For soundly he hath tand my hide.’

32

‘He is to be commended,’ then said Little John,

‘If such a feat he can do;

If he be so stout, we will have a bout,

And he shall tan my hide too.’

33

‘Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin Hood,

‘For as I do understand,

He’s a yeoman good, and of thine own blood,