Robin Hood and the Ranger

When Phebus had melted the 'cicles of ice, With a hey down, down, and a down, And likewise the mountains of snow, Bold Robin Hood would ramble to see, To frolic abroad with his bow: He then did behold a forester bold, Who cry'd out, friend, whither so fast? I'm going, quoth Robin, to kill a fat buck, That my merry men may all feast. You'd best have a care, said the forester then, For these are his majesty's deer; Before you shall shoot, the thing I'll dispute, For I am head forester here. Bold Robin be gave him many hard blows, The other return'd them as fast; At every stroke their jackets did smoke, Three hours the combat did last. At length in a rage the bold forester grew. And cudgell'd bold Robin so sore, That he could not stand, so shaking his head, He cry'd, let us freely give o'er. Then Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth, A blast then he merrily blows; His yeomen they hear, and soon they appear A hundred with trusty long bows. Lo, these are my yeomen, quoth Robin Hood, And thou shalt be one of my train, A mantle and bow, and a quiver also, I'll give thee whom I entertain. The forester willingly enter'd the list, They were such a beautiful sight; Then with a long bow they shot a fat doe, And made a rich supper that night. What singing and dancing was in the Greenwood For joy of another new mate; With mirth and delight they spent the long night, And liv'd at a plentiful rate.