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

Verse > Anthologies > Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. > The Oxford Book of Ballads

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

115. A Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meiny

The Seventh Fytte

How the King rode out to punish Robin Hood, and how he was entertained

CCCLIV

The King came to Nottingham,

With knights in great array,

For to take that gentle Knight

And Robin, if he may.

CCCLV

He askèd men of that country

After Robin Hood,

And eke after that gentle Knight

That was so bold and good.

CCCLVI

When they had him told the case

Our King understood their tale,

And he seizèd in his hand

The Knightès landès all.

CCCLVII

All the pass of Lancashire

He went both far and near,

Till he came to Plompton Park,

He fail’d many of his deer.

CCCLVIII

There our King was wont to see

Herdès many one,

He could unneth find one deer

That bare any good horn.

CCCLIX

The King was wonder wroth withall,

And swore by the Trinity,

‘I would I haddè Robin Hood,

With eyes I might him see.

CCCLX

‘And he that would smite off the Knightès head,

And bring it unto me

He shall have the Knightès lands,

Sir Richard at the Lee.

CCCLXI

‘I give it him with my chartèr,

And seal it with my hand,

To have and hold for evermore

In all merry England.’

CCCLXII

Then bespake a fair old Knight

That was true in his fay:

‘Ah! my liegè lord the King,

One word I shall you say.

CCCLXIII

‘There is no man in this country

May have the Knightès lands,

While Robin Hood may ride or go,

And bear a bow in his hands.

CCCLXIV

‘That he ne shall not lose his head,

The best ball in his hood;

Give it no man, my lord the King,

That ye will any good.’

CCCLXV

Half a year dwelt our comely King

In Nottingham, and more;

Could he not hear of Robin Hood,

In what country he wore.

CCCLXVI

But alway wentè good Robin

By halk and eke by hill,

And alway slew the Kingès deer,

And wielded them at will.

CCCLXVII

Then bespake a proud forstèr,

That stood by our Kingès knee:

‘If ye will see good Robin Hood,

Ye must do after me.

CCCLXVIII

‘Take five of the bestè knights

That be in yourè lede,

And walkè down by yon Abbèy,

And get you monkès weed.

CCCLXIX

‘And I will be your leadès-man,

And leadè you the way,

And ere ye come to Nottingham,

Mine head then dare I lay

CCCLXX

‘That ye shall meet with good Robin,

Alive if that he be;

Ere ye come to Nottingham

With eyes ye shall him see.’

CCCLXXI

Full hastily our King was dight,

So were his knightès five,

Each of them in monkès weed,

And hasted thither blive.

CCCLXXII

Our King was great above his cowl,

A broad hat on his crown,

Right as he were abbot-like,

They rode into the town.

CCCLXXIII

Stiff boots our King had on,

Forsooth as I you say;

Singing he rode to the greenè-wood,

The convent was clothed in gray.

CCCLXXIV

His mail-horse and his great somèrs

Followed our King behind,

Till they came to greenè-wood

A mile under the lind.

CCCLXXV

There they met with good Robin,

Standing on the way,

And so did many a bold archèr,

For sooth as I you say.

CCCLXXVI

Robin took the Kingè’s horse

Hastily in that stide,

And said, ‘Sir Abbot, by your leave,

A while ye must abide.

CCCLXXVII

‘We be yeomen of this forèst

Under the green-wood tree;

We livè by our Kingès deer,

None other shift have we.

CCCLXXVIII

‘And ye have churches and rentès both

And gold full great plenty;

Give us some of your spending,

For saintè charity.’

100

CCCLXXIX

Then bespake our comely King,

Anon then saidè he,

‘I have brought no more to greenè-wood

But forty pound with me.

CCCLXXX

‘I have lain at Nottingham

105

This fortnight with our King,

And spent I have full muchè good

On many a great lording.

CCCLXXXI

‘And I have but forty pound,

No more I have with me:

110

But if I had an hundred pound,

I vouch it half on thee.’

CCCLXXXII

Robin took the forty pound,

And departed it in twain;

Halfen-deal he gave his men,

115

And bade them be full fain.

CCCLXXXIII

Full courteously Robin gan say,

‘Sir, this for your spending!

We shall meet another day.’—

‘Gramerci!’ said our King.

120

CCCLXXXIV

‘But well thee greeteth Edward our King,

And sent to thee his seal,

And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,

Both to meat and meal.’

CCCLXXXV

He took out the broadè targe,

125

And soon he let him see;

Robin could his courtesy,

And set him on his knee.

CCCLXXXVI

‘I love no man in all the world

So well as I do my King;

130

Welcome is my lordès seal;

And, Monk, for thy tiding.

CCCLXXXVII

‘Sir Abbot, for thy tidings,

Today thou shalt dine with me,

For the lovè of my King,

135

Under my trystell-tree.’

CCCLXXXVIII

Forth he led our comely King

Full fairè by the hand;

Many a deer there was slain,

They were full fast dightànd.

140

CCCLXXXIX

Robin took a full great horn,

And loudè he gan blow;

Seven score of wight young men

Came ready on a row.

CCCXC

All they kneelèd on their knee

145

Full fair before Robin;

The King said himself until,

And swore by Saint Austìn,

CCCXCI

‘Here is a wonder seemly sight;

Me thinketh, by God’s pine,

150

His men are more at his bidding

Than my men be at mine.’

CCCXCII

Full hastily was their dinner dight,

And thereto gan they gon;

They servèd our King with all their might,

155

Both Robin and Little John.

CCCXCIII

Anon before our King was set

The fattè venisoun,

The good white bread, the good red wine,

Thereto fine ale and brown.

160

CCCXCIV

‘Make good cheer,’ said Robin Hood,

‘Abbot, for charity,

And for this ilkè tiding, Sir,

Blessed mote thou be.

CCCXCV

‘Now shalt thou see what life we lead,

165

Ere thou hennès wend;

Then thou mayst inform our King,

When ye together lend.’

CCCXCVI

Up they started all in haste,

Their bows were smartly bent;

170

Our King was never so aghast,

He weened to have been shent.

CCCXCVII

Two yards there were up set,

Thereto gan they gang;

By fifty paces, our King said,

175

The markès were too lang.

CCCXCVIII

On every side a rose garlànd,

They shot under the line:

‘Who fails of the garland,’ said Robin,

‘His tackle he shall tine,

180

CCCXCIX

‘And yield it unto his mastèr,

Be it never so fine;

For no man will I spare,’ he said,

‘So drink I ale or wine;

CCCC

‘And bear a buffet on his head

185

I-wis aright all bare:’

And all that fell to Robin’s lot

He smote them wonder sair.

CCCCI

Twice Robin shot about,

And ever he cleft the wand,

190

And so did eke the good Gilbèrt

With the white hand.

CCCCII

Little John and good Scathèlock,

For nothing would they spare;

When they fail’d of the garlànd

195

Robin smote them sair.

CCCCIII

At the last shot that Robin shot,

For all his friendès fare,

Yet he fail’d of the garlànd

Three fingers and mair.

200

CCCCIV

Then bespake him good Gilbèrt,

And thus he gan him say:

‘Master,’ he said, ‘your tackle is lost,

Stand forth and take your pay.’

CCCCV

‘If it be so,’ said Robin Hood,

205

‘That may no better be,

Sir Abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,

I pray thee, serve thou me.’

CCCCVI

‘It falls not for mine order,’ said our King,

‘Robin, by thy leave,

210

For to smite no good yeomàn,

For doubt I should him grieve.’

CCCCVII

‘Smite on boldly,’ said Robin,

‘I give thee largè leave.’

Anon our King with that same word

215

He folded up his sleeve,

CCCCVIII

And such a buffet he gave Robin,

To ground he yede full near:

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

‘Thou art a stalwart frere.

220

CCCCIX

‘There is pith in thine arm,’ said Robin,

‘I trow thou canst well shoot.’

Thus our King and Robin Hood

Together then they met.

CCCCX

Robin beheld our comely King

225

Wistly in the face,

So did Sir Richard at the Lea,

And knelt down in that place.

CCCCXI

And so did all the wild outlàws,

When they saw them kneel:

230

‘My lord the King of Engèland,

Now I know you weel!’

CCCCXII

‘Mercy then, Robin,’ said our King,

‘Under your trystell-tree,

Of thy goodness and thy grace,

235

For my men and me!’

CCCCXIII

‘Yes, ’fore God,’ said Robin Hood,

‘And also God me save!

I ask mercy, my lord the King,

And for my men I crave.’

240

CCCCXIV

‘Yes, ’fore God,’ then said our King,

‘And thereto sent I me,

With that thou leave the greenè-wood,

And all thy company;

CCCCXV

‘And come home, sir, unto my court,

245

And there dwell with me.’—

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

‘And right so shall it be.

CCCCXVI

‘I will come unto your court,

Your service for to see,

250

And bringè with me of my men

Seven score and three.

CCCCXVII

‘But me like well your service,

I will come again full soon,

And shooten at the dunnè deer,

255

As I am wont to doon.’

GLOSS: pass] limits, extent. There] where. unneth] scarcely. fay] faith. That ye will] to whom you wish. halk] nook, hiding-place. forstèr] forester. lede] following, retinue. leadès-man] guide. convent] company of monks. mail-horse] baggage-horse. lind] linden, lime tree. stide] stead, place. lording] gentleman. Halfen-deal] half. targe] disk (seal). dightànd] making preparations. pine] pain, passion. hennès] hence. lend] dwell. shent] put to shame, hurt. yards] rods. tine] forfeit. falls] is proper. frere] friar. But me like] unless I like.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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