No. XIX. (page 220.)

SIRVENTE OF RICHARD COUR-DE-LION ON HIS CAPTIVITY.'

Ja nuls hom pres non dira sa razon
Adrechament, si com hom dolens non;
Mas per conort deu hom faire canson:
Pre n'ay d'amis, mas paure son li don,
Ancta lur es, si per ma rezenson
Soi sai dos yvers pres.

Or sapchon ben miey hom e miey baron,
Angles, Norman, Peytavin et Gascon,
Qu'ieu non ay ja si paure compagnon
Qu'ieu laissasse, per aver, en preison,
Non ho dic mia per nulla retraison,
Mas anquar soi ie pres.

Car sai eu ben per ver, certanament,
Qn'hom mort ni pres n'a amic ni parent,
E si m laissan per aur ni per argent,
Mal m'es per mi, mas pieg m'es per ma gent,
Qu'apres ma mort n'auran reprochament,
Si sai mi laisson pres.

No m meravilh s'ieu ay lo cor dolent,
Que mos senher met ma terra en turment;
No li membra del nostre sagrament

Que nos feimes el Sans cominalment ;
Ben sai de ver que gaire longament
Non serai en sai pres.

Suer comtessa, vostre pretz sobeiran
Sal dieus, et gard la bella qu'ieu am tan,
Ni per cui soi ja pres.

No. XX. (page 223.)

THE KING'S DISGUISE, AND FRIENDSHIP WITH ROBIN HOOD.2

King Richard hearing of the pranks
Of Robin Hood and his men,
He much admir'd and more desir'd
To see both him and them.

1 Raynouard, Choix des poésies des Troubadours, iv. 185. 2 Evan's Old Ballads, historical and narrative, i. 218–225.

Then with a dozen of his lords

To Nottingham he rode:

When he came there, he made good cheer,
And took up his abode.

He having staid there some time,
But had no hopes to speed,
He and his lords, with one accord,
All put on monk's weeds.

From Fountain abbey they did ride,
Down to Barnsdale,

Where Robin Hood prepared stood,
All company to assail.

The king was higher than the rest,
And Robin thought he had
An abbot been whom he had seen;
To rob him he was glad.

He took the king's horse by the head:
-"Abbot," says he, "abide;

I am bound to rue such knaves as you,
That live in pomp and pride."

-"But we are messengers from the king,"
The king himself did say;

"Near to this place, his royal grace

To speak with thee does stay."

-"God save the king," said Robin Hood, "And all that wish him well,

He that does deny his sovereignty, wish he was in hell."

-66

Thyself thou cursest," said the king, "For thou a traitor art."

"Nay, but that you are his messenger, I swear you lie in heart.

"For I never yet hurt any man

That honest is and true;

But those who give their minds to live

Upon other men's due.

"For I never hurt the husbandman

That use to till the ground;

Nor spill their blood, that range the wood,

To follow hawk or hound.

"My chiefest spite to clergy is,

Who in these days bear sway;

With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks

I make my chiefest prey.

"But I am very glad," says Robin Hood,
"That I have met you here;

Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,
Taste of our green wood cheer."

The king he then did marvel much,
And so did all his men,

They thought with fear, what kind of cheer
Robin would provide for them.

Robin took the king's horse by the head,
And led him to the tent:

"Thou would not be so us'd," quoth he,
"But that my king thee sent.

"Nay, more than that," quoth Robin Hood, "For good king Richard's sake, If you had as much gold as ever I told, I would not one penny take."

Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,

And a loud blast he did blow,

Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men

Came marching all of a row,

So then they all to dinner went

Upon a carpet green;

Black, yellow, red, finely mingled,
Most curious to be seen.

Venison and fowls were plenty there,
With fish out of the river:
King Richard swore, on sea or shore,
He never was feasted better.

Then Robin takes a cann of ale;
"Come let us now begin;
And every man shall have his cann;
Here's a health unto the king."

The king himself drank to the king,
So round about it went;

Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,
To pledge that health was spent.

And after that a bowl of wine

In his hand took Robin Hood:

"Until I die, I'll drink wine," said he, "While I live in the green wood."

"Bend all your bows," said Robin Hood, "And with the grey goose wing

Such sport now show, as you would do
In the presence of the king."

They shewed such brave archery,
By cleaving stick and wands,

That the king did say, "Such men as they
Live not in many lands."

Well, Robin Hood," then says the king, "If I could thy pardon get,

To serve the king in every thing,

Wouldst thou thy mind firm set?"

"Stand up again," then said the king,
"I'll thee thy pardon give:

Stand up, my friend; who can contend
When I give leave to live?"

So they are all gone to Nottingham
All shouting as they came;

But when the people them did see,

They thought the king was slain.

And for that cause the outlaws were come
To rule all as they list;

And for to shun, which way to run,

The people did not wist.

The plowman left the plow in the fields,

The smith ran from his shop;

Old folks also, that scarce could go,

Over their sticks did hop.

The king soon did let them understand
He had been in the green wood,
And from that day for evermore
He'd forgiven Robin Hood.

Then the people they did hear,

And the truth was known;

They all did sing, God save the king,

Hang care, the town's our own.

"What's that Robin Hood?" then said the sheriff, "That varlet I do hate;

Both me and mine he caused to dine,

And serv'd all with one plate."

"Ho ho," said Robin Hood, "I know what you mean; Come take your gold again:

Be friends with me, and I with thee,

And so with every man.

"Now, master sheriff, you are paid; And since you are beginner,

As well as you, give me my due,

For you ne'er paid for that dinner.

"But if that it should please the king,
So much your house to grace,
To sup with you, for to speak true,
Know you ne'er was base."

The sheriff could not gainsay,

For a trick was put upon him:

A supper was drest, the king was a guest,
But he thought 'twould have undone him.

They are all gone to London court,

Robin Hood with all his train;

He once was there a noble peer,
And now he's there again.

No. XXI. (page 224.)

THE BIRTH OF ROBIN HOOD.1

O Willie's large o' limb and lith,
And come o' high degree;
And he is gane to Earl Richard
To serve for meat and fee.

1 Jamieson's Popular Songs, ii. 44–48.