounds and more.""This is a mad blade," the butchers then said;Saies the sheriff, "He is some prodigàl,That some land has sold for silver and gold,75And now he doth mean to spend all."Hast thou any horn beasts," the sheriff repli'd,"Good fellow, to sell unto me?""Yes, that I have, good master sheriff,I have hundreds two or three;80"And a hundred aker of good free land,If you please it to see:And Ile make you as good assurance of it,As ever my father made me."The sheriff he saddled his good palfrèy,85And, with three hundred pound in gold,Away he went with bold Robin Hood,His horned beasts to behold.Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride,To the forrest of merry Sherwood;90Then the sheriff did say, "God bless us this dayFrom a man they call Robin Hood!"But when a little farther they came,Bold Robin he chancèd to spyA hundred head of good red deer,95Come tripping the sheriff full nigh."How like you my horn'd beasts, good 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."100Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,And blew but blasts three;Then quickly anon there came Little John,And all his company."What is your will, master?" then said Little John,105"Good master come tell unto me;""I have brought hither the sheriff of NottinghamThis day to dine with thee.""He is welcome to me," then said Little John,"I hope he will honestly pay;110I know he has gold, if it be but well told,Will serve us to drink a whole day."Then Robin took his mantle from his back,And laid it upon the ground:And out of the sheriffs portmantle115He told three hundred pound.Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood,And set him on his dapple gray;"O have me commended to your wife at home;"So Robin went laughing away.120
Come, all you brave gallants, and listen awhile,With hey down, down, an a down,That are in the bowers within;For of Robin Hood, that archer good,A song I intend for to sing.
Upon a time it chancèd so,5Bold Robin in forrest did 'spyA jolly butcher, with a bonny fine mare,With his flesh to the market did hye.
"Good morrow, good fellow," said jolly Robin,"What food hast [thou]? tell unto me;10Thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,For I like well thy company."
The butcher he answer'd jolly Robin,"No matter where I dwell;For a butcher I am, and to Nottingham15I am going, my flesh to sell."
"What's [the] priceof thy flesh?" said jolly Robin,"Come, tell it soon unto me;And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,For a butcher fain would I be."20
"The price of my flesh," the butcher repli'd,"I soon will tell unto thee;With my bonny mare, and they are not too dear,Four mark thou must give unto me.
"Four mark I will give thee," saith jolly Robin,25"Four mark it shall be thy fee;The mony come count, and let me mount,For a butcher I fain would be."
Now Robin he is to Nottingham gone,His butchers trade to begin;30With good intent to the sheriff he went,And there he took up his inn.
When other butchers did open their meat,Bold Robin he then begun;But how for to sell he knew not well,35For a butcher he was but young.
When other butchers no meat could sell,Robin got both gold and fee;For he sold more meat for one penyThen others could do for three.40
But when he sold his meat so fast,No butcher by him could thrive;For he sold more meat for one penyThan others could do for five.
Which made the butchers of Nottingham45To study as they did stand,Saying, "Surely he 'is' some prodigal,That hath sold his fathers land."
The butchers stepped to jolly Robin,Acquainted with him for to be;50"Come, brother," one said, "we be all of one trade,"Come, will you go dine with me?"
"Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin,"That a butcher doth deny;I will go with you, my brethren true,55As fast as I can hie."
But when to the sheriffs house they came,To dinner they hied apace,And Robin Hood he the man must beBefore them all to say grace.60
"Pray God bless us all," said jolly Robin,"And our meat within this place;A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood,And so do I end my grace.
"Come fill us more wine," said jolly Robin,65"Let us be merry while we do stay;For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,I vow I the reck'ning will pay.
"Come, 'brothers,' be merry," said jolly Robin,"Let us drink, and never give ore;70For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,If it cost me five pounds and more."
"This is a mad blade," the butchers then said;Saies the sheriff, "He is some prodigàl,That some land has sold for silver and gold,75And now he doth mean to spend all.
"Hast thou any horn beasts," the sheriff repli'd,"Good fellow, to sell unto me?""Yes, that I have, good master sheriff,I have hundreds two or three;80
"And a hundred aker of good free land,If you please it to see:And Ile make you as good assurance of it,As ever my father made me."
The sheriff he saddled his good palfrèy,85And, with three hundred pound in gold,Away he went with bold Robin Hood,His horned beasts to behold.
Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride,To the forrest of merry Sherwood;90Then the sheriff did say, "God bless us this dayFrom a man they call Robin Hood!"
But when a little farther they came,Bold Robin he chancèd to spyA hundred head of good red deer,95Come tripping the sheriff full nigh.
"How like you my horn'd beasts, good 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."100
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,And blew but blasts three;Then quickly anon there came Little John,And all his company.
"What is your will, master?" then said Little John,105"Good master come tell unto me;""I have brought hither the sheriff of NottinghamThis day to dine with thee."
"He is welcome to me," then said Little John,"I hope he will honestly pay;110I know he has gold, if it be but well told,Will serve us to drink a whole day."
Then Robin took his mantle from his back,And laid it upon the ground:And out of the sheriffs portmantle115He told three hundred pound.
Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood,And set him on his dapple gray;"O have me commended to your wife at home;"So Robin went laughing away.120