This time I need a lot of help from the Mudcatters. I'd like to get the text of the Child ballad #140, Robin Hood Rescuing the Three Squires, as sung by John Kirkpatrick on Ballads, Traditional Ballads, Fellside FECD110. Many words I can't get and many I'm not sure of. Here is what I can understand. I hope someone can check, correct and complete this text. Thank you. Roberto

I'll tell you a story of bold Robin Hood
Through the forrest around ranged he
And the first that he met was a gay lady
A-weeping along the highway

O why do you weep, kind lady? – he said
O why do you weep? – said he
O why do you weep? – said bold Robin Hood
I pray thee, come tell unto me

O do you weep for gold - he said
Or do you weep for fee?
Or do you weep for your sweet maidenhead
That some villain have stolen from thee?

Oh, I don't weep for gold - she said
Nor do I weep for fee
Nor do I weep for me sweet maidenhead
For no villain have stole (?) it from me

But I do weep – this lady she said
And bitterly she did cry
O I do weep for my three sons
For they are condemned to die

What church have they plundered – said bold Robin Hood
Or what parish priest have they slain?
Or have they forced maidens against their will
Or with other men's wives have they lain?

O no church have they plundered – this lady she said
O no parish priest have they slain
Nor have they forced maidens against their will
Nor with other men's wives have they lain

The deeds they have done – the lady she said
For they are condemned to die
They've stolen sixteen of the king's royal deer
And for that to be hang'd on high

O go you 'way home, gay lady - he said
Go you 'way home – said he
O go you 'way home - said bold Robin Hood
Tomorrow I set them free

Oh my … (?) of faith (?), pray, wear it –she said
For a fine gallant knight such as thee
You do me great ... (?) my champion to ride
For me and me sons all three

Oh, your faith (?) I'll wear it – said bold Robin Hood
For truely 't is you one of me
For I am no knight, kind lady – he said
But gladly your champion I'll be

So bold Robin Hood he was galloping along
'T was in the best part of the day
When there he did meet with an old beggarman
Come begging along the highway

Oh, what news, what news, oh (?) father – he said
What news, pray tell unto me -
Oh it's weeping and wailing in Nottingham Town
And it's all for the Squires all three

Now the beggarman had and old coat on his back
Nor green, nor yellow, nor red
And thinks bold Robin Hood – 't will serve me full well
To be in this beggerman's stead

Oh, come change your apparel, oh (?) father – he said
Come change your apparel with mine
Here's (?) twenty gold shellings to drink your own health
In merry good ale and wine

Oh, your are apparel in clothing so fine
Mine is all ragged and torn
But still it's not fitting a young man like you
Shoud laugh an old man to scorn

O, no scorn do I …(?) thee - said bold Robin Hood
I swear by Our Lady
For tales will be told of your beggerman's coat
If a beggarman you'll let me be

So they changed their apparel, they changed (?) their clothes
Till each wore the other's attire
And it's much like a beggar did Robin then (?) looked
As the beggarman looked like a squire

For the beggarman's hat did Robin have on
That stood full high at the crown -
Sure no one will know me – said bold Robin Hood
In the whole of fair Nottingham Town

And the beggarman's breeches did Robin have on
With patches from ballup to side -
By the breath (?) of my body – said bold Robin Hood
I never wore so (?) little pride

And the begarman's coat did Robin have on
'T was worn right through to the skin -
Though I shake and I shiver – said bold Robin Hood
There's pockets a-plenty within

There's a pocket for meal, a pocket for malt
And a pocket for valiant corn
And one pocket more to make up the score
And that's for my bugle horn

So bold Robin Hood to Nottingham came
To Nottingham Town came he
And the Sheriff did meet, and him he did greet
Likewise the squires all three

O save you, O save you, High Sheriff - he said
And I beg you …(?) me
That as for the death of these three squires
The hangman I might be

Soon granted, soon granted – the High Sheriff said
Soon granted unto thee
And you shall have all of their clothing so fine
And their money to be your fee

Oh, I want none of their clothing so fine
Nor their money to be my fee
But all I desire 't is a (?) blast of my horn
That their souls to Heaven may flee

So Robin Hood went up (?) to the gallus so high
Went skipping from stock to stone
By the faith of my body - the High Sheriff said
You're nimble for an old beggarman

Oh, look well, look well on this old beggarman
Look well, High Sheriff – said he
For tales will be told of this beggerman's coat
With its patches and pockets so free

I've a pocket for meal, a pocket for malt
And a pocket for valiant corn
And one pocket more to make up the score
And that's for my bugle horn

Oh blow, then blow! – the High Sheriff said
Blow, and have no doubt
I would have you blow well such a mighty fine blast
You'd blow both your blessed eyes out

So Robin blew once, Robin blew twice
And Robin blew three times shrill.
Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men
Came running all down the green hill

What men are those? - the High Sheriff said
What men are all those? – said he
Oh, they're all of them mine and none of them thine
And they've come for the squires all (?) three

O take them, O take them - the High Sheriff said
And a curse on your bugle that blows
And curse every pocket in your beggarman's cloak
And curse you and your beggarman's clothes

Then bold Robin Hood he shot a fat deer (?)
Little John he shot a fat roe
And they're away to the merry green wood
With the three squires all in a row, a row
The three squires all in a row