ROBIN HOODS GOLDEN PRIZE.
He met two priests upon the way,
And forced them with him to pray;
For gold they prayed, and gold they had,
Enough to make bold Robin glad.
His share came to four hundred pound,
That then was told upon the ground;
Now mark, and you shall hear the jest,
You never heard the like exprest.
Tune is, Robin Hood was a tall young man, &c.
"This ballad (given from an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood) was entered, amongst others, in the Stationers' book, by Francis Coule, 13th June, 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2nd June, 1656." Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 101.
This piece is printed in A Collection of Old Ballads, ii. 121, with some variations.
I have heard talk of bold Robin Hood,
Derry, derry down,
And of brave Little John,
Of Fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlet,
Loxley, and maid Mariòn.
But such a tale as this before5
I think was never knone;
For Robin Hood disguised himself,
And [from] the wood is gone.
Like to a fryer, bold Robin Hood
Was accoutered in his array;10
With hood, gown, bedes, and crucifix,
He past upon the way.
He had not gone miles two or three,
But it was his chance to spy
Two lusty priests, clad all in black,15
Come riding gallantly.
"Benedicite," then said Robin Hood,
"Some pitty on me take;
Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
For our dear ladies sake.20