Renowned ROBIN HOOD: Or, his Archery truly related,
in his Exploits before Queen Catherine.
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GOLD ta'en from the King's Harbingers,
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Down, a down, a down,
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As seldom hath been seen, down, etc.
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And carried by bold Robin Hood,
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for a Present to the Queen.
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If that I live one Year to an end,
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thus did Queen Catherine say,
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Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend,
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and all thy Yeoman gay.
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The Queen is to her Chamber gone,
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as fast as she could wen;
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She calls unto her a lovely Page,
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his name was Richard Parington,
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Come thou hither to me thou lovely Page,
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come thou hither to me,
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For thou must post to Nottingham,
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as fast as thou canst dree.
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And as thou goest to Nottingham,
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search all those English woods,
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Enquire of one good Yeom[a]n or another,
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that can tell thee of Robin Hood.
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Sometimes he went, sometimes he ran,
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as fast as he could wen,
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And when he came to Nottingham,
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there he took up his Inn.
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He calls for a bottle of Rhenish Wine,
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and drinks a health to the Queen;
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Wishing he might now speedily
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find out jolly Robin.
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Their sat a Yeoman by his side,
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who said, sweet Page tell me,
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What is thy business or thy cause,
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se far sn the North Country?
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This is my business and my cause,
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Sir, I'll 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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I'll get me a horse betimes in the morn,
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be it by break of Day,
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And I will shew the bold Robin Hood,
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and all his Yeomen gay.
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When that he came to Robin Hood's Place,
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he fell down on his Knee,
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Queen Catherine she does greet you well,
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she greets you well by me.
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She bids you post to fair 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 Hood took his Mantle from his Back,
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it was of Lincoln Green,
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And sent it by this lovely Page,
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for a Present to the Queen.
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In Summer-Time when Leaves grow Green,
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it was a seemly Sight to see,
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How Robin Hood had drest himself,
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and all his Yeomandree.
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He cloathed his Men in Lincoln Green,
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himself in Scarlet Red;
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Black Hats, white Feathers all alike,
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now bold Robin Hood is rid.
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And when he came to London Court,
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he fell down on his Knee.
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Thou art welcome, Locksly, said the Queen,
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and all thy Yeomandree.
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Come hither Tepus, said the King,
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Bow bearer after me;
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Come measure me out with this Line,
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how long our Mark must be.
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What is the Wager? said the Queen,
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that I must know here;
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Three Hundred Tun of Rhenish Wine,
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three Hundred Tun of Beer.
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Three Hundred of the fattest Harts,
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that run on Dallom Lee;
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That's a Princely Wager, said the Queen,
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that I must needs tell thee.
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With that bespoke one Clifton then,
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full quickly and full soon,
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Measure no Mark for us, most Sovereign Liege,
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we'll shoot at Sun and Moon.
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Full fifteen Score your Mark shall be,
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full fifteen Score shall stand:
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I'll lay my Bow, said Clifton then,
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I'll cleave the Willow-Wand.
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With that the King's Archers led about,
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it was three or none;
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With that the Ladies began to shout,
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Madam, your Game is gone.
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A Boon, a Boon, Queen Catherine cries,
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I crave it on my Knee;
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Is there ever a Knight of your Privy-Council,
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on Queen Catherine's Side will be?
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Come hither to me Sir Richard Lee,
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thou art a Knight full good;
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For I do know by thy Pedigree,
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thou sprung'st from Gower's Blood.
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Come hither to me, thou Bishop of Herefordshire,
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for a noble Priest was he;
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By my Silver Mitre, said the Bishop then,
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I'll not bet one Penny.
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The King had Archers of his own,
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full ready and full right;
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And these be Strange[r]s every one,
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no Man knows what they height.
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What wilt thou bet? said Robin Hood,
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you see our Game's the worse;
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By my Silver Mitre, said the Bishop,
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all the Money within my Purse.
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What is in thy Purse? said Robin Hood,
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throw it on the Ground.
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Ninety nine Angels said the Bishop,
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it's near an Hundred Pound.
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Robin Hood took his Bag from his Side,
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and threw it on the Green,
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Will Scadlock then went smiling away,
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I know who this Money must win.
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With that the King's Archers led about,
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while it was three to three;
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With that the Ladies gave a shout,
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Woodcock, beware thy Knee.
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It is three to three now, said the King,
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the next three pays for all;
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Robin Hood went and whispered the Queen,
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the King's Part shall be but small.
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Then Robin Hood did leap about,
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he shot it under Hand;
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And Clifton with a bearing Bow,
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he clove the Willow-Wand:
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And little Midge the Miller's Son,
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he 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 Boon, a Boon, Queen Catherine cries,
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I crave on my bare Knee;
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That you will angry be with none,
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that is of my Party.
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They shall have forty Days to come,
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and forty Days to go,
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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 Queen,
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and so is Little John,
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And so is Midge the Miller's Son;
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thrice welcome every One.
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Is this Robin Hood? the King then said,
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for it was told to me,
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That he was slain in the Palace Gate,
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so far in the North Country.
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Is this Robin Hood? quoth the Bishop then,
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as it seems well to be;
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Had I known it had been the bold Outlaw,
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I would not have bet one Penny.
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He took me late one Sunday Night,
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and bound me fast to a Tree,
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And made me sing a Mass, God-wot,
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to him and his Yeomandree.
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What, and if I did, says Robin Hood,
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of that Mass I was full fain;
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For Recompence of that, he says,
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here's half thy Gold again.
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Now nay, now nay, says Little John,
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Master, that may not be,
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We must give Gifts to the King's Officers,
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that Gold will serve thee and me.
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