Hoods Chace,
Or, A merry Progress between Robin Hood and King Henry.
Tune---Robin Hood and the Beggar.
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COME you Gallants all, to you I call,
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With a hey down, down, and a down.
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that are now in this Place;
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For a Song I will sing of Henry our King,
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how he did bold Robin Hood chase.
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Queen Katherine she then a match did make,
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as plainly doth appear,
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For three hundred Tun of good Red Wine.
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and three hundred Tun of Beer:
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But she had her Archers to seek.
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with their Bows and Arrows so good,
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But her mind it was bent, with a full intent,
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to send for bold Robin Hood.
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But when bold Robin Hood he came there,
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Queen Katherine she did say;
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Thou art welcome Locksly unto me,
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and thou on my part must be.
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If I miss the Mark, be it light or dark,
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and all my Yeoman gay,
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For a Match of Shooting I have made,
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then hanged will I be.
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But when the Game was to be playd,
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Bold Robin Hood won it with a Grace;
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But after the King was angry with him,
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and vowed he would him chase,
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What tho his Pardon granted was,
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while he with them did stay.
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But yet the King was vexd with him,
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when he was gone away.
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Soon after the King from Court did hie,
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in a furious angry mood,
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And often enquireth both far and near,
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after bold Robin Hood.
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But when the King to Nottingham came,
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bold Robin Hood was in the Wood:
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O come, said he, and let me see
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who can find bold Robin Hood.
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But when bold Robin Hood he did hear
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the King had him in chace;
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Then said Little John, tis time to be gone,
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and go to some other Place.
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Then away they went from merry Sherwood,
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and into Yorkshire did hie,
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And the King did follow with a hoop and a hollow,
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but could not him come nigh.
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Yet jolly Robin he past along,
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and went strait to Newcastle Town,
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And there he stayd hours two or three,
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and then he for Berwick was gone.
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When the King he did see how Robin Hood did flee,
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he was vexed wondrous sore;
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With a hoop and a hollow he vowed to follow,
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and take him, or never give oer.
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Come, now lets away, said Little John,
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let any Man follow that dare;
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To Carlisle well hie with our Company,
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and so then to Lancaste[r]
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From Lancaster then to Chester they went,
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and so did good King Henry:
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But Robin went away for he durst not stay,
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for fear of some Treachery.
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Says Robin, come let us to London go,
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to see our noble Queens face;
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It may be she wants our company,
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which makes the King us so chace.
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When Robin he came Queen Katherine before,
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he fell upon his Knee;
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May it please your Grace, I am come to this place,
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to speak with King Henry.
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Queen Katherine she answerd bold Robin again,
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the King is gone to merry Sherwood,
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And when he went away to me he said,
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he would go and seek Robin Hood.
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Then fare you well, my gracious Queen,
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for to Sherwood I will hie apace;
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For fain I would see what hed have with me,
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if I could but meet with his Grace.
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But when King Henry he came home,
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full weary and vexed in mind;
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And that he did hear Robin had been there,
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he blamed Dame Fortune unkind.
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Youre welcome home, Queen Katherine cryd,
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Henry, my Sovereign Leige;
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Bold Robin Hood, the Archer good,
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your Person hath been to seek.
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A boon, a boon, Queen Katherine cryd,
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I beg it here of your Grace,
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To pardon his Life, and seek not strife,
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and so ends Robin Hoods Chace.
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