{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch119.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch119.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch119.htm","text":"119A.1 IN somer, when the shawes be sheyne,\nAnd leves be large and long,\nHit is full mery in feyre foreste\nTo here the foulys song:\n119A.2 To se the dere draw to the dale,\nAnd leve the hilles hee,\nAnd shadow hem in the lev s grene,\nVnder the grene-wode tre.\n119A.3 Hit befel on Whitsontide,\nErly in a May mornyng,\nThe son vp feyre can shyne,\nAnd the briddis mery can syng.\n119A.4 \u2018This is a mery mornyng,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018Be hym that dyed on tre;\nA more mery man then I am one\nLyves not in Cristiant .\n119A.5 \u2018Pluk vp thi hert, my dere mayster,\u2019\nLitull John can sey,\n\u2018And thynk hit is a full fayre tyme\nIn a mornyng of May.\u2019\n119A.6 \u2018Y+Oe, on thyng greves me,\u2019 seid Robyn,\n\u2018And does my hert mych woo;\nRRthat I may not no solem day\nTo mas nor matyns goo.\n119A.7 \u2018Hit is a fourtnet and more,\u2019 seid he,\n\u2018Syn I my sauyour see;\nTo day wil I to Notyngham,\u2019 seid Robyn,\n\u2018With the myght of mylde Marye.\u2019\n119A.8 Than spake Moche, the mylner sun,\nEuer more wel hym betyde!\n\u2018Take twelue of thi wyght y+oemen,\nWell weppynd, be thi side.\nSuch on wolde thi selfe slon,\nRRthat twelue dar not abyde.\u2019\n119A.9 \u2018Of all my mery men,\u2019 seid Robyn,\n\u2018Be my feith I wil non haue,\nBut Litull John shall beyre my bow,\nTil that me list to drawe.\u2019\n119A.10 \u2018RRthou shall beyre thin own,\u2019 seid Litull Jon,\n\u2018Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,\nAnd we well shete a peny,\u2019 seid Litull Jon,\n\u2018Vnder the grene-wode lyne.\u2019\n119A.11 \u2018I wil not shete a peny,\u2019 seyd Robyn Hode,\n\u2018In feith, Litull John, with the,\nBut euer for on as thou shetis,\u2019 seide Robyn,\n\u2018In feith I holde the thre.\u2019\n119A.12 Thus shet thei forth, these y+oemen too,\nBothe at buske and brome,\nTil Litull John wan of his maister\nFiue shillings to hose and shone.\n119A.13 A ferly strife fel them betwene,\nAs they went bi the wey;\nLitull John seid he had won fiue shillings,\nAnd Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.\n119A.14 With that Robyn Hode lyed Litul Jon,\nAnd smote hym with his hande;\nLitul Jon waxed wroth therwith,\nAnd pulled out his bright bronde.\n119A.15 \u2018Were thou not my maister,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018RRthou shuldis by hit ful sore;\nGet the a man wher thou w[ilt],\nFor thou getis me no more.\u2019\n119A.16 THen Robyn goes to Notyngham,\nHym selfe mornyng allone,\nAnd Litull John to mery Scherwode,\nThe pathes he knew ilkone.\n119A.17 Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,\nSertenly withouten layn,\nHe prayed to God and myld Mary\nTo bryng hym out saue agayn.\n119A.18 He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,\nAnd kneled down before the rode;\nAlle that euer were the church within\nBeheld wel Robyn Hode.\n119A.19 Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,\nI pray to God woo he be!\nFful sone he knew gode Robyn,\nAs sone as he hym se.\n119A.20 Out at the durre he ran,\nFful sone and anon;\nAlle the y+oatis of Notyngham\nHe made to be sparred euerychon.\n119A.21 \u2018Rise vp,\u2019 he seid, \u2019thou prowde schereff,\nBuske the and make the bowne;\nI haue spyed the kynggis felon,\nFfor sothe he is in this town.\n119A.22 \u2018I haue spyed the false felon,\nAs he stondis at his masse;\nHit is long of the,\u2019 seide the munke,\n\u2018And euer he fro vs passe.\n119A.23 \u2018RRthis traytur name is Robyn Hode,\nVnder the grene-wode lynde;\nHe robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,\nHit shalle neuer out of my mynde.\u2019\n119A.24 Vp then rose this prowde shereff,\nAnd radly made hym y+oare;\nMany was the moder son\nTo the kyrk with hym can fare.\n119A.25 In at the durres thei throly thrast,\nWith staves ful gode wone;\n\u2018Alas, alas!\u2019 seid Robyn Hode,\n\u2018Now mysse I Litull John.\u2019\n119A.26 But Robyn toke out a too-hond sworde,\nRRthat hangit down be his kne;\nRRther as the schereff and his men stode thyckust,\nThedurwarde wolde he.\n119A.27 Thryes thorowout them he ran then,\nFor sothe as I yow sey,\nAnd woundyt mony a moder son,\nAnd twelue he slew that day.\n119A.28 His sworde vpon the schireff hed\nSertanly he brake in too;\n\u2018THe smyth that the made,\u2019 seid Robyn,\n\u2018I pray to God wyrke hym woo!\n119A.29 \u2018Ffor now am I weppynlesse,\u2019 seid Robyn,\n\u2018Alasse! agayn my wylle;\nBut if I may fle these traytors fro,\nI wot thei wil me kyll.\u2019\n119A.30 Robyn in to the church ran,\nThroout hem euerilkon,\n* * * * *\n119A.31 Sum fel in swonyng as thei were dede,\nAnd lay stil as any stone;\nNon of theym were in her mynde\nBut only Litull Jon9\n119A.32 \u2018Let be your rule,\u2019 seid Litull Jon,\n\u2018Ffor his luf that dyed on tre,\nY+Oe that shulde be duy+oty men;\nHet is gret shame to se.\n119A.33 \u2018Oure maister has bene hard bystode\nAnd y+oet scapyd away;\nPluk vp your hertis, and leve this mone,\nAnd harkyn what I shal say.\n119A.34 \u2018He has seruyd Oure Lady many a day,\nAnd y+oet wil, securly;\nRRtherfor I trust in hir specialy\nNo wyckud deth shal he dye.\n119A.35 \u2018RRtherfor be glad,\u2019 seid Litul John,\n\u2018And let this mournyng be;\nAnd I shal be the munkis gyde,\nWith the myght of mylde Mary.\n119A.36 . . . .\n\u2018We will go but we too;\nAnd I mete hym,\u2019 seid Litul John,\n. . .\n119A.37 \u2018Loke that y+oe kepe wel owre tristil-tre,\nVnder the levys smale,\nAnd spare non of this venyson,\nRRthat gose in thys vale.\u2019\n119A.38 Fforthe then went these y+oemen too,\nLitul John and Moche on fere,\nAnd lokid on Moch emys hows,\nTHe hye way lay full nere.\n119A.39 Litul John stode at a wyndow in the mornyng,\nAnd lokid forth at a stage;\nHe was war wher the munke came ridyng,\nAnd with hym a litul page.\n119A.40 \u2018Be my feith,\u2019 seid Litul John to Moch,\n\u2018I can the tel tithyngus gode;\nI se wher the munke cumys rydyng,\nI know hym be his wyde hode.\u2019\n119A.41 They went in to the way, these y+oemen bothe,\nAs curtes men and hende;\nTHei spyrred tithyngus at the munke,\nAs they hade bene his frende.\n119A.42 \u2018Ffro whens come y+oe?\u2019 seid Litull Jon,\n\u2018Tel vs tithyngus, I yow pray,\nOff a false owtlay, [callid Robyn Hode,]\nWas takyn y+oisterday.\n119A.43 \u2018He robbyt me and my felowes bothe\nOf twenti marke in serten;\nIf that false owtlay be takyn,\nFfor sothe we wolde be fayn.\u2019\n119A.44 \u2018So did he me,\u2019 seid the munke,\n\u2018Of a hundred pound and more;\nI layde furst hande hym apon,\nY+Oe may thonke me therfore.\u2019\n119A.45 \u2018I pray God thanke you,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018And we wil when we may;\nWe wil go with you, with your leve,\nAnd bryng yow on your way.\n119A.46 \u2018Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,\nI tell you in certen;\nIf thei wist y+oe rode this way,\nIn feith y+oe shulde be slayn.\u2019\n119A.47 As thei went talking be the way,\nThe munke and Litull John,\nJohn toke the munkis horse be the hede,\nFful sone and anon.\n119A.48 Johne toke the munkis horse be the hed,\nFfor sothe as I yow say;\nSo did Much the litull page,\nFfor he shulde not scape away.\n119A.49 Be the golett of the hode\nJohn pulled the munke down;\nJohn was nothyng of hym agast,\nHe lete hym falle on his crown.\n119A.50 Litull John was so[re] agrevyd,\nAnd drew owt his swerde in hye;\nThis munke saw he shulde be ded,\nLowd mercy can he crye.\n119A.51 \u2018He was my maister,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018RRthat thou hase browy+ot in bale;\nShalle thou neuer cum at our kyng,\nFfor to telle hym tale.\u2019\n119A.52 John smote of the munkis hed,\nNo longer wolde he dwell;\nSo did Moch the litull page,\nFfor ferd lest he wolde tell.\n119A.53 RRther thei beryed hem bothe,\nIn nouther mosse nor lyng,\nAnd Litull John and Much infere\nBare the letturs to oure kyng.\n119A.54 . . . .\nHe knelid down vpon his kne:\n\u2018God y+oow saue, my lege lorde,\nIhesus yow saue and se!\n119A.55 \u2018God yow saue, my lege kyng!\u2019\nTo speke John was full bolde;\nHe gaf hym the letturs in his hond,\nThe kyng did hit vnfold.\n119A.56 THe kyng red the letturs anon,\nAnd seid, So mot I the,\nRRther was neuer y+ooman in mery Inglond\nI longut so sore to se.\n119A.57 \u2018Wher is the munke that these shuld haue brouy+ot?\u2019\nOure kyng can say:\n\u2018Be my trouth,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018He dyed after the way.\u2019\n119A.58 THe kyng gaf Moch and Litul Jon\nTwenti pound in sertan,\nAnd made theim y+oemen of the crown,\nAnd bade theim go agayn.\n119A.59 He gaf John the seel in hand,\nThe sheref for to bere,\nTo bryng Robyn hym to,\nAnd no man do hym dere.\n119A.60 n toke his leve at oure kyng,\nTHe sothe as I yow say;\nTHe next way to Notyngham\nTo take, he y+oede the way.\n119A.61 Whan John came to Notyngham\nThe y+oatis were sparred ychon;\nJohn callid vp the porter,\nHe answerid sone anon.\n119A.62 \u2018What is the cause,\u2019 seid Litul Jon,\n\u2018RRthou sparris the y+oates so fast?\u2019\n\u2018Because of Robyn Hode,\u2019 seid [the] porter,\n\u2018In depe prison is cast.\n119A.63 \u2018John and Moch and Wyll Scathlok,\nFfor sothe as I yow say,\nTHei slew oure men vpon our wallis,\nAnd sawten vs euery day.\u2019\n119A.64 Litull John spyrred after the schereff,\nAnd sone he hym fonde;\nHe oppyned the kyngus priue seell,\nAnd gaf hym in his honde.\n119A.65 Whan the scheref saw the kyngus seell,\nHe did of his hode anon:\n\u2018Wher is the munke that bare the letturs?\u2019\nHe seid to Litull John.\n119A.66 \u2018He is so fayn of hym,\u2019 seid Litul John,\n\u2018Ffor sothe as I yow say,\nHe has made hym abot of Westmynster,\nA lorde of that abbay.\u2019\n119A.67 The scheref made John gode chere,\nAnd gaf hym wyne of the best;\nAt nyy+ot thei went to her bedde,\nAnd euery man to his rest.\n119A.68 When the scheref was on slepe,\nDronken of wyne and ale,\nLitul John and Moch for sothe\nToke the way vnto the jale.\n119A.69 Litul John callid vp the jayler,\nAnd bade hym rise anon;\nHe seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,\nAnd out of hit was gon.\n119A.70 The porter rose anon sertan,\nAs sone as he herd John calle;\nLitul John was redy with a swerd,\nAnd bare hym to the walle.\n119A.71 \u2018Now wil I be porter,\u2019 seid Litul John,\n\u2018And take the keyes in honde:\u2019\nHe toke the way to Robyn Hode,\nAnd sone he hym vnbonde.\n119A.72 He gaf hym a gode swerd in his hond,\nHis hed [ther]with for to kepe,\nAnd ther as the walle was lowyst\nAnon down can thei lepe.\n119A.73 Be that the cok began to crow,\nThe day began to spryng;\nThe scheref fond the jaylier ded,\nThe comyn bell made he ryng.\n119A.74 He made a crye thoroout al the tow[n],\nWheder he be y+ooman or knave,\nRRthat cowthe bryng hym Robyn Hode,\nHis warison he shuld haue.\n119A.75 \u2018Ffor I dar neuer,\u2019 said the scheref,\n\u2018Cum before oure kyng;\nFfor if I do, I wot serten\nFfor sothe he wil me heng.\u2019\n119A.76 The scheref made to seke Notyngham,\nBothe be strete and stye,\nAnd Robyn was in mery Scherwode,\nAs liy+ot as lef on lynde.\n119A.77 Then bespake gode Litull John,\nTo Robyn Hode can he say,\nI haue done the a gode turne for an euyll,\nQuyte the whan thou may.\n119A.78 \u2018I haue done the a gode turne,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018Ffor sothe as I yow say;\nI haue brouy+ot the vnder grene-wode lyne;\nFfare wel, and haue gode day.\u2019\n119A.79 \u2018Nay, be my trouth,\u2019 seid Robyn Hode,\n\u2018So shall hit neuer be;\nI make the maister,\u2019 seid Robyn Hode,\n\u2018Off alle my men and me.\u2019\n119A.80 \u2018Nay, be my trouth,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018So shalle hit neuer be;\nBut lat me be a felow,\u2019 seid Litull John,\n\u2018No noder kepe I be.\u2019\n119A.81 Thus John gate Robyn Hod out of prison,\nSertan withoutyn layn;\nWhan his men saw hym hol and sounde,\nFfor sothe they were full fayne.\n119A.82 They filled in wyne, and made hem glad,\nVnder the levys smale,\nAnd y+oete pastes of venyson,\nTHat gode was with ale.\n119A.83 Than worde came to oure kyng\nHow Robyn Hode was gon,\nAnd how the scheref of Notyngham\nDurst neuer loke hym vpon.\n119A.84 Then bespake oure cumly kyng,\nIn an angur hye:\nLitull John hase begyled the schereff,\nIn faith so hase he me.\n119A.85 Litul John has begyled vs bothe,\nAnd that full wel I se;\nOr ellis the schereff of Notyngham\nHye hongut shulde he be.\n119A.86 \u2018I made hem y+oemen of the crowne,\nAnd gaf hem fee with my hond;\nI gaf hem grith,\u2019 seid oure kyng,\n\u2018Thorowout all mery Inglond.\n119A.87 \u2018I gaf theym grith,\u2019 then seid oure kyng;\n\u2018I say, so mot I the,\nFfor sothe soch a y+oeman as he is on\nIn all Inglond ar not thre.\n119A.88 \u2018He is trew to his maister,\u2019 seid our kyng;\n\u2018I sey, be swete Seynt John,\nHe louys better Robyn Hode\nThen he dose vs ychon.\n119A.89 \u2018Robyn Hode is euer bond to hym,\nBothe in strete and stalle;\nSpeke no more of the mater,\u2019 seid oure kyng,\n\u2018But John has begyled vs alle.\u2019\n119A.90 Thus endys the talkyng of the munke\nAnd Robyn Hode i-wysse;\nGod, that is euer a crowned kyng,\nBryng vs all to his blisse!","title":"The Child Ballads: 119. Robin Hood and the Monk","type":"page"}