That shall not be, the bishop he said, For thy word shall not stand ; They shall be three times askt in the church, As the law is of our land. Robin Hood pull’d off the bishops coat, And put it upon Little John ; By the faith of my body, then Robin said, This ‘cloth’ does make thee a man. When Little John went into the quire, The people began to laugh ; He askt them seven times in the church, Lest three times should not be enough. {202} Who gives me this maid ? said Little John. Quoth Robin Hood, That do I ; And he that takes her from Allin a Dale, Full dearly he shall her buy. And thus having ended this merry weddìng, The bride lookt like a queen ; And so they return’d to the merry green-wood, Amongst the leaves so green. [Illustration] {203} [Illustration] IX. ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD. “Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John, and the Shepherd fought a sore combate. The shepherd fought for twenty pound, and Robin for bottle and bag, But the shepherd stout, gave them the rout, so sore they could not wag. Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.” From two old black letter copies, one of them in the collection of Anthony a Wood, the other in that of Thomas Pearson, Esq. At the head of the former is a fine cut of Robin Hood. All gentlemen, and yeomen good, _Down, a down, a down, a down,_ I wish you to draw near ; For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood Unto you I will declare. _Down a, &c._ {204} As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along, Some pastime for to spie, There he was aware of a jolly shephèrd, That on the ground did lie. Arise, arise, cried jolly Robìn, And now come let me see What’s in thy bag and bottle ; I say, Come tell it unto me. “What’s that to thee ? thou proud fellòw, Tell me as I do stand : What hast thou to do with by bag and bottle ? Let me see thy command.” “My sword, which hangeth by my side, Is my command I know ; Come, and let me taste of thy bottle, Or it may breed thy woe.” “The devil a drop, thou proud fellòw, Of my bottle thou shalt see, Until thy valour here be tried, Whether thou wilt fight or flee.” What shall we fight for ? cries Robin Hood, Come tell it soon to me ; Here is twenty pound in good red gold, Win it and take it thee. {205} The shepherd stood all in a maze, And knew not what to say : “I have no money, thou proud fellòw, But bag and bottle ile lay.” “I am content, thou shepherd swain, Fling them down on the ground ; But it will breed thee mickle pain, To win my twenty pound.” “Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellòw, Thou standest too long to prate ; This hook of mine shall let thee know, A coward I do hate.” So they fell to it, full hardy and sore, It was on a summers day, From ten till four in the afternoon The shepherd held him play.