Robin Hood and the Tanner.
Or, Robin Hood met with his match: A merry and pleasant Song, relating the gallant
and fierce Combate, fought between Arthur Bland a Tanner of Nottingham, and Robin
Hood, the greatest Archer in England. Tune is, Robin Hood and the Stranger.
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IN Nottingham there lives a jolly Tanner,
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with hey down down a down down,
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his name is Arthur a Bland.
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There is ne'r a Squire in Nottingham-shire,
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dare bid bold Arthur to stand.
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With a long Pike-staff upon his shoulder,
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with a hey, etc.
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so well he can clear his way;
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By two and by three he makes them to flee,
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for he hath no list to stay.
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And as he went forth on a Summers morning,
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with hey,
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into the Forrest of merry Sherwood,
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To view the red Deer that range here and there,
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there met he with bold Robin Hood.
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As soon as bold Robin Hood de did him espy,
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with hey, etc.
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he thought some sport he would make,
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Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,
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and thus to him he did spake,
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Why what art thou bold fellow,
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with hey, etc.
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that ranges so boldly here?
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Insooth to be brief thou look'st like a theif
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that comes to steal the Kings Dear:
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If thou beest a keeper in this Forrest;
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with hey, etc.
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the King puts me in trust,
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To look to his Deer that range here and there,
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therefore stay thee I must.
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If thou beest a keeper in this Forrest;
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with hey, etc.
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and hast such a great command;
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Then thou must have more partakers in store,
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before thou makst me to stand.
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Nay, I have no more partakers in store,
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with hey, etc.
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nor any that I do need?
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But I have a Staff of an other Oak graff
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I know it will do the deed.
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For thy sword and thy Bow I care not a straw,
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with hey, etc.
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nor all thy Arrows to boot:
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If thou get a knock upon thy bare scop,
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thou canst as well shite as shoot.
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Speak cleanly, speak cleanly, said jolly Robin,
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with hey, etc.
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and give better terms to me,
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Else i'le thee correct for thy neglect,
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and make thee more mannerly.
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Marry gip with a wer nion, quod Arthur a Bland,
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with a hey, etc.
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art thou such a goodly man?
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I care not a fig for thy looking so big,
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mend thou thy self if thou can.
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Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,
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with a hey, etc.
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and threw it upon the ground:
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Says I have a staff of another Oak graff
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that is both strong and sound
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But let me measure, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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since thou wilt not yield to mine:
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For I have a staff of another Oak graff,
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not half a foot longer then thine,
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But let me measure, said jolly Robin,
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with hey, etc.
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before we begin our fray:
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For i'le have mine no longer then thine,
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for that will be counted foul play:
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I Pass not for length bold Arthur reply'd,
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with a hey down down adown down,
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my Staff is of Oak so free:
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Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a Calf,
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and I hope it will knock down thee.
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Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear,
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with a hey, etc
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he gave him such a knock:
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Quickly and soon the blood came down,
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before it was ten a clock.
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Then Arthur soon recovered himself,
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with a hey, etc.
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and gave him such a knock on the Crown
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That from every hair of bold Robins head,
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the blood came trickling down.
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Then Robin Hood raved like a wild Boar,
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with a hey, etc.
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as soon as he saw his own blood:
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Then Bland he was in a hast, he laid on so fast,
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as though he had been stacking of wood.
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And about and about, & about they went,
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with a hey, etc.
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like two wilde Boars in a Chase:
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Striving to aim each other to maim,
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Leg, Arm, or any place.
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And knock for knock they lustily dealt,
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with a hey, etc.
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which held two hours and more:
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That all the wood rang at every bang,
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they ply'd their work so sore.
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Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
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with a hey, etc.
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and let our quarrel fall:
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For here we may thrash our bones to mash,
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and get no Coyn at all.
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And in the Forrest of merry Sherwood,
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with hey, etc.
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hereafter thou shalt be free:
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God-a-mercy for nought, my freedom I've bought
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I may thank my good staff and not thee
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What tradesman art thou, said jolly Robin
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with a hey, etc.
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good fellow I prethee me show:
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And also me tell in what place thou dost dwell,
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for both these fain would I know.
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I am a Tanner bold Arthur reply'd,
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with a hey. etc.
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in Nottingham long have I wrought:
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And if thou come there, I vow and do swear,
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I will tan thy hide for nought:
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God-a-mercy good fellow, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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since thou art so kind to me:
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And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,
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I will do as much for thee.
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But if thou wilt forsake thy Tanners Trade,
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with a hey, etc.
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and live in the green Wood with me:
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My name is Robin Hood, I swear by the wood,
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I will give thee both gold and fee.
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If thou be Robin Hood, bold Arthur reply'd,
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with a hey, etc.
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as I think well thou art:
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Then here's my hand my names Arthur Bland
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we two will never depart.
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But tell me O tell me, where is little John
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with a hey, etc.
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of him fain would I hear:
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For we are ally'd by the mothers side,
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and he is my kinsman near.
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Then Robin Hood blew on his bugle horn,
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with a hey, etc.
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he blew both loud and shrill:
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But quickly anon appear'd little john,
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come tripping over the hill.
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O what is the matter then said little john
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with a hey, etc.
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Master I pray you me tell:
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Why do you stand with the staff in your hand
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I fear all is not well.
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O man I do stand and he makes me to stand
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with a hey, etc.
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the Tanner that stands thee beside
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He is a bonny blade and a Master of his Trade,
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for soundly he hath tan'd my hide.
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He is to be commended then said little john,
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with a hey, etc.
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if such a feat he can do,
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If he be so stout we will have about,
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and he shall tan my hide too.
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Hold thy hand hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
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with a hey, etc.
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for as I do understand,
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He is a Yeoman good, and of thy own blood,
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for his name is Arthur a Bland.
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Then little john threw his staff away,
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with a hey, etc.
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as far as he could it fling:
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And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,
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and about his neck did cling.
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With loving respect, there was no neglect,
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with a hey, etc.
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they was neither nice nor coy:
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Each other did face with a lovely grace,
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and both did weep for joy.
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Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,
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with a hey, etc.
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and danc'd about the Oak tree:
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For three merry men and three merry men,
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and three merry men we be.
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And ever hereafter as long as we live;
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with a hey, etc.
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we three will be all sa one,
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The Wood shall ring, and the old Wife sing,
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of Roin Hood, Arthur and John.
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FINIS.
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