by W. de

, about 1510.

"Yes, for God!" then said ROBIN, "Or else I were a fool!

Another day ye will me clothe,

I trow against the yule."

The King cast off his cowl then,
A green garment he did on,

And every knight had so I wis,
Another had full soon.

When they were clothed in Lincoln green,

They cast away their gray.

"Now we shall to Nottingham!

All thus," our King 'gan say.

Their bows bent, and forth they went,

Shooting all in fere,

Toward the town of Nottingham,

Outlaws as they were.

Our King and ROBIN rode together,

For sooth as I you say,

And they shot Pluck-buffet,

As they went by the way.

And many a buffet our King won
Of ROBIN HOOD that day;

And nothing spared good ROBIN
Our King in his pay.

"So God me help!" said our King,
"Thy game is nought to lere;
I should not get a shot of thee,
Though I shoot all this year!"

All the people of Nottingham,
They stood and beheld,

They saw nothing but mantles of green

That covered all the field:

Then every man to other 'gan say,
"I dread our King be slain;
Come ROBIN HOOD to the town, ywis
In life he left never one!"

Full hastily they began to flee,
Both yeomen and knaves,
And old wives that might evil go
They hipped on their staves.

466 FIRST PRINTED ROBIN HOOD BALLAD.

The King laughed full fast,
And commanded them again :
When they see our comely King
I wis they were full fain.

Printed by W. de Worde, about 1510.

They eat and drank and made them glad,
And sang with notès high.
Then bespake our comely King
To Sir RICHARD AT THE Lee:
He gave him there his land again;
A good man he bade him be.
ROBIN thanked our comely King
And set him on his knee.

Had ROBIN dwelled in the King's Court,
But twelve months and three;

That spent an hundred pound,
And all his men's fee.

In every place where ROBIN came,
Evermore he laid down,

Both for Knights and for Squires
To get him great renown.
By then the year was all agone
He had no man but twain,

Little JOHN and good SCATHELOCK
With him all for to gone.

ROBIN saw young men shoot
Full far upon a day.

"Alas," then said good ROBIN,
My wealth is went away!
Sometime I was an archer good,
A stiff, and eke a strong,

I was committed the best archèr
That was in merry England.
Alas," then said good ROBIN,
66 Alas, and well a woo!

If I dwell longer with the King,
Sorrow will me sloo !"

Forth then went ROBIN HOOD,
Till he came to our King:
"My Lord the King of England,
Grant me mine asking!

by W. de

, about 1510

I made a chapel in Bernysdale,
That seemly is to see:

It is of MARY MAGDALENE;
And thereto would I be !

I might never in this seven night
No time to sleep ne wink;
Neither all these seven days
Neither eat ne drink:

Me longeth sore to Bernysdale.
I may not be therefrom,

Barefoot and woolward I have hight
Thither for to go."

"If it be so," then said our King,
"It may no better be!

Seven nights I give thee leave,

No longer to dwell from me.'

"Grammercy, Lord!" then said ROBIN,

And set him on his knee.

He took his leave full courteously

To green wood then went he.

When he came to green wood
In a merry morning,

There he heard the notès small
Of birds, merry singing.

"It is far gone," said ROBIN,
"That I was last here.

Me list a little for to shoot

At the dun deer."

ROBIN slew a full great hart,

His horn then 'gan he blow,

That all the outlaws of that forest,

That horn could they know.

And gathered them together

In a little throw,

Seven score of wight young men

Came ready on a row,

And fair did off their hoods

And set them on their knee.

66

Welcome!" they said, "our Master! Under this green-wood tree!"

Printed by W.de

468 FIRST PRINTED ROBIN HOOD BALLAD. [Worde, about 1510

ROBIN dwelled in green wood
Twenty years and two;

For all dread of EDWARD our King
Again would he not go.
Yet was he beguiled I wis
Through a wicked woman,
The Prioress of Kirkesley.
That nigh was of his kin,
For the love of a Knight,
Sir ROGER of Donkesley.
That was her own special
(Full evil might they be!)
They took together their counsel
ROBIN HOOD for to slay,

And how they might best do that deed
His banes for to be.

Then bespake good ROBIN,
In place where as he stood,
"To-morrow, I must to Kirkesley
Craftily to be let blood!"

Sir ROGER of Doncaster,
By the Prioress he lay :

And there they betrayed good ROBIN HOOD
Through their false play.

CHRIST have mercy on his soul!

(That died on the rood)

For he was a good outlaw,

And did poor men much good.

Explicit. King Edward and Robin Hood and Little John. Imprinted at London in Fleet street at the sign of the Sun. By Wynken de Worde.

FOR THE

YEAR 1708.

Wherein the Month and Day of the Month are set down, the Persons named, and the great Actions and Events of next Year particularly related, as they will come to pass.

Written to prevent the People of England from being further imposed on by vulgar Almanack Makers.

By ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq.

Sold by JOHN MORPHEW, near Stationers' Hall. MDCCVIII.