{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch126.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch126.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch126.htm","text":"126A.1 IN Nottingham there lives a jolly tanner,\nWith a hey down down a down down\nHis name is Arthur a Bland;\nThere is nere a squire in Nottinghamshire\nDare bid bold Arthur stand.\n126A.2 With a long pike-staff upon his shoulder,\nSo well he can clear his way;\nBy two and by three he makes them to flee,\nFor he hath no list to stay.\n126A.3 And as he went forth, in a summer\u2019s morning,\nInto the forrest of merry Sherwood,\nTo view the red deer, that range here and there,\nThere met he with bold Robin Hood.\n126A.4 As soon as bold Robin Hood did him espy,\nHe thought some sport he would make;\nTherefore out of hand he bid him to stand,\nAnd thus to him he spake:\n126A.5 Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,\nThat ranges so boldly here?\nIn sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,\nThat comes to steal our king\u2019s deer.\n126A.6 For I am a keeper in this forrest;\nThe king puts me in trust\nTo look to his deer, that range here and there,\nTherefore stay thee I must.\n126A.7 \u2018If thou beest a keeper in this forrest,\nAnd hast such a great command,\nYet thou must have more partakers in store,\nBefore thou make me to stand.\u2019\n126A.8 \u2018Nay, I have no more partakers in store,\nOr any that I do need;\nBut I have a staff of another oke graff,\nI know it will do the deed.\u2019\n126A.9 \u2018For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,\nNor all thine arrows to boot;\nIf I get a knop upon thy bare scop,\nThou canst as well shite as shoote.\u2019\n126A.10 \u2018Speak cleanly, good fellow,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018And give better terms to me;\nElse I\u2019le thee correct for thy neglect,\nAnd make thee more mannerly.\u2019\n126A.11 \u2018Marry gep with a wenion!\u2019 quoth Arthur a Bland,\n\u2018Art thou such a goodly man?\nI care not a fig for thy looking so big;\nMend thou thyself where thou can.\u2019\n126A.12 Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,\nHe laid down his bow so long;\nHe took up a staff of another oke graff,\nThat was both stiff and strong.\n126A.13 \u2018I\u2019le yield to thy weapon,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Since thou wilt not yield to mine;\nFor I have a staff of another oke graff,\nNot half a foot longer then thine.\n126A.14 \u2018But let me measure,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Before we begin our fray;\nFor I\u2019le not have mine to be longer then thine,\nFor that will be called foul play.\u2019\n126A.15 \u2018I pass not for length,\u2019 bold Arthur reply\u2019d,\n\u2018My staff is of oke so free;\nEight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,\nAnd I hope it will knock down thee.\u2019\n126A.16 Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;\nHe gave him such a knock,\nQuickly and soon the blood came down,\nBefore it was ten a clock.\n126A.17 Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,\nAnd gave him such a knock on the crown,\nThat on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,\nThe blood came trickling down.\n126A.18 Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,\nAs soon as he saw his own blood;\nThen Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,\nAs though he had been staking of wood.\n126A.19 And about, and about, and about they went,\nLike two wild bores in a chase;\nStriving to aim each other to maim,\nLeg, arm, or any other place.\n126A.20 And knock for knock they lustily dealt,\nWhich held for two hours and more;\nThat all the wood rang at every bang,\nThey ply\u2019d their work so sore.\n126A.21 \u2018Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018And let our quarrel fall;\nFor here we may thresh our bones into mesh,\nAnd get no coyn at all.\n126A.22 \u2018And in the forrest of merry Sherwood\nHereafter thou shalt be free:\u2019\n\u2018God-a-mercy for naught, my freedom I bought,\nI may thank my good staff, and not thee.\u2019\n126A.23 \u2018What tradesman art thou?\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Good felow, I prethee me show:\nAnd also me tell in what place thou dost dwel,\nFor both these fain would I know.\u2019\n126A.24 \u2018I am a tanner,\u2019 bold Arthur reply\u2019d,\n\u2018In Nottingham long have I wrought;\nAnd if thou\u2019lt come there, I vow and do swear\nI will tan thy hide for naught.\u2019\n126A.25 \u2018God a mercy, good fellow,\u2019 said jolly Robin,\n\u2018Since thou art so kind to me;\nAnd if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,\nI will do as much for thee.\n126A.26 \u2018But if thou\u2019lt forsake thy tanners trade,\nAnd live in green wood with me,\nMy name\u2019s Robin Hood, I swear by the rood\nI will give thee both gold and fee.\u2019\n126A.27 \u2018If thou be Robin Hood,\u2019 bold Arthur reply\u2019d,\n\u2018As I think well thou art,\nThen here\u2019s my hand, my name\u2019s Arthur a Bland,\nWe two will never depart.\n126A.28 \u2018But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John?\nOf him fain would I hear;\nFor we are alide by the mothers side,\nAnd he is my kinsman near.\u2019\n126A.29 Than Robin Hood blew on the beaugle horn,\nHe blew full lowd and shrill,\nBut quickly anon appeard Little John,\nCome tripping down a green hill.\n126A.30 \u2018O what is the matter?\u2019 then said Little John,\n\u2018Master, I pray you tell;\nWhy do you stand with your staff in your hand?\nI fear all is not well.\u2019\n126A.31 \u2018O man, I do stand, and he makes me to stand,\nThe tanner that stands thee beside;\nHe is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,\nFor soundly he hath tand my hide.\u2019\n126A.32 \u2018He is to be commended,\u2019 then said Little John,\n\u2018If such a feat he can do;\nIf he be so stout, we will have a bout,\nAnd he shall tan my hide too.\u2019\n126A.33 \u2018Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018For as I do understand,\nHe\u2019s a yeoman good, and of thine own blood,\nFor his name is Arthur a Bland.\u2019\n126A.34 Then Little John threw his staff away,\nAs far as he could it fling,\nAnd ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,\nAnd about his neck did cling.\n126A.35 With loving respect, there was no neglect,\nThey were neither nice nor coy,\nEach other did face, with a lovely grace,\nAnd both did weep for joy.\n126A.36 Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,\nAnd danc\u2019d round about the oke tree;\nRR\u2019Frror three merry men, and three merry men,\nAnd three merry men we be.\n126A.37 \u2018And ever hereafter, as long as I live,\nWe three will be all one;\nThe wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,\nOf Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 126. Robin Hood and the Tanner","type":"page"}