Then cried the maide, "My brethren deare, With ye Ile freely wend, 70 But harm not this young forrester, Noe ill doth he pretend." "Stande up, sweete maide, I plight my troth; Fall thou not on thy knee; Ile force thy cruell brothers both 75 To bend the knee to thee. "Stand thou behinde this sturdie oke, I soone will quell their pride; Thoult see my sword with furie smoke, And in their hearts blood died." 80 He set his backe against a tree, His foote against a stone; The first blow that he gave so free Cleft one man to the bone. The tanners bold they fought right well, 85 And it was one to two; But Robin did them both refell, All in the damsells viewe. The red blood ran from Robins brow, All downe unto his knee; 90 "O holde your handes, my brethren now, I will goe backe with yee." "Stand backe, stand backe, my pretty maide, Stand backe and let me fight; By sweete St. James be no afraide 95 But I will it requite." Then Robin did his sword uplift, And let it fall againe; The oldest brothers head it cleft, Right through unto his braine. 100 "O hold thy hand, bolde forrester, Or ill may thee betide; Slay not my youngest brother here, He is my fathers pride." "Away, for I would scorne to owe, 105 My life to the[e], false maide!" The youngest cried, and aim'd a blow That lit on Robins head. Then Robin leand against the tree, His life nie gone did seeme; 110 His eyes did swim, he could not see The maiden start betweene. It was not long ere Robin Hood Could welde his sword so bright; Upon his feete he firmly stood, 115 And did renew the fight; Untill the tanner scarce could heave His weapon in the aire; But Robin would not him bereave Of life, and left him there. 120 Then to the greenewood did he fly, And with him went the maide; For him she vowd that she would dye, He'd live for her, he said. Finis. T. Fleming. APPENDIX. ROBIN HOODS BIRTH, BREEDING, VALOUR, AND MARRIAGE. Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 1. Ritson printed this piece from a black-letter copy in a large and valuable collection of old ballads which successively belonged to Major Pearson, the Duke of Roxburghe, and Mr. Bright, but which is now in the British Museum. The full title of the original is: _A new ballad of bold Robin Hood; shewing his birth, breeding, valour, and marriage at Tilbury Bull-running. Calculated for the meridian of Staffordshire, but may serve for Derbyshire or Kent_.