For every clown laughs me to scorn, I would set as little by them all. They plucked up anchor, and away did sail, More of a day than two or three; But Simon spied a ship of war, That sailed toward them most valorously. O woe is me, said the master then, For yon French robbers on the sea, But, Simon said, do not fear them, Give me a bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare! Hold thy peace, thou long lubber, For thou art nought but brags and boast; If I should cast you overboard, There is but a simple lubber lost. Simon grew angry at these words, Then he took his bent bow in his hand, Master, tie me to the mast, he said, And never a Frenchman will I spare! He drew his arrow to the head, And drew it with all might and main; To the Frenchman's heart the arrow's gone. The Frenchman fell down on the hatch, And under the hatches down below; O master, loose me from the mast, he said, And give me my bent bow in my hand, Then straight they boarded the French ship, Twelve thousand pounds of money bright. The one half of the ship, said Simon, then, But now bespake the master then, For you have won it with your own hands, It shall be so, as I have said, And with this gold, for the oppressed Where they shall live in peace and rest. RITSON, & EVANS. ROBIN HOOD'S CHASE. COME, you gallants all! to you I do call, For a song I will sing, of Henry our king, Queen Katherin* she a match did make, For three hundred tun of good red wine, But yet her archers she had to seek, With their bows and arrows so good; But when bold Robin Hood he came there, Thou art welcome, Locksley, said the queen, For a match of shooting I have made, * There was no queen consort named Katherine before Henry V.'s time: consequently, this is a mere fancy of the ballad-writer. Mr. Ritson conceives that it might have been adopted on account of Henry VIII. having three queens of that Name, which would therefore be familiar to the author. But when the game came to be played, Bold Robin he then drew nigh; With his mantle of green, most brave to be seen, He let his arrows fly. And when the game it ended was, Bold Robin won it with a grace; What though his pardon granted was, But yet the king was vexed with him, Soon after the king from the court did hye, And often inquired both far and near, But when the king to Nottingham came, O come now, said he, and let me see, Who will find me bold Robin Hood. But when that bold Robin he did hear Then said little John, "Tis time to be gone, And go to some other place. And away they went from merry Sherwood, And the king did follow, with a whoop and a hallo, Yet jolly Robin he passed along, And went straight to Newcastle town; And there stayed he hours two or three, When the king did see, how Robin did flee, With a hoop and a halloo, he vowed to follow, Come now let's away, then cries little John, To Carlisle we'll hye, with our company, From Lancaster then to Chester they went, But Robin went away, for he durst not stay, Says Robin, Come let us for London go, It may be she wants our company, When Robin he came Queen Katherin before, If it please your grace, I am come to this place, Queen Katherin answered bold Robin Hood again, Then fare you well, my gracious queen : For fain would I see, what he would with me, But when King Henry he came home, And that he did hear, Robin had been there, |