Chapter 41

Kind gentlemen, will you be patient awhile ?Ay, and then you shall hear anonA very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,And of his man brave Little John.In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire,In merry sweet Locksly town,There bold Robin Hood he was born and was bred,Bold Robin of famous renown.The father of Robin a forrester was,And he shot in a lusty strong bowTwo north-country miles and an inch at a shot,As the Pinder of Wakefield does know.For he brought Adam Bell, and Clim of the Clugh,And William of ‘Clowdesle,’281To shoot with our forrester for forty mark,And the forrester beat them all three.His mother was neece to the Coventry knight,Which Warwickshire men call sir Guy ;For he slew the blue bore that hangs up at the gate,Or mine host of the Bull tells a lie.{152}Her brother was Gamwel, of Great Gamwel-hall,A noble house-keeper was he,Ay, as ever broke bread in sweet Nottinghamshire,And a ’squire of famous degree.The mother of Robin said to her husbànd,My honey, my love, and my dear,Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel,To taste of my brother’s good cheer.And he said, I grant thee thy boon, gentle Joan,Take one of my horses, I pray :The sun is arising, and therefore make haste,For to-morrow is Christmas-day.Then Robin Hood’s father’s grey gelding was brought,And sadled and bridled was he ;God-wot a blue bonnet, his new suit of cloaths,And a cloak that did reach to his knee.She got on her holyday kirtle and gown,They were of a light Lincoln green ;The cloath was homespun, but for colour and makeIt might ‘have beseemed’282our queen.And then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword,And his dagger on his tother side ;And said, My dear mother, let’s haste to be gone,We have forty long miles to ride.{153}When Robin had mounted his gelding so grey,His father, without any trouble,Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear,For his gelding ‘had’ oft carried double.And when she was283settled, they rode to their neighbours,And drank and shook hands with them all ;And then Robin gallopt, and never gave o’re,Till they lighted at Gamwel-hall.And now you may think the right worshipful squireWas joyful his sister to see ;For he kist her, and kist her, and swore a great oath,Thou art welcome, kind sister, to me.To-morrow, when mass had been said at the chappel,Six tables were covered in the hall,And in comes the squire, and makes a short speech,It was, Neighbours, you’re welcome all.But not a man here shall taste my March beer,Till a Christmas carrol he does sing.Then all clapt their hands, and theys houted and sung,Till the hall and the parlour did ring.Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb piesWere set upon every table ;And noble George Gamwel said, Eat and be merry,And drink too as long as you’re able.{154}When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,And, Be merry, my friends, said the squire ;It rains and it blows, but call for more ale,And lay some more wood on the fire.And now call ye Little John hither to me,For Little John is a fine lad,At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks,As shall make you both merry and glad.When Little John came, to gambols they went,Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown ;And what do you think ? Why, as true as I live,Bold Robin Hood put them all down.And now you may think the right worshipful squireWas joyful this sight for to see ;For he said, Cousin Robin, thou’st go no more home,But tarry and dwell here with me :Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then,Thou shalt be the staff of my age.Then grant me my boon, dear uncle, said Robin,That Little John may be my page.And he said, Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon ;With all my heart, so let it be.Then come hither, Little John, said Robin Hood,Come hither my page unto me :{155}Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,And broad arrows, one, two, or three.For when ’tis fair weather we’ll into Sherwood,Some merry pastime to see.When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,He winded his bugle so clear ;And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold,Before Robin Hood did appear.Where are your companions all ? said Robin Hood,For still I want forty and three.Then said a bold yeoman, Lo, yonder they stand,All under the284green wood tree.As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by,The queen of the shepherds was she ;And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,And her buskin did reach to her knee.Her gate it was graceful, her body was straight,And her countenance free from pride ;A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrowsHung dangling by her sweet side.Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,And her skin was as smooth as glass ;Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too :Sets with Robin Hood such a lass !{156}Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whither away ?O whither, fair lady, away ?And she made him answer, To kill a fat buck ;For to-morrow is Titbury day.Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with meA little to yonder green bower ;There set down to rest you, and you shall be sureOf a brace or a ‘leash’285in an hour.And as we were going towàrds the green bower,Two hundred good bucks we espy’d ;She chose286out the fattest that was in the herd,And she shot him through side and side.By the faith of my body, said bold Robin Hood,I never saw woman like thee ;And com’st thou from east, or com’st thou from west,Thou needst not beg venison of me.However, along to my bower you shall go,And taste of a forrester’s meat :And when we came thither we found as good cheerAs any man needs for to eat.For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,Cream clouted, and honey-combs plenty ;And the servitors they were, besides Little John,Good yeomen, at least four and twenty.{157}Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir :And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood :Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delightIs to dwell in the merry Sherwood ;For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife.So ’tis, sir, Clorinda reply’d.But oh ! said bold Robin, how sweet would it be,If Clorinda would be my bride !She blusht at the motion ; yet, after a pause,Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart.Then let us send for a priest, said Robin Hood,And be married before we do part.But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir,For I must be at Titbury feast ;And if Robin Hood will go thither with me,I’ll make him the most welcome guest.Said Robin Hood, Reach me that buck, Little John,For I’ll go along with my dear ;And bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks,And meet me to-morrow just here.Before he had ridden five Staffordshire miles,Eight yeomen, that were too bold,Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck :A truer tale never was told.{158}I will not, faith, said bold Robin ; come, John,Stand by me, and we’ll beat ’em all.Then both drew their swords, and so cut ’em, and slasht ’em,That five out of them did fall.The three that remain’d call’d to Robin for quarter,And pitiful John begg’d their lives :When John’s boon was granted, he gave them good counsel,And sent them all home to their wives.This battle was fought near to Titbury town,When the bagpipes baited the bull ;I’m the king of the fidlers, and I swear ’tis truth,And I call him that doubts it a gull :287For I saw them fighting, and fiddled the while ;And Clorinda sung “Hey derry down !The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob,And now let’s dance into the town.”Before we came in we heard a great shouting,And all that were in it look’d madly ;For some were on bull-back, some dancing a morris,And some singingArthur-a-Bradley.288{159}And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk,And Mary, to whom he was kind ;For Tom rode before her, and call’d Mary madam,And kiss’d her full sweetly behind :And so may your worships. But we went to dinner,With Thomas and Mary, and Nan ;They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her,Bold Robin Hood was a fine man.When dinner was ended, sir Roger, the parsonOf Dubbridge, was sent for in haste :He brought his mass-book, and he bad them take hands,And joyn’d them in marriage full fast.And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet brideWent hand in hand to the green bower,The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,And ’twas a most joyful hour.And when Robin came in sight of the bower,Where are my yeomen ? said he :And Little John answer’d, Lo, yonder they stand,All under the green-wood-tree.Then a garland they brought her by two and by two,And plac’d them all on the bride’s head :The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,’Till the bride and bridegroom were a-bed.{160}And what they did there must be counsel to me,Because they lay long the next day ;And I had haste home, but I got a good pieceOf bride-cake, and so came away.Now, out, alas ! I had forgotten to tell ye,That marry’d they were with a ring ;And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden :And now let us pray for the king ;That he may get children, and they may get more,To govern and do us some good :And then I’ll make ballads in Robin Hood’s bowerAnd sing ’em in merry Sherwood.

Kind gentlemen, will you be patient awhile ?Ay, and then you shall hear anonA very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,And of his man brave Little John.

Kind gentlemen, will you be patient awhile ?

Ay, and then you shall hear anon

A very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,

And of his man brave Little John.

In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire,In merry sweet Locksly town,There bold Robin Hood he was born and was bred,Bold Robin of famous renown.

In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire,

In merry sweet Locksly town,

There bold Robin Hood he was born and was bred,

Bold Robin of famous renown.

The father of Robin a forrester was,And he shot in a lusty strong bowTwo north-country miles and an inch at a shot,As the Pinder of Wakefield does know.

The father of Robin a forrester was,

And he shot in a lusty strong bow

Two north-country miles and an inch at a shot,

As the Pinder of Wakefield does know.

For he brought Adam Bell, and Clim of the Clugh,And William of ‘Clowdesle,’281To shoot with our forrester for forty mark,And the forrester beat them all three.

For he brought Adam Bell, and Clim of the Clugh,

And William of ‘Clowdesle,’281

To shoot with our forrester for forty mark,

And the forrester beat them all three.

His mother was neece to the Coventry knight,Which Warwickshire men call sir Guy ;For he slew the blue bore that hangs up at the gate,Or mine host of the Bull tells a lie.{152}

His mother was neece to the Coventry knight,

Which Warwickshire men call sir Guy ;

For he slew the blue bore that hangs up at the gate,

Or mine host of the Bull tells a lie.{152}

Her brother was Gamwel, of Great Gamwel-hall,A noble house-keeper was he,Ay, as ever broke bread in sweet Nottinghamshire,And a ’squire of famous degree.

Her brother was Gamwel, of Great Gamwel-hall,

A noble house-keeper was he,

Ay, as ever broke bread in sweet Nottinghamshire,

And a ’squire of famous degree.

The mother of Robin said to her husbànd,My honey, my love, and my dear,Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel,To taste of my brother’s good cheer.

The mother of Robin said to her husbànd,

My honey, my love, and my dear,

Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel,

To taste of my brother’s good cheer.

And he said, I grant thee thy boon, gentle Joan,Take one of my horses, I pray :The sun is arising, and therefore make haste,For to-morrow is Christmas-day.

And he said, I grant thee thy boon, gentle Joan,

Take one of my horses, I pray :

The sun is arising, and therefore make haste,

For to-morrow is Christmas-day.

Then Robin Hood’s father’s grey gelding was brought,And sadled and bridled was he ;God-wot a blue bonnet, his new suit of cloaths,And a cloak that did reach to his knee.

Then Robin Hood’s father’s grey gelding was brought,

And sadled and bridled was he ;

God-wot a blue bonnet, his new suit of cloaths,

And a cloak that did reach to his knee.

She got on her holyday kirtle and gown,They were of a light Lincoln green ;The cloath was homespun, but for colour and makeIt might ‘have beseemed’282our queen.

She got on her holyday kirtle and gown,

They were of a light Lincoln green ;

The cloath was homespun, but for colour and make

It might ‘have beseemed’282our queen.

And then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword,And his dagger on his tother side ;And said, My dear mother, let’s haste to be gone,We have forty long miles to ride.{153}

And then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword,

And his dagger on his tother side ;

And said, My dear mother, let’s haste to be gone,

We have forty long miles to ride.{153}

When Robin had mounted his gelding so grey,His father, without any trouble,Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear,For his gelding ‘had’ oft carried double.

When Robin had mounted his gelding so grey,

His father, without any trouble,

Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear,

For his gelding ‘had’ oft carried double.

And when she was283settled, they rode to their neighbours,And drank and shook hands with them all ;And then Robin gallopt, and never gave o’re,Till they lighted at Gamwel-hall.

And when she was283settled, they rode to their neighbours,

And drank and shook hands with them all ;

And then Robin gallopt, and never gave o’re,

Till they lighted at Gamwel-hall.

And now you may think the right worshipful squireWas joyful his sister to see ;For he kist her, and kist her, and swore a great oath,Thou art welcome, kind sister, to me.

And now you may think the right worshipful squire

Was joyful his sister to see ;

For he kist her, and kist her, and swore a great oath,

Thou art welcome, kind sister, to me.

To-morrow, when mass had been said at the chappel,Six tables were covered in the hall,And in comes the squire, and makes a short speech,It was, Neighbours, you’re welcome all.

To-morrow, when mass had been said at the chappel,

Six tables were covered in the hall,

And in comes the squire, and makes a short speech,

It was, Neighbours, you’re welcome all.

But not a man here shall taste my March beer,Till a Christmas carrol he does sing.Then all clapt their hands, and theys houted and sung,Till the hall and the parlour did ring.

But not a man here shall taste my March beer,

Till a Christmas carrol he does sing.

Then all clapt their hands, and theys houted and sung,

Till the hall and the parlour did ring.

Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb piesWere set upon every table ;And noble George Gamwel said, Eat and be merry,And drink too as long as you’re able.{154}

Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb pies

Were set upon every table ;

And noble George Gamwel said, Eat and be merry,

And drink too as long as you’re able.{154}

When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,And, Be merry, my friends, said the squire ;It rains and it blows, but call for more ale,And lay some more wood on the fire.

When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,

And, Be merry, my friends, said the squire ;

It rains and it blows, but call for more ale,

And lay some more wood on the fire.

And now call ye Little John hither to me,For Little John is a fine lad,At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks,As shall make you both merry and glad.

And now call ye Little John hither to me,

For Little John is a fine lad,

At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks,

As shall make you both merry and glad.

When Little John came, to gambols they went,Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown ;And what do you think ? Why, as true as I live,Bold Robin Hood put them all down.

When Little John came, to gambols they went,

Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown ;

And what do you think ? Why, as true as I live,

Bold Robin Hood put them all down.

And now you may think the right worshipful squireWas joyful this sight for to see ;For he said, Cousin Robin, thou’st go no more home,But tarry and dwell here with me :

And now you may think the right worshipful squire

Was joyful this sight for to see ;

For he said, Cousin Robin, thou’st go no more home,

But tarry and dwell here with me :

Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then,Thou shalt be the staff of my age.Then grant me my boon, dear uncle, said Robin,That Little John may be my page.

Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then,

Thou shalt be the staff of my age.

Then grant me my boon, dear uncle, said Robin,

That Little John may be my page.

And he said, Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon ;With all my heart, so let it be.Then come hither, Little John, said Robin Hood,Come hither my page unto me :{155}

And he said, Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon ;

With all my heart, so let it be.

Then come hither, Little John, said Robin Hood,

Come hither my page unto me :{155}

Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,And broad arrows, one, two, or three.For when ’tis fair weather we’ll into Sherwood,Some merry pastime to see.

Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,

And broad arrows, one, two, or three.

For when ’tis fair weather we’ll into Sherwood,

Some merry pastime to see.

When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,He winded his bugle so clear ;And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold,Before Robin Hood did appear.

When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,

He winded his bugle so clear ;

And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold,

Before Robin Hood did appear.

Where are your companions all ? said Robin Hood,For still I want forty and three.Then said a bold yeoman, Lo, yonder they stand,All under the284green wood tree.

Where are your companions all ? said Robin Hood,

For still I want forty and three.

Then said a bold yeoman, Lo, yonder they stand,

All under the284green wood tree.

As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by,The queen of the shepherds was she ;And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,And her buskin did reach to her knee.

As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by,

The queen of the shepherds was she ;

And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,

And her buskin did reach to her knee.

Her gate it was graceful, her body was straight,And her countenance free from pride ;A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrowsHung dangling by her sweet side.

Her gate it was graceful, her body was straight,

And her countenance free from pride ;

A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrows

Hung dangling by her sweet side.

Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,And her skin was as smooth as glass ;Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too :Sets with Robin Hood such a lass !{156}

Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,

And her skin was as smooth as glass ;

Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too :

Sets with Robin Hood such a lass !{156}

Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whither away ?O whither, fair lady, away ?And she made him answer, To kill a fat buck ;For to-morrow is Titbury day.

Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whither away ?

O whither, fair lady, away ?

And she made him answer, To kill a fat buck ;

For to-morrow is Titbury day.

Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with meA little to yonder green bower ;There set down to rest you, and you shall be sureOf a brace or a ‘leash’285in an hour.

Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with me

A little to yonder green bower ;

There set down to rest you, and you shall be sure

Of a brace or a ‘leash’285in an hour.

And as we were going towàrds the green bower,Two hundred good bucks we espy’d ;She chose286out the fattest that was in the herd,And she shot him through side and side.

And as we were going towàrds the green bower,

Two hundred good bucks we espy’d ;

She chose286out the fattest that was in the herd,

And she shot him through side and side.

By the faith of my body, said bold Robin Hood,I never saw woman like thee ;And com’st thou from east, or com’st thou from west,Thou needst not beg venison of me.

By the faith of my body, said bold Robin Hood,

I never saw woman like thee ;

And com’st thou from east, or com’st thou from west,

Thou needst not beg venison of me.

However, along to my bower you shall go,And taste of a forrester’s meat :And when we came thither we found as good cheerAs any man needs for to eat.

However, along to my bower you shall go,

And taste of a forrester’s meat :

And when we came thither we found as good cheer

As any man needs for to eat.

For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,Cream clouted, and honey-combs plenty ;And the servitors they were, besides Little John,Good yeomen, at least four and twenty.{157}

For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,

Cream clouted, and honey-combs plenty ;

And the servitors they were, besides Little John,

Good yeomen, at least four and twenty.{157}

Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir :And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood :Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delightIs to dwell in the merry Sherwood ;

Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir :

And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood :

Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delight

Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood ;

For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife.So ’tis, sir, Clorinda reply’d.But oh ! said bold Robin, how sweet would it be,If Clorinda would be my bride !

For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife.

So ’tis, sir, Clorinda reply’d.

But oh ! said bold Robin, how sweet would it be,

If Clorinda would be my bride !

She blusht at the motion ; yet, after a pause,Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart.Then let us send for a priest, said Robin Hood,And be married before we do part.

She blusht at the motion ; yet, after a pause,

Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart.

Then let us send for a priest, said Robin Hood,

And be married before we do part.

But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir,For I must be at Titbury feast ;And if Robin Hood will go thither with me,I’ll make him the most welcome guest.

But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir,

For I must be at Titbury feast ;

And if Robin Hood will go thither with me,

I’ll make him the most welcome guest.

Said Robin Hood, Reach me that buck, Little John,For I’ll go along with my dear ;And bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks,And meet me to-morrow just here.

Said Robin Hood, Reach me that buck, Little John,

For I’ll go along with my dear ;

And bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks,

And meet me to-morrow just here.

Before he had ridden five Staffordshire miles,Eight yeomen, that were too bold,Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck :A truer tale never was told.{158}

Before he had ridden five Staffordshire miles,

Eight yeomen, that were too bold,

Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck :

A truer tale never was told.{158}

I will not, faith, said bold Robin ; come, John,Stand by me, and we’ll beat ’em all.Then both drew their swords, and so cut ’em, and slasht ’em,That five out of them did fall.

I will not, faith, said bold Robin ; come, John,

Stand by me, and we’ll beat ’em all.

Then both drew their swords, and so cut ’em, and slasht ’em,

That five out of them did fall.

The three that remain’d call’d to Robin for quarter,And pitiful John begg’d their lives :When John’s boon was granted, he gave them good counsel,And sent them all home to their wives.

The three that remain’d call’d to Robin for quarter,

And pitiful John begg’d their lives :

When John’s boon was granted, he gave them good counsel,

And sent them all home to their wives.

This battle was fought near to Titbury town,When the bagpipes baited the bull ;I’m the king of the fidlers, and I swear ’tis truth,And I call him that doubts it a gull :287

This battle was fought near to Titbury town,

When the bagpipes baited the bull ;

I’m the king of the fidlers, and I swear ’tis truth,

And I call him that doubts it a gull :287

For I saw them fighting, and fiddled the while ;And Clorinda sung “Hey derry down !The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob,And now let’s dance into the town.”

For I saw them fighting, and fiddled the while ;

And Clorinda sung “Hey derry down !

The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob,

And now let’s dance into the town.”

Before we came in we heard a great shouting,And all that were in it look’d madly ;For some were on bull-back, some dancing a morris,And some singingArthur-a-Bradley.288{159}

Before we came in we heard a great shouting,

And all that were in it look’d madly ;

For some were on bull-back, some dancing a morris,

And some singingArthur-a-Bradley.288{159}

And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk,And Mary, to whom he was kind ;For Tom rode before her, and call’d Mary madam,And kiss’d her full sweetly behind :

And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk,

And Mary, to whom he was kind ;

For Tom rode before her, and call’d Mary madam,

And kiss’d her full sweetly behind :

And so may your worships. But we went to dinner,With Thomas and Mary, and Nan ;They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her,Bold Robin Hood was a fine man.

And so may your worships. But we went to dinner,

With Thomas and Mary, and Nan ;

They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her,

Bold Robin Hood was a fine man.

When dinner was ended, sir Roger, the parsonOf Dubbridge, was sent for in haste :He brought his mass-book, and he bad them take hands,And joyn’d them in marriage full fast.

When dinner was ended, sir Roger, the parson

Of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste :

He brought his mass-book, and he bad them take hands,

And joyn’d them in marriage full fast.

And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet brideWent hand in hand to the green bower,The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,And ’twas a most joyful hour.

And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet bride

Went hand in hand to the green bower,

The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,

And ’twas a most joyful hour.

And when Robin came in sight of the bower,Where are my yeomen ? said he :And Little John answer’d, Lo, yonder they stand,All under the green-wood-tree.

And when Robin came in sight of the bower,

Where are my yeomen ? said he :

And Little John answer’d, Lo, yonder they stand,

All under the green-wood-tree.

Then a garland they brought her by two and by two,And plac’d them all on the bride’s head :The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,’Till the bride and bridegroom were a-bed.{160}

Then a garland they brought her by two and by two,

And plac’d them all on the bride’s head :

The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,

’Till the bride and bridegroom were a-bed.{160}

And what they did there must be counsel to me,Because they lay long the next day ;And I had haste home, but I got a good pieceOf bride-cake, and so came away.

And what they did there must be counsel to me,

Because they lay long the next day ;

And I had haste home, but I got a good piece

Of bride-cake, and so came away.

Now, out, alas ! I had forgotten to tell ye,That marry’d they were with a ring ;And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden :And now let us pray for the king ;

Now, out, alas ! I had forgotten to tell ye,

That marry’d they were with a ring ;

And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden :

And now let us pray for the king ;

That he may get children, and they may get more,To govern and do us some good :And then I’ll make ballads in Robin Hood’s bowerAnd sing ’em in merry Sherwood.

That he may get children, and they may get more,

To govern and do us some good :

And then I’ll make ballads in Robin Hood’s bower

And sing ’em in merry Sherwood.

Back to Index Next