115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny. The Sixth Fytte. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

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Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny

The Sixth Fytte

How Sir Richard was cast by the Sheriff into Prison, and rescued by Robin Hood

CCCXVII

Lithe and listen, Gentlemen,

And hearken to my song;

How the proud Sheriff of Nottingham

And men of armès strong

CCCXVIII

Full fast came to the High Sheriff,

The country up to rout,

And they beset the Knight’s castell,

The wallès all about.

CCCXIX

The proudè Sheriff loud gan cry,

And said, ‘Thou traitor Knight,

Thou keep’st here the King’s enemies,

Against the law and right.’—

CCCXX

‘Sir, I will avow that I have done,

The deeds that here be dight,

Upon all the lands that I have,

As I am a true knight.

CCCXXI

‘Wend forth, sirs, on your way,

And doth no more to me,

Till ye wit our King his will

What he will say to thee.’

CCCXXII

The Sheriff thus had his answère,

Without any leasing;

Forth he yede to London town,

All for to tell our King.

CCCXXIII

There he told him of that Knight,

And eke of Robin Hood,

And also of the bold archers

That were so noble and good.

CCCXXIV

‘He would avow that he had done,

To maintain the outlaws strong,

He would be lord, and set you at nought,

In all the north londe.’

CCCXXV

‘I will be at Nottingham,’ said our King,

‘Within this fortènight,

And take I willè Robin Hood,

And so I will that Knight.

CCCXXVI

‘Go home, thou proud Sheriff,

And do as I bid thee,

And ordain good archers enough,

Of all the wide countrey.’

CCCXXVII

The Sheriff had his leave i-take,

And went him on his way;

And Robin Hood to green-wood went

Upon a certain day;

CCCXXVIII

And Little John was whole of the arrow,

That shot was in his knee,

And did him straight to Robin Hood,

Under the green-wood tree.

CCCXXIX

Robin Hood walked in the forest

Under the leavès green;

The proud Sheriff of Nottingham

Thereof he had great teen.

CCCXXX

The Sheriff there fail’d of Robin Hood,

He might not have his prey;

Then he awaited this gentle Knight,

Both by night and day.

CCCXXXI

Ever he waited that gentle Knight,

Sir Richard at the Lee,

As he went hawking by the river-side,

And let his hawkès flee.

CCCXXXII

Took he there this gentle Knight,

With men of armès strong,

And led him to Nottingham-ward,

Bound both foot and hond.

CCCXXXIII

The Sheriff swore a full great oath,

By Him that died on a tree,

He had liefer than an hundred pound,

That Robin Hood had he.

CCCXXXIV

This heard the Knightès wife,

A fair lady and a free;

She set her on a good palfrey,

To green-wood anon rode she.

CCCXXXV

When she came in the forèst,

Under the green-wood tree,

Found she there Robin Hood

And all his fair meinèe.

CCCXXXVI

‘God thee save, thou good Robin,

And all thy company;

For Ourè dearè Lady’s sake,

A boon grant thou me!

CCCXXXVII

‘Let thou never my wedded Lord

Shamefully slayen be;

He is fast bound at Nottingham,

For the love of thee.’

CCCXXXVIII

Anon then said good Robin,

To that lady free,

‘What man hath your lord i-take?’—

‘The proud Sheriff,’ then said she.

CCCXXXIX

‘The proud Sheriff hath him i-take

Forsooth as I thee say;

He is not yet three miles,

Passèd on his way.’

CCCXL

Up then started good Robin

As a man that had been wood;

‘Buskè you, my merry men,

For Him that died on rood!

CCCXLI

‘And he that this sorròw forsaketh,

By Him that died on a tree,

And by Him that all things maketh,

No longer shall dwell with me.’

100

CCCXLII

Soon there were good bows y-bent,

More than seven score;

Hedge nor ditch they sparèd none

That was them before.

CCCXLIII

‘I make mine avow to God,’ said Robin,

105

‘The Knight would I fain see,

And if I may him takè,

I-quit then shall he be.’

CCCXLIV

And when they came to Nottingham,

They walkèd in the street;

110

And with the proud Sheriff i-wis

Soonè gan they meet.

CCCXLV

‘Abide, thou proud Sheriff,’ he said,

‘Abide, and speak with me;

Of some tidings of our King

115

I would fain hear of thee.

CCCXLVI

‘This seven year, by dear-worthy God,

Ne yede I so fast on foot,

I make mine avow to God, thou proud Sheriff,

It is not for thy good.’

120

CCCXLVII

Robin bent a full good bow,

An arrow he drew at will;

He hit so the proud Sheriff,

On the ground he lay full still.

CCCXLVIII

And or he might up arise,

125

On his feet to stand,

He smote off the Sheriff’s head,

With his bright brand.

CCCXLIX

‘Lie thou there, thou proud Sheriff;

Evil mote thou thrive:

130

There might no man to thee trust

The while thou wert alive.’

CCCL

His men drew out their brightè swords

That were so sharp and keen,

And laiden on the Sheriff’s men,

135

And drave them down bidene.

CCCLI

Robin started to the Knight,

And cut in two his band,

And took him in his hand a bow,

And bade him by him stand.

140

CCCLII

‘Leave thy horsè thee behind,

And learnè for to ren;

Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,

Through mire, moss, and fen.

CCCLIII

‘Thou shalt with me to greenè-wood,

145

Without any leasing,

Till that I have got us grace

Of Edward, our comely King.’

GLOSS: up to rout] to assemble in a band, to call to arms. dight] done, performed. leasing] lying. yede] went. whole] healed. wood] furious, mad. bidene] together. took] gave. ren] run.

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