Bold Robin Hood- Lewis (ME) 1948 Olney/Flanders B
[From Flanders; Ancient Ballads, 1965.
R. Matteson 2015]
B. Bold Robin Hood. As sung by Alonzo Lewis, who was born in the Agamenticus section of York, Maine. Mr. Lewis states that there are a number of verses he cannot recall. M. Olney, Collector; October 1, 1948.
Bold Robin Hood traveled the forest all 'round,
The forest all 'round, traveled he.
At length he spied an old beggar man
Come tripplin' down the way.
"Oh, where are you going, you old beggar man?
Oh, where are you going?" said he.
"I'm going to stand hangman in fair Nottingham
To hang those squires all three!"
"Pull off your clothes, you old. beggar man,
Pull them off and you shall have mine,
And fifty bright guineas I'll give unto thee
To spend in beer and wine."
Bold Robin Hood traveled the forest all 'round,
The forest all 'round, traveled he.
At length he spied the King's high sheriff
Come marching down the way.
"Oh, where are you going, you old beggar man?
Oh, where are You going?" said he,
"I'm going to stand hangman in fair Nottingham
To hang those squires all three."
Oh, Bold Robin Hood mounted the high gallows top,
The gallows high mounted he,
"Shall I give three blasts from my bugle horn
That their souls in heaven may be?"
"Oh, yes, oh, yes," said the King's high sheriff,
"Oh, yes, oh, yes," said he,
"You can give three blasts from your bugle horn
That their souls in heaven may be."
He put his bugle to his mouth;
He sounded loud and shrill,
Ten thousand and ten of Robin Hood's men
Come marching down the hill.
"Whose men are those?" said the King's high sheriff,
"Whose men are those?" said he,
"They're mine not thine!" said Bold Robin Hood,
"To take those squires all three."
"Well take 'em, take 'em," said the King's high sheriff,
"Well, take 'em' take 'em," said he,
"There's not another man in fair Nottingham
Could have took those squires from me."