27 Then the queenes archers they shot about Till it was three and three; Then the lady’s gaue a merry shout, Sayes, Woodcocke, beware thine eye! 28 ‘Well, gam and gam,’ then q_uo_th our king, ‘The third three payes for all;’ Then Robine rounded w_i_th our queene, Says, The kings p_ar_t shall be small. 29 Loxly puld forth a broad arrowe, He shott it vnder hand, . . . . s vnto . . . . . . . . . * * * * * 30 . . . . . . . ‘For once he vndidd mee; If I had thought it had beene bold Ro_bin_ Hoode, I wold not haue betted one peny. 31 ‘Is this Ro_bin_ Hood?’ says the bishopp againe; ‘Once I knew him to soone; He made me say a masse against my will, Att two a clocke in the afternoone. 32 ‘He bound me fast vnto a tree, Soe did he my merry men; He borrowed ten pound against my will, But he neuer paid me againe.’ 33 ‘What and if I did?’ says bold Ro_bin_ Hood, ‘Of that masse I was full faine; In recompence, befor king and queene Take halfe of thy gold againe.’ 34 ‘I thanke thee for nothing,’ says the bishopp, ‘Thy large gift to well is knowne, _Tha_t will borrow a mans mony against his will, And pay him againe w_i_th his owne.’ 35 ‘What if he did soe?’ says King Henery, ‘For that I loue him neuer the worsse; Take vp thy gold againe, bold Robin Hood, And put [it] in thy pursse. 36 ‘If thou woldest leaue thy bold outlawes, And come and dwell w_i_th me, Then I wold say thou art welcome, bold Ro_bin_ Hood, The flower of archery.’ 37 ‘I will not leaue my bold outlawes For all the gold in Christentie; In merry Sherwood I’le take my end, Vnder my trusty tree. 38 ‘And gett yo_u_r shooters, my leeig[e], where you will, For in faith you shall haue none of me; And when Queene Katherine puts up her f[inger] Att her Graces com_m_andement I’le bee.’ * * * * * B #a.# Wood, 402, leaf 10. #b.# Roxburghe, I, 356, in the Ballad Society’s reprint, II, 419. #c.# Garland of 1663, No 9. #d.# Garland of 1670, No 8. #e.# Wood, 401, leaf 31 b. #f.# Pepys, II, 103, No 90. 1 Gold tane from the kings harbengers, Down a down a down As seldome hath been seen, Down a down a down And carried by bold Robin Hood For a present to the queen. Down a down a down 2 ‘If that I live a year to an end,’ Thus gan Queen Katherin say, ‘Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend, And all thy yeomen gay.’ 3 The queen is to her chamber gone, As fast as she can wen; She cals unto her her lovely page, His name was Richard Patringten. 4 ‘Come hither to mee, thou lovely page, Come thou hither to mee; For thou must post to Notingham, As fast as thou canst dree.