English & Other 139. Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham
CONTENTS:
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ROBIN HOOD AND THE FIFTEEN FORESTERS
John Goodluck, The Suffolk Miracle; John lives the quiet life in Martlesham Heath in his native Suffolk.
Robin Hood said he would go to fair Nottingham
With the General for to dine
There he was aware of the Fifteen Foresters
All a drinking of ale and of wine
What news, what news ? - said the bold Robin Hood
What news fain woulds't thou know?
Our King has arranged of a shooting match
And I'm ready all with my bow
Well we hold it in scorn - said the Fifteen Foresters
That ever a boy so young
Should own him a bow before our King
Not able to pull on the string
Well I'll wager twenty marks - said the bold Robin Hood
By the leave of Our Lady
That I hit the mark at one hundred rod
And cause the hart to die
Well we all lay twenty marks - said the Fifteen Foresters
By the leave of Our Lady
That thou hittest not the mark at one hundred rod
Nor cause the hart to bleed
So Robin then he turned and he took up his bow
With his broad arrows he let fly
He hit the mark at one hundred rod
And caused the hart for to die
Well the hart did skip and the hart did leap
And the hart fell to the ground
That wager it is mine - said the bold Robin Hood
How I wish it were a thousand pounds
Well the wager is not thine - said the Fifteen Foresters
Thou appealest all in haste
Take up thy bow and get thee gone
Lest we thy side abase'
So Robin then he took up his noble good bow
With his broad arrows all amain
And Robin he has stalled and began to laugh
As he wandered across the plain
Then he turned him about and he took up his bow
With his broad arrows he let fly
Till fourteen of those Fifteen Foresters
All on the cold ground they did lie
Now the one who did the quarrel fist begin
He went running all over the plain
So Robin he has taken up his noble good bow
And he's fetched him back again
Well you said I was no archer - said the bold Robin Hood
So say so now again
With that he's sent another arrow forth
Which split his head in twain
Well you found me an archer - said the bold Robin Hood
Who will make your lives to ring
And you wish you had not spoken the word
That I would not pull the string'
And all the people in fair Nottingham
Came running out amain
Supposing to have taken the bold Robin Hood
With the Foresters who were slain
Well some lost arms and some lost legs
And some did lose their blood
Robin he has taken his noble good bow
And he's gone to the merry green wood
They've taken those Foresters to fair Nottingham
Where many there did'st know
They've taken them to their own church yard
Where they've buried them all in a row