Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne
BalladsRobin Hood Ballads: Robin Hood Rescuing the Widows Three Sons
T
As I hear many say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.
With a link a down, and a day,
And there he met a silly old woman,
Was weeping on the way.
What news hast thou for me?’
Said she, ‘There ’s my three sons in Nottingham town
To-day condemned to die.’
‘Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they robbed any virgin?
Or other men’s wives have ta’en?’
Nor yet have ministers slain,
Nor have they robbed any virgin,
Nor other men’s wives have ta’en.’
‘I pray thee tell to me.’
‘It ’s for slaying of the king’s fallow deer,
Bearing their long bows with thee.’
‘How thou madest me sup and dine?
By the truth of my body,’ quoth bold Robin Hood,
‘You could not tell it in better time.’
With a link a down, and a day,
And there he met with a silly old palmer,
Was walking along the highway.
What news, I do thee pray?’
Said he, ‘Three squires in Nottingham town
Are condemn’d to die this day.’
Come change thy apparel for mine;
Here is ten shillings in good silvèr,
Go drink it in beer or wine.’
‘And mine is ragged and torn;
Wherever you go, wherever you ride,
Laugh not an old man to scorn.’
Come change thy apparel with mine;
Here is a piece of good broad gold,
Go feast thy brethren with wine.’
It stood full high on the crown:
‘The first bold bargain that I come at,
It shall make thee come down.’
Was patch’d black, blue, and red;
He thought it no shame, all the day long,
To wear the bags of bread.
Was patch’d from leg to side:
‘By the truth of my body,’ bold Robin can say,
‘This man loved little pride.’
Were patch’d from knee to wrist:
‘By the truth of my body,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘I ’d laugh if I had any list.’
Were patch’d both beneath and aboon;
Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
‘It ’s good habit that makes a man.’
With a link a down and a down,
And there he met with the proud sherìff,
Was walking along the town.
‘Now heaven you save and see!
And what will you give to a silly old man
To-day will your hangman be?’
‘Some suits I ’ll give to thee;
Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen,
To-day ’s a hangman’s fee.’
And jumps from stock to stone:
‘By the truth of my body,’ the sheriff he said,
‘That ’s well jumpt, thou nimble old man.’
Nor yet intends to trade;
But curst be he,’ said bold Robin,
‘That first a hangman was made!
And a bag for barley and corn;
A bag for bread, and a bag for beef,
And a bag for my little small horn.
I got it from Robin Hood,
And still when I set it to my mouth,
For thee it blows little good.’
Of thee I have no doubt.
I wish that thou give such a blast,
Till both thy eyes fall out.’
He blew both loud and shrill;
A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood’s men
Came riding over the hill.
He blew both loud and amain,
And quickly sixty of Robin Hood’s men
Came shining over the plain.
‘Come tripping over the lee?’
‘They ’re my attendants,’ brave Robin did say;
‘They ’ll pay a visit to thee.’
They set it in the glen,
They hanged the proud sherìff on that,
Released their own three men.