"We are shepherds," said bold Robin Hood, "You are brave fellows!" said the bishop, "And the king of your doings shall know: Therefore make haste, and come along with me, For before the king you shall go." "O pardon, O pardon," said bold Robin Hood, "O pardon, I thee pray! For it becomes not your lordships coat To take so many lives away." "No pardon, no pardon," said the bishop, "No pardon I thee owe; Therefore make haste, and come along with me, For before the king you shall go." Then Robin set his back against a tree, And from underneath his shepherd's coat He pull'd out a bugle horn. He put the little end to his mouth, And a loud blast did he blow, 'Till threescore and ten of bold Robin's men Came running all on a row: All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood; 'Twas a comely sight for to see. "What is the matter, master," said Little John, "That you blow so hastily ?" "O here is the bishop of Hereford, And no pardon we shall have." "Cut off his head, master," said Little John, "And throw him into his grave." "O pardon, O pardon," said the bishop, "O pardon I thee pray; For if I had known it had been you, I'd have gone some other way." "No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood, "No pardon I thee owe; Therefore make haste, and come along with me, Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand, He made him to stay and sup with him that night, "Call in a reckoning," said the bishòp, "For methinks it grows wond'rous high." "Lend me your purse, master," said Little John, "And I'll tell you bye and bye." Then Little John took the bishop's cloak, And spread it upon the ground, And out of the bishop's portmantua "Here's money enough, master," said Little John, "And a comely sight 'tis to see; It makes me in charity with the bishop, Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand, And he caused the music to play; And he made the old bishop to dance in his boots; And glad he could so get away. Robin Hood and the Butcher. COME, all you brave gallants, listen awhile, For of Robin Hood, that archer good, Upon a time it chanced so, Bold Robin in the forrest did 'spy "Good morrow, good fellow," said jolly Robìn, Thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell, The butcher he answer'd jolly Robin, "No matter where I dwell; For a butcher I am, and to Notingham I am going, my flesh to sell." "What is the price of thy flesh?" said jolly Robin, "Come tell it soon unto me; And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear, "The price of my flesh," the butcher repli'd, "I soon will tell unto thee; With my bonny mare, and they are not too dear, Four mark thou must give unto me." "Four mark I will give thee," said jolly Robin, "Four mark it shall be thy fee; The money come count, and let me mount, Now Robin he is to Notingham gone, His butchers trade to begin; With good intent to the sheriff he went, When other butchers they opened their meat, Bold Robin he then begun; But how for to sell he knew not well, When other butchers no meat could sell, But when he sold his meat so fast, Which made the butchers of Notingham That hath sold his fathers land." The butchers stepped to jolly Robìn, Acquainted with him for to be; "Come, brother," one said, "we be all of one trade, Come, will you go dine with me?" "Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin, I will go with you, my brethren true, But when to the sheriffs house they came, And Robin Hood he the man must be "Pray God bless us all," said jolly Robin, "And our meat within this place; A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood: "Come fill us more wine," said jolly Robin, "Come, 'brothers,' be merry," said jolly Robìn, "This is a mad blade," the butchers then said. Saies the sheriff, " He is some prodigal, That some land has sold for silver and gold, |