The sheriff [this] could not gainsay, For a trick was put upon him ; A supper was drest, the king was a guest, But he thought ’twould have outdone him.
They are all gone to London court, Robin Hood with all his train ; He once was there a noble peer, And now he’s there again. { 322}
Many such pranks brave Robin play’d, While he liv’d in the green wood : Now, my friend, attend, and hear an end Of honest Robin Hood.
A composition of a similar nature with the preceding, and from the same authority.
When as the sheriff of Nottingham Was come with mickle grief, He talk’d no good of Robin Hood, That strong and sturdy thief. _Fal la dal de._
So unto London road he past, His losses to unfold To king Richàrd, who did regard The tale that he had told. { 324}
Why, quoth the king, what shall I do ? Art thou not sheriff for me ? The law is in force, to take thy course Of them that injure thee.
Go get thee gone, and by thyself Devise some tricking game, For to enthral yon rebels all, Go take thy course with them.
So away the sheriff he return’d, And by the way he thought Of th’ words of the king, and how the thing To pass might well be brought.
For within his mind he imaginèd, That when such matches were, Those outlaws stout, without all doubt, Would be the bowmen there.
So an arrow with a golden head, And shaft of silver-white, Who on the day should bear away For his own proper right.
Tidings came to bold Robin Hood, Under the green-wood tree : “Come prepare you then, my merry men, We’ll go yon sport to see.” { 325}
With that stept forth a brave young man, David of Doncastèr, Master, said he, be rul’d by me, From the green wood we’ll not stir.
To tell the truth, I’m well inform’d, Yon match it is a wile ; The sheriff, I wiss, devises this Us archers to beguile.
Thou smells of a coward, said Robin Hood, Thy words do not please me ; Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skill, At yon brave archery.
O then bespoke brave Little John, Come let us thither gang ; Come listen to me, how it shall be, That we need not be ken’d.
Our mantles all of Lincoln-green Behind us we will leave ; We’ll dress us all so several, They shall not us perceive.
One shall wear white, another red, One yellow, another blue ; Thus in disguise, ‘to’ the exercise We’ll gang, whate’er insue. { 326}