By the Faith of my Body, said bold Robin Hood,
I never saw Woman like thee,
And com'st thou from East, ay, or com'st thou from West
thou needst not beg Venison of me.
However along to the Bower you shall go,
and taste of a Forester's Meat;
And when we came thither, we found as good cheer,
as any man needs for to eat.
For there was hot Venison, and Warden pies cold,
Cream coloured with Honey-Combs plenty,
And the Sarvitors they were besides little John,
good yeomen at least four and twenty.
Clorinda said, Tell me your Name gentle Sir?
and he said, 'Tis bold Robin Hood;
'Squire Gamwel's my Uncle, but all my delight,
is to dwell in the merry Sherwood:
For 'tis a fine Life, and 'tis void of all Strife,
so 'tis Sir, Clorinda reply'd;
But oh, said bold Robin, how sweet would it be,
if Clorinda would be my Bride?
She blush'd at the Motion, yet after a Pause,
said, yes Sir, and with all my Heart,
Then let us send for a Priest, said Robin Hood,
and marry before we do part.
But she said, it may not be so gentle Sir,
for I must be at Titbury Feast:
And if Robin Hood will go thither with me,
I'll make him the most welcome Guest.
Said Robin Hood, reach me that Buck, little John,
for I'll go along with my Dear;
And bid my Yeomen kill six brace of Bucks,
go meet me to-morrow just here.
Before we had ridden five Staffordshire miles,
eight Yoemen that were too bold,
Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his Buck,
a truer tale never was told.
I will not faith, said bold Robin; come John,
stand to me and we'll beat 'em all;
Then both drew their Swords, and cut 'em and slash'd 'em,
that five of them did fall.