{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch128.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch128.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch128.htm","text":"128A.1 COME listen a while, you gentlemen all,\nWith a hey down down a down down\nThat are in this bower within,\nFor a story of gallant bold Robin Hood\nI purpose now to begin.\n128A.2 \u2018What time of the day?\u2019 quoth Robin Hood then;\nQuoth Little John, \u2019Tis in the prime;\n\u2018Why then we will to the green wood gang,\nFor we have no vittles to dine.\u2019\n128A.3 As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along-+--+-\nIt was in the mid of the day-+--+-\nThere was he met of a deft young man\nAs ever walkt on the way.\n128A.4 His doublet it was of silk, he said,\nHis stockings like scarlet shone,\nAnd he walkt on along the way,\nTo Robin Hood then unknown.\n128A.5 A herd of deer was in the bend,\nAll feeding before his face:\n\u2018Now the best of ye I\u2019le have to my dinner,\nAnd that in a little space.\u2019\n128A.6 Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe,\nBut he bends and a right good bow,\nAnd the best buck in the herd he slew,\nForty good yards him full froe.\n128A.7 \u2018Well shot, well shot,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood then,\n\u2018That shot it was shot in time;\nAnd if thou wilt accept of the place,\nThou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine.\u2019\n128A.8 \u2018Go play the chiven,\u2019 the stranger said,\n\u2018Make haste and quickly go;\nOr with my fist, be sure of this,\nI\u2019le give thee buffets store.\u2019\n128A.9 \u2018Thou hadst not best buffet me,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018For though I seem forlorn,\nYet I can have those that will take my part,\nIf I but blow my horn.\u2019\n128A.10 \u2018Thou wast not best wind thy horn,\u2019 the stranger said,\n\u2018Beest thou never so much in hast,\nFor I can draw out a good broad sword,\nAnd quickly cut the blast.\u2019\n128A.11 Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,\nTo shoot, and that he would fain;\nThe stranger he bent a very good bow,\nTo shoot at bold Robin again.\n128A.12 \u2018O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018To shoot it would be in vain;\nFor if we should shoot the one at the other,\nThe one of us may be slain.\n128A.13 \u2018But let\u2019s take our swords and our broad bucklers,\nAnd gang under yonder tree:\u2019\n\u2018As I hope to be sav\u2019d,\u2019 the stranger said,\n\u2018One foot I will not flee.\u2019\n128A.14 Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow\nMost scar\u2019d him out of his wit;\n\u2018Thou never felt blow,\u2019 the stranger he said,\n\u2018That shall be better quit.\u2019\n128A.15 The stranger he drew out a good broad sword,\nAnd hit Robin on the crown,\nThat from every haire of bold Robins head\nThe blood ran trickling down.\n128A.16 \u2018God a mercy, good fellow!\u2019 quoth Robin Hood then,\n\u2018And for this thou hast done;\nTell me, good fellow, what thou art,\nTell me where thou doest woon.\u2019\n128A.17 The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood,\nI\u2019le tell thee where I did dwell;\nIn Maxfield was I bred and born,\nMy name is Young Gamwell.\n128A.18 For killing of my own fathers steward,\nI am forc\u2019d to this English wood,\nAnd for to seek an vncle of mine;\nSome call him Robin Hood.\n128A.19 \u2018But art thou a cousin of Robin Hoods then?\nThe sooner we should have done:\u2019\n\u2018As I hope to be sav\u2019d,\u2019 the stranger then said,\n\u2018I am his own sisters son.\u2019\n128A.20 But, Lord! what kissing and courting was there,\nWhen these two cousins did greet!\nAnd they went all that summers day,\nAnd Little John did meet.\n128A.21 But when they met with Little John,\nHe there unto [him] did say,\nO master, where have you been,\nYou have tarried so long away?\n128A.22 \u2018I met with a stranger,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood then,\n\u2018Full sore he hath beaten me:\u2019\n\u2018Then I\u2019le have a bout with him,\u2019 quoth Little John,\n\u2018And try if he can beat me.\u2019\n128A.23 [no], oh no,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood then,\n\u2018Little John, it may [not] be so;\nFor he\u2019s my own dear sisters son,\nAnd cousins I have no mo.\n128A.24 \u2018But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,\nMy chief man next to thee;\nAnd I Robin Hood, and thou Little John,\nAnd Scarlet he shall be:\n128A.25 \u2018And wee\u2019l be three of the bravest outlaws\nThat is in the North Country.\u2019\nIf you will have any more of bold Robin Hood,\nIn his second part it will be.","title":"The Child Ballads: 128. Robin Hood and the Newly Revived","type":"page"}