But Robin Hood perceiving well
How then the game would go,
"If you would go to Nottingham,55
We shall find him I know."
The tinker had a crab-tree staff,
Which was both good and strong;
Robin hee had a good strong blade,
So they went both along.60
And when they came to Nottingham,
There they both tooke their inn;
And there they called for ale and wine,
To drink it was no sin.
But ale and wine they drank so fast,65
That the tinker hee forgot
What thing he was about to do;
It fell so to his lot,
That while the tinker fell asleep,
Robin made then haste away,70
And left the tinker in the lurch,
For the great shot to pay.
But when the tinker wakenèd,
And saw that he was gone,
He call'd then even for his host,75
And thus he made his moan:
"I had a warrant from the king.
Which might have done me good,
That is to take a bold outlaw,
Some call him Robin Hood.80
"But now my warrant and mony's gone,
Nothing I have to pay;
But he that promis'd to be my friend,
He is gone and fled away."
"That friend you tell on," said the host,85
"They call him Robin Hood;
And when that first hee met with you,
He ment you little good."
"Had I but known it had been hee,
"When that I had him here,90
Th' one of us should have tri'd our might
Which should have paid full dear.