Ballad Book Part 15

Then home rode the Abbot of comfort so cold, And he mett his shepheard a going to fold: "How now, my lord abbot, you are welcome home; What newes do you bring us from good king John?"

"Sad newes, sad newes, shepheard, I must give; That I have but three days more to live; For if I do not answer him questions three, My head will be smitten from my bodie.

"The first is to tell him, there in that stead, With his crowne of golde so fair on his head, Among all his liege men so n.o.ble of birth, To within one penny of what he is worth.

"The seconde, to tell him, without any doubt, How soone he may ride this whole world about; And at the third question I must not shrinke, But tell him there trulye what he does thinke."

"Now cheare up, sire abbot, did you never hear yet, That a fool he may learne a wise man witt?

Lend me horse, and serving men, and your apparel, And Ile ride to London to answers your quarrel.

"Nay frowne not, if it hath bin told unto mee, I am like your lords.h.i.+p, as ever may bee; And if you will but lend me your gowne, There is none shall knowe us at fair London towne."

"Now horses and serving men thou shalt have, With sumptuous array most gallant and brave; With crosier, and miter, and rochet, and cope, Fit to appear 'fore our fader the pope."

"Now welcome, sire abbot," the king he did say, "'Tis well thou'rt come back to keepe thy day; For and if thou canst answer my questions three, Thy life and thy living both saved shall bee.

"And first, when thou seest me here in this stead, With my crown of golde so faire on my head, Among all my liege men so n.o.ble of birthe, Tell me to one penny what I am worth."

"For thirty pence our Savior was sold Amonge the false Jewes, as I have bin told; And twenty-nine is the worth of thee, For I thinke, thou art one penny worser than hee."

The king he laughed, and swore by St. Bittel, "I did not think I had been worth so littel!

--Now secondly tell me, without any doubt, How soone I may ride this whole world about."

"You must rise with the sun, and ride with the same, Until the next morning he riseth againe; And then your grace need not make any doubt, But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about."

The king lie laughed, and swore "by St. Jone, I did not think it could be gone so soone!

--Now from the third question thou must not shrinke, But tell me here truly what I do thinke."

"Yea, that shall I do, and make your grace merry: You thinke I'm the abbot of Canterbury; But I'm his poor shepheard, as plain you may see, That am come to beg pardon for him and for mee."

The king he laughed, and swore "by the ma.s.se, Ile make thee lord abbot this day in his place!"

"Now naye, my liege, be not in such speede; For alacke I can neither write ne reade."

"Four n.o.bles a week, then, I will give thee, For this merry jest thou hast shown unto mee; And tell the old abbot, when thou comest home, Thou hast brought him a pardon from good king John."

ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS.

There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May.

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a day,_ And there he met a silly old woman, Was weeping on the way.

"What news? what news, thou silly old woman?

What news hast thou for me?"

Said she, "There's my three sons in Nottingham town To-day condemned to die."

"O, have they parishes burnt?" he said, "Or have they ministers slain?

Or have they robbed any virgin?

Or other men's wives have ta'en?"

"They have no parishes burnt, good sir, Nor yet have ministers slain, Nor have they robbed any virgin, Nor other men's wives have ta'en."

"O, what have they done?" said Robin Hood, "I pray thee tell to me."

"It's for slaying of the king's fallow-deer, Bearing their long bows with thee."

"Dost thou not mind, old woman," he said, "How thou madest me sup and dine?

By the truth of my body," quoth bold Robin Hood, "You could not tell it in better time."

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a day_, And there he met with a silly old palmer, Was walking along the highway.

"What news? what news, thou silly old man?

What news, I do thee pray?"

Said he, "Three squires in Nottingham town Are condemned to die this day."

"Come change thy apparel with me, old man, Come change thy apparel for mine; Here is forty s.h.i.+llings in good silver, Go drink it in beer or wine."

"O, thine apparel is good," he said, "And mine is ragged and torn; Wherever you go, wherever you ride, Laugh ne'er an old man to scorn."

"Come change thy apparel with me, old churl, Come change thy apparel with mine; Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold, Go feast thy brethren with wine."

Then he put on the old man's hat, It stood full high on the crown: "The first bold bargain that I come at, It shall make thee come down."

Then he put on the old man's cloak, Was patched black, blew, and red; He thought it no shame all the day long, To wear the bags of bread.

Then he put on the old man's breeks, Was patched from leg to side: "By the truth of my body," bold Robin can say, "This man loved little pride."

Then he put on the old man's hose, Were patched from knee to wrist: "By the truth of my body," said bold Robin Hood, "I'd laugh if I had any list."

Then he put on the old man's shoes, Were patched both beneath and aboon; Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath, "It's good habit that makes a man."

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a down,_ And there he met with the proud sheriff, Was walking along the town.

"O Christ you save, O sheriff!" he said; "O Christ you save and see!

And what will you give to a silly old man To-day will your hangman be?"

"Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said, "Some suits I'll give to thee; Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen, To-day's a hangman's fee."

Then Robin he turns him round about, And jumps from stock to stone: "By the truth of my body," the sheriff he said, "That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man."

"I was ne'er a hangman in all my life, Nor yet intends to trade; But curst be he," said bold Robin, "That first a hangman was made!

"I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt, And a bag for barley and corn; A bag for bread, and a bag for beef, And a bag for my little small horn.

"I have a horn in my pocket, I got it from Robin Hood, And still when I set it to my mouth, For thee it blows little good."

"O, wind thy horn, thou proud fellow, Of thee I have no doubt.