Robin Hood and Little John,
Being an Account of their first Meeting, and fierce Encounter. Likewise
their Friendly Agreement, and how he came to be calld Little John.
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WHen Robin Hood was about twenty Years old,
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With a hey down, down, and a down.
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he happend to meet Little John.
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A jolly brisk Blade, right fit for his Trade,
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for he was a lusty Young-Man.
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Tho he was calld Little, his Limbs were large,
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and his Stature was seven Feet high;
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Where-ever he came, they quakd at his Name,
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for soon he would make them to fly.
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How they came acquainted Ill tell you in brief,
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if you will but listen awhile;
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For this single Jest among all the rest,
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Im sure it will make you to smile.
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For Robin Hood said to his jolly Bowmen,
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Pray tarry you here in the Grove;
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And see that you all observe well my Call,
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whilst thro the Forest I do rove.
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We have had no Sport these fourteen long Days,
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therefore now abroad I will go.
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But should I be beat and cannot retreat,
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my Horn I will presently blow.
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Then did he shake hands with his merry Men,
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and bid them at present Good-by;
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Then as near to a Brook his Journey he took,
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a St[r]anger he happend to spy.
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They happend to meet on a long narrow Bridge,
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and neither of them would give Way.
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Quoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood,
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Ill show you right Nottingham Play.
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With that from his Quiver an Arrow he drew,
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a broad Arrow with a Goose Wing:
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The Stranger replyd, Ill liquor thy Hide,
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if you offer to draw but a string.
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Quoth bold Robin Hood, thou dost prate like an Ass,
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for were I to bend but my Bow;
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I could send a Dart quite thro thy proud Heart,
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before thou couldst strike me one Blow.
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Thou talkst like a Coward the Stranger replyd;
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well armd with a long Bow you stand;
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To shoot at my Breast, whilst I do protest,
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I have nought but a Staff in my hand.
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The Name of a Coward quoth, Robin I scorn,
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wherefore my long Bow Ill lay by:
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And now for thy sake a Staff I will take,
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the Truth of thy Manhood to try.
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Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of Trees,
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and ch[o]se him a Staff of Ground Oak.
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Now this being done, to the Stranger he run,
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and thus to him merrily spoke.
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Lo! here, see my St[a]ff it is lusty and tough;
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now here on this Bridge we will play.
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Whoever falls in the [o]th[e]r shall win
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the Battle, and so well away.
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With all my whole Heart the Sranger replyd,
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I scorn in the least to give out;
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This said, they fell tot without more Dispute,
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and their Staffs they did flourish about.
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And first Robin gave the Stranger a Bang,
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so hard thot he made his Bones ring:
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The Stranger he said, this must be repaid,
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Ill give you as good as you bring.
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So long as Im able to handle my Staff:
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to die in your Debt Friend I scorn;
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Then to it both goes, and follow their Blows,
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as tho they were thrashing of Corn.
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The Stranger gave Robin a Crack on the Crown,
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which caused the Blood to appear:
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Then Robin enraged more fiercely engaged,
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and followd his Blows more sincere.
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So thick and so fast he did lay it on him
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with a passionate Fury and Ire:
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At every stroke he made him to smoke
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as though he had been all on Fire.
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O then in a Fury the Stranger he grew;
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and gave him a damnable Look,
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And with it a Blow which laid him full low,
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and tumbled him into the Brook.
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I prithee good Fellow where art thou now?
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the Stranger in Laughter he cryd,
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Quoth bold Robin Hood, good faith in the Flood,
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and floating along with the Tide.
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I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave Soul,
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with thee Ill no longer contend:
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For needs must I say thou hast got the Day;
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our Battle shall be at an End.
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Then strait to the Bank he did presently Wade,
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and pulld himself out by a Thorn;
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Which done at the last he blew a loud Blast,
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straitway on his fine Bugle Horn.
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The Eccho of which through the Vallies did ring,
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at which his stout Bowmen appeard;
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All cloathed in Green, most gay to be seen;
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then up to their Master they steerd.
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O what is the Matter quoth William Stutely?
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good Master you are wet to the Skin;
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No Matter said he, the Lad that you see
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in Fighting hath tumbled me in.
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He shall not go Scot-free the others replyd,
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so strait they were seizing him there;
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To duck him likewise, but Robin Hood cries
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he is a good Fellow, forbear.
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There is no one shall wrong thee, so be not afraid
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these Bowmen upon me do wait.
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Theres Threescore and nine, if thou wilt be mine,
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thou shalt have my Livery strait.
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And other Accoutrements fitting also:
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speak up Jolly Blade never fear:
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I shall teach thee also the Use of the Bow
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to shoot at the fair Fallow Deer.
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O here is my Hand, the Stranger replyd,
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Ill serve you with all my Heart:
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My Name is John Little, a Man of much Mettle;
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never doubt me but I shall play my Part.
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His Name shall be alterd quoth William Stutely:
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and I will his Godfather be:
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Prepare then a Feast, and none of the least;
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for we will be merry quoth he.
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They soon did fetch in a Brace of fat Does:
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with humming strong Liquor likewise:
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They lovd that was good; so in the Green Wood
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this lovely sweet Babe they Babtize.
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He was I must tell you but seven Feet high,
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and may be an Ell in the Waist
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A pretty sweet Lad: much Feasting they had:
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bold Robin the Christening gracd
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With all his Bowmen that stood in a Ring,
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and were of the Nottingham Breed:
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Brave Stately came then with seven Yeomen,
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and did in this Manner proceed.
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This Infant was called Little John quoth he:
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which Name shall be changed anon:
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The Words well transpose, where-ever he goes,
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hi[s] Name shall be calld Little John
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They all with a shout made the Elements ring:
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so soon as the Office was oer:
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To Feasting they went in great Merriment:
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and tipled strong Liquor golore.
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Then Robin Hood took the pretty fine Babe,
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and cloathd him from Top to the Toe:
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In Garments of Green so gay to be seen:
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and gives him a curious long Bow.
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Thou shalt be an Archer as well as the best:
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and range in the Green Woods with us:
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Where well not want Gold, nor Silver behold;
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whilst Bishops have ought in their Purse.
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We live here like Squires or Lords of Renown,
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without ever a Foot of Free Land:
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We feast on good Cheer; with Ale, Wine or Beers:
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and every Thing at Command.
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Then Musick and Dancing did finish the Day:
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at length when the Sun waxed low:
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Then all the whole train the Grove did refrain,
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and unto their Caves they did go;
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And thus ever after as long as he livd,
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altho he was proper and tall;
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Yet nevertheless the Truth to express,
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still Little John they do him call.
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