For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw, Nor all thine arrows to boot ; If I get a knop upon the bare scop, Thou can’st as well sh—e as shoote.” Speak cleanly, good fellow, said jolly Robìn, And give better terms to me ; Else Ile thee correct for thy neglect, And make thee more mannerly. Marry gep with a wenion ! quod 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. Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt, And laid down his bow so long ; He took up a staff of another oke graff, That was both stiff and strong. Ile yield to thy weapon, said jolly Robìn, Since thou wilt not yield to mine ; For I have a staff of another oke graff, Not half a foot longer then thine. {184} But let me measure, said jolly Robìn, Before we begin our fray ; For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine, For that will be counted foul play. 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. Then Robin could no longer forbear, He gave him such a knock, Quickly and soon the blood came down, Before it was ten a clock. Then Arthur he soon recovered himself, And gave him such a knock on the crown, That from every side of bold Robin Hoods head, The blood came trickling down. Then Robin raged like a wild boar, As soon as he saw his own blood : Then Bland was in hast he laid on so fast, As though he had been cleaving of wood. 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. {185} 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. Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood, And let thy quarrel fall ; For here we may thrash our bones all to mesh, And get no coyn at all : And in the forrest of merry Sherwood Heareafter thou shalt be free. “God a mercy for ‘nought,’ my freedom I bought, I may thank my staff, and not thee.” What tradesman art thou ? said jolly Robìn, Good fellow, I prithee me show ; And also me tell, in what place thou dost dwel : For both of these fain would I know. I am a tanner, bold Arthur reply’d, In Nottingham long have I wrought ; And if thou’lt come there, I vow and swear, I will tan thy hide for ‘nought.’ God-a-mercy, good fellow, said jolly Robìn, Since thou art so kind and free ; And if thou wilt tan my hide for ‘nought,’ I will do as much for thee. {186} And if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade, And live in the green wood with me, My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the ‘rood,’ I will give thee both gold and fee.