| 1 |
In summer time, when leaves grow green,
When they doe grow both green and long,
Of a bould outlaw, calld Robin Hood,
It is of him I sing this song. |
| 2 |
When the lilly leafe and the elephant
Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere,
This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,
And chasing of the fallow deere. |
| 3 |
'The fishermen brave more mony have
Then any merchant, two or three;
Therefore I will to Scarborough goe,
That I a fisherman brave may be.' |
| 4 |
This outlaw calld his merry men all,
As they sate under the green-wood tree:
'If any of you have gold to spend,
I pray you heartily spend it with me. |
| 5 |
'Now,' quoth Robin, I'le to Scarborough goe,
It seemes to be a very faire day;'
Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,
Hard by upon the water gray. |
| 6 |
Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne?
Or tell to me, where dost thou fare?
'I am a poore fisherman,' saith he then,
'This day intrapped all in care.' |
| 7 |
'What is thy name, thou fine fellow?
I pray thee heartily tell to me;'
'In mine own country where I was borne,
Men called me Simon over the Lee.' |
| 8 |
'Simon, Simon,' said the good wife,
The outlaw was ware of her courtesie,
And rejoyed he had got such a dame. |
| 9 |
'Simon, wilt thou be my man?
And good round wages I'le give thee;
I have as good a ship of mine owne
As any sayle upon the sea. |
| 10 |
'Anchors and planks thou shalt want none,
Masts and ropes that are so long;'
'And if that you thus furnish me,'
Said Simon, 'Nothing shall goe wrong.' |
| 11 |
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
When others cast in their baited hooks,
The bare lines into the sea cast he. |
| 12 |
'It will be long,' said the master then,
'Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea;
I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,
For in truth he is of no part worthy.' |
| 13 |
'O woe is me,' said Simon then,
'This day that ever I came here!
I wish I were in Plomton Parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere. |
| 14 |
'For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
And they by me set nought at all;
If I had them in Plomton Park,
I would set as little by them all.' |
| 15 |
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
But Simon spied a ship of warre,
That sayld towards them most valourously. |
| 16 |
'O woe is me,' said the master then,
'This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne. |
| 17 |
'For your French robbers on the sea,
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong.' |
| 18 |
But Simon said, Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care;
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare. |
| 19 |
'Hold thy peace, thou long lubber,
For thou art nought but braggs and boast;
If I should cast the over-board,
There were nothing but a lubber lost.' |
| 20 |
Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he
That he tooke his bent bow in his hand,
And to the ship-hatch goe doth he. |
| 21 |
'Master, tye me to the mast,' saith he,
'That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bended bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.' |
| 22 |
He drew his arrow to the very head,
And drew it with all might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
Doth the Frenchmans heart the arow gain. |
| 23 |
The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch,
And under the hatches down below;
Another Frenchman that him espy'd
The dead corps into the sea doth throw. |
| 24 |
'O master, loose me from the mast,' he said,
'And for them all take you no care,
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.' |
| 25 |
Then streight [they] did board the Frenchmans ship,
They lying all dead in their sight;
They found within the ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of money bright. |
| 26 |
'The one halfe of the ship,' said Simon then,
'I'le give to my dame and children small;
The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow
On you that are my fellowes all.' |
| 27 |
But now bespake the master then,
For so, Simon, it shall not be;
For you have won her with your own hand,
And the owner of it you shall bee. |
| 28 |
'It shall be so, as I have said;
And, with this gold, for the opprest
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest.' |
