"I pass not for length," bold Arthur reply'd,
   "My staff is of oke so free;
Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,
   And I hope it will knock down thee."

Then Robin Hood could no longer forbear;
   He gave him such a knock,
Quickly and soon the blood came down,
   Before it was ten a clock.

The Arthur he soon recovered himself,
   And gave him such a knock on the crown,
That on every hair of bold Robin Hoods head,
   The blood came trickling down.

Then Robin Hood raged like a wild bore,
   As soon as he saw his own blood;
Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,
   As though he had been staking of wood.

And about, and about, and about they went,
   Like two wild bores in a chase;
Striving to aim each other to maim,
   Leg, arm, or any other place.

And knock for knock they lustily dealt,
   Which held for two hours and more;
That all the wood rang at every bang,
   They ply'd their work so sore.

"Hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood,
   "And let our quarrel fall;
For here we may thresh our bones into mesh,
   And get no coyn at all.

Lines 61-88 from Robin Hood and the Tanner