“But,” said Tom, “you will give me better words for it, and you must be better armed.”
“Come, come,” said they, “we do not come here to parley, but we come for money, and money we will have before we stir from this place.”
“Ay!” said Tom. “Is it so? Then get it and take it.”
So then one of them made at him, but he presently unarmed him and took away his sword, which was made of good trusty steel, and smote so hard at the others that they began to put spurs to their horses and be-gone. But he soon stayed their journey, for one of them having a portmanteau behind him, Tom, supposing there was money in it, fought with a great deal of more courage than before, till at last he killed two of the four, and the other two he wounded very sore so that they cried out for quarter. With much ado he gave them their lives, but took all their money, which was about two hundred pounds, to bear his expenses home. Now when Tom came home he told them how he had served the football-players and the four highwaymen, which caused a laughter from his old mother. Then, refreshing himself, he went to see how all things were, and what his men had done since he went from home.
Then going into his forest, he walked up and down, and at last met with a lusty tinker that had a good staff on his shoulder, and a great dog to carry his leather bag and tools of work. Tom asked the tinker from whence he came, and whither he was going, for that was no highway. The tinker, being a sturdy fellow, bid him go look, and what was that to him, for fools would be meddling.
“No,” says Tom, “but I’ll make you know, before you and I part, it is me.”
“Ay!” said the tinker, “I have been this three long years, and have had no combat with any man, and none durst make me an answer. I think they be all cowards in this country, except it be a man who is called Thomas Hickathrift who killed a giant. Him I would fain see to have one combat with him.”
“Ay!” said Tom, “but, methinks, I might be master in your mouth. I am the man: what have you to say to me?”
“Why,” said the tinker, “verily, I am glad we have met so happily together, that we may have one single combat.”
“Sure,” said Tom, “you do but jest?”