English and Scottish Ballads, Volume V

Ballads, English -- England -- Texts; Ballads, Scots -- Scotland -- Texts

His men were faine to be his guide,                              105
    For he rode backward home:
  The abbot, being thus villified,
    Did sorely chafe and fume.

  Thus Robbin Hood did vindicate
    His former wrongs receiv'd;                                    110
  For 'twas this covetous prelàte
    That him of land bereav'd.

  The abbot he rode to the king,
    With all the haste he could,
  And to his grace he every thing                                  115
    Exactly did unfold:

  And sayd if that no course were ta'en,
    By force or stratagem,
  To take this rebel and his traine,
    No man should passe for them.                                  120

  The king protested by and by
    Unto the abbot then,
  That Robbin Hood with speed should dye,
    With all his merry men.

  But e're the king did any send,                                  125
    He did another feate,
  Which did his grace much more offend,
    The fact indeed was great.

  For in a short time after that
    The kings receivers went                                       130
  Towards London with the coyne they got,
    For 's highness northerne rent.

  Bold Robbin Hood and Little John,
    With the rest of their traine,
  Not dreading law, set them upon,                                 135
    And did their gold obtaine.

  The king much moved at the same,
    And the abbots talke also,
  In this his anger did proclaime,
    And sent word to and fro,                                      140

  That whosoe'er alive or dead
    Could bring bold Robbin Hood,
  Should have one thousand markes well paid
    In gold and silver good.

  This promise of the king did make                                145
    Full many yeomen bold
  Attempt stout Robbin Hood to take,
    With all the force they could.

  But still when any came to him
    Within the gay greene wood,                                    150
  He entertainement gave to them
    With venison fat and good;

  And shew'd to them such martiale sport
    With his long bow and arrow,
  That they of him did give report,                                155
    How that it was great sorow,

  That such a worthy man as he
    Should thus be put to shift,
  Being late a lord of high degree,
    Of living quite bereft.                                        160

  The king to take him, more and more
    Sent men of mickle might;
  But he and his still beate them sore,
    And conquered them in fight:

  Or else with love and courtesie,                                 165
    To him he won their hearts.
  Thus still he lived by robbery
    Throughout the northerne parts;

  And all the country stood in dread
    Of Robbin Hood and 's men:                                     170
  For stouter lads ne're liv'd by bread
    In those days, nor since then.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

General

English and Scottish Ballads, Volume V

Ballads, English -- England -- Texts; Ballads, Scots -- Scotland -- Texts

His men were faine to be his guide,                              105
    For he rode backward home:
  The abbot, being thus villified,
    Did sorely chafe and fume.

  Thus Robbin Hood did vindicate
    His former wrongs receiv'd;                                    110
  For 'twas this covetous prelàte
    That him of land bereav'd.

  The abbot he rode to the king,
    With all the haste he could,
  And to his grace he every thing                                  115
    Exactly did unfold:

  And sayd if that no course were ta'en,
    By force or stratagem,
  To take this rebel and his traine,
    No man should passe for them.                                  120

  The king protested by and by
    Unto the abbot then,
  That Robbin Hood with speed should dye,
    With all his merry men.

  But e're the king did any send,                                  125
    He did another feate,
  Which did his grace much more offend,
    The fact indeed was great.

  For in a short time after that
    The kings receivers went                                       130
  Towards London with the coyne they got,
    For 's highness northerne rent.

  Bold Robbin Hood and Little John,
    With the rest of their traine,
  Not dreading law, set them upon,                                 135
    And did their gold obtaine.

  The king much moved at the same,
    And the abbots talke also,
  In this his anger did proclaime,
    And sent word to and fro,                                      140

  That whosoe'er alive or dead
    Could bring bold Robbin Hood,
  Should have one thousand markes well paid
    In gold and silver good.

  This promise of the king did make                                145
    Full many yeomen bold
  Attempt stout Robbin Hood to take,
    With all the force they could.

  But still when any came to him
    Within the gay greene wood,                                    150
  He entertainement gave to them
    With venison fat and good;

  And shew'd to them such martiale sport
    With his long bow and arrow,
  That they of him did give report,                                155
    How that it was great sorow,

  That such a worthy man as he
    Should thus be put to shift,
  Being late a lord of high degree,
    Of living quite bereft.                                        160

  The king to take him, more and more
    Sent men of mickle might;
  But he and his still beate them sore,
    And conquered them in fight:

  Or else with love and courtesie,                                 165
    To him he won their hearts.
  Thus still he lived by robbery
    Throughout the northerne parts;

  And all the country stood in dread
    Of Robbin Hood and 's men:                                     170
  For stouter lads ne're liv'd by bread
    In those days, nor since then.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

English and Scottish Ballads, Volume V

English and Scottish Ballads, Volume V

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