Robin Hood, while about to kill deer, is forbidden by a forester, and claiming the forest as his own, the cause has to be tried with weapons. They break their swords on one another, and take to quarter-staves. Robin Hood is so sorely cudgelled that he gives up the fight, declaring that he has never met with so good a man. He summons his yeomen with his horn; the forester is induced to join them. 1 When Phœbus had melted the sickles of ice, With a hey down, &c. And likewise the mountains of snow, Bold Robin Hood he would ramble to see, To frolick abroad with his bow. 2 He left all his merry men waiting behind, Whilst through the green vallies he passd; There did he behold a forester bold, Who cry’d out, Friend, whither so fast? 3 ‘I’m going,’ quoth Robin, ‘to kill a fat buck, For me and my merry men all; Besides, eer I go, I’ll have a fat doe, Or else it shall cost me a fall.’ 4 ‘You’d best have a care,’ said the forester then, ‘For these are his majesty’s deer; Before you shall shoot, the thing I’ll dispute, For I am head-forester here.’ 5 ‘These thirteen long summers,’ quoth Robin, ‘I’m sure, My arrows I here have let fly, Where freely I range; methinks it is strange, You should have more power than I. 6 ‘This forest,’ quoth Robin, ‘I think is my own, And so are the nimble deer too; Therefore I declare, and solemnly swear, I wont be affronted by you.’ 7 The forester he had a long quarter-staff, Likewise a broad sword by his side; Without more ado, he presently drew, Declaring the truth should be try’d. 8 Bold Robin Hood had a sword of the best, Thus, eer he would take any wrong, His courage was flush, he’d venture a brush, And thus they fell to it ding dong. 9 The very first blow that the forester gave, He made his broad weapon cry twang; ’Twas over the head, he fell down for dead, O that was a damnable bang! 10 But Robin he soon did recover himself, And bravely fell to it again; The very next stroke their weapons were broke, Yet never a man there was slain. 11 At quarter-staff then they resolved to play, Because they would have t’other bout; And brave Robin Hood right valiantly stood, Unwilling he was to give out. 12 Bold Robin he gave him very hard blows, The other returnd them as fast; At every stroke their jackets did smoke, Three hours the combat did last. 13 At length in a rage the bold forester grew, And cudgeld bold Robin so sore That he could not stand, so shaking his hand, He said, Let us freely give oer. 14 Thou art a brave fellow, I needs must confess I never knew any so good; Thou’rt fitting to be a yeoman for me, And range in the merry green wood.