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From “Poly-Olbion”
THE MERRY pranks he played would ask an age to tell, | |
| And the adventures strange that Robin Hood befell. | |
| When Mansfield many a time for Robin hath been laid, | |
| How he hath cousened them that him would have betrayed: | |
| How often he hath come to Nottingham disguised, | 5 |
| And cunningly escaped, being set to be surprised. | |
| In this our spacious isle I think there is not one | |
| But he hath heard some talk of him and little John; | |
| And to the end of time the tales shall ne’er be done, | |
| Of Scarlock, George-a-Green, and Much the miller’s son, | 10 |
| Of Tuck the merry friar, which many a sermon made | |
| In praise of Robin Hood, his outlaws and their trade. | |
| An hundred valiant men had this brave Robin Hood, | |
| Still ready at his call, that bow-men were right good, | |
| All clad in Lincoln green, with caps of red and blue. | 15 |
| His fellow’s winded horn not one of them but knew, | |
| When setting to their lips their little bugles shrill, | |
| The warbling echoes waked from every dale and hill: | |
| Their baldrics set with studs, athwart their shoulders cast, | |
| To which under their arms their sheafs were buckled fast, | 20 |
| A short sword at their belt, a buckler scarce a span, | |
| Who struck below the knee, not counted then a man: | |
| All made of Spanish yew, their bows were wondrous strong; | |
| They not an arrow drew but was a cloth-yard long. | |
| Of archery they had the very perfect craft, | 25 |
| With broad arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft, | |
| At marks full forty score they used to prick and rove, | |
| Yet higher than the breast for compass never strove; | |
| Yet at the farthest mark a foot could hardly win: | |
| At long-buts, short, and hoyles each one could cleave the pin: | 30 |
| Their arrows finely paired, for timber, and for feather, | |
| With birch and brazil pieced, to fly in any weather; | |
| And shot they with the round, the square, or forked pile, | |
| The loose gave such a twang as might be heard a mile. | |
| And of these archers brave there was not any one | 35 |
| But he could kill a deer his swiftest speed upon, | |
| Which they did boil and roast, in many a mighty wood, | |
| Sharp hunger the fine sauce to their more kingly food. | |
| Then taking them to rest, his merry men and he | |
| Slept many a summer’s night under the greenwood tree. | 40 |
| From wealthy abbots’ chests, and churls’ abundant store, | |
| What oftentimes he took, he shared amongst the poor: | |
| No lordly Bishop came in lusty Robin’s way, | |
| To him before he went, but for his pass must pay: | |
| The widow in distress he graciously relieved, | 45 |
| And remedied the wrongs of many a virgin grieved: | |
| He from the husband’s bed no married woman wan, | |
| But to his mistress dear, his loved Marian, | |
| Was ever constant known, which wheresoe’er she came, | |
| Was sovereign of the woods, chief lady of the game: | 50 |
| Her clothes tucked to the knee, and dainty braided hair, | |
| With bow and quiver armed, she wandered here and there | |
| Amongst the forest wild; Diana never knew | |
| Such pleasure, nor such harts as Mariana slew. | |
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