The following inscription over his remains, preserved by Dr. Gale, dean of York, Thoresby says, was "scarce legible," and Dr. Whitaker seems to think spurious:--
HEAR UNDERNEAD DIS LAITL STEAN LAIZ ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTUN NEAR ARCIR VER AZ HIE SA GEUD AN PIPL KAULD IM ROBIN HEUD SICK UTLAWZ AZ HI AN IZ MEN VIL ENGLAND NIVR SI AGEN. OBIIT 24 KAL. DEKEMBRIS 1247.[43]
A statue of this renowned free-booter, large as life, leaning on his unbent bow, with a quiver of arrows, and a sword by his side, formerly stood on one side the entrance into Kirklees Hall.
This ballad is preserved solely in the editions of "Robin Hood's Garland," printed at York, where it is made to conclude with some foolish lines, (adopted from the London copy of a ballad, called "Robin Hood and Valiant Knight,") in order to introduce the epitaph.
When Robin Hood and Little John, _Down a down, a down, a down,_ Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound: _Hey down, a down, a down_.
"But I am not able to shoot one shot more, My arrows will not flee; 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 "And drink some beer with me?" "No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee."
"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, "Which you did never see, And if you please to walk therein, You blooded by me shall be."
She took him by the lily-white hand, And led him to a private room, And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, Whilst one drop of blood would run.
She blooded him in the vein of the arm, And lock'd him up in the room; There did he bleed all the live-long day, Untill the next day at noon.
He then bethought him of a casement door, Thinking for to be gone, He was so weak he could not leap, Nor he could not get down.
He then bethought him of his bugle-horn, Which hung low down to his knee, He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three.