Robin Hood is here made to try his fortunes on the sea, like Eustace the Monk and Wallace. He goes to Scarborough and gives himself out as a fisherman, and is engaged as such by a widow with whom he lodges, who is the owner of a ship. Out of his wantonness, rather than his ignorance, we must suppose, Simon, as he calls himself, when others cast baited hooks into the water, casts in bare lines; for which he is laughed to scorn. A French cruiser bears down on the fishermen, and the master gives up all for lost. Simon asks for his bow; not a Frenchman will he spare. The master, not strangely, takes such talk for brag. Simon requests to be tied to a mast, ‘that at his mark he may stand fair,’ and to have his bow in his hand, when never a Frenchman will he spare. He shoots one of the enemy through the heart, and then asks to be loosed and to have his bow in his hand, when, again, never a Frenchman will he spare. The Englishmen board, and find a booty of twelve thousand pound. Simon announces that he shall give half the ship to the dame who employed him, and the other half to his comrades. The master objects; Simon has won the vessel with his own hand (a point which might have been made more distinctly to appear in the narrative), and he shall have her. But the outlaw afloat has still his munificent old ways; so it shall be as to the ship, and the twelve thousand pound shall build an asylum ‘for the opprest’! All this may strike us as infantile, but the ballad was evidently in great favor two hundred years ago. Translated (not entirely) by A. Grün, p. 295. 1 In summer time, when leaves grow green, When they doe grow both green and long, Of a bould outlaw, calld Robin Hood, It is of him I sing this song. 2 When the lilly leafe and the elephant Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere, This outlaw was weary of the wood-side, And chasing of the fallow deere. 3 ‘The fishermen brave more mony have Then any merchant, two or three; Therefore I will to Scarborough goe, That I a fisherman brave may be.’ 4 This outlaw calld his merry men all, As they sate under the green-wood tree: ‘If any of you have gold to spend, I pray you heartily spend it with me. 5 ‘Now,’ quoth Robin, ‘I’le to Scarborough goe, It seemes to be a very faire day;’ Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house, Hard by upon the water gray. 6 Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne? Or tell to me, where dost thou fare? ‘I am a poore fisherman,’ saith he then, ‘This day intrapped all in care.’ 7 ‘What is thy name, thou fine fellow? I pray thee heartily tell to me;’ ‘In mine own country where I was borne, Men called me Simon over the Lee.’ 8 ‘Simon, Simon,’ said the good wife, ‘I wish thou maist well brook thy name;’ The outlaw was ware of her courtesie, And rejoycd he had got such a dame.