Robin Hood and the Bishop

Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 22.

Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman's house and changed cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.

"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood."

Two trifling corrections have been made from the copy in Old Ballads, 1723, (ii. 39,) which is very nearly the same.

Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile,
Hey down, down, an a down,
And a story Ile to you unfold;
Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.

As it fell out on a sun-shining day,
When Phœbus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.

And as he walk'd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy,
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.

"O what shall I do," said Robin Hood then,
"If the bishop he doth take me?
No mercy he'l show unto me, I know,
But hangèd I shall be."

Then Robin was stout, and turn'd him about,
And a little house there he did spy;
And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry.

"Why, who art thou?" said the old woman,
"Come tell it to me for good:"
"I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood;

"And yonder's the bishop and all his men,
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he'l work my spight,
And hangèd I shall be."

"If thou be Robin Hood," said the old wife,
"As thou dost seem to be,
I'le for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
From the bishop and his company.

"For I remember one Saturday night,
Thou brought me both shoes and hose;
Therefore I'le provide thy person to hide,
And keep thee from thy foes."

"Then give me soon thy coat of grey,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen."

And when Robin Hood was thus araid,
He went straight to his company,
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the bishop and his company.

"O who is yonder," quoth Little John,
"That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she."

"O hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood then,
"And shoot not thy arrows so keen;
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen."

The bishop he came to the old womans house,
And called with furious mood,
"Come let me soon see, and bring unto me,
That traitor Robin Hood."

The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himselfe on a dapple gray;
And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
He went laughing all the way.

But as they were riding the forrest along,
The bishop he chanc'd for to see
A hundred brave bowmen bold,
Stand under the green-wood tree.

"O who is yonder," the bishop then said,
"That's ranging within yonder wood?"
"Marry," says the old woman, "I think it to be
A man call'd Robin Hood."

"Why, who art thou," the bishop he said,
"Which I have here with me?"
"Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldy bishop;
Lift up my leg and see."

"Then woe is me," the bishop he said,
"That ever I saw this day!"
He turn'd him about, but Robin Hood stout
Call'd him, and bid him stay.

Then Robin took hold of the bishops horse,
And ty'd him fast to a tree;
Then Little John smil'd his master upon,
For joy of that company.

Robin Hood took his mantle from 's back,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishops portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.

"Now let him go," said Robin Hood;
Said Little John, "That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass,
Before that he goe from me."

Then Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree,
And made him sing a mass, god wot,
To him and his yeomandree.

And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple gray,
And gave him the tail within his hand,
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.

, tell to me. Ritson.

. Robin, Ritson.