Ballad Book Part 16

I wish that thou give stich a blast, Till both thy eyes fall out."

The first loud blast that he did blow, He blew both loud and shrill; A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men Came riding over the hill.

The next loud blast that he did give, He blew both loud and amain, And quickly sixty of Robin Hood's men Came s.h.i.+ning over the plain.

"O, who are these," the sheriff he said, "Come tripping over the lee?"

"They're my attendants," brave Robin did say; "They'll pay a visit to thee."

They took the gallows from the slack, They set it in the glen, They hanged the proud sheriff on that, Released their own three men.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE.

Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw, That lived in Nottinghams.h.i.+re.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood, All under the green-wood tree, There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was cloathed in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay; And he did frisk it over the plain, And chanted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood, Amongst the leaves so gay, There did he espy the same young man Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before, It was clean cast away; And at every step he fetcht a sigh, "Alack and a well a day!"

Then stepped forth brave Little John, And Midge the miller's son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he see them come.

"Stand off, stand off," the young man said, "What is your will with me?"

"You must come before our master straight, Under yon green-wood tree."

And when he came bold Robin before, Robin askt him courteously, "O hast thou any money to spare For my merry men and me?"

"I have no money," the young man said, "But five s.h.i.+llings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my wedding.

"Yesterday I should have married a maid, But she is now from me tane, And chosen to be an old knight's delight, Whereby my poor heart is slain."

"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, "Come tell me, without any fail:"

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "My name it is Allin a Dale."

"What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood, "In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true love again, And deliver her unto thee?"

"I have no money," then quoth the young man, "No ready gold nor fee, But I will swear upon a book Thy true servant for to be."

"How many miles is it to thy true love?

Come tell me without any guile:"

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "It is but five little mile."

Then Robin he hasted over the plain, He did neither stint nor lin, Until he came unto the church, Where Allin should keep his wedding.

"What hast thou here?" the bishop he said, "I prithee now tell unto me:"

"I am a bold harper," quoth Robin Hood, "And the best in the north country."

"O welcome, O welcome," the bishop he said, "That musick best pleaseth me;"

"You shall have no musick," quoth Robin Hood, "Till the bride and the bridegroom I see."

With that came in a wealthy knight, Which was both grave and old, And after him a finikin la.s.s, Did s.h.i.+ne like the glistering gold.

"This is not a fit match," quoth bold Robin Hood, "That you do seem to make here; For since we are come into the church, The bride shall chuse her own dear."

Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth, And blew blasts two or three; When four and twenty bowmen bold Came leaping over the lee.

And when they came into the church-yard, Marching all on a row, The first man was Allin a Dale, To give bold Robin his bow.

"This is thy true love," Robin he said, "Young Allin, as I hear say; And you shall be married at this same time, Before we depart away."

"That shall not be," the bishop he said, "For thy word shall not stand; They shall be three times askt in the church, As the law is of our land."

Robin Hood pulld off the bishop's coat, And put it upon Little John; "By the faith of my body," then Robin said, "This cloath does make thee a man."

When Little John went into the quire, The people began for to laugh; He askt them seven times in the church, Lest three times should not be enough.

"Who gives me this maid?" then said Little John; Quoth Robin Hood, "That do I, And he that takes her from Allin, a Dale Full dearly he shall her buy."

And thus having ende of this merry wedding, The bride lookt like a queen, And so they returned to the merry green-wood, Amongst the leaves so green.

ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH AND BURIAL.

When Robin Hood and Little John, _Down a down, a down, a down,_ Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound:"

_Hey down, a down, a down._

"But I am not able to shoot one shot more, My arrows will not flee; But I have a cousin lives down below, Please G.o.d, she will bleed me."

Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone, As fast as he can win; But before he came there, as we do hear, He was taken very ill.

And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall, He knocked all at the ring, But none was so ready as his cousin herself For to let bold Robin in.

"Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said, "And drink some beer with me?"

"No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee."

"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, "Which you did never see, And if you please to walk therein, You blooded by me shall be."

She took him by the lily-white hand, And led him to a private room, And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, Whilst one drop of blood would run.

She blooded him in the vein of the arm, And locked him up in the room; There did he bleed all the livelong day, Untilt the next day at noon.

He then bethought him of a cas.e.m.e.nt door, Thinking for to be gone; He was so weak he could not leap, Nor he could not get down.