From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. It is there said to go “To the tune of Bold Robin Hood;” and the chorus is repeated in every stanza. To the above title are added the following doggerel lines: Where hee met with fifteen forresters all on a row, And hee desired of them some news for to know, But with crosse grain’d words they did him thwart, For which at last hee made them smart. * * * * * Robin Hood he was and a tall young man, _Derry derry down_, And fifteen winters old ; And Robin Hood he was a proper young man, Of courage stout and bold. _Hey down, derry derry down._ {162} Robin hee[1] would and to fair Nottingham, With the general for to dine ; There was hee aware of fifteen forrestèrs, And a drinking bear, ale, and wine. What news ? What news ? said bold Robin Hood. “What news fain wouldest thou know ?” Our king hath provided a shooting match, And I’m ready with my bow. We hold it in scorn, said the forrestèrs, That ever a boy so young Should bear a bow before our king, That’s not able to draw one string. I’le hold you twenty marks, said bold Robin Hood, By the leave of our lady, That I’le hit a mark a hundred rod, And I’le cause a hart to dye. We’l hold you twenty mark, then said the forrestèrs, By the leave of our lady, Thou hit’st not the marke a hundred rod, Nor causest a hart to dye. Robin he[289] bent up a noble bow, And a broad arrow he let flye, He hit the mark a hundred rod, And he caused a hart to dye. {163} Some say hee brake ribs one or two, And some say hee brake three ; The arrow within the hart would not abide, But it glanced in two or three. The hart did skip, and the hart did leap, And the hart lay on the ground ; The wager is mine, said bold Robin Hood, If’t were for a thousand pound. The wager’s none of thine, then said the forrestèrs, Although thou beest in haste ; Take up thy bow, and get thee hence, Lest wee thy sides do baste. Robin Hood hee took up his noble bow, And his broad arrows all amain ; And Robin he[1] laught, and begun [for] to smile, As hee went over the plain. Then Robin he[1] bent his noble bow, And his broad arrows he let flye, Till fourteen of these fifteen forrestèrs Upon the ground did lye. He that did this quarrel first begin Went tripping over the plain ; But Robin he[290] bent his noble bow, And hee fetcht him back again. {164} You said I was no archer, said Robin Hood, But say so now again : With that he sent another arròw, That split his head in twain. You have found mee an archer, saith Robin Hood, Which will make your wives for to wring, And wish that you had never spoke the word, That I could not draw one string. The people that lived in fair Nottinghàm Came running out amain, Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood, With the forresters that were slain.