A New Ballad of Robin Hood: Shewing his Birth, Breeding, Valour and Marriage, at Titbury Bull-running: Calculated for the Meridian of Staffordshire but may serve for Derbyshire or Kent.

Kind Gentlemen will you be patient a while, Ay, and then you shall hear anon, A very good Ballad of bold Robin Hood, and of his Man, brave little John. In Locksly Town,[10] in merry Nottinghamshire, in merry sweet Locksly Town; There bold Robin Hood, he was born and was bred, bold Robin of famous Renown. The Father of Robin a Forester was, and he shot in a lusty long Bow, Two North Country Miles and a Inch at a shot, as the Pinder of Wakefield[11] does know. For he brought Adam Bell,[12] and Clim of the Glugh,[13] and William a Clowdel-le;[14] To shoot with our Forester, for forty Marks, and the Forester beat them all three. His Mother was Niece to a Coventry Knight, which Warwickshire Men call Sir Guy;[15] For he slew the Blew Bore that hangs up at the Gate, or mine Host of the Bull tells a lie. Her Brother was Gamwell[16] of great Gamwell-Hall, and a noble House-keeper was he, Ay, as ever broke Bread in sweet Nottinghamshire, and a Squire of famous Degree. The Mother of Robin said to her Husband, my Honey, my Love and my Dear; Let Robin and I, ride this Morning to Gamwel, to take of my Brother's good Cheer. And he said, I grant thee boon, gentle Joan, take one of my Horses I pray: The Sun is a rising, and therefore make Haste, for to morrow is Christmas Day. Then Robin Hood's Father's grey Gelding was brought and sadled and bridled was he, God-wot, a blew Bonnet, his new Suit of Cloaths, and a Cloak that did reach to his Knee. She got on her Holy-day Girdle and Gown, they were of a light Lincoln Green, The Cloath was home spun, but for Colour and make it might a beseem'd our Queen. And then Robin got on his Basket-hilt Sword, and a Dagger on his tother side: And said, my dear Mother, let's haste to be gone, we have forty long Miles to ride. When Robin had mounted his Gelding so grey, his Father without any Trouble, Got her up behind him, and bid her not fear, for his Gelding had oft carried double. And when she was settled, they rode to their Neighbours, and drank and shook Hands with them all: And then Robin galop'd and never gave o're, till they lighted at Gamwel-Hall. And now you may think the right worshipful Squire, was joyful his Sister to see; For he kist her and kist her, and swore a great Oath, thou art welcome, kind Sister, to me. The morrow when Mass had been said in the Chappel six Tables were cover'd in the Hall; And in comes the 'Squire and makes a short Speech, it was, Neighbours you are welcome all. But not a Man here, shall tast my March Beer, till Christmas Carrol be sung; Then all clapt their Hands, & they shouted & sung, till the Hall and the Parlour did ring. Now Mustard, Braun, roast-Beef and Plumb-Pies, were set upon every Table: And noble George Gamwel said, eat and be merry, and drink so as long as you're able. When Dinner was ended his Chaplain said Grace, and be merry my Friends, said the 'Squire, It rains and it blows, but call for more Ale, and lay some more Wood on the Fire. And now call ye little John hither to me, for little John is a fine Lad, At Gambols and Juggling, and twenty such Tricks, as shall make you both merry and glad. When little John came, to Gambols they went, both Gentlemen, Yeomen and Cloun; And what do you think? Why as true as I live, bold Robin Hood put them all down. And now you may think the right worshipful Squire, was joyful this Sight for to see, For he said Cousin Robin, thou'st go no more home, but tarry and dwell with me. Thou shalt have my Land when I die, and till then thou shalt be the Staff of my Age: Then grant me my boon, dear Uncle, said Robin, that little John may by my Page. And he said kind Cousin I grant thee thy boon, with all my heart to let it be, Then come hither little John, said Robin Hood, come hither my Page, unto me. Go fetch me my Bow, my longest long Bow, and broad Arrows one two or three; For when it is fair Weather, we'll into Sherwood, some merry Pastime to see. When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood, he winded his bugle so clear; And twice five and twenty good Yeomen and bold, before Robin Hood did appear. Where are your Companions all? (said Robin Hood) for still I want forty and three. Then said a bold Yeoman, Lo yonder they stand, all under a green Wood Tree. As that Word was spoke, Clorinda[17] came by, the Queen of the Shepherds was she: And her Gown was of Velvet, as green as the Grass, and her Buskin did reach to her Knee. Her Gate it was graceful, her Body was strait and her Countenance free from Pride: A Bow in her Hand, and Quiver and Arrows, hung dangling by her sweet Side. Her Eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her Hair, and her Chin was as smooth as Glass; Her Visage spoke Wisdom and Modesty too, sets with Robin Hood such a Lass. Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whether away, oh whither fair Lady away? And she made him Answer, to kill a fat Buck, for to-morrow is Titbury[18] Day. Said Robin Hood, Lady fair wander with me, a little to yonder green Bower, There sit down to rest you, and you shall be sure, of a brace or a lease in an Hour. And as we were going towards the green Bower, two hundred good Bucks we espy'd: She chose out the fattest that was in the Herd, and she shot him through side and side. By the Faith of my Body, said bold Robin Hood, I never saw Woman like thee, And com'st thou from East, ay, or com'st thou from West thou needst not beg Venison of me. However along to the Bower you shall go, and taste of a Forester's Meat; And when we came thither, we found as good cheer, as any man needs for to eat. For there was hot Venison, and Warden pies cold, Cream coloured with Honey-Combs plenty, And the Sarvitors they were besides little John, good yeomen at least four and twenty. Clorinda said, Tell me your Name gentle Sir? and he said, 'Tis bold Robin Hood; 'Squire Gamwel's my Uncle, but all my delight, is to dwell in the merry Sherwood: For 'tis a fine Life, and 'tis void of all Strife, so 'tis Sir, Clorinda reply'd; But oh, said bold Robin, how sweet would it be, if Clorinda would be my Bride? She blush'd at the Motion, yet after a Pause, said, yes Sir, and with all my Heart, Then let us send for a Priest, said Robin Hood, and marry before we do part. But she said, it may not be so gentle Sir, for I must be at Titbury Feast: And if Robin Hood will go thither with me, I'll make him the most welcome Guest. Said Robin Hood, reach me that Buck, little John, for I'll go along with my Dear; And bid my Yeomen kill six brace of Bucks, go meet me to-morrow just here. Before we had ridden five Staffordshire miles, eight Yoemen that were too bold, Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his Buck, a truer tale never was told. I will not faith, said bold Robin; come John, stand to me and we'll beat 'em all; Then both drew their Swords, and cut 'em and slash'd 'em, that five of them did fall. The three that remain'd call'd to Robin for quarter, and pitiful John beg'd their Lives; When John's boon was granted, he gave them good Counsel and so sent them home to their Wives. This Battle was fought near Titbury Town, when the Bagpipes bated the Bull: I am King of the Fields, and swear 'tis a Truth, and I call him that doubts it a Gull. For I saw him Fighting and Fidling the while, and Clorinda sung, Hey derry down: The Bumpkins are beaten put up thy Sword Bob, and let's dance into the Town. Before we came to it, we heard a strange shouting, and all that were in it look'd madly, For some were a Bull-back, some Dancing a Morris, and some singing Arthur a Bradly.[19] And there we see Thomas our Justices Clark, and Mary to whom he was kind: For Tom rod before her, and call'd Mary Madam, and kist her full sweetly behind. And so may your Worship's but we went to Dinner, with Thomas, and Mary, and Nan; They all drank a Health to Clorinda, and told her, bold Robin Hood was a fine Man. When Dinner was ended, Sir Roger the Parson of Dubbridge[20] was sent for in haste: He brought his Mass-Book, & he bid them take hands, and he join'd them in Marriage full fast. And then as bold Robin Hood, and his sweet Bride, went Hand in Hand to the green Bower, The Birds sung with Pleasure in merry Sherwood, and 'twas a most joyful hour. And when Robin came in the sight of the Bower, where are my Yeomen? said he, And little John answered, Lo yonder they stand, all under the green Wood Tree. Then a Garland they brought her by two & by two and placed them at the Bride's Bed: The Musick struck up, and we fell to dance, till the Bride and the Groom were in Bed. And what they did there, must be Counsel to me, because they lay long the next Day: And I had haste home, but I got a good Piece of the Bride-Cake and so came away. Now out alas, I had forgot to tell ye, that marry'd they were with a Ring: And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a Maiden, and now let us pray for the King. That he may get Children, and they may get more, to govern and do us some good, And then I'll make Ballads in Robin Hood's Bower, and sing 'em in merry Sherwood.