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Robin Hood and the Tinker
Asforminehost,heknewhowtokeepastilltongueinhishead,andtoswallowhiswordsbeforetheypassedhisteeth,forheknewverywellwhichsideofhisbreadwasspreadwithbutter,forRobinandhisbandwerethebestofcustomersandpaidtheirscoreswithouthavingthemchalkedupbehindthedoor.Sonow,whenRobinHoodandtheTinkercametheretoandcalledaloudfortwogreatpotsofale,nonewouldhaveknownfromlookorspeechthatthehosthadeverseteyesupontheoutlawbefore.
"Bidethouhere,"quothRobintotheTinker,"whileIgoandseethatminehostdrawethalefromtherightbutt,forhehathgoodOctober,Iknow,andthatbrewedbyWitholdofTamworth."Sosaying,hewentwithinandwhisperedtothehosttoaddameasureofFlemishstrongwaterstothegoodEnglishale;whichthelatterdidandbroughtittothem.
"ByOurLady,"saidtheTinker,afteralongdraughtoftheale,"yonsameWitholdofTamworth—arightgoodSaxonname,too,Iwouldhavetheeknow—breweththemosthummingalethate’erpassedthelipsofWato’theCrabstaff."
"Drink,man,drink,"criedRobin,onlywettinghisownlipsmeanwhile."Ho,landlord!Bringmyfriendanotherpotofthesame.Andnowforasong,myjollyblade."
"Ay,thatwillIgivetheeasong,mylovelyfellow,"quoththeTinker,"forInevertastedsuchaleinallmydaysbefore.ByOurLady,itdothmakemyheadhumevennow!Hey,DameHostess,comelisten,anthouwouldsthearasong,andthoutoo,thoubonnylass,forneversingIsowellaswhenbrighteyesdolookuponmethewhile."
ThenhesanganancientballadofthetimeofgoodKingArthur,called"TheMarriageofSirGawaine,"whichyoumaysometimereadyourself,instoutEnglishofearlytimes;andashesang,alllistenedtothatnobletaleofnobleknightandhissacrificetohisking.
