“Or, a merry combat fought between Robin Hood, Little John, and Will Scarelock, and three stout Keepers in Sheerwood Forrest.
Robin was valiant and stout, So was Scarelock and John in the field, But these Keepers stout did give them rout, And made them all for to yield. But after the battel ended was, Bold Robin did make them amends, For claret and sack they did not lack, So drank themselves good friends.
To the tune of, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine; or, Robin Hood and the Shepheard.”
From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. { 269}
There’s some will talk of lords and knights, _Doun, a doun, a doun_, And some of yeomen good ; But I will tell you of Will Scarlòck, Little John, and Robin Hood. _Doun, a doun, a doun, a doun._
They were outlaws, ’tis well known, And men of a noble blood ; And many a time was their valour shown In the forrest of merry Sheerwood.
Upon a time it chanced so, As Robin[317] would have it be, They all three would a walking go, The pastime for to see.
And as they walked the forest along, Upon a Midsummer day, There was they aware of three keepèrs, Clad all in green aray.
With brave long faucheons by their sides And forrest-bills in hand, They call’d aloud to those bold outlàws, And charged them to stand. { 270}
Why, who are you, cry’d bold Robìn, That ‘speak’ so boldly here ? “We three belong to King Henry, And are keepers of his deer.”
The devil ‘you are !’ sayes Robin Hood, I am sure that it is not so ; We be the keepers of this forrèst, And that you soon shall know.
Come, your coats of green lay on the ground, And so will we all three, And take your swords and bucklers round, And try the victory.
We be content, the keepers said, We be three, and you no less, Then why should we be of you afraid, ‘As’ we never did transgress ?
“Why, if you be three keepers in this forrèst, Then we be three rangers good, And will make you know before you do go, You meet with bold Robin Hood.”
“We be content, thou bold outlàw, Our valour here to try, And will make you know, before we do go, We will fight before we will fly. { 271}
Then, come draw your swords, you bold outlàws, No longer stand to prate, But let us try it out with blows, For cowards we do hate.