"Get you home, get you home," said jolly Robìn, "Get you home most speedily, 30 And I will unto fair Nottingham go, For the sake of the squires all three." Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes, For Nottingham town goes he, O there did he meet with a poor beggar-man, 35 He came creeping along the highway. "What news, what news, thou old beggar-man? What news, come tell unto me:" "O there's weeping and wailing in Nottingham, For the death of the squires all three." 40 This beggar-man had a coat on his back, 'Twas neither green, yellow, nor red; Bold Robin Hood thought 'twas no disgrace To be in the beggar-mans stead. "Come, pull off thy coat, thou old beggar-man, 45 And thou shalt put on mine; And forty good shillings I'll give thee to boot, Besides brandy, good beer, ale and wine." Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came, Unto Nottingham town came he; 50 O there did he meet with great master sheriff, And likewise the squires all three. "One boon, one boon," says jolly Robín, "One boon I beg on my knee; That, as for the death of these three squires, 55 Their hangman I may be." "Soon granted, soon granted," says master sheriff, "Soon granted unto thee; And you shalt have all their gay cloathìng, Aye, and all their white monèy." 60 "O I will have none of their gay cloathìng, Nor none of their white monèy, But I'll have three blasts on my bugle-horn, That their souls to heaven may flee." Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,[L65] 65 Where he blew loud and shrill, Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men Came marching down the green hill. "Whose men are these?" says master sherìff, "Whose men are they? come tell unto me:" 70 "O they are mine, but none of thine, And are come for the squires all three." "O take them, O take them," says great master sheriff, "O take them along with thee; For there's never a man in fair Nottinghàm 75 Can do the like of thee. 28, And. 65. When. ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTALL FRYER. Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 61. "From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood: corrected by a much earlier one in the Pepysian library, printed by H. Gosson, about the year 1610; compared with a later one in the same collection. The full title is: _The famous battell betweene Robin Hood and the Curtall Fryer_. _To a new Northern tune._" In summer time, when leaves grow green, And flowers are fresh and gay, Robin Hood and his merry men Were disposed to play.