Robin Hood and the Old Man

A Fragment.

From Jamieson's Popular Ballads, ii. 49, where it was printed "verbatim et literatim" from the Percy Manuscript.

This is the same story with the two ballads which follow and the Second Part of the preceding.

* * * * * * *
In faith, thou shalt have mine,
And 20s. in thy purse,
To spend at ale and wine."

"Though your clothes are of light Lincolne green,
And mine gray russet, and torne,
Yet it doth not you beseme
To doe an old man scorne."

"I scorne thee not, old man," says Robin,
"By the faith of my body;
Doe of thy clothes, thou shalt have mine,
For it may noe better be."

But Robin did on the old mans hose,
The were torn in the wrist;
"When I looke on my leggs," said Robin,
"Then for to laugh I list."

But Robin did on the old mans shoes,
And the were chitt full cleane;
"Now by my faith," says Little John,
"These are good for thornes keene."

But Robin did on the old mans cloake,
And it was torne in the necke;
"Now by my faith," said William Scarlett,
"Heere shold be set a specke."

But Robin did on the old mans hood,
Itt goggled on his crowne;
"When I come into Nottingham," said Robin,
"My hood it will lightly downe.

"But yonder is an outwood," said Robin,
"An outwood all and a shade,
And thither I reede you, my merrymen all,
The ready way to take.

"And when you heare my little horne blow,
Come raking all on a rowte,

* * horne to his mouth,
A loud blast cold he blow,
Full three hundred bold yeomen
Came raking all on a row.

But Robin cast downe his baggs of bread,
Soe did he his staffe with a face,
And in a doublet of red velvett
This yeoman stood in his place.

But Robin he lope, and Robin he threw,
He lope over stocke and stone,
But those that saw Robin Hood run
Said he was a liver old man.

"But bend your bowes, and stroke your strings,
Set the gallow tree aboute,
And Christes curse on his head," said Robin,
"That spares the sheriff and the sergeant.

When the sheriffe see gentle Robin wold shoote,
He held up both his hands,
Says, "Aske, good Robin, and thou shalt have,
Whether it be house or land."

"I will neither have house nor land," said Robin,
"Nor gold, nor none of thy fee,
But I will have those 3 squires,
To greene forest with mee."

"Now marry, gods forbott," said the sheriffe,
"That ever that shold be,
Ffor why, they be the kings felons;
They are all condemned to dye."

"But grant me my askynge," said Robin,
"Or by the faith of my body,
Thou shalt be the first man
Shall flower this gallow tree."

But I will * * 3 squires
* * * * * *

cetera desunt.

. By proposing, that is, to make an exchange of clothes, the bargain being so much to the advantage of the old man. Jamieson.

, i.e. I shall easily bare my head, in reverence to the sheriff, &c.

. Nine or ten stanzas wanting. J.

. For "the sergeant" read "his rowte." J.

, by me.