And there he fought a long summers day, A summers day so long, Till that their swords on their broad bucklèrs Were broke fast into their hands.[291] Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said bold Robin Hood, And my merry men every one ; For this is one of the best pindèrs, That ever I tryed with sword. And wilt thou forsake thy pinders craft, And live in the green-wood with me ? “At Michaelmas next my cov’nant comes out, When every man gathers his fee ; Then I’le take my blew blade all in my hand, And plod to the green-wood with thee.” Hast thou either meat or drink, said Robin Hood, For my merry men and me ? I have both bread and beef, said the pindèr, And good ale of the best. And that is meat good enough, said Robin Hood, For such unbidden ‘guests.’ [Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER.] [Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER.] {169} “O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft, And go to the green-wood with me ? Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, The one green, the other brown.” “If Michaelmas day was come and gone, And my master had paid me my fee, Then would I set as little by him, As my master doth by me.” [Illustration] {170} [Illustration] IV. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP, “Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman’s house and changed cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.” From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood. Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile, _Hey down, down, an a down_, And a story ile to you unfold ; Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop, When he robbed him of his gold. {171} As it fell out on a sun-shining day, When Phœbus was in ‘his’ prime, Then Robin Hood, that archer good, In mirth would spend some time. And as he walk’d the forrest along, Some pastime for to spy, There was he aware of a proud bishòp, And all his company. O what shall I do, said Robin Hood then, If the bishop he doth take me ? No mercy he’l show unto me, I know, But hanged I shall be. Then Robin was stout, and turned him about, And a little house there he did spy ; And to an old wife, for to save his life, He loud began for to cry. Why, who art thou ? said the old womàn, Come tell to me for good. “I am an out-law, as many do know, My name it is Robin Hood ; And yonder’s the bishop and all his men, And if that I taken be, Then day and night he’l work my spight, And hanged I shall be.” {172} If thou be Robin Hood, said the old wife, As thou ‘dost’ seem to be, I’le for thee provide, and thee I will hide, From the bishop and his company. For I remember, ‘one’ Saturday night, Thou brought me both shoos and hose ; Therefore I’le provide thy person to hide, And keep thee from thy foes.