Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford

"This excellent ballad, given from the common edition of Aldermary church-yard (compared with the York copy), is supposed to be modern; the story, however, seems alluded to in the ballad of Renowned Robin Hood. The full title is The Bishop of Herefords entertainment by Robin Hood and Little John, &c., in merry Barnsdale." Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 150.

Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood,
And some of barons bold;
But I'll tell you how he serv'd the bishop of Hereford,
When he robb'd him of his gold.

As it befel in merry Barnsdale,
All under the green-wood tree,
The bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his company.

"Come, kill [me] a ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
"Come, kill me a good fat deer;
The bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.

"We'll kill a fat ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
And dress it by the highway side;
And we will watch the bishop narrowly,
Lest some other way he should ride."

Robin Hood dress'd himself in shepherds attire,
With six of his men alsò;
And, when the bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go.

"O what is the matter?" then said the bishop,
"Or for whom do you make this a-do?
Or why do you kill the kings ven'son,
When your company is so few?"

"We are shepherds," said bold Robin Hood,
"And we keep sheep all the year,
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the kings fat deer."

"You are brave fellows!" said the bishop,
"And the king of your doings shall know:
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."

"O pardon, O pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"O pardon, I thee pray!
For it becomes not your lordships coat
To take so many lives away."

"No pardon, no pardon," said the bishòp,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."

Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherds coat
He pull'd out a bugle horn.

He put the little end to his mouth,
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robins men
Came running all on a row,

All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood;
'Twas a comely sight for to see.
"What is the matter, master," said Little John,
"That you blow so hastily?"

"O here is the bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have:"
"Cut off his head, master," said Little John,
"And throw him into his grave."

"O pardon, O pardon," said the bishop,
"O pardon, I thee pray,
For if I had known it had been you,
I'd have gone some other way."

"No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go."

Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,
And led him to merry Barnsdale;
He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

"Call in a reckoning," said the bishop,
"For methinks it grows wond'rous high:"
"Lend me your purse, master," said Little John,
"And I'll tell you bye and bye."

Then Little John took the bishops cloak,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantua
He told three hundred pound.

"Here's money enough, master," said Little John,
"And a comely sight 'tis to see;
It makes me in charity with the bishop,
Tho' he heartily loveth not me."

Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And he caused the music to play;
And he made the bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad he could so get away.