Robin Hood and the Bishop:
SHEWING
How Robin Hood went to an Old Womans House and changed Cloaths with
her to escape from the Bishop; and how he robbed him of all his Gold, and made him
sing Mass.
To the Tune of, Robin Hood and the Stranger, etc.
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COme Gentlemen all and listen a while,
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with a hey down, down an a down,
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And a Story Ill to you unfold;
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Ill tell to you how Robin Hood served the Bishop,
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when he robbd him of his Gold:As it fell out of a Sun-shininy day,
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with a hey, etc.
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When Phebus was in her prime,
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b[o]ld Robin Hood, that Archer good,
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In Mirth would spend some time:
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And as he walked the Forrest along,
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with hey, etc.
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Some pastime for to spy,
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there was aware of a proud Bishop,
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And all his Company.
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O what shall I do, said Robin Hood then,
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with a hey, etc.
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If the Bishop he doth take me,
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no mercy hell shew unto me I know,
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But hanged shall I be.
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When Robin was stout, and turnd him about,
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with a hey, etc.
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And a little House there did he spy,
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and to an old Wife, to save his Life,
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He aloud began to cry.
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Why, who art thou? said the old Woman,
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with a hey, etc.
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Come tell it to me for good?
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I am an Outlaw, as many do know,
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My name it is Robin Hood.
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And yonders the Bishop and all his Men,
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with a hey, etc.
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And if that I taken be,
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then day and night hell work my spight,
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And hanged shall I be.
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If thou be Robin Hood, then said the old Woman,
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with a hey, etc.
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As thou dost seem to be,
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Ill for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
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From the Bishop and his Company.
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For I remember one Saturday night,
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with a hey, etc.
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Thou brought me both shooes and hose,
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therefore Ill provide, thy Person to hide,
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And keep thee from thy Foes.
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Then give me soon thy Coat of Grey,
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with a hey, etc.
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And take thou the Mantle of Green,
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thy Spindle and Twine, unto me resign,
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And take thou my Arrows so keen.
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And when that Robin Hood was thus arrayd,
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with a hey, etc.
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He went streight to his Company,
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with his Spindle and Twine, he oft lookt behind.
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For the Bishop and his Company.
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O who is yonder, quoth little John,
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with a hey, etc.
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That now comes over the Lee? an arrow at her I will let fly,
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So like and old Witch looks she.
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O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin then,
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with a hey, etc.
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And shoot not thy arrows so keen,
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I am Robin Hood, thy Master good,
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And quickly it shall be seen.
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The Bishop he came to the old Womans house,
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with a hey, etc.
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And he called with furious mood,
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Come let me soon see, and bring unto me
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That Traytor Robin Hood.
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The old Woman he set on a milk-white Steed,
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with a hey, etc.
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Himself on a dapple Grey,
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and for joy he had got Robin Hood,
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He went laughing all the way.
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But as they were riding the Forrest along,
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with a hey, etc.
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The Bishop he chancd for to see,
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a hundred brave Bowmen bold,
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Stand under the green-Wood tree.
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O who his yonder, the Bishop then said,
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with a hey, etc.
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Thats ranging within yonder Wood?
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marry, says the old Woman, I think it to be
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[?] Man called Robin Hood.
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Why, who art thou, the Bishop he said,
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with a hey, etc.
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Which I have here with me? Why I am a Woman, thou cuckoldly Bishop,
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Lift up my Leg and see.
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Then woe is me, the Bishop he said,
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with a hey, etc.
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That ever I saw this day;
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he turnd him about, but Robin Hood so stood,
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Calld to him and bid him stay.
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Then Robin took hold of the Bishops horse,
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with a hey, etc.
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And tyd him fast to a tree,
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then little John smilld his Master upon,
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For joy of this Company.
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Robin Hood took his Mantle froms back,
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with a hey, etc.
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And spread it upon the ground,
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and out of the Bishops Portmantle he
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Soon told five hundred pound.
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Now let him go, said Robin Hood,
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with a hey, etc.
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Said little John, That may not be,
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for I vow and protest he shall sing us a Mass,
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Before that he go from me.
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Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by th hand,
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with a hey, etc.
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And bound him fast to a tree,
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and made him sing a Mass God-wot,
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To him and his Yeomandry.
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And when they 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 Grey,
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and gave the tail within his hand,
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And bad him for Robin Hood pray.
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