Robin Hood and the Bishop.
SHEWING
How Robin Hood went to an Old Womans House, and changed Cloaths with her, to escape from
the Bishop: And how he robbed him of all his Gold, and made him Sing Mass.
To the Tune of, Robin Hood and the Stranger.
|
COme Gentlemen all, and listen a while;
|
with hey down, down and a down;
|
And a story Ile to you unfold,
|
Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the Bishop
|
When he robbd him of his Gold.
|
As it fell o[ut] in a Sun-shining day,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
When Phoebus was in his prime;
|
then Robin Hood, that Archer good,
|
In mirth would spend some time.
|
And as he walked the Forest along,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
Some Pastime for to spy,
|
there was he ware of a proud Bishop,
|
And all his Company.
|
O what shall I do, said Robin Hood then?
|
with a hey, etc.
|
If the Bishop he doth take me,
|
no mercy hel shew, unto me I know,
|
But Hanged shall I be.
|
Then Robin was stout, and turned him about,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
And a little House there he did spy:
|
and to an Old Wife, for to save his life,
|
He aloud began to cry.
|
Why, who art thou, said the Old Woman,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
Come tell it to me for good,
|
I am an Out-Law, as many do know,
|
My Name it is Robin Hood.
|
And yonders the Bishop and all his men,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
And if that I taken be,
|
then day and night, hel work me spight,
|
And hanged shall I be.
|
If thou be Robin Hood, then said the Old wife
|
with a hey, etc.
|
As thou dost seem to me;
|
Ile for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
|
From the Bishop and his Company:
|
For I remember on Saturday night,
|
with a hey, etc.
|
Thou bought me both Shooes and Hose:
|
therefore Ile provide. thy person to hide,
|
And keep thee from thy Foes.
|
Then give me soon thy Coat of Grey,
|
with hey down, down and a down.
|
And take thou my Mantle of Green;
|
thy Spindle and Twine, unto me resign,
|
And take thou my Arrows so keen.
|
ANd when that Robin Hood was thus arrayed
|
with hey down down and a down,
|
He went straight to his Company,
|
with his Spindle and Twine, he oft lookd behind,
|
For the Bishop & his company.
|
O who is yonder, quoth Little John,
|
with a hey down, etc.
|
That now comes over the Lee:
|
an Arrow at her I will let fly,
|
So like an Old Witch looks she.
|
O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin then
|
with hey, etc.
|
And shoot not thy Arrows so keen,
|
I am Robin Hood, thy Master good,
|
And quickly it shall be seen.
|
The Bishop he came to the Old Womans house,
|
with hey, etc.
|
And he called with furious mood,
|
come let me soon see, and bring unto me,
|
That Traytor Robin Hood.
|
The Old Woman he set on a Milk White Steed,
|
with hey, etc.
|
Himself on a Dapple Grey,
|
and for joy he had got Robin Hood,
|
He went laughing all the way.
|
But as they were Riding the Forest along
|
with hey, etc.
|
The Bishop he chanced for to see,
|
a hundred brave Bow-men bold,
|
Stand under the Green-wood tree.
|
O who is yonder, the Bishop then said,
|
with hey, etc.
|
Thats ranging within yonder Wood?
|
marry saies the old woman, I think it to be
|
A man calld Robin Hood.
|
Why, who art thou, the Bishop he said,
|
with hey, etc.
|
Which I have here with me?
|
why I am a woman, thou Cuckoldly Bishop
|
Lift up my Leg and see.
|
Then woe is me, the Bishop he said,
|
with hey, etc.
|
That ever I saw this day,
|
he turned him about, but Robin Hood is stout,
|
Calld him and bid him stay.
|
Then Robin took hold of the Bishops Horse,
|
with hey, etc.
|
And tyd him fast to a Tree:
|
then Little John, smild his Master upon,
|
For joy of his Company.
|
Robin Hood took his Mantle froms back,
|
with hey, etc.
|
And spread it upon the Ground,
|
and out of the Bishops Portmantle, he
|
Soon told five hundred pound.
|
Now let him go, said Robin Hood;
|
with hey, etc.
|
Said Little John that may not be,
|
for I vow & protest he shall sing us a Mass,
|
Before that he go from me.
|
Then Robin Hood took the Bishop byth hand
|
with hey, etc.
|
And bound him fast to a Tree,
|
and made him sing a Mass, God-wot,
|
To him and his Yeomandry.
|
And when they brought him thorow the wood
|
with hey down, down and a down.
|
And set him on his Dapple Grey,
|
and gave the Tayl within his hand,
|
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.
|
|
|
|
|
|