Sometimes hee went, sometimes hee ran, As fast as hee could win ; And when hee came to Nottingham, There hee tooke up his inne. And when he came to Nottingham, And had tooke up his inne, He cals for a pottle of Rhenish wine, And dranke a health to his queene. {237} There sate a yeoman by his side, Tell mee, sweet page, said hee, What is thy businesse and the cause, So far in the north countrey ? This is my businesse and the cause, Sir, I’le tell it you for good, To enquire of one good yeoman or another, To tell mee of Robin Hood. “Ile get my horse betimes in the morne, By it be break of day, And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood, And all his yeomen gay.” When that he came at Robin Hoods place, Hee fell down on his knee : “Queen Katherine she doth greet you well, She greets you well by mee ; She bids you post to fair London court, Not fearing any thing ; For there shall be a little sport, And she hath sent you her ring.” Robin Hood tooke his mantle from his back, It was of the Lincolne greene, And sent it by this lovely page, For a present unto the queene. {238} In summer time, when leaves grow green, It’s a seemely sight to see, How Robin Hood himselfe had drest, And all his yeomandry. He clothed his men in Lincolne greene, And himselfe in scarlet red ; Blacke hats, white feathers, all alike, Now bold Robin Hood is rid : And when hee came at Londons court, Hee fell downe on his knee. Thou art welcome, Locksly, said the queen, And all thy good ‘yeomandree.’ The king is into Finsbury field[304] Marching in battle-ray, And after follows bold Robin Hood, And all his yeomen gay. {239} Come hither, Tepus, said the king, Bow-bearer after mee ; Come measure me out with this line, How long our mark must be. What is the wager ? said the queene, That must I now know here. “Three hundred tun of Rhenish wine, Three hundred tun of beere ; Three hundred of the fattest harts That run on Dallom-lee.”[305] That’s a princely wager, said the king, That needs must I tell thee. {240} With that bespake one Clifton then, Full quickly and full soone, Measure no markes for us, most soveraigne liege, Wee’l shoot at sun and moone. “Full fifteene score your marke shall be, Full fifteene score shall stand.” Ile lay my bow, said Clifton then, Ile cleave the willow wand. With that the kings archers led about, While it was three, and none ; With that the ladies began to shout, “Madam, your game is gone.” A boone, a boone, queene Katherine cries, I crave it on my bare knee ; Is there any knight of your privy counsèl Of queen Katherines part will be ? Come hither to mee, sir Richard Lee, Thou art a knight full good ; For I do knowe by thy pedigree Thou sprung’st from Gowers blood.