Renowned ROBIN HOOD; Or,
His Famous Archery truly related; with the Worthy Exploits he acted before Queen Katherine,
being an Out-law Man; and how he 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 seldom 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 one 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 Parington.
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Come hither to me my lovely Page,
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come thou hither to me,
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For thou must now 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 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 ever 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 bottle of Rhenish Wine,
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[and drinks a he]alth to his Queen.
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[There sat a Yeomen 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 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 enquire of one good Yeoman or another,
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to tell me of Robin Hood.
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I'le get my Horse betimes 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 to 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 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 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 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 Sc[a]rlet red,
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Black Hats, white Feathers, all alike,
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now bold Robin is Rid.
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And when he came to Londons 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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The King is gone to 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, saith 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 fastest Harts,
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that run on Dallom Lee,
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That's a Princely Wager, said the King,
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that needs must I tell to 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 Soveraign 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 Kings Archers lead about,
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till 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 cries,
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I crave on my bare Knee;
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Is there e're a Knight of your Privy Counsel,
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of Queen Katherines 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 sprang'st from Gowers 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 Myter, said the Bishop then,
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I'll ner bett 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 bett, said Robin Hood,
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thou see'st our Game the worse;
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By my silver Myter, said the Bishop then,
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all the money within my Purse.
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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 ground.
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Will 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 pays for all;
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Rob. Hood went and wispered 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 underhand;
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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 on my bare Knee,
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That you would 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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thus welcome every one.
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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 said now,
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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 Countrey.
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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 it had been that bold Outlaw,
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I would not a bett one penny.
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He took me late one Saturday 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, then says Robin Hood,
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of that Mass I was full fain;
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For recompence to thee, he says,
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here's half thy Gold ag[ain.]
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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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