{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch132.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch132.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch132.htm","text":"132A.1 THERE chanced to be a pedlar bold,\nA pedlar bold he chanced to be;\nHe rolled his pack all on his back,\nAnd he came tripping oer the lee.\nDown a down a down a down,\nDown a down a down\n132A.2 By chance he met two troublesome blades,\nTwo troublesome blades they chanced to be;\nThe one of them was bold Robin Hood,\nAnd the other was Little John so free.\n132A.3 \u2018O pedlar, pedlar, what is in thy pack?\nCome speedilie and tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018I\u2019ve several suits of the gay green silks,\nAnd silken bow-strings two or three.\u2019\n132A.4 \u2018If you have several suits of the gay green silk,\nAnd silken bow-strings two or three,\nThen it\u2019s by my body,\u2019 cries Little John,\n\u2018One half your pack shall belong to me.\u2019\n132A.5 \u2018O nay, o nay,\u2019 says the pedlar bold,\n\u2018O nay, o nay, that never can be;\nFor there\u2019s never a man from fair Nottingham\nCan take one half my pack from me.\u2019\n132A.6 Then the pedlar he pulled off his pack,\nAnd put it a little below his knee,\nSaying, If you do move me one perch from this,\nMy pack and all shall gang with thee.\n132A.7 Then Little John he drew his sword,\nThe pedlar by his pack did stand;\nThey fought until they both did sweat,\nTill he cried, Pedlar, pray hold your hand!\n132A.8 Then Robin Hood he was standing by,\nAnd he did laugh most heartilie;\nSaying, I could find a man, of a smaller scale,\nCould thrash the pedlar and also thee.\n132A.9 \u2018Go you try, master,\u2019 says Little John,\n\u2018Go you try, master, most speedilie,\nOr by my body,\u2019 says Little John,\n\u2018I am sure this night you will not know me.\u2019\n132A.10 Then Robin Hood he drew his sword,\nAnd the pedlar by his pack did stand;\nThey fought till the blood in streams did flow,\nTill he cried, Pedlar, pray hold your hand!\n132A.11 Pedlar, pedlar, what is thy name?\nCome speedilie and tell to me:\n\u2018My name! my name I neer will tell,\nTill both your names you have told to me.\u2019\n132A.12 \u2018The one of us is bold Robin Hood,\nAnd the other Little John so free:\u2019\n\u2018Now,\u2019 says the pedlar, \u2019it lays to my good will,\nWhether my name I chuse to tell to thee.\n132A.13 \u2018I am Gamble Gold of the gay green woods,\nAnd travelled far beyond the sea;\nFor killing a man in my father\u2019s land\nFrom my country I was forced to flee.\u2019\n132A.14 \u2018If you are Gamble Gold of the gay green woods,\nAnd travelled far beyond the sea,\nYou are my mother\u2019s own sister\u2019s son;\nWhat nearer cousins then can we be?\u2019\n132A.15 They sheathed their swords with friendly words,\nSo merrilie they did agree;\nThey went to a tavern, and there they dined,\nAnd bottles cracked most merrilie.","title":"The Child Ballads: 132. The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood","type":"page"}