Chapter XII: Appendix: The Play of Robin Hood (3)

Robin Hood attempts to stop a beggar, from whom he thinks he may get some money. The beggar gives no heed to his summons, but hies on. Robin, getting a surly answer upon a second essay, says that if there be but a farthing he will have it, orders the beggar to loose the strings of his pocks, and threatens him with an arrow. The beggar defies him, and upon Robin’s drawing his bow, reaches him such a stroke with a staff that bow and arrow are broken to bits. Robin takes to his sword; the beggar lights on his hand with his staff and disables him completely, then follows in with lusty blows, till Robin falls in a swoon. The beggar moves on with entire unconcern. Three of Robin’s men come by and revive him with water. Their master tells them of his disgrace; he had never been in so hard a place in forty year. He bids them bring the beggar back or slay him. Two of the three will be enough for that, they say, and one shall stay with him. Two set forth, accordingly, with a caution to be wary, take a short cut, which brings them out ahead of the beggar, and leap on him from a hiding, one gripping his staff and the other putting a dagger to his breast. The beggar sues for his life in vain; they will bind him and will take him back to their master, to be slain or hanged. He offers them a hundred pound and more for his liberty. They decide together to take the money, and say nothing about it, simply reporting that they have killed the old carl. The beggar spreads his cloak on the ground and many a pock on it; then, standing between them and the wind, takes a great bag of meal from his neck and flings the meal into their eyes. Having thus blinded them, he seizes his staff, which they had stuck in the ground, and gives each of them a dozen. The young men take to their heels, the beggar calling after them to stop for their pay. Robin, after a jest at the meal on their cloaths, makes them tell how they have fared. We are shamed forever, he cries; but smiles to see that they have had their taste of the beggar’s tree.

This tale is rightly called by Ritson a North Country composition of some antiquity, “perhaps Scottish.” Fragments of Robin Hood ballads, Motherwell informs us, were traditionally extant in his day which had not (and have not) found their way into printed collections, and we know from very early testimony that such ballads were current in Scotland. This is by far the best of the Robin Hood ballads of the secondary, so to speak cyclic, period. It has plenty of homely humor, but the heroic sentiment is gone. It does not belong to the iron, the cast-iron, age of Robin Hood’s Birth, Breeding, etc.; but neither does it belong to the golden age of Robin Hood and the Monk, or the Gest. It would be no gain to have Thersites drubbing Odysseus. Robin finds his match, for the nonce, in the Potter, but he does not for that depute two of his men to be the death of the Potter. It never occurred to Little John and Much to get a hundred pound from a beggar, kill him, and pocket the money.

A story resembling that of the second part of this ballad occurs, as Ritson has observed, in Le moyen de parvenir, “1739, I, 304;” II, 94, London, 1786; p. 171, Paris, 1841. A friar encounters two footpads, who offer to relieve him of the burden of his frock. He asks them to let him take it off peaceably, puts his staff under his foot, takes off the frock and throws it before them. While one of the pair stoops to get it, the friar picks up the staff and hits the knave a blow which sends him headlong; the other runs off.

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 180.

1
Lyth and listen, gentlemen,
That’s come of high born blood;
I’ll tell you of a brave booting
That befel Robin Hood.

2
Robin Hood upon a day,
He went forth him alone,
And as he came from Barnesdale
Into a fair evening,

3
He met a beggar on the way,
That sturdily could gang;
He had a pike-staff in his hand,
That was baith stark and strang.

4
A clouted cloak about him was,
That held him from the cold;
The thinnest bit of it, I guess,
Was more than twenty fold.

5
His meal-pock hang about his neck,
Into a leathern fang,
Well fastened with a broad buckle,
That was both stark and strang.

6
He had three hats upon his head,
Together sticked fast;
He cared neither for wind nor weet,
In lands wherever he past.

7
Good Robin coost him in his way,
To see what he might be;
If any beggar had money,
He thought some part had he.

8
‘Tarry, tarry,’ good Robin says,
‘Tarry, and speak with me;’
He heard him as he heard [him] not,
And fast his way can hie.

9
‘It be’s not so,’ says good Robin,
‘Nay, thou must tarry still;’
‘By my troth,’ says the bold beggar,
‘Of that I have no will.

10
‘It is far to my lodging-house,
And it is growing late;
If they have supt ere I come in,
I will look wondrous blate.’

11
‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,
‘I see well by thy fare,
If thou chear well to thy supper,
Of mine thou takes no care;

12
‘Who wants my dinner all the day,
And wots not where to lie,
And should I to the tavern go,
I want money to buy.

13
‘Sir, thou must lend me some money,
Till we two meet again:’
The beggar answerd cankerdly,
I have no money to lend.

14
Thou art as young a man as I,
And seems to be as sweer;
If thou fast till thou get from me,
Thou shalt eat none this year.

15
‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,
‘Since we are sembled so,
If thou have but a small farthing,
I’ll have it ere thou go.

16
‘Therefore, lay down thy clouted cloak,
And do no longer stand,
And loose the strings of all thy pocks;
I’ll ripe them with my hand.

17
‘And now to thee I make a vow,
If thou make any din,
I shall see if a broad arrow
Can pierce a beggar’s skin.’

18
The beggar smil’d, and answer made:
Far better let me be;
Think not that I will be afraid
For thy nip crooked tree.

19
Or that I fear thee any whit
For thy curn nips of sticks;
I know no use for them so meet
As to be pudding-pricks.

20
Here I defy thee to do me ill,
For all thy boistrous fare;
Thou’s get nothing from me but ill,
Would thou seek it evermair.

21
Good Robin bent his noble bow—
He was an angry man—
And in it set a broad arrow;
Yet er ’twas drawn a span,

22
The beggar, with his noble tree,
Reacht him so round a rout
That his bow and his broad arrow
In flinders flew about.

23
Good Robin bound him to his brand,
But that provd likewise vain;
The beggar lighted on his hand
With his pike-staff again.

24
I wot he might not draw a sword
For forty days and more;
Good Robin could not speak a word,
His heart was never so sore.

25
He could not fight, he could not flee,
He wist not what to do;
The beggar, with his noble tree,
Laid lusty flaps him to.

26
He paid good Robin back and side,
And beft him up and down,
And with his pike-staff still on laid
Till he fell in a swoon.

27
‘Fy! stand up, man,’ the beggar said,
‘’Tis shame to go to rest;
Stay still till thou get thy mony [told],
I think it were the best.

28
‘And syne go to the tavern-house,
And buy both wine and ale;
Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse,
Thou has been at a dale.’

29
Good Robin answerd never a word,
But lay still as a stane;
His cheeks were white as any clay,
And closed were his eyne.

30
The beggar thought him dead but fail,
And boldly bownd away;
I would you had been at the dale,
And gotten part of the play.

31
Now three of Robin’s men, by chance,
Came walking on the way,
And found their master in a trance,
On ground where he did lie.

32
Up have they taken good Robin,
Making a piteous bier,
Yet saw they no man there at whom
They might the matter spear.

33
They looked him all round about,
But wounds on him saw none,
Yet at his mouth came bocking out
The blood of a good vein.

34
Cold water they have taken syne,
And cast into his face;
Then he began to lift his eyne,
And spake within short space.

35
‘Tell us, dear master,’ says his men,
‘How with you stands the case?’
Good Robin sighd ere he began
To tell of his disgrace.

36
‘I have been watchman in this wood
Near hand this forty year,
Yet I was never so hard bestead
As you have found me here.

37
‘A beggar with a clouted cloak,
In whom I feard no ill,
Hath with a pike-staff clawd my back;
I fear’t shall never be well.

38
‘See, where he goes out oer yon hill,
With hat upon his head;
If ever you lovd your master well,
Go now revenge this deed.

39
‘And bring him back again to me,
If it lie in your might,
That I may see, before I die,
Him punisht in my sight.

40
‘And if you may not bring him back,
Let him not go loose on;
For to us all it were great shame
If he escapt again.’

41
‘One of us shall with you remain,
Because you’re ill at ease;
The other two shall bring him back,
To use him as you please.’

42
‘Now, by my troth,’ says good Robin,
‘I trow there’s enough said;
If he get scouth to weild his tree,
I fear you’ll both be paid.’

43
‘Be ye not feard, our good master,
That we two can be dung
With any blutter base beggar,
That hath nought but a rung.

44
‘His staff shall stand him in no stead;
That you shall shortly see;
But back again he shall be led,
And fast bound shall he be,
To see if you will have him slain,
Or hanged on a tree.’

45
‘But cast you slily in his way,
Before he be aware,
And on his pike-staff first lay hands;
You’ll speed the better far.’

46
Now leave we Robin with his man,
Again to play the child,
And learn himself to stand and gang
By haulds, for all his eild.

47
Now pass we to the bold beggar,
That raked oer the hill,
Who never mended his pace no more
Nor he had done no ill.

48
The young men knew the country well,
So soon where he would be,
And they have taken another way,
Was nearer by miles three.

49
They rudely ran with all their might,
Spar’d neither dub nor mire,
They stirred neither at laigh nor hight,
No travel made them tire,

50
Till they before the beggar wan,
And coost them in his way;
A little wood lay in a glen,
And there they both did stay.

51
They stood up closely by a tree,
In ilk side of the gate,
Until the beggar came them to,
That thought not of such fate.

52
And as he was betwixt them past,
They leapt upon him baith;
The one his pike-staff gripped fast,
They feared for its scaith.

53
The other he held in his sight
A drawn dirk to his breast,
And said, False carl, quit thy staff,
Or I shall be thy priest.

54
His pike-staff they have taken him frae,
And stuck it in the green;
He was full leath to let [it] gae,
If better might have been.

55
The beggar was the feardest man
Of one that ever might be;
To win away no way he can,
Nor help him with his tree.

56
He wist not wherefore he was tane,
Nor how many was there;
He thought his life-days had been gone,
And grew into despair.

57
‘Grant me my life,’ the beggar said,
‘For him that died on tree,
And take away that ugly knife,
Or then for fear I’ll die.

58
‘I grievd you never in all my life,
By late nor yet by ayre;
Ye have great sin, if ye should slay
A silly poor beggar.’

59
‘Thou lies, false lown,’ they said again,
‘By all that may be sworn;
Thou hast near slain the gentlest man
That ever yet was born.

60
‘And back again thou shalt be led,
And fast bound shalt thou be,
To see if he will have thee slain,
Or hanged on a tree.’

61
The beggar then thought all was wrong;
They were set for his wrack;
He saw nothing appearing then
But ill upon worse back.

62
Were he out of their hands, he thought,
And had again his tree,
He should not be had back for nought,
With such as he did see.

63
Then he bethought him on a wile,
If it could take effect,
How he the young men might beguile,
And give them a begeck.

64
Thus for to do them shame or ill
His beastly breast was bent;
He found the wind grew something shril,
To further his intent.

65
He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,
And let the poor man be;
When ye have taken a beggar’s blood,
It helps you not a flee.

66
It was but in my own defence,
If he hath gotten skaith;
But I will make a recompence,
Much better for you baith.

67
If ye will set me safe and free,
And do me no danger,
An hundred pounds I will you give,
And much more good silver,

68
That I have gathered these many years,
Under this clouted cloak,
And hid up wonder privately,
In bottom of my pock.

69
The young men to a council yeed,
And let the beggar gae;
They wist how well he had no speed
From them to run away.

70
They thought they would the money take,
Come after what so may,
And then they would not bring him back,
But in that part him slay.

71
By that good Robin would not know
That they had gotten coin;
It would content him for to show
That there they had him slain.

72
They said, False carl, soon have done
And tell forth that money;
For the ill turn thou hast done
’Tis but a simple fee.

73
And yet we will not have thee back,
Come after what so may,
If thou will do that which thou spake,
And make us present pay.

74
O then he loosd his clouted cloak,
And spread it on the ground,
And thereon laid he many a pock,
Betwixt them and the wind.

75
He took a great bag from his hase;
It was near full of meal;
Two pecks in it at least there was,
And more, I wot full well.

76
Upon his cloak he laid it down,
The mouth he opend wide,
To turn the same he made him bown,
The young men ready spy’d.

77
In every hand he took a nook
Of that great leathern meal,
And with a fling the meal he shook
Into their faces hail.

78
Wherewith he blinded them so close
A stime they could not see;
And then in heart he did rejoice,
And clapt his lusty tree.

79
He thought, if he had done them wrong
In mealing of their cloaths,
For to strike off the meal again
With his pike-staff he goes.

80
Or any one of them could red their eyne,
Or yet a glimmering could see,
Ilk ane of them a dozen had,
Well laid on with the tree.

81
The young men were right swift of foot,
And boldly ran away;
The beggar could them no more hit,
For all the haste he may.

82
‘What ails this haste?’ the beggar said,
‘May ye not tarry still,
Until your money be receivd?
I’ll pay you with good will.

83
‘The shaking of my pocks, I fear,
Hath blown into your eyne;
But I have a good pike-staff here
Will ripe them out full clean.’

84
The young men answerd neer a word,
They were dumb as a stane;
In the thick wood the beggar fled,
Eer they riped their eyne.

85
And syne the night became so late,
To seek him was but vain:
But judge ye, if they looked blate
When they came home again.

86
Good Robin speard how they had sped;
They answerd him, Full ill;
‘That cannot be,’ good Robin says;
‘Ye have been at the mill.

87
‘The mill it is a meatrif place,
They may lick what they please;
Most like ye have been at that art,
Who would look to your cloaths.’

88
They hangd their heads, and droped down,
A word they could not speak:
Robin said, Because I fell a-swoon,
I think you’ll do the like.

89
Tell on the matter, less and more,
And tell me what and how
Ye have done with the bold beggar
I sent you for right now.

90
And then they told him to an end,
As I have said before,
How that the beggar did them blind,
What misters process more.

91
And how he lin’d their shoulders broad
With his great trenchen tree,
And how in the thick wood he fled,
Eer they a stime could see.

92
And how they scarcely could win home,
Their bones were beft so sore:
Good Robin cry’d, Fy! out, for shame!
We’re sham’d for evermore.

93
Altho good Robin would full fain
Of his wrong revenged be,
He smil’d to see his merry young men
Had gotten a taste of the tree.

* * * * *

#a.#

The History of Robin Hood and the Beggar: in two Parts. Part I:
Shewing how Robin Hood, in attempting to rob a Beggar near
Barnesdale, was shamefully defeated, and left for dead, till
taken up by three of his men. Part II: How the beggar blinded
two of his men with a bag of meal, who were sent to kill him or
bring him back.

_Title prefixed to the ballad_: Robin Hood and the Beggar.

_In stanzas of two long lines. After 30_: The Second Part.

22^3. arrows.

30^1. but sail: _that is_, but ſail.

38^3. you _for_ your.

41^2. ill a case: _which perhaps should be retained_.

46^1. and _for_ with.

46^4. the eild.

48^3. a another.

51^4. fate: #b#, late, _that is_, let.

53^3. quite.

65^4. fly: #b#, flee.

77^3. sling: _that is_, ſling.

79^3. strick.

89^2. where and.

#b.#

_In stanzas of two long lines._

_Some of these readings may be Ritson’s corrections._

1^2. That be.

2^4. a _wanting_.

3^2. Who _for_ That.

4^2. frae the.

5^2. whang.

5^3. to a.

7^1. cast.

8^3. heard him not.

8^4. on his.

9^1. ’Tis be.

9^3. said.

11^3. shares well.

11^4. dost not care.

12^1. all this.

12^3. would I.

13^1. you must.

13^2. two _wanting_.

14^1. art a.

15^2. asembled.

15^3. has.

16^1. Come lay.

17^3. if _wanting_.

20^4. Wouldst: it _wanting_.

21^4. Lo eer.

22^3. arrow.

24^{2,4}. mair, sair.

25^3. ſlaps.

26^2. baiſt.

26^3. laid on loud _for_ still on laid.

27^1. Fy _wanting_.

27^3. still till: money told.

28^4. hast been at the.

29^3. pale _for_ white.

30^1. but fail.

30^2. his way.

30^3. ye.

31^2. by the.

31^4. where that he lay.

33^2. wound.

34^1. gotten _for_ taken.

34^2. unto.

34^3. to hitch his ear.

34^4. speak.

35^1. said.

36^2. this twenty.

36^4. ye.

37^2. Of whom.

37^3. with his.

37^4. ‘twill.

38^1. out _wanting_.

38^3. eer ye.

40^4. escape.

41^2. ill at ease.

42^3. And he.

43^1. ye, good _wanting_.

43^4. has.

44^5. ye.

45^3. hands lay.

45^4. Ye.

46^1. with his.

46^4. his eild.

47^3. no _wanting_.

47^4. Then he.

48^{1,2}. _wanting._

49^1. They stoutly.

49^3. They started at neither how nor height.

50^2. cast them.

51^2. In each.

51^3. them nigh.

51^4. thought of no such late.

54^3. let it.

54^4. An better might it been.

55^2. any _for_ one.

56^1. Nor wist he.

56^4. He _for_ And.

57^2. on the.

57^3. And hold.

57^4. Or else.

58^2. Neither by late or air.

58^3. You have great sin if you would.

59^2. For all.

59^4. Of one that eer.

60^1. shall.

62^3. led back.

63^3. he might the young men.

63^4. gave them a begack.

64^1. for _wanting_: for ill.

64^3. blew _for_ grew.

65^2. a poor.

65^4. flee.

66^2. has.

66^4. Is better.

67^1. fair and.

67^2. no more dear.

67^4. odd _for_ good.

68^1. this.

69^1. to the.

69^3. full well.

70^3. And yet: not take.

70^4. that place.

71^3. for _wanting_.

72^2. forth thy.

72^3. turn that.

72^4. It’s: plee _for_ fee.

74^3. lay he.

75^1. half, _that is_, half.

76^1. this cloak: set it.

76^3. bound.

77^2. bag _for_ meal.

77^3. fling.

77^4. face all hail.

79^2. cloath.

79^3. strike.

80^1. Eer any of.

80^2. Or a glimmering might.

80^4. with his.

81^2. boldly bound.

82^1. What’s all this.

82^2. May not thou.

83^4. Can ripe.

85^2. in vain.

87^1. meat rife part.

87^3. at the.

87^4. at your.

88^1. they drooped.

88^3. a sound.

88^4. ye.

89^1. less or.

89^2. what and.

90^1. And when.

90^4. presses _for_ process.

91^{1,2}. _wanting._

91^3. woods.

92^2. were baste.

93^2. his wrath.

135

ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD

#a.# Garland of 1663, No 13.

#b.# Garland of 1670, No 12.

#c.# Wood, 401, leaf 13 b.

#d.# Pepys, II, 115, No 102.

Roxburghe, II, 392, III, 284; Douce, III, 115 b, by L. How, of the eighteenth century. A manuscript copy in the British Museum, Add. 15072, fol. 59, is #a#, with omission of 12^2–15^4, and a few errors of carelessness.

Printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood from #c# and one of the Roxburghe broadsides. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 136, seems to have followed the Aldermary garland, with slight deviation.

Robin Hood, walking in the forest, finds a shepherd lying on the ground, and bids him rise and show what he has in his bottle and bag. The shepherd tells him that he shall not see a drop of his bottle until his valor has been tried. Robin stakes twenty pound on the issue of a fight, and the shepherd his bag and bottle. They fight from ten to four, hook against sword. Robin Hood falls to the ground, and the shepherd calls on him to own himself beaten. Robin demands the boon of three blasts on his horn. These bring Little John, who undertakes the shepherd, and is so roughly handled that Robin is fain to yield his wager, to which Little John heartily agrees.

It is but the natural course of exaggeration that the shepherd, having beaten Robin Hood, should beat Little John. This is descending low enough, but we do not see the bottom of this kind of balladry here.

In King Alfred and the Shepherd, Old Ballads, 1723, I, 43, stanzas 6–17, the king plays Robin’s part, fighting four hours with the Shepherd and then craving a truce. Further on Alfred blows his horn. There are also verbal agreements.

1
All gentlemen and yeomen good,
Down a down a down a down
I wish you to draw near;
For a story of gallant brave Robin Hood
Vnto you I wil declare.
Down, etc.

2
As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along,
Some pastime for to spie,
There was he aware of a jolly shepherd,
That on the ground did lie.

3
‘Arise, arise,’ cryed jolly Robin,
‘And now come let me see
What is in thy bag and bottle, I say;
Come tell it unto me.’

4
‘What’s that to thee, thou proud fellow?
Tell me as I do stand
What thou hast to do with my bag and bottle?
Let me see thy command.’

5
‘My sword, which hangeth by my side,
Is my command I know;
Come, and let me taste of thy bottle,
Or it may breed thee wo.’

6
‘Tut, the devil a drop, thou proud fellow,
Of my bottle thou shalt see,
Untill thy valour here be tried,
Whether thou wilt fight or flee.’

7
‘What shall we fight for?’ cries bold Robin Hood;
‘Come tell it soon to me;
Here is twenty pounds in good red gold;
Win it, and take it thee.’

8
The Shepherd stood all in a maze,
And knew not what to say:
‘I have no money, thou proud fellow,
But bag and bottle I’le lay.’

9
‘I am content, thou shepherd-swain,
Fling them down on the ground;
But it will breed thee mickle pain,
To win my twenty pound.’

10
‘Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellow,
Thou stands too long to prate;
This hook of mine shall let thee know
A coward I do hate.’

11
So they fell to it, full hardy and sore;
It was on a summers day;
From ten till four in the afternoon
The Shepherd held him play.

12
Robins buckler proved his chief defence,
And saved him many a bang,
For every blow the Shepherd gave
Made Robins sword cry twang.

13
Many a sturdy blow the Shepherd gave,
And that bold Robin found,
Till the blood ran trickling from his head;
Then he fell to the ground.

14
‘Arise, arise, thou proud fellow,
And thou shalt have fair play,
If thou wilt yield, before thou go,
That I have won the day.’

15
‘A boon, a boon,’ cried bold Robin;
‘If that a man thou be,
Then let me take my beaugle-horn,
And blow but blasts three.’

16
‘To blow three times three,’ the Shepherd said,
‘I will not thee deny;
For if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn,
I scorn one foot to fly.’

17
Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
And he blew with mickle main,
Until he espied Little John
Come tripping over the plain.

18
‘O who is yonder, thou proud fellow,
That comes down yonder hill?’
‘Yonder is Little John, bold Robin Hoods man,
Shall fight with thee thy fill.’

19
‘What is the matter?’ saies Little John,
‘Master, come tell to me:’
‘My case is great,’ saies Robin Hood,
‘For the Shepherd hath conquered me.’

20
‘I am glad of that,’ cries Little John,
‘Shepherd, turn thou to me;
For a bout with thee I mean to have,
Either come fight or flee.’

21
‘With all my heart, thou proud fellow,
For it never shall be said
That a shepherds hook of thy sturdy look
Will one jot be dismaid.’

22
So they fell to it, full hardy and sore,
Striving for victory;
‘I will know,’ saies John, ‘ere we give ore,
Whether thou wilt fight or flye.’

23
The Shepherd gave John a sturdy blow,
With his hook under the chin;
‘Beshrew thy heart,’ said Little John,
‘Thou basely dost begin.’

24
‘Nay, that’s nothing,’ said the Shepherd;
‘Either yield to me the day,
Or I will bang thee back and sides,
Before thou goest thy way.

25
‘What? dost thou think, thou proud fellow,
That thou canst conquer me?
Nay, thou shalt know, before thou go,
I’le fight before I’le flee.’

26
With that to thrash Little John like mad
The Shepherd he begun;
‘Hold, hold,’ cryed bold Robin Hood,
‘And I’le yield the wager won.’

27
‘With all my heart,’ said Little John,
‘To that I will agree;
For he is the flower of shepherd-swains,
The like I never did see.’

28
Thus have you heard of Robin Hood,
Also of Little John,
How a shepherd-swain did conquer them;
The like did never none.

* * * * *

#a#, #b#.

Robin Hood and the Shepard: Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John
and the Shepheard fought a sore combate.

Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.

#a.#

_Burden: a third_ a down _is not printed after the first line, but
is after the last_.

4^3. hast thou.

5^4. thy wo.

7^2. Gome.

20^4. Eihter.

26^2. Sheherd.

#b.#

_Burden_: Down a down a down a down.

_After_ 9^1, 21^4, With a, &c.

1^3. bold _for_ brave.

4^3. thou hast.

5^3. tast.

5^4. thee _for_ thy.

7^1. bold _wanting_.

7^3. pound.

10^2. standst.

12^1. chiefest.

13^3. tickling.

16^1. Then said the Shepherd to bold Robin.

16^2. _wanting._

17^1. Robin he.

18^3. Little _wanting_.

19^3. is very bad, cries.

26^1. Again the Shepherd laid on him.

26^4. And _wanting_: I will.

27^4. I did never.

28^4. was never known.

#c.#

Robin Hood and the Shepheard: Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John
and the Shepheard fought a sore combat.

The Shepherd fought for twenty pound,
And Robin for bottle and bag,
But the Shepheard stout gave them the rout
So sore they could not wag.

The tune is Robin and Queen Katherine.

London, Printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion, in
Pie-Corner. (1660.)

_Burden_: Down a down a down a down.

1^3. bold _for_ brave.

4^3. thou hast.

5^4. my wo.

8^1. amaze.

11^3. four till ten.

12^1. chiefest.

13^4. And then.

16^1. _wanting._

19^3. cries _for_ saies.

19^4. hath beaten.

22^3. ile know saith.

22^4. flee.

25^1. doest.

26^1. _wanting._

26^2. began.

26^4. And _wanting_: I will.

27^3. Shepheards.

27^4. I did never.

#d.#

_Title as in #a#, #b#._

Printed for William Thackeray, at the Angel in Duck Lane. (1689.)

_Burden_: Down a down down.

1^3. bold _for_ brave.

2^3. he was.

4^3. hast thou, _as in_ #a#.

5^1. that _for_ which.

5^4. thy woe, _as in_ #a#.

6^1. Tut _wanting_.

7^1. bold _wanting_.

7^3. pound.

10^2. standest.

11^1. hard.

12^1. chiefest.

15^3. beagle.

16^1. Then said the Shepherd to bold Robin.

16^2. To that will I agree.

16^4. flee.

17^1. he set.

17^2. with might and main.

18^3. Little _wanting_.

19^3. bad cries.

21^2. shall never.

21^3. at thy.

22^4. flee.

24^3. thy _for_ thee.

26^1. Again the Shepherd laid on him.

26^2. began.

26^3. Hood _wanting_.

26^4. And _wanting_: I will.

27^4. I did never.

28^4. The like was never known.

136

ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT

(ROBIN HOOD, JOHN, SCARLOCK AND THREE KEEPERS)

#a.# Wood, 401, leaf 41 b.

#b.# Garland of 1663, No 17.

#c.# Garland of 1670, No 16.

#d.# Pepys, II, 112, No 99.

Ritson, Robin Hood, 1795, II, 116, from #a#, with changes. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 176.

Robin Hood, Scarlock, and John, walking in Sherwood, are charged to stand by three of King Henry’s keepers. There is a fight from eight till two o’clock, in which the outlaws are at some disadvantage. Robin asks that he may blow his horn, then he will fight again. The keepers refuse; he must fall on or yield. Robin owns them to be stout fellows; he will not fight it out there with swords, but at Nottingham with sack. They go to Nottingham accordingly, and drink themselves good friends.

The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood, No 132, a late traditional copy, shows traces of st. 20 of this ballad in st. 12, where the Pedlar says it lies with him whether he will tell his name, and again at the end, where Robin Hood, John, and the Pedlar drink friendship at the tavern. Robin Hood’s antagonists are again foresters and keepers in the Progress to Nottingham, and in Robin Hood and the Ranger. There are numerous verbal agreements between Robin Hood’s Delight and Robin Hood and the Shepherd.

Translated by Loève-Veimars, p. 199.

1
There is some will talk of lords and knights,
Doun a doun a doun a doun
And some of yeoman good,
But I will tell you of Will Scarlock,
Little John and Robin Hood.
Doun a doun a doun a doun

2
They were outlaws, as ’tis well known,
And men of a noble blood;
And a many a time was their valour shown
In the forrest of merry Sheerwood.

3
Vpon a time it chanced so,
As Robin Hood would have it be,
They all three would a walking go,
Some pastime for to see.

4
And as they walked the forest along,
Upon a midsummer day,
There was they aware of three keepers,
Clade all in green aray.

5
With brave long faucheons by their sides,
And forest-bills in hand,
They calld aloud to those bold outlaws,
And charged them to stand.

6
‘Why, who are you,’ cry’d bold Robin,
‘That speaks so boldly here? ’
‘We three belong to King Henry,
And are keepers of his deer.’

7
‘The devil thou art!’ sayes Robin Hood,
‘I am sure that it is not so;
We be the keepers of this forest,
And that you soon shall know.

8
‘Come, your coats of green lay on the ground,
And so will we all three,
And take your swords and bucklers round,
And try the victory.’

9
‘We be content,’ the keepers said,
‘We be three, and you no less;
Then why should we be of you afraid,
And we never did transgress?’

10
‘Why, if you be three keepers in this forest,
Then we be three rangers good,
And we will make you to know, before you do go,
You meet with bold Robin Hood.’

11
‘We be content, thou bold outlaw,
Our valour here to try,
And we will make you know, before we do go,
We will fight before we will fly.

12
‘Then, come draw your swords, you bold outlaws,
And no longer stand to prate,
But let us try it out with blows,
For cowards we do hate.

13
‘Here is one of us for Will Scarlock,
And another for Little John,
And I my self for Robin Hood,
Because he is stout and strong.’

14
So they fell to it full hard and sore;
It was on a midsummers day;
From eight a clock till two and past,
They all shewed gallant play.

15
There Robin, and Will, and Little John,
They fought most manfully,
Till all their winde was spent and gone,
Then Robin aloud did cry:

16
‘O hold, O hold,’ cries bold Robin,
‘I see you be stout men;
Let me blow one blast on my bugle-horn,
Then I’le fight with you again.’

17
‘That bargain’s to make, bold Robin Hood,
Therefore we it deny;
Though a blast upon thy bugle-horn
Cannot make us fight nor fly.

18
‘Therefore fall on, or else be gone,
And yield to us the day:
It shall never be said that we were afraid
Of thee, nor thy yeomen gay.’

19
‘If that be so,’ cries bold Robin,
‘Let me but know your names,
And in the forest of merry Sheerwood
I shall extol your fames.’

20
‘And with our names,’ one of them said,
‘What hast thou here to do?
Except that you will fight it out,
Our names thou shalt not know.’

21
‘We will fight no more,’ sayes bold Robin,
‘You be men of valour stout;
Come and go with me to Nottingham,
And there we will fight it out.

22
‘With a but of sack we will bang it out,
To see who wins the day;
And for the cost, make you no doubt
I have gold and money to pay

23
‘And ever after, so long as we live,
We all will brethren be;
For I love those men with heart and hand
That will fight, and never flee.’

24
So away they went to Nottingham,
With sack to make amends;
For three dayes space they wine did chase,
And drank themselves good friends.

* * * * *

#a.#

Robin Hood’s Delight, or, A merry combat fought between Robin
Hood, Little John and Will Scarelock and three stout Keepers in
Sheerwood Forrest.

Robin was valiant and stout, so was Scarelock and John, in the
field,
But these keepers stout did give them the rout, and made them all
for to yield;
But after the battel ended was, bold Robin did make them amends,
For claret and sack they did not lack, so drank themselves good
friends.

To the tune of Robin Hood and Quene Katherine, or, Robin Hood and
the Shepheard.

London, Printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion, near Pye
Corner. (1660.)

#b#, #c#.

_Title the same, without the verses_: Scarlet _for_ Scarelock.

1^2. #b#, yeomen.

1^3, 13^1. Scarlet.

2^1. it is.

2^3. And many.

4^3. was he: #c#, forresters _for_ keepers.

5^1. side.

5^2. #c#, forrests bils.

5^3. #c#, bold _wanting_.

7^1. #b#, bold Robin, Hood _wanting_: #c#, said Robin Hood.

7^2. #b#, it _wanting_: #c#, that _wanting_.

10^4. met.

11^3. do _wanting_.

11^4. #b.# wee’l.

16^1. #c.# thy hand cryes.

17^1. is.

19^3. #c.# in that.

19^4. #b.# I will.

20^3. thou wilt.

23^1. hereafter.

#d.#

_Title as in_ #b#, #c#, _except_: fought against.

Printed for William Thackeray, at the Angel in Duck Lane. (1689.)

1^1. There’s.

1^2. yeomen.

1^3, 13^1. Scarlet.

2^3. And many.

4^3. forresters _for_ keepers.

5^3. bold _wanting_.

6^2. speak.

7^1. said.

7^2. that _wanting_.

7^3. the _wanting_: in _for_ of.

8^1. Come _wanting_.

9^2. you _wanting_.

9^3. we of you be.

10^1. the _for_ three.

10^3. we’l: to _wanting_.

11^3. _first_ we, do _wanting_.

14^1. hardy.

15^3. spend.

16^3. with my beagle.

17^1. is.

17^3. Thy blast: beagle.

18^3. never shall: we are.

20^3. thou wilt.

23^1. hereafter.

23^3. these.

137

ROBIN HOOD AND THE PEDLARS

‘Robinhood and the Peddlers,’ the fourth ballad in a MS. formerly in
the possession of J. Payne Collier, now in the British Museum;
previously printed in Gutch’s Robin Hood, II, 351.

The manuscript in which this ballad occurs contains a variety of matters, and, as the best authority[113] has declared, may in part have been written as early as 1650, but all the ballads are in a nineteenth-century hand, and some of them are maintained to be forgeries. I see no sufficient reason for regarding this particular piece as spurious, and therefore, though I should be glad to be rid of it, accept it for the present as perhaps a copy of a broadside, or a copy of a copy.

The story resembles that of Robin Hood’s Delight, pedlars taking the place of keepers; but Robin is reduced to an ignominy paralleled only in the second ballad of Robin Hood and the Beggar. Robin Hood, accompanied by Scarlet and John, bids three pedlars stand. They pay no heed, and he sends an arrow through the pack of one of them. Hereupon they throw down their packs and wait for their assailants to come up. Robin’s bow is broken by a blow from a staff of one of the pedlars. Robin calls a truce until he and his men can get staves. There is then an equal fight, the end of which is that Robin Hood is knocked senseless and left in a swoon, tended by Scarlet and John. But before the pedlars set forward, Kit o Thirske, the best man of the three, and the one who has fought with Robin, administers a balsam to his fallen foe, which he says will heal his hurts, but which operates unpleasantly.

Thirsk is about twenty miles from York, in the North Riding.

1
Will you heare a tale of Robin Hood,
Will Scarlett, and Little John?
Now listen awhile, it will make you smile,
As before it hath many done.

2
They were archers three, of hie degree,
As good as ever drewe bowe;
Their arrowes were long and their armes were strong,
As most had cause to knowe.

3
But one sommers day, as they toke their way
Through the forrest of greene Sherwood,
To kill the kings deare, you shall presently heare
What befell these archers good.

4
They were ware on the roade of three peddlers with loade,
Ffor each had his packe,
Ffull of all wares for countrie faires,
Trusst up upon his backe.

5
A good oke staffe, a yard and a halfe,
Each one had in his hande;
And they were all bound to Nottingham towne,
As you shall understand.

6
‘Yonder I see bolde peddlers three,’
Said Robin to Scarlett and John;
‘We’le search their packes upon their backes
Before that they be gone.

7
‘Holla, good fellowes!’ quod Robin Hood,
‘Whither is it ye doe goe?
Now stay and rest, for that is the best,
’Tis well ye should doe soe.’

8
‘Noe rest we neede, on our roade we speede,
Till to Nottingham we get:’
‘Thou tellst a lewde lye,’ said Robin, ‘for I
Can see that ye swinke and swet.’

9
The peddlers three crosst over the lee,
They did not list to fight:
‘I charge you tarrie,’ quod Robin, ‘for marry,
This is my owne land by right.

10
‘This is my mannor and this is my parke,
I would have ye for to knowe;
Ye are bolde outlawes, I see by cause
Ye are so prest to goe.’

11
The peddlers three turned round to see
Who it might be they herd;
Then agen went on as they list to be gone,
And never answered word.

12
Then toke Robin Hood an arrow so good,
Which he did never lacke,
And drew his bowe, and the swift arrowe
Went through the last peddlers packe.

13
Ffor him it was well on the packe it fell,
Or his life had found an ende;
And it pierst the skin of his backe within,
Though the packe did stand his frend.

14
Then downe they flung their packes eche one,
And stayde till Robin came:
Quod Robin, I saide ye had better stayde;
Good sooth, ye were to blame.

15
‘And who art thou? by S. Crispin, I vowe
I’le quickly cracke thy head!’
Cried Robin, Come on, all three, or one;
It is not so soone done as said.

16
My name, by the roode, is Robin Hood,
And this is Scarlett and John;
It is three to three, ye may plainelie see,
Soe now, brave fellowes, laye on.

17
The first peddlars blowe brake Robins bowe
That he had in his hand;
And Scarlett and John, they eche had one
That they unneath could stand.

18
‘Now holde your handes,’ cride Robin Hood,
‘Ffor ye have got oken staves;
But tarie till wee can get but three,
And a fig for all your braves.’

19
Of the peddlers the first, his name Kit o Thirske,
Said, We are all content;
Soe eche tooke a stake for his weapon, to make
The peddlers to repent.

20
Soe to it they fell, and their blowes did ring well
Uppon the others backes;
And gave the peddlers cause to wish
They had not cast their packes.

21
Yet the peddlers three of their blowes were so free
That Robin began for to rue;
And Scarlett and John had such loade laide on
It made the sunne looke blue.

22
At last Kits oke caught Robin a stroke
That made his head to sound;
He staggerd, and reelde, till he fell on the fielde,
And the trees with him went round.

23
‘Now holde your handes,’ cride Little John,
And soe said Scarlett eke;
‘Our maister is slaine, I tell you plaine,
He never more will speake.’

24
‘Now, heaven forefend he come to that ende,’
Said Kit, ‘I love him well;
But lett him learne to be wise in turne,
And not with pore peddlers mell.

25
‘In my packe, God wot, I a balsame have got
That soone his hurts will heale;’
And into Robin Hoods gaping mouth
He presentlie powrde some deale.

26
‘Now fare ye well, tis best not to tell
How ye three peddlers met;
Or if ye doe, prithee tell alsoe
How they made ye swinke and swett.’

27
Poore Robin in sound they left on the ground,
And hied them to Nottingham,
While Scarlett and John Robin tended on,
Till at length his senses came.

28
Noe soone[r], in haste, did Robin Hood taste
The balsame he had tane,
Than he gan to spewe, and up he threwe
The balsame all againe.

29
And Scarlett and John, who were looking on
Their maister as he did lie,
Had their faces besmeard, both eies and beard,
Therewith most piteously.

30
Thus ended that fray; soe beware alwaye
How ye doe challenge foes;
Looke well aboute they are not to stoute,
Or you may have worst of the blowes.

138

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLEN A DALE

#a.# ‘Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,’ Douce, II, leaf 185.

#b.# ‘Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,’ Pepys, II, 110, No 97.

#c.# ‘Robin Hood and Allen a Dale,’ Douce, III, 119 b.

Printed in A Collection of Old Ballads, 1723, II, 44, and Evans’s Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 126, after a copy very near to #c#. In Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 46, probably after Roxburghe II, 394. Not included in the garlands of 1663, 1670; in a garland of 1749, the Aldermary garland, R. Marshall, and the Lichfield, M. Morgan, both not dated, No 8; in the York garland, 1811, No 9. In the Kinloch MSS, V, 183, there is a copy, derived from the broadside, but Scotticised, and improved in the process.

A young man, Allen a Dale, whom Robin Hood has seen passing, one day singing and the next morning sighing, is stopped by Little John and the Miller’s Son, and brought before their master, who asks him if he has any money. He has five shillings and a ring, and was to have been married the day before, but his bride has been given to an old knight. Robin asks what he will give to get his true-love. All that he can give is his faithful service. Robin goes to the church and declares the match not fit: the bride shall choose for herself. He blows his horn, and four-and-twenty of his men appear, the foremost of whom is Allen a Dale. Robin tells Allen that he shall be married on the spot. The bishop says no; there must be three askings. Robin puts the bishop’s coat on Little John, and Little John asks seven times. Robin gives Allen the maid, and bids the man take her away that dare.

The ballad, it will be observed, is first found in broadside copies of the latter half of the seventeenth century. The story is told of Scarlock in the life of Robin Hood in Sloane MS, 715, 7, fol. 157, of the end of the sixteenth century; Thoms, Early Prose Romances, II, p. 39.

“Scarlock he induced [to become one of his company] upon this occacion. One day meting him as he walked solitary and lyke to a man forlorne, because a mayd to whom he was affyanced was taken from [him] by the violence of her frends, and given to another, that was auld and welthy; whereupon Robin, understandyng when the maryage-day should be, came to the church as a beggar, and having his company not far of, which came in so sone as they hard the sound of his horne, he ‘took’ the bryde perforce from him that was in hand to have maryed her, and caused the preist to wed her and Scarlocke togeyther.”

Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 146.

1
Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that loves mirth for to hear,
And I will you tell of a bold outlaw,
That lived in Nottinghamshire. (_bis_.)

2
As Robin Hood in the forrest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.

3
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.

4
As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.

5
The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was clean cast away;
And every step he fetcht a sigh,
‘Alack and a well a day!’

6
Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Nick the millers son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he see them come.

7
‘Stand off, stand off,’ the young man said,
‘What is your will with me?’
‘You must come before our master straight,
Vnder yon green-wood tree.’

8
And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin askt him courteously,
O hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me?

9
‘I have no money,’ the young man said,
‘But five shillings and a ring;
And that I have kept this seven long years,
To have it at my wedding.

10
‘Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she is now from me tane,
And chosen to be an old knights delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.’

11
‘What is thy name?’ then said Robin Hood,
‘Come tell me, without any fail:’
‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man,
‘My name it is Allin a Dale.’

12
‘What wilt thou give me,’ said Robin Hood,
‘In ready gold or fee,
To help thee to thy true-love again,
And deliver her unto thee?’

13
‘I have no money,’ then quoth the young man,
‘No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be.’

14
‘How many miles is it to thy true-love?
Come tell me without any guile:’
‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man,
‘It is but five little mile.’

15
Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor lin,
Vntil he came unto the church
Where Allin should keep his wedding.

16
‘What dost thou do here?’ the bishop he said,
‘I prethee now tell to me:’
‘I am a bold harper,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘And the best in the north countrey.’

17
‘O welcome, O welcome,’ the bishop he said,
‘That musick best pleaseth me;’
‘You shall have no musick,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.’

18
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old,
And after him a finikin lass,
Did shine like glistering gold.

19
‘This is no fit match,’ quoth bold Robin Hood,
‘That you do seem to make here;
For since we are come unto the church,
The bride she shall chuse her own dear.’

20
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;
When four and twenty bowmen bold
Came leaping over the lee.

21
And when they came into the church-yard,
Marching all on a row,
The first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.

22
‘This is thy true-love,’ Robin he said,
‘Young Allin, as I hear say;
And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.’

23
‘That shall not be,’ the bishop he said,
‘For thy word shall not stand;
They shall be three times askt in the church,
As the law is of our land.’

24
Robin Hood pulld off the bishops coat,
And put it upon Little John;
‘By the faith of my body,’ then Robin said,
‘This cloath doth make thee a man.’

25
When Little John went into the quire,
The people began for to laugh;
He askt them seven times in the church,
Least three times should not be enough.

26
‘Who gives me this maid,’ then said Little John;
Quoth Robin, That do I,
And he that doth take her from Allin a Dale
Full dearly he shall her buy.

27
And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride lookt as fresh as a queen,
And so they returnd to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.

* * * * *

#a.#

Robin Hood and Allin of Dale: Or, a pleasant relation how a young
gentleman being in love with a young damsel, which was taken
from him to be an old knight’s bride, and how Robin Hood,
pittying the young mans case, took her from the old knight, when
they were going to be marryed, and restored her to her own true
love again.

Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right,
And took the damsel from the doteing knight.

To a pleasant northern tune, or, Robin Hood in the green wood
stood.

With allowance. Printed for F. Cole, T. Vere, J. Wright and J.
Clarke. (Coles, Vere and Wright, 1655–80, J. Clarke, 1650–82:
_Chappell_.)

11^4. Alllin.

18^1. wealhty.

22^3. marrid.

#b.#

_Title, etc., as in_ #a#.

With allowance. Printed for Alex. Milbourn, in Green-Arbor-Court,
in the Little-Old-Baily. (Alexander Milbourne 1670–97:
_Chappell_.)

1^3. tell you.

2^3. he was aware.

10^2. she was from me tane.

16^1. dost thou here.

16^2. unto.

18^4. like the.

19^1. not a fit: qd.

25^2. for _wanting_.

26^1. then _wanting_.

26^3. And _wanting_.

27^1. having ende of.

27^2. lookt like a.

#c.#

Robin Hood and Allen a Dale: Or, the manner of Robin Hood’s
rescuing a young lady from an old knight to whom she was going
to be married, and restoring her to Allen a Dale, her former
love.

To the tune of Robin Hood in the green wood.