Robin Hood and the Shepherd.
Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John, and the
Shepherd, fought a sore COMBAT.
Tune, Robin Hood & Queen Catherine
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ALL Gentlemen and Yeomen good,
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Down, a down, a down,
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I wish you to draw near;
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For a story of bold Robin Hood
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Unto you I will declcare;
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Down, a down, a down.
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As Robin Hood walkd the Forrest along
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some Pastime for to spy,
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There was he aware of a jolly Shepherd,
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that on the ground did lie.
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Arise, arise, said jolly Robin,
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and now come let me see
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What is in thy Bag and thy Bottle, I say,
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come, tell it unto me.
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Whats that to thee, thou proud Fellow
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tell me as I do stand,
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What hast thou to do with my bottle and Bag
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let me see at thy command
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My Sword that hangeth by my Side
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is my command I know,
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Come let me taste of thy Bottle
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or it may bleed thee Woe
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The Devil a Drop, thou proud Fellow
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of my Bottle thou shalt see
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Until thy Valour here be tryd
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whether thou wilt fight or flee.
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What shall we fight for? said Robbin Hood
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come quickly tell it unto me:
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Heres twenty Pounds in good red Gold
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win it, and take it thee.
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The Shepherd stood all in amaze,
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and knew not what to say
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I have no Money thou proud Fellow
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but Bottle and Bag Ill lay
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I am cont[e]nt, thou Shepherd Swain
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fling them down on the Ground,
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But it will breeh thee mickle Pain
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to win my twenty Pound.
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Come draw thy Sword, thou proud Fellow
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thou standest too long to prate,
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This Hook of mine shall let thee know
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a Coward I do hate,
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So they fell to it full hard and sore
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it was on a Summers Day
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From Ten till Four in the Afternoon
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the Shepherd held him in Play
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Robins Buckler proved his chief Defence
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and saved him many a bang;
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For every Blow the Shepherd gave,
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made Robins sword cry Twang.
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Many a sturdy blow the Shepherd gave,
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and that bold Robin found;
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Til the Blood ran trickling from his Head
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then he fell to the Ground,
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[A]rise, arise, thou proud Fellow,
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and thou shalt have fair play,
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If thou wilt yield before thou go,
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that I have won the Day.
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A Boon, a Boon, cryd bold Robin,
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if that a Man thou be,
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Then let me take my bugle Horn,
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and blow out Blasts three.
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Then said the Shepherd to bold Robin,
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To that I will agree!
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For if thou shouldst blow till to morrow Morn
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I scorn one Foot to flee.
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Then Robin he set his Horn to his Mouth,
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and he blew with Might and Main,
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Until he espied Little John,
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come tripping over the Plain.
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Who is yonder, thou proud Fellow,
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that comes down yonder Hill?
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Yonder is John, bold Robin Hoods Man,
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shall fighat thee with thy Fill.
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What is the Matter, said Little John,
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Master, come tell unto me
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My Case is bad, said Robin Hood,
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for the Shepherd hath conquerd me.
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I am glad of that, cries Little John,
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Shepherd, turnt thou to me,
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For a Bout with thee I mean to heave,
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either come fight or flee:
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With all may Heart, thou proud Fellow,
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for it shall never be said,
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That a Shepherds Hook at thy sturdy Look,
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Will one Jot be dismayd.
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So they fell to it full hard and sore,
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striving for Victory:
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I Will know (says John) ere we give or,
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whether thou wilt fight or flee.
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The Shepherd gave John a sturdy Blow,
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With the Hook under his Chin,
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Beshrew thy Herat, said Little John,
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thou basely dost begin:
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Nay, that is nothing, said the Shepherd,
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either yield to me the Day,
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Or I will bang thy Back and Sides,
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before thou goest thy Way.
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What dost thou think, thou proud Fellow,
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that thou canst conquer me;
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Nay, thou shalt know before thou go,
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Ill fight before Ill flee.
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Again the Shepherd laid on him
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the Shepherd he begun
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Hold thy Hand, cryd jolly Robin
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I will yeild the Wager won.
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With all my Heart, said little John,
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to that I will agree
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For he is the Flower of Shepherds Swain
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the like I neer did see.
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Thus have you heard of Robin Hood
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also of little John
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How a Shepherd swain did conquer them
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the like was never known?
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