From A Musicall Dreamt, or the fourth booke of Ayres, &c., London, 1606. Ritson printed the same from the edition of 1609.
In Sherwood livde stout Robin Hood,
An archer great, none greater;
His bow and shafts were sure and good,
Yet Cupids were much better.
Robin could shoot at many a hart and misse,5
Cupid at first could hit a hart of his.
Hey, jolly Robin, hoe, jolly Robin, hey, jolly Robin Hood,
Love finds out me, as well as thee, [so follow] me, [so follow] me to the green-wood.
A noble thiefe was Robin Hoode,
Wise was he could deceive him;10
Yet Marrian, in his bravest mood,
Could of his heart bereave him!
No greater thief lies hidden under skies
Then beauty closely lodgde in womens eyes.
Hey, jolly Robin, &c.
An out-law was this Robin Hood,15
His life free and unruly;
Yet to faire Marrian bound he stood,
And loves debt payed her duely.
Whom curbe of stricktest law could not hold in,
Love with obeyednes and a winke could winne
Hey, jolly Robin, &c.20
Now wend we home, stout Robin Hood,
Leave we the woods behind us;
Love-passions must not be withstood,
Love every where will find us.
I livde in fielde and downe, and so did he,25
I got me to the woods, love followed me.
Hey, jolly Robin, &c.
[8], to follow. Ritson.
THE SONG OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS HUNTES-MEN.
From Anthony Munday's London pageant for 1615, entitled Metropolis Coronata, the Triumphes of Ancient Drapery. Munday was a popular ballad-writer, and, together with Chettle, the author of two well-known plays on the fortunes of "Robert Earl of Huntington." This song is taken from The Civic Garland, in the Percy Society Publications, vol. xix. p. 15.
Now wend we together, my merry men all,
Unto the forrest side a:
And there to strike a buck or a doe,
Let our cunning all be a tride a.