Renowned ROBIN HOOD: Or,
His Famous Archery truly related, with the Worthy Exploits he acted before
Queen Katherine, being an Out law-man, and how he for the same obtained
of the King, his own, and his Fellows pardon. To a New Tune.
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GOld tane from the Kings Harbengers,
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down a down a down,
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As seldome hath been seen,
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down a down a down,
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And carired by bold Robin Hood,
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for a present to the Queen;
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down a down a down.
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If that I live one year to an end,
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thus gan Queen Katherine say,
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Bold Robin Hood I will by thy friend,
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and all thy Yeomen gay.
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The Queen is to her Chamber gone,
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as fast as she can wen,
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She calls unto her lovely Page,
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his name was Richard Parington:
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Come hither to me my lovely Page,
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come thou hither to me:
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For thou must now to Notingham,
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as fast as thou canst dree,
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And as thou goest to Notingham
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search all those English Woods,
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Enquire of one good Yeoman or another,
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that can tell the of Robin Hood.
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Sometimes he went, sometimes he ran,
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as fast as he could wen:
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And when he came to Notingham,
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there he took up his Inn,
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And when he came to Notingham,
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and had took up his Inn,
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He calls for a Bottle of Rhenish wine,
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and drinks a health to his Queen.
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There sat a Yeoman by his side,
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tell me sweet Page said he,
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What is thy business or thy cause,
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so far in the North-Country.
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This is my business and my cause,
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for I tell it you for good,
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To enquire of one good Yeoman or another,
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to tell me of Robin Hood.
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I'll get my Horse betimes in the morn,
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by it be break of day,
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And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
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and all his Yeomen gay,
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When that he came to Robin Hoods place,
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he fell down on his knee,
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Queen Katherine she doth greet you well,
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she greets you well by me.
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She bids you post to fair Lodon Court,
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not fearing any thing,
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For there shall be a little sport,
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and she hath sent you her Ring.
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Robin took his Mantle from his back,
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it was of Lincoln green,
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And sent it by this lovely Page,
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for a present to the Queen,
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In Summer time when leaves grow green,
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it was a seemly sight to see,
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How Robin Hood himself had drest,
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and all his Yeomandree.
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He cloathed his Men in Lincoln green
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and himself in Scarlet red,
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Black Hats, White Feathers all alike,
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now bold Robin is Rid.
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And when he came at Londons Court,
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he fell down on his Knee,
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Thou art welcome Locksly, said the Queen,
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and all thy Yeomandree.
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The King is gone to Finsbury field,
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down a down a down,
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Marching in Battle array,
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down a down a down,
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And after follows bold Robin Hood,
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and all his Yeomen gay.
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The second part, to the same same Tune.
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COme hither Tepus, said the King
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down a down a down:
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Bow-bearer after me,
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down a down a down,
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Come measure me out with this Line,
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how long our mark shall be
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down a down a down.
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What is the wager, said the Queen?
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that must I now know here,
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Three hundered Tun of Rhenish Wine,
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Three hundred Tun of Beer.
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Three hundred of the fattest Harts,
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that run on Dallom Lee,
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That's a Princely Wager, said the King,
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that needs must I tell to the
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With that bespake one Clifton then,
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full quickly and full soon,
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Measure no mark for us most Sovereign Liege,
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we'l shoot at Sun and Moon,
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Full fifteen score your mark shall be,
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full fifteen score shall stand,
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I'le lay my Bow said Clifton then,
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i'le cleave the Willow-wand.
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With that the Kings Archers lead about,
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till it was three and none,
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With that the Ladies began to shout,
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Madam your Game is gone.
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A boon, a boon, Queen Katherine cries,
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I crave on my bear Knee,
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Is there ever a Knight of your Privy-Counsel;
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of Queen Katherines side will be?
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Come hither to me Sir Richard Lee,
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thou are an Knight full good:
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For I do know by thy Pedigree,
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thou sprangest from Gowers blood.
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Come hither to me thou Bishop of Hereford shire
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for a Noble Piiest was he:
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By my Silver Miter, said the Bishop then,
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i'le not bet one penny,
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The King hath Archers of his own,
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full ready and full light,
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And these be strangers every one
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no man knows what they height.
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What wilt thou bet said Robin Hood,
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thou seest our Game the worse,
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By my Silver Miter, said the Bishop then,
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all the money within my Purse.
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what is in it said Robin Hood,
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throw it down on the ground,
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Fifteenscore Nobles, said the Bishop then,
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it's near an hundred pound.
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Robin Hood took his bag from his side,
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and threw it down on the ground.
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Will Scadlock went smiling away,
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I know who this Money must win.
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With that the Kings Archers led about,
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while it was three and three,
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With that the Ladies gave a shout,
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Woodcock beware thy knee,
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It is three and three now said the King,
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the next three pays for all;
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Robin Hood went & whispered to the Queen
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the Kings shall be but small.
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Robin Hood he led about,
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he shot it underhand,
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And Clifton with a bearing Arrow,
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he clave the Willow Wand.
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And little Midge the Millers son,
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he shot not much the worse,
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He shot within a finger of the Prick,
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now Bishop beware thy purse.
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A boon, a boon, Queen Katherine cries;
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I crave on my bare knee,
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That you would angry be with none,
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that is of my party.
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They shall have forty days to come,
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and forty days to go,
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And three times forty to sport and play,
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then welcome every one.
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then thou art welcome R. Hood said the Queen
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and so is little John,
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So is Midge the Millers Son,
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thrice welcome every one.
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Is this Robin Hood? the King said now,
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for it was told to me,
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That he was slain in the Palace gate,
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so far in the North-Country,
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Is this Robin Hood quoth the Bishop then,
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as I see well to bee,
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Had I known it had been that bold Outlaw,
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I would not a bet one penny.
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He took me late on Saturday night,
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and bound me fast to a tree,
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And made me sing a mass, God wot,
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to him and his Yeomen three.
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What and if I did, then says Robin Hood,
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of that Mass I was full fain:
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For recompence to thee he says,
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here's half the gold again.
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Now nay, now nay, says little John,
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down a down a down,
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Master that may not be,
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Down, a down, a down,
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We must give gifts to the Kings Officers,
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that gold will serve thee and me.
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Down, a down, a down.
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