In Nottingham there lives a jolly tanner,
With a hey down down a down down
His name is Arthur a Bland;
There is nere a squire in Nottinghamshire
Dare bid bold Arthur stand.
2
With a long pike-staff upon his shoulder,
So well he can clear his way;
By two and by three he makes them to flee,
For he hath no list to stay.
3
And as he went forth, in a summer’s morning,
Into the forrest of merry Sherwood,
To view the red deer, that range here and there,
There met he with bold Robin Hood.
4
As soon as bold Robin Hood did him espy,
He thought some sport he would make;
Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,
And thus to him he spake:
5
Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,
That ranges so boldly here?
In sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,
That comes to steal our king’s deer.
6
For I am a keeper in this forrest;
The king puts me in trust
To look to his deer, that range here and there,
Therefore stay thee I must.
7
‘If thou beest a keeper in this forrest,
And hast such a great command,
Yet thou must have more partakers in store,
Before thou make me to stand.’
8
‘Nay, I have no more partakers in store,
Or any that I do need;
But I have a staff of another oke graff,
I know it will do the deed.’
9
‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,
Nor all thine arrows to boot;
If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,
Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’
10
‘Speak cleanly, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,
‘And give better terms to me;
Else I’le thee correct for thy neglect,
And make thee more mannerly.’
11
‘Marry gep with a wenion!’ quoth Arthur a Bland,
‘Art thou such a goodly man?
I care not a fig for thy looking so big;
Mend thou thyself where thou can.’
12
Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,
He laid down his bow so long;
He took up a staff of another oke graff,
That was both stiff and strong.
13
‘I’le yield to thy weapon,’ said jolly Robin,
‘Since thou wilt not yield to mine;
For I have a staff of another oke graff,
Not half a foot longer then thine.
14
‘But let me measure,’ said jolly Robin,
‘Before we begin our fray;
For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine,
For that will be called foul play.’
15
‘I pass not for length,’ bold Arthur reply’d,
‘My staff is of oke so free;
Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,
And I hope it will knock down thee.’
16
Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;
He gave him such a knock,
Quickly and soon the blood came down,
Before it was ten a clock.
17
Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,
And gave him such a knock on the crown,
That on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,
The blood came trickling down.
18
Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,
As soon as he saw his own blood;
Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,
As though he had been staking of wood.
19
And about, and about, and about they went,
Like two wild bores in a chase;
Striving to aim each other to maim,
Leg, arm, or any other place.
20
And knock for knock they lustily dealt,
Which held for two hours and more;
That all the wood rang at every bang,
They ply’d their work so sore.
21
‘Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin Hood,
‘And let our quarrel fall;
For here we may thresh our bones into mesh,
And get no coyn at all.
22
‘And in the forrest of merry Sherwood
Hereafter thou shalt be free:’
‘God-a-mercy for naught, my freedom I bought,
I may thank my good staff, and not thee.’
23
‘What tradesman art thou?’ said jolly Robin,
‘Good fellow, I prethee me show:
And also me tell in what place thou dost dwel,
For both these fain would I know.’
24
‘I am a tanner,’ bold Arthur reply’d,
‘In Nottingham long have I wrought;
And if thou’lt come there, I vow and do swear
I will tan thy hide for naught.’
25
‘God a mercy, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,
‘Since thou art so kind to me;
And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,
I will do as much for thee.
26
‘But if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade,
And live in green wood with me,
My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the rood
I will give thee both gold and fee.’
27
‘If thou be Robin Hood,’ bold Arthur reply’d,
‘As I think well thou art,
Then here’s my hand, my name’s Arthur a Bland,
We two will never depart.
28
‘But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John?
Of him fain would I hear;
For we are alide by the mothers side,
And he is my kinsman near.’
29
Then Robin Hood blew on the beaugle horn,
He blew full lowd and shrill,
But quickly anon appeard Little John,
Come tripping down a green hill.
30
‘O what is the matter?’ then said Little John,
‘Master, I pray you tell;
Why do you stand with your staff in your hand?
I fear all is not well.’
31
‘O man, I do stand, and he makes me to stand,
The tanner that stands thee beside;
He is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,
For soundly he hath tand my hide.’
32
‘He is to be commended,’ then said Little John,
‘If such a feat he can do;
If he be so stout, we will have a bout,
And he shall tan my hide too.’
33
‘Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin Hood,
‘For as I do understand,
He’s a yeoman good, and of thine own blood,
For his name is Arthur a Bland.’
34
Then Little John threw his staff away,
As far as he could it fling,
And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,
And about his neck did cling.
35
With loving respect, there was no neglect,
They were neither nice nor coy,
Each other did face, with a lovely grace,
And both did weep for joy.
36
Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,
And danc’d round about the oke tree;
‘For three merry men, and three merry men,
And three merry men we be.
37
‘And ever hereafter, as long as I live,
We three will be all one;
The wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,
Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.’
* * * * *
#a.#
Robin Hood and the Tanner, or, Robin Hood met with his match: A
merry and pleasant song relating the gallant and fierce combate
fought between Arthur Bland, a Tanner of Nottingham, and Robin
Hood, the greatest and most noblest archer of England. The tune
is, Robin and the Stranger.
Printed for W. Gilbertson. (1640–63: _Chappell_.)
3^2. merry Forrest of.
7^2. hath.
7^3. But.
9^3. the bare.
11^1. qd..
13^3. straff.
14^4. _Wanting in my copy, probably by accidental omission:
supplied from_ #b#.
17^3. That from every side: Old Ballads, 1713, _to restore the
middle rhyme_.
21^2. let your Quiver: _cf._ #b#, #c#, #d#.
21^3. thrash: to: _cf._ #b#.
22^4. good _wanting_.
26^3. the wood: _cf._ #d#.
35^2. noice.
36^1. took him by: _cf._ #d#.
37^4. Kobin.
#b.#
_Title as in #a#.By the same printer as #a#. Burden sometimes_
With hey, _etc._
1^1. lives there.
1^2, 11^1, 27^3. Arthur Bland.
3^2. merry Forrest of.
6^2. he puts.
7^2. hath.
7^3. Yet.
7^4. Before that.
8^3, 12^3, 13^3. graft.
9^3. thy bare.
11^1. quoth.
13^1. I yield.
13^4. than.
14^3. to _wanting_.
14^4. For that will be called foul play.
17^2. He gave.
17^3. Hoods _wanting_.
21^2. let our quarrel.
21^3. thresh: into.
22^4. my good.
23^2. pray thee.
24^3. thou come.
25^2. kinde and free.
26^3. the wood.
28^1. where’s.
29^2. both _for_ full.
30^1. then _wanting_.
33^3. thy.
34^4. he did.
36^1. took him by.
36^2. round _wanting_.
37^1. so long.
#c.#
_Title as in_ #a.# _Burden after_ 2^1, With hey, _etc._
1^2, 11^1, 27^3. Arthur Bland.
2^4. not.
3^2. merry Forrest of.
4^3. them to.
7^2. hath.
7^3. Yet you.
7^4. Before that.
8^3, 12^3, 13^3. graft.
9^3. thy bare.
11^1. qd..
13^1. I yield.
14^3. to _wanting_.
14^4. For that will be called foul play.
16^3. blood ran.
17^2. He gave.
17^3. hair on Robins.
17^4. blood ran.
18^4. been cleaving wood.
20^1. deal.
20^4. so fast.
21^2. let our quarrel.
21^3. thresh: into.
22^4. my good.
24^3. thou come.
25^2. kind and free.
26^1. thou wilt.
26^3. the wood.
28^3. mother.
29^1. he blew.
29^2. both _for_ full.
29^3. and anon.
30^3. your _wanting_.
31^2. me _for_ thee.
33^1. Hood _wanting_.
33^3. thy blood.
34^4. he did.
35^4. they both.
36^1. took him by.
36^2. round _wanting_.
37^1. And we: so long as we.
#d.#
_Title as in_ #a#, _except_: the greatest archer in London.
Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T.
Passenger. (1670–1682?) _Burden sometimes_, With hey, _etc._
1^4. to stand.
3^1. on a.
3^2. forrest of merry.
4^1. Robin he did him.
4^4. he did spake.
5^4. the kings.
6^1. If thou beest a, _caught from_ 7^1.
7^2. hast.
7^3. Then thou.
7^4. makst.
8^2. Nor any: do not.
9^2. thy.
9^3. thou get a knock upon thy.
11^1. gip: wernion qd.
11^4. if thou.
12^2. And threw it upon the ground.
12^3. Says, I have a.
12^4. That is both strong and sound.
13^1. But let me measure, said.
14^3. I’le have mine no longer.
14^4. For that will be counted foul play.
16^1. Hood _wanting_.
17^1. he _wanting_.
17^3. from every hair of.
18^1. raved _for_ raged.
18^3. he was.
18^4. stacking.
19^4. other _wanting_.
20^2. for _wanting_.
21^2. let our quarrel.
21^3. thrash our bones to.
22^3. I’ve.
22^4. my good.
24^3. thou come.
26^1. thou wilt.
26^2. in the.
26^3. name is: rood.
29^1. on his.
29^2. both _for_ full.
29^4. tripping over the hill.
30^2. you me.
30^3. the staff.
31^3. and a.
32^3. about.
33^3. thy.
35^2. They was.
37^1. we live.
37^2. all as (_printed_ sa).
127
ROBIN HOOD AND THE TINKER
#a.# Wood, 401, leaf 17 b.
#b.# Pepys, II, 107, No 94.
#c.# Douce, III, 118 b.
In the Roxburghe collection, III, 22. Not in the Garland of 1663 or that
of 1670.
#a# is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 38; in Gutch’s Robin
Hood, II, 264, “compared with” the Roxburghe copy. The ballad was
printed by Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 118.
The fewest words will best befit this contemptible imitation of
imitations. Robin Hood meets a Tinker, and they exchange scurrilities.
The Tinker has a warrant from the king to arrest Robin, but will not
show it when asked. Robin Hood suggests that it will be best to go to
Nottingham, and there the two take one inn and drink together till the
Tinker falls asleep; when Robin makes off, and leaves the Tinker to pay
the shot. The host informs the Tinker that it was Robin Hood that he was
drinking with, and recommends him to seek his man in the parks. The
Tinker finds Robin, and they fall to it, crab-tree staff against sword.
Robin yields, and begs a boon; the Tinker will grant none. A blast of
the horn brings Little John and Scadlock. Little John would fain see
whether the Tinker can do for him what he has done for his master, but
Robin proclaims a peace, and offers the Tinker terms which induce him to
join the outlaws.
It is not necessary to suppose the warrant to arrest Robin a souvenir of
‘Guy of Gisborne’; though that noble ballad is in a 17th century MS., it
does not appear to have been known to the writers of broadsides.
1
In summer time, when leaves grow green,
Down a down a down
And birds sing on every tree,
Hey down a down a down
Robin Hood went to Nottingham,
Down a down a down
As fast as hee could dree.
Hey down a down a down
2
And as hee came to Nottingham
A Tinker he did meet,
And seeing him a lusty blade,
He did him kindly greet.
3
‘Where dost thou live?’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘I pray thee now mee tell;
Sad news I hear there is abroad,
I fear all is not well.’
4
‘What is that news?’ the Tinker said;
‘Tell mee without delay;
I am a tinker by my trade,
And do live at Banbura.’
5
‘As for the news,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘It is but as I hear;
Two tinkers they were set ith’ stocks,
For drinking ale and bear.’
6
‘If that be all,’ the Tinker said,
‘As I may say to you,
Your news it is not worth a fart,
Since that they all bee true.
7
‘For drinking of good ale and bear,
You wil not lose your part:’
‘No, by my faith,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘I love it with all my heart.
8
‘What news abroad?’ quoth Robin Hood;
‘Tell mee what thou dost hear;
Being thou goest from town to town,
Some news thou need not fear.’
9
‘All the news,’ the Tinker said,
‘I hear, it is for good;
It is to seek a bold outlaw,
Which they call Robin Hood.
10
‘I have a warrant from the king,
To take him where I can;
If you can tell me where hee is,
I will make you a man.
11
‘The king will give a hundred pound
That hee could but him see;
And if wee can but now him get,
It will serve you and mee.’
12
‘Let me see that warrant,’ said Robin Hood;
‘I’le see if it bee right;
And I will do the best I can
For to take him this night.’
13
‘That will I not,’ the Tinker said;
‘None with it I will trust;
And where hee is if you’l not tell,
Take him by force I must.’
14
But Robin Hood perceiving well
How then the game would go,
‘If you will go to Nottingham,
Wee shall find him I know.’
15
The Tinker had a crab-tree staff,
Which was both good and strong;
Robin hee had a good strong blade,
So they went both along.
16
And when they came to Nottingham,
There they both tooke one inn;
And they calld for ale and wine,
To drink it was no sin.
17
But ale and wine they drank so fast
That the Tinker hee forgot
What thing he was about to do;
It fell so to his lot
18
That while the Tinker fell asleep,
Hee made then haste away,
And left the Tinker in the lurch,
For the great shot to pay.
19
But when the Tinker wakened,
And saw that he was gone,
He calld then even for his host,
And thus hee made his moan.
20
‘I had a warrant from the king,
Which might have done me good,
That is to take a bold outlaw,
Some call him Robin Hood.
21
‘But now my warrant and mony’s gone,
Nothing I have to pay;
And he that promisd to be my friend,
He is gone and fled away.’
22
‘That friend you tell on,’ said the host,
‘They call him Robin Hood;
And when that first hee met with you,
He ment you little good.’
23
‘Had I known it had been hee,
When that I had him here,
Th’ one of us should have tri’d our strength
Which should have paid full dear.
24
‘In the mean time I must away;
No longer here I’le bide;
But I will go and seek him out,
What ever do me betide.
25
‘But one thing I would gladly know,
What here I have to pay;’
‘Ten shillings just,’ then said the host;
‘I’le pay without delay.
26
‘Or elce take here my working-bag,
And my good hammer too;
And if that I light but on the knave,
I will then soon pay you.’
27
‘The onely way,’ then said the host,
‘And not to stand in fear,
Is to seek him among the parks,
Killing of the kings deer.’
28
The Tinker hee then went with speed,
And made then no delay,
Till he had found then Robin Hood,
That they might have a fray.
29
At last hee spy’d him in a park,
Hunting then of the deer;
‘What knave is that,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘That doth come mee so near?’
30
‘No knave, no knave,’ the Tinker said,
‘And that you soon shall know;
Whether of us hath done most wrong,
My crab-tree staff shall show.’
31
Then Robin drew his gallant blade,
Made then of trusty steel;
But the Tinker laid on him so fast
That he made Robin reel.
32
Then Robins anger did arise;
He fought full manfully,
Vntil hee had made the Tinker
Almost then fit to fly.
33
With that they had a bout again,
They ply’d their weapons fast;
The Tinker threshed his bones so sore
He made him yeeld at last.
34
‘A boon, a boon,’ Robin hee cryes,
‘If thou wilt grant it mee;’
‘Before I do it,’ the Tinker said,
‘I’le hang thee on this tree.’
35
But the Tinker looking him about,
Robin his horn did blow;
Then came unto him Little John,
And William Scadlock too.
36
‘What is the matter,’ quoth Little John,
‘You sit in th’ highway side?’
‘Here is a Tinker that stands by,
That hath paid well my hide.’
37
‘That Tinker,’ then said Little John,
‘Fain that blade I would see,
And I would try what I could do,
If hee’l do as much for mee.’
38
But Robin hee then wishd them both
They should the quarrel cease,
‘That henceforth wee may bee as one,
And ever live in peace.
39
‘And for the jovial Tinker’s part,
A hundred pound I’le give,
In th’ year to maintain him on,
As long as he doth live.
40
‘In manhood hee is a mettle man,
And a mettle man by trade;
I never thought that any man
Should have made me so fraid.
41
‘And if hee will bee one of us,
Wee will take all one fare,
And whatsoever wee do get,
He shall have his full share.’
42
So the Tinker was content
With them to go along,
And with them a part to take,
And so I end my song.
* * * * *
#a.#
A new song, to drive away cold winter,
Between Robin Hood and the Jovial Tinker;
How Robin by a wile
The Tinker he did cheat,
But at the length, as you shall hear,
The Tinker did him beat;
Whereby the same they then did so agree
They after livd in love and unity.
To the tune of In Summer Time.
London, Printed for F. Grove, dwelling on Snowhill. (1620–55.)
1^3. Nottingam.
8^2. here.
10^1. warrand.
#b.#
_Title as in #a#: except that_ he _is wanting in the fourth line,
and_ so _in the last line but one_.
Printed for I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–86?)
3^1. qd.
4^4. Banburay.
6^3. it _wanting_.
11^1. king would: an.
14^3. you would.
16^2. they took up their.
22^1. speak _for_ tell.
24^1. was _for_ will.
24^4. me _wanting_.
25^3. Ten shillings just I have to pay.
26^3. if I: on that.
28^3. then found.
31^3. Tinker he laid on so fast.
32^2. right _for_ full.
33^1. laid about.
33^4. That he.
35^4. Will.
39^2. pounds: I _for_ Ile.
40^1. mettled.
40^4. afraid.
41^1. with us.
#c.#
Robin Hood and the Jolly Tinker: Shewing how they fiercely
encountered, and after the victorious conquest lovingly agreed.
Tune of In Summer Time.
London, Printed by J. Hodges, at the Looking Glass, on London
Bridge. _Not in black letter._
3^1. doth.
4^1. the news.
4^4. Bullbury.
5^3. they are.
6^3. it _wanting_.
8^4. needs.
11^1. would give an.
11^4. thee _for_ you.
15^1. A crab-tree staff the Tinker had.
16^2. they took up at their inn.
18^2. Robin made haste away.
19^1. did awake.
19^3. even _wanting_.
20^3. to seek.
21^1. the _for_ my.
21^4. He _wanting_.
22^1. speak _for_ tell.
23^1. I but.
23^3. might _for_ strength.
24^1. I will.
24^4. should betide.
25^1. But _wanting_.
25^3. just I have to pay.
26^1. bags.
26^3. that _wanting_.
27^3. amongst.
29^1. in the.
31^2. Made of a.
31^3. he laid: him _wanting_.
32^3. that he.
32^4. Then almost.
33^1. they laid about.
33^3. full _for_ so.
33^4. That he.
34^2. grant to.
35^4. also _for_ too.
36^3. There.
37^2. would I.
37^3. And would.
38^2. They would.
39^3. In a.
40^1. mettle.
40^4. afraid.
128
ROBIN HOOD NEWLY REVIVED
‘Robin Hood Newly Reviv’d.’ #a.# Wood, 401, leaf 27 b. #b.# Roxburghe,
III, 18, in the Ballad Society’s reprint, II, 426. #c.# Garland of
1663, No 3. #d.# Garland of 1670, No 2. #e.# Pepys, II, 101, No 88.
Also Douce, III, 120 b, London, by L. How, and Roxburghe, III, 408: both
of these are of the eighteenth century.
#a# is printed, with not a few changes, in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795,
II, 66. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 143, agrees nearly with the
Aldermary garland.
Robin Hood, walking the forest, meets a gaily-dressed young fellow, who
presently brings down a deer at forty yards with his bow. Robin commends
the shot, and offers the youngster a place as one of his yeomen. The
offer is rudely received; each bends his bow at the other. Robin
suggests that one of them may be slain, if they shoot: swords and
bucklers would be better. Robin strikes the first blow, and is so
stoutly answered that he is fain to know who the young man is. His name
is Gamwell, and, having killed his father’s steward, he has fled to the
forest to join his uncle, Robin Hood. The kinsmen embrace, and walk on
till they meet Little John. Robin Hood tells John that the stranger has
beaten him. Little John would like a bout, to see if the stranger can
beat him. This Robin forbids, for this stranger is his own sister’s son;
he shall be next in rank to Little John among his yeomen, and be called
Scarlet.
The story seems to have been built up on a portion of the ruins, so to
speak, of the fine tale of Gamelyn. There the king of the outlaws,
sitting at meat with his seven score young men, sees Gamelyn wandering
in the wood with Adam, and tells some of his young men to fetch them in.
Seven start up to execute the order, and when they come to Gamelyn and
his comrade bid the twain hand over their bows and arrows. Gamelyn
replies, Not though ye fetch five men, and so be twelve; but no violence
being attempted, the pair go to the king, who asks them what they seek
in the woods. Gamelyn answers, No harm; but to shoot a deer, if we meet
one, like hungry men. The king gives them to eat and drink of the best,
and, upon learning that the spokesman is Gamelyn, makes him master,
under himself, over all the outlaws. Little John having long had the
place of first man under Robin, the best that the ballad-maker could do
for Gamwell was to make him chief yeoman after John.[109] (The Tale of
Gamelyn, ed. Skeat, vv 625–686. The resemblance of the ballad is
remarked upon at p. x.)
Ritson gives this ballad the title of Robin Hood and the Stranger,
remarking: The title now given to this ballad is that which it seems to
have originally borne; having been foolishly altered to Robin Hood newly
Revived. R. H. and the Bishop, R. H. and the Beggar, R. H. and the
Tanner, are directed to be sung to the tune of Robin Hood and the
Stranger, but no ballad bears such a title in any garland or
broadside.[110] The ballad referred to as Robin Hood and the Stranger
may possibly have been this, but, for reasons given at p. 133, Robin
Hood and Little John is, as I think, more likely to be the one meant.
Robin Hood and the Stranger was one name for the most popular of Robin
Hood tunes, and this particular tune was sometimes called ‘Robin Hood’
absolutely (see the note at the end of the next ballad). If the ballad
denoted by Robin Hood and the Stranger was also sometimes known as
‘Robin Hood’ simply, and especially if this ballad was Robin Hood and
Little John, an explanation presents itself of the title ‘Robin Hood
newly Revived.’ What is revived is the favorite topic of the process by
which Robin Hood enlarged and strengthened his company. The earlier
ballad had shown how Little John came to join the band; the second
undertakes to tell us how Scarlet was enlisted, the next most important
man after John.
The second part, referred to in the last stanza, was separated, Mr
Chappell thought, when the present ballad was “newly revived,” because
the whole was found too long for a penny (one would say that both parts
together were “dear enough a leek”), and seven stanzas (incoherent in
themselves and not cohering with what lies before us) added to fill up
the sheet. These stanzas will be given under No 130, as Robin Hood and
the Scotchman; and the “second part,” ‘R. H. and the Prince of Aragon,’
or ‘R. H., Will. Scadlock and Little John,’ follows immediately.
1
Come listen a while, you gentlemen all,
With a hey down down a down down
That are in this bower within,
For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood
I purpose now to begin.
2
‘What time of the day?’ quoth Robin Hood then;
Quoth Little John, ’Tis in the prime;
‘Why then we will to the green wood gang,
For we have no vittles to dine.’
3
As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along—
It was in the mid of the day—
There was he met of a deft young man
As ever walkt on the way.
4
His doublet it was of silk, he said,
His stockings like scarlet shone,
And he walkt on along the way,
To Robin Hood then unknown.
5
A herd of deer was in the bend,
All feeding before his face:
‘Now the best of ye I’le have to my dinner,
And that in a little space.’
6
Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe,
But he bends and a right good bow,
And the best buck in the herd he slew,
Forty good yards him full froe.
7
‘Well shot, well shot,’ quoth Robin Hood then,
‘That shot it was shot in time;
And if thou wilt accept of the place,
Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine.’
8
‘Go play the chiven,’ the stranger said,
‘Make haste and quickly go;
Or with my fist, be sure of this,
I’le give thee buffets store.’
9
‘Thou hadst not best buffet me,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘For though I seem forlorn,
Yet I can have those that will take my part,
If I but blow my horn.’
10
‘Thou wast not best wind thy horn,’ the stranger said,
‘Beest thou never so much in hast,
For I can draw out a good broad sword,
And quickly cut the blast.’
11
Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
To shoot, and that he would fain;
The stranger he bent a very good bow,
To shoot at bold Robin again.
12
‘O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘To shoot it would be in vain;
For if we should shoot the one at the other,
The one of us may be slain.
13
‘But let’s take our swords and our broad bucklers,
And gang under yonder tree:’
‘As I hope to be sav’d,’ the stranger said,
‘One foot I will not flee.’
14
Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow
Most scar’d him out of his wit;
‘Thou never felt blow,’ the stranger he said,
‘That shall be better quit.’
15
The stranger he drew out a good broad sword,
And hit Robin on the crown,
That from every haire of bold Robins head
The blood ran trickling down.
16
‘God a mercy, good fellow!’ quoth Robin Hood then,
‘And for this that thou hast done;
Tell me, good fellow, what thou art,
Tell me where thou doest woon.’