Robin Hoods Rescuing Will Stutly

From A Collection of Old Ballads, i. 90. The full title is: Robin Hood rescuing Will Stutley from the sheriff and his men, who had taken him prisoner, and were going to hang him, &c. To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Catherine. The same in Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 106.

When Robin Hood in the green wood stood,
Derry, derry down,
Under the green wood tree,
Tidings there came to him with speed,
Tidings for certainty;
Hey down, derry, derry, down.

That Will Stutly surprized was,
And eke in prison lay;
Three varlets that the king had hir'd,
Did likely him betray.

Ay, and to-morrow hang'd must be,
To-morrow as soon as day;
Before they could the victory get,
Two of 'em did Stutly slay.

When Robin Hood did hear this news,
Lord! it did grieve him sore;
And to his merry men he said,
(Who altogether swore)

That Will Stutly should rescu'd be,
And be brought back again;
Or else should many a gallant wight
For his sake there be slain.

He cloath'd himself in scarlet then,
His men were all in green;
A finer shew, throughout the world,
In no place could be seen.

Good lord! it was a gallant sight
To see them all a-row;
With ev'ry man a good broad sword,
And eke a good yew bow.

Forth of the green wood are they gone,
Yea, all couragously,
Resolving to bring Stutly home,
Or every man to dye.

And when they came to the castle near
Wherein Will Stutly lay,
"I hold it good," said Robin Hood,
"We here in ambush stay,

"And send one forth some news to hear,
To yonder palmer fair,
That stands under the castle wall;
Some news he may declare."

With that steps forth a brave young man,
Which was of courage bold;
Thus he did say to the old man:
"I pray thee, palmer old,

"Tell me, if that thou rightly ken,
When must Will Stutly dye,
Who is one of bold Robin's men,
And here doth prisoner lye?"

"Alas, alas," the palmer said,
"And for ever woe is me!
Will Stutly hang'd will be this day,
On yonder gallows tree.

"O had his noble master known,
He would some succour send;
A few of his bold yeomanry
Full soon would fetch him hence."

"Ay, that is true," the young man said;
"Ay, that is true," said he;
"Or, if they were near to this place,
They soon would set him free.

"But fare thou well, thou good old man,
Farewel, and thanks to thee;
If Stutly hanged be this day,
Reveng'd his death will be."

No sooner he was from the palmer gone,
But the gates were open'd wide,
And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
Guarded on every side.

When he was forth from the castle come,
And saw no help was nigh,
Thus he did say unto the sheriff,
Thus he said gallantly:

"Now seeing that I needs must dye,
Grant me one boon," said he,
"For my noble master ne'er had man
That yet was hang'd on tree.

"Give me a sword all in my hand,
And let me be unbound,
And with thee and thy men I'll fight,
Till I lye dead on the ground."

But this desire he would not grant,
His wishes were in vain;
For the sheriff swore he hang'd should be,
And not by the sword be slain.

"Do but unbind my hands," he says,
"I will no weapons crave,
And if I hanged be this day,
Damnation let me have."

"O no, no, no," the sheriff said,
"Thou shalt on gallows dye,
Ay, and so shall thy master too,
If ever in me it lye."

"O dastard coward!" Stutly cries,
Faint-hearted peasant slave!
If ever my master do thee meet,
Thou shalt thy payment have.

"My noble master thee doth scorn,
And all thy cowardly crew;
Such silly imps unable are
Bold Robin to subdue."

But when he was to the gallows gone,
And ready to bid adieu,
Out of a bush steps Little John,
And goes Will Stutly to.

"I pray thee, Will, before thou dye,
Of thy dear friends take leave;
I needs must borrow him a while,
How say you, master sheriff?"

"Now, as I live," the sheriff said,
"That varlet will I know;
Some sturdy rebel is that same,
Therefore let him not go."

And Little John most hastily
Away cut Stutly's bands,
And from one of the sheriffs men,
A sword twich'd from his hands.

"Here, Will Stutly, take thou this same,
Thou canst it better sway;
And here defend thyself awhile,
For aid will come straightway."

And there they turn'd them back to back,
In the midst of them that day,
Till Robin Hood approached near,
With many an archer gay.

With that an arrow from them flew,
I-wis from Robin Hood;
"Make haste, make haste," the sheriff he said,
"Make haste, for it is not good."

The sheriff is gone; his doughty men
Thought it no boot to stay,
But, as their master had them taught,
They run full fast away.

"O stay, O stay," Will Stutly said,
"Take leave ere you depart;
You ne'er will catch bold Robin Hood,
Unless you dare him meet."

"O ill betide you," said Robin Hood,
That you so soon are gone;
My sword may in the scabbard rest,
For here our work is done."

"I little thought," Will Stutly said,
"When I came to this place,
For to have met with Little John,
Or seen my master's face."

Thus Stutly he was at liberty set,
And safe brought from his foe:
"O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr,
Since here it was not so.

"And once again, my fellows dear,
Derry, derry down,
We shall in the green woods meet,
Where we will make our bow-strings twang,
Musick for us most sweet."
Hey down, derry, derry down.

, I wist.