"Therefore fall on, or else be gone, And yield to us the day: 70 It never shall be said that we are afraid Of thee, nor thy yeomen gay." "If that be so," cries bold Robin, "Let me but know your names, And in the forrest of merry Sheerwood, 75 I shall extol your fames." "And with our names," one of them said, "What hast thou here to do? Except that thou wilt fight it out, Our names thou shalt not know." 80 "We will fight no more," sayes bold Robin, "You be men of valour stout; Come and go with me to Nottingham, And there we will fight it out. "With a but of sack we will bang it about, 85 To see who wins the day; And for the cost, make you no doubt I have gold enough to pay. "And ever hereafter, so long as we live, We all will brethren be; 90 For I love these men with heart and hand, That will fight and never flee." So away they went to Nottingham, With sack to make amends; For three days they the wine did chase, 95 And drank themselves good friends. ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN. Being an account of their first meeting, their fierce encounter, and conquest. To which is added, their friendly agreement; and how he came to be called Little John. To the tune of _Arthur a Bland_. From _A Collection of Old Ballads_, i. 75. The same in RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 142. "This ballad is named in a schedule of such things under an agreement between W. Thackeray and others, in 1689 (Coll. Pepys, vol. v.)." RITSON. When Robin Hood was about twenty years old, _With a hey down, down, and a down_, He happen'd to meet Little John, A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade, For he was a lusty young man. Tho' he was call'd Little, his limbs they were large, 5 And his stature was seven foot high; Where-ever he came, they quak'd at his name, For soon he would make them to fly. How they came acquainted, I'll tell you in brief, If you will but listen awhile; 10 For this very jest, amongst all the rest, I think it may cause you to smile. Bold Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmèn, "Pray tarry you here in this grove; And see that you all observe well my call, 15 While thorough the forest I rove. "We have had no sport for these fourteen long days, Therefore now abroad will I go; Now should I be beat, and cannot retreat, My horn I will presently blow." 20 Then did he shake hands with his merry men all, And bid them at present good b'w'ye; Then, as near a brook his journey he took, A stranger he chanc'd to espy.