134ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR, II

a.‘The History of Robin Hood and the Beggar,’ Aberdeen, Printed by and for A. Keith: Bodleian Library, Douce, HH 88, pasted between pp 68, 69 of Robin Hood’s Garland, London, C. Dicey. A. Keith of Aberdeen printed from 1810 to 1835.

b.‘A pretty dialogue betwixt Robin Hood and a Beggar,’ Newcastle, in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, I, 97.

ais printed by Gutch, Robin Hood, II, 230, with deviations. OfbRitson says: The corruptions of the press being equally numerous and minute, some of the most trifling have been corrected without notice. Despite the corruptions,bis, in some readings, preferable toa. Motherwell, Minstrelsy, p. xliii, says that pretty early stall copies were printed both at Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Robin Hood attempts to stop a beggar, from whom he thinks he may get some money. The beggar gives no heed to his summons, but hies on. Robin, getting a surly answer upon a second essay, says that if there be but a farthing he will have it, orders the beggar to loose the strings of his pocks, and threatens him with an arrow. The beggar defies him, and upon Robin’s drawing his bow, reaches him such a stroke with a staff that bow and arrow are broken to bits.Robin takes to his sword; the beggar lights on his hand with his staff and disables him completely, then follows in with lusty blows, till Robin falls in a swoon. The beggar moves on with entire unconcern. Three of Robin’s men come by and revive him with water. Their master tells them of his disgrace; he had never been in so hard a place in forty year. He bids them bring the beggar back or slay him. Two of the three will be enough for that, they say, and one shall stay with him. Two set forth, accordingly, with a caution to be wary, take a short cut, which brings them out ahead of the beggar, and leap on him from a hiding, one gripping his staff and the other putting a dagger to his breast. The beggar sues for his life in vain; they will bind him and will take him back to their master, to be slain or hanged. He offers them a hundred pound and more for his liberty. They decide together to take the money, and say nothing about it, simply reporting that they have killed the old carl. The beggar spreads his cloak on the ground and many a pock on it; then, standing between them and the wind, takes a great bag of meal from his neck and flings the meal into their eyes. Having thus blinded them, he seizes his staff, which they had stuck in the ground, and gives each of them a dozen. The young men take to their heels, the beggar calling after them to stop for their pay. Robin, after a jest at the meal on their cloaths, makes them tell how they have fared. We are shamed forever, he cries; but smiles to see that they have had their taste of the beggar’s tree.

This tale is rightly called by Ritson a North Country composition of some antiquity, “perhaps Scottish.” Fragments of Robin Hood ballads, Motherwell informs us, were traditionally extant in his day which had not (and have not) found their way into printed collections, and we know from very early testimony that such ballads were current in Scotland. This is by far the best of the Robin Hood ballads of the secondary, so to speak cyclic, period. It has plenty of homely humor, but the heroic sentiment is gone. It does not belong to the iron, the cast-iron, age of Robin Hood’s Birth, Breeding, etc.; but neither does it belong to the golden age of Robin Hood and the Monk, or the Gest. It would be no gain to have Thersites drubbing Odysseus. Robin finds his match, for the nonce, in the Potter, but he does not for that depute two of his men to be the death of the Potter. It never occurred to Little John and Much to get a hundred pound from a beggar, kill him, and pocket the money.

A story resembling that of the second part of this ballad occurs, as Ritson has observed, in Le moyen de parvenir, “1739, I, 304;” II, 94, London, 1786; p. 171, Paris, 1841. A friar encounters two footpads, who offer to relieve him of the burden of his frock. He asks them to let him take it off peaceably, puts his staff under his foot, takes off the frock and throws it before them. While one of the pair stoops to get it, the friar picks up the staff and hits the knave a blow which sends him headlong; the other runs off.

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 180.

1Lyth and listen, gentlemen,That’s come of high born blood;I’ll tell you of a brave bootingThat befel Robin Hood.2Robin Hood upon a day,He went forth him alone,And as he came from BarnesdaleInto a fair evening,3He met a beggar on the way,That sturdily could gang;He had a pike-staff in his hand,That was baith stark and strang.4A clouted cloak about him was,That held him from the cold;The thinnest bit of it, I guess,Was more than twenty fold.5His meal-pock hang about his neck,Into a leathern fang,Well fastened with a broad buckle,That was both stark and strang.6He had three hats upon his head,Together sticked fast;He cared neither for wind nor weet,In lands wherever he past.7Good Robin coost him in his way,To see what he might be;If any beggar had money,He thought some part had he.8‘Tarry, tarry,’ good Robin says,‘Tarry, and speak with me;’He heard him as he heard [him] not,And fast his way can hie.9‘It be’s not so,’ says good Robin,‘Nay, thou must tarry still;’‘By my troth,’ says the bold beggar,‘Of that I have no will.10‘It is far to my lodging-house,And it is growing late;If they have supt ere I come in,I will look wondrous blate.’11‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘I see well by thy fare,If thou chear well to thy supper,Of mine thou takes no care;12‘Who wants my dinner all the day,And wots not where to lie,And should I to the tavern go,I want money to buy.13‘Sir, thou must lend me some money,Till we two meet again:’The beggar answerd cankerdly,I have no money to lend.14Thou art as young a man as I,And seems to be as sweer;If thou fast till thou get from me,Thou shalt eat none this year.15‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘Since we are sembled so,If thou have but a small farthing,I’ll have it ere thou go.16‘Therefore, lay down thy clouted cloak,And do no longer stand,And loose the strings of all thy pocks;I’ll ripe them with my hand.17‘And now to thee I make a vow,If thou make any din,I shall see if a broad arrowCan pierce a beggar’s skin.’18The beggar smil’d, and answer made:Far better let me be;Think not that I will be afraidFor thy nip crooked tree.19Or that I fear thee any whitFor thy curn nips of sticks;I know no use for them so meetAs to be pudding-pricks.20Here I defy thee to do me ill,For all thy boistrous fare;Thou’s get nothing from me but ill,Would thou seek it evermair.21Good Robin bent his noble bow—He was an angry man—And in it set a broad arrow;Yet er ’twas drawn a span,22The beggar, with his noble tree,Reacht him so round a routThat his bow and his broad arrowIn flinders flew about.23Good Robin bound him to his brand,But that provd likewise vain;The beggar lighted on his handWith his pike-staff again.24I wot he might not draw a swordFor forty days and more;Good Robin could not speak a word,His heart was never so sore.25He could not fight, he could not flee,He wist not what to do;The beggar, with his noble tree,Laid lusty flaps him to.26He paid good Robin back and side,And beft him up and down,And with his pike-staff still on laidTill he fell in a swoon.27‘Fy! stand up, man,’ the beggar said,‘’Tis shame to go to rest;Stay still till thou get thy mony [told],I think it were the best.28‘And syne go to the tavern-house,And buy both wine and ale;Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse,Thou has been at a dale.’29Good Robin answerd never a word,But lay still as a stane;His cheeks were white as any clay,And closed were his eyne.30The beggar thought him dead but fail,And boldly bownd away;I would you had been at the dale,And gotten part of the play.31Now three of Robin’s men, by chance,Came walking on the way,And found their master in a trance,On ground where he did lie.32Up have they taken good Robin,Making a piteous bier,Yet saw they no man there at whomThey might the matter spear.33They looked him all round about,But wounds on him saw none,Yet at his mouth came bocking outThe blood of a good vein.34Cold water they have taken syne,And cast into his face;Then he began to lift his eyne,And spake within short space.35‘Tell us, dear master,’ says his men,‘How with you stands the case?’Good Robin sighd ere he beganTo tell of his disgrace.36‘I have been watchman in this woodNear hand this forty year,Yet I was never so hard besteadAs you have found me here.37‘A beggar with a clouted cloak,In whom I feard no ill,Hath with a pike-staff clawd my back;I fear’t shall never be well.38‘See, where he goes out oer yon hill,With hat upon his head;If ever you lovd your master well,Go now revenge this deed.39‘And bring him back again to me,If it lie in your might,That I may see, before I die,Him punisht in my sight.40‘And if you may not bring him back,Let him not go loose on;For to us all it were great shameIf he escapt again.’41‘One of us shall with you remain,Because you’re ill at ease;The other two shall bring him back,To use him as you please.’42‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘I trow there’s enough said;If he get scouth to weild his tree,I fear you’ll both be paid.’43‘Be ye not feard, our good master,That we two can be dungWith any blutter base beggar,That hath nought but a rung.44‘His staff shall stand him in no stead;That you shall shortly see;But back again he shall be led,And fast bound shall he be,To see if you will have him slain,Or hanged on a tree.’45‘But cast you slily in his way,Before he be aware,And on his pike-staff first lay hands;You’ll speed the better far.’46Now leave we Robin with his man,Again to play the child,And learn himself to stand and gangBy haulds, for all his eild.47Now pass we to the bold beggar,That raked oer the hill,Who never mended his pace no moreNor he had done no ill.48The young men knew the country well,So soon where he would be,And they have taken another way,Was nearer by miles three.49They rudely ran with all their might,Spar’d neither dub nor mire,They stirred neither at laigh nor hight,No travel made them tire,50Till they before the beggar wan,And coost them in his way;A little wood lay in a glen,And there they both did stay.51They stood up closely by a tree,In ilk side of the gate,Until the beggar came them to,That thought not of such fate.52And as he was betwixt them past,They leapt upon him baith;The one his pike-staff gripped fast,They feared for its scaith.53The other he held in his sightA drawn dirk to his breast,And said, False carl, quit thy staff,Or I shall be thy priest.54His pike-staff they have taken him frae,And stuck it in the green;He was full leath to let [it] gae,If better might have been.55The beggar was the feardest manOf one that ever might be;To win away no way he can,Nor help him with his tree.56He wist not wherefore he was tane,Nor how many was there;He thought his life-days had been gone,And grew into despair.57‘Grant me my life,’ the beggar said,‘For him that died on tree,And take away that ugly knife,Or then for fear I’ll die.58‘I grievd you never in all my life,By late nor yet by ayre;Ye have great sin, if ye should slayA silly poor beggar.’59‘Thou lies, false lown,’ they said again,‘By all that may be sworn;Thou hast near slain the gentlest manThat ever yet was born.60‘And back again thou shalt be led,And fast bound shalt thou be,To see if he will have thee slain,Or hanged on a tree.’61The beggar then thought all was wrong;They were set for his wrack;He saw nothing appearing thenBut ill upon worse back.62Were he out of their hands, he thought,And had again his tree,He should not be had back for nought,With such as he did see.63Then he bethought him on a wile,If it could take effect,How he the young men might beguile,And give them a begeck.64Thus for to do them shame or illHis beastly breast was bent;He found the wind grew something shril,To further his intent.65He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,And let the poor man be;When ye have taken a beggar’s blood,It helps you not a flee.66It was but in my own defence,If he hath gotten skaith;But I will make a recompence,Much better for you baith.67If ye will set me safe and free,And do me no danger,An hundred pounds I will you give,And much more good silver,68That I have gathered these many years,Under this clouted cloak,And hid up wonder privately,In bottom of my pock.69The young men to a council yeed,And let the beggar gae;They wist how well he had no speedFrom them to run away.70They thought they would the money take,Come after what so may,And then they would not bring him back,But in that part him slay.71By that good Robin would not knowThat they had gotten coin;It would content him for to showThat there they had him slain.72They said, False carl, soon have doneAnd tell forth that money;For the ill turn thou hast done’Tis but a simple fee.73And yet we will not have thee back,Come after what so may,If thou will do that which thou spake,And make us present pay.74O then he loosd his clouted cloak,And spread it on the ground,And thereon laid he many a pock,Betwixt them and the wind.75He took a great bag from his hase;It was near full of meal;Two pecks in it at least there was,And more, I wot full well.76Upon his cloak he laid it down,The mouth he opend wide,To turn the same he made him bown,The young men ready spy’d.77In every hand he took a nookOf that great leathern meal,And with a fling the meal he shookInto their faces hail.78Wherewith he blinded them so closeA stime they could not see;And then in heart he did rejoice,And clapt his lusty tree.79He thought, if he had done them wrongIn mealing of their cloaths,For to strike off the meal againWith his pike-staff he goes.80Or any one of them could red their eyne,Or yet a glimmering could see,Ilk ane of them a dozen had,Well laid on with the tree.81The young men were right swift of foot,And boldly ran away;The beggar could them no more hit,For all the haste he may.82‘What ails this haste?’ the beggar said,‘May ye not tarry still,Until your money be receivd?I’ll pay you with good will.83‘The shaking of my pocks, I fear,Hath blown into your eyne;But I have a good pike-staff hereWill ripe them out full clean.’84The young men answerd neer a word,They were dumb as a stane;In the thick wood the beggar fled,Eer they riped their eyne.85And syne the night became so late,To seek him was but vain:But judge ye, if they looked blateWhen they came home again.86Good Robin speard how they had sped;They answerd him, Full ill;‘That cannot be,’ good Robin says;‘Ye have been at the mill.87‘The mill it is a meatrif place,They may lick what they please;Most like ye have been at that art,Who would look to your cloaths.’88They hangd their heads, and droped down,A word they could not speak:Robin said, Because I fell a-swoon,I think you’ll do the like.89Tell on the matter, less and more,And tell me what and howYe have done with the bold beggarI sent you for right now.90And then they told him to an end,As I have said before,How that the beggar did them blind,What misters process more.91And how he lin’d their shoulders broadWith his great trenchen tree,And how in the thick wood he fled,Eer they a stime could see.92And how they scarcely could win home,Their bones were beft so sore:Good Robin cry’d, Fy! out, for shame!We’re sham’d for evermore.93Altho good Robin would full fainOf his wrong revenged be,He smil’d to see his merry young menHad gotten a taste of the tree.

1Lyth and listen, gentlemen,That’s come of high born blood;I’ll tell you of a brave bootingThat befel Robin Hood.

Lyth and listen, gentlemen,

That’s come of high born blood;

I’ll tell you of a brave booting

That befel Robin Hood.

2Robin Hood upon a day,He went forth him alone,And as he came from BarnesdaleInto a fair evening,

Robin Hood upon a day,

He went forth him alone,

And as he came from Barnesdale

Into a fair evening,

3He met a beggar on the way,That sturdily could gang;He had a pike-staff in his hand,That was baith stark and strang.

He met a beggar on the way,

That sturdily could gang;

He had a pike-staff in his hand,

That was baith stark and strang.

4A clouted cloak about him was,That held him from the cold;The thinnest bit of it, I guess,Was more than twenty fold.

A clouted cloak about him was,

That held him from the cold;

The thinnest bit of it, I guess,

Was more than twenty fold.

5His meal-pock hang about his neck,Into a leathern fang,Well fastened with a broad buckle,That was both stark and strang.

His meal-pock hang about his neck,

Into a leathern fang,

Well fastened with a broad buckle,

That was both stark and strang.

6He had three hats upon his head,Together sticked fast;He cared neither for wind nor weet,In lands wherever he past.

He had three hats upon his head,

Together sticked fast;

He cared neither for wind nor weet,

In lands wherever he past.

7Good Robin coost him in his way,To see what he might be;If any beggar had money,He thought some part had he.

Good Robin coost him in his way,

To see what he might be;

If any beggar had money,

He thought some part had he.

8‘Tarry, tarry,’ good Robin says,‘Tarry, and speak with me;’He heard him as he heard [him] not,And fast his way can hie.

‘Tarry, tarry,’ good Robin says,

‘Tarry, and speak with me;’

He heard him as he heard [him] not,

And fast his way can hie.

9‘It be’s not so,’ says good Robin,‘Nay, thou must tarry still;’‘By my troth,’ says the bold beggar,‘Of that I have no will.

‘It be’s not so,’ says good Robin,

‘Nay, thou must tarry still;’

‘By my troth,’ says the bold beggar,

‘Of that I have no will.

10‘It is far to my lodging-house,And it is growing late;If they have supt ere I come in,I will look wondrous blate.’

‘It is far to my lodging-house,

And it is growing late;

If they have supt ere I come in,

I will look wondrous blate.’

11‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘I see well by thy fare,If thou chear well to thy supper,Of mine thou takes no care;

‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,

‘I see well by thy fare,

If thou chear well to thy supper,

Of mine thou takes no care;

12‘Who wants my dinner all the day,And wots not where to lie,And should I to the tavern go,I want money to buy.

‘Who wants my dinner all the day,

And wots not where to lie,

And should I to the tavern go,

I want money to buy.

13‘Sir, thou must lend me some money,Till we two meet again:’The beggar answerd cankerdly,I have no money to lend.

‘Sir, thou must lend me some money,

Till we two meet again:’

The beggar answerd cankerdly,

I have no money to lend.

14Thou art as young a man as I,And seems to be as sweer;If thou fast till thou get from me,Thou shalt eat none this year.

Thou art as young a man as I,

And seems to be as sweer;

If thou fast till thou get from me,

Thou shalt eat none this year.

15‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘Since we are sembled so,If thou have but a small farthing,I’ll have it ere thou go.

‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,

‘Since we are sembled so,

If thou have but a small farthing,

I’ll have it ere thou go.

16‘Therefore, lay down thy clouted cloak,And do no longer stand,And loose the strings of all thy pocks;I’ll ripe them with my hand.

‘Therefore, lay down thy clouted cloak,

And do no longer stand,

And loose the strings of all thy pocks;

I’ll ripe them with my hand.

17‘And now to thee I make a vow,If thou make any din,I shall see if a broad arrowCan pierce a beggar’s skin.’

‘And now to thee I make a vow,

If thou make any din,

I shall see if a broad arrow

Can pierce a beggar’s skin.’

18The beggar smil’d, and answer made:Far better let me be;Think not that I will be afraidFor thy nip crooked tree.

The beggar smil’d, and answer made:

Far better let me be;

Think not that I will be afraid

For thy nip crooked tree.

19Or that I fear thee any whitFor thy curn nips of sticks;I know no use for them so meetAs to be pudding-pricks.

Or that I fear thee any whit

For thy curn nips of sticks;

I know no use for them so meet

As to be pudding-pricks.

20Here I defy thee to do me ill,For all thy boistrous fare;Thou’s get nothing from me but ill,Would thou seek it evermair.

Here I defy thee to do me ill,

For all thy boistrous fare;

Thou’s get nothing from me but ill,

Would thou seek it evermair.

21Good Robin bent his noble bow—He was an angry man—And in it set a broad arrow;Yet er ’twas drawn a span,

Good Robin bent his noble bow—

He was an angry man—

And in it set a broad arrow;

Yet er ’twas drawn a span,

22The beggar, with his noble tree,Reacht him so round a routThat his bow and his broad arrowIn flinders flew about.

The beggar, with his noble tree,

Reacht him so round a rout

That his bow and his broad arrow

In flinders flew about.

23Good Robin bound him to his brand,But that provd likewise vain;The beggar lighted on his handWith his pike-staff again.

Good Robin bound him to his brand,

But that provd likewise vain;

The beggar lighted on his hand

With his pike-staff again.

24I wot he might not draw a swordFor forty days and more;Good Robin could not speak a word,His heart was never so sore.

I wot he might not draw a sword

For forty days and more;

Good Robin could not speak a word,

His heart was never so sore.

25He could not fight, he could not flee,He wist not what to do;The beggar, with his noble tree,Laid lusty flaps him to.

He could not fight, he could not flee,

He wist not what to do;

The beggar, with his noble tree,

Laid lusty flaps him to.

26He paid good Robin back and side,And beft him up and down,And with his pike-staff still on laidTill he fell in a swoon.

He paid good Robin back and side,

And beft him up and down,

And with his pike-staff still on laid

Till he fell in a swoon.

27‘Fy! stand up, man,’ the beggar said,‘’Tis shame to go to rest;Stay still till thou get thy mony [told],I think it were the best.

‘Fy! stand up, man,’ the beggar said,

‘’Tis shame to go to rest;

Stay still till thou get thy mony [told],

I think it were the best.

28‘And syne go to the tavern-house,And buy both wine and ale;Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse,Thou has been at a dale.’

‘And syne go to the tavern-house,

And buy both wine and ale;

Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse,

Thou has been at a dale.’

29Good Robin answerd never a word,But lay still as a stane;His cheeks were white as any clay,And closed were his eyne.

Good Robin answerd never a word,

But lay still as a stane;

His cheeks were white as any clay,

And closed were his eyne.

30The beggar thought him dead but fail,And boldly bownd away;I would you had been at the dale,And gotten part of the play.

The beggar thought him dead but fail,

And boldly bownd away;

I would you had been at the dale,

And gotten part of the play.

31Now three of Robin’s men, by chance,Came walking on the way,And found their master in a trance,On ground where he did lie.

Now three of Robin’s men, by chance,

Came walking on the way,

And found their master in a trance,

On ground where he did lie.

32Up have they taken good Robin,Making a piteous bier,Yet saw they no man there at whomThey might the matter spear.

Up have they taken good Robin,

Making a piteous bier,

Yet saw they no man there at whom

They might the matter spear.

33They looked him all round about,But wounds on him saw none,Yet at his mouth came bocking outThe blood of a good vein.

They looked him all round about,

But wounds on him saw none,

Yet at his mouth came bocking out

The blood of a good vein.

34Cold water they have taken syne,And cast into his face;Then he began to lift his eyne,And spake within short space.

Cold water they have taken syne,

And cast into his face;

Then he began to lift his eyne,

And spake within short space.

35‘Tell us, dear master,’ says his men,‘How with you stands the case?’Good Robin sighd ere he beganTo tell of his disgrace.

‘Tell us, dear master,’ says his men,

‘How with you stands the case?’

Good Robin sighd ere he began

To tell of his disgrace.

36‘I have been watchman in this woodNear hand this forty year,Yet I was never so hard besteadAs you have found me here.

‘I have been watchman in this wood

Near hand this forty year,

Yet I was never so hard bestead

As you have found me here.

37‘A beggar with a clouted cloak,In whom I feard no ill,Hath with a pike-staff clawd my back;I fear’t shall never be well.

‘A beggar with a clouted cloak,

In whom I feard no ill,

Hath with a pike-staff clawd my back;

I fear’t shall never be well.

38‘See, where he goes out oer yon hill,With hat upon his head;If ever you lovd your master well,Go now revenge this deed.

‘See, where he goes out oer yon hill,

With hat upon his head;

If ever you lovd your master well,

Go now revenge this deed.

39‘And bring him back again to me,If it lie in your might,That I may see, before I die,Him punisht in my sight.

‘And bring him back again to me,

If it lie in your might,

That I may see, before I die,

Him punisht in my sight.

40‘And if you may not bring him back,Let him not go loose on;For to us all it were great shameIf he escapt again.’

‘And if you may not bring him back,

Let him not go loose on;

For to us all it were great shame

If he escapt again.’

41‘One of us shall with you remain,Because you’re ill at ease;The other two shall bring him back,To use him as you please.’

‘One of us shall with you remain,

Because you’re ill at ease;

The other two shall bring him back,

To use him as you please.’

42‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,‘I trow there’s enough said;If he get scouth to weild his tree,I fear you’ll both be paid.’

‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,

‘I trow there’s enough said;

If he get scouth to weild his tree,

I fear you’ll both be paid.’

43‘Be ye not feard, our good master,That we two can be dungWith any blutter base beggar,That hath nought but a rung.

‘Be ye not feard, our good master,

That we two can be dung

With any blutter base beggar,

That hath nought but a rung.

44‘His staff shall stand him in no stead;That you shall shortly see;But back again he shall be led,And fast bound shall he be,To see if you will have him slain,Or hanged on a tree.’

‘His staff shall stand him in no stead;

That you shall shortly see;

But back again he shall be led,

And fast bound shall he be,

To see if you will have him slain,

Or hanged on a tree.’

45‘But cast you slily in his way,Before he be aware,And on his pike-staff first lay hands;You’ll speed the better far.’

‘But cast you slily in his way,

Before he be aware,

And on his pike-staff first lay hands;

You’ll speed the better far.’

46Now leave we Robin with his man,Again to play the child,And learn himself to stand and gangBy haulds, for all his eild.

Now leave we Robin with his man,

Again to play the child,

And learn himself to stand and gang

By haulds, for all his eild.

47Now pass we to the bold beggar,That raked oer the hill,Who never mended his pace no moreNor he had done no ill.

Now pass we to the bold beggar,

That raked oer the hill,

Who never mended his pace no more

Nor he had done no ill.

48The young men knew the country well,So soon where he would be,And they have taken another way,Was nearer by miles three.

The young men knew the country well,

So soon where he would be,

And they have taken another way,

Was nearer by miles three.

49They rudely ran with all their might,Spar’d neither dub nor mire,They stirred neither at laigh nor hight,No travel made them tire,

They rudely ran with all their might,

Spar’d neither dub nor mire,

They stirred neither at laigh nor hight,

No travel made them tire,

50Till they before the beggar wan,And coost them in his way;A little wood lay in a glen,And there they both did stay.

Till they before the beggar wan,

And coost them in his way;

A little wood lay in a glen,

And there they both did stay.

51They stood up closely by a tree,In ilk side of the gate,Until the beggar came them to,That thought not of such fate.

They stood up closely by a tree,

In ilk side of the gate,

Until the beggar came them to,

That thought not of such fate.

52And as he was betwixt them past,They leapt upon him baith;The one his pike-staff gripped fast,They feared for its scaith.

And as he was betwixt them past,

They leapt upon him baith;

The one his pike-staff gripped fast,

They feared for its scaith.

53The other he held in his sightA drawn dirk to his breast,And said, False carl, quit thy staff,Or I shall be thy priest.

The other he held in his sight

A drawn dirk to his breast,

And said, False carl, quit thy staff,

Or I shall be thy priest.

54His pike-staff they have taken him frae,And stuck it in the green;He was full leath to let [it] gae,If better might have been.

His pike-staff they have taken him frae,

And stuck it in the green;

He was full leath to let [it] gae,

If better might have been.

55The beggar was the feardest manOf one that ever might be;To win away no way he can,Nor help him with his tree.

The beggar was the feardest man

Of one that ever might be;

To win away no way he can,

Nor help him with his tree.

56He wist not wherefore he was tane,Nor how many was there;He thought his life-days had been gone,And grew into despair.

He wist not wherefore he was tane,

Nor how many was there;

He thought his life-days had been gone,

And grew into despair.

57‘Grant me my life,’ the beggar said,‘For him that died on tree,And take away that ugly knife,Or then for fear I’ll die.

‘Grant me my life,’ the beggar said,

‘For him that died on tree,

And take away that ugly knife,

Or then for fear I’ll die.

58‘I grievd you never in all my life,By late nor yet by ayre;Ye have great sin, if ye should slayA silly poor beggar.’

‘I grievd you never in all my life,

By late nor yet by ayre;

Ye have great sin, if ye should slay

A silly poor beggar.’

59‘Thou lies, false lown,’ they said again,‘By all that may be sworn;Thou hast near slain the gentlest manThat ever yet was born.

‘Thou lies, false lown,’ they said again,

‘By all that may be sworn;

Thou hast near slain the gentlest man

That ever yet was born.

60‘And back again thou shalt be led,And fast bound shalt thou be,To see if he will have thee slain,Or hanged on a tree.’

‘And back again thou shalt be led,

And fast bound shalt thou be,

To see if he will have thee slain,

Or hanged on a tree.’

61The beggar then thought all was wrong;They were set for his wrack;He saw nothing appearing thenBut ill upon worse back.

The beggar then thought all was wrong;

They were set for his wrack;

He saw nothing appearing then

But ill upon worse back.

62Were he out of their hands, he thought,And had again his tree,He should not be had back for nought,With such as he did see.

Were he out of their hands, he thought,

And had again his tree,

He should not be had back for nought,

With such as he did see.

63Then he bethought him on a wile,If it could take effect,How he the young men might beguile,And give them a begeck.

Then he bethought him on a wile,

If it could take effect,

How he the young men might beguile,

And give them a begeck.

64Thus for to do them shame or illHis beastly breast was bent;He found the wind grew something shril,To further his intent.

Thus for to do them shame or ill

His beastly breast was bent;

He found the wind grew something shril,

To further his intent.

65He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,And let the poor man be;When ye have taken a beggar’s blood,It helps you not a flee.

He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,

And let the poor man be;

When ye have taken a beggar’s blood,

It helps you not a flee.

66It was but in my own defence,If he hath gotten skaith;But I will make a recompence,Much better for you baith.

It was but in my own defence,

If he hath gotten skaith;

But I will make a recompence,

Much better for you baith.

67If ye will set me safe and free,And do me no danger,An hundred pounds I will you give,And much more good silver,

If ye will set me safe and free,

And do me no danger,

An hundred pounds I will you give,

And much more good silver,

68That I have gathered these many years,Under this clouted cloak,And hid up wonder privately,In bottom of my pock.

That I have gathered these many years,

Under this clouted cloak,

And hid up wonder privately,

In bottom of my pock.

69The young men to a council yeed,And let the beggar gae;They wist how well he had no speedFrom them to run away.

The young men to a council yeed,

And let the beggar gae;

They wist how well he had no speed

From them to run away.

70They thought they would the money take,Come after what so may,And then they would not bring him back,But in that part him slay.

They thought they would the money take,

Come after what so may,

And then they would not bring him back,

But in that part him slay.

71By that good Robin would not knowThat they had gotten coin;It would content him for to showThat there they had him slain.

By that good Robin would not know

That they had gotten coin;

It would content him for to show

That there they had him slain.

72They said, False carl, soon have doneAnd tell forth that money;For the ill turn thou hast done’Tis but a simple fee.

They said, False carl, soon have done

And tell forth that money;

For the ill turn thou hast done

’Tis but a simple fee.

73And yet we will not have thee back,Come after what so may,If thou will do that which thou spake,And make us present pay.

And yet we will not have thee back,

Come after what so may,

If thou will do that which thou spake,

And make us present pay.

74O then he loosd his clouted cloak,And spread it on the ground,And thereon laid he many a pock,Betwixt them and the wind.

O then he loosd his clouted cloak,

And spread it on the ground,

And thereon laid he many a pock,

Betwixt them and the wind.

75He took a great bag from his hase;It was near full of meal;Two pecks in it at least there was,And more, I wot full well.

He took a great bag from his hase;

It was near full of meal;

Two pecks in it at least there was,

And more, I wot full well.

76Upon his cloak he laid it down,The mouth he opend wide,To turn the same he made him bown,The young men ready spy’d.

Upon his cloak he laid it down,

The mouth he opend wide,

To turn the same he made him bown,

The young men ready spy’d.

77In every hand he took a nookOf that great leathern meal,And with a fling the meal he shookInto their faces hail.

In every hand he took a nook

Of that great leathern meal,

And with a fling the meal he shook

Into their faces hail.

78Wherewith he blinded them so closeA stime they could not see;And then in heart he did rejoice,And clapt his lusty tree.

Wherewith he blinded them so close

A stime they could not see;

And then in heart he did rejoice,

And clapt his lusty tree.

79He thought, if he had done them wrongIn mealing of their cloaths,For to strike off the meal againWith his pike-staff he goes.

He thought, if he had done them wrong

In mealing of their cloaths,

For to strike off the meal again

With his pike-staff he goes.

80Or any one of them could red their eyne,Or yet a glimmering could see,Ilk ane of them a dozen had,Well laid on with the tree.

Or any one of them could red their eyne,

Or yet a glimmering could see,

Ilk ane of them a dozen had,

Well laid on with the tree.

81The young men were right swift of foot,And boldly ran away;The beggar could them no more hit,For all the haste he may.

The young men were right swift of foot,

And boldly ran away;

The beggar could them no more hit,

For all the haste he may.

82‘What ails this haste?’ the beggar said,‘May ye not tarry still,Until your money be receivd?I’ll pay you with good will.

‘What ails this haste?’ the beggar said,

‘May ye not tarry still,

Until your money be receivd?

I’ll pay you with good will.

83‘The shaking of my pocks, I fear,Hath blown into your eyne;But I have a good pike-staff hereWill ripe them out full clean.’

‘The shaking of my pocks, I fear,

Hath blown into your eyne;

But I have a good pike-staff here

Will ripe them out full clean.’

84The young men answerd neer a word,They were dumb as a stane;In the thick wood the beggar fled,Eer they riped their eyne.

The young men answerd neer a word,

They were dumb as a stane;

In the thick wood the beggar fled,

Eer they riped their eyne.

85And syne the night became so late,To seek him was but vain:But judge ye, if they looked blateWhen they came home again.

And syne the night became so late,

To seek him was but vain:

But judge ye, if they looked blate

When they came home again.

86Good Robin speard how they had sped;They answerd him, Full ill;‘That cannot be,’ good Robin says;‘Ye have been at the mill.

Good Robin speard how they had sped;

They answerd him, Full ill;

‘That cannot be,’ good Robin says;

‘Ye have been at the mill.

87‘The mill it is a meatrif place,They may lick what they please;Most like ye have been at that art,Who would look to your cloaths.’

‘The mill it is a meatrif place,

They may lick what they please;

Most like ye have been at that art,

Who would look to your cloaths.’

88They hangd their heads, and droped down,A word they could not speak:Robin said, Because I fell a-swoon,I think you’ll do the like.

They hangd their heads, and droped down,

A word they could not speak:

Robin said, Because I fell a-swoon,

I think you’ll do the like.

89Tell on the matter, less and more,And tell me what and howYe have done with the bold beggarI sent you for right now.

Tell on the matter, less and more,

And tell me what and how

Ye have done with the bold beggar

I sent you for right now.

90And then they told him to an end,As I have said before,How that the beggar did them blind,What misters process more.

And then they told him to an end,

As I have said before,

How that the beggar did them blind,

What misters process more.

91And how he lin’d their shoulders broadWith his great trenchen tree,And how in the thick wood he fled,Eer they a stime could see.

And how he lin’d their shoulders broad

With his great trenchen tree,

And how in the thick wood he fled,

Eer they a stime could see.

92And how they scarcely could win home,Their bones were beft so sore:Good Robin cry’d, Fy! out, for shame!We’re sham’d for evermore.

And how they scarcely could win home,

Their bones were beft so sore:

Good Robin cry’d, Fy! out, for shame!

We’re sham’d for evermore.

93Altho good Robin would full fainOf his wrong revenged be,He smil’d to see his merry young menHad gotten a taste of the tree.

Altho good Robin would full fain

Of his wrong revenged be,

He smil’d to see his merry young men

Had gotten a taste of the tree.

The History of Robin Hood and the Beggar: in two Parts. Part I: Shewing how Robin Hood, in attempting to rob a Beggar near Barnesdale, was shamefully defeated, and left for dead, till taken up by three of his men. Part II: How the beggar blinded two of his men with a bag of meal, who were sent to kill him or bring him back.

Title prefixed to the ballad: Robin Hood and the Beggar.

In stanzas of two long lines. After 30: The Second Part.

223. arrows.

301. but sail:that is, but ſail.

383. youforyour.

412. ill a case:which perhaps should be retained.

461. andforwith.

464. the eild.

483. a another.

514. fate:b, late,that is, let.

533. quite.

654. fly:b, flee.

773. sling:that is, ſling.

793. strick.

892. where and.

In stanzas of two long lines.

Some of these readings may be Ritson’s corrections.

12. That be.

24. awanting.

32. WhoforThat.

42. frae the.

52. whang.

53. to a.

71. cast.

83. heard him not.

84. on his.

91. ’Tis be.

93. said.

113. shares well.

114. dost not care.

121. all this.

123. would I.

131. you must.

132. twowanting.

141. art a.

152. asembled.

153. has.

161. Come lay.

173. ifwanting.

204. Wouldst: itwanting.

214. Lo eer.

223. arrow.

242,4. mair, sair.

253. ſlaps.

262. baiſt.

263. laid on loudforstill on laid.

271. Fywanting.

273. still till: money told.

284. hast been at the.

293. paleforwhite.

301. but fail.

302. his way.

303. ye.

312. by the.

314. where that he lay.

332. wound.

341. gottenfortaken.

342. unto.

343. to hitch his ear.

344. speak.

351. said.

362. this twenty.

364. ye.

372. Of whom.

373. with his.

374. ‘twill.

381. outwanting.

383. eer ye.

404. escape.

412. ill at ease.

423. And he.

431. ye, goodwanting.

434. has.

445. ye.

453. hands lay.

454. Ye.

461. with his.

464. his eild.

473. nowanting.

474. Then he.

481,2.wanting.

491. They stoutly.

493. They started at neither how nor height.

502. cast them.

512. In each.

513. them nigh.

514. thought of no such late.

543. let it.

544. An better might it been.

552. anyforone.

561. Nor wist he.

564. HeforAnd.

572. on the.

573. And hold.

574. Or else.

582. Neither by late or air.

583. You have great sin if you would.

592. For all.

594. Of one that eer.

601. shall.

623. led back.

633. he might the young men.

634. gave them a begack.

641. forwanting: for ill.

643. blewforgrew.

652. a poor.

654. flee.

662. has.

664. Is better.

671. fair and.

672. no more dear.

674. oddforgood.

681. this.

691. to the.

693. full well.

703. And yet: not take.

704. that place.

713. forwanting.

722. forth thy.

723. turn that.

724. It’s: pleeforfee.

743. lay he.

751. half,that is, half.

761. this cloak: set it.

763. bound.

772. bagformeal.

773. fling.

774. face all hail.

792. cloath.

793. strike.

801. Eer any of.

802. Or a glimmering might.

804. with his.

812. boldly bound.

821. What’s all this.

822. May not thou.

834. Can ripe.

852. in vain.

871. meat rife part.

873. at the.

874. at your.

881. they drooped.

883. a sound.

884. ye.

891. less or.

892. what and.

901. And when.

904. pressesforprocess.

911,2.wanting.

913. woods.

922. were baste.

932. his wrath.

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