"No meat, nor drink," said Robin Hood then, "That I come here to crave; But to get the lives of yeomen three, 95 And that I fain would have." "That cannot be, thou bold beggàr, Their fact it is so cleer; I tell to thee, they hanged must be, For stealing of our kings deer." 100 But when to the gallows they did come, There was many a weeping eye: "O hold your peace," said Robin Hood then, "For certainly they shall not dye." Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, 105 And he blew out blastès three, Till a hundred bold archers brave Came kneeling down to his knee. "What is your will, mastèr?" they said, "We are here at your command:" 110 "Shoot east, shoot west," said Robin Hood then, "And see you spare no man." Then they shot east, then they shot west, Their arrows were so keen, The sheriffe he, and his companie, 115 No longer could be seen. Then he stept to those brethren three, And away he has them tane; The sheriffe was crost, and many a man lost, That dead lay on the plain. 120 And away they went into the merry green wood, And sung with a merry glee; Then Robin Hood took those brethren good To be of his yeomandrie. ROBIN HOOD AND THE OLD MAN. A FRAGMENT. From Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, ii. 49, where it was printed "_verbatim et literatim_" from the Percy Manuscript. This is the same story with the two ballads which follow and the Second Part of the preceding. * * * * * * * In faith, thou shalt have mine, And 20s. in thy purse, To spend at ale and wine." "Though your clothes are of light Lincolne green, And mine gray russet, and torne, 5 Yet it doth not you beseme To doe an old man scorne." "I scorne thee not, old man," says Robin,[L8] "By the faith of my body; Doe of thy clothes, thou shalt have mine, 10 For it may noe better be." But Robin did on the old mans hose, The were torn in the wrist; "When I looke on my leggs," said Robin, "Then for to laugh I list." 15 But Robin did on the old mans shoes, And the were chitt full cleane; "Now by my faith," says Little John, "These are good for thornes keene." But Robin did on the old mans cloake, 20 And it was torne in the necke; "Now by my faith," said William Scarlett, "Heere shold be set a specke." But Robin did on the old mans hood, Itt goggled on his crowne; 25 "When I come into Nottingham," said Robin, "My hood it will lightly downe.[L27]