Francis James Child

“ Was patchd from ballup to side;
'By the truth of my body,' bold Robin can say,
'This man lovd little pride.'
Then he put on the old man's hose,
Were patchd from knee to wrist;
'By the truth of my body,' said bold Robin Hood,
'I'd laugh if I had any list.'
Then he put on the old man's shoes,
Were patchd both beneath and aboon;
Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
It's good habit that makes a man.
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With a link a down and a down,
And there he met with the proud sheriff,
Was walking along the town. ”

“ Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,
Where he blew loud and shrill,
Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men
They came marching all down the green hill.
'Whose men are they all these?' says great master sheriff,
'Whose men are they? ”

“ In faith thou shal [t] haue mine,
And twenty pound in thy purse,
To spend att ale and wine.'
'Though your clothes are of light Lincolne green,
And mine gray russett and torne,
Yet it doth not you beseeme
To doe an old man scorne.'
'I scorne thee not, old man,' says Robin,
'By the faith of my body;
Doe of thy clothes, thou shalt haue mine,
For it may noe better bee.'
But Robin did on this old mans hose,
The were torne in the wrist;
'When I looke on my leggs,' said Robin,
'Then for to laugh I list.'
But Robin did on the old mans shooes,
And the were cliitt full cleane ”