"You could not tell it in better time."
Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
With a link a down and a day
And he met a silly old palmer,
Was walking along the highway.
"What news? what news, thou silly old man?
What news, I do thee pray?"
Said he, Three squires in Nottingham town
Are condemned to die this day.
"Come change thy apparel with me, old man,
Come change thy apparel for mine;
Here is forty shillings in good silver,
Go drink it in beer or wine."
"O thine apparel is good," he said,
"And mine is ragged and torn;
Wherever you go, wherever you ride,
Laugh ne'er an old man to scorn."
"Come change thy apparel with me, old churl,
Come change thy apparel with mine;
Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold,
Go feast thy brethren with wine."
Then he put on the old man's hat,
It stood full high on the crown:
"The first bold bargain that I came at,
It shall make thee come down."
Then he put on the old man's cloak,
Was patched black, blew, and red;
He thought no shame all the day long
To wear the bags of bread.
Then he put on the old man's breeks,
Was patched from baliup to side;
"By the truth of my body," bold Robin can say,
"This man loved little pride."
Then he put on the old man's hose,
Were patched 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 patched 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.
"O save, O save, O sheriff," he said,
"O save, and you may see!
And what will you give "to a silly old man
To-day will your hangman be?"