IX.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD.

“Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John, and the Shepherd fought a sore combate.

The shepherd fought for twenty pound, and Robin for bottle and bag, But the shepherd stout, gave them the rout, so sore they could not wag. Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.”

From two old black letter copies, one of them in the collection of Anthony a Wood, the other in that of Thomas Pearson, Esq. At the head of the former is a fine cut of Robin Hood.

All gentlemen, and yeomen good, _Down, a down, a down, a down,_ I wish you to draw near ; For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood Unto you I will declare. _Down a, &c._ {204}

As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along, Some pastime for to spie, There he was aware of a jolly shephèrd, That on the ground did lie.

Arise, arise, cried jolly Robìn, And now come let me see What’s in thy bag and bottle ; I say, Come tell it unto me.

“What’s that to thee ? thou proud fellòw, Tell me as I do stand : What hast thou to do with by bag and bottle ? Let me see thy command.”

“My sword, which hangeth by my side, Is my command I know ; Come, and let me taste of thy bottle, Or it may breed thy woe.”

“The devil a drop, thou proud fellòw, Of my bottle thou shalt see, Until thy valour here be tried, Whether thou wilt fight or flee.”

What shall we fight for ? cries Robin Hood, Come tell it soon to me ; Here is twenty pound in good red gold, Win it and take it thee. {205}

The shepherd stood all in a maze, And knew not what to say : “I have no money, thou proud fellòw, But bag and bottle ile lay.”

“I am content, thou shepherd swain, Fling them down on the ground ; But it will breed thee mickle pain, To win my twenty pound.”

“Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellòw, Thou standest too long to prate ; This hook of mine shall let thee know, A coward I do hate.”

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.

Robins buckler prov’d his ‘chief’[297] defence, And saved him many a bang, For every blow the shepherd gave Made Robins sword cry twang.

Many a sturdie blow the shepherd gave, And that bold Robin found, Till the blood ran trickling from his head, Then he fell to the ground. {206}

“Arise, arise, thou proud fellòw, And thou shalt have fair play, If thou wilt yield before thou go, That I have won the day.”

A boon, a boon, cry’d bold Robìn, If that a man thou be, Then let me have my beugle horn, And blow but blasts three.

Then said the shepherd to bold Robìn, To that I will agree ; ‘For’ if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn, I scorn one foot to flee.

Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, And he blew with mickle main, Until he espied Little John Come tripping over the plain.

“O who is yonder, thou proud fellòw, That comes down yonder hill ?” “Yonder is John, bold Robin Hoods man, Shall fight with thee thy fill.”

What is the matter ? saies Little John, Master, come tell to me. My case is bad, cries Robin Hood, For the shepherd hath conquered me. {207}

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.

“With all my heart, thou proud fellòw, For it never shall be said That a shepherds hook of thy sturdy look Will one jot be dismaied.”

So they fell to it, full hardy and sore, Striving for victorie. Ile know, says John, ere we give o’er, Whether thou wilt fight or flee.

The shepherd gave John a sturdie blow, With his hook under the chin. Beshrew thy heart, said little John, Thou basely dost begin.

Nay, that is nothing, said the shephèrd, Either yield to me the daie, Or I will bang thy back and sides, Before thou goest thy way.

What ! dost thou think, thou proud fellow, That thou canst conquer me ? Nay, thou shalt know, before thou go, Ile fight before ile flee. {208}

Again the shepherd laid on him, ‘Just as he first begun.’ Hold thy hand, cry’d bold Robìn, I will yield the wager won.

With all my heart, said Little John, To that I will agree ; For he is the flower of shepherd swains, The like I did never see.

Thus have you heard of Robin Hood, Also of Little John ; How a shepherd swain did conquer them : The like was never known.

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