{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch124.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch124.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch124.htm","text":"124A.1 IN Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder,\nIn Wakefield, all on a green;\nIn Wakefield, all on a green;\n124A.2 \u2018There is neither knight nor squire,\u2019 said the pinder,\n\u2018Nor baron that is so bold,\n\u2018Nor baron that is so bold,\nDare make a trespasse to the town of Wakefield,\nBut his pledge goes to the pinfold.\u2019\nBut his pledge goes to the pinfold.\u2019\n124A.3 All this beheard three witty young men,\n\u2019Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John;\nWith that they spyed the jolly pinder,\nAs he sate under a thorn.\n124A.4 \u2018Now turn again, turn again,\u2019 said the pinder,\n\u2018For a wrong way have you gone;\nFor you have forsaken the king his highway,\nAnd made a path over the corn.\u2019\n124A.5 \u2018O that were great shame,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018We being three, and thou but one:\u2019\nThe pinder leapt back then thirty good foot,\n\u2019Twas thirty good foot and one.\n124A.6 He leaned his back fast unto a thorn,\nAnd his foot unto a stone,\nAnd there he fought a long summer\u2019s day,\nA summer\u2019s day so long,\nTill that their swords, on their broad bucklers,\nWere broken fast unto their hands.\n* * * * *\n124A.7 \u2018Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018And my merry men euery one;\nFor this is one of the best pinders\nThat ever I try\u2019d with sword.\n124A.8 \u2018And wilt thou forsake thy pinder his craft,\nAnd live in [the] green wood with me?\n. . . .\n. . . .\n124A.9 \u2018At Michaelmas next my covnant comes out,\nWhen every man gathers his fee;\nI\u2019le take my blew blade all in my hand,\nAnd plod to the green wood with thee.\u2019\n124A.10 \u2018Hast thou either meat or drink,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018For my merry men and me?\n. . . .\n. . . .\n124A.11 \u2018I have both bread and beef,\u2019 said the pinder,\n\u2018And good ale of the best;\u2019\n\u2018And that is meat good enough,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018For such unbidden guest.\n124A.12 wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,\nAnd go to the green wood with me?\nThou shalt have a livery twice in the year,\nThe one green, the other brown [shall be].\u2019\n124A.13 \u2018If Michaelmas day were once come and gone\nAnd my master had paid me my fee,\nThen would I set as little by him\nAs my master doth set by me.\u2019\n124B: The Jolly Pindar of Wakefield\n124B.* * * *\n\u2018BUT hold y . . hold y . . . \u2019 says Robin,\n\u2018My merrymen, I bid yee,\nFor this [is] one of the best pindars\nThat euer I saw with mine eye.\n124B.2 \u2018But hast thou any meat, thou iolly pindar,\nFor my merrymen and me?\u2019\n. . . .\n. . . .\n124B.3 \u2018But I haue bread and cheese,\u2019 sayes the pindar,\n\u2018And ale all on the best:\u2019\n\u2018That\u2019s cheere good enoughe,\u2019 said Robin,\n\u2018For any such vnbidden guest.\n124B.4 \u2018But wilt be my man?\u2019 said good Robin,\n\u2018And come and dwell with me?\nAnd twise in a yeere thy clothing [shall] be changed\nIf my man thou wilt bee,\nThe tone shall be of light Lincolne greene,\nThe tother of Picklory.\u2019\n124B.5 \u2018Att Michallmas comes a well good time,\nWhen men haue gotten in their fee;\nI\u2019le sett as litle by my master\nAs he now setts by me,\nI\u2019le take my benbowe in my hande,\nAnd come into the grenwoode to thee.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 124. The Jolly Pindar of Wakefield","type":"page"}