Robin Hood and the Bishop:
SHEWING
How Robin Hoood went to an Old Woman's House and changed Cloaths with
her, to escape from the Bishop; and how he robbed him of all his Gold, and made him
sing Mass,
To the Tune of, Robin Hood and the Stranger, etc.
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COme Gentlemen all and listen a while,
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with a hey down, down an a down,
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And a Story I'll to you unfold;
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I'll tell to you how Robin Hood served the Bishop,
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When he robb'd him of his Gold:
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As it fell out of a Sun-shinining day,
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with a hey, etc.
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When Phebus was in her prime,
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that Robin Hood, that Archer good,
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In Mirth would spend some time:
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And as he walked the Forrest along,
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whith hey, etc.
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Some pastime for to spy,
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there was aware of proud Bishop,
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And all his Company.
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O what shall I do, said Robin Hood then,
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with a hey, etc.
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If the Bishop he doth take me,
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no mercy he'll shew unto me I know,
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But hanged shall I be.
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Then Robin was stout. and turn'd him about,
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with a hey, etc.
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And a little House there did he spy.
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and to an old Wife, to save his Life,
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He aloud began to cry.
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Why, who art thou? said the old Woman,
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with a hey, etc.
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Come tell it to me for good?
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I am an Out-law, as many do know,
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My name it is Robin Hood.
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And yonders the Bishop and all his Men,
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with a hey, etc.
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And if that I taken be,
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then day and night he'll work my spight,
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And hanged shall I be.
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If thou be Robin Hood, then said the Old Woman,
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with a hey, etc.
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As thou dost seem to be,
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I'll for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
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From the Bishop and his Company.
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For I remember one Saturday night,
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with a hey, etc.
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Thou brought me both shooes and hose,
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therefore I'll provide, thy Person to hide,
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And keep thee from thy Foes.
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Then give me soon thy Coat of Grey,
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with a hey, etc.
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And take thou the Mantle of Green,
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thy Spindle and Twine, unto me resign,
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And take thou my Arrows so keen.
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And when that Robin Hood was thus arrayed,
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with a hey, etc.
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He went straight to his Company,
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with his Spindle and Twine he oft lookt behind,
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For the Bishop and his Company.
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O who is yonder, quoth little John,
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with a hey, etc.
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That now comes over the Lee?
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an arrow at her I will let fly,
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So like an old Witch looks she,
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O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin then,
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with a hey, etc.
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And shoot not thy arrows so keen,
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I am Robin Hood, thy Master good,
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And quickly it shall be seen.
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The Bishop he came to the old Woman's house,
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with a hey, etc.
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And he called with furious mood,
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come let me soon see and bring unto me,
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That Traytor Robin Hood.
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The old Woman he set on a milk-white Steed,
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with a hey, etc.
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Himself on a dapple Grey,
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and for joy he had got Robin Hood,
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He went laughing all the way.
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But as they were riding the Forrest along,
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with a hey, etc.
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The Bishop he chanc'd for to see,
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a hundred brave Bowmen bold,
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Stand under the green-Wood tree,
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O who is yonder, the Bishop then said,
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with a hey, etc.
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That's ranging within yonder Wood?
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marry, says the old Woman, I think it to be
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A Man called Robin Hood.
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Why, who art thou, the Bishop he said,
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with a hey.
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Which I have here with me?
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why I am a Woman, thou cuckoldly Bishop,
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Lift up my Leg and see.
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Then woe is me, the Bishop he said,
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with a hey, etc.
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That ever I saw this day;
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he turn'd him about but Robin Hood so stood,
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Call'd him and bid him stay.
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Then Robin took hold of the Bishop's horse,
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with a hey, etc.
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And ty'd him fast to a tree,
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then little John smill'd his Master upon,
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For joy of his Company.
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Robin Hood took his Mantle from's back,
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with a hey, etc.
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And spread it upon the grund,
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and out of the Bishop's Portmantle he
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Soon told five hundred pound.
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Now let him go, said Robin Hood,
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with a hey, etc.
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Said little John, that may not be,
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for I vow and protest he shall sing us a Mass,
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Before that he go from me.
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Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by th' hand,
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with a hey, etc.
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And bound him fast to a tree,
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and made him sing a Mass God-wot,
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To him and his yeomandry.
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And when they brought him through the wood,
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with a hey down, down an a down,
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And set him on his dapple Grey,
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and gave the tail within his hand,
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And bad him for Robin Hood pray.
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