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. 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 dear. Then Robin Hood blew on the beugle horn, He blew full lowd and shrill ; But quickly anon appear’d Little John, Come tripping down a green hill ; 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. “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 tan’d my hide.” {187} 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. Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood, For as I do understand, He’s a yeoman good, of thine own blood, For his name is Arthur-a-Bland. 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. 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. Then Robin Hood took ‘them both’ by the hands, And danc’d round about the oke tree : “For three merry men, and three merry men, And three merry men we be : And ever hereafter as long as we live, We three will be ‘as’ one ; The wood it shall ring, and the old wife sing, Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.” {188} [Music] [Illustration] {189} [Illustration] VII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE TINKER. From an old black letter copy in the library of Anthony a Wood. The full title is— “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 did then so agree, They after liv’d in love and unity. To the tune of, In summer time.” In summer time, when leaves grow green, _Down, a down, a down_. And birds sing on every tree, _Hey down, a down, a down_. {190} Robin Hood went to Nottingham, _Down, a down, a down_. As fast as hee could dree. _Hey down, a down, a down_. And as hee came to Nottingham, A tinker he did meet, And seeing him a lusty blade, He did him kindly greet. 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. What is that news ? the tinker said, Tell mee without delay : I am a tinker by my trade, And do live at Banburà. As for the news, quoth Robin Hood, It is but as I hear, Two tinkers were set ith’ stocks, For drinking ale and ‘beer.’