The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
123
Robine Hood and Ffryer Tucke
ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTAL FRIAR—A
1
But how many merry monthes be in the yeere?There are thirteen, I say;
The midsummer moone is the merryest of all,
Next to the merry month of May.
2
In May, when mayds beene fast weepand,Young men their hands done wringe,
3
‘I'le [OMITTED] pe [OMITTED]Over may noe man for villanie:’
‘I'le never eate nor drinke,’ Robin Hood sa[id],
‘Till I that cutted friar see.’
4
He builded his men in a brake of fearne,A litle from that nunery;
Sayes, If you heare my litle horne blow,
Then looke you come to me.
5
When Robin came to Fontaines Abey,Wheras that fryer lay,
He was ware of the fryer where he stood,
And to him thus can he say.
6
A payre of blacke breeches the yeoman had on,His coppe all shone of steele,
A fayre sword and a broad buckeler
Beseemed him very weell.
7
‘I am a wet weary man,’ said Robin Hood,‘Good fellow, as thou may see;
Wilt beare [me] over this wild water,
Ffor sweete Saint Charity?’
8
The fryer bethought him of a good deed;He had done none of long before;
He hent up Robin Hood on his backe,
And over he did him beare.
9
But when he came over that wild water,A longe sword there he drew:
‘Beare me backe againe, bold outlawe,
Or of this thou shalt have enoughe.’
10
Then Robin Hood hent the fryar on his back,And neither sayd good nor ill;
Till he came ore that wild water,
The yeoman he walked still.
11
Then Robin Hood wett his fayre greene hoze,A span aboue his knee;
S[ay]s, Beare me ore againe, thou cutted f[ryer]
12
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
[OMITTED] good bowmen
[C]ame raking all on a rowe.
13
‘I beshrew thy head,’ said the cutted ffriar,‘Thou thinkes I shall be shente;
I thought thou had but a man or two,
And thou hast [a] whole conuent.
14
‘I lett thee haue a blast on thy horne,Now giue me leaue to whistle another;
I cold not bidd thee noe better play
And thou wert my owne borne brother.’
15
‘Now fute on, fute on, thou cutted fryar,I pray God thou neere be still;
It is not the futing in a fryers fist
That can doe me any ill.’
16
The fryar sett his neave to his mouth,A loud blast he did blow;
Then halfe a hundred good bandoggs
Came raking all on a rowe.
17
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘Euery dogg to a man,’ said the cutted fryar,
‘And I my selfe to Robin Hood.’
18
‘Over God's forbott,’ said Robin Hood,‘That euer that soe shold bee;
I had rather be mached with three of the tikes
Ere I wold be matched on thee.
19
‘But stay thy tikes, thou fryar,’ he said,‘And freindshipp I'le haue with thee;
But stay thy tikes, thou fryar,’ he said,
‘And saue good yeomanry.’
20
The fryar he sett his neave to his mouth,A lowd blast he did blow;
124
They couched downe on a rowe.
21
‘What is thy will, thou yeoman?’ he said,‘Haue done and tell it me;’
‘If that thou will goe to merry greenwood,
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |