"In the mean time I will away,
No longer here Ile bide,
But I will go and seek him out,95
Whatever do me betide.
"But one thing I would gladly know,
What here I have to pay;"
"Ten shillings just," then said the host;
"Ile pay without delay;100
"Or elce take here my working-bag,
And my good hammer too;
And if that I light but on the knave.
I will then soon pay you."
"The onely way," then said the host,105
"And not to stand in fear,
Is to seek him among the parks,
Killing of the kings deer."
The tinker hee then went with speed,
And made then no delay,110
Till he had found bold Robin Hood,
That they might have a fray.
At last hee spy'd him in a park,
Hunting then of the deer;
"What knave is that," quoth Robin Hood,115
"That doth come mee so near?"
"No knave, no knave," the tinker said,
"And that you soon shall know;
"Whether of us hath done any wrong,
My crab-tree staff shall show."120
Then Robin drew his gallant blade,
Made then of trusty steel;
But the tinker he laid on so fast,
That he made Robin reel.
Then Robins anger did arise;125
He fought right manfully,
Until he had made the tinkèr
Almost then fit to fly.
With that they had a bout again,
They ply'd their weapons fast;130
The tinker threshed his bones so sore,
He made him yeeld at last.