{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch122.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch122.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch122.htm","text":"122A.1 BUT Robin he walkes in the g[reene] forrest,\nAs merry as bird on boughe,\nBut he that feitches good Robins head,\nHee\u2019le find him game enoughe.\n122A.2 But Robine he walkes in the greene forrest,\nVnder his trusty-tree;\nSayes, Hearken, hearken, my merrymen all,\nWhat tydings is come to me.\n122A.3 The sheriffe he hath made a cry,\nHee\u2019le have my head i-wis;\nBut ere a tweluemonth come to an end\nI may chance to light on his.\n122A.4 Robin he marcht in the greene forrest,\nVnder the greenwood scray,\nAnd there he was ware of a proud bucher,\nCame driuing flesh by the way.\n122A.5 The bucher he had a cut-taild dogg,\nAnd at Robins face he flew;\nBut Robin he was a good sword,\nThe bucher\u2019s dogg he slew.\n122A.6 \u2018Why slayes thou my dogg?\u2019 sayes the bucher,\n\u2018For he did none ill to thee;\nBy all the saints that are in heaven\nThou shalt haue buffetts three.\u2019\n122A.7 He tooke his staffe then in his hand,\nAnd he turnd him round about:\n\u2018Thou hast a litle wild blood in thy head,\nGood fellow, thou\u2019st haue it letten out.\u2019\n122A.8 \u2018He that does that deed,\u2019 sayes Robin,\n\u2018I\u2019le count him for a man;\nBut that while will I draw my sword,\nAnd fend it if I can.\u2019\n122A.9 But Robin he stroke att the bloudy bucher,\nIn place were he did stand,\n* * * * *\n122A.10 \u2018I [am] a younge bucher,\u2019 sayes Robin,\n\u2018You fine dames am I come amonge;\nBut euer I beseech you, good Mrs Sheriffe,\nYou must see me take noe wronge.\u2019\n122A.11 \u2018Thou art verry welcome,\u2019 said Master Sherriff\u2019s wiffe,\n\u2018Thy inne heere up [to] take;\nIf any good fellow come in thy companie,\nHee\u2019st be welcome for thy sake.\u2019\n122A.12 Robin called for ale, soe did he for wine,\nAnd for it he did pay:\n\u2018I must to my markett goe,\u2019 says Robin,\n\u2018For I hold time itt of the day.\u2019\n122A.13 But Robin is to the markett gone,\nSoe quickly and beliue,\nHe sold more flesh for one peny\nThen othe[r] buchers did for fiue.\n122A.14 The drew about the younge bucher,\nLike sheepe into a fold;\nYea neuer a bucher had sold a bitt\nTill Robin he had all sold.\n122A.15 When Robin Hood had his markett made,\nHis flesh was sold and gone;\nYea he had receiued but a litle mony,\nBut thirty pence and one.\n122A.16 Seaven buchers, the garded Robin Hood,\nFfull many time and oft;\nSayes, We must drinke with you, brother bucher,\nIt\u2019s custome of our crafte.\n122A.17 \u2018If that be the custome of your crafte,\nAs heere you tell to me.\nAtt four of the clocke in the afternoone\nAt the sheriffs hall I wilbe.\u2019\n* * * * *\n122A.18 . . . .\n\u2018If thou doe like it well;\nYea heere is more by three hundred pound\nThen thou hast beasts to sell.\u2019\n122A.19 Robyn sayd naught, the more he thought:\n\u2018Mony neere comes out of time;\nIf once I catch thee in the greene forest,\nThat mony it shall be mine.\u2019\n122A.20 But on the next day seuen butchurs\nCame to guard the sheriffe that day;\nBut Robin he was the whigh[t]est man,\nHe led them all the way.\n122A.21 He led them into the greene forest,\nVnder the trusty tree;\nYea, there were harts, and ther were hynds,\nand staggs with heads full high.\n122A.22 Yea, there were harts and there were hynds,\nAnd many a goodly fawne;\n\u2018Now praised be God,\u2019 says bold Robin,\n\u2018All these they be my owne.\n122A.23 \u2018These are my horned beasts,\u2019 says Robin,\n\u2018Master Sherriffe, which must make the stake;\u2019\n\u2018But euer alacke, now,\u2019 said the sheriffe,\n\u2018That tydings comes to late!\u2019\n122A.24 Robin sett a shrill horne to his mouth,\nAnd a loud blast he did blow,\nAnd then halfe a hundred bold archers\nCame rakeing on a row.\n122A.25 But when the came befor bold Robin,\nEven there the stood all bare:\n\u2018You are welcome, master, from Nottingham:\nHow haue you sold your ware?\u2019\n* * * * *\n122A.26 . . . .\n. . . .\n. . . .\nIt proues bold Robin Hood.\n122A.27 \u2018Yea, he hath robbed me of all my gold\nAnd siluer that euer I had;\nBut that I had a verry good wife at home,\nI shold haue lost my head.\n122A.28 \u2018But I had a verry good wife at home,\nWhich made him gentle cheere,\nAnd therfor, for my wifes sake,\nI shold haue better favor heere.\n122A.29 \u2018But such favor as he shewed me\nI might haue of the devills dam,\nThat will rob a man of all he hath,\nAnd send him naked home.\u2019\n122A.30 \u2018That is very well done,\u2019 then dsays his wiffe,\n\u2018Itt is well done, I say;\nYou might haue tarryed att Nottingham,\nSoe fayre as I did you pray.\u2019\n122A.31 \u2018I haue learned wisdome,\u2019 sayes the sherriffe,\n\u2018And, wife, I haue learned of thee;\nBut if Robin walke easte, or he walke west,\nHe shall neuer be sought for me.\u2019\n122B: Robin Hood and the Butcher\n122B.1 COME, all you brave gallants, and listen a while,\nWith hey down, down, an a down\nThat are in the bowers within;\nFor of Robin Hood, that archer good,\nA song I intend for to sing.\n122B.2 Upon a time it chanc d so\nBold Robin in forrest did spy\nA jolly butcher, with a bonny fine mare,\nWith his flesh to the market did hye.\n122B.3 \u2018Good morrow, good fellow,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018What food hast? tell unto me;\nAnd thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,\nFor I like well thy company.\u2019\n122B.4 The butcher he answered jolly Robin:\nNo matter where I dwell;\nFor a butcher I am, and to Notingham\nI am going, my flesh to sell.\n122B.5 \u2018What is [the] price of thy flesh?\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Come, tell it soon unto me;\nAnd the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,\nFor a butcher fain would I be.\u2019\n122B.6 \u2018The price of my flesh,\u2019 the butcher repli\u2019d,\n\u2018I soon will tell unto thee;\nWith my bonny mare, and they are not dear,\nFour mark thou must give unto me.\u2019\n122B.7 \u2018Four mark I will give thee,\u2019 saith jolly Robin,\n\u2018Four mark it shall be thy fee;\nThy mony come count, and let me mount,\nFor a butcher I fain would be.\u2019\n122B.8 Now Robin is to Notingham gone,\nHis butcher\u2019s trade for to begin;\nWith good intent, to the sheriff he went,\nAnd there he took up his inn.\n122B.9 When other butchers they opened their meat,\nBold Robin he then begun;\nBut how for to sell he knew not well,\nFor a butcher he was but young.\n122B.10 When other butchers no meat could sell,\nRobin got both gold and fee;\nFor he sold more meat for one peny\nThan others could do for three.\n122B.11 But when he sold his meat so fast,\nNo butcher by him could thrive;\nFor he sold more meat for one peny\nThan others could do for five.\n122B.12 Which made the butchers of Notingham\nTo study as they did stand,\nSaying, surely he was some prodigal,\nThat had sold his father\u2019s land.\n122B.13 The butchers they stepped to jolly Robin,\nAcquainted with him for to be;\n\u2018Come, brother,\u2019 one said, \u2019we be all of one trade,\nCome, will you go dine with me?\u2019\n122B.14 \u2018Accurst of his heart,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018That a butcher doth deny;\nI will go with you, my brethren true,\nAnd as fast as I can hie.\u2019\n122B.15 But when to the sheriff\u2019s house they came,\nTo dinner they hied apace,\nAnd Robin he the man must be\nBefore them all to say grace.\n122B.16 \u2018Pray God bless us all,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018And our meat within this place;\nA cup of sack so good will nourish our blood,\nAnd so do I end my grace.\n122B.17 \u2018Come fill us more wine,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Let us merry be while we do stay;\nFor wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,\nI vow I the reckning will pay.\n122B.18 \u2018Come, brother[s], be merry,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Let us drink, and never give ore;\nFor the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,\nIf it cost me five pounds and more.\u2019\n122B.19 \u2018This is a mad blade,\u2019 the butchers then said;\nSaies the sheriff, He is some prodigal,\nThat some land has sold, for silver and gold,\nAnd now he doth mean to spend all.\n122B.20 \u2018Hast thou any horn-beasts,\u2019 the sheriff repli\u2019d,\n\u2018Good fellow, to sell unto me?\u2019\n\u2018Yes, that I have, good Master Sheriff,\nI have hundreds two or three.\n122B.21 \u2018And a hundred aker of good free land,\nIf you please it to see;\nAnd I\u2019le make you as good assurance of it\nAs ever my father made me.\u2019\n122B.22 The sheriff he saddled a good palfrey,\nWith three hundred pound in gold,\nAnd away he went with bold Robin Hood,\nHis horned beasts to behold.\n122B.23 Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride,\nTo the forrest of merry Sherwood;\nThen the sheriff did say, God bless us this day\nFrom a man they call Robin Hood!\n122B.24 But when that a little further they came,\nBold Robin he chanc d to spy\nA hundred head of good red deer,\nCome tripping the sheriff full nigh.\n122B.25 \u2018How like you my hornd beasts, good Master Sheriff;\nThey be fat and fair for to see;\u2019\n\u2018I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone,\nFor I like not thy company.\u2019\n122B.26 Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,\nAnd blew but blasts three;\nThen quickly anon there came Little John,\nAnd all his company.\n122B.27 \u2018What is your will?\u2019 then said Little John,\n\u2018Good master come tell it to me;\u2019\n\u2018I have brought hither the sheriff of Notingham,\nThis day to dine with thee.\u2019\n122B.28 \u2018He is welcome to me,\u2019 then said Little John,\n\u2018I hope he will honestly pay;\nI know he has gold, if it be but well told,\nWill serve us to drink a whole day.\u2019\n122B.29 Then Robin took his mantle from his back,\nAnd laid it upon the ground,\nAnd out of the sheriffe[\u2019s] portmantle\nHe told three hundred pound.\n122B.30 Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood,\nAnd set him on his dapple gray:\n\u2018O have me commended to your wife at home;\u2019\nSo Robin went laughing away.","title":"The Child Ballads: 122. Robin Hood and the Butcher","type":"page"}