{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch148.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch148.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch148.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 148A: The Noble Fisherman or Robin Hood\u2019s Preferment\n \n \n 148A.1 IN summer time, when leaves grow green,\n When they doe grow both green and long,\n Of a bould outlaw, calld Robin Hood,\n It is of him I sing this song.\n 148A.2 When the lilly leafe and the elephant\n Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere,\n This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,\n And chasing of the fallow deere.\n 148A.3 \u2018The fishermen brave more mony have\n Then any merchant, two or three;\n Therefore I will to Scarborough goe,\n That I a fisherman brave may be.\u2019\n 148A.4 This outlaw calld his merry men all,\n As they sate under the green-wood tree:\n \u2018If any of you have gold to spend,\n I pray you heartily spend it with me.\n 148A.5 \u2018Now,\u2019 quoth Robin, I\u2019le to Scarborough goe,\n It seemes to be a very faire day;\u2019\n Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,\n Hard by upon the water gray.\n 148A.6 Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne?\n Or tell to me, where dost thou fare?\n \u2018I am a poore fisherman,\u2019 saith he then,\n \u2018This day intrapped all in care.\u2019\n 148A.7 \u2018What is thy name, thou fine fellow?\n I pray thee heartily tell to me;\u2019\n \u2018In mine own country where I was borne,\n Men called me Simon over the Lee.\u2019\n 148A.8 \u2018Simon, Simon,\u2019 said the good wife,\n The outlaw was ware of her courtesie,\n And rejoyed he had got such a dame.\n 148A.9 \u2018Simon, wilt thou be my man?\n And good round wages I\u2019le give thee;\n I have as good a ship of mine owne\n As any sayle upon the sea.\n 148A.10 \u2018Anchors and planks thou shalt want none,\n Masts and ropes that are so long;\u2019\n \u2018And if that you thus furnish me,\u2019\n Said Simon, \u2019Nothing shall goe wrong.\u2019\n 148A.11 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,\n More of a day then two or three;\n When others cast in their baited hooks,\n The bare lines into the sea cast he.\n 148A.12 \u2018It will be long,\u2019 said the master then,\n \u2018Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea;\n I\u2019le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,\n For in truth he is of no part worthy.\u2019\n 148A.13 \u2018O woe is me,\u2019 said Simon then,\n \u2018This day that ever I came here!\n I wish I were in Plomton Parke,\n In chasing of the fallow deere.\n 148A.14 \u2018For every clowne laughs me to scorne,\n And they by me set nought at all;\n If I had them in Plomton Park,\n I would set as little by them all.\u2019\n 148A.15 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,\n More of a day then two or three;\n But Simon spied a ship of warre,\n That sayld towards them most valourously.\n 148A.16 \u2018O woe is me,\u2019 said the master then,\n \u2018This day that ever I was borne!\n For all our fish we have got to-day\n Is every bit lost and forlorne.\n 148A.17 \u2018For your French robbers on the sea,\n They will not spare of us one man,\n But carry us to the coast of France,\n And ligge us in the prison strong.\u2019\n 148A.18 But Simon said, Doe not feare them,\n Neither, master, take you no care;\n Give me my bent bow in my hand,\n And never a Frenchman will I spare.\n 148A.19 \u2018Hold thy peace, thou long lubber,\n For thou art nought but braggs and boast;\n If I should cast the over-board,\n There were nothing but a lubber lost.\u2019\n 148A.20 Simon grew angry at these words,\n And so angry then was he\n That he tooke his bent bow in his hand,\n And to the ship-hatch goe doth he.\n 148A.21 \u2018Master, tye me to the mast,\u2019 saith he,\n \u2018That at my mark I may stand fair,\n And give me my bended bow in my hand,\n And never a Frenchman will I spare.\u2019\n 148A.22 He drew his arrow to the very head,\n And drew it with all might and maine,\n And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,\n Doth the Frenchmans heart the arow gain.\n 148A.23 The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch,\n And under the hatches down below;\n Another Frenchman that him espy\u2019d\n The dead corps into the sea doth throw.\n 148A.24 \u2018O master, loose me from the mast,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018And for them all take you no care,\n And give me my bent bow in my hand,\n And never a Frenchman will I spare.\u2019\n 148A.25 Then streight [they] did board the Frenchmans ship,\n They lying all dead in their sight;\n They found within the ship of warre\n Twelve thousand pound of money bright.\n 148A.26 \u2018The one halfe of the ship,\u2019 said Simon then,\n \u2018I\u2019le give to my dame and children small;\n The other halfe of the ship I\u2019le bestow\n On you that are my fellowes all.\u2019\n 148A.27 But now bespake the master then,\n For so, Simon, it shall not be;\n For you have won her with your own hand,\n And the owner of it you shall bee.\n 148A.28 \u2018It shall be so, as I have said;\n And, with this gold, for the opprest\n An habitation I will build,\n Where they shall live in peace and rest.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 149. Robin Hood's Birth, Breeding, Valor and Marriage","title":"The Child Ballads: 148. The Noble Fisherman or Robin Hood's Preferment","type":"page"}