Buccleuch has turned to Eden water, Even where it flowed frae bank to brim, And he has plunged in wi' a' his band, And safely swam them thro' the stream. He turned him on the other side, And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he'If ye like na my visit in merry England, In fair Scotland come visit me!' All sore astonished stood Lord Scroope, 'He is either himself a devil frae hell, ROBIN HOOD BALLADS. ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS. There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May. 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. 'What news? what news? thou silly old woman, What news hast thou for me?' Said she, 'There's my three sons in Nottingham town To-day condemned to die.' 'O, have they parishes burnt ?' he said, Or other men's wives have ta'en ?' 'They have no parishes burnt, good sir, Nor yet have ministers slain, Nor have they robbed any virgin, Nor other men's wives have ta'en.' 'O, what have they done?' said Robin Hood, 'I pray thee tell to me.' 'It's for slaying of the king's fallow deer, Bearing their long bows with thee.' 'Dost thou not mind, old woman,' he said, 'How thou madest me sup and dine? By the truth of my body,' quoth bold Robin Hood, 'You could not tell it in better time.' Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, And there he met with a silly old palmer, 'What news? what news? thou silly old man, What news, I do thee pray?' Said he, 'Three squires in Nottingham town Are condemn'd to die this day.' 'Come change thy apparel with me, old man, 'O, thine apparel is good,' he said, VOL. I. 'Come change thy apparel with me, old churl, Then he put on the old man's hat, Then he put on the old man's cloak, Then he put on the old man's breeks, Was patch'd from leg to side: 'By the truth of my body,' bold Robin can say, 'This man loved little pride.' Then he put on the old man's hose, Were patch'd from knee to wrist : 'By the truth of my body,' said bold Robin Hood, 'I'd laugh if I had any list.' Then he put on the old man's shoes, Were patch'd both beneath and aboon; Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, 'Save you, save you, sheriff!' he said; And what will you give to a silly old man R 'Some suits, some suits,' the sheriff he said, 'Some suits I'll give to thee; Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen, Then Robin he turns him round about, 'By the truth of my body,' the sheriff he said, 'That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man.' "I was ne'er a hangman in all my life, But curst be he,' said bold Robin, 'I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt, 'I have a horn in my pocket, 'O, wind thy horn, thou proud fellow ! I wish that thou give such a blast, The first loud blast that he did blow, A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men The next loud blast that he did give, And quickly sixty of Robin Hood's men 'O, who are these,' the sheriff he said, Come tripping over the lee?' 'They're my attendants,' brave Robin did say; They took the gallows from the slack, They set it in the glen, They hanged the proud sherìff on that, ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH AND BURIAL. [The close of this ballad singularly resembles a Romaic song on the death of a famous klepht, or brigand, in Fauriel's collection.] When Robin Hood and Little John, Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood to Little John, 'We have shot for many a pound: 'But I am not able to shoot one shot more, But I have a cousin lives down below, Please God, she will bleed me.' Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone, As fast as he can win ; But before he came there, as we do hear, He was taken very ill. And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall, He knock'd all at the ring, But none was so ready as his cousin herself For to let bold Robin in. 'Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin,' she said, 'No, I will neither eat nor drink Till I am blooded by thee.' |