Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham.
Where he met with fifteen Forresters all on a row,
And he desired of them some News to know;
And with cross grain'd words they did him thwart,
For which at last he made them for to smart.
To the Tune of, ROBIN HOOD.
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RObin Hood he was a tall Young Man,
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derry derry down,
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And fifteen winters old,
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And Robin Hood he was a proper young-man,
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Of courage stout and bold:
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hey down derry derry down.
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Robin Hood he would unto Nottingham,
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derry, etc.
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With the General for to Dine,
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There was he aware of fifteen Forresters,
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And a drinking beer, ale, and wine,
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hey down, etc.
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What news, what news? said bold Robin Hood
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derry, etc.
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What news fain wouldst thou know?
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Our King hath provided a shooting match,
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And I'm ready with my bow,
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hey down, etc.
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We hold it in scorn, said the fifteen Forresters,
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derry, etc.
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That ever a Boy so young,
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Should bear a bow before our king,
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That's not able to draw one string:
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hey down, etc.
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I'll hold you twenty marks, said bold Robin Hood,
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derry, etc.
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By the leave of our Lady,
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That I'll hit the mark an hundred rod,
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And I'll cause one heart to dye:
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hey down, etc.
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We'll hold you twenty marks, then said the forresters,
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derry, etc.
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By the leave of our Lady,
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Thou hitt'st not the mark of an hundred rod,
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Nor causest one heart to die;
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hey down, etc.
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Robin Hood he bent his noble bow,
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derry, etc.
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And a broad arrow he let fly,
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He hit the mark an hundred rod,
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And he caused one hart to dye:
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hey down, etc.
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Some said he break ribs one or two,
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derry derry down,
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And some said he brake three;
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The arrow in the hart would not abide,
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But it glanced in two or three:
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hey down derry derry down.
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The hart did skip and the hart did leap,
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derry derry down,
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And the hart lay on the ground,
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The wager is mine, said bold Robin Hood,
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If it were for a thousand pound:
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hey down derry derry down.
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The wager's none of thine, then said the For-resters,
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derry, etc.
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Although thou be'st in haste?
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Take up thy bow and get thee hence,
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Least we thy sides do baste:
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hey down, etc.
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Robin Hood he took up his noble bow,
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derry, etc.
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And his broad arrows all amain,
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And Robin he laugh'd and began to smile,
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As he went over the Plain:
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hey down, etc.
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Then Robin Hood he bent up his noble bow,
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derry, etc.
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And his broad arrows he let flye,
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Till fourteen of these fifteen forresters,
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Upon the ground did lye:
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hey down, etc.
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He that this Quarrel first began,
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derry, etc.
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Went tripping over the plain,
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But Robin Hood he bent his noble bow,
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And he fetcht him back again,
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hey down, etc.
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You said I was no Archer, said Robin Hood,
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derry, etc.
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But say so now again:
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With that he sent another arrow,
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Which split his head in twain:
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hey down, etc.
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You have found me an Archer, said Robin Hood,
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derry, etc.
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Which will make your wives to wring,
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And wish that you ne'er had spoke the word
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That I could not draw one string:
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hey down, etc.
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The people that lived in fair Nottingham,
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derry, etc.
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Came running out amain,
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Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood,
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With the Forresters that were slain;
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hey down, etc.
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Some lost legs, and some lost arms,
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derry, etc.
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And some did lose their blood;
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But Robin Hood he took up his noble bow,
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And is gone to the merry green wood:
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hey down, etc.
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They carry'd these forresters to fair Notting-ham,
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derry derry down,
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As many there did know,
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They dig'd them graves in their Church-yards
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And they buried them all on a row:
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hey down derry derry down.
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