“Have you any green cloth,” said the king,
“That you will sell to me?”
“Yes, for God,” said Robin,
“Thirty yards and three.”
“Robin,” said the king,
“Now I ask of thee,
Sell me some of that cloth
For my men and me.”
“Yes, for God,” then said Robin,
“Or else I were a fool.
Another day ye will me clothe,
I trust, against the yule.”
The king cast off his cowl then,
A green garment he put on.
And every knight, also,
Got a new green robe.
When they were clothed in Lincoln green
They cast away their grey.
“Now we shall go to Nottingham,”
Thus the king did say.
They strung their bows and forth they went,
Shooting side by side.
Towards the town of Nottingham
Like outlaws they did ride.
The king and Robin rode together
On that pleasant day,
And they traded blows whenever they missed
As they went by the way.
And many a blow the king won
Off Robin Hood that day,
And Robin never spared himself
To give the king his pay.
“So help me, God,” said the king,
“I’ve learned this game right here.
I should not get the best of you
Though I shoot all this year.”
All the people of Nottingham,
They stood and beheld.
They saw nothing but mantles of green
That covered all the field.
Then every man to the other did say,
“I fear our king is killed!”
“Robin Hood is coming to town!”
“He never left anyone alive!”
Full hastily they began to flee,
Yeomen, knaves, and merchants,
And old wives that could barely go,
They hopped on their crutches.
The king laughed heartily
And commanded them again.
When they saw the comely king,
Indeed, they were glad it was him.
They ate and drank and made them glad
And sang with notes of glee.
Then spoke the comely king
To Sir Richard at the Lea.
He gave him back his land again,
A good man he bid him be.
Robin thanked the comely king
And got down on his knee.
Robin had dwelled in the king’s court
But twelve months and three,
And he had spent a hundred pounds
And all his men’s fee.
In every place where Robin came,
The money he laid down
Both for knights and for squires,
To get him great renown.
By the time the year was spent
He only had two men —
Little John and good Scarlett.
All the rest had gone.
Robin saw the young men shoot
Full fair upon a day.
“Alas,” then said good Robin,
“My wealth has slipped away.
“Once I was a good archer,
A stiff one and a strong one.
I was counted the best archer
That was in merry England.
“Alas,” then said good Robin,
“Alas, and God help me.
If I dwell any longer with the king,
Sorrow will kill me.”
Forth then went Robin Hood
Til he came to the king.
“My lord, the king of England,
Grant me this one thing.
“I made a chapel in the greenwood
That beautiful is to see.
It’s of Mary Magdeline,
And there I long to be.
“I can never in all these seven nights
Have time to sleep a wink,
Nor ever in all these seven days
Have either eat nor drink.
“I’m longing sore for Bernsdale,
I miss the greenwood so,
Barefoot, with wool against my skin,
I promised I would go.”
“If it be so,” then said the king,
“It may no better be.
Seven nights and no longer
I give thee leave of me.”
“Thank you, lord,” said Robin
And got down on his knee.
He took his leave full courteously,
To the greenwood then went he.
When he came to the greenwood,
On a merry morning,
He heard the small notes
Of birds’ merry singing.
“It’s been a long time,” said Robin,
“Since I was last here.
I’d like a little while to shoot
At the dunny deer.”
Robin slew a full great hart.
His horn he then did blow,
For all the outlaws of that forest,
His horn they would know.
And they gathered themselves together
In a little throw.
Seven score of strong young men
Came ready on a row.
And they took off their hoods
And got down on their knee.
“Welcome,” they said, “our dear master,
Under this greenwood tree.”
Robin dwelled in the greenwood
Two and twenty years.
For all the dread of the king
He wouldn’t go back there.
Yet he was beguiled, indeed,
Through a wicked woman’s sin —
The prioress of Kirksley
That was one of his kin.
For the love of a knight,
Sir Roger of Duncaster
That was her own special —
In evil they met together.
They took together their counsel
Robin Hood for to slay,
And how they best might do that deed
And murder him that day.
Then said good Robin
In the place where he stood,
“Tomorrow I must to Kirksley
To be letting my blood.”
Sir Roger of Duncaster,
By the prioress he lay,
And there they betrayed good Robin Hood
Through their false play.
Christ that died on the cross,
Have mercy on Robin Hood,
For he was a brave outlaw
And did poor men much good.
Here Endeth this Little Gest of Robin Hood.
Colophon: This ballad, originally published anonymously in Middle English, in the 16th century, was rendered into this version of contemporary English by Bob Frank, in the year of Our Lord, 1974, in Oakland, California, across the street from Bushrod Park. It was amended in 2001, with the help of Thomas Ohlgren, via the internet.
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