{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch125.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch125.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch125.htm","text":"125A.1 WHEN Robin Hood was about twenty years old,\nWith a hey down down and a down\nHe happend to meet Little John,\nA jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade,\nFor he was a lusty young man.\n125A.2 Tho he was calld Little, his limbs they were large,\nAnd his stature was seven foot high;\nWhere-ever he came, they quak\u2019d at his name,\nFor soon he would make them to fly.\n125A.3 How they came acquainted, I\u2019ll tell you in brief,\nIf you will but listen a while;\nFor this very jest, amongst all the rest,\nI think it may cause you to smile.\n125A.4 Bold Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmen,\nPray tarry you here in this grove;\nAnd see that you all observe well my call,\nWhile thorough the forest I rove.\n125A.5 We have had no sport for these fourteen long days,\nTherefore now abroad will I go;\nNow should I be beat, and cannot retreat,\nMy horn I will presently blow.\n125A.6 Then did he shake hands with his merry men all,\nAnd bid them at present good b\u2019w\u2019ye;\nThen, as near a brook his journey he took,\nA stranger he chancd to espy.\n125A.7 They happend to meet on a long narrow bridge,\nAnd neither of them would give way;\nQuoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood,\nI\u2019ll show you right Nottingham play.\n125A.8 With that from his quiver an arrow he drew,\nA broad arrow with a goose-wing:\nThe stranger reply\u2019d, I\u2019ll liquor thy hide,\nIf thou offerst to touch the string.\n125A.9 Quoth bold Robin Hood, Thou dost prate like an ass,\nFor were I to bend but my bow,\nI could send a dart quite thro thy proud heart,\nBefore thou couldst strike me one blow.\n125A.10 \u2018Thou talkst like a coward,\u2019 the stranger reply\u2019d;\n\u2018Well armed with a long bow you stand,\nTo shoot at my breast, while I, I protest,\nHave nought but a staff in my hand.\u2019\n125A.11 \u2018The name of a coward,\u2019 quoth Robin, \u2018I scorn,\nWherefore my long bow I\u2019ll lay by;\nAnd now, for thy sake, a staff will I take,\nThe truth of thy manhood to try.\u2019\n125A.12 Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees,\nAnd chose him a staff of ground-oak;\nNow this being done, away he did run\nTo the stranger, and merrily spoke:\n125A.13 Lo! see my staff, it is lusty and tough,\nNow here on the bridge we will play;\nWhoever falls in, the other shall win\nThe battel, and so we\u2019ll away.\n125A.14 \u2018With all my whole heart,\u2019 the stranger reply\u2019d;\n\u2018I scorn in the least to give out;\u2019\nThis said, they fell to\u2019t without more dispute,\nAnd their staffs they did flourish about.\n125A.15 And first Robin he gave the stranger a bang,\nSo hard that it made his bones ring:\nThe stranger he said, This must be repaid,\nI\u2019ll give you as good as you bring.\n125A.16 So long as I\u2019m able to handle my staff,\nTo die in your debt, friend, I scorn:\nThen to it each goes, and followd their blows,\nAs if they had been threshing of corn.\n125A.17 The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown,\nWhich caused the blood to appear;\nThen Robin, enrag\u2019d, more fiercely engag\u2019d,\nAnd followd his blows more severe.\n125A.18 So thick and so fast dic he lay it on him,\nWith a passionate fury and ire,\nAt every stroke, he made him to smoke,\nAs if he had been all on fire.\n125A.19 O then into fury the stranger he grew,\nAnd gave him a damnable look,\nAnd with it a blow that laid him full low,\nAnd tumbld him into the brook.\n125A.20 \u2018I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now?\u2019\nThe stranger, in laughter, he cry\u2019d;\nQuoth bold Robin Hood, Good faith, in the flood,\nAnd floating along with the tide.\n125A.21 I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul;\nWith thee I\u2019ll no longer contend;\nFor needs must I say, thou hast got the day,\nOur battel shall be at an end.\n125A.22 Then unto the bank he did presently wade,\nAnd pulld himself out by a thorn;\nWhich done, at the last, he blowd a loud blast\nStraitway on his fine bugle-horn.\n125A.23 The eccho of which through the vallies did fly,\nAt which his stout bowmen appeard,\nAll cloathed in green, most gay to be seen;\nSo up to their master they steerd.\n125A.24 \u2018O what\u2019s the matter?\u2019 quoth William Stutely;\n\u2018Good master, you are wet to the skin:\u2019\n\u2018No matter,\u2019 quoth he; \u2019The lad which you see,\nIn fighting, hath tumbld me in.\u2019\n125A.25 \u2018He shall not go scot-free,\u2019 the others reply\u2019d;\nSo strait they were seizing him there,\nTo duck him likewise; but Robin Hood cries,\nHe is a stout fellow, forbear.\n125A.26 There\u2019s no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not afraid;\nThese bowmen upon me do wait;\nThere\u2019s threescore and nine; if thou wilt be mine,\nThou shalt have my livery strait.\n125A.27 And other accoutrements fit for a man;\nSpeak up, jolly blade, never fear;\nI\u2019ll teach you also the use of the bow,\nTo shoot at the fat fallow-deer.\n125A.28 \u2018O here is my hand,\u2019 the stranger reply\u2019d,\n\u2018I\u2019ll serve you with all my whole heart;\nMy name is John Little, a man of good mettle;\nNere doubt me, for I\u2019ll play my part.\u2019\n125A.29 His name shall be alterd,\u2019 quoth William Stutely,\n\u2018And I will his godfather be;\nPrepare then a feast, and none of the least,\nFor we will be merry,\u2019 quoth he.\n125A.30 They presently fetchd in a brace of fat does,\nWith humming strong liquor likewise;\nThey lovd what was good; so, in the greenwood,\nThis pretty sweet babe they baptize.\n125A.31 He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high,\nAnd, may be, an ell in the waste;\nA pretty sweet lad; much feasting they had;\nBold Robin the christning grac\u2019d.\n125A.32 With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring,\nAnd were of the Notti[n]gham breed;\nBrave Stutely comes then, with seven yeomen,\nAnd did in this manner proceed.\n125A.33 \u2018This infant was called John Little,\u2019 quoth he,\n\u2018Which name shall be changed anon;\nThe words we\u2019ll transpose, so where-ever he goes,\nHis name shall be calld Little John.\u2019\n125A.34 They all with a shout made the elements ring,\nSo soon as the office was ore;\nTo feasting they went, with true merriment,\nAnd tippld strong liquor gillore.\n125A.35 Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe,\nAnd cloathd him from top to the toe\nIn garments of green, most gay to be seen,\nAnd gave him a curious long bow.\n125A.36 \u2018Thou shalt be an archer as well as the best,\nAnd range in the greenwood with us;\nWhere we\u2019ll not want gold nor silver, behold,\nWhile bishops have ought in their purse.\n125A.37 \u2018We live here like squires, or lords of renown,\nWithout ere a foot of free land;\nWe feast on good cheer, with wine, ale and beer,\nAnd evry thing at our command.\u2019\n125A.38 Then musick and dancing did finish the day;\nAt length, when the sun waxed low,\nThen all the whole train the grove did refrain,\nAnd unto their caves they did go.\n125A.39 And so ever after, as long as he livd,\nAltho he was proper and tall,\nYet nevertheless, the truth to express,\nStill Little John they did him call.","title":"The Child Ballads: 125. Robin Hood and Little John","type":"page"}