Lyr Req: Robin Lend to Me Thy Bow

Subject: looking for archer fair
From:
Date: 23 May 98 - 03:34 PM

I know abit of the chorus and a part of one verse of a middle ages (I've been told) song, and want to learn the rest. I learned it from a girl scout record in the late 60's, but cannot track down the record. It goes:

My lady is an archer fair and in the greenwood roameth she there never were an archer yet that did compare in skill with my lady.

Come mother give to me my bow, sweet mother give to me my bow That I may out a hunting with my lady go with my ...lady go.

Subject: RE: looking for archer fair
From: Bruce O.
Date: 23 May 98 - 04:57 PM

This looks like a relative of "Now Robin lend to me thy bow". There's a facsimile in gif on the internet.
Go to www.pbm.com/~lindahl/ballads/balads.html When there first near the bottom click on Music of Thomas Ravenscroft.
Then click on 'Pamelia'
Scoll down to 63 (36) and click on 'gif'
There's a another somewhat bawdy song about shooting with a bow on my website.

Subject: RE: looking for archer fair
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 24 May 98 - 08:58 AM

As an archer(target) as well as a mudcatter I am interested in all songs about archery. Joe where is thy web page prithee? Regards Ted

Subject: Lyr Add: ROBIN LEND TO ME THY BOW
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 08:44 PM

From Ancient Songs, from the Time of King Henry the Third, to the Revolution by Joseph Ritson (London: J. Johnson, 1790), page 166:
^^
ROBIN LEND TO ME THY BOW.

A canon in the unison, for four voices, from "Pammelia. Musicks Miscellanie. Or, Mixed varietie of Pleasant Roundelayes, and delightfull Catches. of 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. parts in one. Lond. 1609. 4to." That it was a popular song in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reign appears from its being mentioned (amongst others) in a curious old musical piece, (MSS. Harl. 7578. before mentioned) containing the description and praises of the city of Durham, written about that time; but of which the corresponding parts are unfortunately lost. It is likewise mentioned in "A very mery and pythie commedie, called The longer thou livest the more foole thou art." By W. Wager. London. 4to. b. l. n. d.

Now Robin lend to me thy bow,
Sweet Robin lend to me thy bow,
For I must now a hunting with my lady goe,
With my sweet Lady goe.

And whither will thy Lady goe?
Sweet Wilkin tell it unto mee;
And thou shalt have my hawke, my hound, and eke my bow,
To wait on thy Lady.

My lady will to Uppingham,
To Uppingham forsooth will shee;
And I my selfe appointed for to be the man,
To wait on my Lady.

Adieu, good Wilkin, all beshrewde,
Thy hunting nothing pleaseth mee:
But yet beware thy babling hounds stray not abroad,
For angring of thy Lady.

My hounds shall be led in the line,
So well I can allure it thee;
Unlesse by view of straine some pursue I may finde,
To please my sweet Lady.

With that the Lady shee came in,
And wild them all for to agree;
For honest hunting never was accounted sinne,
Nor never shall for mee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: my lady is an archer fair and in the...
From: Susan of DT
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 07:42 AM

Thanx, Jim. That is much more complete than what we had.