http://www.benturner.com/robinhood/

ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE THREE SQUIRES


[The paragraph that follows this is copied and isn't my opinion.  The
ballad follows many of the traditional characteristics of a ballad, which
means it may seem abrupt and unsatisfying at the end.  But that's what
ballads were like.]

----

One of the most common subjects for ballads was the exploits of Robin
Hood.  Though much myth and legend surrounds Robin Hood, he probably was
a displaced Anglo-Saxon noble who had lost his lands and possessions to
the invading Norman-French, so in actuality he believed that he was not
robbing but was merely retaking what rightfully belonged to his people.
In most of the ballads, the Sheriff of Nottingham represented the law
that was imposed by the conquering Normans.

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Bold Robin Hood ranging the forest all round
The forest all round ranged he:
O there did he meet with an excited lady
She came weeping along the highway.

"What have they done then?" said jolly Robin,
"Come tell me most speedily."
"Oh! 'tis for killing the king's fallow deer.
And they are all condemned to die."

"Get you home, get you home," said jolly Robin,
"Get you home most speedily.
And I will unto fair Nottingham go,
For the sake of the squires all three."

Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes,
For Nottingham town goes he,
O there did he meet with a poor beggar-man,
He came creeping along the highway.

"What news, what news, thou old beggar-man,
What news, come tell unto me."
"O there is weeping and wailing in fair Nottingham,
For the death of the squires all three."

This beggar-man had a coat on his back.
'Twas neither green, yellow, nor red;
Bold Robin Hood thought 'twas no disgrace
To be in a beggar-man's stead.

"Come, pull off thy coat, you old beggar-man,
And you shall put on mine;
And forty good shillings I'll give thee to boot,
Besides brandy, good beer, ale and wine."

Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came,
Unto Nottingham town came he;
O there did he meet with the great master sheriff
And likewise the squires all three.

"One boon, one boon," says jolly Robin,
"One boon I beg on my knee;
That for the deaths of these three squires,
Their hangman I may be."

"Soon granted, soon granted," says great master sheriff,
"Soon granted unto thee;
And you shall have all their gay clothing,
Aye, and all their white money."

"O, I will have none of their gay clothing,
Nor none of their white money,
But I'll have three blasts on my bugle horn,
That their souls to heaven may flee."

Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,
Where he blew loud and shrill.
Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men,
They came marching all down the green hill.

"Whose men are all these?" says great master sheriff,
"Whose men are they?  Tell unto me."
"O they are mine, but none of them thine,
And they've come for the squires all three."

"O take them, O take them," says great master sheriff,
"O take them along with thee;
For there's never a man in all Nottingham
Can do the like of thee."