126ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNER

a.Wood, 401, leaf 9 b.

b.Garland of 1663, No 10.

c.Garland of 1670, No 9.

d.Pepys, II, 111, No 98.

Printed in Old Ballads, 1723, I, 83.

awas printed by Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 30. Evans has an indifferent copy, probably edited, in his Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 112.

Arthur a Bland, a Nottingham tanner, goes of a summer’s morning into Sherwood forest to see the red deer. Robin Hood pretends to be a keeper and to see cause for staying the Tanner. The Tanner says it will take more than one such to make him stand. They have a two hours’ fight with staves, when Robin cries Hold! The Tanner henceforth shall be free of the forest, and if he will come and live there with Robin Hood shall have both gold and fee. Arthur a Bland gives his hand never to part from Robin, and asks for Little John, whom he declares to be his kinsman. Robin Hood blows his horn. Little John comes at the call, and, learning what has been going on, would like to try a bout with the Tanner, but after a little explanation throws himself upon his kinsman’s neck. The three take hands for a dance round the oak-tree.

The sturdy Arthur a Bland is well hit off, and, bating the sixteenth and thirty-fifth stanzas, the ballad has a good popular ring. There is corruption at 83, 123, and perhaps 133.

Little John offers to fight with the Tinker in No 127, and again with the Stranger in No 128, as here with the Tanner, and is forbidden, as here, by his master. In R. H. and the Shepherd, No 135, he undertakes the Shepherd after Robin has owned himself conquered, and the fight is stopped after John has received some sturdy blows. In the Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood, No 132, John begins and Robin follows, and each in turn cries, Pedlar, pray hold your hand. In R. H. and the Potter, No 121, John is ready to bet on the Potter, because he has already had strokes from him which he has reason to remember.

As the Tanner is John’s cousin, so, in Robin Hood Revived, No 128, the Stranger turns out to be Robin Hood’s nephew, Young Gamwell, thenceforward called Scathlock; and in No 132 the Bold Pedlar proves to be Gamble Gold, Robin’s cousin.

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 117.

1In Nottingham there lives a jolly tanner,With a hey down down a down downHis name is Arthur a Bland;There is nere a squire in NottinghamshireDare bid bold Arthur stand.2With a long pike-staff upon his shoulder,So well he can clear his way;By two and by three he makes them to flee,For he hath no list to stay.3And as he went forth, in a summer’s morning,Into the forrest of merry Sherwood,To view the red deer, that range here and there,There met he with bold Robin Hood.4As soon as bold Robin Hood did him espy,He thought some sport he would make;Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,And thus to him he spake:5Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,That ranges so boldly here?In sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,That comes to steal our king’s deer.6For I am a keeper in this forrest;The king puts me in trustTo look to his deer, that range here and there,Therefore stay thee I must.7‘If thou beest a keeper in this forrest,And hast such a great command,Yet thou must have more partakers in store,Before thou make me to stand.’8‘Nay, I have no more partakers in store,Or any that I do need;But I have a staff of another oke graff,I know it will do the deed.’9‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,Nor all thine arrows to boot;If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’10‘Speak cleanly, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,‘And give better terms to me;Else I’le thee correct for thy neglect,And make thee more mannerly.’11‘Marry gep with a wenion!’ quoth Arthur a Bland,‘Art thou such a goodly man?I care not a fig for thy looking so big;Mend thou thyself where thou can.’12Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,He laid down his bow so long;He took up a staff of another oke graff,That was both stiff and strong.13‘I’le yield to thy weapon,’ said jolly Robin,‘Since thou wilt not yield to mine;For I have a staff of another oke graff,Not half a foot longer then thine.14‘But let me measure,’ said jolly Robin,‘Before we begin our fray;For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine,For that will be called foul play.’15‘I pass not for length,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘My staff is of oke so free;Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,And I hope it will knock down thee.’16Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;He gave him such a knock,Quickly and soon the blood came down,Before it was ten a clock.17Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,And gave him such a knock on the crown,That on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,The blood came trickling down.18Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,As soon as he saw his own blood;Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,As though he had been staking of wood.19And about, and about, and about they went,Like two wild bores in a chase;Striving to aim each other to maim,Leg, arm, or any other place.20And knock for knock they lustily dealt,Which held for two hours and more;That all the wood rang at every bang,They ply’d their work so sore.21‘Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin Hood,‘And let our quarrel fall;For here we may thresh our bones into mesh,And get no coyn at all.22‘And in the forrest of merry SherwoodHereafter thou shalt be free:’‘God-a-mercy for naught, my freedom I bought,I may thank my good staff, and not thee.’23‘What tradesman art thou?’ said jolly Robin,‘Good fellow, I prethee me show:And also me tell in what place thou dost dwel,For both these fain would I know.’24‘I am a tanner,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘In Nottingham long have I wrought;And if thou’lt come there, I vow and do swearI will tan thy hide for naught.’25‘God a mercy, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,‘Since thou art so kind to me;And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,I will do as much for thee.26‘But if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade,And live in green wood with me,My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the roodI will give thee both gold and fee.’27‘If thou be Robin Hood,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘As I think well thou art,Then here’s my hand, my name’s Arthur a Bland,We two will never depart.28‘But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John?Of him fain would I hear;For we are alide by the mothers side,And he is my kinsman near.’29Then Robin Hood blew on the beaugle horn,He blew full lowd and shrill,But quickly anon appeard Little John,Come tripping down a green hill.30‘O what is the matter?’ then said Little John,‘Master, I pray you tell;Why do you stand with your staff in your hand?I fear all is not well.’31‘O man, I do stand, and he makes me to stand,The tanner that stands thee beside;He is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,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,For his name is Arthur a Bland.’34Then Little John threw his staff away,As far as he could it fling,And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,And about his neck did cling.35With loving respect, there was no neglect,They were neither nice nor coy,Each other did face, with a lovely grace,And both did weep for joy.36Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,And danc’d round about the oke tree;‘For three merry men, and three merry men,And three merry men we be.37‘And ever hereafter, as long as I live,We three will be all one;The wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.’

1In Nottingham there lives a jolly tanner,With a hey down down a down downHis name is Arthur a Bland;There is nere a squire in NottinghamshireDare bid bold Arthur stand.

In Nottingham there lives a jolly tanner,

With a hey down down a down down

His name is Arthur a Bland;

There is nere a squire in Nottinghamshire

Dare bid bold Arthur stand.

2With a long pike-staff upon his shoulder,So well he can clear his way;By two and by three he makes them to flee,For he hath no list to stay.

With a long pike-staff upon his shoulder,

So well he can clear his way;

By two and by three he makes them to flee,

For he hath no list to stay.

3And as he went forth, in a summer’s morning,Into the forrest of merry Sherwood,To view the red deer, that range here and there,There met he with bold Robin Hood.

And as he went forth, in a summer’s morning,

Into the forrest of merry Sherwood,

To view the red deer, that range here and there,

There met he with bold Robin Hood.

4As soon as bold Robin Hood did him espy,He thought some sport he would make;Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,And thus to him he spake:

As soon as bold Robin Hood did him espy,

He thought some sport he would make;

Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,

And thus to him he spake:

5Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,That ranges so boldly here?In sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,That comes to steal our king’s deer.

Why, what art thou, thou bold fellow,

That ranges so boldly here?

In sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,

That comes to steal our king’s deer.

6For I am a keeper in this forrest;The king puts me in trustTo look to his deer, that range here and there,Therefore stay thee I must.

For I am a keeper in this forrest;

The king puts me in trust

To look to his deer, that range here and there,

Therefore stay thee I must.

7‘If thou beest a keeper in this forrest,And hast such a great command,Yet thou must have more partakers in store,Before thou make me to stand.’

‘If thou beest a keeper in this forrest,

And hast such a great command,

Yet thou must have more partakers in store,

Before thou make me to stand.’

8‘Nay, I have no more partakers in store,Or any that I do need;But I have a staff of another oke graff,I know it will do the deed.’

‘Nay, I have no more partakers in store,

Or any that I do need;

But I have a staff of another oke graff,

I know it will do the deed.’

9‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,Nor all thine arrows to boot;If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’

‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,

Nor all thine arrows to boot;

If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,

Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’

10‘Speak cleanly, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,‘And give better terms to me;Else I’le thee correct for thy neglect,And make thee more mannerly.’

‘Speak cleanly, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,

‘And give better terms to me;

Else I’le thee correct for thy neglect,

And make thee more mannerly.’

11‘Marry gep with a wenion!’ quoth Arthur a Bland,‘Art thou such a goodly man?I care not a fig for thy looking so big;Mend thou thyself where thou can.’

‘Marry gep with a wenion!’ quoth Arthur a Bland,

‘Art thou such a goodly man?

I care not a fig for thy looking so big;

Mend thou thyself where thou can.’

12Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,He laid down his bow so long;He took up a staff of another oke graff,That was both stiff and strong.

Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,

He laid down his bow so long;

He took up a staff of another oke graff,

That was both stiff and strong.

13‘I’le yield to thy weapon,’ said jolly Robin,‘Since thou wilt not yield to mine;For I have a staff of another oke graff,Not half a foot longer then thine.

‘I’le yield to thy weapon,’ said jolly Robin,

‘Since thou wilt not yield to mine;

For I have a staff of another oke graff,

Not half a foot longer then thine.

14‘But let me measure,’ said jolly Robin,‘Before we begin our fray;For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine,For that will be called foul play.’

‘But let me measure,’ said jolly Robin,

‘Before we begin our fray;

For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine,

For that will be called foul play.’

15‘I pass not for length,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘My staff is of oke so free;Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,And I hope it will knock down thee.’

‘I pass not for length,’ bold Arthur reply’d,

‘My staff is of oke so free;

Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,

And I hope it will knock down thee.’

16Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;He gave him such a knock,Quickly and soon the blood came down,Before it was ten a clock.

Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;

He gave him such a knock,

Quickly and soon the blood came down,

Before it was ten a clock.

17Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,And gave him such a knock on the crown,That on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,The blood came trickling down.

Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,

And gave him such a knock on the crown,

That on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,

The blood came trickling down.

18Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,As soon as he saw his own blood;Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,As though he had been staking of wood.

Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,

As soon as he saw his own blood;

Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,

As though he had been staking of wood.

19And about, and about, and about they went,Like two wild bores in a chase;Striving to aim each other to maim,Leg, arm, or any other place.

And about, and about, and about they went,

Like two wild bores in a chase;

Striving to aim each other to maim,

Leg, arm, or any other place.

20And knock for knock they lustily dealt,Which held for two hours and more;That all the wood rang at every bang,They ply’d their work so sore.

And knock for knock they lustily dealt,

Which held for two hours and more;

That all the wood rang at every bang,

They ply’d their work so sore.

21‘Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,’ said Robin Hood,‘And let our quarrel fall;For here we may thresh our bones into mesh,And get no coyn at all.

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

‘And let our quarrel fall;

For here we may thresh our bones into mesh,

And get no coyn at all.

22‘And in the forrest of merry SherwoodHereafter thou shalt be free:’‘God-a-mercy for naught, my freedom I bought,I may thank my good staff, and not thee.’

‘And in the forrest of merry Sherwood

Hereafter thou shalt be free:’

‘God-a-mercy for naught, my freedom I bought,

I may thank my good staff, and not thee.’

23‘What tradesman art thou?’ said jolly Robin,‘Good fellow, I prethee me show:And also me tell in what place thou dost dwel,For both these fain would I know.’

‘What tradesman art thou?’ said jolly Robin,

‘Good fellow, I prethee me show:

And also me tell in what place thou dost dwel,

For both these fain would I know.’

24‘I am a tanner,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘In Nottingham long have I wrought;And if thou’lt come there, I vow and do swearI will tan thy hide for naught.’

‘I am a tanner,’ bold Arthur reply’d,

‘In Nottingham long have I wrought;

And if thou’lt come there, I vow and do swear

I will tan thy hide for naught.’

25‘God a mercy, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,‘Since thou art so kind to me;And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,I will do as much for thee.

‘God a mercy, good fellow,’ said jolly Robin,

‘Since thou art so kind to me;

And if thou wilt tan my hide for naught,

I will do as much for thee.

26‘But if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade,And live in green wood with me,My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the roodI will give thee both gold and fee.’

‘But if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade,

And live in green wood with me,

My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the rood

I will give thee both gold and fee.’

27‘If thou be Robin Hood,’ bold Arthur reply’d,‘As I think well thou art,Then here’s my hand, my name’s Arthur a Bland,We two will never depart.

‘If thou be Robin Hood,’ bold Arthur reply’d,

‘As I think well thou art,

Then here’s my hand, my name’s Arthur a Bland,

We two will never depart.

28‘But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John?Of him fain would I hear;For we are alide by the mothers side,And he is my kinsman near.’

‘But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John?

Of him fain would I hear;

For we are alide by the mothers side,

And he is my kinsman near.’

29Then Robin Hood blew on the beaugle horn,He blew full lowd and shrill,But quickly anon appeard Little John,Come tripping down a green hill.

Then Robin Hood blew on the beaugle horn,

He blew full lowd and shrill,

But quickly anon appeard Little John,

Come tripping down a green hill.

30‘O what is the matter?’ then said Little John,‘Master, I pray you tell;Why do you stand with your staff in your hand?I fear all is not well.’

‘O what is the matter?’ then said Little John,

‘Master, I pray you tell;

Why do you stand with your staff in your hand?

I fear all is not well.’

31‘O man, I do stand, and he makes me to stand,The tanner that stands thee beside;He is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,For soundly he hath tand my hide.’

‘O man, I do stand, and he makes me to stand,

The tanner that stands thee beside;

He is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,

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.’

‘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,For his name is Arthur a Bland.’

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

‘For as I do understand,

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

For his name is Arthur a Bland.’

34Then Little John threw his staff away,As far as he could it fling,And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,And about his neck did cling.

Then Little John threw his staff away,

As far as he could it fling,

And ran out of hand to Arthur a Bland,

And about his neck did cling.

35With loving respect, there was no neglect,They were neither nice nor coy,Each other did face, with a lovely grace,And both did weep for joy.

With loving respect, there was no neglect,

They were neither nice nor coy,

Each other did face, with a lovely grace,

And both did weep for joy.

36Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,And danc’d round about the oke tree;‘For three merry men, and three merry men,And three merry men we be.

Then Robin Hood took them both by the hand,

And danc’d round about the oke tree;

‘For three merry men, and three merry men,

And three merry men we be.

37‘And ever hereafter, as long as I live,We three will be all one;The wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.’

‘And ever hereafter, as long as I live,

We three will be all one;

The wood shall ring, and the old wife sing,

Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.’

Robin Hood and the Tanner, or, Robin Hood met with his match: A merry and pleasant song relating the gallant and fierce combate fought between Arthur Bland, a Tanner of Nottingham, and Robin Hood, the greatest and most noblest archer of England. The tune is, Robin and the Stranger.

Printed for W. Gilbertson. (1640–63:Chappell.)

32. merry Forrest of.

72. hath.

73. But.

93. the bare.

111. qd..

133. straff.

144.Wanting in my copy, probably by accidental omission: supplied fromb.

173. That from every side: Old Ballads, 1713,to restore the middle rhyme.

212. let your Quiver:cf.b,c,d.

213. thrash: to:cf.b.

224. goodwanting.

263. the wood:cf.d.

352. noice.

361. took him by:cf.d.

374. Kobin.

Title as ina.By the same printer asa. Burden sometimesWith hey,etc.

11. lives there.

12, 111, 273. Arthur Bland.

32. merry Forrest of.

62. he puts.

72. hath.

73. Yet.

74. Before that.

83, 123, 133. graft.

93. thy bare.

111. quoth.

131. I yield.

134. than.

143. towanting.

144. For that will be called foul play.

172. He gave.

173. Hoodswanting.

212. let our quarrel.

213. thresh: into.

224. my good.

232. pray thee.

243. thou come.

252. kinde and free.

263. the wood.

281. where’s.

292. bothforfull.

301. thenwanting.

333. thy.

344. he did.

361. took him by.

362. roundwanting.

371. so long.

Title as ina.Burden after21, With hey,etc.

12, 111, 273. Arthur Bland.

24. not.

32. merry Forrest of.

43. them to.

72. hath.

73. Yet you.

74. Before that.

83, 123, 133. graft.

93. thy bare.

111. qd..

131. I yield.

143. towanting.

144. For that will be called foul play.

163. blood ran.

172. He gave.

173. hair on Robins.

174. blood ran.

184. been cleaving wood.

201. deal.

204. so fast.

212. let our quarrel.

213. thresh: into.

224. my good.

243. thou come.

252. kind and free.

261. thou wilt.

263. the wood.

283. mother.

291. he blew.

292. bothforfull.

293. and anon.

303. yourwanting.

312. meforthee.

331. Hoodwanting.

333. thy blood.

344. he did.

354. they both.

361. took him by.

362. roundwanting.

371. And we: so long as we.

Title as ina,except: the greatest archer in London. Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–1682?)Burden sometimes, With hey,etc.

14. to stand.

31. on a.

32. forrest of merry.

41. Robin he did him.

44. he did spake.

54. the kings.

61. If thou beest a,caught from71.

72. hast.

73. Then thou.

74. makst.

82. Nor any: do not.

92. thy.

93. thou get a knock upon thy.

111. gip: wernion qd.

114. if thou.

122. And threw it upon the ground.

123. Says, I have a.

124. That is both strong and sound.

131. But let me measure, said.

143. I’le have mine no longer.

144. For that will be counted foul play.

161. Hoodwanting.

171. hewanting.

173. from every hair of.

181. ravedforraged.

183. he was.

184. stacking.

194. otherwanting.

202. forwanting.

212. let our quarrel.

213. thrash our bones to.

223. I’ve.

224. my good.

243. thou come.

261. thou wilt.

262. in the.

263. name is: rood.

291. on his.

292. bothforfull.

294. tripping over the hill.

302. you me.

303. the staff.

313. and a.

323. about.

333. thy.

352. They was.

371. we live.

372. all as (printedsa).

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