Robin Hood and Little John.
Reading edition
Little John, the friend and sturdy companion of Robin Hood, was made almost as popular in ballads as his noble master. He is said to have been a man of immense size, and of almost unequalled prowess and strength. His name of Little John was, it appears, given to him ironically, because of his extraordinary stature. He is believed to have been born at Hathersage, in the Peak of Derbyshire; a place not many miles distant from Loxley Chase, where Robin Hood first drew breath. The place of his birth is, however, claimed by other localities. The ballad I here give is interesting, as detailing his first meeting and encounter with Robin Hood, which ended in the defeat of the outlaw, and in their becoming sworn friends for life.
It will be seen that in the ballad Little John is said to have been seven feet in height. This, curiously enough, accords with the tradition current in Hathersage, where his bones were exhumed some years ago, and where his grave is still shown.
When Robin Hood was about twenty years old, He happened to meet Little John, A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade, For he was a lusty young man. Tho' he was call'd little, his limbs they were large, And his stature was seven foot high: Where ever he came, they quak'd at his name, For soon he would make them to fly. How they came acquainted I'll tell you in brief, If you would but listen awhile; For this very jest, among all the rest, I think, may cause you to smile. For Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmen, Pray tarry you here in this grove, And see that you all observe well my call, While thorough the forest I rove. We have had no sport these fourteen long days, Therefore now abroad will I go; Now should I be beat, and cannot retreat, My horn I will presently blow. Then did he shake hands with his merry men all, And bid them at present good-bye; Then as near a brook his journey he took, A stranger he chanc'd to espy. They happen'd to meet on a long narrow bridge, And neither of them would give way; Quoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood, I'll shew you right Nottingham play. With that from his quiver an arrow he drew, A broad arrow with a goose wing; The stranger replied, I'll liquor thy hide, If thou offer to touch the string. Quoth bold Robin Hood, thou dost prate like an ass, For, were I to bend but my bow, I could send a dart quite through thy proud heart, Before thou could'st strike me one blow. Thou talk'st like a coward, the stranger replied, Well arm'd with a long bow you stand, To shoot at my breast, while I, I protest, Have nought but a staff in my hand. The name of a coward, quoth Robin, I scorn, Therefore my long bow I'll lay by; And now, for thy sake, a staff will I take, The truth of thy manhood to try. Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees, And chose him a staff of ground oak; Now this being done, away he did run To the stranger, and merrily spoke: Lo! see my staff is lusty and tough: Now, here on the bridge we will play; Whoever falls in, the other shall win The battle, and so we'll away. With all my whole heart, the stranger replied, I scorn in the least to give out. This said, they fell to't without more dispute, And their staffs they did flourish about. At first Robin gave the stranger a bang, So hard that he made his bones ring: The stranger he said, this must be repaid, I'll give you as good as you bring. So long as I'm able to handle a staff, To die in your debt, friend, I scorn: Then to it each goes, and follow'd their blows, As if they had been threshing of corn. The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown, Which caused the blood to appear; Then Robin enrag'd more fiercely engag'd, And follow'd his blows more severe. So thick and so fast did he lay it on him, With a passionate fury and ire; At every stroke he made him to smoke, As if he had been all on fire. O then in a fury the stranger he grew, And gave him a damnable look; And with a blow, which laid him full low, And tumbled him into the brook. I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now? The stranger, in laughter, he cried: Quoth bold Robin Hood, Good faith, in the flood, And floating along with the tide: I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul, With thee I'll no longer contend; For needs must I say thou hast got the day, Our battle shall be at an end. Then unto the bank he did presently wade, And pull'd him out by a thorn; Which done, at the last he blew a loud blast Straightway on his fine bugle horn: The echo of which thro' the vallies did fly, At which his stout bowmen appear'd, All cloathed in green, most gay to be seen; So up to their master they steer'd. O what is the matter? quoth Will. Stutely, Good master, you are wet to the skin: No matter, quoth he, the lad which you see, In fighting hath tumbled me in. He shall not go scot-free, the others replied; So straight they were seizing him there, To duck him likewise: but Robin Hood cries, He is a stout fellow, forbear. There's no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not afraid; These bowmen upon me do wait: There's threescore and nine; if thou will be mine, Thou shalt have my livery straight, And other accoutrements fit for a man: Speak up, jolly blade, never fear; I'll teach you also the use of the bow, To shoot at the fat fallow deer. O here is my hand, the stranger replied, I'll serve you with all my whole heart: My name is John Little, a man of good mettle; Ne'er doubt me, for I'll play my part. His name shall be alter'd, quoth Will. Stutely, And I will his godfather be; Prepare then a feast, and none of the least, For we will be merry, quoth he. They presently fetch'd him a brace of fat does, With humming strong liquor likewise: They lov'd what was good; so in the green wood This pretty sweet babe they baptiz'd. He was, I must tell you, but seven feet high, And may be an ell in the waist; A sweet pretty lad; much feasting they had, Bold Robin the christening grac'd, With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring, And were of the Nottingham breed. Brave Stutely came then with seven yeomen, And did in this manner proceed: This infant was called John Little, quoth he, Which name shall be changed anon: The words we'll transpose; so wherever he goes, His name shall be call'd Little John. They all with a shout made the elements ring, So soon as the office was o'er; To feasting they went, with true merriment, And tippled strong liquor gillore. Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe, And cloath'd him from top to the toe In garments of green most gay to be seen, And gave him a curious long bow. Thou shalt be an archer as well as the best, And range in the green wood with us, Where we'll not want gold nor silver, behold, While bishops have ought in their purse. We live here like squires or lords of renown, Without e'er a foot of free land; We feast on good cheer, with wine, ale, and beer, And every thing at our command. Then music and dancing did finish the day: At length, when the sun waxed low, Then all the whole train their grove did refrain, And unto their caves they did go. And so ever after, as long as they liv'd, Although he was proper and tall, Yet nevertheless, the truth to express, Still Little John they did him call.