The king has come to Nottingham

With knights in great array

To take that gentle knight

And Robin Hood, if he may.

 

He asked men of that country

About Robin Hood

And about that gentle knight

That was so bold and good.

 

When they had told the king the case,

He began to understand

And seized in his hand

All that knight’s land.

 

Throughout the pass of Lancashire

He went both far and near,

All the way to Plomton Park.

He missed many of his deer.

 

There the king was used to seeing

Herds with many a hart.

He couldn’t find one deer

Whose horns were worth a fart.

 

The king was plenty mad at this

And swore by God on high,

“I’d like to see this Robin Hood

With my own two eyes.

 

“Whoever cuts off the knight’s head

And brings it here to me,

He shall have the knight’s land,

Sir Richard at the Lea.

 

“I give it to him with my charter

And seal it with my hand,

To have and hold for evermore

In all merry England.”

 

Then spoke up a fair old knight

That was true in his faith,

“Ah, my liege lord the king,

One word to you I’ll say.

 

“There is no man in this country

That can hold the knight’s land

While Robin Hood can ride or walk

And hold a bow in his hand.

 

“Unless you want him to lose his head,

The best ball in his hood,

Don’t give it to any man, my lord the king,

To whom you wish any good.”

 

Half a year the comely king

Stayed in Nottingham town,

Hoping to hear of Robin Hood

And trying to track him down.

 

But always good Robin went

By hollow and by hill,

And always slew the king’s deer

And disposed of them at will.

           

Then spoke up a proud forester

That stood by the king’s knee,

“If you want to see good Robin,

You must come with me.

 

“Take five of the best knights

That are under your control

And walk down by that abbey

And get some monks’ robes.

 

“And I’ll be your lead man

And lead you on your way,

And before you come to Bernsdale,

My head I dare here lay,

 

“You shall meet with good Robin,

If he is still alive.

Before you come to Bernsdale

You’ll see him with your eyes.”

 

Quickly then the king got ready,

And so did his five knights.

Each of them in monks’ clothes,

They left that very night.

 

The king looked distinguished in his cowl.

With a broad hat on his crown,

As if he were an abbot,

They rode up into the town.

 

Stiff boots the king had on

On that pleasant day.

He rode singing to the greenwood.

The convent was clothed in grey.

           

His trunks and his great packhorse

Followed behind the king

Til they were deep in the greenwood,

A mile beyond the spring.

 

There they met with good Robin

Standing in the way,

And so was many a bold archer

On that pleasant day.

 

Robin took the king’s horse,

He grabbed him by the rein,

And said, “Sir abbot, by your leave,

Awhile ye must remain.

 

“We be yeomen of this forest,

Under the greenwood tree.

We live by our king’s deer,

No other shift have we.

 

“And you have churches and rents both,

And gold in great plenty.

Give us some of your spending money,

For saints’ charity.”

 

Then said our comely king,

Right away said he,

“I brought no more to the greenwood

But forty pounds with me.

 

“I have been at Nottingham

With our king for fourteen nights

And spent a lot of money there

On many a lord and knight.

           

“And I have but forty pounds,

No more you’ll find on me,

But if I had a hundred pounds

I would trust it all with thee.”

 

Robin took the forty pounds

And divided it in two.

Half he gave to his merry men

To do as they would do.

 

Full courteously Robin said, “Sir,

Have this for your spending.

We shall meet another day.”

“Thank you,” said the comely king.

 

“But our king sends you his greetings

And wants you to have his seal

And bids you come to Nottingham,

Both to meat and ale.”

 

He took out the royal charter,

And soon he let him see.

Robin showed his courtesy

And got down on his knee.

 

“I love no man in all the world

So well as I do my king.

Welcome is my lord’s seal,

And monk, for thy tiding,

 

“Sir abbot, for your good news,

Today you shall dine with me

For the love of my king,

Under my greenwood tree.”

           

Forth he led the comely king

To where the food was shared.

Many a deer there was slain

And full fast prepared.

 

Robin took a full great horn

And loudly he did blow.

Seven score of strong young men

Came ready on a row.

 

All kneeled down on their knee

Right there in front of Robin.

The king was beside himself

And swore to Saint Austin.

 

“Here is a wondrously befitting sight,

Me thinketh, by God’s pine.

His men are more at his bidding

Than my men are at mine.”

 

Right away their dinner was served,

And that’s where they have gone.

They served the king with all their might,

Both Robin and Little John.

 

Soon before the king was set

The fatted venison,

The good white bread, the good red wine,

And the ale fine and brown.

 

“Enjoy yourself,” said Robin,

“Abbot, for charity,

And for this good news you have brought,

Blessed may ye be.

           

“Now you shall see what life we lead

Before you leave our glen,

So you can inform our king

When you’re together again.”

 

Up they started, all in haste,

Their bows were smartly bent.

The king was never so sore aghast,

He feared he might get rent.

 

Two targets there were set up,

And it’s there that they have gone.

“By fifty paces,” the king said,

“The distance is too long.”

 

On either side, a rose garland

They shot at under the trees.

“Whoever misses the garland,” said Robin,

“Shall bring his arrow to me.

 

“And give it to his master,

Be it ever so fine,

For no man will I spare

As I drink ale or wine,

 

“And bear a blow on his bare head

As hard as I can swing.”

And all that fell in Robin’s lot,

He let them feel his sting.

 

Twice Robin shot about,

Each time he split the wand.

And so did good Gilbert

With the white hand.

           

Little John and good Scarlett,

No one was spared,

When they missed the garland

The blow they had to bear.

 

At the last shot that Robin shot

For all his friends so fair,

He missed the rose garland

Three fingers and more.

 

Then spoke up good Gilbert,

To Robin he did say,

“Master," he said, “your arrow is lost.

Stand forth and take your pay.”

 

“If it be so,” said Robin,

“It may no better be.

Sir abbot, I deliver thee my arrow.

I pray thee, sir, serve me.”

 

“It falleth not to my order,” said the king,

“Robin, by your leave,

To smite any good yeoman

For fear I should make him grieve.”

 

“Smite on boldly,” said Robin.

“I give thee larger leave.”

Right away the king, with that one word,

Folded up his sleeve.

 

And such a blow he gave Robin,

He almost knocked him down.

“I make my vow to God,” said Robin,

“You’re a stalwart friar.

           

“There’s pith in thy arm,” said Robin.

“I bet you can shoot pretty good.”

Thus the king and Robin Hood

Met there in the woods.

 

Robin looked the comely king

Thoughtfully in the face,

And so did Richard at the Lea,

And kneeled down in that place.

 

And so did all the wild outlaws

When they saw them kneel.

“My lord, the king of England.

Now I know you well.”

 

“Thank you, Robin,” said the king,

“Under your greenwood tree,

For your goodness and your grace

Towards my men and me.”

 

“Yes, for God,” said Robin,

“And also God save me.

I ask mercy, my lord the king,

For my men and me.”

 

“Yes, for God,” then said the king,

“To that I will agree,

If you will leave the greenwood

With all your company

           

“And come home, sir, to my court

And there dwell with me.”

“I make my vow to God,” said Robin,

“Indeed, so shall it be.

           

“I will come to your court,

Your service for to see,

And bring with me of my men

Seven score and three.

 

“But if I don’t like your service

I will come again full soon

And shoot at the dunny deer,

As I have always done.”

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