| 1 |
I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood,
Derry derry down
And of brave Little John,
Of Fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlet,
Loxley, and Maid Marion.
Hey down derry derry down |
| 2 |
But such a tale as this before
I think there was never none;
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And to the wood is gone. |
| 3 |
Like to a fryer, bold Robin Hood
Was accoutered in his array;
With hood, gown, beads and cricifix,
He past upon the way. |
| 4 |
He had not gone [past] miles two or three,
But it was his chance to spy
Two lusty priests, clad all in black,
Come riding gallantly. |
| 5 |
'Benedicete,' then said Robin Hood,
'Some pitty on me take;
Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
For Our dear Ladies sake. |
| 6 |
'For I have been wandring all this day,
And nothing could I get;
Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
Nor bit of bread to eat.' |
| 7 |
'Now, by my holydame,' the priests repli'd,
'We never a peny have;
For we this morning have been robd,
And could no mony save.' |
| 8 |
'I am much afraid,' said bold Robin Hood,
'That you both do tell a lye;
And now before that you go hence,
I am resolvd to try.' |
| 9 |
When as the priests heard him say so,
Then they rode away amain;
But Robin Hood betook him to his heels,
And soon overtook them again. |
| 10 |
Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
And pulld them down from their horse:
'O spare us, fryer!' the priests cry'd out,
'On us have remorse!' |
| 11 |
'You said you had no mony,' quoth he,
'Wherefore, without delay,
We three will fall down on our knees,
And for mony we will pray.' |
| 12 |
The priests they could not him gainsay,
But down they kneeled with speed;
'Send us, O send us,' then quoth they,
'Some mony to serve our need.' |
| 13 |
The priests did pray with mournful chear,
Sometimes their hands did wring,
Sometimes they wept and cried aloud,
Whilst Robin did merrily sing. |
| 14 |
When they had been praying an hours space,
The priests did still lament;
Then quoth bold Robin, Now let's see
What mony heaven hath us sent. |
| 15 |
We will be sharers now all alike
Of the mony that we have;
And there is never a one of us
That his fellows shall deceive. |
| 16 |
The priests their hands in their pockets put,
But mony would find none:
'We'l search our selves,' said Robin Hood,
'Each other, one by one.' |
| 17 |
Then Robin took pains to search them both,
And he found good store of gold;
Five hundred peeces presently
Vpon the grass was told. |
| 18 |
'Here is a brave show,' said Robin Hood,
'Such store of gold to see,
And you shall each one have a part,
Cause you prayed so heartily.' |
| 19 |
He gave them fifty pound a-peece,
And the rest for himself did keep;
The priests durst not speak one word,
Bur they sighed wondrous deep. |
| 20 |
With that the priests rose up from their knees,
Thinking to have parted so;
'Nay, stay,' said Robin Hood, 'one thing more
I have to say ere you go. |
| 21 |
'You shall be sworn,' said bold Robin Hood,
'Vpon this holy grass,
That you will never tell lies again,
Which way soever you pass. |
| 22 |
'The second oath that you here must take,
All the days of your lives
You never shall tempt maids to sin,
Nor lye with other mens wives. |
| 23 |
'The last oath you shall take, it is this,
Be charitable to the poor;
Say you have met with a holy fryer,
And I desire no more.' |
| 24 |
He set them upon their horses again,
And away then they did ride;
And hee returnd to the merry green-wood,
With great joy, mirth and pride. |
