A Proper New Ballad of bold Robin Hood./ Shewing his Birth, his Breeding his Valour and Marriage, at Titbury Bull Running: Calculated/ for the Meridian of Staffordshire, but may serve for Derbyshire or Kent.

<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A Proper New <hi rend="bold">Ballad</hi> of Bold <hi rend="bold">Robin Hood.</hi> </hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Shewing his <hi rend="bold">B</hi> irth, his <hi rend="bold">B</hi> reeding his Valour and Marriage, at</hi> Titbery <hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">B</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">ull-Running: Calculated</hi> </seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">for the Meridian of</hi> Stafford-shire<hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">,</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">but may serve for</hi> Derby-shire <hi rend="italic">or</hi> Kent.</seg>

K Ind Gentlemen, will you be patient a while, I, and then you shall hear anon, A very good Ballad of bold Robin H ood and of his Man brave little John. In Locksly Town in merry Nottinghamshire, in merry sweet Locksly Town; There bold Robin H ood he was born & was bred, bold Robin of famous renown. The father of Robin a forrester was, and he shot in a lusty long bow, Two North-Country miles and an inch at a shot as the Pinder of Wakefield does know. For he brought Adam B ell, and Clim of the C lugh, with William a Clowdel lee: To shoot with our forrester for forty mark, and the forrester beat 'um all three. His mother was Neece to the Coventry Knight, which Warwickshire men call Sir Guy; For he slew the blew bore that hangs up at that gate, or mine Host of the Bull tells a lye. Her Brother was Gamwel of great Gamwel- Hall, and a noble House-keeper was he, Ay as ever broke Bread in sweet Nottinghamshire, and a Squire of a famous degree. This mother of Robin said to her Husband, my Honey, my Love and my Dear; Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel, to taste of my Brothers good Cheer. And he said, I grant thee thy boon gentle Joan, take one of my Horses I pray: [The Sun is a rising, and therefore make haste, for to morrow is Christmas-day. ] Then Robin H oods fathers gray Gelding was brought and Saddled and Bridled was he, God-wot his blew Bonnet, his new suit of cloaths and a Cloak that did reach to his knee. She got on her Holy-day Kirtle and Gown, they were of a light Lincoln green: The cloth was home spun, but for colour & make it might a beseem'd our Queen. And then Robin got on his Basket-hilt Sword, and Dagger on his tother side: And said my dear Mother lets haste to be gone, we have forty long miles to ride.

When Robin had mounted this Gelding so gray, his father without any trouble; Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear, for his Gelding has oft carried double. When she was seated, they rode to their neighbours and drank and shook hands with them all: And then Robin gallopt and never gave o're till they lighted at great Gamwel-H all. And now you may think the right worshipful Squire was joyful his Sister to see; For he kist her & kist her, & swore a great Oath, thou art welcome kind Sister to me. To morrow when Mass had been said in the Chap-pel six tables were cover'd in the Hall; And in comes the Squire and makes a short speech it was, Neighbours you're Welcome all . But not a Man here shall taste my March-beer till a Christmass-Carrol be sung; Then all clapt their Hands & they shouted & sung till the Hall and the Parlor did ring. Now Mustard & Braun, Roast-Beef & Plumb-pies, were set upon every table: And noble George Gamwel said eat & be merry and Drink to as long as y'are able. When Dinner was ended his Chaplain said grace, and be merry my friends says the Squire, It rains & it blows but call for more ale, and lay some more Wood on the fire. And now call ye little John hither to me for little John is a fine Lad; At Gambols & Jugling & twenty such tricks, as shall make you both merry & glad. When little John came to Gambols they went, both Gentlemen, Yeoman & Clown; And what do you think? Why as true as I live bold Robin H ood put them all down. And now you may think the right worshipful squire was joyful this sight for to see; For he said Cousin Robin thou'st go no more home but tarry & dwell here with me. Thou shalt have my Land when I dye, & till then thou shalt be the staff of my Age: [Then grant me my boon dear Uncle, said Robin that Little John my be my Page.] And he said kind Couzen I grant me thy boon, with all my heart so let it be, Then come hither little John, said Robin H ood, come hither my Page unto me. Go and fetch my bow my longest long bow, and broad Arrows one two & three; For when 'tis fair Weather we'll into Sherwood some merry pastime to see. When Robin H ood came into merry Sherwood he winded his bugle so clear; And twice five & twenty good Yeoman & bold, before Robin H ood did appear.

Where are your Companions all? (said R.Hood ) for still I want forty and three: Then said a bold Yeoman, lo yonder they stand, all under a green wood tree. As that word was spoken Clorinda came by, the Queen of the Shepherds was she: And her Gown was of Velvet as green as the grass and her Buskins did reach to her knee. Her gate it was graceful, her Body was straight, and her Countenance free from Pride: A Bow in her Hand and Quiver of Arrows, hung dangling by her sweet side. Her Eye-brows were black, I, and so was her hair and her skin was as smooth as glass; Her Visage spoke wisdom and modesty too, sets with Robin Hood such a Lass. Said Robin Hood, Lady fair whither away; Oh whither fair Lady away? And she made him answer to kill a fat Buck, for to morrow is Tilbury day. Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with me, a little to yonder green Bower: There sit down to rest you; and you shall be sure of a Brace or a Leafe in an hour. And as we ware going towards the green Bower, two hundred good Bucks we espy'd: She chose out the fattest that was in the herd, and she shot him through side & side. By the faith of my body, said bold Robin H ood , I never saw Woman like thee: And com'st thou from East, I or com'st thou from West thou needst not beg Venison of me. However along to my Bower you shall go, and taste of a Forresters Meat, And when we came thither we found as good cheer, as any man needs for to eat. For there was hot Venisen, & Warden-pies cold, Cream clouted wieh Honey Combs plenty. And the Servitors they were beside little John good Yeomen at least four & twenty. Clorinda said tell me your name gentle Sir? and he said 'tis bold Robin H ood , Squire Gamwel's mine Uncle, but all my delight is to dwell in the merry Sherwood. For 'tis a fine life, & 'tis void of all strife, so 'tis Sir, Clorinda reply'd: But Oh said bold Robin how sweet would it be, if Clorinda wou'd be my Bride? [She blusht at the motion yet after a pause, said, Yes Sir, and withal my heart], Then let us send for a Priest said Robin H ood, and be merry before we do part. But she said It may not be so gentle Sir, for I must be at Tilbury feast: And if Robin H ood will go thither with me, I'll make him the most welcome Guest. Said Robin H ood, reach me that Buck little John for i'le go along with my Dear; Go bid my good Yeomen kill six brace of bucks, and meet me to morrow just here. Before we had Ridden five Staffords hire miles, eight Yeomen that were too too bold,

Bid Robin Hood Stand and deliver his Buck, a truer Tale never was told, I will not faith, said bold Robin, come John, stand to me and we'l beat 'um all; Then both drew thier Swords and so cut 'um & slasht 'um, that five of the eight did fall. The three that remain'd call'd to Robin for quarter, and pittiful John begg'd their Lives; When Johns boon was granted, he gave them good counsel, and so sent them home to their Wives. This Battle was fought near to Titbury Town, when the Bagpipes bathed the Bull: I am King of the Fidlers, and sware 'tis a truth, and I call him that doubts it a Gull. For I saw them fighting, and fidl'd the while, and Clorinda sung, Hey derry down: The Bumpkins are beaten put up thy Sword Bob, and now lets dance into the Town. Before we came to it, we heard a strange shouting and all that were in it look'd madly; For some ware a Bull-back, some dancing a Morris, and some singing Arthur-a-B radley. And there we see Thomas oer Justices Clerk, and Mary to whom he was kind: For Tom rode before her and call'd Mary Madam, and kist her full sweetly behind. And so may your Worships, but we went to dinner, with Thomas , and Mary , and Nan : They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her, bold Robin Hood was a fine Man. When Dinner was ended Sir Roger the Parson of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste; He brought his Mass-Book, and he had them take hands and he joyn'd them in Marriage full fast. And then as bold Robin Hood, and his sweet Bride went hand in hand to the green Bower; The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood, and 'twas a most joyful hour. And when Robin came in the sight of his Bower, where are my Yeomen, said he, And little John answered, lo yonder they stand, all under a Green-wood Tree. Then a Garland they brought her by two & by two and plac'd them upon the B rides bed: The Musick struck up, and we all fell to dance, till the B ride and the Groom were a bed. And what they did there must be counsel to me, because they lay long the next day. [And] I had hast home, but I got a good piece, of the Bride-Cake, and so came away. Now out alass, I had forgotten to tell ye, that marry'd they were with a King, And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden, and now let us pray for the King. That he may get Children, and they may get more, to govern and do us some good: And then I'll make Ballads in R. Hoods Bower, and sing 'um in merry Sherwood.

Printed by and for Alex. Milbourn, at the Sta- tioners-Arms, in Green-Arbor-Court, in the Little-Old-Baily.