ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN

1
 When Robin Hood was about twenty years old,
 With a hey down down and a down,
 He happen' d to meet Little John,
 A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade,
 For he was alusty young man.

 2
 Tho' he was call' d Little, his limbs they were large,
 And his stature was seven foot high;
 Where ev-er he came, they quak' d at his name,
 For soon he would make them to fly.

 3
 How they came acquainted, I'll tell you in brief,
 If you will but listen a while ;
 For this very jest, amongst all the rest,
 I think may cause you to smile.

 4
 Bold Robin said to his jolly bowmen,
 'Pray tarry you here in this grove;
 And see that you all observe wellmy call,
 While thro the forest I rove.

 5
 'We have had no sport for these fourteen long days,
 Therefore now abroad will I go;
 now should I be beat, and cannot retreat,
 My horn I will presently blow'

 6
 Then did he shake hands with his merry men all,
 And bid them at present good by.
 Then as near a brook his journey he took,
 A stranger he chanc'd to espy.

 7
 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 show you right Nottingham play ! '

 8
 With that from his quiver an arrow he drew,
 A broad arrow with a goose wing ;
 The stranger reply'd, 'I'll licker your hide
 If thou offer to touch the string.'

 9
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, 'Thou dost prate like an ass,
 For where I to bend but my bow,
 I could send a dart quite through thy proud heart,
 Before thou could' st strike me one blow.'

 1O
 'Thou talk'st like a coward,' the stranger reply'd ;
 '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.'
 
 11
 'The name of a coward,' quoth Robin, 'I scorn,
 Wherefore my long bow I'll lay by.
 And now, for thy sake, a staff will I take,
 The truth of thy manhood to try'

 12
 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:

 13
 'Lo! see my staff is lusty and tough,
 now here on this bridge we will play.
 Whoever falls in, the other shall win ,
 The battle, and so we'll away"

 14
 'With all my whole heart,' the stranger reply' d,
 'I scorn in the least to give out.'
 This said, they fell to't without more dispute,
 And their staffs they did flourish about.

 15
 And first Robin he gave the stranger a bang,
 So hard that it made his bones ring ;
 The stranger he said, 'This must be repaid,
 'I'll give you as good as you bring.

 16
 'Solong as I'm able to handle my staff,
 To die in your debt, friend, I scorn.'
 Then to it both go, and follow their blows,
 As if they had been threshing of corn.

 17
 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.

 18
 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.

 19
 O then in a fury the stranger he grew,
 And gave him a damnable look,
 And with it a blow which laid him full low,
 And tumbl'd him into the brook.

 20
 I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou know?'
 The stranger, inlaughter, he cry'd ;
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, 'Good faith, in the flood,
 And floating along with the tide.

 21
 'I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul ;
 With thee I'll no longer contend;
 For in truth I must say, thou has got the day
 Our battle shall be at an end.'

 22
 Then unto the bank he did presently wade,
 And pull' d himself out by a thorn ;
 Which done, at the last, he blow' d a loud blast
 Straightway on his fine bugle horn.

 23
 The echo of which thro' the vallies did ring,
 At which his stout bowmen appear'd,
 All cloathed in green, most gay to be seen ;
 So up to their master they steer'd

 24
 'O what is the matter ?' quoth Will Stutely .
 'Good master, you are wet to the skin !'
 'No matter,' quoth he ; 'the lad that you see
 in fighting hath tumbl'd me in.

 25
 'He shall not go scot-free,' the others reply' d ;
 So straight they were seizing him there,
 To duck him likewise; but Robin Hood cries,
 'He is a stout fellow, forbear!.

 26
 'There's no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not afraid ;
 These bowmen upon me do wait ;
 There's threescore and ten ; if thou wilt be mine,
 Though shalt have my livery straight.

 27
 'And other accoutrements fit also ;
 Speak up, jolly blade, ne'er fear.
 I'll teach you also the use of the bow,
 To shoot at the fat fallow deer.'

 28
 'O here is my hand,' the stranger reply' d,
 'I'll serve you with allmy whole heart ;
 My name is John Little, a man of good mettle ;
 Ne'er doubt me, for I'll play my part.'

 29
 'His name shall be altered,' quoth William Stuteley,
 'And I will his godfather be ;
 Prepare then a feast, and none of the least,
 For we will be merry', quoth he.

 30
 They presently fetch' d in a brace of fat does,
 With humming strongliquor likewise ;
 They lov'd what was good ; so, in the green wood,
 This pretty sweet babe they baptiz' d.

 31
 He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high,
 And, maybe, an ell in the waste;
 He was a sweet lad ; much feasting they had;
 Bold Robin the christening grac' d,

 32
 With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring,
 And were of the Nottingham breed.
 Brave Stuteley came then, with seven yeomen,
 And did in this manner proceed.

 33
 'This infant was call' d John Little, 'quoth he,
 'Which name shall be chang' d anon ;
 The words we'll transpose, so whereever he goes,
 His name shall be call' d Little John.'

 34
 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 gallore.

 35
 Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe,
 And cloath' d him from top to toe
 In garments of green, most gay to be seen,
 And gave him a curious long bow.

 36
 'Thou shalt be an archer as well as the best,
 And range in the greenwood with us;
 Where we will not want gold nor silver, behold,
 While bishops have ought in their purse.

 37
 '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.'

 38
 Then musick and dancing did finish the day.
 At length when the sun waxed low,
 Then all the whole train the grove did refrain,
 And un o their caves they did go.

 39
 And so ever after, as long as they liv' d
 Altho he was proper and tall
 Yet nevertheless, the truth to express,
 Still Little John they did him call.