A T RUE A E OF ROBI H D 9 5 T L N OO . e Yorkshire w oods re en e m Th y f qu t d uch, A nd L ancashire also Wh ere in the ir pra ctis e s were such a e o m Th t th y wr ught ickle w oe . on e r urs travell to and fro N ich d t , ’ o n ere so r on l arm d Th ugh st g y , But by thes e th eeves (s o strong in show) ’ ’ e s ll er rob d and h arm d Th y ti w e . ’ c e es s to th l er e w as His hi f t pight c gi , ’ That liv d in m on strous prid e No on e of the m h e would l et p asse h a Al ong th e hig w y sid e . r e m s to d nn er o But fi st th y u t i g , And afterwards to shrift l man a on e h e s er e d so Fu l y v , ’ h le h e liv d e Thus w i by th ft. o m on s n or r er o d h e let oe N k f y s w ul g , “ Without p aying their fees ’ e o m c to b e u s d s o If th y th ught u h , h m a e e l e e Their stone s e d th m s e . ’ For such as they th e c oun try fill d With ba stards in those d aye s hich to re en es e s ar e e \V p v t, th p k s did g ld e a Al l that cam e by th ir w ys . o n ood s o en e w a s But R bbi H g tl , An d ore s o ra e a min e b b v d , an in s re s e did a se If y di t s p s , em h e w as s o n d e T o th ki , l o d e an d en to e That h e w u giv l d th m, T o h elpe th em in the ir n e e d e all ore en r for him This m ad e p o m p ay , s e e de And wish h e we ll might p . 96 R A T UE TALE or ROBIN HOO D . Th e widdow and th e fath erlesse He would s en d meane s unto And thos e whom famine did opp resse o n him a r en dl foe F u d f i y . Nor o ld h e doe a oman ron w u w w g, But s e e h er s afe c onveid He woul d p rote ct with p owe r strong ’ All o e wh o rav his a e th s c d yd . Th e a o of ain ar e en bb t S t M i s th , W h o h im n d d e ore u i b f , W a s d n tw o ndr e men ri i g with hu d , And gold and s ilver s tore o n ood on him s ot But R bbi H up , t c ou ra ious s ar e s Wi h his g p k , And all th e o n e er or e did et c y p f c g , w as e e o s an mar Which tw lv th u d kes . He o n th e a o to a re e b u d bb t t , And o l not l et h im ass e w u d p , Before that to his m en an d h e His l ords hip h ad s aid ma ss e e n d on e on or e Which b i g , up his h s He s et him as astr de f t i , An d w ith his fa c e t owards his He or e im to r e f c d h id . His m en e re a n e to b e e w f i his guid , For h e rod e b ac kward home Th e a o e n t villifie d bb t , b i g hus , s ore h a e an d f m Did ly c f e . - u Thus Robin Ho ui d id vindicate ’ His former wrongs re c eiv d ’ For twas this c ove tous p relate ’ im of an er a d That h l d b e v . A TRUE TALE or ROBIN 97 “ a o h e rode to th e n Th e bb t ki g, With all th e has te h e coul d ; And to his gra ce h e every thing Exactly did un fohl ’ nd a a no our e ere a en A s yd if th t c s w t , or e or tr a a e m By f c s t g , o a e s re el and h is tra n e T t k thi b i , man s o d as e for e No h ul p s th m. Th e king proteste d by and by n o th e a o en U t bb t th , a o n oo ee o d e Th t R bbi H d with sp d sh uld y , rr With all his me y men . ’ e re th e in an en But k g did y s d, He did ano er feate th , did his ra e o e offen Which g c much m r d, Th e fact in dee d w as great For in a sh ort time after that Th e kings receivers we nt o ar s ond on th e o n e e o T w d L with c y th y g t, ’ For s highn e s s north erne rent o o n oo and e ohn B ld R bbi H d Littl J , th e e of e a n e With r st th ir tr i , ot ea n law set em on N dr di g , th up , d e o obtaine An did th ir g ld . Th e in m mo e at th e a e k g uch v d s m , A d th e a o t a e a s o n bb s t lk l , In his his an er did roclaime t g p , And en or to and fro s t w d , ’ That wh osoe er alive or dead r n ol o n oo C ould b i g b d R bbi H d, Shoul d have one thousand markes well paid ‘ e In gold and silv r good . H 9 R E F N 8 A T U TALE O ROBI HOOD . This promise of th e king did make man e omen ol Full y y b d, Attempt stout Robbin H ood to take With all th e force the y c oul d . But still when any cam e to h im in th e a re ene oo With g y g w d, He e ntertainement gave to them With veni son fat and good ’ And sh ew d to them such martiale sport t his on bow and arro Wi h l g w, a e o him e e o Th t th y f did giv r p rt , How a w as re a orro th t it g t s w, That such a worthy man as h e Should thus be put to e n a a lOr of e e e B i g l te d high d gr , l n ui e ere Of ivi g q t b ft. Th e n to a e him m ore and ore ki g t k , m , S ent men of mickle might h e and i l ea e e o e But his st l b t th m s r , And conquere d them in fight el se an c ourtesie Or with love d , To him h e w n e ea o th ir h rts . Thus still h e live d by robbe ry Throughout th e north erne p arts And all th e country stood in dread ’ Of R obbin Hood and s m en ’ ’ For stouter lads ne re liv d by bread I s o n en n o e a n r e . th s d y , si c th ’ Th e a o hi e ore I nam d bb t w ch b f , S ought all th e meanes h e could ’ To a e or e s re e e a ne h v by f c thi b l t , And h is er ol adh ents b d .