Renowned Robin Hood. Or, His famous Archery truly Related, with the worthy Exploits he Acted before Queen Ka- therine, he being an Outlaw-man, and how she for the same obtained of the King, his own, and his fellows pardon. To a New Tune.
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GOld tane from the Kings Harbengers
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down a down a down.
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As seldome hath been seen,
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down a down a down.
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And carried by bold Robin Hood
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for a present to the Queen.
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down a down a down.
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If that I live an year to an end,
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thus gan Queen Katherine say,
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Bold Robin Hood I will be thy friend,
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and all thy Yeomen gay.
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The Queen is to her Chamber gone
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as fast as she can wen,
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She calls unto her lovely Page,
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his name was Richard Patrington.
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Come 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 Wood,
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Enquire of one good Yeoman 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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And when he came to Nottingham,
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and had took up his Inn,
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He calls for a pottle of Rhenish Wine
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and drinks a health to his Queen.
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There sat a Yeoman by his side,
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tell me sweet Page said he,
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What is thy business, or the cause,
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so far in the North Country.
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This is my business, and the cause,
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sir, Ile tell it you for good.
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To inquire of one good Yeoman or another,
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to tell me of Robin Hood.
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Ile get my horse betime in the morn,
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by it be break of day,
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And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
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and all his Yeomen gay.
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When that he came at Robin Hoods place,
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he fell down on his knee:
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Queen Katherine she doth 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 anything,
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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 took his Mantle from his back,
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it was of the 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 is a seemly sight to see,
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How Robin Hood himself had drest
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and all his Yeomandree.
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He cloathed his men in Lincoln green,
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and 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 at Londons Court,
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he fell down on his knee,
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Thou art welcom Locksly said the Queen,
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and all thy Yeomen three.
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The King is into Finsbury field,
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down a down a down.
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Marching in battle ray,
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down a down a down.
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And after follows bold Robin Hood
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and all his Yeomen gay.
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down a down a down.
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The Second Part, To the same Tune.
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COme hither Tepus, said the King,
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down a down a down,
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Bow-bearer after me,
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down a down a down,
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Come measure me out with this line
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how long our mark shall be.
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down a down a down.
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What is the Wager said the Queen?
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that must I now 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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Thats a Princely Wager, said the King
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that needs must I tell thee.
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With that bespake one Clifton then
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full quickly and full soon,
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Measure no Mark for us most Soveraign Leige
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weel 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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Ile lay my Bow, said Clifton then,
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Ile cleave the Willow Wand.
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With that the Kings Archers led about
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while it was three and 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 Katherine cryes,
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I crave on my bare knee,
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Is there any Knight of your privy Counsel
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on Queen Katherines part 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 sprangst from Gowers blood.
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Come hither to me thou Bishop of Here-fordshire,
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for a noble Priest was he,
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By my silver Miter, said the Bishop then
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Ile not bet one penny.
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The King hath Archers of his own,
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full ready and full light,
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And these be strangers 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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thou seest our Games the worse,
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By my silver Miter, said the Bishop then
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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 down on the ground,
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Fifteen score Nobles, said the Bishop then
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its near an hundred pound.
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Robin Hood took his bag from his side
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and threw it down on the green:
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William Scadlock went smiling away,
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I know who this money must win.
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With that the Kings Archers led about,
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while it was three and 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, and three, now said the King,
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the next three payes for all:
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Robin Hood went and whispered to the Queen
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the Kings part shall be but small.
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Robin Hood he led about,
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he shot it under-hand,
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And Clifton with a bearing Arrow
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he clave the Willow wand.
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And little Midge the Millers 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 Katherine cries
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I crave that 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 every one.
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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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So is Midge the Millers Son,
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thrice welcome every one.
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Is this Robin Hood the King now said?
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for it was told to me,
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That he was slain in the Pallace 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 I see well to be,
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Had I known that had been that bold Out-law
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I would not a bet one penny.
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He took me late on Saturday at night,
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and bound me fast to a tree,
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And made me sing a Masse God wot,
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to him and his Yeomen three.
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What and if I did, says Robin Hood,
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of that Masse I was full fain;
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For recompence to thee he says
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heres a half thy Gold again.
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Now nay, now nay, says little John,
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down a down a down.
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Master that may not be,
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down a down a down.
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We must give gifts to the Kings Officers
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that Gold will serve thee and me.
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down a down a down.
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