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EBBA 31717

University of Glasgow Library - Euing
Ballad XSLT Template
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.

GOld tane from the Kings Harbengers
down a down a down.
As seldome hath been seen,
down a down a down.
And carried by bold Robin Hood
for a present to the Queen.
down a down a down.

If that I live an year to an end,
thus gan Queen Katherine say,
Bold Robin Hood I will be thy friend,
and all thy Yeomen gay.

The Queen is to her Chamber gone
as fast as she can wen,
She calls unto her lovely Page,
his name was Richard Patrington.

Come hither to me thou lovely Page,
come thou hither to me:
For thou must Post to Nottingham
as fast as thou canst dree.

And as thou goest to Nottingham,
search all those English Wood,
Enquire of one good Yeoman or another,
that can tell thee of Robin Hood.

Sometimes he went, sometimes he ran
as fast as he could wen.
And when he came to Nottingham,
there he took up his Inn.

And when he came to Nottingham,
and had took up his Inn,
He calls for a pottle of Rhenish Wine
and drinks a health to his Queen.

There sat a Yeoman by his side,
tell me sweet Page said he,
What is thy business, or the cause,
so far in the North Country.

This is my business, and the cause,
sir, Ile tell it you for good.

To inquire of one good Yeoman or another,
to tell me of Robin Hood.

Ile get my horse betime in the morn,
by it be break of day,
And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
and all his Yeomen gay.

When that he came at Robin Hoods place,
he fell down on his knee:
Queen Katherine she doth greet you well,
she greets you well by me.

She bids you post to fair London Court.
not fearing anything,
For there shall be a little sport
and she hath sent you her Ring.

Robin took his Mantle from his back,
it was of the Lincoln green,
And sent it by this lovely Page
for a present to the Queen.

In Summer time when leaves grow green
it is a seemly sight to see,
How Robin Hood himself had drest
and all his Yeomandree.

He cloathed his men in Lincoln green,
and himself in scarlet red,
Black hats, white feathers all alike,
now bold Robin Hood is Rid.

And when he came at Londons Court,
he fell down on his knee,
Thou art welcom Locksly said the Queen,
and all thy Yeomen three.

The King is into Finsbury field,
down a down a down.
Marching in battle ray,
down a down a down.
And after follows bold Robin Hood
and all his Yeomen gay.
down a down a down.

The Second Part, To the same Tune.

COme hither Tepus, said the King,
down a down a down,
Bow-bearer after me,
down a down a down,
Come measure me out with this line
how long our mark shall be.
down a down a down.

What is the Wager said the Queen?
that must I now know here,
Three hundred Tun of Rhenish Wine
three hundred tun of Beer.

Three hundred of the fattest Harts
that run on Dallom Lee,
Thats a Princely Wager, said the King
that needs must I tell thee.

With that bespake one Clifton then
full quickly and full soon,
Measure no Mark for us most Soveraign Leige
weel shoot at Sun and Moon.

Full fifteen score your Mark shall be,
full fifteen score shall stand,
Ile lay my Bow, said Clifton then,
Ile cleave the Willow Wand.

With that the Kings Archers led about
while it was three and none,
With that the Ladies began to shout,
Madam, your Game is gone.

A boon, a boon, Queen Katherine cryes,
I crave on my bare knee,
Is there any Knight of your privy Counsel
on Queen Katherines part will be?

Come hither to me sir Richard Lee,
thou art a Knight full good,
For I do know by thy pedigree,
thou sprangst from Gowers blood.

Come hither to me thou Bishop of Here-fordshire,
for a noble Priest was he,
By my silver Miter, said the Bishop then
Ile not bet one penny.

The King hath Archers of his own,
full ready and full light,
And these be strangers every one,
no man knows what they height.

What wilt thou bet said Robin Hood
thou seest our Games the worse,
By my silver Miter, said the Bishop then
all the Money within my purse.

What is in thy purse, said Robin Hood,
throw it down on the ground,
Fifteen score Nobles, said the Bishop then
its near an hundred pound.

Robin Hood took his bag from his side
and threw it down on the green:

William Scadlock went smiling away,
I know who this money must win.

With that the Kings Archers led about,
while it was three and three,
With that the Ladies gave a shout,
Woodcock beware thy knee.

It is three, and three, now said the King,
the next three payes for all:
Robin Hood went and whispered to the Queen
the Kings part shall be but small.

Robin Hood he led about,
he shot it under-hand,
And Clifton with a bearing Arrow
he clave the Willow wand.

And little Midge the Millers son,
he shot not much the worse,
He shot within a finger of the prick
now Bishop beware thy purse.

A boon, a boon, Queen Katherine cries
I crave that on my bare knee,
That you will angry be with none,
that is of my party.

They shall have forty days to come,
and forty days to go,
And three times forty to sport and play
then welcome every one.

Then thou art welcome Robin Hood said the Queen,
and so is little John,
So is Midge the Millers Son,
thrice welcome every one.

Is this Robin Hood the King now said?
for it was told to me,
That he was slain in the Pallace gate,
so far in the North Country.

Is this Robin Hood, quoth the Bishop then
as I see well to be,
Had I known that had been that bold Out-law
I would not a bet one penny.

He took me late on Saturday at night,
and bound me fast to a tree,
And made me sing a Masse God wot,
to him and his Yeomen three.

What and if I did, says Robin Hood,
of that Masse I was full fain;
For recompence to thee he says
heres a half thy Gold again.

Now nay, now nay, says little John,
down a down a down.
Master that may not be,
down a down a down.
We must give gifts to the Kings Officers
that Gold will serve thee and me.
down a down a down.


London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.

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