Ballads of Robin Hood and other Outlaws Part 27

62.

'Gramercy,' said the wife, 'Sir, G.o.d yield it thee.'

The sheriff's heart was never so light, The fair forest to see.

63.

And when he came into the forest, Under the leaves green, Birdes there sang on boughes prest, It was great joy to see.

64.

'Here it is merry to be,' said Robin, 'For a man that had ought to spend; By my horn I shall awit If Robin Hood be here.'

65.

Robin set his horn to his mouth, And blew a blast that was full good; That heard his men that there stood, Far down in the wood.

66.

'I hear my master blow,' said Little John, ... ... ...

They ran as they were wood.

67.

When they to their master came, Little John would not spare; 'Master, how have you fare in Nottingham?

How have you sold your ware?'

68.

'Yea, by my troth, Little John, Look thou take no care; I have brought the sheriff of Nottingham, For all our chaffare.'

69.

'He is full welcome,' said Little John, 'This tiding is full good.'

The sheriff had liefer nor a hundred pound He had never seen Robin Hood.

70.

'Had I wist that before, At Nottingham when we were, Thou should not come in fair forest Of all this thousand year.'

71.

'That wot I well,' said Robin, 'I thank G.o.d that ye be here; Therefore shall ye leave your horse with us And all your other gear.'

72.

'That fend I G.o.d's forbode,' quoth the sheriff, So to loose my good; ... ... ...

73.

'Hither ye came on horse full high, And home shall ye go on foot; And greet well thy wife at home, The woman is full good.

74.

'I shall her send a white palfrey, It ambleth, by my fay, ... ... ...

75.

'I shall her send a white palfrey, It ambleth as the wind; Nere for the love of your wife, Of more sorrow should you sing!'

76.

Thus parted Robin Hood and the sheriff; To Nottingham he took the way; His wife fair welcomed him home, And to him gan she say:

77.

'Sir, how have you fared in green forest?

Have ye brought Robin home?'

'Dame, the devil speed him, both body and bone; I have had a full great scorn.

78.

'Of all the good that I have led to green wood, He hath take it fro me; All but this fair palfrey, That he hath sent to thee.'

79.

With that she took up a loud laughing, And sware by him that died on tree, 'Now have you paid for all the pottes That Robin gave to me.

80.

'Now ye be come home to Nottingham, Ye shall have good enow.'

Now speak we of Robin Hood, And of the potter under the green bough.

81.

'Potter, what was thy pottes worth To Nottingham that I led with me?'

'They were worth two n.o.bles,' said he, 'So mote I thrive or thee; So could I have had for them And I had there be.'

82.

'Thou shalt have ten pound,' said Robin, 'Of money fair and free; And ever when thou comest to green wood, Welcome, potter, to me.'

83.

Thus parted Robin, the sheriff, and the potter, Underneath the green wood tree; G.o.d have mercy on Robin Hood's soul, And save all good yeomanry!

[Annotations: 5.4: 'pavage,' road-tax.

7.4: 'wed,' pledge, wager.

8.2: 'and,' if.

9.2: 'toke,' gave.

9.3: 'breyde,' rushed, leapt.

13.4: 'tene,' harm.

16.3: _i.e._ thereat laughed Robin's men.

17.3: 'ackward,' back-handed (?).

18.4: 'yede,' went.

19.4: 'slo,' slay.

20.1: 'a breyde,' haste.

22.4: 'let,' stop, hinder.

23.3: 'And,' if.

25.3: 'But,' unless.

25.4: 'yode,' went.

26.4: 'chepe,' bargain for, buy.

28.1: 'Heyt war howt,' a call to horses while driving, like the modern 'Gee up.'

32.4: 'hansel' is a gift, especially an 'earnest' or instalment; 'mare' probably is 'more'; but the meaning of the whole phrase is uncertain.

33.2: 'chaffare,' merchandise.

34.1: 'great chepe' = great bargain.

35.4: 'thee,' thrive.