"Come, kill me a venison," said bold Robin Hood,
"And dress it by the highway side,
And we will watch the bishop narrowly,
Lest some other way he should ride."
Robin Hood dressed himself in shepherd's attire,
With six of his men also,
And, when the Bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go.
"O, what is the matter?" then said the bishop,
"Or for whom do you make this ado?
Or why do you kill the king's ven'son,
When your company is so few?"
"We are shepherds," said bold Robin Hood,
"And we keep sheep all the year;
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the king's fat deer."
"You are brave fellows," said the bishop,
"And the king of your doings shall know;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."
"O pardon, O pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"O pardon, I thee pray;
For it becomes not your lordship's coat
To take so many lives away."
"No pardon, no pardon," said the bishop,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."
Then Robin he set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherd's coat
He pulled out a bugle horn.
He put the little end to his mouth,
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robin's men
Came running all in a row:
All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood;
'Twas a comely sight for to see.
"What is the matter, master," said Little John,
"That you blow so lustily?"
"O here is the Bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have."
"Cut off his head, master," said Little John,
"And throw him into his grave."
"O pardon, O pardon," said the bishop,
"O pardon, I thee pray;
For if I had known it had been you,
I'd have gone some other way."
"No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
"No pardon I thee owe;
Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go."
Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,
And led him to merry Barnsdale;
He made him stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.
"Call in a reckoning," said the bishop,
"For methinks it grows wondrous high."
"Send me your purse, master," said Little John,
"And I'll tell you bye and bye."
Then Little John took the bishop's cloak,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the bishop's portmantua
He told three hundred pound.
"Here's money enough, master," said Little John,
"And a comely sight 'tis to see;
It makes me in charity with the bishop,
Though he heartily loveth not me."
Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
And he caused the music to play;
And he made the old bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad to get so away.
CHAPTER XXXV. ROBIN HOOD AND HIS ADVENTURES.
"They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England... and fleet the time carelessly as they did in the golden world."- AS YOU LIKE IT.
AS has been already said, some of the ballad makers have so far erred from the truth as to represent Robin Hood as being outlawed by Henry VIII., and several stories are told of Queen Katherine's interceding with her husband for the pardon of the bold outlaw.* However this may be, it is known that Robin Hood once shot a match on the queen's side against the king's archers, and here is the story:-
This seems to have been the opinion of the author from whom we draw the following account of our hero's life,- to show how the doctors will disagree even on a topic as important as Robin Hood:-
THE NOBLE BIRTH AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ROBIN HOOD.
"Robin Hood was descended from the noble family of the Earl of Huntingdon, and being outlawed by Henry VIII. for many extravagancies and outrages he had committed, he did draw together a company of such bold and licentious persons as himself, who lived for the most part on robberies committed in or near unto Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. He had these always ready at his command, so that if need did require he at the winding of his horn would have fifty or more of them in readiness to assist him. He whom he most affected was called Little John by reason of his low stature, though not inferior to any of them in strength of body and stoutness of spirit. He would not entertain any into his service whom he had not first fought with himself and made sufficient trial of his courage and dexterity how to use his weapons, which was the reason that oftentimes he came home hurt and beaten as he was; which was nevertheless no occasion of the diminution of his love to the person whom he fought with, for ever afterwards he would be the more familiar with him, and better respect him for it. Many petitions were referred to the king for a pardon for him, which the king (understanding of the many mad pranks he and his associates played) would give no ear unto; but being attended with a considerable guard, did make a progress himself to find him out and bring him to condign punishment. At last, by the means and mediation of Queen Katherine the king's wrath was qualified, and his pardon sealed, and he spent his old age in peace, at a house of his own, not far from Nottingham, being generally beloved and respected by all."