But the tinker looking him about, Robin his horn did blow; Then came unto him Little John, And William Scadlock too. 140 "What is the matter," quoth Little John, "You sit on th' highway side?" "Here is a tinker that stands by, That hath paid well my hide." "That tinker then," said Little John, 145 "Fain that blade I would see, And I would try what I could do, If hee'l do as much for me." But Robin hee then wish'd them both They should the quarrel cease, 150 "That henceforth wee may bee as one, And ever live in peace. "And for the jovial tinkers part, A hundred pounds Ile give In th' year to maintain him on, 155 As long as he doth live. "In manhood he is a mettled man, And a mettle-man by trade; Never thought I that any man Should have made mee so afraid. 160 "And if hee will bee one of us, "We will take all one fare; And whatsoever wee do get, He shall have his full share." So the tinker was content 165 With them to go along, And with them a part to take: And so I end my song. ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD. Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John, and the Shepherd fought a sore combate. The shepherd fought for twenty pound, and Robin for bottle and bag, But the shepherd stout gave them the rout, so sore they could not wag. Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. "From two old black-letter copies, one of them in the collection of Anthony à Wood, the other in that of Thomas Pearson, Esq.," [now in the British Museum.] Ritson's _Robin Hood_, ii. 55. The same story, with verbal coincidences, serves for the first part of _King Alfred and the Shepherd_. All gentlemen and yeomen good, _Down, a down, a down, a down_, I wish you to draw near; For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood Unto you I will declare. _Down, &c._ As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along, 5 Some pastime for to spie, There he was aware of a jolly shephèrd, That on the ground did lie. "Arise, arise," cried jolly Robin, "And now come let me see 10 What's in thy bag and bottle, I say, Come tell it unto me." "What's that to thee, thou proud fellòw? Tell me as I do stand; What hast thou to do with my bag and bottle? 15 Let me see thy command." "My sword, which hangeth by my side, Is my command I know; Come, and let me taste of thy bottle, Or it may breed thy woe." 20 "The devil a drop, thou proud fellòw, Of my bottle thou shalt see, Until thy valour here be tried, Whether thou wilt fight or flee."