Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With a link a down and a down,70
And there he met with the proud sheriff,
Was walking along the town.
["O Christ you save, O sheriff," he said,]
["O Christ you save and see;]
And what will you give to a silly old man75
To-day will your hangman be?"
"Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said,
"Some suits I'll give to thee:
Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen,
To-day's a hangman's fee."80
Then Robin he turns him round about,
And jumps from stock to stone:
"By the truth of my body," the sheriff he said,
"That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man."
"I was ne'er a hangman in all my life,85
Nor yet intends to trade;
But curst be he," said bold Robìn,
"That first a hangman was made.
"I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,
And a bag for barley and corn;90
A bag for bread, and a bag for beef,
And a bag for my little small horn.
"I have a horn in my pockèt,
I got it from Robin Hood,
And still when I set it to my mouth,95
For [thee] it blows little good."
"O wind thy horn, thou proud fellòw,
Of thee I have no doubt:
I wish that thou give such a blast
Till both thy eyes fall out."100
The first loud blast that he did blow,
He blew both loud and shrill;
A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men
Came riding over the hill.
The next loud blast that he did give,105
He blew both loud and amain,
And quickly sixty of Robin Hood's men
Came shining over the plain.