THE
Jolly Pinder of Wakefield;
WITH
Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
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IN Wakefield there lives a jolly Pinder,
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in Wakefield all on a Green,
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in Wakefield all on a Green;
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There is neither Knight nor Squire, said the Pinder;
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nor Baron that is so bold,
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nor Baron that is so bold;
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Dare make a tresspass to the town of Wakefield,
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but his Pledge goes to the Pinfold, etc.
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All this beheard three witty young Men,
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'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John, etc.
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With that they espy'd the jolly Pinder,
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as he sat under a thorn, etc.
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Now turn again, turn again, said the Pinder,
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for a wrong way you have gone, etc.
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For you have forsaken the King's High-way
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and made a path over the Corn, etc.
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O that were great shame, said jolly Robin,
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we being three, and thou but one, etc.
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The Pinder leapt back then thirty good foot,
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'twas thirty good foot and one, etc.
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He leaned his back fast unto a thorn,
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and his foot against a stone, etc.
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And there they fought a long Summers day,
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a summers day so long, etc.
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'Till that their swords on their broad bucklers,
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were broke fast unto their hands, etc.
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Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
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and my merry men every one, etc.
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For this is one of the best Pinders
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that ever I tryed with sword, etc.
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And wilt thou forsake thy Pinders Craft,
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and live in the Green-wood with me, etc.
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At Michelmas next my Cov'nant comes out,
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when every man gathers his fee, etc.
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I'll take my blew blade all in my hand,
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and plod to the green wood with thee, etc.
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Hast thou either meat or drink? said Robin Hood,
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for my merry men and me, etc.
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I have both bread and beef, said the Pinder,
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and good Ale of the best, etc.
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And that is Meat good enough, said Robin Hood,
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for such unbidden Guest, etc.
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O wilt thou forsake the Pinder his Craft,
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and go to the Green-Wood with me? etc.
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Thou shalt have a Livery twice in the year,
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the one green, the other brown, etc.
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If Michaelmas day was come and gone,
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and my Master had paid me my fee,
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and my Master had paid me my fee,
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Then would I set as little by him,
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as my Master doth by me,
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as my Master doth by me
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The Noble Acts newly found, Of Arthur of the Table Round.
To the Tune of, Flying Fame.
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WHen Arthur first in Court began,
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and was approved King,
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By force of arms great Victories won,
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and Conquest home did bring:
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Then into Brittain straight he came,
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where fifty stout and able
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Knights, then repaired unto him,
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which were of the Round table.
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And many Justs and Turnaments,
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before him there were prest.
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Wherein these Knights did then excell,
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and far surmount the rest.
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But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
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who was approved well,
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He in his fights and deeds of arms,
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all others did excel.
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When he had rested him a while,
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to play, and game, and sport,
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He thought he would approve himself
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in some advent'rous sort:
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He armed rode in forrest wide,
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and met a Damsel fair,
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Who told him of Adventures great,
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whereto he gave good ear,
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Why should not I? (quoth Lancelot tho)
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for that cause came I hither,
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Thou seem'st, quoth she, and Knight right good,
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and I will bring thee thither,
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Where as the nightest Knight doth dwell
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that now is of great fame,
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Wherefore tell me what Knight thou art,
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and then what is thy name.
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My name is Lancelot du Lake,
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quoth she it likes me then,
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Here dwells a Knight that never was
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o're-matcht of any man:
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Who hath in Prison threescore Knights,
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and some that he hath bound,
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Knights of King Arthurs Court they be,
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and of the Table round,
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She brought him to a River then,
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and also to a tree,
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Whereas a Copper Bason hung,
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his Fellow Shields to see.
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He struck so hard the Bason broke,
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when Tarquin heard the sound,
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He drove a horse before him straight,
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whereone a Knight was bound.
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Sir Knight (then said Sir Lancelot)
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bring me that Horse-load hither,
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And lay him down and let him rest,
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we'll try our force together:
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For as I understand, thou hast,
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as far as thou art able,
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Done great despight and shame unto
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the Knights of the round table.
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If thou art of the table round,
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quoth Tarquin speedily,
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Both thee and all thy Fellowship,
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I utterly defie.
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That's overmuch, quoth Lancelot tho,
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defend thee by and by,
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They put their spurs unto their Steeds,
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and each at other flye.
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They couch their Spears and Horses run,
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as though they had been thunder,
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And each struck then upon the Shield,
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wherewith they break asunder:
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Their Horses backs break under them,
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the Knights they were aston'd;
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To avoid their horses they made haste,
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to fight upon the ground:
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They took them to their shields full fast,
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their Swords they drew out then,
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With mighty streaks most eagerly,
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each one at other run:
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They wounded were, and bled full sore,
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for breath they both did stand,
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And leaning on their Swords a while,
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quoth Tarquin hold thy hand,
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And tell to me what I shall ask,
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say on, quoth Lancelot tho,
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Thou art, quoth Tarquin, the best Knight
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that ever I did know.
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And like a Knight that I did hate,
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so that thou be not he,
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I will deliver all the rest,
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and eke accord with thee.
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That is well said, quoth Lancelot then,
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but sith it so must be,
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What is the Knight thou hatest so?
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I pray thee shew to me:
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His name is Sir Lancelot du Lake,
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he slew my Brother dear,
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Him I suspect of all the rest,
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I would I had him here.
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Thy wish thou hast, but now unknown,
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I am Lancelot du Lake,
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Now of King Arthurs table round,
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King Hands Son of Benwake:
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And I defie thee do thy worst,
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ha, ha, quoth Tarquin tho,
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One of us two shall end our lives,
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before that we do go.
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If thou be Lancelot du Lake,
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then welcome shalt thou be,
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Wherefore see thou thy self defend,
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for now I do thee defie.
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They hurled then together fast,
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like two wild Boards so rashing,
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And with their Swords & Shields they ran
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at one another slashing.
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The ground besprinkled was with blood.
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Tarquin began to faint,
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For he had backt and bore his Shield,
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so low he did repent:
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Which soon espy'd Lancelot tho,
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he leapt upon him then,
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He pull'd him down upon his knee,
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and rushed off his Helm:
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And then he struck his Neck in two,
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and when he had done so,
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From prison threescore Knights and four,
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Lancelot delivered tho.
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