"This very old (?) and curious piece is preserved solely in the editions of _Robin Hood's Garland_ printed at York, (or such as have been taken from them,) where it is made to conclude with some foolish lines, (adopted from the London copy of _Robin Hood and the Valiànt Knight_,) in order to introduce the epitaph. It is here given from a collation of two different copies, containing numerous variations, a few of which are retained in the margin." RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 187. When Robin Hood and Little John, _Down a down, a down, a down_. Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound: _Hey down, a down, a down_. "But I am not able to shoot one shot more, My arrows will not flee; But I have a cousin lives down below, Please God, she will bleed me." Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone, As fast as he can win; 10 But before he came there, as we do hear, He was taken very ill. And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall, He knock'd all at the ring, But none was so ready as his cousin herself 15 For to let bold Robin in. "Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said, "And drink some beer with me?" "No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee."[L20] 20 "Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, "Which you did never see, And if you please to walk therein, You blooded by me shall be."[L24] She took him by the lilly-white hand, 25 And led him to a private room,[L26] And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, Whilst one drop of blood would run. She blooded him in the vein of the arm, And lock'd him up in the room; 30 There did he bleed all the live-long day, Untill the next day at noon. He then bethought him of a casement door, Thinking for to be gone;[L34] He was so weak he could not leap, 35 Nor he could not get down. He then bethought him of his bugle-horn, Which hung low down to his knee; He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three. 40 Then Little John, when hearing him, As he sat under the tree, "I fear my master is near dead, He blows so wearily." Then Little John to fair Kirkley is gone, 45 As fast as he can dree; But when he came to Kirkley-hall, He broke locks two or three: Untill he came bold Robin to, Then he fell on his knee; 50 "A boon, a boon," cries Little John, "Master, I beg of thee." "What is that boon," quoth Robin Hood, "Little John, thou begs of me?" "It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall, 55 And all their nunnery."