Volume 5 / Book 5 — APPENDIX. (continued 2)
Reading edition
8, to follow. Ritson.
THE SONG OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS HUNTES-MEN.
From Anthony Munday's London pageant for 1615, entitled Metropolis Coronata, the Triumphes of Ancient Drapery. Munday was a popular ballad-writer, and, together with Chettle, the author of two well-known plays on the fortunes of "Robert Earl of Huntington." This song is taken from The Civic Garland, in the Percy Society Publications, vol. xix. p. 15.
Now wend we together, my merry men all, Unto the forrest side a: And there to strike a buck or a doe, Let our cunning all be a tride a. Then go we merrily, merrily on,5 To the green-wood to take up our stand, Where we will lye in waite for our game, With our bent bowes in our hand. What life is there like to bold Robin Hood? It is so pleasant a thing a:10 In merry Shirwood he spends his dayes, As pleasantly as a king a. No man may compare with Robin Hood, With Robin Hood, Scathlocke and John; Their like was never, nor never will be,15 If in ease that they were gone. They will not away from merry Shirwood, In any place else to dwell: For there is neither city nor towne, That likes them halfe so well.20 Our lives are wholly given to hunt, And haunt the merry greene-wood, Where our best service is daily spent For our master Robin Hood.