He put the little end to his mouth, And a loud blast did he blow, Till three score and ten of bold Robin's men All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood, 'Twas a comely sight for to see. 'What is the matter, master?' said Little John, 'That you blow so hastily?' "O here is the bishop of Hereford, And no pardon we shall have :' 'Cut off his head, master,' said Little John, And throw him into his grave.' O pardon, O pardon,' said the bishop, "O pardon, I thee pray! For if I had known it had been you, I'd have gone some other way.' 'No pardon, no pardon,' said bold Robin Hood, 'No pardon I thee owe; Therefore make haste and come along with me, Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand, He made him to stay and sup with him that night, 'Call in a reckoning,' said the bishop, Then Little John took the bishop's cloak, And spread it upon the ground, And out of the bishop's portmantua 'Here's money enough, master,' said Little John, 'And a comely sight 'tis to see; It makes me in charity with the bishop, Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand, And he made the bishop to dance in his boots, Old Ballad CXLIII SIR JOHN SUCKLING'S CAMPAIGN Sir John got him an ambling nag, To Scotland for to ride-a, With a hundred horse more, all his own he swore, To guard him on every side-a. *No errant knight ever went to fight With half so gay a bravado; Had you seen but his look, you'd have sworn on a bool: He'd have conquered a whole armado. The ladies ran all to the windows to see But he like a cruel knight spurr'd on, His heart did not relent-a; For, till he came there, he show'd no fear; The king (Heaven bless him!) had singular hopes Of him and all his troop-a; The Borderers they, as they met him on the way, None liked him so well as his own colonel, But when there were shows of gunning and blows, For when the Scots' army came within sight, He ran to his tent; they ask'd what he meant ; The colonel sent for him back again, But Sir John did swear, he came not there To cure his fear he was sent to the rear, But now there is peace, he's return'd to increase But his lost honour must still lie in the dust; Old Ballad CXLIV THE NUN'S LAMENT FOR PHILIP When I remember'd again I wept and I wailed, The tears down hailed ; But nothing it avail'd To call Philip again Whom Gib our cat hath slain. Heu, heu, me, That I am woe for thee! Levavi oculos meos in montis; To show me their device This sorrow that I make For Philip Sparrow's sake! It had a velvet cap, And sometimes white bread crumbs; And many times and oft Within my breast soft It would lie and rest. Sometimes he would gasp When he saw a wasp; A fly or a gnat, He would fly at that; And prettily he would pant U Lord, how he would pry Lord, how he would hop And when I said, Phip, Phip, De profundis clamavi O cat of churlish kind, I would thou hadst been blind! The leopards savage, The lions in their rage, May they catch thee in their paws, And gnaw thee in their jaws; The dragons with their tongues May they poison thy liver and lungs. Of India the greedy gripes May they tear out all thy tripes ; Of Arcady the bears May they pluck away thine ears; Bite asunder thy back-bone; Of Ætna the burning hill, That night and day burneth still, |