"From an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood."
Two trifling corrections have been made from the copy in Old Ballads, 1723, (ii. 39,) which is very nearly the same.
Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile,
Hey down, down, an a down,
And a story Ile to you unfold;
Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.
As it fell out on a sun-shining day,5
When Phœbus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.
And as he walk'd the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy,10
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.
"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,15
But hangèd I shall be."
Then Robin was stout, and turn'd 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.20
"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;
"And yonder's the bishop and all his men,25
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he'l work my spight,
And hangèd I shall be."
"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.