Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford
No: 144; variant: 144B
- SOME talk of lords, and some talk of lairds,
And some talk of barrons bold,
But I'll tell you a story of bold Robin Hood,
How he robbed the Bishop of his gold.
- 'Cause kill us a venison,' sayes Robin Hood,
'And we'll dress it by the high-way side,
And we will watch narrowly for the Bishop,
Lest some other way he do ride.'
- 'Now who is this,' sayes the Bishop,
'That makes so boldly here
To kill the king's poor small venison,
And so few of his company here?'
- 'We are shepherds,' says Robin Hood,
'And do keep sheep all the year;
And we thought it fit to be merry on a day,
And kill one of the king's fallow deer.'
- 'Thou art a bold fellow,' the Bishop replyes,
'And your boldness you do show;
Make hast, make hast, and go along with me,
For the king of your doings shall know.'
- He leand his back unto a brae,
His foot against a thorn,
And out from beneath his long shepherds coat
He pulled a blowing-horn.
- He put his horn in to his mouth,
And a snell blast he did blow,
Till four and twenty of bold Robins men
Came riding up all in a row.
- 'Come, give us a reckoning,' says the Bishop,
'For I think you drink wondrous large:'
'Come, give me your purse,' said bold Robin Hood,
'And I will pay all your charge.'
- He pulled off his long shepherds coat,
And he spread it on the ground,
And out of the Bishops long trunk-hose,
He pulled a hundred pound.
- 'O master,' quoth Little John,
'It's a very bony sight for to see;
It makes me to favour the Bishop,
Tho in heart he loves not me.'
- 'Come, sing us a mass,' sayes bold Robin Hood,
'Come, sing us a mass all anon;
Come, sing us a mass,' sayes bold Robin Hood,
'Take a kick in the a--se, and be gone.'