The fryer tooke Robin Hood on his backe, Deepe water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad, 'Till he came at the other side. Lightly leapt Robin offe the fryer's backe; The fryer said to him againe, "Carry me over this water, thou fine fellow, Or it shall breed thy paine." Robin Hood took the fryer on his backe, Deepe water he did bestride, And spake neither good word nor bad, 'Till he came at the other side. Lightly leapt the fryer off Robin Hood's backe, Robin Hood said to him againe, "Carry me over this water, thou curtall fryer, Or it shall breede thy paine." The fryer tooke Robin on's backe againe, And stept in to the knee, 'Till he came at the middle streame, Neither good nor bad spake he; And comming to the middle streame, There he threw Robin in; "And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellow, Whether thou wilt sink or swim." Robin Hood swam to a bush of broome, The fryer to a wigger[36] wand; Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore, And took his bowe in his hand. One of his best arrowes under his belt, To the fryer he let fly; The curtall fryer with his Steele buckler, Did put that arrow by. "Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellow, Shoot as thou hast begun; If thou shoot here a summer's day, Thy marke I will not shun." Robin Hood shot passing well, 'Till his arrows all were gane; They tooke their swords and steele bucklers, They fought with might and maine. From ten o' th' clock that very day, Till four i' th' afternoon; Then Robin Hood came to his knees, Of the fryer to beg a boone. "A boone, a boone, thou curtall fryer, I beg it on my knee; Give me leave to set my horne to my mouth, And to blow blasts three." "That I will do," said the curtall fryer, "Of thy blasts I have no doubt; I hope thoult blow so passing well, 'Till both thy eyes fall out." Robin Hood set his horne to his mouth, He blew out blasts three; Halfe a hundreth yeomen, with bowes bent, Came raking over the lee. "Whose men are these," said the fryer, "That come so hastily?" "These are mine;" said Robin Hood, "Fryer, what is that to thee?" "A boone, a boone," said the curtall fryer, "The like I gave to thee; Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth, And to whute whues three." "That will I doe," said Robin Hood, "Or else I were to blame; Three whues in a fryer's fist Would make me glad and faine." The fryer set his fist to his mouth, And whuted whues three: Halfe a hundreth good band-dogs[37] Came running over the lee. "Here's for every man a dog, And I myselfe for thee." "Nay, by my faith," said Robin Hood, "Fryer, that may not be." Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did goe, The one behind, the other before, Robin Hood's mantle of Lincolne greene Off from his backe they tore.