Robin Hood and the Tanner.
Or, Robin Hood met with his Match: A merry and pleasant Song. Relating the gallant and fierce
Combate between Arthur Bland, a Tanner of Nottingham, and Robin Hood the greatest Ar-
cher 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 a hey down down a down down,
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his name is Arthur a Bland,
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There is ne're 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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As he went forth on a Summers morning,
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with a hey, etc.
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in 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 he did him espy,
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with a 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 speak.
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Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,
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with a hey, etc.
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that ranges so boldly here,
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Insooth to be brief, thou look'st like a Thief,
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that comes to steal the Kings Deer.
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If thou beest a Keeper in this Forrest,
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with a 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 a 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 mak'st me to stand.
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Nay, I have no more partakers in store,
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with a hey, etc.
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nor any that I do need,
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But I have a Staff of another Oak-graff,
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I know it will do the deed:
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For thy sword & thy bow I care not a straw,
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with a hey, etc.
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nor all thy Arrows to boot,
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If thou get a knock upon the 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 a 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 winnion, 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 thyself where 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 than thine.
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But let me measure, said jolly Robin,
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with a hey, etc.
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before we begin our fray,
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For i'le not have mine no longer than 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, etc.
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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 recover'd 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 was in 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, and about they went,
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with a hey, etc.
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like two wild 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 a hey, etc.
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hereafter thou shalt be free,
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Gra-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 prithee 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 & do swear,
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I will tann 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 tann my Hide for nought,
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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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& live in the green woods 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 name's Arthur Bland
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we two will never part.
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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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And 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 your 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 master of his trade,
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for soundly he hath tann'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 a bout,
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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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and as far as he could it sling,
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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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& 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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& Danc't 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 as one,
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The wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,
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of Robin Hood, Arthur and John.
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