  In Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder, In Wakefield, all on a green; 'There is neither knight nor squire,' said the pinder, 'Nor baron that is so bold, Dare make a trespasse to the town of Wakefield, But his pledge goes to the pinfold.' 'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John; With that they spied the jolly pinder, As he sate under a thorn. 'Now turn again, turn again,' said the pinder, 'For a wrong way have you gone; For you have forsaken the king his highway, And made a path over the corn.' 'Oh, that were great shame,' said jolly Robin, 'We being three, and thou but one': The pinder leapt back then thirty good foot, 'Twas thirty good foot and one. He leaned his back fast unto a thorn, And his foot unto a stone, And there he fought a long summer's day, A summer's day so long, Till that their swords, on their broad bucklers, Were broken fast unto their hands. * * * * * * 'Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,' said Robin Hood, 'And my merry men every one; For this is one of the best pinders That ever I try'd with sword. 'And wilt thou forsake thy pinder his craft, And live in the green wood with me?' * * * * * * 'At Michaelmas next my covenant comes out, When every man gathers his fee; I'le take my blew blade all in my hand, And plod to the green wood with thee.' 'Hast thou either meat or drink,' said Robin Hood, 'For my merry men and me?' * * * * * * 'I have both bread and beef,' said the pinder, 'And good ale of the best'; 'For such unbidden guest. 'O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft And go to the green wood with me? Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, The one green, the other brown shall be.' 'If Michaelmas day were once come and gone, And my master had paid me my fee, Then would I set as little by him As my master doth set by me.' |
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