XIV.

ROBIN HOOD’S GOLDEN PRIZE.

“He met two priests upon the way, And forced them with him to pray; For gold they prayed, and gold they had, Enough to make bold Robin glad; His share came to four hundred pound, That then was told upon the ground. Now mark, and you shall hear the jest, You never heard the like exprest.

Tune is, Robin Hood was a tall young man, &c.”

This ballad (given from an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood) was entered (amongst others) in the Stationers’ book, by Francis Coule, 13th June 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2d June 1656.

I have heard talk of Robin Hood, _Derry, derry down_, And of brave Little John, Of fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlèt, Loxley, and maid Mariòn. {250}

But such a tale as this before I think was never knone : For Robin Hood disguised himself, And ‘from’[311] the wood is gone.

Like to a fryer bold Robin Hood Was accoutered in his array ; With hood, gown, beeds, and crucifix, He past upon the way.

He had not gone miles two or three, But it was his chance to spy Two lusty priests, clad all in black, Come riding gallantly.

_Benedicite_, then said Robin Hood, Some pitty on me take ; Cross you my hand with a silver groat, For our dear ladies sake.

For I have been wandring all this day, And nothing could I get ; Not so much as one poor cup of drink, Nor bit of bread to eat.

Now, by our holy dame, the priests repli’d, We never a peny have ; For we this morning have been rob’d, And could no money save. {251}

I am much afraid, said bold Robin Hood, That you both do tell a lie ; And now before you do go hence, I am resolv’d to try.

When as the priests heard him say so, Then they rode away amain ; But Robin Hood betook to his heels, And soon overtook them again.

Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both, And pull’d them down from their horse : O spare us, fryer ! the priests cry’d out, On us have some remorse !

You said you had no mony, quoth he, Wherefore, without delay, We three will fall down on our knees, And for mony we will pray.

The priests they could not him gainsay, But down they kneeled with speed : Send us, O send us, then quoth they, Some mony to serve our need.

The priests did pray with a mournful chear, Sometimes their hands did wring ; Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud, Whilst Robin did merrily sing. {252}

When they had been praying an hours space, The priests did still lament ; Then quoth bold Robin, Now let’s see What mony heaven hath us sent.

We will be sharers all alike Of [the] mony that we have ; And there is never a one of us That his fellow shall deceive.

The priests their hands in their pockets put, But mony would find none : We’l search ourselves, said Robin Hood, Each other, one by one.

Then Robin[312] took pains to search them both, And he found good store of gold, Five hundred peeces presently Upon the grass was told.

Here is a brave show, said Robin Hood, Such store of gold to see, And you shall each one have a part, Cause you prayed so heartily.

He gave them fifty pounds a-peece, And the rest for himself did keep : The priests [they] durst not speak one word, But they sighed wondrous deep.

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIARS.]

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIARS]

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With that the priests rose up from their knees, Thinking to have parted so : Nay, nay, says Robin Hood, one thing more I have to say ere you go.

You shall be sworn, said bold Robin Hood, Upon this holy grass, That you will never tell lies again, Which way soever you pass.

The second oath that you here must take, That all the days of your lives, You shall never tempt maids to sin, Nor lie with other mens wives.

The last oath you shall take, it is this, Be charitable to the poor ; Say, you have met with a holy fryar, And I desire no more.

He set them on their horses again, And away then they did ride ; And he return’d to the merry green-wood, With great joy, mirth, and pride.

[Illustration]

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[Illustration]