Now Robin he is to Nottingham bound, With his bag hanging down to his knee, His staff, and his coat, scarce worth a groat, Yet merrilie passed he.
As Robin he passed the streets along, He heard a pittiful cry ; Three brethren dear, as he did hear, Condemned were to dye.
Then Robin he highed to the sheriffs [house], Some reliefe for to seek ; He skipt, and leapt, and capered full high, As he went along the street.
But when to the sheriffs doore he came, There a gentleman fine and brave, Thou beggar, said he, come tell unto me What it is thou wouldest have.
No meat, nor drink, said Robin Hood then, That I come here to crave ; But to get the lives of yeomen three, And that I fain would have.
That cannot be, thou bold beggàr, Their fact it is so clear ; I tell to thee, they hanged must be, For stealing of our king’s deer. { 279}
But when to the gallows they did come, There was many a weeping eye : O, hold your peace, said Robin Hood then, For certain ‘they shall’ not dye.
Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, And he blew out blastes three, Till a hundred bold archers brave Came kneeling down to his knee.
What is your will, mastèr ? they said, We are at your command. Shoot east, shoot west, said Robin Hood then, And see you spare no man.
Then they shot east, and they shot west, Their arrows were so keen ; The sheriffe he, and his companie, No longer ‘could’ be seen.
Then he stept to those brethren three, And away he has them tane ; The sheriffe was crost, and many a man lost, That dead lay on the plain.
And away they went into the merry green wood, And sung with a merry glee ; And Robin Hood took these brethren good To be of his yeomandrie.
From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood: the full title being, “A new merry song of Robin Hood and Little John, shewing how Little John went a begging, and how he fought with the four beggers, and what a prize he got of the four beggers. The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger.”
All you that delight to spend some time, _With a hey down, down, a down, down_, A merry song for to sing, Unto me draw neer, and you shall hear How Little John went a beggìng. { 281}
As Robin Hood walked the forest along, And all his yeomandree. Sayes Robin, Some of you must a begging go, And, Little John, it must be thee.