2

ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH AND BURIAL1

When Robin Hood and Little John

Down a down, a down, a down,

Went oer yon bank of broom,

Said Robin Hood bold to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound, Hey, down, a down, a down.

"But I am not able to shoot one shot more,
My broad arrows will not flee;

But I have a cousin lives down below,
Please God, she will bleed me.”

Now Robin he is to fair Kirkly gone,

As fast as he can win;

But before he came there, as we do hear,
He was taken very ill.

And when that he came to fair Kirkly-hall,
He knockd all at the ring,

But none was so ready as his cousin herself

For to let bold Robin in.

"Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said, "And drink some beer with me?"

"No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee."

1. There are conflicting accounts in the ballads as to the details of the death of Robin Hood. All agree, however, that he was basely betrayed by his cousin, who practically bled him to death.

"Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said,

"Which you did never see,

And if you please to walk therein,

You blooded by me shall be."

She took him by the lily-white hand,
And led him to a private room,

And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,
While one drop of blood would run down.

She blooded him in a vein of the arm,
And locked him up in the room;
Then did he bleed all the live-long day,
Until the next day at noon.

He then bethought him of a casement there,
Thinking for to get down;

He was so weak he could not leap,

He could not get him down.

He then bethought him of his bugle-horn,
Which hung low down to his knee;

He set his horn unto his mouth,

And blew out weak blasts three.

Then Little John, when hearing him,
As he sat under a tree,

"I fear my master is now near dead,
He blows so wearily."

Then Little John to fair Kirkly is gone,
As fast as he can dree;2

But when he came to Kirkly-hall,

He broke locks two or three:

2. Can dree. Is able.

Until he came bold Robin to see,

Then he fell on his knee;

"A boon, a boon," cries Little John,
"Master, I beg of thee."

"What is that boon," said Robin Hood,
"Little John, [thou] begs of me?”
"It is to burn fair Kirkly-hall,

. And all their nunnery.”

"Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, "That boon I'll not grant thee;

I never hurt woman in all my life,
Nor men in woman's company.

"I never hurt fair maid in all my time,
Nor at mine end shall it be:

But give me my bent bow in my hand,
And a broad arrow I'll let flee

And where this arrow is taken up,
There shall my grave digged be.

"Lay me a green sod under my head,
And another at my feet;

And lay my bent bow by my side,

Which was my music sweet;

And make my grave of gravel and green, Which is most right and meet.

"Let me have length and breadth enough, With a green sod under my head; That they may say, when I am dead, Here lies bold Robin Hood."

These words they readily granted him, Which did bold Robin please:

And there they buried bold Robin Hood, Within the fair Kirkleys.

3

JOHNIE ARMSTRONG1

There dwelt a man in faire Westmerland,
Ionnë Armestrong men did him call,
He had nither lands nor rents coming in,
Yet he kept eight score men in his hall.

He had horse and harness for them all,
Goodly steeds were all milke-white;
O the golden bands an about their necks,
And their weapons, they were all alike.

Newes then was brought unto the king
That there was sicke a won2 as hee,
That lived lyke a bold out-law,

And robbed all the north country.

The king he writt an a letter then,
A letter which was large and long;

He signed it with his owne hand,

And he promised to doe him no wrong.

When this letter came Ionnë untill,

His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree: "Never was I sent for before any king,

My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee.

1. This ballad is founded upon fact. John Armstrong was such a famous outlaw knight that in 1530 James V of Scotland levied an army to suppress him. Armstrong, evidently having little hope for himself, rode with his company into the presence of the king, hoping to win favor. In this he failed. Some accounts say that he was lured to the king by treachery, as in the ballad. For a full account see English and Scottish Ballads by Child, Vol. III, page 362.

2. Sicke a won. Such a one.

"And if wee goe the king before,

I would we went most orderly;

Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak,
Laced with silver laces three.

"Every won of you shall have his velvett coat,
Laced with silver lace so white;

O the golden bands an about your necks,
Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke."

By the morrow morninge at ten of the clock,
Towards Edenburough gon was hee,

And with him all his eight score men;
Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see!

When Ionne came befower the king,
He fell downe on his knee;

"O pardon, my soveraine leige," he said,

“O pardon my eight score men and me!"

"Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong, For thy eight score men nor thee;

For tomorrow morning by ten of the clock,

Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow-tree."

But Ionnë looke'd over his left shoulder,

Good Lord, what a grievious look looked hee!
Saying, Asking grace of a graceles face-
Why there is none for you nor me.

But Ionnë had a bright sword by his side,
And it was made of the mettle so free,3

That had not the king stept his foot aside,
He had smitten his head from his faire boddë.