It is but the natural course of exaggeration that the shepherd, having beaten Robin Hood, should beat Little John. This is descending low enough, but we do not see the bottom of this kind of balladry here. In King Alfred and the Shepherd, Old Ballads, 1723, I, 43, stanzas 6–17, the king plays Robin’s part, fighting four hours with the Shepherd and then craving a truce. Further on Alfred blows his horn. There are also verbal agreements. 1 All gentlemen and yeomen good, Down a down a down a down I wish you to draw near; For a story of gallant brave Robin Hood Vnto you I wil declare. Down, etc. 2 As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along, Some pastime for to spie, There was he aware of a jolly shepherd, That on the ground did lie. 3 ‘Arise, arise,’ cryed jolly Robin, ‘And now come let me see What is in thy bag and bottle, I say; Come tell it unto me.’ 4 ‘What’s that to thee, thou proud fellow? Tell me as I do stand What thou hast to do with my bag and bottle? Let me see thy command.’ 5 ‘My sword, which hangeth by my side, Is my command I know; Come, and let me taste of thy bottle, Or it may breed thee wo.’ 6 ‘Tut, the devil a drop, thou proud fellow, Of my bottle thou shalt see, Untill thy valour here be tried, Whether thou wilt fight or flee.’ 7 ‘What shall we fight for?’ cries bold Robin Hood; ‘Come tell it soon to me; Here is twenty pounds in good red gold; Win it, and take it thee.’ 8 The Shepherd stood all in a maze, And knew not what to say: ‘I have no money, thou proud fellow, But bag and bottle I’le lay.’ 9 ‘I am content, thou shepherd-swain, Fling them down on the ground; But it will breed thee mickle pain, To win my twenty pound.’ 10 ‘Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellow, Thou stands too long to prate; This hook of mine shall let thee know A coward I do hate.’ 11 So they fell to it, full hardy and sore; It was on a summers day; From ten till four in the afternoon The Shepherd held him play. 12 Robins buckler proved his chief defence, And saved him many a bang, For every blow the Shepherd gave Made Robins sword cry twang. 13 Many a sturdy blow the Shepherd gave, And that bold Robin found, Till the blood ran trickling from his head; Then he fell to the ground. 14 ‘Arise, arise, thou proud fellow, And thou shalt have fair play, If thou wilt yield, before thou go, That I have won the day.’ 15 ‘A boon, a boon,’ cried bold Robin; ‘If that a man thou be, Then let me take my beaugle-horn, And blow but blasts three.’ 16 ‘To blow three times three,’ the Shepherd said, ‘I will not thee deny; For if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn, I scorn one foot to fly.’