"We are shephèrds," said bold Robin Hood,
"And we keep sheep all the year,
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the king's fat deer."

"You are brave fellows!" said the bishop,

"And the king of your doings shall know: Therefore make haste, and come along with me, For before the king you shall go."

"O pardon, O pardon," said bold Robin Hood, "O pardon, I thee pray!

For it becomes not your lordships coat

To take so many lives away."

"No pardon, no pardon," said the bishop,

"No pardon I thee owe;

Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."

Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherd's coat
He pull'd out a bugle horn.

He put the little end to his mouth,

And a loud blast did he blow,

'Till threescore and ten of bold Robin's men Came running all on a row:

All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood;

'Twas a comely sight for to see.

"What is the matter, master," said Little John, "That you blow so hastily ?"

"O here is the bishop of Hereford, And no pardon we shall have."

"Cut off his head, master," said Little John, "And throw him into his grave."

"O pardon, O pardon," said the bishòp,

"O pardon I thee pray;

For if I had known it had been you,

I'd have gone some other way."

"No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood, "No pardon I thee owe;

Therefore make haste, and come along with me,

For to merry Barnsdale

you

shall go."

Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,

And led him to merry Barnsdale;

He made him to stay and sup with him that night, And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

"Call in a reckoning," said the bishop, "For methinks it grows wond'rous high." "Lend me your purse, master," said Little John, "And I'll tell you bye and bye."

Then Little John took the bishop's cloak,

And spread it upon the ground,

And out of the bishop's portmantua
He told three hundred pound.

"Here's money enough, master," said Little John, "And a comely sight 'tis to see;

It makes me in charity with the bishop,

Tho' he heartily loveth not me."

Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,

And he caused the music to play;

And he made the old bishop to dance in his boots; And glad he could so get away.

Robin Hood and the Butcher.

COME, all you brave gallants, listen awhile, are this bower" within;

That 66

For of Robin Hood, that archer good,
A song I intend for to sing.

Upon a time it chanced so,

Bold Robin in the forrest did 'spy
A jolly butcher, with a bonny fine mare,
With his flesh to the market did hye.

"Good morrow, good fellow," said jolly Robìn,
What food hast thou, tell to me?

Thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,
For I like well thy company."

The butcher he answer'd jolly Robin,

"No matter where I dwell;

For a butcher I am, and to Notingham

I am going, my flesh to sell.”

"What is the price of thy flesh?" said jolly

Robin,

"Come tell it soon unto me;

And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,

For a butcher fain would I be."

"The price of my flesh," the butcher repli'd,

"I soon will tell unto thee;

With my bonny mare, and they are not too dear, Four mark thou must give unto me."

"Four mark I will give thee," said jolly Robin, "Four mark it shall be thy fee;

The money come count, and let me mount,
For a butcher I fain would be."

Now Robin he is to Notingham gone,

His butchers trade to begin;

With good intent to the sheriff he went,
And there he took up his inn.

When other butchers they opened their meat,

Bold Robin he then begun ;

But how for to sell he knew not well,
For a butcher he was but young.

When other butchers no meat could sell,
Robin got both gold and fee;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for three.

But when he sold his meat so fast,
No butcher by him could thrive;
For he sold more meat for one peny
Than others could do for five.

Which made the butchers of Notingham
To study as they did stand,
Saying, "Surely he is some prodigal,

That hath sold his fathers land."

The butchers stepped to jolly Robin,

Acquainted with him for to be;

Come, brother," one said, "we be all of one trade,

Come, will you go dine with me?"

"Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin, "That a butcher doth deny;

I will

go with you, my brethren true,

As fast as I can

hie."

But when to the sheriffs house they came,
To dinner they hied apace,

And Robin Hood he the man must be
Before them all to say grace.

"Pray God bless us all," said jolly Robin,
"And our meat within this place;

A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood:
And so I do end my grace."

"Come fill us more wine," said jolly Robìn,
"Let us be merry while we do stay;
For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,
I vow I the reckning will pay."

"Come, brothers,' be merry," said jolly Robìn,
"Let us drink, nor yet give ore;
For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,

If it costs me five pounds and more."

"This is a mad blade," the butchers then said. Saies the sheriff, "He is some prodigal, That some land has sold for silver and gold,

And now he doth mean to spend all."