Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came,
Unto Nottingham town came he;50
O there did he meet with great master sheriff,
And likewise the squires all three.
"One boon, one boon," says jolly Robín,
"One boon I beg on my knee;
That, as for the death of these three squires,55
Their hangman I may be."
"Soon granted, soon granted," says master sheriff,
"Soon granted unto thee;
And you shalt have all their gay cloathìng,
Aye, and all their white monèy."60
"O I will have none of their gay cloathìng,
Nor none of their white monèy,
But I'll have three blasts on my bugle-horn,
That their souls to heaven may flee."
[Then] Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,65
Where he blew loud and shrill,
Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men
Came marching down the green hill.
"Whose men are these?" says master sherìff,
"Whose men are they? come tell unto me:"70
"O they are mine, but none of thine,
And are come for the squires all three."
"O take them, O take them," says great master sheriff,
"O take them along with thee;
For there's never a man in fair Nottinghàm75
Can do the like of thee.
[28], And.
[65]. When.