Journeys Through Bookland Volume Iii Part 46

"I'll serve you with all my whole heart; My name is John Little, a man of good mettle; Ne'er doubt it, for I'll play my part."

"His name shall be alter'd," quoth William Stutely, "And I will his G.o.dfather 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 baptize.

He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high, And, may be, an ell in the waist; A sweet pretty lad; much feasting they had; Bold Robin the christ'ning grac'd,

With all his bowmen, who 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; "His 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.

[Footnote: Gillore is an old form of galore.]

Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe, And cloth'd him from top to 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 aught 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 ev'ry thing at our command."

Then music and dancing did finish the day; At length, when the sun waxed low, Then all the whole train the grove did refrain, And unto their caves did go.

And so ever after, as long as he liv'd, Altho' he was proper and tall, Yet, nevertheless, the truth to express, Still Little John they do him call.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE STRANGER

Come listen awhile, you gentlemen all, With a hey down, down, a down, down, That are this bower within, For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood, I purpose now to begin.

"What time of day?" quoth Robin Hood then; Quoth Little John, "Tis in the prime."

"Why then we will to the green-wood gang, [Footnote: Gang is the Scotch word for go.]

For we have no vittles to dine."

As Robin Hood walkt the forest along, It was in the mid of the day, There he was met of a deft* young man, As ever walkt on the way.

* [Footnote: Deft means neatly dressed, well looking.]

His doublet was of silk, he said, His stockings like scarlet shone, And as he walkt on along the way, To Robin Hood then unknown.

A herd of deer was in the bend, All feeding before his face; "Now the best of you Ile have to my dinner, And that in a little s.p.a.ce."

*[Footnote: At the time the old ballads were first written down, spelling had not become settled. The contraction I'll was often spelled as it sounds.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE STRANGER OVERTHROWS ROBIN HOOD]

Now the stranger he made no mickle* adoe, But he bends a right good bow, And the best buck in the herd he slew, Forty good yards him froe.

[Footnote: Froe means from. Such changes in order as occur in this line are frequent in the old ballads.]

*[Footnote: Mickle is an old English and Scotch word meaning much, or great.]

"Well shot, well shot," quod Robin Hood then, "That shot it was shot in time; And if thou wilt accept of the place, Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine."

"Go play the chiven,"* the stranger said; "Make haste and quickly go, Or with my fist, be sure of this, He give thee buffets sto'."

[Footnote: Buffets sto' means store of buffets.]

*[Footnote: It is uncertain what the word chiven means. The likeliest explanation is that it means coward.]

"Thou had'st not best buffet me," quod Robin Hood, "For though I seem forlorn, Yet I can have those that will take my part, If I but blow my horn."

"Thou wast not best wind thy horn," the stranger said, "Beest thou never so much in haste, For I can draw out a good broad sword, And quickly cut the blast."

Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow To shoot, and that he would fain; The stranger he bent a very good bow, To shoot at bold Robin again.

"O hold thy hand, hold thy hand," quod Robin Hood, "To shoot it would be in vain; For if we should shoot the one at the other, The one of us may be slain.

"But let's take our swords and our broad bucklers, And gang under yonder tree."

"As I hope to be sav'd," the stranger said, "One foot I will not flee."

Then Robin lent the stranger a blow 'Most scar'd him out of his wit: "Thou never felt blow," the stranger he said, "Thou shalt be better quit."

The stranger he drew out a good broad sword, And hit Robin on the crown, That from every haire of bold Robin's head, The blood ran trickling down.

"G.o.d a mercy, good fellow!" quod Robin Hood then, "And for this that thou hast done, Tell me, good fellow, what thou art, Tell me where thou doest wone."

The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood, "He tell thee where I did dwell; In Maxwel town I was bred and born, My name is young Gamwel.

"For killing of my own father's steward.

I am forc'd to this English wood, And for to seek an uncle of mine; Some call him Robin Hood."

"But are thou a cousin* of Robin Hood then?

The sooner we should have done."

"As I hope to be sav'd," the stranger then said, "I am his own sister's son."

*[Footnote: Cousin had formerly a broader meaning than it has to-day.

Here it means, as the last line of the stanza shows, nephew.]

But lord! what kissing and courting was there, When these two cousins did greet!

And they went all that summer's day, And Little John did (not) meet.

But when they met with Little John, He unto them did say, "O master, pray where have you been, You have tarried so long away?"

"I met with a stranger," quod Robin Hood, "Full sore he hath beaten me."

"Then He have a bout with him," quod Little John, "And try if he can beat me."

"Oh no, oh no," quoth Robin Hood then, "Little John, it may not be so; For he is my own dear sister's son, And cousins I have no mo'."

[Footnote: Mo is used instead of more, for the sake of rhyme.]

"But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine, My chief man next to thee; And I Robin Hood, and thou Little John, And Scalock he shall be."

[Footnote: Scalock, or Scathlock, means scarlet. The name is given to the stranger because of his scarlet stockings.]

ROBIN HOOD AND THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS