Robin Hood and the Butcher.
To the Tune of, Robin Hood and the Beggar.
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COme all ye brave Gallants & listen a while,
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With a hey down, down, an a down,
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that are in this Bower within,
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For of Robin Hood, that Archer good,
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a Song I intend to sing.
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Upon a time it chanced so,
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with a hey, etc.
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bold Robin in the Forrest did spy,
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A jolly Butcher, with a bonny fine Mare,
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with his Flesh to the Market did hye.
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Good morrow, good fellow, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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what food hast, tell unto me,
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And thy trade to me tell and where thou dost dwell,
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for I like well thy company.
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The Butcher he answered jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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no matter where I dwell,
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For a Butcher I am and to Nottingham
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I am going my flesh to sell.
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What's the price of thy flesh, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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come tell it soon unto me,
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And the price of thy Mare, be it never so dear,
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for a butcher fain would I be
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The price of my flesh, the butcher reply'd,
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with a hey, etc.
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I soon will tell unto thee,
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With my bonny mare, and they are not dear,
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four mark thou must give unto me.
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Four Mark I will give thee, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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four mark it will be thy fee,
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Thy money come count, and let me mount,
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for a Butcher I fain would be.
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Now Robin he is to Nottingham gone,
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with a hey, etc.
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his Butchers Trade for to begin,
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With a good intent, to the Sheriff he went
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and there he took up his Inn.
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When other Butchers did open their meat
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with a hey, etc.
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bold Robin he then begun,
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But how for to sell, he knew not well,
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for a Butcher he was but young.
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When other Butchers no meat could sell,
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with a hey, etc.
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Robin got both Gold and fee,
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For he sold more meat for one penny,
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than others could do for three.
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But when he sold his meat so fast,
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with a hey, etc.
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no Butcher by him could thrive,
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For he sold more meat for one penny
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than others could do for five.
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Which made the Butchers of Nottingham
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with a hey, etc.
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to study as they did stand,
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Saying surely he was some Prodigal,
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that had sold his Fathers land.
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The Butchers they stepped to jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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acquainted with him for to be,
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Come brother, one said, we be all of a trade
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come will you go dine with me?
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Accurst of his heart, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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that a Butcher will deny;
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I will go with you, my brethren true,
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and as fast as I can hye.
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BUt when to the Sheriffs house he came
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with a hey, etc.
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to dinner they hyed apace,
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And Robin he the man must be,
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before them all to say Grace.
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Pray God bless us all, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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and our meat within this place,
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A cup of sack so good, will nourish our blood,
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and so I end my grace.
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Come fill us more Wine, said jolly Bobin,
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with a hey, etc.
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let us be merry while we do stay;
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For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear
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I vow I the reckoning will pay,
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Come brothers be merry, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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let us drink and never give o're,
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For the shot I will pay e're I go my way,
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if it cost me five pound or more.
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This is a mad blade, the butchers then said
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with a hey, etc.
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says the Sheriff he is some Prodigal,
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That some Land has sold for silver and gold
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and now he doth mean to spend all.
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Hast any horn'd beasts the Sheriff then said
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with a hey, etc.
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good Fellow to sell unto me,
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Yes that I have, good Master Sheriff,
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I have hundreds two or three.
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A hundred Acres of good free Land,
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with a hey, etc.
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if you please it to see.
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And i'le make you as good assurance of it,
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as ever my Father made me.
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The Sheriff he sadled a good Palfrey,
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with a hey, etc.
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and with three hundred pound in Gold,
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Away he went with bold Robin Hood,
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his horned Beasts to behold.
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Away then the Sheriff and Robin did ride,
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with a hey, etc.
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to the Forrest of merry Sherwood,
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Then the Sheriff did say, God bless us this day
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from a man they call Rob. Hood:
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But when that a little further they came,
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with a hey, etc.
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bold Robin he chanced to spy,
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A hundred head of good Red Deer,
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came tripping the Sheriff full nigh.
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How like you my horn'd beasts good Master Sheriff
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with a hey, etc.
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they be fat and fair for to see,
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I tell thee good fellow, I would I were gone
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for I like not thy company.
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Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,
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with a hey, etc.
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and blew out blasts three,
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Then quickly anon, there came little John,
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and all his company.
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What is your will Master, said little John,
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with a hey, etc.
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I pray you come tell it to me,
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I have brought the Sheriff of Nottingham
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this day to dine with thee.
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He is welcome to me, said little John,
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with a hey, etc.
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I hope he will honestly pay,
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I know he has gold, were it but well told,
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will serve us to drink a whole day.
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Then Robin took his Mantle from his back,
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with a hey, etc.
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and laid it upon the ground,
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And out of the Sheriffs Portmantle,
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he told five hundred pound.
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Then Robin brought him through the wood,
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with a hey down, down an a down,
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and set him on his Dapple Gray,
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O have me comended to your wife at home
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so Robin went Laughing away.
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