Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.
115115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny
The Seventh FytteThe King came to Nottingham,
With knights in great array,
For to take that gentle Knight
And Robin, if he may.
He askèd men of that country
After Robin Hood,
And eke after that gentle Knight
That was so bold and good.
When they had him told the case
Our King understood their tale,
And he seizèd in his hand
The Knightès landès all.
All the pass of Lancashire
He went both far and near,
Till he came to Plompton Park,
He fail’d many of his deer.
There our King was wont to see
Herdès many one,
He could unneth find one deer
That bare any good horn.
The King was wonder wroth withall,
And swore by the Trinity,
‘I would I haddè Robin Hood,
With eyes I might him see.
‘And he that would smite off the Knightès head,
And bring it unto me
He shall have the Knightès lands,
Sir Richard at the Lee.
‘I give it him with my chartèr,
And seal it with my hand,
To have and hold for evermore
In all merry England.’
Then bespake a fair old Knight
That was true in his fay:
‘Ah! my liegè lord the King,
One word I shall you say.
‘There is no man in this country
May have the Knightès lands,
While Robin Hood may ride or go,
And bear a bow in his hands.
‘That he ne shall not lose his head,
The best ball in his hood;
Give it no man, my lord the King,
That ye will any good.’
Half a year dwelt our comely King
In Nottingham, and more;
Could he not hear of Robin Hood,
In what country he wore.
But alway wentè good Robin
By halk and eke by hill,
And alway slew the Kingès deer,
And wielded them at will.
Then bespake a proud forstèr,
That stood by our Kingès knee:
‘If ye will see good Robin Hood,
Ye must do after me.
‘Take five of the bestè knights
That be in yourè lede,
And walkè down by yon Abbèy,
And get you monkès weed.
‘And I will be your leadès-man,
And leadè you the way,
And ere ye come to Nottingham,
Mine head then dare I lay
‘That ye shall meet with good Robin,
Alive if that he be;
Ere ye come to Nottingham
With eyes ye shall him see.’
Full hastily our King was dight,
So were his knightès five,
Each of them in monkès weed,
And hasted thither blive.
Our King was great above his cowl,
A broad hat on his crown,
Right as he were abbot-like,
They rode into the town.
Stiff boots our King had on,
Forsooth as I you say;
Singing he rode to the greenè-wood,
The convent was clothed in gray.
His mail-horse and his great somèrs
Followed our King behind,
Till they came to greenè-wood
A mile under the lind.
There they met with good Robin,
Standing on the way,
And so did many a bold archèr,
For sooth as I you say.
Robin took the Kingè’s horse
Hastily in that stide,
And said, ‘Sir Abbot, by your leave,
A while ye must abide.
‘We be yeomen of this forèst
Under the green-wood tree;
We livè by our Kingès deer,
None other shift have we.
‘And ye have churches and rentès both
And gold full great plenty;
Give us some of your spending,
For saintè charity.’
Then bespake our comely King,
Anon then saidè he,
‘I have brought no more to greenè-wood
But forty pound with me.
‘I have lain at Nottingham
This fortnight with our King,
And spent I have full muchè good
On many a great lording.
‘And I have but forty pound,
No more I have with me:
But if I had an hundred pound,
I vouch it half on thee.’
Robin took the forty pound,
And departed it in twain;
Halfen-deal he gave his men,
And bade them be full fain.
Full courteously Robin gan say,
‘Sir, this for your spending!
We shall meet another day.’—
‘Gramerci!’ said our King.
‘But well thee greeteth Edward our King,
And sent to thee his seal,
And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,
Both to meat and meal.’
He took out the broadè targe,
And soon he let him see;
Robin could his courtesy,
And set him on his knee.
‘I love no man in all the world
So well as I do my King;
Welcome is my lordès seal;
And, Monk, for thy tiding.
‘Sir Abbot, for thy tidings,
Today thou shalt dine with me,
For the lovè of my King,
Under my trystell-tree.’
Forth he led our comely King
Full fairè by the hand;
Many a deer there was slain,
They were full fast dightànd.
Robin took a full great horn,
And loudè he gan blow;
Seven score of wight young men
Came ready on a row.
All they kneelèd on their knee
Full fair before Robin;
The King said himself until,
And swore by Saint Austìn,
‘Here is a wonder seemly sight;
Me thinketh, by God’s pine,
His men are more at his bidding
Than my men be at mine.’
Full hastily was their dinner dight,
And thereto gan they gon;
They servèd our King with all their might,
Both Robin and Little John.
Anon before our King was set
The fattè venisoun,
The good white bread, the good red wine,
Thereto fine ale and brown.
‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood,
‘Abbot, for charity,
And for this ilkè tiding, Sir,
Blessed mote thou be.
‘Now shalt thou see what life we lead,
Ere thou hennès wend;
Then thou mayst inform our King,
When ye together lend.’
Up they started all in haste,
Their bows were smartly bent;
Our King was never so aghast,
He weened to have been shent.
Two yards there were up set,
Thereto gan they gang;
By fifty paces, our King said,
The markès were too lang.
On every side a rose garlànd,
They shot under the line:
‘Who fails of the garland,’ said Robin,
‘His tackle he shall tine,
‘And yield it unto his mastèr,
Be it never so fine;
For no man will I spare,’ he said,
‘So drink I ale or wine;
‘And bear a buffet on his head
I-wis aright all bare:’
And all that fell to Robin’s lot
He smote them wonder sair.
Twice Robin shot about,
And ever he cleft the wand,
And so did eke the good Gilbèrt
With the white hand.
Little John and good Scathèlock,
For nothing would they spare;
When they fail’d of the garlànd
Robin smote them sair.
At the last shot that Robin shot,
For all his friendès fare,
Yet he fail’d of the garlànd
Three fingers and mair.
Then bespake him good Gilbèrt,
And thus he gan him say:
‘Master,’ he said, ‘your tackle is lost,
Stand forth and take your pay.’
‘If it be so,’ said Robin Hood,
‘That may no better be,
Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,
I pray thee, serve thou me.’
‘It falls not for mine order,’ said our King,
‘Robin, by thy leave,
For to smite no good yeomàn,
For doubt I should him grieve.’
‘Smite on boldly,’ said Robin,
‘I give thee largè leave.’
Anon our King with that same word
He folded up his sleeve,
And such a buffet he gave Robin,
To ground he yede full near:
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,
‘Thou art a stalwart frere.
‘There is pith in thine arm,’ said Robin,
‘I trow thou canst well shoot.’
Thus our King and Robin Hood
Together then they met.
Robin beheld our comely King
Wistly in the face,
So did Sir Richard at the Lea,
And knelt down in that place.
And so did all the wild outlàws,
When they saw them kneel:
‘My lord the King of Engèland,
Now I know you weel!’
‘Mercy then, Robin,’ said our King,
‘Under your trystell-tree,
Of thy goodness and thy grace,
For my men and me!’
‘Yes, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood,
‘And also God me save!
I ask mercy, my lord the King,
And for my men I crave.’
‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said our King,
‘And thereto sent I me,
With that thou leave the greenè-wood,
And all thy company;
‘And come home, sir, unto my court,
And there dwell with me.’—
‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,
‘And right so shall it be.
‘I will come unto your court,
Your service for to see,
And bringè with me of my men
Seven score and three.
‘But me like well your service,
I will come again full soon,
And shooten at the dunnè deer,
As I am wont to doon.’
pass] limits, extent.There] where.unneth] scarcely.fay] faith.That ye will] to whom you wish.halk] nook, hiding-place.forstèr] forester.lede] following, retinue.leadès-man] guide.convent] company of monks.mail-horse] baggage-horse.lind] linden, lime tree.stide] stead, place.lording] gentleman.Halfen-deal] half.targe] disk (seal).dightànd] making preparations.pine] pain, passion.hennès] hence.lend] dwell.shent] put to shame, hurt.yards] rods.tine] forfeit.falls] is proper.frere] friar.But me like] unless I like.