152ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW
a.Robin Hood’s Garland, London, W. and C. Dicey, St Mary Aldermary Church-yard, Bow-Lane, n. d., p. 80, No 26.b.Robin Hood’s Garland, London, R. Marshall, in Aldermary Church-yard, Bow-Lane, n. d., p. 84, No 26.c.Robin Hood’s Garland, Preston, Printed and sold by W. Sergent, n. d.
Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 226, and Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 171, from an Aldermary garland. Gutch, II, 289, from Ritson, “compared with the York edition.â€
The ballad is not found in a garland of 1749.
The first twenty-three stanzas are based upon The Gest, sts 282–95. The remainder is mostly taken up with John’s astute device for sending information to the sheriff. The two concluding lines are for connection with R. H. and the Valiant Knight, which follows in some garlands, as here.
According to Martin Parker’s True Tale, Robin Hood shot a letter addressed to the king into Nottingham, on an arrow-head, offering to submit upon terms: sts 78–81. Two cases of a message shot on an arrow are cited by Rochholz, Tell u. Gessler in Sage u. Geschichte, p. 28 and note.
Translated by A. Grün, p. 140.
1When as the sheriff of NottinghamWas come, with mickle grief,He talkd no good of Robin Hood,That strong and sturdy thief.Fal lal dal de2So unto London-road he past,His losses to unfoldTo King Richard, who did regardThe tale that he had told.3‘Why,’ quoth the king, ‘what shall I do?Art thou not sheriff for me?The law is in force, go take thy courseOf them that injure thee.4‘Go get thee gone, and by thyselfDevise some tricking gameFor to enthral yon rebels all;Go take thy course with them.’5So away the sheriff he returnd,And by the way he thoughtOf the words of the king, and how the thingTo pass might well be brought.6For within his mind he imaginedThat when such matches were,Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,Would be the bowmen there.7So an arrow with a golden headAnd shaft of silver white,Who won the day should bear awayFor his own proper right.8Tidings came to brave Robin Hood,Under the green-wood tree:‘Come prepare you then, my merry men,We’ll go yon sport to see.’9With that stept forth a brave young man,David of Doncaster:‘Master,’ said he, ‘be ruld by me,From the green-wood we’ll not stir.10‘To tell the truth, I’m well informedYon match is a wile;The sheriff, I wiss, devises thisUs archers to beguile.’11‘O thou smells of a coward,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy words does not please me;Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skillAt yon brave archery.’12O then bespoke brave Little John:Come, let us thither gang;Come listen to me, how it shall beThat we need not be kend.13Our mantles, all of Lincoln green,Behind us we will leave;We’ll dress us all so severalThey shall not us perceive.14One shall wear white, another red,One yellow, another blue;Thus in disguise, to the exerciseWe’ll gang, whateer ensue.15Forth from the green-wood they are gone,With hearts all firm and stout,Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s menTo have a hearty bout.16So themselves they mixed with the rest,To prevent all suspicion;For if they should together holdThey thought [it] no discretion.17So the sheriff looking round about,Amongst eight hundred men,But could not see the sight that heHad long expected then.18Some said, If Robin Hood was here,And all his men to boot,Sure none of them could pass these men,So bravely they do shoot.19‘Ay,’ quoth the sheriff, and scratchd his head,‘I thought he would have been here;I thought he would, but, tho he’s bold,He durst not now appear.’20O that word grieved Robin Hood to the heart;He vexëd in his blood;Eer long, thought he, thou shalt well seeThat here was Robin Hood.21Some cried, Blue jacket! another cried, Brown!And the third cried, Brave Yellow!But the fourth man said, Yon man in redIn this place has no fellow.22For that was Robin Hood himself,For he was cloathd in red;At every shot the prize he got,For he was both sure and dead.23So the arrow with the golden headAnd shaft of silver whiteBrave Robin Hood won, and bore with himFor his own proper right.24These outlaws there, that very day,To shun all kind of doubt,By three or four, no less no more,As they went in came out.25Until they all assembled wereUnder the green-wood shade,Where they report, in pleasant sport,What brave pastime they made.26Says Robin Hood, All my care is,How that yon sheriff mayKnow certainly that it was IThat bore his arrow away.27Says Little John, My counsel goodDid take effect before,So therefore now, if you’ll allow,I will advise once more.28‘Speak on, speak on,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy wit’s both quick and sound;[I know no man amongst us canFor wit like thee be found.’]29‘This I advise,’ said Little John;‘That a letter shall be pend,And when it is done, to NottinghamYou to the sheriff shall send.’30‘That is well advised,’ said Robin Hood,‘But how must it be sent?’‘Pugh! when you please, it’s done with ease,Master, be you content.31‘I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,And shoot it into the town;The mark shall show where it must go,When ever it lights down.’32The project it was full performd;The sheriff that letter had;Which when he read, he scratchd his head,And rav’d like one that’s mad.33So we’ll leave him chafing in his grease,Which will do him no good;Now, my friends, attend, and hear the endOf honest Robin Hood.
1When as the sheriff of NottinghamWas come, with mickle grief,He talkd no good of Robin Hood,That strong and sturdy thief.Fal lal dal de2So unto London-road he past,His losses to unfoldTo King Richard, who did regardThe tale that he had told.3‘Why,’ quoth the king, ‘what shall I do?Art thou not sheriff for me?The law is in force, go take thy courseOf them that injure thee.4‘Go get thee gone, and by thyselfDevise some tricking gameFor to enthral yon rebels all;Go take thy course with them.’5So away the sheriff he returnd,And by the way he thoughtOf the words of the king, and how the thingTo pass might well be brought.6For within his mind he imaginedThat when such matches were,Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,Would be the bowmen there.7So an arrow with a golden headAnd shaft of silver white,Who won the day should bear awayFor his own proper right.8Tidings came to brave Robin Hood,Under the green-wood tree:‘Come prepare you then, my merry men,We’ll go yon sport to see.’9With that stept forth a brave young man,David of Doncaster:‘Master,’ said he, ‘be ruld by me,From the green-wood we’ll not stir.10‘To tell the truth, I’m well informedYon match is a wile;The sheriff, I wiss, devises thisUs archers to beguile.’11‘O thou smells of a coward,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy words does not please me;Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skillAt yon brave archery.’12O then bespoke brave Little John:Come, let us thither gang;Come listen to me, how it shall beThat we need not be kend.13Our mantles, all of Lincoln green,Behind us we will leave;We’ll dress us all so severalThey shall not us perceive.14One shall wear white, another red,One yellow, another blue;Thus in disguise, to the exerciseWe’ll gang, whateer ensue.15Forth from the green-wood they are gone,With hearts all firm and stout,Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s menTo have a hearty bout.16So themselves they mixed with the rest,To prevent all suspicion;For if they should together holdThey thought [it] no discretion.17So the sheriff looking round about,Amongst eight hundred men,But could not see the sight that heHad long expected then.18Some said, If Robin Hood was here,And all his men to boot,Sure none of them could pass these men,So bravely they do shoot.19‘Ay,’ quoth the sheriff, and scratchd his head,‘I thought he would have been here;I thought he would, but, tho he’s bold,He durst not now appear.’20O that word grieved Robin Hood to the heart;He vexëd in his blood;Eer long, thought he, thou shalt well seeThat here was Robin Hood.21Some cried, Blue jacket! another cried, Brown!And the third cried, Brave Yellow!But the fourth man said, Yon man in redIn this place has no fellow.22For that was Robin Hood himself,For he was cloathd in red;At every shot the prize he got,For he was both sure and dead.23So the arrow with the golden headAnd shaft of silver whiteBrave Robin Hood won, and bore with himFor his own proper right.24These outlaws there, that very day,To shun all kind of doubt,By three or four, no less no more,As they went in came out.25Until they all assembled wereUnder the green-wood shade,Where they report, in pleasant sport,What brave pastime they made.26Says Robin Hood, All my care is,How that yon sheriff mayKnow certainly that it was IThat bore his arrow away.27Says Little John, My counsel goodDid take effect before,So therefore now, if you’ll allow,I will advise once more.28‘Speak on, speak on,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy wit’s both quick and sound;[I know no man amongst us canFor wit like thee be found.’]29‘This I advise,’ said Little John;‘That a letter shall be pend,And when it is done, to NottinghamYou to the sheriff shall send.’30‘That is well advised,’ said Robin Hood,‘But how must it be sent?’‘Pugh! when you please, it’s done with ease,Master, be you content.31‘I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,And shoot it into the town;The mark shall show where it must go,When ever it lights down.’32The project it was full performd;The sheriff that letter had;Which when he read, he scratchd his head,And rav’d like one that’s mad.33So we’ll leave him chafing in his grease,Which will do him no good;Now, my friends, attend, and hear the endOf honest Robin Hood.
1When as the sheriff of NottinghamWas come, with mickle grief,He talkd no good of Robin Hood,That strong and sturdy thief.Fal lal dal de
1
When as the sheriff of Nottingham
Was come, with mickle grief,
He talkd no good of Robin Hood,
That strong and sturdy thief.
Fal lal dal de
2So unto London-road he past,His losses to unfoldTo King Richard, who did regardThe tale that he had told.
2
So unto London-road he past,
His losses to unfold
To King Richard, who did regard
The tale that he had told.
3‘Why,’ quoth the king, ‘what shall I do?Art thou not sheriff for me?The law is in force, go take thy courseOf them that injure thee.
3
‘Why,’ quoth the king, ‘what shall I do?
Art thou not sheriff for me?
The law is in force, go take thy course
Of them that injure thee.
4‘Go get thee gone, and by thyselfDevise some tricking gameFor to enthral yon rebels all;Go take thy course with them.’
4
‘Go get thee gone, and by thyself
Devise some tricking game
For to enthral yon rebels all;
Go take thy course with them.’
5So away the sheriff he returnd,And by the way he thoughtOf the words of the king, and how the thingTo pass might well be brought.
5
So away the sheriff he returnd,
And by the way he thought
Of the words of the king, and how the thing
To pass might well be brought.
6For within his mind he imaginedThat when such matches were,Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,Would be the bowmen there.
6
For within his mind he imagined
That when such matches were,
Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,
Would be the bowmen there.
7So an arrow with a golden headAnd shaft of silver white,Who won the day should bear awayFor his own proper right.
7
So an arrow with a golden head
And shaft of silver white,
Who won the day should bear away
For his own proper right.
8Tidings came to brave Robin Hood,Under the green-wood tree:‘Come prepare you then, my merry men,We’ll go yon sport to see.’
8
Tidings came to brave Robin Hood,
Under the green-wood tree:
‘Come prepare you then, my merry men,
We’ll go yon sport to see.’
9With that stept forth a brave young man,David of Doncaster:‘Master,’ said he, ‘be ruld by me,From the green-wood we’ll not stir.
9
With that stept forth a brave young man,
David of Doncaster:
‘Master,’ said he, ‘be ruld by me,
From the green-wood we’ll not stir.
10‘To tell the truth, I’m well informedYon match is a wile;The sheriff, I wiss, devises thisUs archers to beguile.’
10
‘To tell the truth, I’m well informed
Yon match is a wile;
The sheriff, I wiss, devises this
Us archers to beguile.’
11‘O thou smells of a coward,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy words does not please me;Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skillAt yon brave archery.’
11
‘O thou smells of a coward,’ said Robin Hood,
‘Thy words does not please me;
Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skill
At yon brave archery.’
12O then bespoke brave Little John:Come, let us thither gang;Come listen to me, how it shall beThat we need not be kend.
12
O then bespoke brave Little John:
Come, let us thither gang;
Come listen to me, how it shall be
That we need not be kend.
13Our mantles, all of Lincoln green,Behind us we will leave;We’ll dress us all so severalThey shall not us perceive.
13
Our mantles, all of Lincoln green,
Behind us we will leave;
We’ll dress us all so several
They shall not us perceive.
14One shall wear white, another red,One yellow, another blue;Thus in disguise, to the exerciseWe’ll gang, whateer ensue.
14
One shall wear white, another red,
One yellow, another blue;
Thus in disguise, to the exercise
We’ll gang, whateer ensue.
15Forth from the green-wood they are gone,With hearts all firm and stout,Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s menTo have a hearty bout.
15
Forth from the green-wood they are gone,
With hearts all firm and stout,
Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s men
To have a hearty bout.
16So themselves they mixed with the rest,To prevent all suspicion;For if they should together holdThey thought [it] no discretion.
16
So themselves they mixed with the rest,
To prevent all suspicion;
For if they should together hold
They thought [it] no discretion.
17So the sheriff looking round about,Amongst eight hundred men,But could not see the sight that heHad long expected then.
17
So the sheriff looking round about,
Amongst eight hundred men,
But could not see the sight that he
Had long expected then.
18Some said, If Robin Hood was here,And all his men to boot,Sure none of them could pass these men,So bravely they do shoot.
18
Some said, If Robin Hood was here,
And all his men to boot,
Sure none of them could pass these men,
So bravely they do shoot.
19‘Ay,’ quoth the sheriff, and scratchd his head,‘I thought he would have been here;I thought he would, but, tho he’s bold,He durst not now appear.’
19
‘Ay,’ quoth the sheriff, and scratchd his head,
‘I thought he would have been here;
I thought he would, but, tho he’s bold,
He durst not now appear.’
20O that word grieved Robin Hood to the heart;He vexëd in his blood;Eer long, thought he, thou shalt well seeThat here was Robin Hood.
20
O that word grieved Robin Hood to the heart;
He vexëd in his blood;
Eer long, thought he, thou shalt well see
That here was Robin Hood.
21Some cried, Blue jacket! another cried, Brown!And the third cried, Brave Yellow!But the fourth man said, Yon man in redIn this place has no fellow.
21
Some cried, Blue jacket! another cried, Brown!
And the third cried, Brave Yellow!
But the fourth man said, Yon man in red
In this place has no fellow.
22For that was Robin Hood himself,For he was cloathd in red;At every shot the prize he got,For he was both sure and dead.
22
For that was Robin Hood himself,
For he was cloathd in red;
At every shot the prize he got,
For he was both sure and dead.
23So the arrow with the golden headAnd shaft of silver whiteBrave Robin Hood won, and bore with himFor his own proper right.
23
So the arrow with the golden head
And shaft of silver white
Brave Robin Hood won, and bore with him
For his own proper right.
24These outlaws there, that very day,To shun all kind of doubt,By three or four, no less no more,As they went in came out.
24
These outlaws there, that very day,
To shun all kind of doubt,
By three or four, no less no more,
As they went in came out.
25Until they all assembled wereUnder the green-wood shade,Where they report, in pleasant sport,What brave pastime they made.
25
Until they all assembled were
Under the green-wood shade,
Where they report, in pleasant sport,
What brave pastime they made.
26Says Robin Hood, All my care is,How that yon sheriff mayKnow certainly that it was IThat bore his arrow away.
26
Says Robin Hood, All my care is,
How that yon sheriff may
Know certainly that it was I
That bore his arrow away.
27Says Little John, My counsel goodDid take effect before,So therefore now, if you’ll allow,I will advise once more.
27
Says Little John, My counsel good
Did take effect before,
So therefore now, if you’ll allow,
I will advise once more.
28‘Speak on, speak on,’ said Robin Hood,‘Thy wit’s both quick and sound;[I know no man amongst us canFor wit like thee be found.’]
28
‘Speak on, speak on,’ said Robin Hood,
‘Thy wit’s both quick and sound;
[I know no man amongst us can
For wit like thee be found.’]
29‘This I advise,’ said Little John;‘That a letter shall be pend,And when it is done, to NottinghamYou to the sheriff shall send.’
29
‘This I advise,’ said Little John;
‘That a letter shall be pend,
And when it is done, to Nottingham
You to the sheriff shall send.’
30‘That is well advised,’ said Robin Hood,‘But how must it be sent?’‘Pugh! when you please, it’s done with ease,Master, be you content.
30
‘That is well advised,’ said Robin Hood,
‘But how must it be sent?’
‘Pugh! when you please, it’s done with ease,
Master, be you content.
31‘I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,And shoot it into the town;The mark shall show where it must go,When ever it lights down.’
31
‘I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,
And shoot it into the town;
The mark shall show where it must go,
When ever it lights down.’
32The project it was full performd;The sheriff that letter had;Which when he read, he scratchd his head,And rav’d like one that’s mad.
32
The project it was full performd;
The sheriff that letter had;
Which when he read, he scratchd his head,
And rav’d like one that’s mad.
33So we’ll leave him chafing in his grease,Which will do him no good;Now, my friends, attend, and hear the endOf honest Robin Hood.
33
So we’ll leave him chafing in his grease,
Which will do him no good;
Now, my friends, attend, and hear the end
Of honest Robin Hood.
a.
122. hither.
253. relateforreport.
283,4.supplied from R. H.’s Garland, York, Thomas Wilson & Son, 1811.
b,c.
33. to take.
63. without all.
101. thewanting.
102. it is.
111. Owanting.
112. do not.
122. thither.
143. in the.
153. thenwanting.
164. thought it.
174. suspected.
193.c, butwanting.
212. a third.
221.c, bold Robin.
242. kinds.
243. nor more.
253. relate.
283,4.wanting.
313. must show.
321. wellforfull.
331. in the.