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ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THREE SQUIRES
No. 140, VERSION B
From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
by Francis James
Child, 1888.
[This
is one of Robin Hood's most famous exploits. Most Robin Hood movies and television shows feature a scene where Robin Hood prevents an unjust hanging. The men Robin Hood rescues are called widow's sons in another version of the ballad. It is also is similar to the ballad where Robin Hood rescues Will Stutely. It is one of many stories
where Robin uses a disguise to trick his enemies. This isn't the only ballad where the Sheriff of Nottingham meets a bad end. In the much earlier ballad, A Gest of Robyn Hode, Robin cuts off the sheriff's head,. And in Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, Little John shoots the sheriff in the back.]
1
There are twelve months in all the year,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is
the merry month of May.
2
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With
a link a down and a day,
And there he met a silly old woman,
3
'What news? what news, thou silly old woman?
What
news hast thou for me?
Said she, There's three squires in Nottingham
To-day
is condemned to die.
4
'O have they parishes burnt?' he said,
'Or
have they ministers slain?
Or have they robbed any virgin,
Nor
with other men's wives have lain?'
5
'They have no parishes burnt, good sir,
Nor
yet have ministers slain,
Nor have they robbed any virgin,
Nor
with other men's wives have lain.'
6
'O what have they done?' said bold Robin
'I pray
thee tell to me:'
'It's for slaying of the king's fallow deer,
Bearing
their long bows with thee.'
7
'Dost thou not mind, old woman,' he said,
'Since
thou made me sup and dine?
By the truth of my body,' quoth bold Robin
'You
could not tell it in better time.'
8
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With
a link a down and a day,
And there he met with a silly old palmer,
Was
walking along the highway.
9
'What news? what news, thou silly old man?'
What
news, I do thee pray?'
Said he, Three squires in Nottingham town
Are
condemned to die this day.
10
'Come change thy apparel with me, old man,
Come
change thy apparel for mine;
Here is forty shillings in good silver,
Go
drink it in beer or wine.'
11 'O
thine apparel is good,' he said,
'And
mine is ragged and torn;
Whereever you go, wherever you ride,
Laugh
neer an old man to scorn.'
12
'Come change thy apparel with me, old churl,
Come
change thy apparel with mine;
Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold,
Go
feast thy brethren with wine.'
13 Then
he put on the old man's hat,
It
stood full high on the crown:
'The first bold bargain that I come at,
It
shall make thee come down.'
14 Then
he put on the old man's cloak,
Was
patchd black, blew and red;
He thought no shame all the day long
To
wear the bags of bread.
15 Then
he put on the old man's breeks,
Was
patchd from ballup to side;
'By the truth of my body,' bold Robin can say,
'This
man lovd little pride.'
16 Then
he put on the old man's hose,
Were
patchd from knee to wrist;
'By the truth of my body,' said bold Robin
'I'd
laugh if I had any list.'
17 Then
he put on the old man's shoes,
Were
patchd both beneath and aboon;
Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
It's
good habit that makes a man.
18 Now
Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With
a link a down and a down,
And there he met with the proud sheriff,
Was
walking along the town.
19 'O
save, O save, O sheriff,' he said,
'O
save, and you may see!
And what will you give to a silly old man
To-day
will your hangman be?'
20 'Some
suits, some suits,' the sheriff he said,
'Some
suits, I'll give to thee;
Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen
To-day's
a hangman's fee.'
21 Then
Robin he turns him round about,
And
jumps from stock to stone;
'By the truth of my body,' the sheriff he
'That's
well jumpt, thou nimble old man.'
22 'I
was neer a hangman in all my life,
Nor
yet intends to trade;
But curst be he,' said bold Robin,
'That
first a hangman was made.
23 'I've
a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,
And
a bag for barley and corn;
A bag
for bread, and a bag for beef.
And
a bag for my little small horn.
24 'I
have a horn in my pocket,
I
got it from Robin Hood,
And still when I set it to my mouth,
For
thee it blows little good.'
25 'O
wind thy horn, thou proud fellow,
I wish that thou give such a blast
Till
both thy eyes fall out.'
26 The
first loud blast that he did blow,
He
blew both loud and shrill;
A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men
Came
riding over the hill.
27 The
next loud blast that he did give,
He
blew both loud and amain,
And quickly sixty of Robin Hood's men
Came
shining over the plain.
28 'O
who are you,' the sheriff he said,
'Come
tripping over the lee?'
'The 're my attendants,' brave Robin did say,
'They'll
pay a visit to thee.'
29 They
took the gallows from the slack,
They hangd the proud sheriff on that,
Releasd
their own three men.'
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