When Robin Hood, and his merry men all,
Derry down, down,
Had reigned many years,
The king was then told that they had been bold
To his bishops and noble peers.
Hey down, derry, derry down.

Therefore they called a council of state,
To know what was best to be done,
For to quell their pride, or else they reply'd
The land would be over-run.

Having consulted a whole summer's day,
At length it was agreed,
That one should be sent to try the event,
And fetch him away with speed.

Therefore a trusty and most worthy knight
The king was pleased to call,
Sir William by name; when to him he came,
He told him his pleasure all.

" Go you from hence to bold Robin Hood,
And bid him, without more ado,
Surrender himself, or else the proud elf
Shall suffer with all his crew.

Take here a hundred bowmen brave,
All chosen men of great might,
Of excellent art to take thy part,
In glittering armour most bright. "

Then said the knight, My sovereign liege,
By me they shall be led;
I'll venture my blood against bold Robin Hood,
And bring him alive or dead.

One hundred men were chosen straight,
As proper as e'er men saw:
On Midsummer-day they marched away,
To conquer that brave outlaw.

With long yew bows, and shining spears,
They march'd with mickle pride,
And never delay'd, nor halted, nor stay'd
Till they came to the green-wood side.

Said he to his archers, Tarry here,
Your bows make ready all,
That if need should be, you may follow me,
And see you observe my call.

I'll go first in person, he cry'd,
With the letters of my good king,
Well sign'd and seal'd, and if he will yield,
We need not to draw one string.

He wander'd about till at length he came
To the tent of Robin Hood;
The letter he shows; bold Robin arose,
And there on his guard he stood.

They'd have me surrender, quoth bold Robin Hood,
And lie at their mercy then;
But tell them from me, that never shall be,
While I have full seven score men.

Sir William the knight, both hardy and bold,
He offer'd to seize him there,
Which William Locksley by fortune did see,
And bid him that trick to forbear.

Then Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth,
And blew a blast or twain,
And so did the knight, at which there in sight
The archers came all amain.

Sir William with care he drew up his men,
And plac'd them in battle-array;
Bold Robin, we find, he was not behind:
Now this was a bloody fray.

The archers on both sides bent their bows,
And the clouds of arrows flew;
The very first flight that honour'd knight
Did there bid the world adieu.

Yet nevertheless their fight did last
From morning till almost noon;
Both parties were stout, and loth to give out,
This was on the last day of June.

At length they left off: one party they went
To London with right good will;
And Robin Hood he to the green-wood tree,
And there he was taken ill.

He sent for a monk, to let him blood,
Who took his life away;
Now this being done, his archers they run,
It was not a time to stay.

Some got on board, and cross'd the seas,
To Flanders, France, and Spain,
And others to Rome, for fear of their doom,
But soon return'd again.

Thus he that never feard bow nor spear
Was murdered by letting of blood;
And so, loving friends, the story doth end
Of valiant bold Robin Hood.

There's nothing remains but his epitaph now,
Which, reader, here you have;
To this very day, and read it you may,
As it was upon his grave.
Robin Hood's Epitaph,
Set on his tomb
By the Prioress of Birkslay Monastery
In Yorkshire.
Robin, Earl of Huntington,
Lies under this little stone.
No archer was like him so good;
His wildness nam'd him Robin Hood.
Full thirteen years, and something more,
These northern parts he vexed sore.
Such outlaws as he and his men
May England never know again!