Then Robin Hood blew on the Bugle Horn,
With a Hey, &c.

He blew both loud and shrill;
And quickly anon, he saw Little John
Come tripping down a green Hill.

O what is the Matter, then said Little John?
With a Hey, &c.

Master, I pray you, tell :

Why do you stand, with your Staff in your Hand? I fear all is not well.

O Man, I do ftand, and he makes me to stand:
With a Hey, &c.

The Tanner, that stands me befide,

He is a bonny Blade, and Master of his Trade,
For he foundly hath tann'd my Hide.

He is to be commended, then faid Little John,
With a Hey, &c,

If he fuch a Feat can do:

If he be fo ftout, we will have a Bout;

And he shall tan my Hide too.

Hold thy Hand, hold thy Hand, faid Robin Hood; With a Hey, &c.

For as I do understand,

He's a Yeoman good, and of thy own Blood,
And his Name is Arthur a Bland.

Then Little John threw his Staff away,

With a Hey, &c.

As far as he could fling;

And run out of hand, to Arthur a Bland,

And about his Neck did cling.

With loving Respect, there was no Neglect ;
With a Hey, &c.

They were neither nice nor coy:

Each other did face, with a lovely Grace,
And both did weep for Joy.

Then Robin Hood took them by the Hands,
With a Hey, &c.

And danced about the Oak-tree;

For Three merry Men, and Three merry Men,
And Three merry Men we be.

And ever hereafter, as long as we live,

With a Hey down, down, and a down;
We Three will be all as one:

The Wood it shall ring, and the old Wife fing,
Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.

XII. Robin

XII. Robin Hood Refcuing Will. Stutly, from the Sheriff and his Men, who had taken him Prifoner, and were going to hang him, &c.

To the Tune of, Robin Hood and Queen Catherine.

When I first began to compile this Volume, I felected (out of about Twenty four Songs of Robin Hood, which are still extant) Eight or Nine of thofe I thought the best and oldeft, intending to give 'em a Place in this Collection; they being all (the Ballads of Little John and Arthur a Bland excepted) written on Subjects which very much vary from one another: But I find that I fhould fwell my Book too much with one Story; and therefore I fhall conclude this Subject with the Refcue of Will. Stutly, and referve thereft for another Opportunity. But as my Readers may not understand what is meant in one of the foregoing Songs, by their never wanting Money, whilft Bishops have ought in their Purfe; I must acquaint them, that

Half

p.90