Calico Classics Illustrated: Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Dusty was the highway and dusty the throat of the messenger His heart was glad when he saw the Sign of the Blue Boar Inn He saw a party of jovial fellows beneath a spreading oak There was a tinker two barefoot friars and six of the King’s foresters Come join us cried one of the foresters to the tired messenger The messenger was glad enough to sit down for his limbs were weary and the ale was good What news bears you so fast asked one Where do you ride today The messenger was a chatty soul and he told his news The jolly tinker said By my own name Wat o the Crabstaff I will meet this rogue Robin Hood Having paid their bill the messenger and the tinker started back to Nottingham One bright morning soon after this Robin Hood started off to Nottingham to fi nd what was a-doing there As he walked down a shady 10
lane he saw a tinker coming On the tinker’s back hung his bag and his hammer In his hand he carried a crabstaff a full six feet long Tell me your news good friend said Robin Hood Tinkers I know are all as full of news as an egg of meat I come to seek a bold outlaw called Robin Hood Perhaps you know him yourself my good fellow said the Tinker That I do somewhat I have seen him this very morn You had better watch your arrest warrant or else he may steal it out of your very pouch Let him but try cried the Tinker He made his heavy cudgel to spin Here we are at the Sign of the Blue Boar Let us taste his brown October ale Robin suggested The host knew well how to keep a still tongue in his head Robin Hood and his band were the best of customers So when Robin 11
Hood and the Tinker came in none would have known the host had ever set eyes upon the outlaw before Stay you here said Robin to the Tinker I will go see that our host draws ale from the right cask He went and whispered to the host to add a measure of Flemish strong waters to the Tinker’s ale The host did and brought it to them I will give you a song my lovely fellow for I never tasted such ale in all my days said the Tinker He sang an ancient ballad of good King Arthur But before the Tinker came to the last verse his tongue began to trip and his head to spin At last he fell asleep Then Robin Hood quickly took the warrant from the Tinker’s pouch and left The Tinker slept until afternoon drew to a close He thrust his hand into his pouch but the warrant and his money were gone Ho landlord cried he Where has the knave gone that was with me 12
I swear no man would dare call that man knave so close to Sherwood Forest said the landlord When I catch that rascal he shall pay The Tinker strode away toward the forest Now it happened that Robin Hood was going through the forest to Fosse Way As he walked up a forest path down another path came the Tinker like an angry bull At a sudden bend they met face to face Hello my sweet bird said Robin laughing merrily The Tinker spat on his hands grasped his staff and came straight at Robin He struck two or three blows but found he had met his match Robin gave him a rap in the ribs The Tinker grew more angry and swung with all his might Robin warded off the blows but his staff broke Clapping his horn to his lips he gave three blasts 13
