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Robin Hoods progresse to Nottingham,
Where hee met with fifteen Forresters all on a row,
And hee desired of them some news for to know,
But with crosse graind words they did him thwart,
For which at last hee made them smart.
To the Tune of, bold Robin Hood.
[illustration]
RObin Hood hée was and a fall young man,
Derry derry down,
And fiftéen Winters old,
And Robin Hood he was a proper young man,
Of courage stout and bold
Hey down derry derry down.
Robin Hood he would and to fair Nottingham,
Derry derry down.
With the general for to bine,
There was be ware of fiftéen Forresters
And a drinking Bear, Ale and Wine,
Hey down, derry derry down,
What news, what news, said bold Robin Hood;
derry derry down.
What news fain wouldest thou know?
Our King hath provided a shooting match,
And I'm ready with my Bow,
Hey down derry derry down.
We hold it in scorn then said the Forresters,
derry derry down,
That ever a boy so young
Should bear a Bow before our King,
That's not able to draw one string,
Hey, down, derry derry down,
I'le hold you twenty marks said bold Robin Hood
derry derry down,
By the leave of our Lady
That I'le hit a mark a hundred rod,
And Ile cause a Hart to dye,
Hey down, derry derry down,
We'l hold you twenty mark then said she For∣resters
derry derry, down,
By the leave of our Lady,
Thou hit'st not the marke a hundred rod
Nor causest a Hart to dye
Hey down derry derry down.
Robin Hood he bent up a noble Bow,
derry derry down,
And a broad arrow he let flye,
He hit the mark a hundred rod
And he caused a Hart to dy
Hey down, derry derry down.
Some said he brake ribs one or two,
derry derry down,
And some said hee brake thrée,
The arrow within the Hart would not'abide,
But it glanced in two or three,
Hey down, derry derry down,
[illustration]
THe Hart did skip, and the Hart did leap,
derry derry down,
And the Hart lay on the ground
The wager is mine said bold Robin Hood,
If'twere for a thousand pound,
Hey down, derry derry down.
The wager's none of thine then said the For∣resters
derry derry down,
Although thou beest in haste,
Take up thy Bow and get thee hence
Lest wee thy sides do bas••e,
Hey down, derry derry down,
Robin Hood hee took up his noble Bow
derry derry down,
And his broad arrows all amain,
And Robin Hood he laught and begun to smile
As hee went over the Plain,
Hey down, derry derry down.
Then Robin Hood hee bent his noble Bow
derry derry down,
And his broad arrows he let flye,
Till fourteen of these fifteen forresters
Vpon the ground did lye
Hey down, derry derry down.
He that did this quarrel first begin,
derry derry down,
Went tripping over the Plain;
But Robin Hood he bent his noble Bow,
And hee ••etcht him back again,
Hey down derry, &c.
You said I was no Archer said Robin Hood,
derry derry down,
But say so now again,
With that he sent another arrow
That split his head in twain,
Hey down, derry, &c.
You have found mee an Archer saith Robin Hood
derry derry down,
Which will make your Wives for to wring
And wish that you had never spoke the word,
That I could not draw••ne string,
Hey down, derry, &c.
The people that lived in fair Nottingham,
derry derry down,
Came runing out amain
Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood,
With the Forresters that were ••lain,
Hey down, derry, &c.
Some lost Legs, and some lost Arms
derry derry down,
And some did lose their blood,
But Robin Hood hee took up his noble Bow
And is gone to the merry gréen Wood
hey down derry, &c.
They carryed these Forresters into fair Not∣tingham
derry derry down,
As many there did know
They dig'd them graves in their Church-yard
And they buried them all a row,
hey down, derry derry down.
FINIS.