He leaned his back fast unto a thorn,
And his foot against a stone,
And there he fought a long summers day,
A summers day so long,
Till that their swords on their broad bucklèrs,25
Were broke fast into their hands.
"Hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said bold Robin Hood,
"And my merry men stand aside;
[For this is one of the best pindèrs,]
[That with sword ever I tryed.]30
"And wilt thou forsake thy pinders craft,
And go to the greenwood with me?
[Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,]
[Th' one greene, 'tither brown shall be."]
"At Michaelmas next my cov'nant comes out,35
When every man gathers his fee,
Then I'le take my blew blade all in my hand,
And plod to the green-wood with thee."
"Hast thou either meat or drink," said Robin Hood,
"For my merry men and me?"40
* * * * *
* * * * *
"I have both bread and beef," said the pinder,
"And good ale of the best:"
"And that is meat good enough," said Robin Hood,
For such unbidden 'guest.'
"O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,45
And go to the green-wood with me?
Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,
The one green, the other brown [shall be]."
"If Michaelmas day was come and gone,
And my master had paid me my fee,50
Then would I set as little by him,
As my master doth by me."
[9], witty young men. Ritson