17 Then Robin set his horn to his mouth, And he blew with mickle main, Until he espied Little John Come tripping over the plain. 18 ‘O who is yonder, thou proud fellow, That comes down yonder hill?’ ‘Yonder is Little John, bold Robin Hoods man, Shall fight with thee thy fill.’ 19 ‘What is the matter?’ saies Little John, ‘Master, come tell to me:’ ‘My case is great,’ saies Robin Hood, ‘For the Shepherd hath conquered me.’ 20 ‘I am glad of that,’ cries Little John, ‘Shepherd, turn thou to me; For a bout with thee I mean to have, Either come fight or flee.’ 21 ‘With all my heart, thou proud fellow, For it never shall be said That a shepherds hook of thy sturdy look Will one jot be dismaid.’ 22 So they fell to it, full hardy and sore, Striving for victory; ‘I will know,’ saies John, ‘ere we give ore, Whether thou wilt fight or flye.’ 23 The Shepherd gave John a sturdy blow, With his hook under the chin; ‘Beshrew thy heart,’ said Little John, ‘Thou basely dost begin.’ 24 ‘Nay, that’s nothing,’ said the Shepherd; ‘Either yield to me the day, Or I will bang thee back and sides, Before thou goest thy way. 25 ‘What? dost thou think, thou proud fellow, That thou canst conquer me? Nay, thou shalt know, before thou go, I’le fight before I’le flee.’ 26 With that to thrash Little John like mad The Shepherd he begun; ‘Hold, hold,’ cryed bold Robin Hood, ‘And I’le yield the wager won.’ 27 ‘With all my heart,’ said Little John, ‘To that I will agree; For he is the flower of shepherd-swains, The like I never did see.’ 28 Thus have you heard of Robin Hood, Also of Little John, How a shepherd-swain did conquer them; The like did never none. * * * * * #a#, #b#. Robin Hood and the Shepard: Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John and the Shepheard fought a sore combate. Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. #a.# _Burden: a third_ a down _is not printed after the first line, but is after the last_. 4^3. hast thou. 5^4. thy wo. 7^2. Gome. 20^4. Eihter. 26^2. Sheherd. #b.# _Burden_: Down a down a down a down. _After_ 9^1, 21^4, With a, &c. 1^3. bold _for_ brave. 4^3. thou hast. 5^3. tast. 5^4. thee _for_ thy. 7^1. bold _wanting_. 7^3. pound. 10^2. standst. 12^1. chiefest. 13^3. tickling. 16^1. Then said the Shepherd to bold Robin. 16^2. _wanting._ 17^1. Robin he. 18^3. Little _wanting_. 19^3. is very bad, cries. 26^1. Again the Shepherd laid on him. 26^4. And _wanting_: I will. 27^4. I did never. 28^4. was never known. #c.#