Ballads of Robin Hood and other Outlaws Part 26

When Robin came to Nottingham, The sooth if I should say, He set up his horse anon, And gave him oats and hay.

32.

In the midst of the town, There he showed his ware; 'Pottes, pottes,' he gan cry full soon, 'Have hansel for the mare!'

33.

Full often against the sheriff's gate Showed he his chaffare; Wives and widows about him drew And cheped fast of his ware.

34.

Yet, 'Pottes, great chepe!' cried Robin, 'I love evil thus to stand.'

And all that saw him sell Said he had be no potter long.

35.

The pottes that were worth pence five, He sold them for pence three; Privily said man and wife, 'Yonder potter shall never thee.'

36.

Thus Robin sold full fast, Till he had pottes but five; Up he them took off his car And sent them to the sheriff's wife.

37.

Thereof she was full fain; 'Gramercy, sir,' then said she; 'When ye come to this country again I shall buy of thy pottes, so mote I thee.'

38.

'Ye shall have of the best,' said Robin, And sware by the Trinity; Full courteously she gan him call, 'Come dine with the sheriff and me.'

39.

'G.o.d amercy,' said Robin, 'Your bidding shall be done.'

A maiden in the pottes gan bear, Robin and the sheriff wife followed anon.

40.

When Robin into the hall came, The sheriff soon he met; The potter could of courtesy, And soon the sheriff he gret.

41.

'Lo, sir, what this potter hath give you and me; Five pottes small and great!'

'He is full welcome,' said the sheriff, 'Let us wash, and go to meat.'

42.

As they sat at their meat, With a n.o.ble cheer, Two of the sheriff's men gan speak Of a great wager;

43.

Of a shooting was good and fine, Was made the other day, Of forty shillings, the sooth to say, Who should this wager win.

44.

Still then sat this proud potter, Thus then thought he; 'As I am a true Christian man, This shooting will I see.'

45.

When they had fared of the best, With bread, and ale, and wine, To the b.u.t.ts they made them prest, With bows and bolts full fine.

46.

The sheriff's men shot full fast, As archers that were good; There came none near nigh the mark By half a good archer's bow.

47.

Still then stood the proud potter, Thus then said he; 'And I had a bow, by the rood, One shot should ye see.'

48.

'Thou shall have a bow,' said the sheriff, 'The best that thou will choose of three; Thou seemest a stalwart and a strong, a.s.say[ed] shall thou be.'

49.

The sheriff commanded a yeoman that stood them by, After bows to wend; The best bow that the yeoman brought, Robin set on a string.

50.

'Now shall I wot and thou be good, And pull it up to thine ear.'

'So G.o.d me help,' said the proud potter, 'This is but right weak gear.'

51.

To a quiver Robin went, A good bolt out he took; So nigh unto the mark he went, He failed not a foot.

52.

All they shot about again, The sheriff's men and he; Of the mark he would not fail, He cleft the p.r.i.c.k in three.

53.

The sheriff's men thought great shame The potter the mastery won; The sheriff laughed and made good game, And said, 'Potter, thou art a man.

54.

'Thou art worthy to bear a bow In what place that thou go.'

55.

'In my cart I have a bow, Forsooth,' he said, 'and that a good; In my cart is the bow That gave me Robin Hood.'

56.

'Knowest thou Robin Hood?' said the sheriff; 'Potter, I pray thee tell thou me.'

'A hundred turn I have shot with him, Under his trystell-tree.'

57.

'I had liefer nor a hundred pound,' said the sheriff, And sware by the Trinity, ' ... ... ...

That the false outlaw stood by me.'

58.

'And ye will do after my rede,' said the potter, 'And boldly go with me, And tomorrow, ere we eat bread, Robin Hood will we see.'

59.

'I will quite thee,' quoth the sheriff, 'I swear by G.o.d of might.'

Shooting they left and home they went, Their supper was ready dight.

60.

Upon the morrow, when it was day, He busked him forth to ride; The potter his cart forth gan ray, And would not leave behind.

61.

He took leave of the sherriff's wife, And thanked her of all thing: 'Dame, for my love and you will this wear, I give you here a gold ring.'