Journeys Through Bookland Volume Iii Part 47

There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE WIDOW]

Now Robin is to Nottingham gone, With a link, a down, and a day, And there he met a silly* old woman, Was weeping on the way.

*[Footnote: Silly here expresses a combination of simplicity and virtue.]

"What news? what news? thou silly old woman, What news hast thou for me?"

Said she, "There's three squires in Nottingham town, To-day are condemned to die."

"Oh, what have they done?" said Robin Hood, "I pray thee tell to me."

"It's for slaying of the King's fallow deer, Bearing their long bows with thee."

"Dost thou not mind, old woman," he said, "Since thou made me sup and dine?

By the truth of my body," quoth bold Robin Hood, "You could not tell it in better time."

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, With a link, a down, and a day, And there he met with a silly old palmer,*

Was walking along the highway.

*[Footnote: A palmer was a person who bad made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and brought back with him a palm branch. Later on the term was applied to a monk who had taken a vow of poverty, and who spent all his time traveling about from shrine to shrine.]

"What news? what news? thou silly old man, What news, I do thee pray?"

Said he, "Three squires in Nottingham town, Are condemn'd to die this day."

"Come change thy apparel with me, old man, Come change thy apparel for mine; Here is forty shillings in good silver, Go drink it in beer or wine."

"Oh, thine apparel is good," he said, "And mine is ragged and torn; Wherever you go, wherever you ride, Laugh ne'er an old man to scorn."

"Come change thy apparel with me, old churl, Come change thy apparel with mine; Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold, Go feast thy brethren with wine."

Then he put on the old man's cloak, Was patch'd black, blew, and red; He thought it no shame, all the day long, To wear the bags of bread.

Then he put on the old man's breeks, Was patch'd from ballup to side; "By the truth of my body," bold Robin can say, "This man lov'd little pride."

Then he put on the old man's hose, Were patch'd from knee to wrist;*

"By the truth of my body," said bold Robin Hood, "I'd laugh if I had any list."

*[Footnote: The word wrist was formerly sometimes used for ankle.]

Then he put on the old man's shoes, Were patch'd both beneath and aboon; Then Robin swore a solemn oath, "It's good habit that makes a man."

Now Robin is to Nottingham gone, With a link, a down, and a down, And there he met with the proud sheriff, Was riding along the town.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHERIFF]

"Oh Christ you save, oh, sheriff," he said, "Oh Christ you save and see; And what will you give to a silly old man To-day will your hangman be?"

"Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said, "Some suits I'll give to thee: Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen, To-day's a hangman's fee."

Then Robin he turns him round about, And jumps from stock to stone: "By the truth of my body," the sheriff, he said, "That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man."

"I was ne'er a hangman in all my life, Nor yet intend to trade; But curst be he," said bold Robin, "That first a hangman made.

"I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt, And a bag for barley and corn; A bag for bread, and a bag for beef, And a bag for my little small horn.

"I have a horn in my pocket, I got it from Robin Hood, And still when I set it to my mouth, For thee it blows little good."

"Oh, wind thy horn, thou proud fellow, Of thee I have no doubt; I wish that thou give such a blast, Till both thy eyes fall out."

The first loud blast that he did blow, He blew both loud and shrill; A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men Came riding over the hill.

The next loud blast that he did give, He blew both loud and amain, And quickly sixty of Robin Hood's men Came shining over the plain.

"Oh, who are these," the sheriff he said, "Come tripping over the lee?"

"They're my attendants," brave Robin did say, "They'll pay a visit to thee."

They took the gallows from the slack, They set it in the glen, They hang'd the proud sheriff on that, And releas'd their own three men.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE

Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw, That lived in Nottinghamshire.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood, All under the green-wood tree, There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was cloathed in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay; And he did frisk it over the plain, And chanted a round-de-lay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood Amongst the leaves so gay, There he did espy the same young man, Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before It was clean cast away; And at every step he fetcht a sigh, "Alack and a well a day!"

Then stepped forth brave Little John, And Midge,* the miller's son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he see them come.

*[Footnote: The miller's son is usually called Much, probably because of his size]

"Stand off, stand off," the young man said, "What is your will with me?"

"You must come before our master straight, Under yon green-wood tree."

And when he came bold Robin before, Robin askt him courteously, "O, hast thou any money to spare "For my merry men and me?"

[Footnote: Robin Hood used to watch each day for a traveler, and when he met one, ask for money wherewith to provide a dinner for himself and his men, the stranger also being invited. If the stranger spoke the truth as to the amount he had with him, Robin Hood was generous and just with him; if he swore falsely, the outlaw took all he had.]

"I have no money," the young man said, "But five shillings and a ring; And that I have kept these seven long years, To have it at my wedding.

"Yesterday I should have married a maid, But she from me was tane,*

And chosen to be an old knight's delight, Whereby my poor heart is slain."

*[Footnote: Tane is an old elision for taken.]

"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, "Come tell me, without any fail."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "My name it is Allin a Dale."

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBIN HOOD PLAYS HARPER]

"What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood, "In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true love again, And deliver her unto thee?"