Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE JOLLY PINDER OF WAKEFIELD, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE JOLLY PINDER OF WAKEFIELD, by                    
First Line: In wakefield there lives a jolly pinder
Last Line: As my master doth by me
Subject(s): Robin Hood


In Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder,
In Wakefield all on a green,
In Wakefield, all on a green:
There is neither knight nor squire, said the pinder,
Nor baron that is so bold,
Nor baron that is so bold,
Dare make a trespass to the town of Wakefield,
But his pledge goes to the pinfold, &c.

All this be heard three witty young men,
'Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John;
With that they espy'd the jolly pinder,
As he sat under a thorn.

Now turn again, turn again, said the pinder,
For a wrong way you have gone;
For you have forsaken the kings highway,
And made a path over the corn.

O that were a 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 against a stone,
And there he fought a long summers day,
A summers day so long,
Till that their swords on their broad bucklers
Were broke fast into their hands.

Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said bold Robin Hood,
And my merry men every one;
For this is one of the best pinders,
That I ever tried with sword.

And wilt thou forsake thy pinders craft,
And live in the green-wood with me?
'At Michaelmas next my cov'nant comes out,
When every man gathers his fee;

Then 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.
And that is meat good enough, said Robin Hood,
For such unbidden 'guests.'

'O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,
And go to the green-wood without me?
Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,
The one green, the other brown.'

If Michaelmas day was come and gone,
And my master paid me my fee,
Then would I set as little by him
As my master doth by me.






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