The tinker hee then went with speed, And made then no delay, Till he had found ‘bold’ Robin Hood, That they might have a fray. At last hee spy’d him in a park, Hunting then of the deer. What knave is that, quoth Robin Hood, That doth come mee so near ? No knave, no knave, the tinker said, And that you soon shall know ; Whether of us hath done any wrong, My crab-tree staff shall show. {195} Then Robin drew his gallant blade, Made then of trusty steel : But the tinker he laid on so fast, That he made Robin reel. Then Robins anger did arise, He fought right manfully, Until he had made the tinkèr Almost then fit to fly. With that they had a bout again, They ply’d their weapons fast ; The tinker threshed his bones so sore, He made him yeeld at last. A boon, a boon, Robin hee cryes, If thou wilt grant it mee. Before I do it, the tinker said, Ile hang thee on this tree. But the tinker looking him about, Robin his horn did blow ; Then came unto him Little John, And William Scadlock too. 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.” {196} That tinker then, said Little John, 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, “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 [for] to maintain him on, 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. And if hee will bee one of us, Wee will take all one fare ; And whatsoever wee do get He shall have his full share.” So the tinker was content With them to go along, And with them a part to take : And so I end my song. {197} [Illustration] VIII. ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN ‘A’ DALE: “Or a pleasant relation how a young gentleman, being in love with a young damsel, ‘she’ was taken from him to be an old knight’s bride: and how Robin Hood, pittying the young man’s case, took her from the old knight, when they were going to be marryed, and restored her to her own love again. To a pleasent northern tune, Robin Hood in the green-wood stood. Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right, And took the damsel from the doting knight.” From an old black letter copy in Major Pearson’s collection. Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlàw, That lived in Nottinghamshire. {198} As Robin Hood in the forest stood, All under the green wood tree, There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.