'Robinhood and the Peddlers,' the fourth ballad in a
Manuscript formerly in the possession of J. Payne Collier,
now in the British Museum; previously printed in
Gutch's Robin Hood, II, 351.
1 |
Will you heare a tale of Robin Hood,
Will Scarlett, and Little John?
Now listen awhile, it will make you smile,
As before it hath many done. |
2 |
They were archers three, of hie degree,
As good as ever drewe bowe;
Their arrowes were long and their armes were strong,
As most had cause to knowe. |
3 |
But one sommers day, as they toke their way
Through the forrest of greene Sherwood,
To kill the kings deare, you shall presently heare
What befell these archers good. |
4 |
They were ware on the roade of three peddlers with loade,
Ffor each had his packe,
Ffull of all wares for countrie faires,
Trusst up upon his backe. |
5 |
A good oke staffe, a yard and a halfe,
Each one had in his hande;
And they were all bound to Nottingham towne,
As you shall understand. |
6 |
'Yonder I see bolde peddlers three,'
Said Robin to Scarlett and John;
'We'le search their packes upon their backes
Before that they be gone. |
7 |
'Holla, good fellowes!' quod Robin Hood,
'Whither is it ye doe goe?
Now stay and rest, for that is the best,
'Tis well ye should doe soe.' |
8 |
'Noe rest we neede, on our roade we speede,
Till to Nottingham we get:'
'Thou tellst a lewde lye,' said Robin, 'For I
Can see that ye swinke and swet.' |
9 |
The peddlers three crosst over the lee,
They did not list to fight:
'I charge you tarrie,' quod Robin, 'For marry,
This is my owne land by right. |
10 |
'This is my manner and this is my parke,
I would have ye for to knowe;
Ye are bolde outlawes, I see by cause
Ye are so prest to goe.' |
11 |
The peddlers three turned round to see
Who it might be they herd;
Then agen went on as they list to be gone,
And never answered word. |
12 |
n toke Robin Hood an arrow so good,
Which he did never lacke,
And drew his bowe, and the swift arrowe
Went through the last peddlers packe. |
13 |
Ffor him it was well on the packe it fell,
Or his life had found an ende;
And it pierst the skin of his backe within,
Though the packe did stand his frend. |
14 |
Then downe they flung their packes eche one,
And stayde till Robin came:
Quod Robin, I saide ye had better stayde;
Good sooth, ye were to blame. |
15 |
'And who art thou? by S. Crispin, I vowe
I'le quickly cracke thy head!'
Cried Robin, Come on, all three, or one;
It is not so soone done as said. |
16 |
My name, by the roode, is Robin Hood,
And this is Scarlett and John;
It is three to three, ye may plainelie see,
Soe now, brave fellowes, laye on. |
17 |
The first peddlars blowe brake Robins bowe
That he had in his hand;
And Scarlett and John, they eche had one
That they unneath could stand. |
18 |
'Now holde your handes,' cride Robin Hood,
'Ffor ye have got oken staves;
But tarie till wee can get but three,
And a fig for all your braves.' |
19 |
Of the peddlers the first, his name Kit o Thirske,
Said, We are all content;
Soe eche tooke a stake for his weapon, to make
The peddlers to repent. |
20 |
Soe to it they fell, and their blowes did ring well
Uppon the others backes;
And gave the peddlers cause to wish
They had not cast their packes. |
21 |
Yet the peddlers three of their blowes were so free
That Robin began for to rue;
And Scarlett and John had such loade laide on
It made the sunne looke blue. |
22 |
At last Kits oke caught Robin a stroke
That made his head to sound;
He staggerd, and reelde, till he fell on the fielde,
And the trees with him went round. |
23 |
'Now holde your handes,' cride Little John,
And soe did Scarlett eke;
'Our maister is slaine, I tell you plaine,
He never more will speake.' |
24 |
'Now, heaven forefend he come to that ende,'
Said Kit, 'I love him well;
But lett him learne to be wise in turne,
And not with pore peddlers mell. |
25 |
'In my packe, God wot, I a balsame have got
That soone his hurts will heale;'
And into Robin Hoods gaping mouth
He presentlie powrde some deale. |
26 |
'Now fare you well, tis best not to tell
How ye three peddlers met;
Or if ye doe, prithee tell alsoe
How they made ye swinke and swett.' |
27 |
Poore Robin in sound they left on the ground,
And hied them to Nottingham,
While Scarlett and John Robin tended on,
Till at length his senses came. |
28 |
Noe soone[r], in haste, did Robin Hood taste
The balsame he had tane,
Than he gan to spewe, and up he threwe
The balsame all againe. |
29 |
And scarlett and John, who were looking on
Their maister as he did lie,
Had their faces besmeard, both eies and beard,
Therewith most piteously. |
30 |
Thus ended that fray; soe beware alwaye
How ye doe challenge foes;
Looke well aboute they are not to stoute,
Or you may have worst of the blowes. |