An Archer's Vengeance

I stood before my master's board
To pour the wine and mead,
And news was brought of a brother slain
By foul and murderous deed.

Soon as my lord and lady both
Had laid them down to rest,
I led me out my trusty steed.
And richly had him drest.

I led me out my trusty steed
With gilded bit and rein.
And ere I halted, fifteen miles
Had ridden o'er the plain.

I came to a house where troopers sat,
And drank their wine and mead.
And heard my dearest mother's voice
Wailing the murderous deed.

I strung my good and trusty bow.
And aim'd a shaft, and drew.
And left the king's twelve champions dead.
For they my brother slew.

And forth I rode across to court
Upon the judgement day,
And for my brother six men claimed,
For six a fine would pay.

Three several times I went to court
To pay what I might owe;
The Sheriff all my offers spurn'd,
And show'd himself my foe.

The Sheriff he and jurors twelve
Refused to set me free,
And doom'd me from my native land
An outlaw forth to flee.

I strung my good and trusty bow,
And aim'd a shaft and drew;
I shot the king's twelve Jury men.
And all the twelve I slew.

I left in haste the judgement court,
And mounted horse to ride,
And thought it well the wisest plan
In greenwood glen to hide.

An outlaw'd man for eight long years
I harbour'd in the wood,
And nothing else than leaves and grass
Had all that time for food.

I made my meals on leaves and grass,
No better was my fare.
Nor had I other bedfellow
Than savage boar and bear.

'Twas near the feast of Easter day,
That blessed holy tide,
And all in state the Swedish king
To church resolv'd to ride.

I strung my good and trusty bow.
And aim'd a shaft, and drew;
I drove it through his tyrant heart,
And so the king I slew.

And low he lay, that Swedish king.
Lay bleeding till he died;
To me they gave his'widow'd queen;
And she is now my bride.