Robin Hood Newly Reviv'd

Come listen a while you Gentlemen all
With a hey down, down, a down, down,
That are in this Bower within,
for a story of gallant bold Robin Hood
I purpose now to begin.

What time of the day, quod Robin Hood then,
With a hey down, etc.
Quoth little John tis in the prime;
why then we will to the green Wood gang,
For we have no Victuals to dine.

As Robin Hood walkt the Forrest along,
With a hey down, etc.
It was in the midst of the day,
there was he met of a deft young man,
As ever walkt on the way.

His Doublet was of silk he said,
With a hey down, etc.
His stockings like Scarlet shone,
and he walkt on along the way,
To Robin Hood then unknown.

A Herd of Deer was in the Bend,
with a hey down, etc.
All feeding before his face,
now the best of ye Ile have to my dinner,
And that in a little space.

Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe
with a hey down, etc.
But he bends a right good Bow,
and the best Buck in the Herd he slew,
Forty good yards him froe,

Well shot, well shot, quod Robin Hood then,
With a hey down, etc.
That shot it was shot in time,
and if thou wilt accept of the place
Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine.

Go play the Chiven the stranger said,
with a hey down, etc.
Make haste and quickly go,
or with my fist, be sure of this,
Ile give thee buffets store.

Thou hadst not best buffet me, quod Robin Hood
with a hey down, etc.
For though I seem forlorn,
yet I can have those that will take my part
If I but blow my horn.

Thou wast not best wind thy horn the stranger said
with a hey down, etc.
Beest thou never so much in haste,
for I can draw out a good broad Sword,
And quickly cut the blast.

Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
with a hey down, etc.
To that shot and he would fain,
the stranger he bent a very good bow,
To shoot at bold Robin again.

O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, quod Robin Hood
with a hey down, etc.
To shot it would be in vain,
for if we should shoot the one at the other,
The one of us must be slain.

In the earliest extant copy of this ballad, the words which continue from this point are labelled as a "second part," but if we stop here, the story seems entirely incomplete. So, the second part, to the same tune:

BUt lets take our swords and our broad buckler
with a hey down, etc.
And gang under yonder Tree,
as I hope to be savd the stranger said,
One foot I will not flee,

Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow
with a hey down, etc.
Most scard him out of his wit,
thou never felt blow the stranger he said,
That shall be better quit.

The stranger he drew out a good broad Sword,
with a hey down, etc.
And hit Robin on the Crown,
that from every hair of bold Robins head,
The blood ran trickling down.

God a mercy good fellow quod Robin Hood then,
with a hey down, etc.
And for this that thou hast done,
tell me good fellow what thou art,
Tell me where thou doest woon.

The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood,
with a hey down, etc.
Ile tell thee where I did dwell,
in Maxfield was I bred and born,
My name is young Gamwel.

For killing of my own Fathers Steward,
with a hey down, etc.
I am forcd to this English Wood,
and for to seek an Uncle of mine,
Some call him Robin Hood.

But thou art a Couzen of Robin Hoods then?
with a hey down, etc.
The sooner we should have done,
as I hope to be savd the stranger then said,
I am his own Sisters Son.

But Lord what kissing & courting was there,
with a hey down, etc.
When these two Couzens did greet,
and they went all that Summers day,
And little John did meet.

But when they met with little John,
with a hey nown, etc.
He thereunto did say,
O Master where have you been,
You have tarried so long away?

I met with a stranger quod Robin Hood then,
with a hey down, etc.
Full sore he hath beaten me,
Then Ile have a bout with him, quod little John
and try if he can beat me.

Oh no, oh no, quoth Robin Hood then,
with a hey down, etc.
Little John it may not be so,
for hes my own dear Sisters Son,
And Couzins I have no mo.

But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,
with a hey down, etc.
My chief man next to thee,
and I Robin Hood, and thou little John,
And Scarlet he shall be.

And weel be three of the bravest out-laws,
With a hey down, etc.
That is in the North Country,
if you will have any more of bold Robin Hood
In his second part it will be.

Then bold Robin Hood to the North he would go,
with a hey down, etc.
With Valour and mickle might,
with sword by his side, which oft had been trid
To fight and recover his right.

The first that he met was a bonny bold Scot
with a hey down, etc.
His servant he said he would be,
no quoth Robin Hood, it cannot be good,
For thou wilt prove false unto me.

Thou hast not been true to Sire or Cuz,
with a hey down, etc.
Nay, marry the Scot he said,
as true as your heart, Ile never part,
Gude Master be not afraid.

Then Robin Hood turnd his face to the East
with a hey down, etc.
Fight on my merry men stout,
our case is good, quod brave Robin Hood,
And we shall not be beaten out.

The battel grows hot on every side,
with a hey down, etc.
The Scotchman made great moan,
quod Jockey gude faith they fight on each side
Would I were with my Wife Jone.

The enemy compast brave Robin about,
with a hey down, etc.
Tis long ere the battel ends,
theres neither will yeild, nor give up the field
For both are supplied with friends.

This Song it was made in Robin Hoods days,
with a hey down, etc.
Lets pray unto Jove above,
to give us true peace, the mischief may cease
And War may give place unto Love.

 - Anonymous English broadsheet, mid 17th c.