King Richard hearing of the pranksOf Robin Hood and his men,He much admir’d, and more desiredTo see both him and them.{315}Then, with a dozen of his lords,To Nottingham he rode ;When he came there, he made good cheer,And took up his abode.He having staid there some time,But had no hopes to speed,He and his lords, with one accord,All put on monks weeds.From Fountain-abbey they did ride,Down to Barnsdale ;Where Robin Hood prepared stoodAll company to assail.The king was higher than the rest,And Robin thought he hadAn abbot been whom he had seen,To rob him he was glad.He took the king’s horse by the head,Abbot, says he, abide ;I am bound to rue such knaves as you,That live in pomp and pride.But we are messengers from the king,The king himself did say ;Near to this place his royal graceTo speak with thee does stay.{316}God save the king, said Robin Hood,And all that wish him well ;He that does deny his sovereignty,I wish he was in hell.Thyself thou cursedst, says the king,For thou a traitor art.“Nay, but that you are his messenger,I swear you lie in heart.For I never yet hurt any manThat honest is and true ;But those who give their minds to liveUpon other mens due.I never hurt the ‘husbandmen’That use to till the ground :Nor spill their blood who range the wood,To follow hawk or hound.My chiefest spite to clergy is,Who in these days bear great sway ;With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,I make my chiefest prey.”But I am very glad, says Robin Hood,That I have met you here ;Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,Taste of our green-wood cheer.{317}The king he then did marvel much,And so did all his men ;They thought with fear, what kind of cheer,Robin would provide for them.Robin took the kings horse by the head,And led him to his tent :Thou wouldst not be so us’d, quoth he,But that my king thee sent.Nay, more than that, quoth Robin Hood,For good king Richards sake,If you had as much gold as ever I told,I would not one penny take.Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,And a loud blast he did blow,Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men,Came marching all of a row.And when they came bold Robin before,Each man did bend his knee :O, thought the king, ’tis a gallant thing,And a seemly sight to see.Within himself the king did say,These men of Robin HoodsMore humble be than mine to me ;So the court may learn of the woods.{318}So then they all to dinner went,Upon a carpet green ;Black, yellow, red, finely minglèd,Most curious to be seen.Venison and fowls were plenty there,With fish out of the river :King Richard swore, on sea or shore,He never was feasted better.Then Robin takes a cann of ale :“Come, let us now begin ;And every man shall have his cann :Here’s a health unto the king.”The king himself drank to the king,So round about it went ;Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,To pledge that health was spent.And, after that, a bowl of wineIn his hand took Robin Hood ;Until I die, I’ll drink wine, said he,While I live in the green wood.Bend all your bows, said Robin Hood,And with the grey-goose-wing,Such sport now show, as you would doIn the presence of the king.{319}They shewed such brave archery,By cleaving sticks and wands,That the king did say, such men as theyLive not in many lands.Well, Robin Hood, then says the king,If I could thy pardon get,To serve the king in every thingWould’st thou thy mind firm set ?Yes, ‘with all’ my heart, bold Robin said,So they flung off their hoods ;To serve the king in every thing,They swore they would spend their ‘bloods.’For a clergyman was first my bane,Which makes me hate them all,But if you will be so kind to me,Love them again I shall.The king no longer could forbear,For he was mov’d with ‘ruth.’“I am the king, ‘your’ sovereign king,That appears before you all.”When Robin saw that it was he,Strait then he down did fall.{320}Stand up again, then said the king,I’ll thee thy pardon give ;Stand up, my friend, who can contend,When I give leave to live ?So they are all gone to Nottingham,All shouting as they came :But when the people them did see,They thought the king was slain ;And for that cause the outlaws were come,To rule all as they list ;And for to shun, which ‘way’ to run,The people did not wist.The plowman left the plow in the fields,The smith ran from his shop ;Old folks also, that scarce could go,Over their sticks did hop.The king soon did let them understandHe had been in the green-wood,And from that day, for evermore,He’d forgiven Robin Hood.Then [when] the people they did hear,And [that] the truth was known,They all did sing, God save the king !Hang care, the town’s our own !{321}What’s that Robin Hood ? then said the sheriff,That varlet I do hate ;Both me and mine he caused to dine,And serv’d us all with one plate.Ho, ho, said Robin Hood, I know what you mean,Come, take your gold again ;Be friends with me, and I with thee,And so with every man.Now, master sheriff, you are paid,And since you are beginner,As well as you give me my due,For you ne’er paid for that dinner.But if ‘that it’ should please the king,So much your house to grace,To sup with you, for, to speak true,[I] know you ne’er was base.The sheriff [this] could not gainsay,For a trick was put upon him ;A supper was drest, the king was a guest,But he thought ’twould have outdone him.They are all gone to London court,Robin Hood with all his train ;He once was there a noble peer,And now he’s there again.{322}Many such pranks brave Robin play’d,While he liv’d in the green wood :Now, my friend, attend, and hear an endOf honest Robin Hood.
King Richard hearing of the pranksOf Robin Hood and his men,He much admir’d, and more desiredTo see both him and them.{315}Then, with a dozen of his lords,To Nottingham he rode ;When he came there, he made good cheer,And took up his abode.He having staid there some time,But had no hopes to speed,He and his lords, with one accord,All put on monks weeds.From Fountain-abbey they did ride,Down to Barnsdale ;Where Robin Hood prepared stoodAll company to assail.The king was higher than the rest,And Robin thought he hadAn abbot been whom he had seen,To rob him he was glad.He took the king’s horse by the head,Abbot, says he, abide ;I am bound to rue such knaves as you,That live in pomp and pride.But we are messengers from the king,The king himself did say ;Near to this place his royal graceTo speak with thee does stay.{316}God save the king, said Robin Hood,And all that wish him well ;He that does deny his sovereignty,I wish he was in hell.Thyself thou cursedst, says the king,For thou a traitor art.“Nay, but that you are his messenger,I swear you lie in heart.For I never yet hurt any manThat honest is and true ;But those who give their minds to liveUpon other mens due.I never hurt the ‘husbandmen’That use to till the ground :Nor spill their blood who range the wood,To follow hawk or hound.My chiefest spite to clergy is,Who in these days bear great sway ;With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,I make my chiefest prey.”But I am very glad, says Robin Hood,That I have met you here ;Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,Taste of our green-wood cheer.{317}The king he then did marvel much,And so did all his men ;They thought with fear, what kind of cheer,Robin would provide for them.Robin took the kings horse by the head,And led him to his tent :Thou wouldst not be so us’d, quoth he,But that my king thee sent.Nay, more than that, quoth Robin Hood,For good king Richards sake,If you had as much gold as ever I told,I would not one penny take.Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,And a loud blast he did blow,Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men,Came marching all of a row.And when they came bold Robin before,Each man did bend his knee :O, thought the king, ’tis a gallant thing,And a seemly sight to see.Within himself the king did say,These men of Robin HoodsMore humble be than mine to me ;So the court may learn of the woods.{318}So then they all to dinner went,Upon a carpet green ;Black, yellow, red, finely minglèd,Most curious to be seen.Venison and fowls were plenty there,With fish out of the river :King Richard swore, on sea or shore,He never was feasted better.Then Robin takes a cann of ale :“Come, let us now begin ;And every man shall have his cann :Here’s a health unto the king.”The king himself drank to the king,So round about it went ;Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,To pledge that health was spent.And, after that, a bowl of wineIn his hand took Robin Hood ;Until I die, I’ll drink wine, said he,While I live in the green wood.Bend all your bows, said Robin Hood,And with the grey-goose-wing,Such sport now show, as you would doIn the presence of the king.{319}They shewed such brave archery,By cleaving sticks and wands,That the king did say, such men as theyLive not in many lands.Well, Robin Hood, then says the king,If I could thy pardon get,To serve the king in every thingWould’st thou thy mind firm set ?Yes, ‘with all’ my heart, bold Robin said,So they flung off their hoods ;To serve the king in every thing,They swore they would spend their ‘bloods.’For a clergyman was first my bane,Which makes me hate them all,But if you will be so kind to me,Love them again I shall.The king no longer could forbear,For he was mov’d with ‘ruth.’“I am the king, ‘your’ sovereign king,That appears before you all.”When Robin saw that it was he,Strait then he down did fall.{320}Stand up again, then said the king,I’ll thee thy pardon give ;Stand up, my friend, who can contend,When I give leave to live ?So they are all gone to Nottingham,All shouting as they came :But when the people them did see,They thought the king was slain ;And for that cause the outlaws were come,To rule all as they list ;And for to shun, which ‘way’ to run,The people did not wist.The plowman left the plow in the fields,The smith ran from his shop ;Old folks also, that scarce could go,Over their sticks did hop.The king soon did let them understandHe had been in the green-wood,And from that day, for evermore,He’d forgiven Robin Hood.Then [when] the people they did hear,And [that] the truth was known,They all did sing, God save the king !Hang care, the town’s our own !{321}What’s that Robin Hood ? then said the sheriff,That varlet I do hate ;Both me and mine he caused to dine,And serv’d us all with one plate.Ho, ho, said Robin Hood, I know what you mean,Come, take your gold again ;Be friends with me, and I with thee,And so with every man.Now, master sheriff, you are paid,And since you are beginner,As well as you give me my due,For you ne’er paid for that dinner.But if ‘that it’ should please the king,So much your house to grace,To sup with you, for, to speak true,[I] know you ne’er was base.The sheriff [this] could not gainsay,For a trick was put upon him ;A supper was drest, the king was a guest,But he thought ’twould have outdone him.They are all gone to London court,Robin Hood with all his train ;He once was there a noble peer,And now he’s there again.{322}Many such pranks brave Robin play’d,While he liv’d in the green wood :Now, my friend, attend, and hear an endOf honest Robin Hood.
King Richard hearing of the pranksOf Robin Hood and his men,He much admir’d, and more desiredTo see both him and them.{315}
King Richard hearing of the pranks
Of Robin Hood and his men,
He much admir’d, and more desired
To see both him and them.{315}
Then, with a dozen of his lords,To Nottingham he rode ;When he came there, he made good cheer,And took up his abode.
Then, with a dozen of his lords,
To Nottingham he rode ;
When he came there, he made good cheer,
And took up his abode.
He having staid there some time,But had no hopes to speed,He and his lords, with one accord,All put on monks weeds.
He having staid there some time,
But had no hopes to speed,
He and his lords, with one accord,
All put on monks weeds.
From Fountain-abbey they did ride,Down to Barnsdale ;Where Robin Hood prepared stoodAll company to assail.
From Fountain-abbey they did ride,
Down to Barnsdale ;
Where Robin Hood prepared stood
All company to assail.
The king was higher than the rest,And Robin thought he hadAn abbot been whom he had seen,To rob him he was glad.
The king was higher than the rest,
And Robin thought he had
An abbot been whom he had seen,
To rob him he was glad.
He took the king’s horse by the head,Abbot, says he, abide ;I am bound to rue such knaves as you,That live in pomp and pride.
He took the king’s horse by the head,
Abbot, says he, abide ;
I am bound to rue such knaves as you,
That live in pomp and pride.
But we are messengers from the king,The king himself did say ;Near to this place his royal graceTo speak with thee does stay.{316}
But we are messengers from the king,
The king himself did say ;
Near to this place his royal grace
To speak with thee does stay.{316}
God save the king, said Robin Hood,And all that wish him well ;He that does deny his sovereignty,I wish he was in hell.
God save the king, said Robin Hood,
And all that wish him well ;
He that does deny his sovereignty,
I wish he was in hell.
Thyself thou cursedst, says the king,For thou a traitor art.“Nay, but that you are his messenger,I swear you lie in heart.
Thyself thou cursedst, says the king,
For thou a traitor art.
“Nay, but that you are his messenger,
I swear you lie in heart.
For I never yet hurt any manThat honest is and true ;But those who give their minds to liveUpon other mens due.
For I never yet hurt any man
That honest is and true ;
But those who give their minds to live
Upon other mens due.
I never hurt the ‘husbandmen’That use to till the ground :Nor spill their blood who range the wood,To follow hawk or hound.
I never hurt the ‘husbandmen’
That use to till the ground :
Nor spill their blood who range the wood,
To follow hawk or hound.
My chiefest spite to clergy is,Who in these days bear great sway ;With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,I make my chiefest prey.”
My chiefest spite to clergy is,
Who in these days bear great sway ;
With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,
I make my chiefest prey.”
But I am very glad, says Robin Hood,That I have met you here ;Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,Taste of our green-wood cheer.{317}
But I am very glad, says Robin Hood,
That I have met you here ;
Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,
Taste of our green-wood cheer.{317}
The king he then did marvel much,And so did all his men ;They thought with fear, what kind of cheer,Robin would provide for them.
The king he then did marvel much,
And so did all his men ;
They thought with fear, what kind of cheer,
Robin would provide for them.
Robin took the kings horse by the head,And led him to his tent :Thou wouldst not be so us’d, quoth he,But that my king thee sent.
Robin took the kings horse by the head,
And led him to his tent :
Thou wouldst not be so us’d, quoth he,
But that my king thee sent.
Nay, more than that, quoth Robin Hood,For good king Richards sake,If you had as much gold as ever I told,I would not one penny take.
Nay, more than that, quoth Robin Hood,
For good king Richards sake,
If you had as much gold as ever I told,
I would not one penny take.
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,And a loud blast he did blow,Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men,Came marching all of a row.
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
And a loud blast he did blow,
Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men,
Came marching all of a row.
And when they came bold Robin before,Each man did bend his knee :O, thought the king, ’tis a gallant thing,And a seemly sight to see.
And when they came bold Robin before,
Each man did bend his knee :
O, thought the king, ’tis a gallant thing,
And a seemly sight to see.
Within himself the king did say,These men of Robin HoodsMore humble be than mine to me ;So the court may learn of the woods.{318}
Within himself the king did say,
These men of Robin Hoods
More humble be than mine to me ;
So the court may learn of the woods.{318}
So then they all to dinner went,Upon a carpet green ;Black, yellow, red, finely minglèd,Most curious to be seen.
So then they all to dinner went,
Upon a carpet green ;
Black, yellow, red, finely minglèd,
Most curious to be seen.
Venison and fowls were plenty there,With fish out of the river :King Richard swore, on sea or shore,He never was feasted better.
Venison and fowls were plenty there,
With fish out of the river :
King Richard swore, on sea or shore,
He never was feasted better.
Then Robin takes a cann of ale :“Come, let us now begin ;And every man shall have his cann :Here’s a health unto the king.”
Then Robin takes a cann of ale :
“Come, let us now begin ;
And every man shall have his cann :
Here’s a health unto the king.”
The king himself drank to the king,So round about it went ;Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,To pledge that health was spent.
The king himself drank to the king,
So round about it went ;
Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,
To pledge that health was spent.
And, after that, a bowl of wineIn his hand took Robin Hood ;Until I die, I’ll drink wine, said he,While I live in the green wood.
And, after that, a bowl of wine
In his hand took Robin Hood ;
Until I die, I’ll drink wine, said he,
While I live in the green wood.
Bend all your bows, said Robin Hood,And with the grey-goose-wing,Such sport now show, as you would doIn the presence of the king.{319}
Bend all your bows, said Robin Hood,
And with the grey-goose-wing,
Such sport now show, as you would do
In the presence of the king.{319}
They shewed such brave archery,By cleaving sticks and wands,That the king did say, such men as theyLive not in many lands.
They shewed such brave archery,
By cleaving sticks and wands,
That the king did say, such men as they
Live not in many lands.
Well, Robin Hood, then says the king,If I could thy pardon get,To serve the king in every thingWould’st thou thy mind firm set ?
Well, Robin Hood, then says the king,
If I could thy pardon get,
To serve the king in every thing
Would’st thou thy mind firm set ?
Yes, ‘with all’ my heart, bold Robin said,So they flung off their hoods ;To serve the king in every thing,They swore they would spend their ‘bloods.’
Yes, ‘with all’ my heart, bold Robin said,
So they flung off their hoods ;
To serve the king in every thing,
They swore they would spend their ‘bloods.’
For a clergyman was first my bane,Which makes me hate them all,But if you will be so kind to me,Love them again I shall.
For a clergyman was first my bane,
Which makes me hate them all,
But if you will be so kind to me,
Love them again I shall.
The king no longer could forbear,For he was mov’d with ‘ruth.’
The king no longer could forbear,
For he was mov’d with ‘ruth.’
“I am the king, ‘your’ sovereign king,That appears before you all.”When Robin saw that it was he,Strait then he down did fall.{320}
“I am the king, ‘your’ sovereign king,
That appears before you all.”
When Robin saw that it was he,
Strait then he down did fall.{320}
Stand up again, then said the king,I’ll thee thy pardon give ;Stand up, my friend, who can contend,When I give leave to live ?
Stand up again, then said the king,
I’ll thee thy pardon give ;
Stand up, my friend, who can contend,
When I give leave to live ?
So they are all gone to Nottingham,All shouting as they came :But when the people them did see,They thought the king was slain ;
So they are all gone to Nottingham,
All shouting as they came :
But when the people them did see,
They thought the king was slain ;
And for that cause the outlaws were come,To rule all as they list ;And for to shun, which ‘way’ to run,The people did not wist.
And for that cause the outlaws were come,
To rule all as they list ;
And for to shun, which ‘way’ to run,
The people did not wist.
The plowman left the plow in the fields,The smith ran from his shop ;Old folks also, that scarce could go,Over their sticks did hop.
The plowman left the plow in the fields,
The smith ran from his shop ;
Old folks also, that scarce could go,
Over their sticks did hop.
The king soon did let them understandHe had been in the green-wood,And from that day, for evermore,He’d forgiven Robin Hood.
The king soon did let them understand
He had been in the green-wood,
And from that day, for evermore,
He’d forgiven Robin Hood.
Then [when] the people they did hear,And [that] the truth was known,They all did sing, God save the king !Hang care, the town’s our own !{321}
Then [when] the people they did hear,
And [that] the truth was known,
They all did sing, God save the king !
Hang care, the town’s our own !{321}
What’s that Robin Hood ? then said the sheriff,That varlet I do hate ;Both me and mine he caused to dine,And serv’d us all with one plate.
What’s that Robin Hood ? then said the sheriff,
That varlet I do hate ;
Both me and mine he caused to dine,
And serv’d us all with one plate.
Ho, ho, said Robin Hood, I know what you mean,Come, take your gold again ;Be friends with me, and I with thee,And so with every man.
Ho, ho, said Robin Hood, I know what you mean,
Come, take your gold again ;
Be friends with me, and I with thee,
And so with every man.
Now, master sheriff, you are paid,And since you are beginner,As well as you give me my due,For you ne’er paid for that dinner.
Now, master sheriff, you are paid,
And since you are beginner,
As well as you give me my due,
For you ne’er paid for that dinner.
But if ‘that it’ should please the king,So much your house to grace,To sup with you, for, to speak true,[I] know you ne’er was base.
But if ‘that it’ should please the king,
So much your house to grace,
To sup with you, for, to speak true,
[I] know you ne’er was base.
The sheriff [this] could not gainsay,For a trick was put upon him ;A supper was drest, the king was a guest,But he thought ’twould have outdone him.
The sheriff [this] could not gainsay,
For a trick was put upon him ;
A supper was drest, the king was a guest,
But he thought ’twould have outdone him.
They are all gone to London court,Robin Hood with all his train ;He once was there a noble peer,And now he’s there again.{322}
They are all gone to London court,
Robin Hood with all his train ;
He once was there a noble peer,
And now he’s there again.{322}
Many such pranks brave Robin play’d,While he liv’d in the green wood :Now, my friend, attend, and hear an endOf honest Robin Hood.
Many such pranks brave Robin play’d,
While he liv’d in the green wood :
Now, my friend, attend, and hear an end
Of honest Robin Hood.