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

VIII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK.

This singularly curious and excellent poem, which is probably the earliest extant on the subject, was first printed in the “Ancient Metrical Tales,” edited by the Rev. C. H. Hartshorne (8vo, 1829), from a MS. in the library of University College, Cambridge (F. F. 5. 48), with which it has been since obligingly collated by Frederic Madden, Esq. A few lines are unfortunately rendered illegible by damp.

In somer when the shawes be sheyne,

And leves be large and longe,

Hit is fulle mery in feyre foreste

To here the foulys song.

To se the dere draw to the dale,

And leve the hilles hee,

And shadow hem in the leves grene

Vndur the grene wode tre.