16 An he has gane to his dearest dear, An he has kissed her, cheek and chin, Saying, 'Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear, An we will wauk the wuds our lane.' C Gutch's Robin Hood, II, 345, from a MS. of Mr. Payne Collier's, supposed to have been written about 1650. 1 As Robin Hood sat by a tree, He espied a prettie may, And when she chanced him to see, She turnd her head away. 2 'O feare me not, thou prettie mayde, And doe not flie from mee; I am the kindest man,' he said, 'That ever eye did see.' 3 Then to her he did doffe his cap, And to her lowted low; 'To meete with thee I hold it good hap, If thou wilt not say noe.' 4 Then he put his hand around her waste, Soe small, so tight, and trim, And after sought her lip to taste, And she to kissed him. 5 'Where dost thou dwell, my prettie maide? I prithee tell to me;' 'I am a tanner's daughter,' she said, 'John Hobbes of Barneslee.' 6 'And whither goest thou, pretty maide? Shall I be thy true love?' If thou art not afeard,' she said, 'My true love thou shalt prove.' 7 'What should I feare?' then he replied; 'I am thy true love now;' 'I have two brethren, and their pride Would scorn such one as thou.' 8 'That will we try,' quoth Robin Hood; 'I was not made their scorne; Ile shed my blood to doe the[e] good, As sure as they were borne.' 9 'My brothers are proude and fierce and strong;' 'I am,' said he, 'the same, And if they offer thee to wrong, Theyle finde Ile play their game. 10 'Through the free forrest I can run, The king may not controll; They are but barking tanners' sons, To me they shall pay toll. 11 'And if not mine be sheepe and kine, I have cattle on my land; On venison eche day I may dine, Whiles they have none in hand.' 12 These wordes had Robin Hood scarce spoke, When they two men did see, Come riding till their horses smoke: 'My brothers both,' cried shee. 13 Each had a good sword by his side, And furiouslie they rode To where they Robin Hood espied, That with the maiden stood. 14 'Flee hence, flee hence, away with speede!' Cried she to Robin Hood, 'For if thou stay, thoult surely bleede; I could not see thy blood.' 15 'With us, false maiden, come away, And leave that outlawe bolde; Why fledst thou from thy home this day, And left thy father olde?' 16 Robin stept backe but paces five, Unto a sturdie tree; 'Ile fight whiles I am left alive; Stay thou, sweete maide, with mee.' 17 He stood before, she stoode behinde, The brothers two drewe nie; 'Our sister now to us resign, Or thou full sure shalt die.'