Then some would leap, and some would run, And some would use artillery; Which of you can a good bow draw, A good archer for to be? Which of you can kill a buck? Or who can kill a doe? Or who can kill a hart of grease,[129] Five hundred foot him fro'? Will Scarlet he kill'd a buck, And Midge he kill'd a doe; And Little John kill'd a hart of grease, Five hundred foot him fro'. God's blessing on thy heart, said Robin Hood, That shot such a shot for me; I would ride my horse an hundred miles To find one to match thee. That caused Will Scarlet to laugh, He laugh'd full heartily; There lives a friar in Fountain's Abbey Will beat both him and thee. The curtal friar in Fountain's Abbey Well can draw a good strong bow; He will beat both you and your yeomen, Set them all on a row. Robin Hood took a solemn oath, It was by Mary free, That he would neither eat nor drink, Till the friar he did see. Robin Hood put on his harness good, On his head a cap of steel; Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him well. He took his bow into his hand, (It was of a trusty tree) With a sheaf of arrows by his side And to Fountain Dale went he. And coming unto fair Fountain Dale, No farther would he ride: There was he 'ware of a curtal friar, Walking by the water-side. The friar had on a harness good, On his head a cap of steel; Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him well. Robin Hood lighted off his horse, And tied him to a thorn: Carry me over the water, thou curtal friar, Or else thy life's forlorn. The friar took Robin Hood on his back, Deep water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad Till he came to the other side. Lightly leap'd Robin off the friar's back, The friar said to him again, Carry me over the water, fine fellow, Or it shall breed thee pain. Robin Hood took the friar on his back, Deep water he did bestride, And spake neither good nor bad Till he came to the other side. Lightly leap'd the friar off Robin Hood's back, Robin said to him again, Carry me over the water thou curtal friar, Or it shall breed thee pain. The friar he took Robin Hood on his back again And stepp'd up to his knee; Till he came to the middle of the stream Neither good nor bad spake he; And coming to the middle of the stream There he threw Robin in; And choose thee, choose thee, fine fellow, Whether thou wilt sink or swim. [Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTALL FRYER.] Robin Hood swam to a bush of broom, The friar to the willow wand; Bold Robin Hood he got to the shore, And took his bow in his hand.