She laid the blood-irons to Robin’s vein, Alack, the more pitye! And pierc’d the vein, and let out the blood That full red was to see. XIII And first it bled the thick, thick blood, And afterwards the thin, And well then wist good Robin Hood Treason there was within. XIV And there she blooded bold Robin Hood While one drop of blood wou’d run; There did he bleed the live-long day, Until the next at noon. XV He bethought him then of a casement there, Being lockèd up in the room, But was so weak he could not leap, He could not get him down. XVI He bethought him then of his bugle-horn, That hung low down to his knee; He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three. XVII Then Little John he heard the horn Where he sat under a tree: ‘I fear my master is now near dead, He blows so wearilye.’ XVIII Little John is gone to merry Kirkleys, As fast as he can dree; And when he came to merry Kirkleys, He broke locks two or three: XIX Until he came bold Robin to see, Then he fell on his knee; ‘A boon, a boon!’ cries Little John, ‘Master, I beg of thee!’ XX ‘What is that boon,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Little John, thou begs of me?’-- ‘It is to burn fair Kirkleys-hall, And all their nunnerye.’ XXI ‘Now nay, now nay,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘That boon I’ll not grant thee; I never hurt woman in all my life, Nor men in their company. XXII ‘I never hurt maid in all my time, Nor at mine end shall it be; But give me my bent bow in my hand, And a broad arrow I’ll let flee; And where this arrow is taken up There shall my grave digg’d be. XXIII ‘But lay me a green sod under my head, And another at my feet; And lay my bent bow at my side, Which was my music sweet; And make my grave of gravel and green, Which is most right and meet. XXIV ‘Let me have length and breadth enough, And under my head a sod; That they may say when I am dead, --_Here lies bold Robin Hood!_’ FOOTNOTES: [1020] rede = advise. [1021] in that ilk = in that same (moment), then and there. [1022] ’leeve = believe. BOOK VI _126. Durham Field_ I Lordings, listen, and hold you still; Hearken to me a spell; I shall you tell of the fairest battell That ever in England befell. II It befell in Edward the Third’s dayes, When in England he ware the crowne, That all the chief chivalry of England They buskèd[1023] and made them bowne[1024]. III They have chosen all the best archers That in England might be found, And all was to fight with the King of France, Within a litle stounde[1025]. IV