2 ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH AND BURIAL1 When Robin Hood and Little John Down a down, a down, a down, Went oer yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood bold to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound, Hey, down, a down, a down. "But I am not able to shoot one shot more, But I have a cousin lives down below, Now Robin he is to fair Kirkly gone, As fast as he can win; But before he came there, as we do hear, And when that he came to fair Kirkly-hall, But none was so ready as his cousin herself For to let bold Robin in. "Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said, "And drink some beer with me?" "No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee." 1. There are conflicting accounts in the ballads as to the details of the death of Robin Hood. All agree, however, that he was basely betrayed by his cousin, who practically bled him to death. "Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, "Which you did never see, And if you please to walk therein, You blooded by me shall be." She took him by the lily-white hand, And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, She blooded him in a vein of the arm, He then bethought him of a casement there, He was so weak he could not leap, He could not get him down. He then bethought him of his bugle-horn, He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three. Then Little John, when hearing him, "I fear my master is now near dead, Then Little John to fair Kirkly is gone, But when he came to Kirkly-hall, He broke locks two or three: 2. Can dree. Is able. Until he came bold Robin to see, Then he fell on his knee; "A boon, a boon," cries Little John, "What is that boon," said Robin Hood, . And all their nunnery.” "Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, "That boon I'll not grant thee; I never hurt woman in all my life, "I never hurt fair maid in all my time, But give me my bent bow in my hand, And where this arrow is taken up, "Lay me a green sod under my head, And lay my bent bow by my side, Which was my music sweet; And make my grave of gravel and green, Which is most right and meet. "Let me have length and breadth enough, With a green sod under my head; That they may say, when I am dead, Here lies bold Robin Hood." These words they readily granted him, Which did bold Robin please: And there they buried bold Robin Hood, Within the fair Kirkleys. 3 JOHNIE ARMSTRONG1 There dwelt a man in faire Westmerland, He had horse and harness for them all, Newes then was brought unto the king And robbed all the north country. The king he writt an a letter then, He signed it with his owne hand, And he promised to doe him no wrong. When this letter came Ionnë untill, His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree: "Never was I sent for before any king, My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee. 1. This ballad is founded upon fact. John Armstrong was such a famous outlaw knight that in 1530 James V of Scotland levied an army to suppress him. Armstrong, evidently having little hope for himself, rode with his company into the presence of the king, hoping to win favor. In this he failed. Some accounts say that he was lured to the king by treachery, as in the ballad. For a full account see English and Scottish Ballads by Child, Vol. III, page 362. 2. Sicke a won. Such a one. "And if wee goe the king before, I would we went most orderly; Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak, "Every won of you shall have his velvett coat, O the golden bands an about your necks, By the morrow morninge at ten of the clock, And with him all his eight score men; When Ionne came befower the king, "O pardon, my soveraine leige," he said, “O pardon my eight score men and me!" "Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong, For thy eight score men nor thee; For tomorrow morning by ten of the clock, Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow-tree." But Ionnë looke'd over his left shoulder, Good Lord, what a grievious look looked hee! But Ionnë had a bright sword by his side, That had not the king stept his foot aside, |