Book of Old English Ballads, A

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"></SPAN></p> <h2> Robin Hood's Death and Burial </h2> <p>When Robin Hood and Little John<br/> Down a down, a down, a down,<br/> Went o'er yon bank of broom,<br/> Said Robin Hood to Little John,<br/> "We have shot for many a pound:<br/> Hey down, a down, a down.<br/> <br/> "But I am not able to shoot one shot more,<br/> My arrows will not flee;<br/> But I have a cousin lives down below,<br/> Please God, she will bleed me."<br/> <br/> Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone,<br/> As fast as he can win;<br/> But before he came there, as we do hear,<br/> He was taken very ill.<br/> <br/> And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall,<br/> He knocked all at the ring,<br/> But none was so ready as his cousin herself<br/> For to let bold Robin in.<br/> <br/> "Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," she said,<br/> "And drink some beer with me?"<br/> "No, I will neither eat nor drink,<br/> Till I am blooded by thee."<br/> <br/> "Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said,<br/> "Which you did never see;<br/> And if you please to walk therein,<br/> You blooded by me shall be."<br/> <br/> She took him by the lily-white hand,<br/> And led him to a private room;<br/> And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,<br/> Whilst one drop of blood would run.<br/> <br/> She blooded him in the vein of the arm,<br/> And locked him up in the room;<br/> There did he bleed all the live-long day,<br/> Until the next day at noon.<br/> <br/> He then bethought him of a casement door,<br/> Thinking for to begone;<br/> He was so weak he could not leap,<br/> Nor he could not get down.<br/> <br/> He then bethought him of his bugle-horn,<br/> Which hung low down to his knee,<br/> He set his horn unto his mouth,<br/> And blew out weak blasts three.<br/> <br/> Then Little John, when hearing him,<br/> As he sat under the tree,<br/> "I fear my master is near dead,<br/> He blows so wearily."<br/> <br/> Then Little John to Fair Kirkley is gone,<br/> As fast as he can dree;<br/> But when he came to Kirkley-hall,<br/> He broke locks two or three;<br/> <br/> Until he came bold Robin to,<br/> Then he fell on his knee;<br/> "A boon, a boon," cries Little John,<br/> "Master, I beg of thee."<br/> <br/> "What is that boon," quoth Robin Hood,<br/> "Little John, thou begst of me?"<br/> "It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall,<br/> And all their nunnery."<br/> <br/> "Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood,<br/> "That boon I'll not grant thee;<br/> I never hurt woman in all my life,<br/> Nor man in woman's company.<br/> <br/> "I never hurt fair maid in all my time,<br/> Nor at my end shall it be;<br/> But give me my bent bow in my hand,<br/> And a broad arrow I'll let flee;<br/> And where this arrow is taken up,<br/> There shall my grave digged be.<br/> <br/> "Lay me a green sod under my head,<br/> And another under my feet;<br/> And lay my bent bow by my side,<br/> Which was my music sweet;<br/> And make my grave of gravel and green,<br/> Which is most right and meet.<br/> <br/> "Let me have length and breadth enough,<br/> With a green sod under my head;<br/> That they may say when I am dead,<br/> Here lies bold Robin Hood."<br/> <br/> These words they readily promised him,<br/> Which did bold Robin please;<br/> And there they buried bold Robin Hood,<br/> Near to the fair Kirkleys.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />