Robin H[oods] garlan[d.] Containing his merry exploits, and the several fights which he, Little John, and Will. Scarlet had, upon several occasions. Some of them never before printed. Entred according to order.

Robin Hood and the Tanner: Or, Robin Hood met with his match. A merry and pleasant Song, relating the gal∣lant and fierce Combate fought between Arthur Bland a Tanner of Nottingham, and Robin Hood the greatest and most no∣blest Archer of England.

The Tune is, Robin Hood and the Stranger.

IN Nottingham there lives a jolly Tinker, with a hey down, down a down down,

His name is Ar••hur a Bland, There is never a Squire in Nottinghamshire, dare bid bold Arthur stand.

With a long Pike-staff upon his shoulder, with a hey, &c. So well he can clear his way: By two and by three, he makes them to ••lee, for he hath no list to stay.

And as he went forth in a summers morning with a hey, &c. Into the Forrest of merry Sherwood, To view the red Deer, that range here & there, there met he with bold Robin hood.

As soon as hold Robin hood did him espy, with a hey, &c. He thought some s••ort he would make: Therefore out of hand he did him to stand, and thus unto him he spake.

Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow, with a hey, &c. That ranges so boldly here, In sooth to be brief, thou look'st like a thief, that comes to steal our Kings Deer.

For I am a Keeper in this Forrest,

with a hey, &c. The King puts me in trust, To look to his Deer, that range here and ther•• therefore stay thee I must.

If thou beest a Keeper in this Forrest, with a hey, &c. And hath such a great command, Yet thou must have more partakers in store, before that you make me stand.

No, I have no more partakers in store, with a hey, &c. Or any that I do need; But I have a staff of another Oak graft, I know it will do the deed.

For thy sword and thy bow, I care not a straw with a hey, &c. Nor all thine Arrows to boot, If thou get'st a knock, upon thy bare scop, you canst as well shite as shoot.

Speak cleanly, good fellow, said jolly Robin, with a hey, &c. And give better terms to me: Else i'le thee correct for thy neglect, and make thee more mannerly.

Marry gap with a wenion, qd. Arthur Bland, with a hey, &c. Art thou such a goodly man? I care not a fig for thy looking so big, mend thou thy self how thou can.

Then Robin hood he unbuckled his belt, with a hey, &c. And laid down his bow so long, He took up a Staff of another Oak-graft, that was both stiff and strong.

I yield to thy weapon, said jolly Robin, with a hey, &c. Since thou wilt not yield to mine, For I have a Staff of another Oak-graft, not half a foot longer then thine.

But let me measure, said jolly Robin, with a hey, &c. Before we begin our fray, For i'le not have mine to be longer then thine, for that will be counted foul play.

I pass not for length, bold Arthur replyed, with a hey, &c. My Staff is of Oak so free, Eight foot & a half, it will knock down a Calf, and I hope it will knock down thee.

Then Robin he could no longer forbear, with a hey, &c. He gave him such a knock, Quickly and soon the blood ran down, before it was ten a clock.

Then Arthur he soon recovered himself, with a hey, &c. And gave him such a knock on the crown, That from every hair on Robins head, the blood it ran trickling down.

Then Robin hood raged like a wild Boar, with a hey, &c. As soon as he saw his own blood, Then Bland was in hast he laid on so fast, as though he had been cleaving of wood.

And about, and about, and about they went, with a hey, &c. Like two wild Boars in a chase, Striving to aim, each other to maim, leg, arm, or any other place.

And knock for knock they lustily dealt, with a hey, &c. Which held for two hours and more, That all the wood rang at every bang, they ply'd their work so sore.

But if thou wilt forsake thy Tanners trade, with a hey, &c. And live in green Wood with me, My Name's Robin hood, I swear by the wood I will give thee both gold and fee.

If thou be Robin hood, bold Arthur reply'd, with a hey, &c. As I think well thou art, then here's my hand, my names Arthur Bland we two will never depart.

But tell me, O tell me, where is little Iohn, with a hey, &c. Of him fain would I hear, For we are ally'd by the Mothers side, and he is my Rinsman neer.

Then Robin hood he blew on the beagle horn with a hey, &c. He blew both loud and shrill, But quickly anon, appear'd little Iohn, come tripping down a green hill.

O what is the matter, then said little Iohn, with a hey, &c. Master I pray you tell, Why do you stand with your staff in hand, I fear all is not well.

Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin hood with a hey, &c. And let our quarrel fall, For here we may thresh our bones to mash, and get no coyn at all.

And in the Forrest of merry Sherwood, with a hey, &c. Hereafter thou shalt be free, Godamercy for nought, my freedom I bought I may thank my good staff, and not thee.

What trades-man art thou, said jolly Robin, with a hey, &c. Good fellow I prithee me show, And also me tell, in what place you do dwell, for both these fain would I know.

I am a Tanner bold Arthur reply'd, with a hey, &c. In Nottingham long have I wrought, And if thou come there, I vow and do swear, I will tan thy hide for naught.

Godamercy good-Fellow, said jolly Robin, with a hey, &c. Since thou art so kind and free, And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught, I will do as much for thee.

O man I do stand, and he makes me to stand, with a hey, &c. The Tanner that stands me beside, He is a bonny blade, and Master of his trade, for soundly he hath tan'd my hide.

He is to be commended, then said little John, with a hey, &c. If such a feat he can do: If he be so stout, we will have a bout, and he shall tan my hide too.

Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin hood with a hey, &c. For as I do understand, He's a Yeoman good, and of thine own blood for his name is Arthur a Bland.

Then little Iohn threw his staff away, with a hey, &c. As far as he could it fling: And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland, and about his neck did cling.

With loving respect, there was no neglect, with a hey, &c. They were neither nice nor coy, Each other did face with a lovely grace, they both did weep for joy.

Then Robin hood took him by the hand, with a hey, &c. And danced about the Oak-tree: For three merry men, and three merry men, and three merry men we be.

And ever hereafter so long as we live, with a hey, &c. We three will be all one: The wood it shall ring, and the old wife sing, of Robin hood, Arthur, and Iohn.