Robin Hood and the Beggar.
SHEWING
How Robin Hood and the Beggar fought, and how he changed Cloaths with the Beggar, and how
he went a Begging to Nottingham: and how he saved three Brethren from being Hanged, for steal-
ing the Kings Deer.
To the Tune of, Robin Hood and the Stra[n]ger.
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COme light and listen you Gentleman all
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With hey down and a dawn.
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That mirth do love for to hear,
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and a Story true, Ile tell unto you,
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If that you will but draw near.
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In elder times when merriment was,
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with hey etc.
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And Archery was holden good,
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there was an Out-law, as many did know,
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Which men called Robin Hood.
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Upon a time it chanced so,
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with hey, etc.
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Bold Robin was merry disposd,
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his time to spend, he did intend,
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Either with friend or Foe.
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Then he got up on a gallant fine Steed,
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with hey, etc.
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The which was worth Angels ten,
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with a Mantle of green, most brave to be seen
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He left all his merry Men.
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And riding towards fair Nottingham,
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with hey, etc.
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Some pastime for to spy;
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there was he aware of a jolly Beggar,
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As ere he beheld with his eye,
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An old pachd Coat the Beggar had on,
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with hey, etc.
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Which he daily did use for to wear;
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and many a bag, about him did wag,
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Which made Robin Hood to him repair.
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God speed, God speed, said Robin Hood then,
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with hey, etc.
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What Country man, tell unto me?
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I am Yorkshire sir, but ere you goe far,
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Some Charity give unto me.
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Why, what wouldst thou have, said Robin Hood,
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with hey, etc.
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I pray the tell unto me,
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no Lands nor no Livings, the Beggar he said,
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But a penny for Charity,
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I have no Money said Robin Hood then,
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with hey, etc.
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But a Ranger within the Wood,
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I am an Out-law, as many do know,
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My name it is Robin Hood.
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But yet I must tell thee, bonny Beggar,
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with hey, etc.
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That a bout with thee I must try,
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thy Coat of Gray, lay down I say,
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And my Mantle af Green shall lye by.
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The second Part, to the same Tune
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COntent, content, the Beggar he cryd,
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with hey down, down and a down.
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Thy part it will be the worse,
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for I hope this bout, to give thee the rout.
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And then have at thy Purse.
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The Beggar he had a mickle long staff,
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with hey, etc.
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And Robin had a nut-brown Sword,
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so the Beggar drew nigh, & at Robin let fly,
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But gave him never a word.
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Fight on, fight on, said Robin Hood then,
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with hey, etc.
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This Game well pleaseth me:
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for every blow then Robin did give,
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The Beggar gave buffets three.
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And fighting there, full hard and sore,
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with hey, etc.,
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Not far from Nottingham Town,
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they never fled, till from Robins head,
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The blood came tickling down.
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O hold thy hand, said Robin then,
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with hey, etc.
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And thou and I will agree,
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If that be true, the Beggar he said,
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Thy Mantle come give unto me.
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Nay, a change, a change, cryd Robin Hood,
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with hey, etc.
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Thy Bags and Coat give me,
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and this Mantle of mine, ile to thee resign
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My Horse and my bravery,
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When Robin had got the Beggars Cloaths,
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with hey, etc.
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He looked round about,
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methinks, said he, I seem to be
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A Beggar brave and stout.
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For now I have a bag for my bread,
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with hey, etc.
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So have I another for Corn,
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I have one for Malt, and another for Salt,
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And one for my little Horn,
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And now I will a beging go,
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with hey, etc.
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Some charity for to find,
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and if any more of Robin youl know,
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In the Second Part its behind,
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NOw Robin he is to Nottingingham gone,
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with hey down, down and a down.
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With his bags hanging down to his knee,
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his staff & his Coat, scarce worth a groat,
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Yet merrily passed he.
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As Robin he passed the streets along,
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with hey, etc.
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He heard a pittiful cry:
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three Brethren dear, as he did hear,
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Condemned were to dye.
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Then Robin he hyed to the Sheriffs,
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with hey, etc.
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Some relief for to seek,
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he skipt, & he leapt. and capord full high,
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As he went along the street,
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But when to the Sheriffs doore he came,
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with hey, etc.
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He met a Gentleman fine and brave,
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thou Beggar, said he, come tell unto me,
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What is it that thou wouldst have?
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No meat nor drink, said Robin then,
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with hey, etc.
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That I come here to crave,
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but to beg the lives of Youngmen three,
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And that I fain would have,
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That cannot be, thou bold Beggar,
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with hey, etc.
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Their Fact it is so cleer,
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I tell to thee, hangd they must be,
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For stealing of the King Deer.
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But when to the Gallows they did come,
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with hey, etc.
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There was many a weeping eye:
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O hold your peace, said Robin then,
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For certainly they shalt not dye.
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Then Robin He set his Horn to his mouth,
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with hey, etc.
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And blew but blasts three,
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till a hundred bold Archers brave,
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Came kneeling down on their knee.
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What is your Will, Master they said,
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with hey, etc.
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We are here at your command:
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shoot East, shoot West, said Robin then;
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And look that ye spare no man.
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Then they shoot East, and they shoot West,
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with hey, etc.
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Their Arrows were so keen,
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the Sheriff he, and his company,
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No longer must be seen.
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Then he stept to these Brethren three,
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with hey, etc.
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And away he has them tane,
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but the Sheriff was crost, and many a man lost,
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That dead lay on the Plain.
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And away they went into the merry Green-wood,
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with hey, etc.
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And sung with a merry glee,
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then Robin Hood, took these Brethren good,
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To be one of his Yeomandry.
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