English and Scottish Ballads Volume V Part 2

"Off alle my mery men," seid Robyne, 35 "Be my feithe I wil non haue; But Litulle Johne shall beyre my bow Til that me list to drawe.

"Thou shalle beyre thin own," seid Litulle Jon,[L39]

"Maister, and I wil beyre myne, 40 And we wille shete a peny," seid Litulle Jon, "Vnder the grene wode lyne."

"I wil not shete a peny," seyde Robyn Hode, "In feith, Litulle Johne, with thee, But euer for on as thou shetes," seid Robyn, 45 "In feith I holde the thre."

Thus shet thei forthe, these zemen too, Bothe at buske and brome, Til Litulle Johne wan of his maister V s. to hose and shone. 50

A ferly strife fel them betwene, As they went bi the way; Litull Johne seid he had won v shyllyngs, And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.

With that Robyn Hode lyed Litul Jone, 55 And smote hym with his honde; Litul John waxed wroth therwith, And pulled out his bright bronde.

"Were thou not my maister," seid Litulle Johne, "Thou shuldis by hit ful sore; 60 Get the a man where thou wilt, Robyn, For thou getes me no more."

Then Robyn goes to Notyngham, Hymselfe mornynge allone, And Litulle Johne to mery Scherewode, 65 The pathes he knowe alkone.

Whan Robyn came to Notyngham, Sertenly withoutene layne, He prayed to G.o.d and myld Mary To brynge hym out saue agayne. 70

He gos into seynt Mary chirche, And knelyd downe before the rode; Alle that euer were the churche within Beheld wel Robyne Hode.

Beside hym stode a gret-hedid munke, 75 I pray to G.o.d woo he be; Ful sone he knew G.o.de Robyn As sone as he hym se.

Out at the durre he ran Ful sone and anon; 80 Alle the zatis of Notyngham He made to be sparred euerychone.

"Rise vp," he seid, "thou prowde schereff, Buske the and make the bowne; I haue spyed the kynges felone, 85 For sothe he is in this towne.

"I haue spyed the false felone, As he stondes at his ma.s.se; Hit is longe of the," seide the munke, "And euer he fro vs pa.s.se. 90

"This traytur[s] name is Robyn Hode; Vnder the grene wode lynde, He robbyt me onys of a C pound,[L93]

Hit shalle neuer out of my mynde."

Vp then rose this prowd schereff, 95 And zade towarde hym zare; Many was the modur son To the kyrk with him can fare.

In at the durres thei throly thrast With staves ful G.o.de ilkone,[L100] 100 "Alas, alas," seid Robin Hode, "Now mysse I Litulle Johne."

But Robyne toke out a too-hond sworde That hangit down be his kne; Ther as the schereff and his men stode thyckust, 105 Thidurward wold he.

Thryes thorow at them he ran, Then for sothe as I yow say, And woundyt many a modur sone, And xii he slew that day. 110

Hys sworde vpon the schireff hed Sertanly he brake in too; "The smyth that the made," seid Robyn, "I pray G.o.d wyrke hym woo.

"For now am I weppynlesse," seid Robyne, 115 "Ala.s.se, agayn my wylle; But if I may fle these traytors fro, I wot thei wil me kylle."

Robyns men to the churche ran Throout hem euerilkon; 120 Sum fel in swonyng as thei were dede, And lay still as any stone.

Non of theym were in her mynde But only Litulle Jon.

"Let be your dule," seid Litulle Jon,[L125] 125 "For his luf that dyed on tre; Ze that shulde be duzty men, Hit is gret shame to se.

"Oure maister has bene hard bystode, And zet scapyd away; 130 Pluk up your hertes and leve this mone, And herkyn what I shal say.

"He has seruyd our lady many a day, And zet wil securly; Therefore I trust in her specialy 135 No wycked deth shal he dye.

"Therfor be glad," seid Litul Johne, "And let this mournyng be, And I shall be the munkes gyde, With the myght of mylde Mary. 140

"And I mete hym," seid Litull Johne, "We wille go but we too * * * * * * * *

"Loke that ze kepe wel our tristil tre Vnder the levys smale, And spare non of this venyson 145 That gose in thys vale."

Forthe thei went these zemen too, Litul Johne and Moche onfere, And lokid on Moche emys hows The hyeway lay fulle nere. 150

Litul John stode at a window in the mornynge, And lokid forth at a stage; He was war wher the munke came ridynge, And with hym a litul page.

"Be my feith," seid Litul Johne to Moche, 155 "I can the tel t.i.thyngus G.o.de; I se wher the munk comys rydyng, I know hym be his wyde hode."

Thei went into the way these zemen bothe, As curtes men and hende, 160 Thei spyrred t.i.thyngus at the munke, As thei hade bene his frende.

"Fro whens come ze," seid Litul Johne; "Tel vs t.i.thyngus, I yow pray, Off a false owtlay [called Robyn Hode], 165 Was takyn zist.u.r.day.

"He robbyt me and my felowes bothe Of xx marke in serten; If that false owtlay be takyn, For sothe we wolde be fayne." 170

"So did he me," seid the munke, "Of a C pound and more; I layde furst hande hym apon, Ze may thonke me therfore."

"I pray G.o.d thanke yow," seid Litulle Johne, 175 "And we wil when we may; We wil go with yow, with your leve, And brynge yow on your way.

"For Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow, I telle yow in certen; 180 If thei wist ze rode this way, In feith ze shulde be slayn."

As thei went talkyng be the way, The munke and Litulle Johne, Johne toke the munkes horse be the hede 185 Ful sone and anone.

Johne toke the munkes horse be the hed, For sothe as I yow say, So did Muche the litulle page, For he shulde not stirre away. 190

Be the golett of the hode Johne pulled the munke downe; Johne was nothynge of hym agast, He lete hym falle on his crowne.

Litulle Johne was sore agrevyd,[L195] 195 And drew out his swerde in hye; The munke saw he shulde be ded, Lowd mercy can he crye.

"He was my maister," seid Litulle Johne, "That thou hase browzt in bale; 200 Shalle thou neuer c.u.m at oure kynge For to telle hym tale."

John smote of the munkes hed, No longer wolde he dwelle; So did Moche the litulle page, 205 For ferd lest he wold tell.

Ther thei beryed hem both In nouther mosse nor lynge, And Litulle Johne and Muche infere Bare the letturs to oure kyng. 210

He kneled down vpon his kne, "G.o.d zow saue, my lege lorde, "Jesus yow saue and se.