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ROBIN
HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN
No.
125
From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
by Francis James Child, 1888.
Little
John was practically Robin Hood's equal in the early ballads and references.
Oh, Robin was clearly the leader, but Little John was almost as big a star.
On some occasions, it's Little John who saves the day. In the 17th century,
ballads were composed explaining how various Merry Men met Robin Hood.
Such "origin" stories follow the same basic pattern. The story of Robin
Hood and Little John is the most famous.
The quarterstaff duel continues to appear in Robin Hood novels, movies, TV shows and comic books. Click here to see read Howard Pyle's version of the story from his 1883 novel The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. (Pyle placed it in his prologue, along with the story of how Robin was outlawed.) Classic filmed versions include the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robin Hood (starring Errol Flynn and Alan Hale) and the "Dead or Alive" episode of the 1950s TV series also called The Adventures of Robin Hood (starring Richard Greene and Archie Duncan). However, in some modern versions, such as the 1991 film Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, Robin wins the duel. The movie Robin and the 7 Hoods puts a 20th century twist on the ballad by replacing the quarterstaff duel with a pool / billards game.
For further information on Little John, check out the article on my Beginner's Guide to Robin Hood section. I also describe some of the historical people named Little John on my Search for a Real Robin Hood section. The links take you directly to the Little John segments.
View the images of the actual ballad at the Broadside Ballads Online website from the Bodleian Libraries.
1
When Robin Hood was about twenty years
With
a hey down down and a down
He happend to meet Little John,
A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade,
For
he was a lusty young man.
2
Tho he was calld Little, his limbs they were
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.
3
How they came acquainted, I'll tell you in
If you
will but listen a while;
For this very jest, amongst all the rest,
I
think it may cause you to smile.
4 Bold
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.
5
We have had no sport for these fourteen long
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 b'w'ye;
Then, as near a brook his journey he took,
A
stranger he chancd to espy.
7
They happend 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 liquor thy hide,
If
thou offerst to touch the string.
9
Quoth bold Robin Hood, Thou dost prate like
For were
I to bend but my bow,
I could send a dart quite thro thy proud heart,
Before
thou couldst strike me one blow.
10 'Thou
talkst like a coward,' the stranger re-
'Well
armd 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 I will 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, it is lusty and tough,
Now
here on the bridge we will play;
Whoever falls in, the other shall win
The
battel, and so we'll away.
14 'With
all my whole heart,' the stranger re-
'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 So
long as I'm able to handle my staff,
To
die in your debt, friend, I scorn:
Then to it each goes, and followd 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
followd his blows more severe.
18 So
thick and 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 into fury the stranger he grew,
And
gave him a damnable look,
And with it a blow that laid him full low,
And
tunbld him into the brook.
20 'I
prithee, good fellow, O where art thou
The stranger,
in laughter, he cry'd;
Quoth bold Robin Hood, Good faith, in the
And floating
along with the tide.
21 I
needs must acknowledge thou art a brave
With
thee I'll no longer contend;
For needs must I say, thous hast got the day,
Our
battle shall be at an end.
22 Then
unto the bank he did presently wade,
And
pulld himself out by a thorn;
Which done, at the last, he blowd a loud blast
Straitway
on his fine bugle-horn.
23 The
eccho of which through the vallies did fly,
At
which his stout bowmen appeard,
All clothd in green, most gay to be seen;
So
up to their master they steerd.
24 'O
what's the matter?' quoth William Stutely;
'Good
master, you are wet to the skin:'
'No matter,' quoth he; 'the lad which you see,
In
fighting, hath tumbld me in.'
25 'He
shall not go scot-free,' the others reply'd;
So
strait 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
These
bowmen upon me do wait;
There's threescore and nine; if thou wilt be
Thou
shalt have my livery strait.
27 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.
28 'O
here is my hand,' the stranger reply'd,
'I'll
serve you with all my whole heart;
My name is John Little, a man of good mettle;
Nere
doubt me, for I'll play my part.'
29 His
name shall be alterd,' quoth William
'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 fetchd in a brace of fat does,
With
humming strong liquor likewise;
They lovd what was good; so, in the green
This
pretty sweet babe they baptize.
31 He
was, I must tell you, but seven foot high,
And,
may be, an ell in the waste;
A pretty sweet lad; much feasting they had;
Bold
Robin the christning grac'd.
32 With
all his bowmen, which stood in a ring,
And
were of the Notti[n]gham breed;
Brave Stutely comes then, with seven yeomen,
And
did in this manner proceed.
33 'This
infant was called John Little,' quoth he,
'Which
name shall be changed anon;
The words we'll transpose, so where-ever he
His name
shall be calld Little John.'
34 They
all with a shout made the elements ring,
So
soon as the office was ore;
To feasting they went, with true merriment,
And
tippld strong liquor gillore.
35 Then
Robin he took the pretty sweet babe,
And
cloathd him from top to the 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'll not want gold nor silver, be-
While
bishops have ought in their purse.
37 'We
live here like squires, or lords of renown,
Without
ere a foot of free land;
We feast on good cheer, with wine, ale, and
And evry
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
unto their caves they did go.
39 And
so ever after, as long as he livd,
Altho
he was proper and tall,
Yet nevertheless, the truth to express,
Still
Little John they did him call.
NEXT: The Ballad of Robin Hood and the Butcher
ALSO: Read a version of the Little John story from Howard Pyle's classic children's novel The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.
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