ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD.
"This excellent ballad, given from the common edition of Aldermary church-yard (compared with the York copy), is supposed to be modern; the story, however, seems alluded to in the ballad of Renowned Robin Hood. The full title is The Bishop of Herefords entertainment by Robin Hood and Little John, &c., in merry Barnsdale." Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 150.
Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood,
And some of barons bold;
But I'll tell you how he serv'd the bishop of Hereford,
When he robb'd him of his gold.
As it befel in merry Barnsdale,5
All under the green-wood tree,
The bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his company.
"Come, kill [me] a ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
"Come, kill me a good fat deer;10
The bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.
"We'll kill a fat ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
And dress it by the highway side;
And we will watch the bishop narrowly,15
Lest some other way he should ride."
Robin Hood dress'd himself in shepherds attire,
With six of his men alsò;
And, when the bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go.20
"O what is the matter?" then said the bishop,
"Or for whom do you make this a-do?
Or why do you kill the kings ven'son,
When your company is so few?"