| 1 |
Now Robin Hood, Will Scadlock and Little John
Are walking over the plain,
With a good fat buck which Will Scadlock
With his strong bow had slain. |
| 2 |
'Jog on, jog on,' cries Robin Hood,
'The day it runs full fast;
For though my nephew me a breakfast gave,
I have not yet broke my fast. |
| 3 |
'Then to yonder lodge let us take our way,
I think it wondrous good,
Where my nephew by my bold yeomen
Shall be welcomd unto the green wood.' |
| 4 |
With that he took the bugle-horn,
Full well he could it blow;
Streight from the woods came marching down
One hundred tall fellows and mo. |
| 5 |
'Stand, stand to your arms!' crys Will Scadlock,
'Lo! the enemies are within ken:'
With that Robin Hood he laughd aloud,
Crys, They are my bold yeomen. |
| 6 |
Who, when they arriv'd and Robin espy'd,
Cry'd, Master, what is your will?
We thought you had in danger been,
Your horn did sound so shrill. |
| 7 |
'Now nay, now nay,' quoth Robin Hood,
'The danger is past and gone;
I would have you to welcome my nephew here,
That hath paid me two for one.' |
| 8 |
In feasting and sporting they passed the day,
Till Phoebus sunk into the deep;
Then each one to his quarters hy'd,
His guard there for to keep. |
| 9 |
Long had they not walked within the green wood,
But Robin he was espy'd
Of a beautiful damsel all alone,
That on a black palfrey did ride. |
| 10 |
Her riding-suit was of sable hew black,
Sypress over her face,
Through which her rose-like cheeks did blush,
All with a comely grace. |
| 11 |
'Come, tell me the cause, thou pritty one,'
Quoth Robin, a+end tell me aright,
From whence thou comest, and whither thou goest,
All in this mournful plight?' |
| 12 |
'From London I came,' the damsel reply'd,
'From London upon the thames,
Which circled is, O grief to tell!
Besieg'd with forraign arms. |
| 13 |
'By the proud Prince of Aragon,
Who swears by his martial hand
To have the princess for his spouse,
Or else to waste this land: |
| 14 |
'Except that champions can be found
That dare fight three to three,
Against the prince and giants twain,
Most horrid for to see: |
| 15 |
'Whose grisly looks, and eyes like brands,
Strike terrour where they come,
With serpents hissing on their helms,
Instead of feathered plume. |
| 16 |
'The princess shall be the victors prize,
The king hath vowd and said,
And he that shall the conquest win
Shall have her to his bride. |
| 17 |
'Now we are four damsels sent abroad,
To the east, west, north, and south,
To try whose fortune is so good
To find these champions forth. |
| 18 |
'But all in vaine we have sought about;
Yet none so bold there are
That dare adventure life and blood,
To free a lady fair.' |
| 19 |
'When is the day?' quoth Robin Hood,
'Tell me this and no more:'
'On Midsummer next,' the damsel said,
'Which is June the twenty-four.' |
| 20 |
With that the teares trickled down her cheeks,
And silent was her tongue;
With sighs and sobs she took her leave,
Away her palfrey sprung. |
| 21 |
This news struck Robin to the heart,
He fell down on the grass;
His actions and his troubled mind
Shewd he perplexed was. |
| 22 |
'Where lies your grief?' quoth Will Scadlock,
'O master, tell to me;
If the damsels eyes have piercd your heart,
I'll fetch her back to thee.' |
| 23 |
'Now nay, now nay,' quoth Robin Hood,
'She doth not cause my smart;
But it is the poor distressed princess
That wounds me to the heart. |
| 24 |
'I will go fight the giants all
To set the lady free:'
'The devil take my soul,' quoth Little John,
'If I part with thy company.' |
| 25 |
'Must I stay behind?' quoth Will Scadlock;
'No, no, that must not be;
I'le make the third man in the fight,
So we shall be three to three.' |
| 26 |
These words cheerd Robin at the heart,
Joy shone within his face;
Within his arms he huggd them both,
And kindly did imbrace. |
| 27 |
Quoth he, We'll put on mothly gray,
With long staves in our hands,
A scrip and bottle by our sides,
As come from the Holy Land. |
| 28 |
So may we pass along the high-way;
None will ask from whence we came,
But take us pilgrims for to be,
Or else some holy men. |
| 29 |
Now they are on their journey gone,
As fast as they may speed,
Yet for all haste, ere they arriv'd,
The princess forth was led: |
| 30 |
To be deliverd to the prince,
Who in the list did stand,
Prepar'd to fight, or else receive
His lady by the hand. |
| 31 |
With that he walkt about the lists,
With giants by his side:
'Bring forth,' said he, 'your champions,
Or bring me forth my bride. |
| 32 |
'This is the four and twentieth day,
The day prefixt upon;
Bring forth my bride, or London burns,
I swear by Acaron.' |
| 33 |
Then cries the king, and queen likewise,
Both weeping as they speak,
Lo! we have brought our daughter dear,
Whom we are forcd to forsake. |
| 34 |
With that stept out bold Robin Hood,
Crys, My liege, it must not be so;
Such beauty as the fair princess
Is not for a tyrants mow. |
| 35 |
The prince he then began to storm;
Crys, Fool, fanatick, baboon!
How dares thou stop my valours prize?
I'll kill thee with a frown. |
| 36 |
'Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,'
Thus Robin began to reply,
'Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here's my gage,
And thus I thee defie. |
| 37 |
'And for these two Goliahs there,
That stand on either side,
Here are two little Davids by,
That soon can tame their pride.' |
| 38 |
Then did the king for armour send,
For lances, swords, and shields:
And thus all three in armour bright
Came marching to the field. |
| 39 |
The trumpets began to sound a charge,
Each singled out his man;
Their arms in pieces soon were hewd,
Blood sprang from every vain. |
| 40 |
The prince he reacht Robin a blow —
He struck with might and main —
Which forcd him to reel about the field,
As though he had been slain. |
| 41 |
'God-a-mercy,' quoth Robin, 'For that blow!
The quarrel shall soon be try'd;
This stroke shall shew a full divorce
Betwixt thee and thy bride.' |
| 42 |
So from his shoulders he's cut his head,
Which on the ground did fall,
And grumbling sore at Robin Hood,
To be so dealt withal. |
| 43 |
The giants then began to rage,
To see their prince lie dead:
'Thou's be the next,' quoth Little John,
'Unless thou well guard thy head.' |
| 44 |
With that his faulchion he whirld about —
It was both keen and sharp —
He clove the giant to the belt,
And cut in twain his heart. |
| 45 |
Will Scadlock well had playd his part,
The giant he had brought to his knee;
Quoth he, The devil cannot break his fast,
Unless he have you all three. |
| 46 |
So with his faulchion he run him through,
A deep and gashly wound;
Who damd and foamd, cursd and blasphemd,
And then fell to the ground. |
| 47 |
Now all the lists with cheers were filld,
The skies they did resound,
Which brought the princess to herself,
Who was faln in a swound. |
| 48 |
The king and queen and princess fair
Came walking to the place,
And gave the champions many thanks,
And did them further grace. |
| 49 |
'Tell me,' quoth the king, 'whence you are,
That thus disguised came,
Whose valour speaks that noble blood
Doth run through every vain.' |
| 50 |
'A boon, a boon,' quoth Robin Hood,
'On my knees I beg and crave:'
'By my crown,' quoth the king, 'I grant;
Ask what, and thou shalt have.' |
| 51 |
'Then pardon I beg for my merry men,
Which are within the green wood,
For Little John, and Will Scadlock,
And for me, bold Robin Hood.' |
| 52 |
'Art thou Robin Hood?' then quoth the king;
'For the valour you have shewn,
Your pardons I doe freely grant,
And welcome every one. |
| 53 |
'The princess I promised the victors prize;
She cannot have you all three:;
'She shall chuse,' quoth Robin; saith Little John,
Then little share falls to me. |
| 54 |
Then did the princess view all three,
With a comely lovely grace,
Who took Will Scadlock by the hand,
Quoth, Here I make my choice. |
| 55 |
With that a noble lord stept forth,
Of Maxfield earl was he,
Who lookt Will Scadlock in the face,
Then wept most bitterly. |
| 56 |
Quoth he, I had a son like thee,
Whom I lovd wondrous well;
But he is gone, or rather dead;
His name is Young Gamwell. |
| 57 |
Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees,
Cries, Father! father! here,
Here kneels your son, your Young Gamwell
You said you lovd so dear. |
| 58 |
But, lord! what imbracing and kissing was there,
When all these friends were met!
They are gone to the wedding, and so to bedding,
And so I bid you good night. |
