{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch127.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch127.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch127.htm","text":"127A.1 IN summer time, when leaves grow green,\nDown a down a down\nAnd birds sing on every tree,\nHey down a down a down\nRobin Hood went to Nottingham,\nDown a down a down\nAs fast as hee could dree.\nHey down a down a down\n127A.2 And as hee came to Nottingham\nA Tinker he did meet,\nAnd seeing him a lusty blade,\nHe did him kindly greet.\n127A.3 \u2018Where dost thou live?\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018I pray thee now mee tell;\nSad news I hear there is abroad,\nI fear all is not well.\u2019\n127A.4 \u2018What is that news?\u2019 the Tinker said;\n\u2018Tell mee without delay;\nI am a tinker by my trade,\nAnd do live at Banbura.\u2019\n127A.5 \u2018As for the news,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018It is but as I hear;\nTwo tinkers they were set ith\u2019 stocks,\nFor drinking ale and bear.\u2019\n127A.6 \u2018If that be all,\u2019 the Tinker said,\n\u2018As I may say to you,\nYour news it is not worth a fart,\nSince that they all bee true.\n127A.7 \u2018For drinking of good ale and bear,\nYou wil not lose your part:\u2019\n\u2018No, by my faith,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018I love it with all my heart.\n127A.8 \u2018What news abroad?\u2019 quoth Robin Hood;\n\u2018Tell mee what thou dost hear;\nBeing thou goest from town to town,\nSome news thou need not fear.\u2019\n127A.9 \u2018All the news,\u2019 the Tinker said,\n\u2018I hear, it is for good;\nIt is to seek a bold outlaw,\nWhich they call Robin Hood.\n127A.10 \u2018I have a warrant from the king,\nTo take him where I can;\nIf you can tell me where hee is,\nI will make you a man.\n127A.11 \u2018The king will give a hundred pound\nThat hee could but him see;\nAnd if wee can but now him get,\nIt will serve you and mee.\u2019\n127A.12 \u2018Let me see that warrant,\u2019 said Robin Hood;\n\u2018I\u2019le see if it bee right;\nAnd I will do the best I can\nFor to take him this night.\u2019\n127A.13 \u2018That will I not,\u2019 the Tinker said;\n\u2018None with it I will trust;\nAnd where hee is if you\u2019l not tell,\nTake him by force I must.\u2019\n127A.14 But Robin Hood perceiving well\nHow then the game would go,\n\u2018If you will go to Nottingham,\nWee shall find him I know.\u2019\n127A.15 The Tinker had a crab-tree staff,\nWhich was both good and strong;\nRobin hee had a good strong blade,\nSo they went both along.\n127A.16 And when they came to Nottingham,\nThere they both tooke one inn;\nAnd they calld for ale and wine,\nTo drink it was no sin.\n127A.17 But ale and wine they drank so fast\nThat the Tinker hee forgot\nWhat thing he was about to do;\nIt fell so to his lot\n127A.18 That while the Tinker fell asleep,\nHee made then haste away,\nAnd left the Tinker in the lurch,\nFor the great shot to pay.\n127A.19 But when the Tinker wakened,\nAnd saw that he was gone,\nHe calld then even for his host,\nAnd thus hee made his moan.\n127A.20 \u2018I had a warrant from the king,\nWhich might have done me good,\nThat is to take a bold outlaw,\nSome call him Robin Hood.\n127A.21 \u2018But now my warrant and mony\u2019s gone,\nNothing I have to pay;\nAnd he that promised to be my friend,\nHe is gone and fled away.\u2019\n127A.22 \u2018That friend you tell on,\u2019 said the host,\n\u2018They call him Robin Hood;\nAnd when that first hee met with you,\nHe ment you little good.\u2019\n127A.23 \u2018Had I known it had been hee,\nWhen that I had him here,\nTh\u2019 one of us should have tri\u2019d our strength\nWhich should have paid full dear.\n127A.24 \u2018In the mean time I must away;\nNo longer here I\u2019le bide;\nBut I will go and seek him out,\nWhat ever do me betide.\n127A.25 \u2018But one thing I would gladly know,\nWhat here I have to pay;\u2019\n\u2018Ten shillings just,\u2019 then said the host;\n\u2018I\u2019le pay without delay.\n127A.26 \u2018Or elce take here my working-bag,\nAnd my good hammer too;\nAnd if that I light but on the knave,\nI will then soon pay you.\u2019\n127A.27 \u2018The onely way,\u2019 then said the host,\n\u2018And not to stand in fear,\nIs to seek him among the parks,\nKilling of the kings deer.\u2019\n127A.28 The Tinker hee then went with speed,\nAnd made then no delay,\nTill he had found then Robin Hood,\nThat they might have a fray.\n127A.29 At last hee spy\u2019d him in a park,\nHunting then of the deer;\n\u2018What knave is that,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\nRR\u2019Trrhat doth come mee so near?\u2019\n127A.30 \u2018No knave, no knave,\u2019 the Tinker said,\n\u2018And that you soon shall know;\nWhether of us hath done most wrong,\nMy crab-tree staff shall show.\u2019\n127A.31 Then Robin drew his gallant blade,\nMade then of trusty steel;\nBut the Tinker laid on him so fast\nThat he made Robin reel.\n127A.32 Then Robins anger did arise;\nHe fought full manfully,\nVntil hee made the Tinker\nAlmost then fit to fly.\n127A.33 With that they had a bout again,\nThey ply\u2019d their weapons fast;\nThe Tinker threshed his bones so sore\nHe made him yeeld at last.\n127A.34 \u2018A boon, a boon,\u2019 Robin hee cryes,\n\u2018If thou wilt grant it mee;\u2019\n\u2018Before I do it,\u2019 the Tinker said,\n\u2018I\u2019le hang thee on this tree.\u2019\n127A.35 But the Tinker looking him about,\nRobin his horn did blow;\nThen came unto him Little John,\nAnd William Scadlock too.\n127A.36 \u2018What is the matter,\u2019 quoth Little John,\n\u2018You sit in th\u2019 highway side?\u2019\n\u2018Here is a Tinker that stands by,\nThat hath paid well my hide.\u2019\n127A.37 \u2018That Tinker,\u2019 then said Little John,\n\u2018Fain that blade I would see,\nAnd I would try what I could do,\nIf hee\u2019l do as much for mee.\u2019\n127A.38 But Robin hee then wishd them both\nThey should the quarrel cease,\n\u2018That henceforth wee may bee as one,\nAnd ever live in peace.\n127A.39 \u2018And for the jovial Tinker\u2019s part,\nA hundred pound I\u2019le give,\nIn th\u2019 year to maintain him on,\nAs long as he doth live.\n127A.40 \u2018In manhood hee is a mettle man,\nAnd a mettle man by trade;\nI never thought that any man\nShould have made me so fraid.\n127A.41 \u2018And if hee will bee one of us,\nWee will take all one fare,\nAnd whatsoever wee do get,\nHe shall have his full share.\u2019\n127A.42 So the Tinker was content\nWith them to go along,\nAnd with them a part to take,\nAnd so I end my song.","title":"The Child Ballads: 127. Robin Hood and the Tinker","type":"page"}