Robin Hood / A collection of all the ancient poems, songs, and ballads, now extant, relative to that celebrated English outlaw. To which are prefixed historical anecdotes of his life.

by Unknown

IV. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP,

“Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman’s house and changed cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.” From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.

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. {171}

As it fell out on a sun-shining day,

When Phœbus was in ‘his’ prime,