{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch134.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch134.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch134.htm","text":"134A.1 LYTH and listen, gentlemen,\nThat\u2019s come of high born blood;\nI\u2019ll tell you of a brave booting\nThat befel Robin Hood.\n134A.2 Robin Hood upon a day,\nHe went forth him alone,\nAnd as he came from Barnesdale\nInto a fair evening,\n134A.3 He met a beggar on the way,\nThat sturdily could gang;\nHe had a pike-staff in his hand,\nThat was baith stark and strang.\n134A.4 A clouted cloak about him was,\nThat held him from the cold;\nThe thinnest bit of it, I guess,\nWas more than twenty fold.\n134A.5 His meal-pock hang about his neck,\nInto a leathern fang,\nWell fasteneg with a broad buckle,\nThat was both stark and strang.\n134A.6 He had three hats upon his head,\nTogether sticked fast;\nHe cared neither for wind nor weet,\nIn lands wherever he past.\n134A.7 Good Robin coost him in his way,\nTo see what he might be;\nIf any beggar had money,\nHe thought some part had he.\n134A.8 \u2018Tarry, tarry,\u2019 good Robin says,\n\u2018Tarry, and speak with me;\u2019\nHe heard him as he heard [him] not,\nAnd fast his way can hie.\n134A.9 \u2018It be\u2019s not so,\u2019 says good Robin,\n\u2018Nay, thou must tarry still;\u2019\n\u2018By my troth,\u2019 says the bold beggar,\n\u2018Of that I have no will.\n134A.10 RR\u2019rrit is far to my lodging-house,\nAnd it is growing late;\nIf they have supt ere I come in,\nI will look wondrous blate.\u2019\n134A.11 \u2018Now, by my troth,\u2019 says good Robin,\n\u2018I see well by thy fare,\nIf thou chear well to thy supper,\nOf mine thou takes no care;\n134A.12 \u2018Who wants my dinner all the day,\nAnd wots not where to lie,\nAnd should I to the tavern go,\nI want money to buy.\n134A.13 \u2018Sir, thou must lend me some money,\nTill we two meet again:\u2019\nThe beggar answerd cankerdly,\nI have no money to lend.\n134A.14 Thou art as young a man as I,\nAnd seems to be as sweer;\nIf thou fast till thou get from me,\nThou shalt eat none this year.\n134A.15 \u2018Now, by my troth,\u2019 says good Robin,\n\u2018Since we are sembled so,\nIf thou have but a small farthing,\nI\u2019ll have it ere thou go.\n134A.16 Therefore, lay down thy clouted cloak,\nAnd do no longer stand,\nAnd loose the strings of all thy pocks:\nI\u2019ll ripe them with my hand.\n134A.17 \u2018And now to thee I make a vow,\nIf thou make any din,\nI shall see if a broad arrow\nCan pierce a beggar\u2019s skin.\u2019\n134A.18 The beggar smil\u2019d, and answer made:\nFar better let me be;\nThink not that I will be afraid\nFor thy nip crooked tree.\n134A.19 Or that I fear thee any whit\nFor thy curn nips of sticks;\nI know no use for them so meet\nAs to be pudding-pricks.\n134A.20 Here I defy thee to do me ill,\nFor all thy boistrous fare;\nThou\u2019s get nothing from me but ill,\nWould thou seek it evermair.\n134A.21 Good Robin bent his noble bow-+--+-\nHe was an angry man-+--+-\nAnd in it set a broad arrow;\nYet er \u2019twas drawn a span,\n134A.22 The beggar, with his noble tree,\nReacht him so round a rout\nThat his bow and his broad arrow\nIn flinders flew about.\n134A.23 Good Robin bound him to his brand,\nBut that provd likewise vain;\nThe beggar lighted on his hand\nWith his pike-staff again.\n134A.24 I wot he might not draw a sword\nFor forty days and more;\nGood Robin could not speak a word,\nHis heart was never so sore.\n134A.25 He could not fight, he could not flee,\nHe wist not what to do;\nThe beggar, with his noble tree,\nLaid lusty flaps him to.\n134A.26 He paid good Robin back and side,\nAnd beft him up and down,\nAnd with his pike-staff still on laid\nTill he fell in a swoon.\n134A.27 \u2018Fy! stand up, man,\u2019 the beggar said,\n\u2018\u2019Tis shame to go to rest;\nStay still till thou get thy mony [told],\nI think it were the best.\n134A.28 \u2018And syne go to the tavern-house,\nAnd buy both wine and ale;\nHereat thy friends will crack full crouse,\nThou has been at a dale.\u2019\n134A.29 Good Robin answerd never a word,\nBut lay still as a stane;\nHis cheeks were white as any clay,\nAnd closed were his eyne.\n134A.30 The beggar thought him dead but fail,\nAnd boldly bownd away;\nI would you had been at the dale,\nAnd gotten part of the play.\n134A.31 Now three of Robin\u2019s men, by chance,\nCame walking on the way,\nAnd found their master in a trance,\nOn ground where he did lie.\n134A.32 Up have they taken good Robin,\nMaking a piteous bier,\nYet saw they no man there at whom\nThey might the matter spear.\n134A.33 They looked him all round about,\nBut wounds on him saw none,\nYet at his mouth came bocking out\nThe blood of a good vein.\n134A.34 Cold water they have taken syne,\nAnd cast into his face;\nThen he began to lift his eyne,\nAnd spake within short space.\n134A.35 \u2018Tell us, dear master,\u2019 says his men,\n\u2018How with you stands the case?\u2019\nGood Robin sighd ere he began\nTo tell of his disgrace.\n134A.36 \u2018I have been watchman in this wood\nNear hand this forty year,\nYet I was never so hard bestead\nAs you have found me here.\n134A.37 \u2018A beggar with a clouted cloak,\nIn whom I feard no ill,\nHath with a pike-staff clawed my back;\nI fear \u2019t shall never be well.\n134A.38 \u2018See, where he goes out oer yon hill,\nWith hat upon his head;\nIf ever you lovd your master well,\nGo now revenge this deed.\n134A.39 \u2018And bring him back again to me,\nIf it lie in your might,\nThat I may see, before I die,\nHim punisht in my sight.\n134A.40 \u2018And if you may not bring him back,\nLet him not go loose on;\nFor to us all it were great shame\nIf he escapt again.\u2019\n134A.41 \u2018One of us shall with you remain,\nBecause you\u2019re ill at ease;\nThe other two shall bring him back,\nTo use him as you please.\u2019\n134A.42 \u2018Now, by my troth,\u2019 says good Robin,\n\u2018I trow there\u2019s enough said;\nIf he get scouth to weild his tree,\nI fear you\u2019ll both be paid.\u2019\n134A.43 \u2018Be ye not feard, our good master,\nThat we two can be dung\nWith any blutter base beggar,\nThat hath nought but a rung.\n134A.44 \u2018His staff shall stand him in no stead;\nThat you shall shortly see;\nBut back again he shall be led,\nAnd fast bound shall he be,\nTo see if you will have him slain,\nOr hanged on a tree.\u2019\n134A.45 \u2018But cast you slily in his way,\nBefore he be aware,\nAnd on his pike-staff first lay hands;\nYou\u2019ll speed the better far.\u2019\n134A.46 Now leave we Robin with his man,\nAgain to play the child,\nAnd learn himself to stand and gang\nBy haulds, for all his eild.\n134A.47 Now pass we to the bold beggar,\nThat raked oer the hill,\nWho never mended his pace no more\nNor he had done no ill.\n134A.48 The young men knew the country well,\nSo soon where he would be,\nAnd they have taken another way,\nWas nearer by miles three.\n134A.49 They rudely ran with all their might,\nSpar\u2019d neither dub nor mire,\nThey stirred neither at laigh nor hight,\nNo travel made them tire,\n134A.50 Till they before the beggar wan,\nAnd coost them in his way;\nA little wood lay in a glen,\nAnd there they both did stay.\n134A.51 They stood up closely by a tree,\nIn ilk side of the gate,\nUntil the beggar came them to,\nThat thought not of such fate.\n134A.52 And as he was betwixt them past,\nThey leapt upon him baith;\nThe one his pike-staff gripped fast,\nThey feared for its scaith.\n134A.53 The other he held in his sight\nA drawn dirk to his breast,\nAnd said, False carl, quit thy staff,\nOr I shall be thy priest.\n134A.54 His pike-staff they have taken him frae,\nAnd stuck it in the green;\nHe was full leath to let [it] gae,\nIf better might have been.\n134A.55 The beggar was the feardest man\nOf one that ever might be;\nTo win away no way he can,\nNor help him with his tree.\n134A.56 He wist not wherefore he was tane,\nNor how many was there;\nHe thought his life-days had been gone,\nAnd grew into despair.\n134A.57 \u2018Grant me my life,\u2019 the beggar said,\n\u2018For him that died on tree,\nAnd take away that ugly knife,\nOr then for fear I\u2019ll die.\n134A.58 \u2018I grievd you never in all my life,\nBy late nor yet by ayre;\nYe have great sin,if ye should slay\nA silly poor beggar.\u2019\n134A.59 \u2018Thou lies, false lown,\u2019 they said again,\n\u2018By all that may be sworn;\nThou hast near slain the gentlest man\nThat ever yet was born.\n134A.60 \u2018And back again thou shalt be led,\nAnd fast bound shalt thou be,\nTo see if he will have thee slain,\nOr hanged on a tree.\u2019\n134A.61 The beggar then thought all was wrong;\nThey were set for his wrack;\nHe saw nothing appearing then\nBut ill upon worse back.\n134A.62 Were he out of their hands, he thought,\nAnd had again his tree,\nHe should not be had back for nought,\nWith such as he did see.\n134A.63 Then he bethought him on a wile,\nIf it could take effect,\nHow he the young men might beguile,\nAnd give them a begeck.\n134A.64 Thus for to do them shame or ill\nHis beastly breast was bent;\nHe found the wind grew something shril,\nTo further his intent.\n134A.65 He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,\nAnd let the poor man be;\nWhen ye have taken a beggar\u2019s blood,\nIt helps you not a flee.\n134A.66 It was but in my own defence,\nIf he hath gotten skaith;\nBut I will make a recompence,\nMuch better for you baith.\n134A.67 If ye will set me safe and free,\nAnd do me no danger,\nAn hundred pounds I will you give,\nAnd much more good silver,\n134A.68 That I have gathered these many years,\nUnder this clouted cloak,\nAnd hid up wonder privately,\nIn bottom of my pock.\n134A.69 The young men to a council yeed,\nAnd let the beggar gae;\nThey wist how well he had no speed\nFrom them to run away.\n134A.70 They thought they would the money take,\nCome after what so may,\nAnd then they would not bring him back,\nBut in that part him slay.\n134A.71 By that good Robin would not know\nThat they had gotten coin;\nIt would content him for to show\nThat there they had him slain.\n134A.72 They said, False carl, soon have done\nAnd tell forth that money;\nFor the ill turn thou hast done\n\u2019Tis but a simple fee.\n134A.73 And yet we will not have thee back,\nCome after what so may,\nIf thou will do that which thou spake,\nAnd make us present pay.\n134A.74 O then loosd his clouted cloak,\nAnd spread it on the ground,\nAnd thereon he laid many a pock,\nBetwixt them and the wind.\n134A.75 He took a great bag from his hase;\nIt was near full of meal;\nTwo pecks in it at least there was,\nAnd more, I wot full well.\n134A.76 Upon his cloak he laid it down,\nThe mouth he opend wide,\nTo turn the same he made him bown,\nThe young men ready spy\u2019d.\n134A.77 In every hand he took a nook\nOf that great leathern meal,\nAnd with a fling the meal he shook\nInto their faces hail.\n134A.78 Wherewith he blinded them so close\nA stime they could not see;\nAnd then in heart he did rejoice,\nAnd clapt his lusty tree.\n134A.79 He thought, if he had done them wrong\nIn mealing of their cloaths,\nFor to strike off the meal again\nWith his pike-staff he goes.\n134A.80 Or any one of them could red their eyne,\nOr yet a glimmering could see,\nIlk ane of them a dozen had,\nWell laid on with the tree.\n134A.81 The young men were right swift of foot,\nAnd boldly ran away;\nThe beggar could them no more hit,\nFor all the haste he may.\n134A.82 \u2018What ails this haste?\u2019 the beggar said,\n\u2018May ye not tarry still,\nUntil your money be receivd?\nI\u2019ll pay you with good will.\n134A.83 \u2018The shaking of my pocks, I fear,\nHath blown into your eyne;\nBut I have a good pike-staff here\nWill ripe them out full clean.\u2019\n134A.84 The young men answerd neer a word,\nThey were dumb as a stane;\nIn the thick wood the beggar fled,\nEer they riped their eyne.\n134A.85 And syne the night became so late,\nTo seek him was but vain:\nBut judge ye, if they looked blate\nWhen they came home again.\n134A.86 Good Robin speard how they had sped;\nThey answerd him, Full ill;\n\u2018That cannot be,\u2019 good Robin says;\n\u2018Ye have been at the mill.\n134A.87 \u2018The mill is a meatrif place,\nThey may lick what they please;\nMost like ye have been at that art,\nWho would look to your cloaths.\u2019\n134A.88 They hangd their heads, and droped down,\nA word they could not speak:\nRobin said, Because I fell a-swoon,\nI think you\u2019ll do the like.\n134A.89 Tell on the matter, less and more,\nAnd tell me what and how\nYe have done with the bold beggar\nI sent you for right now.\n134A.90 And then they told him to an end,\nAs I have said before,\nHow that the beggar did them blind,\nWhat misters process more.\n134A.91 And how he lin\u2019d their shoulders broad\nWith his great trenchen tree,\nAnd how in the thick wood he fled,\nEer they a stime could see.\n134A.92 And how they scarcely could win home,\nTheir bones were beft so sore:\nGood Robin cry\u2019d, Fy! out, for shame!\nWe\u2019re sham\u2019d for evermore.\n134A.93 Altho good Robin would full fain\nOf his wrong revenged be,\nHe smil\u2019d to see his merry young men\nHad gotten a taste of the tree.","title":"The Child Ballads: 134. Robin Hood and the Beggar, II","type":"page"}