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how many merry monthes be in the yeere? There are thirteen, I say; The midsummer moone is the merryest of all, Next to the merry month of May. In May, when mayds beene fast weepand, Young men their hands done wringe, * * * * 'I'le . pe . . . Over may noe man for villanie:' 'I'le never eate nor drinke,' Robin Hood sa[id], 'Till I that cutted friar see.' He builded his men in a brake of fearne, A litle from that nunery; Sayes, If you heare my litle horne blow, Then looke you come to me. When Robin came to Fontaines Abey, Wheras that fryer lay, He was ware of the fryer where he stood, And to him thus can he say. A payre of blacke breeches the yeoman had on, His coppe all shone of steele, A fayre sword and a broad buckeler Beseemed him very weell. 'I am a wet weary man,' said Robin Hood, 'Good fellow, as thou may see; Wilt beare [me] over this wild water, Ffor sweete Saint Charity?' The fryer bethought him of a good deed; He had done none of long before; He hent up Robin Hood on his backe, And over he did him beare. But when he came over that wild water, A longe sword there he drew: 'Beare me backe againe, bold outlawe, Or of this thou shalt have enoughe.' Then Robin Hood hent the fryar on his back, And neither sayd good nor ill; Till he came ore that wild water, The yeoman he walked still. Then Robin Hood wett his fayre greene hoze, A span aboue his knee; S[ay]s, Beare me ore againe, thou cutted f[ryer] * * * * . . . . . . . . . . . good bowmen [C]ame raking all on a rowe. 'I beshrew thy head,' said the cutted friar, 'Thou thinkes I shall be shente; I thought thou had but a man or two, And thou hast [a] whole conuent. 'I lett thee haue a blast on thy horne, Now giue me leaue to whistle another; I cold not bidd thee noe better play And thou wert my owne borne brother.' 'Now fute on, fute on, thou cutted fryar, I pray God thou neere be still; It is not the futing in a fryers fist Thatcan doe me any ill.' The fryar sett his neave to his mouth, A loud blast he did blow; Then halfe a hundred good bandoggs Came raking all on a rowe. . . . . . . . . 'Euery dogg to a man,' said the cutted fryar, 'And I my selfe to Robin Hood.' 'Over God's forbott,' said Robin Hood, 'That euer that soe shold bee; I had rather be mached with three of the tikes Ere I wold be matched on thee. 'But stay thy tikes, thou fryar,' he said, 'And freindshipp I'le haue with thee; But stay thy tikes, thou fryar,' he said, 'And saue good yeomanry.' The fryar he sett his neave to his mouth, A lowd blast he did blow; The doggs the coucht downe eiery one, They couched downe on a rowe. 'What is thy will, thou yeoman?' he said, 'Haue done and tell it me;' 'If that thou will goe to merry greenwood, * * * * = = summer time, when leaves grow green, And flowers are fresh and gay, Robin Hood and his merry men Were disposed to play. Then some would leap, and some would run, And some would use artillery: 'Which of you can a good bow draw, A good archer to be? 'Which of you can kill a buck? Or who can kill a do? Or who can kill a hart of greece, Five hundred foot him fro?' Will Scadlock he killd a buck, And midge he killd a do, And Little John killd a hart of greece, Five hundred foot him fro. 'God's blessing on thy heart,' said Robin Hood, 'That hath [shot] such a shot for me; I would ride my horse an hundred miles, To finde one could match with thee.' That causd Will Scadlock to laugh, He laughed full heartily: 'There lives a curtal frier in Fountains Abby Will beat both him and thee. 'That curtal frier in Fountains Abby Well can a strong bow draw; He will beat you and your yeomen, Set them all on a row.' Robin Hood took a solemn oath, It was by Mary free, That he would neither eat nor drink Till the frier he did see. Robin Hood put on his harness good, And on his head a cap of steel, Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him weel. He took his bow into his hand, It was made of a trusty tree, With a sheaf of arrows at his belt, To the Fountains Dale went he. And comming unto Fountain[s] Dale, No further would he ride; There was he aware of a curtal frier, Walking by the water-side. The fryer had on a harniss good, And on his head a cap of steel, Broad sword and buckler by his side, And they became him weel. Robin Hood lighted off his horse, And tied him to a thorn: 'Carry me over the water, thou curtal frier, Or else thy life's forlorn.' The frier took Robin Hood on his back, Deep water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad, Till he came at the other side. Lightly leapt Robin Hood off the friers back; The frier said to him again, Carry me over this water, fine fellow, Or it shall breed thy pain.