# The English and Scottish Popular Ballads/Part 5/Chapter 148

$^1$IN summer time, when leaves grow green, When they doe grow both green and long, Of a bould outlaw, calld Robin Hood, It is of him I sing this song.
$^2$When the lilly leafe and the elephant Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere, This outlaw was weary of the wood-side, And chasing of the fallow deere.
$^3$'The fishermen brave more mony have Then any merchant, two or three; Therefore I will to Scarborough goe, That I a fisherman brave may be.'
$^4$This outlaw calld his merry men all, As they sate under the green-wood tree: 'If any of you have gold to spend, I pray you heartily spend it with me.
$^5$'Now,' quoth Robin, I'le to Scarborough goe, It seemes to be a very faire day;' Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house, Hard by upon the water gray.
$^5$Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne? Or tell to me, where dost thou fare? 'I am a poore fisherman,' saith he then, 'This day intrapped all in care.'
$^7$'What is thy name, thou fine fellow? I pray thee heartily tell to me;' 'In mine own country where I was borne, Men called me Simon over the Lee.'
$^8$'Simon, Simon,' said the good wife, 'I wish thou maist well brook thy name;' The outlaw was ware of her courtesie, And rejoyed he had got such a dame.
$^9$'Simon, wilt thou be my man? And good round wages I'le give thee; I have as good a ship of mine owne As any sayle upon the sea.
$^{10}$ 'Anchors and planks thou shalt want none, Masts and ropes that are so long;' 'And if that you thus furnish me,' Said Simon, 'Nothing shall goe wrong.'
$^{11}$They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, More of a day then two or three; When others cast in their baited hooks, The bare lines into the sea cast he.
$^{12}$'It will be long,' said the master then, 'Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea; I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish, For in truth he is of no part worthy.'
$^{13}$'O woe is me,' said Simon then, 'This day that ever I came here! I wish I were in Plomton Parke, In chasing of the fallow deere.
$^{14}$'For every clowne laughs me to scorne, And they by me set nought at all; If I had them in Plomton Park, I would set as little by them all.'
$^{15}$They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, More of a day then two or three; But Simon spied a ship of warre, That sayld towards them most valourously.
$^{16}$'O woe is me,' said the master then, 'This day that ever I was borne! For all our fish we have got to-day Is every bit lost and forlorne.
$^{17}$'For your French robbers on the sea, They will not spare of us one man, But carry us to the coast of France, And ligge us in the prison strong.'
$^{18}$But Simon said, Doe not feare them, Neither, master, take you no care; Give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare.
$^{19}$'Hold thy peace, thou long lubber, For thou art nought but braggs and boast; If I should cast the over-board, There were nothing but a lubber lost.'
$^{20}$Simon grew angry at these words, And so angry then was he That he tooke his bent bow in his hand, And to the ship-hatch goe doth he.
$^{21}$'Master, tye me to the mast,' saith he, 'That at my mark I may stand fair, And give me my bended bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare.'
$^{22}$He drew his arrow to the very head, And drew it with all might and maine, And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye, Doth the Frenchmans heart the arow gain.
$^{23}$The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch, And under the hatches down below; Another Frenchman that him espy'd The dead corps into the sea doth throw.
$^{24}$'O master, loose me from the mast,' he said, 'And for them all take you no care, And give me my bent bow in my hand, And never a Frenchman will I spare.'
$^{25}$Then streight [they] did board the Frenchmans ship, They lying all dead in their sight; They found within the ship of warre Twelve thousand pound of money bright.
$^{26}$'The one halfe of the ship,' said Simon then, 'I'le give to my dame and children small; The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow On you that are my fellowes all.'
$^{27}$But now bespake the master then, For so, Simon, it shall not be; For you have won her with your own hand, And the owner of it you shall bee.
$^{28}$'It shall be so, as I have said; And, with this gold, for the opprest An habitation I will build, Where they shall live in peace and rest.'