A Bundle of Ballads Part 14

Thou art a bold man and an hardy, And so thinketh me; And ere I pa.s.s from this place, a.s.sayed better shalt thou be."

Little John drew a good sword, The cook took another in hand; They thought nothing for to flee, But stiffly for to stand.

There they fought sor-e together, Two mile way and more, Might neither other harm don, The mountenance of an hour.

"I make mine avow," said Little John, "And by my true lewt-e, Thou art one of the best swordmen That ever yet saw I me.

Couldest thou shoot as well in a bow, To green wood thou shouldest with me, And two times in the year thy clothing I-changed should-e be; And every year of Robin Hood Twent-y mark to thy fee."

"Put up thy sword," said the cook, "And fellows will we be."

Then he fet to Little John The numbles of a doe, Good bread and full good wine, They ate and drank thereto.

And when they had drunken well, Their troths together they plight, That they would be with Rob-in That ilke same day at night.

They hied them to the treasure-house, As fast as they might gone, The locks that were of good steel They brake them every one; They took away the silver vessel, And all that they might get, Pi-eces, mas-ars, and spoons, Would they none forget; Also they took the good pence, Three hundred pound and three; And did them straight to Robin Hood, Under the green wood tree.

"G.o.d thee save, my dear mast-er, And Christ thee save and see."

And then said Rob-in to Little John, "Welcome might thou be; And also be that fair yeom-an Thou bringest there with thee.

What tiding-es from Nottingham?

Little John, tell thou me."

"Well thee greeteth the proud sher-iff, And sendeth thee here by me, His cook and his silv-er vessel, And three hundred pound and three."

"I make mine avow to G.o.d," said Robin, "And to the Trinit-y, It was never by his good will, This good is come to me."

Little John him there bethought, On a shrewed wile, Five mile in the for-est he ran, Him happ-ed at his will; Then be met the proud sher-iff, Hunt-ing with hound and horn, Little John coud his curteysye, And kneel-ed him beforn: "G.o.d thee save, my dear mast-er, And Christ thee save and see."

"Raynold Greenleaf," said the sher-iff, "Where hast thou now be?"

"I have be in this for-est, A fair sight can I see, It was one of the fairest sights That ever yet saw I me; Yonder I see a right fair hart, His colour is of green, Seven score of deer upon an herd, Be with him all bedene; His tynde are so sharp, mast-er, Of sixty and well mo, That I durst not shoot for drede Lest they wold me slo."

"I make mine avow to G.o.d," said the sheriff, "That sight would I fain see."

"Busk you thitherward, my dear mast-er, Anon, and wend with me."

The sheriff rode, and Little John Of foot he was full smart, And when they came afore Robin: "Lo, here is the master hart!"

Still stood the proud sher-iff, A sorry man was he: "Wo worth thee, Raynold Greenleaf!

Thou hast now betray-ed me."

"I make mine avow," said Little John, "Mast-er, ye be to blame, I was misserved of my dinere, When I was with you at hame."

Soon he was to supper set, And served with silver white; And when the sher-iff see his vess-el, For sorrow he might not eat.

"Make good cheer," said Robin Hood, "Sher-iff, for charit-y, And for the love of Little John; Thy life is granted to thee."

When they had supp-ed well, The day was all agone, Robin commanded Little John To draw off his hosen and his shone, His kirtle and his coat a pye, That was furr-ed well fine, And take him a green mant-ell, To lap his body therein.

Robin commanded his wight young men, Under the green wood tree, They shall lie in that same sort, That the sheriff might them see.

All night lay that proud sher-iff In his breche and in his sherte, No wonder it was, in green wood, Though his sides do smerte.

"Make glad cheer," said Robin Hood, "Sher-iff, for charit-e, For this is our ord-er i-wis, Under the green wood tree."

"This is harder order," said the sheriff, "Than any anker or frere; For all the gold in merry Engl-and I would not long dwell here."

"All these twelve months," said Rob-in, "Thou shalt dwell with me; I shall thee teach, thou proud sher-iff, An outlaw for to be."

"Ere I here another night lie," said the sheriff, "Robin, now I pray thee, Smite off my head rather to-morn, And I forgive it thee.

Let me go," then said the sher-iff, "For saint Charit-e, And I will be thy best friend That ever yet had thee."

"Thou shalt swear me an oath," said Robin, "On my bright brand, Thou shalt never awayte me scathe, By water ne by land; And if thou find any of my men, By night or by day, Upon thine oath thou shalt swear, To help them that thou may."

Now hath the sheriff i-swore his oath, And home he gan to gone, He was as full of green wood As ever was heap of stone.

THE FOURTH FYTTE.

The sheriff dwelled in Nottingham, He was fain that he was gone, And Robin and his merry men Went to wood anone.

"Go we to dinner," said Little John.

Robin Hood said, "Nay; For I dread Our Lady be wroth with me, For she sent me not my pay."

"Have no doubt, master," said Little John, "Yet is not the sun at rest, For I dare say, and safely sware, The knight is true and trust."

"Take thy bow in thy hand," said Robin, "Let Much wende with thee, And so shall William Scathelock, And no man abide with me, And walk up into the Sa-yl-es, And to Watling Street, And wait after such unketh gest, Up-chance ye may them meet.

Whether he be messeng-er, Or a man that mirth-es can, Or if he be a poor man, Of my good he shall have some."

Forth then stert Little John, Half in tray and teen, And girded him with a full good sword, Under a mantle of green.

They went up to the Sa-yl-es, These yeomen all three; They look-ed east, they look-ed west, They might no man see.

But as he looked in Barnisdale, By the high way, Then were they ware of two black monks, Each on a good palfray.

Then bespak-e Little John, To Much he gan say, "I dare lay my life to wed, That these monks have brought our pay.

Make glad cheer," said Little John, "And frese our bows of yew, And look your hearts be sicker and sad, Your strings trust-y and true.

The monk hath fifty-two men, And seven som-ers full strong, There rideth no bishop in this land So royally, I understond.

Brethren," said Little John, "Here are no more but we three; But we bring them to dinn-er, Our master dare we not see.

Bend your bows," said Little John, "Make all yon press to stand!

The foremost monk, his life and his death Is clos-ed in my hand!

Abide, churl monk," said Little John, "No farther that thou gone; If thou dost, by dere-worthy G.o.d, Thy death is in my hond.

And evil thrift on thy head," said Little John, "Right under thy hat's bond, For thou hast made our master wroth, He is fast-ing so long."

"Who is your master?" said the monk.

Little John said, "Robin Hood."

"He is a strong thief," said the monk, "Of him heard I never good."

"Thou liest!" then said Little John, "And that shall rew-e thee; He is a yeoman of the for-est, To dine hath bod-e thee."

Much was ready with a bolt, Redly and anon, He set the monk tofore the breast, To the ground that he can gon.

Of fifty-two wight young men, There abode not one, Save a little page, and a groom To lead the somers with Little John.

They brought the monk to the lodge door, Whether he were loth or lief, For to speak with Robin Hood, Maugr-e in their teeth.

Robin did adown his hood, The monk when that he see; The monk was not so courteyous, His hood then let he be.