{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch151.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch151.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch151.htm","text":"151A: The King\u2019s Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood\n151A.1 KING RICHARD hearing of the pranks\nOf Robin Hood and his men,\nHe much admir\u2019d, and more desir\u2019d,\nTo see both him and them.\n151A.2 Then with a dozen of his lords\nTo Nottingham he rode;\nWhen he came there, he made good cheer,\nAnd took up his abode.\n151A.3 He having staid there some time,\nBut had no hopes to speed,\nHe and his lords, with [free] accord,\nAll put on monk\u2019s weeds.\n151A.4 From Fountain-abby they did ride,\nDown to barnsdale;\nWhere Robin Hood prepar d stood\nAll company to assail.\n151A.5 The king was higher then the rest,\nAnd Robin thought he had\nAn abbot been whom he did spleen;\nTo rob him he was glad.\n151A.6 He took the king\u2019s horse by the head,\n\u2018Abbot,\u2019 says he, \u2018abide;\nI am bound to rue such knaves as you,\nThat live in pomp and pride.\u2019\n151A.7 \u2018But we are messengers from the king,\u2019\nThe king himself did say;\n\u2018Near to this place his royal Grace\nTo speak with thee does stay.\u2019\n151A.8 \u2018God save the king,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018And all that wish him well;\nHe that does deny his sovereignty,\nI wish he was in hell.\u2019\n151A.9 \u2018O thyself thou curses,\u2019 says the king,\n\u2018For thou a traitor art:\u2019\n\u2018Nay, but that you are his messenger,\nI swear you lie in heart.\n151A.10 \u2018For I never yet hurt any man\nThat honest is and true;\nBut those that give their minds to live\nUpon other men\u2019s due.\n151A.11 \u2018I never hurt the husbandman,\nThat use to till the ground;\nNor spill their blood that range the wood\nTo follow hawk or hound.\n151A.12 \u2018My chiefest spite to clergy is,\nWho in these days bear a great sway;\nWith fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,\nI make my chiefest prey.\n151A.13 \u2018But I am very glad,\u2019 says Robin Hood,\n\u2018That I have met you here;\nCome, before we end, you shall, my friend,\nTaste of our green-wood cheer.\u2019\n151A.14 The king did then marvel much,\nAnd so did all his men;\nThey thought with fear, what kind of cheer\nRobin would provide for them.\n151A.15 Robin took the king\u2019s horse by the head,\nAnd led him to the tent;\n\u2018Thou would not be so usd,\u2019 quoth he,\n\u2018But that my king thee sent.\n151A.16 \u2018Nay, more than that,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018For good king Richard\u2019s sake,\nIf you had as much gold as ever I told,\nI would not one penny take.\u2019\n151A.17 Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,\nAnd a loud blast he did blow,\nTill a hundred and ten of Robin Hood\u2019s men\nCame marching all of a row.\n151A.18 And when they came bold Robin before,\nEach man did bend his knee;\n\u2018O,\u2019 thought the king, \u2018\u2019tis a gallant thing,\nAnd a seemly sight to see.\u2019\n151A.19 Within himself the king did say,\nThese men of Robin Hood\u2019s\nMore humble be than mine to me;\nSo the court may learn of the woods.\n151A.20 So then they all to dinner went,\nUpon a carpet green;\nBlack, yellow, red, finely mingl d,\nMost curious to be seen.\n151A.21 Venison and fowls were plenty there,\nWith fish out of the river:\nKing Richard swore, on sea or shore,\nHe neer was feasted better.\n151A.22 Then Robin takes a can of ale:\n\u2018Come, let us now begin;\nCome, every man shall have his can;\nHere\u2019s a health unto the king.\u2019\n151A.23 The king himself drank to the king,\nSo round about it went;\nTwo barrels of ale, both stout and stale,\nTo pledge that health were spent.\n151A.24 And after that, a bowl of wine\nIn his hand took Robin Hood;\n\u2018Until I die, I\u2019ll drink wine,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018While I live in the green-wood.\n151A.25 \u2018Bend all your bows,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018And with the grey goose wing\nSuch sport now shew as you would do\nIn the presence of the king.\u2019\n151A.26 They shewd such brave archery,\nBy cleaving sticks and wands,\nThat the king did say, Such men as they\nLive not in many lands.\n151A.27 \u2018Well, Robin Hood,\u2019 then says the king,\n\u2018If I could thy pardon get,\nTo serve the king in every thing\nWouldst thou thy mind firm set?\u2019\n151A.28 \u2018Yes, with all my heart,\u2019 bold Robin said,\nSo they flung off their hoods;\nTo serve the king in every thing,\nThey swore they would spend their bloods.\n151A.29 \u2018For a clergyman was first my bane,\nWhich makes me hate them all;\nBut if you\u2019ll be so kind to me,\nLove them again I shall.\u2019\n151A.30 The king no longer could forbear,\nFor he was movd with ruth;\n[\u2018Robin,\u2019 said he, \u2018I now tell thee\nThe very naked truth.]\n151A.31 \u2018I am the king, thy sovereign king,\nThat appears before you all;\u2019\nWhen Robin see that it was he,\nStrait then he down did fall.\n151A.32 \u2018Stand up again,\u2019 then said the king,\n\u2018I\u2019ll thee thy pardon give;\nStand up, my friend; who can contend,\nWhen I give leave to live?\u2019\n151A.33 So they are all gone to Nottingham,\nAll shouting as they came;\nBut when the people them did see,\nThey thought the king was slain,\n151A.34 And for that cause the outlaws were come,\nTo rule all as they list;\nAnd for to shun, which way to run\nThe people did not wist.\n151A.35 The plowman left the plow in the fields,\nThe smith ran from his shop;\nOld folks also, that scarce could go,\nOver their sticks did hop.\n151A.36 The king soon let them understand\nHe had been in the green wood,\nAnd from that day, for evermore,\nHe\u2019d forgiven Robin Hood.\n151A.37 When the people they did hear,\nAnd the truth was known,\nThey all did sing, \u2018God save the king!\nHang care, the town\u2019s our own!\u2019\n151A.38 \u2018What\u2019s that Robin Hood?\u2019 then said the sheriff;\n\u2018That varlet I do hate;\nBoth me and mine he causd to dine,\nAnd servd us all with one plate.\u2019\n151A.39 \u2018Ho, ho,\u2019 said Robin, \u2018I know what you mean;\nCome, take your gold again;\nBe friends with me, and I with thee,\nAnd so with every man.\n151A.40 \u2018Now, master sheriff, you are paid,\nAnd since you are beginner,\nAs well as you give me my due;\nFor you neer paid for that dinner.\n151A.41 \u2018But if that it should please the king\nSo much your house to grace\nTo sup with you, for to speak true,\n[I] know you neer was base.\u2019\n151A.42 The sheriff could not [that] gain say,\nFor a trick was put upon him;\nA supper was drest, the king was guest,\nBut he thought \u2019twould have undone him.\n151A.43 They are all gone to London court,\nRobin Hood, with all his train;\nHe once was there a noble peer,\nAnd now he\u2019s there again.\n151A.44 Many such pranks brave Robin playd\nWhile he lived in the green wood:\nNow, my friends, attend, and hear an end\nOf honest Robin Hood.","title":"The Child Ballads: 151. The King's Disguise, and Friendsh...","type":"page"}