I've got the text from John Goodluck in person. Here it is: ROBIN HOOD AND THE FIFTEEN FORESTERS John Goodluck, The Suffolk Miracle Robin Hood said he would go to fair Nottingham With the General for to dine There he was aware of the Fifteen Foresters All a drinking of ale and of wine What news, what news ? - said the bold Robin Hood What news fain woulds't thou know? Our King has arranged of a shooting match And I'm ready all with my bow Well we hold it in scorn - said the Fifteen Foresters That ever a boy so young Should own him a bow before our King Not able to pull on the string Well I'll wager twenty marks - said the bold Robin Hood By the leave of Our Lady That I hit the mark at one hundred rod And cause the hart to die Well we all lay twenty marks - said the Fifteen Foresters By the leave of Our Lady That thou hittest not the mark at one hundred rod Nor cause the hart to bleed So Robin then he turned and he took up his bow With his broad arrows he let fly He hit the mark at one hundred rod And caused the hart for to die Well the hart did skip and the hart did leap And the hart fell to the ground That wager it is mine - said the bold Robin Hood How I wish it were a thousand pounds Well the wager is not thine - said the Fifteen Foresters Thou appealest all in haste Take up thy bow and get thee gone Lest we thy side abase' So Robin then he took up his noble good bow With his broad arrows all amain And Robin he has stalled and began to laugh As he wandered across the plain Then he turned him about and he took up his bow With his broad arrows he let fly Till fourteen of those Fifteen Foresters All on the cold ground they did lie Now the one who did the quarrel fist begin He went running all over the plain So Robin he has taken up his noble good bow And he's fetched him back again Well you said I was no archer - said the bold Robin Hood So say so now again With that he's sent another arrow forth Which split his head in twain Well you found me an archer - said the bold Robin Hood Who will make your lives to ring And you wish you had not spoken the word That I would not pull the string' And all the people in fair Nottingham Came running out amain Supposing to have taken the bold Robin Hood With the Foresters who were slain Well some lost arms and some lost legs And some did lose their blood Robin he has taken his noble good bow And he's gone to the merry green wood They've taken those Foresters to fair Nottingham Where many there did'st know They've taken them to their own church yard Where they've buried them all in a row
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