{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/boeb/boeb18.htm","path":"neu/eng/boeb/boeb18.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/boeb/boeb18.htm","text":"WHEN Robin Hood and Little John\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Down a down, a down, a down,\n \u00a0\u00a0Went o'er yon bank of broom,\n Said Robin Hood to Little John,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"We have shot for many a pound:\n \u00a0\u00a0Hey down, a down, a down.\n\"But I am not able to shoot one shot more,\n \u00a0\u00a0My arrows will not flee;\n But I have a cousin lives down below,\n \u00a0\u00a0Please God, she will bleed me.\"\nNow Robin is to fair Kirkley gone,\n \u00a0\u00a0As fast as he can win; p. 120\n But before he came there, as we do hear,\n \u00a0\u00a0He was taken very ill.\nAnd when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall,\n \u00a0\u00a0He knocked all at the ring,\n But none was so ready as his cousin herself\n \u00a0\u00a0For to let bold Robin in.\n\"Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin,\" she said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"And drink some beer with me?\n \"No, I will neither eat nor drink,\n \u00a0\u00a0Till I am blooded by thee.\"\n\"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin,\" she said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Which you did never see;\n And if you please to walk therein,\n \u00a0\u00a0You blooded by me shall be.\"\nShe took him by the lily-white hand,\n \u00a0\u00a0And led him to a private room;\n And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whilst one drop of blood would run.\nShe blooded him in the vein of the arm,\n \u00a0\u00a0And locked him up in the room;\n There did he bleed all the live-long day,\n \u00a0\u00a0Until the next day at noon.\nHe then bethought him of a casement door,\n \u00a0\u00a0Thinking for to begone;\n He was so weak he could not leap,\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor he could not get down.\nHe then bethought him of his bugle-horn,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which hung low down to his knee,\n He set his horn unto his mouth,\n \u00a0\u00a0And blew out weak blasts three.\nThen Little John, when hearing him,\n \u00a0\u00a0As he sat under the tree,\n I fear my master is near dead,\n \u00a0\u00a0He blows so wearily.\"\nThen Little John to Fair Kirkley is gone,\n \u00a0\u00a0As fast as he can dree;\n But when he came to Kirkley-hall,\n \u00a0\u00a0He broke locks two or three;\nUntil he came bold Robin to,\n \u00a0\u00a0Then he fell on his knee;\n \"A boon, a boon,\" cries Little John,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Master, I beg of thee.\"\n\"What is that boon,\" quoth Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Little John, thou begst of me?\"\n \"It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall,\n \u00a0\u00a0And all their nunnery.\"\n\"Now nay, now nay,\" quoth Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"That boon I'll not grant thee;\n I never hurt woman in all my life,\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor man in woman's company.\n\"I never hurt fair maid in all my time,\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor at my end shall it be;\n But give me my bent bow in my hand,\n \u00a0\u00a0And a broad arrow I'll let flee;\n And where this arrow is taken up,\n \u00a0\u00a0There shall my grave digg\u00e8d be.\n\"Lay me a green sod under my head,\n \u00a0\u00a0And another under my feet; p. 122\n And lay my bent bow by my side,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which was my music sweet;\n And make my grave of gravel and green,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which is most right and meet.\n\"Let me have length and breadth enough,\n \u00a0\u00a0With a green sod under my head;\n That they may say when I am dead,\n \u00a0\u00a0Here lies bold Robin Hood.\"\nThese words they readily promised him,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which did bold Robin please;\n And there they buried bold Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0Near to the fair Kirkl\u00e8ys.","title":"A Book of Old English Ballads: Robin Hood's Death and Burial","type":"page"}