{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch140.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch140.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch140.htm","text":"140A.* * * *\n. . . . . . . .\nIn faith thou shal[t] haue mine,\nAnd twenty pound in thy purse,\nTo spend att ale and wine.\u2019\n140A.2 \u2018Though your clothes are of light Lincolne green,\nAnd mine gray russett and torne,\nYet it doth not you beseeme\nTo doe an old man scorne.\u2019\n140A.3 \u2018I scorne thee not, old man,\u2019 says Robin,\n\u2018By the faith of my body;\nDoe of thy clothes, thou shalt haue mine,\nFor it may noe better bee.\u2019\n140A.4 But Robin did on this old mans hose,\nThe were torne in the wrist;\n\u2018When I looke on my leggs,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018Then for to laugh I list.\u2019\n140A.5 But Robin did on the old mans shooes,\nAnd the were cliitt full cleane;\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 sayes Litle Iohn,\n\u2018These are good for thornes keene.\u2019\n140A.6 But Robin did on the old mans cloake,\nAnd it was torne in the necke;\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 said William Scarlett,\n\u2018Heere shold be set a specke.\u2019\n140A.7 But Robin did on this old mans hood,\nItt gogled on his crowne;\n\u2018When I come into Nottingham,\u2019 said Robin,\nRR\u2019Mrry hood it will lightly downe.\n140A.8 \u2018But yonder is an outwood,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018An outwood all and a shade,\nAnd thither I reede you, my merrymen all,\nThe ready way to take.\n140A.9 \u2018And when you heare my litle horne blow,\nCome raking all on a rowte\n. . . .\n. . . .\n* * * * *\n140A.10 But Robin he lope, and Robin he threw,\nHe lope over stocke and stone;\nBut those that saw Robin Hood run\nSaid he was a liuer old man.\n140A.11 [Then Robin set his] horne to his mowth,\nA loud blast cold h[e] blow;\nFfull three hundred bold yeomen\nCame rakinge all on a row.\n140A.12 But Robin cast downe his baggs of bread,\nSoe did he his staffe with a face,\nAnd in a doublet of red veluett\nThis yeoman stood in his place.\n140A.13 \u2018But bend your bowes, and stroke your strings,\nSet the gallow-tree aboute,\nAnd Christs cursse on his heart,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018That spares the sheriffe and the sergiant!\u2019\n140A.14 When the sheriffe see gentle Robin wold shoote,\nHe held vp both his hands;\nSayes, Aske, good Robin, and thou shalt haue,\nWhether it be house or land.\n140A.15 \u2018I will neither haue house nor land,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018Nor gold, nor none of thy fee,\nBut I will haue those three squires\nTo the greene forest with me.\n140A.16 \u2018Now marry, Gods forbott,\u2019 said the sheriffe,\n\u2018That euer that shold bee;\nFor why, they be the kings felons,\nThey are all condemned to dye.\u2019\n140A.17 \u2018But grant me my askinge,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018Or by the faith of my body\nThou shalt be the first man\nShall flower this gallow-tree.\u2019\n140A.18 \u2018But I wi[ll haue t]hose three squires\n. . . .\n140B: Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires\n140B.1 THERE are twelve months in all the year,\nAs I hear many men say,\nBut the merriest month in all the year\nIs the merry month of May.\n140B.2 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,\nWith a link a down and a day,\nAnd there he met a silly old woman,\nWas weeping on the way.\n140B.3 \u2018What news? what news, thou silly old woman?\nWhat news hast thou for me?\u2019\nSaid she, There\u2019s three squires in Nottingham town\nTo-day is condemned to die.\n140B.4 \u2018O have they parishes burnt?\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Or have they ministers slain?\nOr have they robbed any virgin,\nOr with other men\u2019s wives have lain?\u2019\n140B.5 \u2018They have no parishes burnt, good sir,\nNor yet have ministwrs slain,\nNor have they robbed any virgin,\nNor with other men\u2019s wives have lain.\u2019\n140B.6 \u2018O what have they done?\u2019 said bold Robin Hood,\n\u2018I pray thee tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018It\u2019s for slaying of the king\u2019s fallow deer,\nBearing their long bows with thee.\u2019\n140B.7 \u2018Dost thou not mind, old woman,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Since thou made me sup and dine?\nBy the truth of my body,\u2019 quoth bold Robin Hood,\n\u2018You could not tell it in better time.\u2019\n140B.8 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,\nWith a link a down and a day,\nAnd there he met a silly old palmer,\nWas walking along the highway.\n140B.9 \u2018What news? what news, thou silly old man?\nWhat news, I do thee pray?\u2019\nSaid he, Three squires in Nottingham town\nAre condemnd to die this day.\n140B.10 \u2018Come change thy apparel with me, old man,\nCome change thy apparel for mine;\nHere is forty shillings in good silver,\nGo drink it in beer or wine.\u2019\n140B.11 \u2018O thine apparel is good,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018And mine is ragged and torn;\nWhereever you go, wherever you ride,\nLaugh neer an old man to scorn.\u2019\n140B.12 \u2018Come change thy apparel with me, old churl,\nCome change thy apparel with mine;\nHere are twenty pieces of good broad gold,\nGo feast thy brethren with wine.\u2019\n140B.13 Then he put on the old man\u2019s hat,\nIt stood full high on the crown:\n\u2018The first bold bargain that I come at,\nIt shall make thee come down.\u2019\n140B.14 Then he put on the old man\u2019s cloak,\nWas patchd black, blew, and red;\nHe thought no shame all the day long\nTo wear the bags of bread.\n140B.15 Then he put on the old man\u2019s breeks,\nWas patchd from ballup to side;\n\u2018By the truth of my body,\u2019 bold Robin can say,\n\u2018This man lovd little pride.\u2019\n140B.16 Then he put on the old man\u2019s hose,\nWere patchd from knee to wrist;\n\u2018By the truth of my body,\u2019 said bold Robin Hood,\n\u2018I\u2019d laugh if I had any list.\u2019\n140B.17 Then he put on the old man\u2019s shoes,\nWere patchd both beneath and aboon;\nThen Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,\nIt\u2019s good habit that makes a man.\n140B.18 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,\nWith a link a down and a down,\nAnd there he met with the proud sheriff,\nWas walking along the town.\n140B.19 \u2018O save, O save, O sheriff,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018O save, and you may see!\nAnd what will you give to a silly old man\nTo-day will your hangman be?\u2019\n140B.20 me suits, some suits,\u2019 the sheriff he said,\n\u2018Some suits I\u2019ll give to thee;\nSome suits, some suits, and pence thirteen\nTo-day\u2019s a hangman\u2019s fee.\u2019\n140B.21 Then Robin he turns him round about,\nAnd jumps from stock to stone;\n\u2018By the truth of my body,\u2019 the sheriff he said,\n\u2018That\u2019s well jumpt, thou nimble old man.\u2019\n140B.22 \u2018I was neer a hangman in all my life,\nNor yet intends to trade;\nBut curst be he,\u2019 said bold Robin,\n\u2018That first a hangman was made.\n140B.23 \u2018I\u2019ve a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,\nAnd a bag for barley and corn;\nA bag for bread, and a bag for beef,\nAnd a bag for my little small horn.\n140B.24 \u2018I have a horn in my pocket,\nI got it from Robin Hood,\nAnd still when I set it to my mouth,\nFor thee it blows little good.\u2019\n140B.25 O wind thy horn, thou proud fellow,\nOf thee I have no doubt;\nI wish that thou give such a blast\nTill both thy eyes fall out.\u2019\n140B.26 The first loud blast that he did blow,\nHe blew both loud and shrill;\nA hundred and fifty of Robin Hood\u2019s men\nCame riding over the hill.\n140B.27 The next loud blast that he did give,\nHe blew both loud and amain,\nAnd quickly sixty of Robin Hood\u2019s men\nCame shining over the plain.\n140B.28 \u2018O who are yon,\u2019 the sheriff he said,\n\u2018Come tripping over the lee?\u2019\n\u2018The\u2019re my attendants,\u2019 brave Robin did say,\n\u2018They\u2019ll pay a visit to thee.\u2019\n140B.29 They took the gallows from the slack,\nThey set it in the glen,\nThey hangd the proud sheriff on that,\nReleasd their own three men.\n140C: Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires\n140C.1 BOLD Robin Hood ranging the forest all round,\nThe forest all round ranged he;\nO there did he meet with a gay lady,\nShe came weeping along the highway.\n140C.2 \u2018Why weep you, why weep you?\u2019 bold Robin he said,\n\u2018What, weep you for gold or fee?\nOr do you weep for your maidenhead,\nThat is taken from your body?\u2019\n140C.3 \u2018I weep not for gold,\u2019 the lady replyed,\n\u2018Neither do I weep for fee;\nNor do I weep for my maidenhead,\nThat is taken from my body.\u2019\n140C.4 \u2018What weep you for then?\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018I prithee come tell unto me;\u2019\n\u2018Oh! I do weep for my three sons,\nFor they are all condemned to die.\u2019\n140C.5 \u2018What church have they robbed?\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Or parish-priest have they slain?\nWhat maids have they forced against their will?\nOr with other men\u2019s wives have lain?\u2019\n140C.6 \u2018No church have they robbd,\u2019 this lady replied,\n\u2018Nor parish-priest have they slain;\nNo maids have they forc\u2019d against their will,\nNor with other men\u2019s wives have lain.\u2019\n140C.7 \u2018What have they done then?\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Come tell me most speedily:\u2019\n\u2018Oh! it is for killing the king\u2019s fallow deer,\nAnd they are all condemned to die.\u2019\n140C.8 \u2018Get you home, get you home,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Get you home most speedily,\nAnd I will unto fair Nottingham go,\nFor the sake of the squires all three.\u2019\n140C.9 Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes,\nFor Nottingham town goes he,\nO there did he meet with a poor beggar-man,\nHe came creeping along the highway.\n140C.10 \u2018What news, what news, thou old beggar-man?\nWhat news, come tell unto me:\u2019\n\u2018O there is weeping and wailing in fair Nottingham,\nFor the death of the squires all three.\u2019\n140C.11 This beggar-man had a coat on his back,\n\u2019Twas neither green, yellow, nor red;\nBold Robin Hood thought \u2019twas no disgrace\nTo be in a beggar-man\u2019s stead.\n140C.12 \u2018Come, pull off thy coat, you old beggar-man,\nAnd you shall put on mine;\nAnd forty good shillings I\u2019ll give thee to boot,\nBesides brandy, good beer, ale and wine.\u2019\n140C.13 Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came,\nUnto Nottingham town came he;\nO there did he meet with great master sheriff,\nAnd likewise the squires all three.\n140C.14 \u2018One boon, one boon,\u2019 says jolly Robin,\n\u2018One boon I beg on my knee;\nThat, as for the deaths of these three squires,\nTheir hangman I may be.\u2019\n140C.15 \u2018Soon granted, soon granted,\u2019 says great master sheriff,\n\u2018Soon granted unto thee;\nAnd you shall have all their gay cloathing,\nAye, and all their white money.\u2019\n140C.16 \u2018O I will have none of their gay cloathing,\nNor none of their white money,\nBut I\u2019ll have three blasts on my bugle-horn,\nThat their souls to heaven may flee.\u2019\n140C.17 Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,\nWhere he blew loud and shrill,\nTill an hundred and ten of Robin Hood\u2019s men\nThey came marching all down the green hill.\n140C.18 \u2018Whose men are they all these?\u2019 says great master sheriff,\n\u2018Whose men are they? tell unto me:\u2019\n\u2018O they are mine, but none of thine,\nAnd they\u2019re come for the squires all three.\u2019\n140C.19 \u2018O take them, O take them,\u2019 says great master sheriff,\n\u2018O take them along with thee;\nFor there\u2019s never a man in all Nottingham\nCan do the like of thee.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 140. Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires","type":"page"}