Renowned Robin Hood: Or,
His famous Archery truly related: with the worthy exploits he acted before Queen Katherine, he
being an Out-law man, and how she for the same obtained of the King, his
owne, and his fellowes pardon. To a new tune.
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GOld tane from the Kings Harbengers,
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downe a downe a downe,
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as seldome hath beene seene,
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downe a downe a downe,
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And carried by bold Robin Hood,
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for a preesent to the Queene.
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downe a downe a downe.
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If that I live a yeare to an end,
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thus can Queene Katherine say:
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Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend,
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and all thy Yeomen gay.
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The Queene is to her Chamber gone,
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as fast as shee can wen,
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She cals unto her lovely Page,
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his name was Richard Parringten.
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Come hither to me thou lovely Page,
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come thou hither to mee.
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For thou must post to Nottingham
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as fast as thou can dree.
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And as thou goest to Nottingham,
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search all those English wood,
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Enquire of one good Yeoman or another,
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that can tell thee of Robin Hood.
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Sometimes hee went, sometimes hee ran,
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as fast as hee could win,
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And when hee came at Nottingham,
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there he tooke up his Inne.
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And when he came at Nottingham,
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and had tooke up his Inne,
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He cals for a Pottle of Renish wine,
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and dranke a health to his Queene.
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There sate a Yeoman by his side,
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tell me sweet Page said hee,
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What is thy businesse, or the cause
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so far in this North Countrey.
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This is my businesse and the cause,
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Sir, Ile 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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Ile get my horse betime in the morne,
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be it breake 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 at Robin Hoods place,
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he fell downe on his knee,
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Queene 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 faire London 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 tooke his mantle from his backe,
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it was of the Lincolne greene,
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And sent that by this lovely Page,
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for a present unto the Queene.
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In Summer time when leaves grow greene,
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its a seemely sight to seeHow Robin Hood himselfe had drest,
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and all his Yeomandry.
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He clothed his mon in Lincolns greene,
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and himselfe in Scarlet Red,
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Blacke hats, white feathers, all alike
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now bold Robin Hood is rid.
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And when he came at Londons Court,
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hee fell downe on his knee,
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Thou art welcome Locksly, said the Queen,
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and all thy good Yeomen three.
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The King is into Fensbury field
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marching in battle ray,
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And after fellowes bold Robin Hood,
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and all his Yeomen gay.
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Come hither Tepus (said the King)
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downe a downe a downe,
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bow bearer after me,
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downe a downe a downe,
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Come measure mout with this line,
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how long our marke shall be.
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downe a downe a downe.
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To second part, To the same tune.
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WHat is the wager said the Queene,
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that must I now know here?Three hundred Tun of Rhenish wine,
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three hundred Tun of Beere.
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Three hundred of the fattest Harts
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that ron on Dallom Lee.
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Thats a Princely wager said the King,
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that needs must I tell thee.
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With that bespake one Clifton then,
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downe a downe a downe,
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fall quickly and full soone,
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downe a downe a downe,
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Measure no markes for us most Soveraigne liege,
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weel shoot at Sun and Moone.
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downe a downe a downe.
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Full fifteene score your marke shall be,
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full fifteene score shall stand:Ile lay my bow said Clifton then,
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Ile cleave the Willow wand.
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With that the Kings Archer led about,
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while it was three and none:With that the Ladies began to shout,
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Madam your game is gone.
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A boone, a boone, Queene Katherine cries,
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I crave on my bare knee:Is there any knight of your privy counsell,
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of Queene Katherines part will be?
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Come hither to mee Sir Richard Lee,
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thou art a knight full good,
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For I doe know by thy pedigree,
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thou sprungst from Gowers blood.
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Come hither to me thou Bishop of Herefordshire,
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for a noble Priest was hee;By my silver Miter said the Bishop then,
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Ile not bet one peny.
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The King hath Archers of his owne,
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full ready and full light:And these be strangers every one,
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no man knowes what they hight.
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What wilt thou bet said Robin Hood,
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thou seest our game the worse:By my silver Miter said the Bishop then,
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all my money within my Purse.
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What is in thy Purse said Robin Hood,
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throw it downe on the ground,
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Fifteen score nobles said the Bishop then,
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its neere an hundred pound.
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Robin Hood tooke his bagge from his side,
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and threw it downe on the greene,
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William 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 nee.
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It is three and three. Now said the King,
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the next three pay for all:
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Robin Hood went and whisperd to the Queen
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the Kings part shall be but small.
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Robin Hood hee led about,
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hee shot it under-hand:And Clifton with a baring Arrow,
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hee clove the willow wand.
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And little Midge the Millers Son,
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hee 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 boone, a boone, Queene Katherine cryed,
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I crave that on my bare knee,
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That you will angry be with none
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that is of my partie.
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They shall have forty daies to come,
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and forty daies to goe,
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And three times forty to sport and play,
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then welcome friend or foe.
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Then thou art welcome Robin Hood said the Queene,
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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 now said the King?
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for it was so told to mee,
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That hee was slaine in Pallace gates,
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so far in the North Country.
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Is this Robin Hood said the Bishop then,
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as I see well to be?Had I knowne that had been that bold out-law
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I would not bet one peny.
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Hee tooke mee late one Saturday at night,
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and bound mee fast to a tree,
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And made me sing a masse, God wot,
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to him and his Yeomen three.
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What an if I did saies Robin Hood,
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of that masse I was faine,
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For recompence to thee hee saies,
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heres halfe thy gold againe.
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Now nay, now nay, saies little John,
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downe a downe a downe,
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master that shall not be,
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downe a downe a downe,
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Wee must give gifts to the Kings Officers,
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that gold will serve thee and mee.
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downe a downe a downe.
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