Off thocht war neuir so slies."
Gisborne, or Gisburne, is a market town in the west-riding of Yorkshire, on the borders of Lancashire.
The following ballad was first printed in Percy's Reliques in 1765, from his "folio MS."
When shaws[16] beene sheene, and shraddes[17] full fayre,
And leaves both large and longe,
Itt's merrye walkyng in the fayre forrest
To heare the small birdes' songe.
The woodweele sang, and wold not cease,
Sitting upon the spraye,
Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood,