Another version of this piece is immediately subjoined.
[29] The earliest known edition of Robin Hood's Garland was formerly in the possession of Mr. Douce, and is now among the books bequeathed by him to the Bodleian Library. It is dated 1670, and contains sixteen ballads. In the later Garlands this number is increased to twenty four, and to twenty seven.
There are twelve months in all the year,
As I hear many say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,5
With a link a down and a day,
And there he met a silly old woman,
Was weeping on the way.
"What news? what news, thou silly old woman?
What news hast thou for me?"10
Said she, "There's three squires in Nottingham town,
To-day is condemned to die."
"O have they parishes burnt?" he said,
"Or have they ministers slain?
Or have they robbèd any virgin,15
Or with other men's wives have lain?"
"They have no parishes burnt, good sir,
Nor yet have ministers slain,
Nor have they robbèd any virgin,
Nor with other men's wives have lain."20
"O what have they done?" said Robin Hood,
"I pray thee tell to me:"
"It's for slaying of the king's fallow deer,
Bearing their long bows with thee."
"Dost thou not mind, old woman," he said,25
"Since thou made me sup and dine?
By the truth of my body," quoth bold Robin Hood,
"You could not tell it in better time."