  Or, Robin Hood's Preferment. From three old black-letter copies; one in the collection of Anthony À Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a private collection. In summer time, when leaves grow green, When they doe grow both green and long, Of a bold outlaw, call'd Robin Hood, It is of him I sing this song:— When the lily leafe, and cowslip sweet Both bud and spring with a merry cheere, This outlaw was weary of the wood side, And chasing of the fallow deere. "The fishermen brave more mony have Than any merchants two or three; Therefore I will to Scarborough go, That I a fisherman brave may be." This outlaw called his merry men all, As they sate under the green-wood tree: "If any of you have gold to spend, I pray you heartily spend it with me." "Now," quoth Robin Hood, "Ile to Scarborough go, It seems to be a very faire day." He tooke up his inne at a widdow woman's house, Hard by upon the water gray. Who asked of him, "Where wert thou borne? Or tell to me where dost thou fare?" "I am a poor fisherman," said he then, "This day intrapp'd all in care." "What is thy name, thou fine fellow, I pray thee heartily tell it to mee?" "In my own country where I was borne, Men call me Simon over the Lee." "Simon, Simon," said the good wife, "I wish thou mayest well brook thy name." The outlaw was aware of her courtesie, And rejoyced he had got such a dame. "Simon, wilt thou be my man? And good round wages I'le give thee; I have as good a ship of my own, As any sails upon the sea. "Anchors and planks thou shalt not want, Masts and ropes that are so long." "And if you thus do furnish me," Said Simon, "nothing shall goe wrong." They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, More of a day then two or three; When others cast in their baited hooks, The bare line into the sea cast he. "It will be long," said the master then, "Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea; I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish, For in truth he is no part worthy." "O, woe is me!" said Simon then, "This day that ever I came here; I wish I were in Plompton parke, In chasing of the fallow deere. "For every clowne laughs me to scorne, And they by me set nought at all; If I had them in Plompton parke, I would set as little by them all." They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, More of a day then two or three: But Simon espyed a ship of warre, That sayled towards them most valorously. "O, woe is me," said the master then, "This day that ever I was borne; For all our fish we have got to day, Is every bit lost and forlorne. "For these French robbers on the sea, They will not spare of us one man, But carry us to the coast of France, And ligge us in the prison strong." But Simon said, "Doe not feare them, Neither, master, take you no care; Give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare." "Hold thy peace, thou long lubber, For thou art nought but brags and boast; If I should cast thee overboard, There's but a simple lubber lost." Simon grew angry at these words, And so angry then was he, That he took his bent bow in his hand, And in the ship hatch goe doth he. "Master, tye me to the mast," saith he, "That at my mark I may stand fair, And give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare." He drew his arrow to the very head, And drew it with all might and maine, And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye, To the Frenchman's heart the arrow's gane. The Frenchman fell down on the ship hatch, And under the hatches down below; Another Frenchman that him espy'd The dead corpse into the see doth throw. "O, master, loose me from the mast," he said, "And for them all take you no care; For give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare." Then streight they boarded the French ship, They lyeing all dead in their sight; They found within their ship of warre, Twelve thousand pound of money bright. "The one halfe of the ship," said Simon then, "Ile give to my dame and [her] children small; The other halfe of the ship Ile bestow On you that are my fellows all." But now bespoke the master then, "For so, Simon, it shall not be, For you have won it with your own hand, And the owner of it you shall be." "It shall be so, as I have said, And, with this gold, for the opprest, An habitation I will build, Where they shall live in peace and rest." |
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