A New Song to drive away cold Winter,
Between Robin Hood and the Jovial Tinker.
How Robin by a wile, the Tinker he did cheat,
But at the length, as you shall hear, the Tinker did him beat:
Where by the same, they did then agree,
And after livd in love and unity.
The Tune is, In Summer time.
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IN summer time when leaves grow green,
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down, a down, a down;
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And Birds singing on every Tree,
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hey down, down a down,
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Robin Hood went to Nottingham,
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down a, down a, down,
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As fast as he could dree,
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hey down a, down a, down.
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And as he came to Nottingham,
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a Tinker he did meet:
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And seeing him a lusty Blade,
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he did him kindly greet.
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Where dost thou live, quod Robin Hood,
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I pray thee now me tell,
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Sad News I hear there is abroad,
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I fear all is not well.
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What is that news, the Tinker said,
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tell me without delay:
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I am a Tinker by my Trade,
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and do live at Banburay.
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As for the news, quoth Robin Hood,
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it is but as I hear,
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Two Tinkers they were set ith Stocks,
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for drinking Ale and Beer.
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If that be all, the Tinker said,
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as I may say to you,
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Your news it is not worth a Fart,
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since that they all be true.
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For drinking of good Ale and Beer,
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you will not lose your part:
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No by my faith, quoth Robin Hood,
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I love it with all my heart.
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What news abroad, quoth Robin Hood,
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tell me what thou dost hear:
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Being thou goest from town to town,
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some news thou need not fear.
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All the news, the Tinker said,
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I hear, it is for good:
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It is to seek a bold Out-law,
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which they call Robin Hood.
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I have a Warrant from the King,
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to take him where I can,
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If you can tell me where he is,
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I will make you a Man.
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The King would give an hundred pound,
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that he could but him see:
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And if we can but now him get,
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it will serve you and me.
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Let me see that Warrant, said Robin Hood,
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Ile see if it be right,
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And I will do the best I can,
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for to take him this night.
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That will I not, the Tinker said,
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none with it I will trust,
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And where he is, if youl not tell,
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take him by force I must.
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But Robin Hood perceiving well,
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down, a down, a down,
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How then the game would go,
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hey down, a down, a down,
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If you will go to Nottingham,
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down, a down, a down,
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We shall find him I know,
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hey down, a down, a down.
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The Second Part, To the same Tune.
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THe Tinker had a Crab-tree staff,
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down, a down, a down,
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Which was both good and strong,
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hey down, a down, a down,
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Robin he had a good strong Blade,
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down, a down, a down,
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So they went both along,
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hey down, a down, a down.
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And when they came to Nottingham,
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then they both took an Inn,
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And there they calld for Ale and Wine,
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to drink it was no sin.
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But Ale and Wine they drank so fast,
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that the Tinker he forgot,
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What thing he was about to do,
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it fell so to his lot.
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That while the Tinker fell asleep,
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he made then haste away,
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And left the Tinker in the lurch,
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for the great shot to pay.
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But when the Tinker wakened,
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and saw that he was gone:
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He called then even for his Host,
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and thus he made his moan.
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I had a Warrant from the King,
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which might have done me good,
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That is to seek a bold Out-law,
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some call him Robin Hood.
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But now my Warrant and moneys gone,
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nothing I have to pay:
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And he that promisd to be my friend,
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he is gone and fled away.
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That Friend you tell on, said his Host,
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they call him Robin Hood,
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And when that first he met with you,
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he meant you little good.
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Had I known it had been he,
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when that I had him here:
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Thone of us should have tryd our strength
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which should have paid full dear.
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In the mean time I was away,
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no longer here Ile bide:
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But I will go and seek him out,
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whatever do betide.
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But one thing I would gladly know,
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what here I have to pay:
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Ten shillings just, then said the Host,
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Ile pay without delay.
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Or else take here my working-bag,
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and my good Hammer too:
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And if I light but on that Knave,
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I will then soon pay you.
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The only way, then said the Host,
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and not to stand in fear:
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Is to seek him among the Parks,
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killing of the Kings Deer.
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The Tinker he then went with speed,
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and made then no delay:
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Till he had then found Robin Hood,
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that they might have a fray.
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At last he spyd him in a Park,
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hunting then of the Deer:
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What Knave is that, quoth Robin Hood,
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that doth come me so near.
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No Knave, no Knave, the Tinker said,
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and that you soon shall know,
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Whether of us hath done most wrong,
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my Crab-tree staff shall show.
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Then Robin drew his gallant Blade,
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made then of trusty steel:
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But the Tinker he laid on so fast,
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that he made Robin reel.
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Then Robins anger did arise,
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he Fought full manfully:
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Until he had made the Tinker,
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almost then fit to flye.
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With that they had a bout again,
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they plyd their Weapons fast:
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The Tinker threshed his bones so sore,
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that he made him yield at last.
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A boon, a boon, Robin he cries,
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if thou wilt grant it me:
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Before I do it the Tinker said,
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Ile hang thee on this Tree.
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But the Tinker looking him about,
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Robin his Horn did blow,
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Then came unto him Little John,
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and Will Scadlock too.
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What is the matter, quoth Little John,
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you sit in the High-way side?
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Here is a Tinker that stands by,
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that hath paid well my hide.
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That Tinker, then said little John,
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fain that Blade I would see,
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And I would try what I could do,
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if hel do as much for me.
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But Robin he then wisht them both,
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they would the quarrel cease,
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That henceforth we may live as one,
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and ever live in peace.
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And for the jovial Tinkers part,
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a hundred pound Ile give,
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In th Year to maintain him on,
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as long as he doth live.
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In Man-hood he is a mettle-man,
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and a mettle-man by Trade,
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I never thought that any man,
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should have made me so afraid.
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And if he will be one with us,
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we will take all one fare:
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And whatsoever we do get,
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he shall have his full share.
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So the Tinker was content,
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down, a down, a down,
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With them to go along:
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hey down, a down, a down,
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And with them a part to take,
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down, a down, a down,
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And so I end my Song,
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hey down, a down, a down.
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