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

But yet I must tell the, bonny beggàr,

That a bout with [thee] I must try ;

Thy coat of grey, lay down I say,

And my mantle of green shall lye by.

Content, content, the beggar he cry’d,

Thy part it will be the worse ;

For I hope this bout to give thee the rout,

And then have at thy purse.

So the beggar he had a mickle long staffe,

And Robin[319] a nut-brown sword ;