Robin Hood newly revivd.
To a Delightful new Tune.
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Come listen a while you Gentlemen all
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With a hey down, down, a down, down,
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That are in this Bower within,
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for a story of gallant bold Robin Hood
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I purpose now to begin.
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What time of the day, quod Robin Hood then,
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With a hey down, etc.
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Quoth little John tis in the prime;
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why then we will to the green Wood gang,
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For we have no Victuals to dine.
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As Robin Hood walkt the Forrest along,
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With a hey down, etc.
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It was in the midst of the day,
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there was he met of a deft young man,
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As ever walkt on the way.
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His Doublet was of silk he said,
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With a hey down, etc.
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His stockings like Scarlet shone,
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and he walkt on along the way,
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To Robin Hood then unknown.
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A Herd of Deer was in the Bend,
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with a hey down, etc.
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All feeding before his face,
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now the best of ye Ile have to my dinner,
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And that in a little space.
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Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe
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with a hey down, etc.
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But he bends a right good Bow,
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and the best Buck in the Herd he slew,
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Forty good yards him froe,
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Well shot, well shot, quod Robin Hood then,
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With a hey down, etc.
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That shot it was shot in time,
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and if thou wilt accept of the place
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Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine.
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Go play the Chiven the stranger said,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Make haste and quickly go,
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or with my fist, be sure of this,
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Ile give thee buffets store.
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Thou hadst not best buffet me, quod Robin Hood
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with a hey down, etc.
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For though I seem forlorn,
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yet I can have those that will take my part
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If I but blow my horn.
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Thou wast not best wind thy horn the stranger said
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with a hey down, etc.
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Beest thou never so much in haste,
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for I can draw out a good broad Sword,
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And quickly cut the blast.
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Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
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with a hey down, etc.
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To that shot and he would fain,
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the stranger he bent a very good bow,
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To shoot at bold Robin again.
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O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, quod Robin Hood
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with a hey down, etc.
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To shot it would be in vain,
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for if we should shoot the one at the other,
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The one of us must be slain.
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The Second Part, to the same Tune.
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BUt lets take our swords and our broad buckler
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with a hey down, etc.
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And gang under yonder Tree,
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as I hope to be savd the stranger said,
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One foot I will not flee,
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Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow
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with a hey down, etc.
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Most scard him out of his wit,
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thou never felt blow the stranger he said,
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That shall be better quit.
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The stranger he drew out a good broad Sword,
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with a hey down, etc.
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And hit Robin on the Crown,
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that from every hair of bold Robins head,
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The blood ran trickling down.
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God a mercy good fellow quod Robin Hood then,
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with a hey down, etc.
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And for this that thou hast done,
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tell me good fellow what thou art,
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Tell me where thou doest woon.
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The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Ile tell thee where I did dwell,
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in Maxfield was I bred and born,
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My name is young Gamwel.
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For killing of my own Fathers Steward,
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with a hey down, etc.
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I am forcd to this English Wood,
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and for to seek an Uncle of mine,
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Some call him Robin Hood.
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But thou art a Couzen of Robin Hoods then?
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with a hey down, etc.
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The sooner we should have done,
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as I hope to be savd the stranger then said,
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I am his own Sisters Son.
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But Lord what kissing & courting was there,
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with a hey down, etc.
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When these two Couzens did greet,
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and they went all that Summers day,
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And little John did meet.
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But when they met with little John,
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with a hey nown, etc.
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He thereunto did say,
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O Master where have you been,
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You have tarried so long away?
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I met with a stranger quod Robin Hood then,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Full sore he hath beaten me,
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Then Ile have a bout with him, quod little John
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and try if he can beat me.
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Oh no, oh no, quoth Robin Hood then,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Little John it may not be so,
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for hes my own dear Sisters Son,
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And Couzins I have no mo.
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But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,
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with a hey down, etc.
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My chief man next to thee,
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and I Robin Hood, and thou little John,
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And Scarlet he shall be.
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And weel be three of the bravest out-laws,
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With a hey down, etc.
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That is in the North Country,
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if you will have any more of bold Robin Hood
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In his second part it will be.
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Then bold Robin Hood to the North he would go,
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with a hey down, etc.
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With Valour and mickle might,
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with sword by his side, which oft had been trid
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To fight and recover his right.
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The first that he met was a bonny bold Scot
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with a hey down, etc.
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His servant he said he would be,
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no quoth Robin Hood, it cannot be good,
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For thou wilt prove false unto me.
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Thou hast not been true to Sire or Cuz,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Nay, marry the Scot he said,
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as true as your heart, Ile never part,
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Gude Master be not afraid.
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Then Robin Hood turnd his face to the East
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with a hey down, etc.
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Fight on my merry men stout,
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our case is good, quod brave Robin Hood,
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And we shall not be beaten out.
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The battel grows hot on every side,
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with a hey down, etc.
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The Scotchman made great moan,
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quod Jockey gude faith they fight on each side
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Would I were with my Wife Jone.
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The enemy compast brave Robin about,
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with a hey down, etc.
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[]Tis long ere the battel ends,
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theres neither will yeild, nor give up the field
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For both are supplied with friends.
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This Song it was made in Robin Hoods days,
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with a hey down, etc.
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Lets pray unto Jove above,
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to give us true peace, the mischief may cease
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And War may give place unto Love.
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