Stay and listen, everybody,

And enjoy your song,

How the proud sheriff of Nottingham

Gathered an army strong.

 

Quickly came the high sheriff

Routing up the country,

And they attacked the knight’s walls

All around his castle.

 

The proud sheriff loudly called,

“Knight, you’re a traitor.

You’re keeping the king’s enemy here

Against the law and order.”

 

“Sir, the deed that here was done,

I did it, you are right,

By all the land that I have,

As I am a true knight.

           

“Keep traveling, sirs, on your way

And do no more to me

Til you know our king’s will

And what he will say to thee.”

 

The sheriff had his answer.

Without slowing down,

Forth he went to tell the king

Down in London town.

           

There he told him of that knight

And of Robin Hood

And also of the bold archers

That were so noble and good.

 

“He vows that he has done all this

To help the outlaw band.

He will be lord and set you at naught

In all the northern land.”

 

“I will be at Nottingham,” said the king,

“Within fourteen nights,

And I will take this Robin Hood,

And I will take that knight.

 

“Go home now, sheriff,” said the king,

“And do as I bid thee,

And call in all the good archers

From all the wide country.”

 

The sheriff has taken his leave

And gone along his way.

Robin Hood went back to the woods

Upon a certain day.

           

And Little John was healed of the arrow

That was shot in his knee,

And he went straight to Robin Hood

Under the greenwood tree.

 

Robin Hood walked in the forest

Under the green leaves.

The proud sheriff of Nottingham

Was stewing in his grief.

 

The sheriff had failed with Robin Hood.

He could not have his prey,

So he waited for this gentle knight

Both by night and day.

 

He waited for this gentle knight

By the riverside,

As Sir Richard went out hawking

And let his hawks fly.

 

There he took this gentle knight

With his armed band

And led him back to Nottingham

Bound foot and hand.

 

The sheriff swore a full great oath,

By Him that died on wood,

More than a hundred pounds

He wanted Robin Hood.

 

The knight’s wife heard about this,

A lady fair and free.

She set herself on a good horse

And rode to the greenwood tree.

           

When she rode into the forest,

Into the greenwood glen,

There she found Robin Hood

And his fair men.

 

“God save thee, good Robin,

And all thy company.

For Our Dear Lady’s sake

I ask a favor of thee.

 

“Don’t let my wedded lord

Be shamefully slain, I pray.

He’s bound fast to Nottingham

For the love of you this day.”

 

Right away good Robin said

To that lady so free,

“What man has taken your lord away?”

“The high sheriff,” said she.

 

“The high sheriff and all his men,

The truth as I here say.

He is not yet three miles

Passed along his way.”

 

Then good Robin started up,

He didn’t care what it cost.

“Get you ready, my merry men,

By Him that died on a cross.

           

“Whoever forsakes this sorrow,

By Him that died on a tree,

No longer in the greenwood

Will he ever dwell with me.”

           

Soon there were good bows strung,

More than a hundred and forty.

Hedge nor ditch spared they none,

And everyone got dirty.

 

“I make my vow to God,” said Robin,

“I’d like to see the sheriff now.

And if I could take him,

I would square the old account.”

 

And when they came to Nottingham

They walked in the street.

And the proud sheriff, truly,

Soon they came to meet.

 

“Wait, you proud sheriff.

“Stop and speak with me.

Of some tidings from our king

I’d love to hear from thee.

 

“For seven years, by dear worthy God,

I haven’t gone this fast on foot.

I make my vow to God, you proud sheriff,

It is not for thy good.”

 

Robin bent a full good bow,

An arrow he drove at will.

It hit the proud sheriff so,

On the ground he lay full still.

 

And before he could get up

Or rise upon his feet,

He cut off the sheriff’s head

Right there in the street.

           

“Lie there, proud sheriff.

Evil be thy death.

No man could trust you

While you drew breath.”

 

His men drew out their bright swords

That were so sharp and keen

And laid on the sheriff’s men

And drove them down the street.

 

Robin started for that knight

And cut his bonds in two

And put a sword in his hand

And told him what to do.

 

“Leave your horse behind you

And learn how to run.

You shall come with me to the greenwood

Through mire, moss and fern.

 

“You shall come with me to the greenwood

Without slowing down,

Til I have got us the grace of the king

Down in London town.”

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