Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a day_,[L30] 30 And there he met with a silly old palmer, Was walking along the highway. "What news? what news, thou silly old man? What news, I do thee pray?" Said he, "Three squires in Nottingham town 35 Are condemn'd to die this day." "Come change thy apparel with me, old man, Come change thy apparel for mine; Here is forty shillings in good silvèr, Go drink it in beer or wine." 40 "O thine apparel is good," he said, "And mine is ragged and torn; "Wherever you go, wherever you ride, Laugh ne'er an old man to scorn." "Come change thy apparel with me, old churl, 45 Come change thy apparel with mine; Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold, Go feast thy brethren with wine." Then he put on the old man's hat, It stood full high on the crown: 50 "The first bold bargain that I come at, It shall make thee come down." Then he put on the old man's cloak, Was patch'd black, blew, and red; He thought it no shame all the day long 55 To wear the bags of bread. Then he put on the old man's breeks, Was patch'd from ballup to side: "By the truth of my body," bold Robin can say, "This man lov'd little pride," 60 Then he put on the old man's hose, Were patch'd from knee to wrist: "By the truth of my body," said bold Robin Hood, "I'd laugh if I had any list." Then he put on the old man's shoes, 65 Were patch'd both beneath and aboon; Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath, It's good habit that makes a man. Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a down_, 70 And there he met with the proud sheriff, Was walking along the town. "O Christ you save, O sheriff," he said,[L73] "O Christ you save and see;[L74] And what will you give to a silly old man 75 To-day will your hangman be?" "Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said, "Some suits I'll give to thee: Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen, To-day's a hangman's fee." 80 Then Robin he turns him round about, And jumps from stock to stone: "By the truth of my body," the sheriff he said, "That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man." "I was ne'er a hangman in all my life, 85 Nor yet intends to trade; But curst be he," said bold Robìn, "That first a hangman was made. "I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt, And a bag for barley and corn; 90 A bag for bread, and a bag for beef, And a bag for my little small horn.