{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch133.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch133.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch133.htm","text":"133A.1 COME light and listen, you gentlemen all,\nHey down, down, and a down\nThat mirth do love for to hear,\nAnd a story true I\u2019le tell unto you,\nIf that you will but draw near.\n133A.2 In elder times, when merriment was,\nAnd archery was holden good,\nThere was an outlaw, as many did know,\nWhich men called Robin Hood.\n133A.3 Vpon a time it chanced so\nBold Robin was merry disposed,\nHis time to spend he did intend,\nEither with friends or foes.\n133A.4 Then he got vp on a gallant brave steed,\nThe which was worth angels ten;\nWith a mantle of green, most brave to be seen,\nHe left all his merry men.\n133A.5 And riding towards fair Nottingham,\nSome pastime for to spy,\nThere was he aware of a jolly beggar\nAs ere he beheld with his eye.\n133A.6 An old patcht coat the beggar had on,\nWhich he daily did vse for to wear;\nAnd many a bag about him did wag,\nWhich made Robin Hood to him repair.\n133A.7 \u2018God speed, God speed,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018What countryman? tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018I am Yorkeshire, sir; but, ere you go far,\nSome charity give vnto me.\u2019\n133A.8 \u2018Why, what wouldst thou have?\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018I pray thee tell vnto me:\u2019\n\u2018No lands nor livings,\u2019 the beggar he said,\n\u2018But a penny for charitie.\u2019\n133A.9 \u2018I have no money,\u2019 said Robin Hood then,\n\u2018But, a ranger within the wood,\nI am an outlaw, as many do know,\nMy name it is Robin Hood.\n133A.10 \u2018But yet I must tell thee, bonny beggar,\nThat a bout with [thee] I must try;\nThy coat of gray, lay down I say,\nAnd my mantle of green shall lye by.\u2019\n133A.11 \u2018Content, content,\u2019 the beggar he cry\u2019d,\n\u2018Thy part it will be the worse;\nFor I hope this to give thee the rout,\nAnd the have at thy purse.\u2019\n133A.12 The beggar he had a mickle long staffe,\nAnd Robin had a nut-brown sword;\nSo the beggar drew nigh, and at Robin let fly,\nBut gave him never a word.\n133A.13 \u2018Fight on, fight on,\u2019 said Robin Hood then,\n\u2018This game well pleaseth me;\u2019\nFor every blow that Robin did give,\nThe beggar gave buffets three.\n133A.14 And fighting there full hard and sore,\nNot far from Nottingham town,\nThey never fled, till from Robin[\u2019s] head\nThe blood came trickling down.\n133A.15 \u2018O hold thy hand,\u2019 said Robin Hood then,\n\u2018And thou and I will agree;\u2019\n\u2018If that be true,\u2019 the beggar he said,\n\u2018Thy mantle come give vnto me.\u2019\n133A.16 \u2018Nay a change, a change,\u2019 cri\u2019d Robin Hood;\n\u2018Thy bags and coat give me,\nAnd this mantle of mine I\u2019le to thee resign,\nMy horse and my braverie.\u2019\n133A.17 When Robin Hood had got the beggars clothes,\nHe looked round about;\n\u2018Methinks,\u2019 said he, \u2018I seem to be\nA beggar brave and stout.\n133A.18 \u2018For now I have a bag for my bread,\nSo have I another for corn;\nI have one for salt, and another for malt,\nAnd one for my little horn.\n133A.19 \u2018And now I will a begging goe,\nSome charitie for to find:\u2019\nAnd if any more of Robin you\u2019l know,\nIn this second part it\u2019s behind.\n133A.20 Now Robin he is to Nottingham bound,\nWith his bags hanging down to his knee,\nHis staff, and his coat, scarce worth a groat,\nYet merrilie passed he.\n133A.21 As Robin he passed the streets along,\nHe heard a pittifull cry;\nThree brethren deer, as he did hear,\nCondemned were to dye.\n133A.22 n Robin he highed to the sheriffs [house],\nSome reliefe for to seek;\nHe skipt, and leapt, and capored full high,\nAs he went along the street.\n133A.23 But when to the sheriffs doore he came,\nThere a gentleman fine and brave,\n\u2018Thou beggar,\u2019 said he, \u2019Come tell vnto me\nWhat is it that thou wouldest have?\u2019\n133A.24 \u2018No meat, nor drink,\u2019 said Robin Hood then,\n\u2018That I come here to crave;\nBut to beg the lives of yeomen three,\nAnd that I fain would have.\u2019\n133A.25 \u2018That cannot be, thou bold beggar,\nTheir fact it is so cleer;\nI tell to thee, hanged they must be,\nFor stealing of our kings deer.\u2019\n133A.26 But when to the gallows they did come,\nThere was many a weeping eye:\n\u2018O hold your peace,\u2019 said Robin then,\n\u2018For certainly they shall not dye.\u2019\n133A.27 Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,\nAnd he blew but blastes three,\nTill a hundred bold archers brave\nCame kneeling down to his knee.\n133A.28 \u2018What is your will, master?\u2019 they said,\n\u2018We are here at your command:\u2019\n\u2018Shoot east, shoot west,\u2019 said Robin Hood then,\n\u2018And look that you spare no man.\u2019\n133A.29 Then they shot east, and they shot west;\nTheir arrows were so keen\nThe sheriffe he, and his companie,\nNo longer must be seen.\n133A.30 Then he stept to these brethren three,\nAnd away he had them tane;\nBut the sheriff was crost, and many a man lost,\nThat dead lay on the plain.\n133A.31 And away they went into the merry green wood,\nAnd sung with a merry glee,\nAnd Robin took these brethren good\nTo be of his yeomandrie.","title":"The Child Ballads: 133. Robin Hood and the Beggar, I","type":"page"}