No. 143: Robin Hood and the Bishop
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes [There are no footnotes for this ballad]
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Text A (For text changes to make versions A a to A e, see End-Notes)
5. End-Notes
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 143. Robin Hood and the Bishop
A. Roud No. 3855: Robin Hood and the Bishop (11 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: (Bronson's traditional music versions)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A b- Ae with additional notes)
Child's Narrative: Robin Hood and the Bishop
A. 'Robin Hood and the Bishop.'
a. Wood, 401, leaf 11 b.
b. Garland of 1663, No 5.
c. Garland of 1670, No 4.
d. Pepys, II, 109, No 96.
e. Roxburghe, I, 362, in the Ballad Societys reprint, II, 448.
Also Pepys, II, 122, No 107, by Alexander Milbourne (1670-97): Old Ballads, 1723, II, 39.
a is printed in Ritson's Robin Hood, 1795, II, 19. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 102, apparently follows the Aldermary Churchyard garland.
Robin Hood, while ranging the forest, sees a bishop and all his men coming, and, knowing that if he is taken no mercy will be given him, asks the help of an old woman, to whom he makes himself known. The old woman has had a kindness from him, and wishes to return it. She consents to exchange her gray coat and spindle for his green mantle and arrows, and Robin makes for his band in this disguise. The bishop carries off the old woman on a horse, making no doubt that he has Robin in custody, but, as he proceeds through the wood, sees a hundred bowmen, and asks his prisoner what this may be. I think it be Robin Hood, says the supposed outlaw. "And who are you?" "Why, I am an old woman." The bishop turns about, but Robin stays him, ties him to a tree, takes five hundred pound from his portmantle, and then is willing he should go. But Little John will not let him off till he has sung a mass; after which the bishop is mounted on his dapple-gray, with his face to the tail, and told to pray for Robin Hood.
This ballad and the following are variations upon the theme of Robin Hood and the Monk, in the Gest. The disguise as a woman occurs in other outlaw stories; as in Eustace the Monk, Michel, p. 43. Also in Blind Harry's Wallace, ed. Moir, Book I, 239, and Book IV, 764, pp 9, 72: in the first case Wallace has a rock and sits spinning. See also the ballad of Gude Wallace, further on.
We hear again of the forced mass, st. 23, in Robin Hood and Queen Katherine, A 31, B 40; and of money borrowed against the bishop's will, in A 32 of the same. It is the Bishop of Hereford who suffers: see the ballad which follows.
Translated by Doenniges, p. 203; Anastasius Grün, p. 113.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
This ballad and the following are variations upon the theme of Robin Hood and the Monk, in the Gest. The disguise as a woman occurs in other outlaw stories; as in Eustace the Monk, Michel, p. 43. Also in Blind Harry's Wallace, ed. Moir, book i, 239, and book iv, 764, pp. 9, 72: in the first case Wallace has a rock and sits spinning (see also No, 157). We hear again of the forced mass (st. 23) in No, 145, A 31, B 40; and of money borrowed against the bishop's will, in A 32 of the same. It is the Bishop of Hereford who suffers (see No, 144).
Child's Ballad Text
'Robin Hood and the Bishop'- Version A a. Child 143 Robin Hood and the Bishop
a. Wood, 401, leaf 11 b.
b. Garland of 1663, No 5.
c. Garland of 1670, No 4.
d. Pepys, II, 109, No 96.
e. Roxburghe, I, 362, in the Ballad Societys reprint, II, 448.
1 Come, gentlemen all, and listen a while,
Hey down down an a down
And a story I'le to you unfold;
I'le tell you how Robin Hood served the Bishop,
When he robbed him of his gold.
2 As it fell out on a sun-shining day,
When Phebus was in his prime,
Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
In mirth would spend some time.
3 And as he walked the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spy,
There was he aware of a proud bishop,
And all his company.
4 'O what shall I do?' said Robin Hood then,
'If the Bishop he doth take me,
No mercy he'l show unto me, I know,
But hanged I shall be.'
5 Then Robin was stout, and turnd him about,
And a little house there he did spy;
And to an old wife, for to save his life,
He loud began for to cry.
6 'Why, who art thou?' said the old woman,
'Come tell it to me for good:'
'I am an out-law, as many do know,
My name it is Robin Hood.
7 'And yonder's the Bishop and all his men,
And if that I taken be,
Then day and night he'l work me spight,
And hanged I shall be.'
8 'If thou be Robin Hood,' said the old wife,
'As thou dost seem to be,
I'le for thee provide, and thee I will hide
From the Bishop and his company.
9 'For I well remember, one Saturday night
Thou bought me both shoos and hose;
Therefore I'le provide thy person to hide,
And keep thee from thy foes.'
10 'Then give me soon thy coat of gray,
And take thou my mantle of green;
Thy spindle and twine to me resign,
And take thou my arrows so keen.'
11 And when that Robin Hood was so araid,
He went straight to his company;
With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind
For the Bishop and his company.
12 'O who is yonder,' quoth Little John,
'That now comes over the lee?
An arrow I will at her let flie,
So like an old witch looks she.'
13 'O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,' said Robin then,
'And shoot not thy arrows so keen;
I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
And quickly it shall be seen.'
14 The Bishop he came to the old womans house,
And he called with furious mood,
'Come let me soon see, and bring unto me,
That traitor Robin Hood.'
15 The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
Himselfe on a dapple-gray,
And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
He went laughing all the way.
16 But as they were riding the forrest along,
The Bishop he chanc'd for to see
A hundred brave bow-men bold
Stand under the green-wood tree.
17 'O who is yonder,' the Bishop then said,
'That's ranging within yonder wood?'
'Marry,' says the old woman, 'I think it to be
A man calld Robin Hood.'
18 'Why, who art thou,' the Bishop he said,
'Which I have here with me?'
'Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldly bishop;
Lift up my leg and see.'
19 'Then woe is me,' the Bishop he said,
'That ever I saw this day!'
He turnd hum about, but Robin so stout
Calld him, and bid him stay.
20 Then Robin took hold of the Bishops horse,
And ty'd him fast to a tree;
Then Little John smil'd his master upon,
For joy of that company.
21 Robin Hood took his mantle from 's back,
And spread it upon the ground,
And out of the Bishops portmantle he
Soon told five hundred pound.
22 'So now let him go,' said Robin Hood;
Said Little John, That may not be;
For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass
Before that he goe from me.
23 Then Robin Hood took the Bishop by the hand,
And bound him fast to a tree,
And made him sing a mass, God wot,
To him and his yeomandree.
24 And then they brought him through the wood,
And set him on his dapple-gray,
And gave the tail within his hand,
And bade him for Robin Hood pray.
End-Notes
a. Robin Hood and the Bishop: Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old womans house and changed cloaths with her, to scape from the Bishop; and how he robbed the Bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.
London, Printed for F. Grove on Snow-Hill. (1620-55.)
Burden: sometimes With a hey, etc.; With hey, etc.
22. her for his: cf. b, c.
82. doth: cf. b, c, d, e.
91. on for one: cf. e.
162. chance.
b. Title as in a. Burden: with the same variations as in a.
22. in his.
54. for wanting.
31. then said.
82. dost.
91. on.
143. soon wanting.
162. chanc'd.
171. then wanting.
172. yonders.
183. cuckoldy.
191. to me.
193. Robin Hood.
c. Title as in a. Burden: always With a hey, etc.
22. in his.
44. wanting.
53,4. for wanting.
82. dost.
91. on.
161. long.
162. chanced.
171. he said.
183. cuckoldy.
191. to me.
193. Robin Hood.
244. bid.
d. Title as in a, except, escape: robbed him: sing mass.
Burden: With a hey down down and a down.
21. of a.
22. in her.
23. That for Then.
44. shall I.
54. for wanting.
73. my for me.
81. old woman.
82. dost.
91. well wanting: on.
111. that wanting: thus for so.
131. Robin Hood.
162. chanc'd.
183. am a woman: cuckoldy.
193. Robin Hood.
204. of his.
221. So wanting.
231. by'th.
241. And when.
e. Title as in a, except, escape: robbed him; sing mass.
London, Printed by and for W. O[nley], etc. (1650-1702.)
Burden: With a hey down down an a down.
12, to you I'll.
13. to you.
21. of a.
22. in her.
23. Bold Robin Hood.
33. he wanting. (?)
41. saith.
44. shall I.
52. did he.
53. for wanting.
54. aloud began to.
73. my for me.
74. shall I.
81. then said the old woman.
82. dost.
91. well wanting: one.
92. brought.
102. the for my.
111. thus for so.
113. and wanting.
123. at her I will.
131. saith.
162. chanc'd.
174. A wanting.
183. am a woman.
193. Robin Hood.
194. to him.
204. of this.
221. So wanting.
231. by th'