B
a. Wood, 401, leaf 33 b. b. Garland of 1663, No 16. c. Garland of 1670, No 15. d. Pepys, II, 119, No 105.
1
All you that delight to spend some time
With a hey down down a down down
A merry song for to sing,
Vnto me draw neer, and you shall hear
How Little John went a begging.
2
As Robin Hood walked the forrest along,
And all his yeomandree,
Sayes Robin, Some of you must a begging go,
And, Little John, it must be thee.
3
Sayes John, If I must a begging go,
I will have a palmers weed,
With a staff and a coat, and bags of all sort,
The better then I shall speed.
4
Come, give me now a bag for my bread,
And another for my cheese,
And one for a peny, when as I get any,
That nothing I may leese.
5
Now Little John he is a begging gone,
Seeking for some relief;
But of all the beggers he met on the way,
Little John he was the chief.
6
But as he was walking himself alone,
Four beggers he chanced to spy,
Some deaf, and some blind, and some came behind;
Says John, Here’s brave company!
7
‘Good-morrow,’ said John, ‘my brethren dear,
Good fortune I had you to see;
Which way do you go? pray let me know,
For I want some company.
8
‘O what is here to do?’ then said Little John,
‘Why rings all these bells?’ said he;
‘What dog is a hanging? come, let us be ganging,
That we the truth may see.’
9
‘Here is no dog a hanging,’ then one of them said,
‘Good fellow, we tell unto thee;
But here is one dead wil give us cheese and bred,
And it may be one single peny.’
10
‘We have brethren in London,’ another he said,
‘So have we in Coventry,
In Barwick and Dover, and all the world over,
But nere a crookt carril like thee.
11
‘Therefore stand thee back, thou crooked carel,
And take that knock on the crown;’
‘Nay,’ said Little John, ‘I’le not yet be gone,
For a bout will I have with you round.
12
‘Now have at you all,’ then said Little John,
‘If you be so full of your blows;
Fight on, all four, and nere give ore,
Whether you be friends or foes.’
13
John nipped the dumb, and made him to rore,
And the blind that could not see,
And he that a cripple had been seven years,
He made him run faster then he.
14
And flinging them all against the wall,
With many a sturdie bang,
It made John sing, to hear the gold ring,
Which against the walls cryed twang.
15
Then he got out of the beggers cloak
Three hundred pound in gold;
‘Good fortune had I,’ then said Little John,
‘Such a good sight to behold.’
16
But what found he in a beggers bag,
But three hundred pound and three?
‘If I drink water while this doth last,
Then an ill death may I dye!
17
‘And my begging-trade I will now give ore,
My fortune hath bin so good;
Therefore I’le not stay, but I will away
To the forrest of merry Sherwood.’
18
And when to the forrest of Sherwood he came,
He quickly there did see
His master good, bold Robin Hood,
And all his company.
19
‘What news? What news?’ then said Robin Hood,
‘Come, Little John, tell unto me;
How hast thou sped with thy beggers trade?
For that I fain would see.’
20
‘No news but good,’ then said Little John,
‘With begging ful wel I have sped;
Six hundred and three I have here for thee,
In silver and gold so red.’
21
Then Robin took Little John by the hand,
And danced about the oak-tree:
‘If we drink water while this doth last,
Then an il death may we die!’
22
So to conclude my merry new song,
All you that delight it to sing,
’Tis of Robin Hood, that archer good,
And how Little John went a begging.
A.
Half a page wanting at the beginning, and after 103.
32. his crest.
42. 9.
61. 2.
62. 3d.
82, 113. 3.
91. 7.
93. had neuer.
102. him 2s
:.
B. a.
Little John and the Four Beggers: A new merry song of Robin Hood and Little John, shewing how Little John went a begging, and how he fought with Four Beggers, and what a prize he got of the Four Beggers.
The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger.
Printed for William Gilber[t]son. (1640–63.)
134. them for him.
144. Whih again.
224. beggiug.
b.
Title as in a.
112. on thy.
114. I will.
123. never.
134. made him.
144. again.
203. Three hundred.
c.
Title as in a, except: from these four Beggers. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Begger.
Burden: last down wanting.
83. a wanting: let’s.
92. I for we.
101. he wanting.
123. never.
134. made him: than.
144. against.
194. I fain would fain.
201. then wanting.
203. Three hundred.
222. it wanting.
d.
Title as in a, except: Or, a new. To the tune of Robin Hood, &c.
Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–86?)
12. for wanting.
33. sorts.
34. then shall I.
43. as wanting.
51,4. he wanting.
71. my children.
102. in the Country.
134. made run then.
144. against.
161. in the.
172. it hath.
181. But when.
193. with the.
222. And you.
143
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP
‘Robin Hood and the Bishop.’ a. Wood, 401, leaf 11 b.
b. Garland of 1663, No 5.
c. Garland of 1670, No 4.
d. Pepys, II, 109, No 96.
e. Roxburghe, I, 362, in the Ballad Societys reprint, II, 448.
Also Pepys, II, 122, No 107, by Alexander Milbourne (1670–97): Old Ballads, 1723, II, 39.
a is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 19. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 102, apparently follows the Aldermary Churchyard garland.
Robin Hood, while ranging the forest, sees a bishop and all his men coming, and, knowing that if he is taken no mercy will be given him, asks the help of an old woman, to whom he makes himself known. The old woman has had a kindness from him, and wishes to return it. She consents to exchange her gray coat and spindle for his green mantle and arrows, and Robin makes for his band in this disguise. The bishop carries off the old woman on a horse, making no doubt that he has Robin in custody, but, as he proceeds through the wood, sees a hundred bowmen, and asks his prisoner what this may be. I think it be Robin Hood, says the supposed outlaw. “And who are you?” “Why, I am an old woman.” The bishop turns about, but Robin stays him, ties him to a tree, takes five hundred pound from his portmantle, and then is willing he should go. But Little John will not let him off till he has sung a mass; after which the bishop is mounted on his dapple-gray, with his face to the tail, and told to pray for Robin Hood.
This ballad and the following are variations upon the theme of Robin Hood and the Monk, in the Gest. The disguise as a woman occurs in other outlaw stories; as in Eustace the Monk, Michel, p. 43. Also in Blind Harry’s Wallace, ed. Moir, Book I, 239, and Book IV, 764, pp 9, 72: in the first case Wallace has a rock and sits spinning. See also the ballad of Gude Wallace, further on.
We hear again of the forced mass, st. 23, in Robin Hood and Queen Katherine, A 31, B 40; and of money borrowed against the bishop’s will, in A 32 of the same. It is the Bishop of Hereford who suffers: see the ballad which follows.
Translated by Doenniges, p. 203; Anastasius Grün, p. 113.
1
Come, gentlemen all, and listen a while,
Hey down down an a down
And a story I’le to you unfold;
I’le tell you how Robin Hood served the Bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.
2
As it fell out on a sun-shining day,
When Phebus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.
3
And as he walkd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy,
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.
4
‘O what shall I do?’ said Robin Hood then,
‘If the Bishop he doth take me,
No mercy he’l show unto me, I know,
But hanged I shall be.’
5
Then Robin was stout, and turnd him about,
And a little house there he did spy;
And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry.
6
‘Why, who art thou?’ said the old woman,
‘Come tell it to me for good:’
‘I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood.
7
‘And yonder’s the Bishop and all his men,
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he’l work me spight,
And hanged I shall be.’
8
‘If thou be Robin Hood,’ said the old wife,
‘As thou dost seem to be,
I’le for thee provide, and thee I will hide
From the Bishop and his company.
9
‘For I well remember, one Saturday night
Thou bought me both shoos and hose;
Therefore I’le provide thy person to hide,
And keep thee from thy foes.’
10
‘Then give me soon thy coat of gray,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen.’
11
And when that Robin Hood was so araid,
He went straight to his company;
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the Bishop and his company.
12
‘O who is yonder,’ quoth Little John,
‘That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she.’
13
‘O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin then,
‘And shoot not thy arrows so keen;
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen.’
14
The Bishop he came to the old womans house,
And he called with furious mood,
‘Come let me soon see, and bring unto me,
That traitor Robin Hood.’
15
The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himselfe on a dapple-gray,
And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
He went laughing all the way.
16
But as they were riding the forrest along,
The Bishop he chanc’d for to see
A hundred brave bow-men bold
Stand under the green-wood tree.
17
‘O who is yonder,’ the Bishop then said,
‘That’s ranging within yonder wood?’
‘Marry,’ says the old woman, ‘I think it to be
A man calld Robin Hood.’
18
‘Why, who art thou,’ the Bishop he said,
‘Which I have here with me?’
‘Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldly bishop;
Lift up my leg and see.’
19
‘Then woe is me,’ the Bishop he said,
‘That ever I saw this day!’
He turnd him about, but Robin so stout
Calld him, and bid him stay.
20
Then Robin took hold of the Bishops horse,
And ty’d him fast to a tree;
Then Little John smil’d his master upon,
For joy of that company.
21
Robin Hood took his mantle from’s back,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the Bishops portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.
22
‘So now let him go,’ said Robin Hood;
Said Little John, That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass
Before that he goe from me.
23
Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree,
And made him sing a mass, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree.
24
And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple-gray,
And gave the tail within his hand,
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.
a.
Robin Hood and the Bishop: Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old womans house and changed cloaths with her, to scape from the Bishop; and how he robbed the Bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.
London, Printed for F. Grove on Snow-Hill. (1620–55.)
Burden: sometimes With a hey, etc.; With hey, etc.
22. her for his: cf. b, c.
82. doth: cf. b, c, d, e.
91. on for one: cf. e.
162. chance.
b.
Title as in a. Burden: with the same variations as in a.
22. in his.
54. for wanting.
81. then said.
82. dost.
91. on.
143. soon wanting.
162. chanc’d.
171. then wanting.
172. yonders.
183. cuckoldy.
191. to me.
193. Robin Hood.
c.
Title as in a. Burden: always With a hey, etc.
22. in his.
44. wanting.
53,4. for wanting.
82. dost.
91. on.
161. long.
162. chanced.
171. he said.
183. cuckoldy.
191. to me.
193. Robin Hood.
244. bid.
d.
Title as in a, except, escape: robbed him: sing mass.
Burden: With a hey down down and a down.
21. of a.
22. in her.
23. That for Then.
44. shall I.
54. for wanting.
73. my for me.
81. old woman.
82. dost.
91. well wanting: on.
111. that wanting: thus for so.
131. Robin Hood.
162. chanc’d.
183. am a woman: cuckoldy.
193. Robin Hood.
204. of his.
221. So wanting.
231. by’th.
241. And when.
e.
Title as in a, except, escape: robbed him: sing mass.
London, Printed by and for W. O[nley], etc. (1650–1702.)
Burden: With a hey down down an a down.
12. to you I’ll.
13. to you.
21. of a.
22. in her.
23. Bold Robin Hood.
33. he wanting. (?)
41. saith.
44. shall I.
52. did he.
53. for wanting.
54. aloud began to.
73. my for me.
74. shall I.
81. then said the old woman.
82. dost.
91. well wanting: one.
92. brought.
102. the for my.
111. thus for so.
113. and wanting.
123. at her I will.
131. saith.
162. chanc’d.
174. A wanting.
183. am a woman.
193. Robin Hood.
194. to him.
204. of this.
221. So wanting.
231. by th’.
144
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD
A. a. Robin Hood’s Garland, London, J. Marshall & Co., Aldermary Churchyard, No 23. b. ‘Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford,’ Douce Ballads, III, 123 b, London, C. Sheppard, 1791. c. Chappell’s Popular Music of the Olden Time, p. 395, from a broadside printed for Daniel Wright, next the Sun Tavern in Holborn. d. Robin Hood’s Garland, 1749, No 23.
B. E. Cochrane’s Song-Book, p. 149, No 113.
A a in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 146, “compared with the York copy,” that is, with two or three slight changes: Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 211. B, the Scottish copy, is very likely only an imperfect remembrance of a broadside, but the date of the MS., though this is perhaps not determinable, has been put as early as 1730.
Robin Hood, expecting the Bishop of Hereford to pass near Barnsdale, has a deer killed for his dinner. He dresses himself and six of his men in shepherd’s attire, and when the Bishop approaches they make an ado to attract his attention. The Bishop interrogates them. Robin owns that they mean to make merry with the king’s venison. The Bishop will show them no mercy; they must go before the king with him. Robin summons his band with his horn and it is the Bishop’s turn to cry mercy. Robin will not let him off, but takes him to Barnsdale, and makes him great cheer. The Bishop foresees that there will be a heavy reckoning. Little John searches the Bishop’s portmanteau, and takes out three hundred pound; enough, he says, to make him in charity with the churchman. They make the Bishop dance in his boots, A, or sing a mass, B, and he is glad to get off so lightly.
The Bishop of Hereford appears in the next ballad, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. He there tells us that Robin had made him sing a mass out of hours, and had borrowed money of him against his will.
The conclusion of this ballad is to the same effect as that of the preceding, and was probably suggested by the Gest. No copy has been found, in print or writing, earlier than the last century; a fact of no special importance. Whenever written, if written it was, it is far superior to most of the seventeenth century broadsides. Mr Chappell speaks of it as being now (thirty years ago) the most popular of the Robin Hood set.
Translated by Talvj, Charakteristik, p. 493; Anastasius Grün, p. 151; Loève-Veimars, p. 204.