N the summer time, when leaves grow green, Robin Hood and his merry men Were all disposed to play. Then some would leap, and some would run, Which of you can a good bow draw, Which of you can kill a buck? Or who can kill a doe? Or who can kill a hart of grease,* Five hundred foot him fro'? * Fat hart. Will Scarlet he kill'd a buck, And Midge he kill'd a doe; And Little John kill'd a hart of grease, Five hundred foot him fro'. God's blessing on thy heart, said Robin Hood, That shot such a shot for me; I would ride my horse an hundred miles To find one to match thee. That caused Will Scarlet to laugh, He laugh'd full heartily; There lives a friar in Fountain's Abbey Will beat both him and thee. The curtal friar in Fountain's Abbey Robin Hood took a solemn oath, It was by Mary free, That he would neither eat nor drink, Till the friar he did see. Robin Hood put on his harness good, Broad sword and buckler by his side, He took his bow into his hand, With a sheaf of arrows by his side And coming unto fair Fountain Dale, There was he 'ware of a curtal friar, The friar had on a harness good, Robin Hood lighted off his horse, And tied him to a thorn : Carry me over the water, thou curtal friar, Or else thy life's forlorn. |