THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD

There happened to be a pedlar bold,
A pedlar bold he happened to be;
He carried his pack all on his back,
And he came tripping over the hill.
Down a down a down a down
Down a down a down

By chance he met two troublesome blades,
Two troublesome blades they chanced to be;
The one of them was bold Robin Hood,
And the other was Little John so free.

"O pedlar, pedlar, what is in your pack?
Come speedily and tell me:"
"I have several suits made of gay green silks,
And silken bow-strings two or three."

"If you have several suits of the gay green silk,
And silken bow-strings two or three,
Then it's by force," cried Little John,
"One half your pack shall belong to me."

"Oh no, oh no," says the pedlar bold,
"Oh no, oh no, that never can be;
For there's never a man from fair Nottingham
Can take one half my pack from me."

Then the pedlar he pulled off his pack,
And he put it a little below his knee,
Saying, "If you do move my pack one inch from this,
My pack and all shall go with you."

Then Little John he drew his sword,
The pedlar by his pack did stand;
They fought until they both did sweat,
Till he cried, "Pedlar, pray hold your hand!"

Then Robin Hood he was standing by,
And he did laugh most heartily;
Saying, "I could find an even shorter man
That could thrash the pedlar and also you."

"Go and try, master," says Little John,
"Go and try, master, most speedily,
Or by my body," says Little John,
"I am sure this night you will not know me,"

Then Robin Hood he drew his sword,
And the pedlar by his pack did stand;
They fought till the blood in streams did flow,
Till he cried, "Pedlar, pray hold your hand!

Pedlar, pedlar, what is thy name?
Come speedily and tell to me:"
"My name! my name I never will tell,
Till both your names you have told to me."

"The one of us is bold Robin Hood,
And the other Little John so free:"
"Now," says the pedlar, "it is up to my good will,
Whether my name I chose to tell to you.

"I am Gamble Gold of the gay green woods,
And have travelled far beyond the sea;
For killing a man in my father's land
From my country I was forced to flee."

"If you are Gamble Gold of the gay green woods,
And travelled far beyond the sea,
You are my mother's own sister's son;
What nearer cousins then can we be?"

They sheathed their swords with friendly words,
So merrily they did agree;
They went to a tavern, and there they dined,
And bottles clinked most merrily.