5 But Robin did on the old mans shooes, And the were cliitt full cleane; ‘Now, by my faith,’ sayes Litle Iohn, ‘These are good for thornës keene.’ 6 But Robin did on the old mans cloake, And it was torne in the necke; ‘Now, by my faith,’ said William Scarlett, ‘Heere shold be set a specke.’ 7 But Robin did on this old mans hood, Itt gogled on his crowne; ‘When I come into Nottingham,’ said Robin, ‘My hood it will lightly downe. 8 ‘But yonder is an outwood,’ said Robin, ‘An outwood all and a shade, And thither I reede you, my merrymen all, The ready way to take. 9 ‘And when you heare my litle horne blow, Come raking all on a rowte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * * * * * 10 But Robin he lope, and Robin he threw, He lope over stocke and stone; But those that saw Ro_bin_ Hood run Said he was a liuer old man. 11 [Then Robin set his] horne to his mowth, A loud blast cold h[e] blow; Ffull three hundred bold yeomen Came rakinge all on a row. 12 But Robin cast downe his baggs of bread, Soe did he his staffe with a face, And in a doublet of red veluett This yeoman stood in his place. 13 ‘But bend yo_u_r bowes, and stroke yo_u_r strings, Set the gallow-tree aboute, And Christs cursse on his heart,’ said Robin, ‘That spares the sheriffe and the sergiant!’ 14 When the sheriffe see gentle Robin wold shoote, He held vp both his hands; Sayes, Aske, good Robin, and thou shalt haue, Whether it be house or land. 15 ‘I will neither haue house nor land,’ said Ro_bin_, ‘Nor gold, nor none of thy ffee, But I will haue those three squires To the greene fforest w_i_th me. 16 ‘Now marry, Gods forbott,’ said the sheriffe, ‘That euer _tha_t shold bee; For why, they be the kings ffelons, They are all condemned to dye.’ 17 ‘But grant me my askinge,’ said Robin, ‘Or by the faith of my body Thou shalt be the first man Shall flower this gallow-tree.’ 18 ‘But I wi[ll haue t]hose three squires . . . . . . . B #a.# The English Archer, Robin Hood’s Garland, York, N. Nickson, n. d., p. 65. #b.# The English Archer, etc., Paisley, John Neilson, 1786. #c.# Adventures of Robin Hood, Falkirk, T. Johnston, 1808. 1 There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many men say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May. 2 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, With a link a down and a day, And there he met a silly old woman, Was weeping on the way. 3 ‘What news? what news, thou silly old woman? What news hast thou for me?’ Said she, There’s three squires in Nottingham town To-day is condemned to die.