: 'sanchothes': unexplained; but it obviously means that the
arrow struck between his legs.
16.1: 'yelp,' boast.
16.3: 'slaw,' slain.]

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

+The Text+ is modernised from a MS. in the University Library, Cambridge
(MS. Ff. v. 48), which belongs to the middle of the fifteenth century.
We have also a single leaf of another MS. version, of about the same
date, preserved amongst the Bagford Ballads in the British Museum,
but this contains a bare half-dozen stanzas.

+The Story+ might be called a counterpart to _Robin Hood and Guy of
Gisborne_, inasmuch as it has Little John for its hero, and relates how
he set his master free, although Robin had lost his temper with him in
the morning. A most unfortunate hiatus after 30.2 prevents us from
learning how Robin's fate was reported to his men; but as it stands it
is a perfect ballad, straightforward, lively, and picturesque. The first
five stanzas, which make a delightful little lyric in themselves,
breathe the whole spirit of the greenwood.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

1.
In summer, when the shaws be sheen
And leaves be large and long,
It is full merry in fair forest
To hear the fowles song,

2.
To see the deer draw to the dale,
And leave the hilles hee,
And shadow them in the leaves green,
Under the greenwood tree.

3.
It befel on Whitsuntide,
Early in a May morning,
The sun up fair can shine,
And the briddes merry can sing.

4.
'This is a merry morning,' said Little John,
'By him that died on tree;
A more merry man than I am one
Lives not in Christiante.

5.
'Pluck up thy heart, my dear master,'
Little John can say,
'And think it is a full fair time
In a morning of May.'

6.
'Yea, one thing grieves me,' said Robin,
'And does my heart much woe;
That I may not no solemn day
To mass nor matins go.

7.
'It is a fortnight and more,' said he,
'Syn I my Saviour see;
To-day will I to Nottingham,
With the might of mild Marie.'

8.
Then spake Much the milner son,
Ever more well him betide!
'Take twelve of thy wight yeomen,
Well weapon'd by thy side.
Such one would thyselfe slon,
That twelve dare not abide.'

9.
'Of all my merry men,' said Robin,
'By my faith I will none have,
But Little John shall bear my bow,
Till that me list to draw.'

10.
'Thou shall bear thine o