34 ‘However, along to my bower you shall go, And taste of a forresters meat:’ And when we come thither, we found as good cheer As any man needs for to eat. 35 For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold, Cream clouted, with honey-combs plenty; And the sarvitors they were, beside Little John, Good yeomen at least four and twenty. 36 Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir; And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood: Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delight Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood. 37 For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife. ‘So ’tis, sir,’ Clorinda reply’d; ‘But oh,’ said bold Robin, ‘how sweet would it be, If Clorinda would be my bride!’ 38 She blusht at the motion; yet, after a pause Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart; ‘Then let’s send for a priest,’ said Robin Hood, ‘And be married before we do part.’ 39 But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir, For I must be at Titbury feast; And if Robin Hood will go thither with me, I’ll make him the most welcome guest. 40 Said Robin Hood, Reach me that buck, Little John, For I’ll go along with my dear; Go bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks, And meet me to-morrow just here. 41 Before we had ridden five Staffordshire miles, Eight yeomen, that were too bold, Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck; A truer tale never was told. 42 ‘I will not, faith!’ said bold Robin: ‘come, John, Stand to me, and we’ll beat em all:’ Then both drew their swords, an so cut em and slasht em That five of them did fall. 43 The three that remaind calld to Robin for quarter, And pitiful John beggd their lives; When John’s boon was granted, he gave them good counsel, And so sent them home to their wives. 44 This battle was fought near to Titbury town, When the bagpipes bated the bull; I am king of the fidlers, and sware ’tis a truth, And I call him that doubts it a gull. 45 For I saw them fighting, and fidld the while, And Clorinda sung, Hey derry down! The bumpkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob, And now let’s dance into the town. 46 Before we came to it, we heard a strange shouting, And all that were in it lookd madly; For some were a bull-back, some dancing a morris, And some singing Arthur-a-Bradly. 47 And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk, And Mary, to whom he was kind; For Tom rode before her, and calld Mary, Madam, And kist her full sweetly behind. 48 And so may your worships. But we went to dinner, With Thomas and Mary and Nan; They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her Bold Robin Hood was a fine man. 49 When dinner was ended, Sir Roger, the parson Of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste; He brought his mass-book, and he bade them take hands, And he joynd them in marriage full fast.