The Noble Fisher-Man.
Or, Robin Hoods preferment; shewing how he won a prize on the sea, and how he gave one
half to his dame, and the other to the building of Alms-houses,
The Tune is, In Summer time when leaves grow green.
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IN Summer time when leaves grow green,
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when they grow both green and long,
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Of a bold Out-law call'd Robin Hood,
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it is of him I sing my song.
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When the Lilly leaf and the Elephant,
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doth bud and spring with a merry cheer,
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This Out-law was weary of the wood-side,
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and chasing of the Fallow Deer,
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The Fisher-men brave, more mony have,
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than any merchants two or three,
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Therefore I will to Scarbrough go,
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that I a Fisher-man might be.
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This Out-law called his merry men all,
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as they sat under the green-wood tree,
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If you have any gold to spend
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I pray you heartily spend it with me.
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Now quoth Robin i'le to Scarbrough go,
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it seems to be a very fair day,
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Who took up his Inn at a widdow-womans house,
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hard by upon the waters gray,
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Who asked him where wert thou born,
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or tell to me where thou dost fare,
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I am a poor Fisher-man, said he then,
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this day intrapt all in care.
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What is thy name thou fine fellow,
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I pray thee heartily tell it to me,
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In my own Country where I was born,
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men call me Simon over the bee,
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Simon, Simon, said the good wife,
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I wish thou mayest well brook thy name,
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The Out-law was ware of her courtesie,
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and rejoyced he had such a good Dame.
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Simon wilt thou be my man?
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and good round wages I will give thee,
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I have as good a Ship of my own,
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as any sails upon the sea,
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Anchors and Planks thou shalt not want,
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Masts and Ropes that are so long,
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And if thou thus do furnish me,
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said Simon, nothing shall go wrong.
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THey pluckt up Anchor and away did sail,
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more of a day then two or three,
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When others cast in their baited hooks,
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the bare Lines into the Sea cast he.
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It will be long said the master then,
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e're this great lubber do thrive on the sea,
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I'll assure he shall have no part of our Fish,
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for in truth he is no part worthy.
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O Wo is me, said Simon then,
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this day that ever I came here,
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I wish I were in Plompton Park,
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in chasing of the Fallow Deer.
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For every Clown laughs me to scorn,
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and they by me set nothing at all,
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If I had them in Plompton Park,
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I would set as little by them all,
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They pluckt up Anchor and away did sail,
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more of a day than two or three,
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But Simon espyed a Ship of War,
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then sailed toward them valourously.
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O woe is me said the master then,
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this day that ever I was born:
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For all our Fish that we have got,
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is every bit lost and forlorn,
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For the French Robber on the sea,
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they will not spare of us one man,
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But carry us to the Coast of France,
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and lay us in the Prison strong,
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But Simon said, do not fear them,
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neither master take you any care,
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Give me my bent bow in my hand,
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and never a French-man will I spare.
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Hold thy peace then long Lubber,
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for thou art nought but brags and boast,
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If I should cast thee overboard,
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there's but a simple Lubber lost.
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Simon grew angry at these words
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and so angry then was he,
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That he took his bent bow in his hand,
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and to the Ship-hatch go doth he.
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Master tye me to the mast,
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that at my mark I may stand fair,
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And give me my bent bow in my hand,
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and never a French-man will I spare.
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He drew his arrow to the very head,
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and drew it with all might and main,
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And straight-way in the twinkling of an eye
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doth the french-mens heart the Arrow gain
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The French-man fell down on the ship-hatch
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and under the Hatches here below,
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Another french-man that him espy'd,
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the dead corps into the sea doth throw.
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O master loose me from the mast, he said,
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and for them take you no care,
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And give me my bent bow in my hand,
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and never a french-man will I spare.
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Then they boarded the french ship,
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they lying all dead in their sight,
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They found within the ship of War,
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twelve thousand pound in mony bright.
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The one half of the ship, said Simon then,
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ile give to my Dame and children small,
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The other part of the ship, i'le give,
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to you that are my fellows all.
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But now bespoke the Master then,
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for so Simon it shall not be,
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For you have won it with your own hands,
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and the owner therefore you must be.
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It shall be so as I have said,
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and with this gold for the opprest,
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An Habitation I will build,
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where they shall live in peace and rest.
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