Robin Hood And Little John

When Robin Hood was about eighteen years old,
He chancèd to meet Little John,
A jolly brisk blade, just fit for his trade,
For he was a sturdy young man.

Although he was Little, his limbs they were large,
His stature was seven feet high,
Wherever he came, he soon quickened his name,
And he presently caused them to fly.

One day these two met on a long narrow bridge,
And neither of them would give way,
When Robin stepped up to the stranger and said,
“I’ll show you brave Nottingham play.”

“You speak like a coward,” the stranger he said,
“As there with your longbow you stand.
I vow and protest you may shoot at my breast
While I have but a staff in my hand.”

“The name of a coward,” said Robin, “I scorn,
And so my longbow I lay by;
And then for your sake a staff I will take,
The faith of your manhood to try.”

Then Robin he stepped out into a grove,
And pulled up a staff of green oak,
And this being done straight back he did come
And thus to the stranger he spoke.

“Behold thou my staff, it is lusty and tough,
On this long narrow bridge let us play;
Then he who falls in, the other shall win
The battle, and then we’ll away.”

Then Robin hit the stranger a crack on the crown
Which caused the blood to appear,
And thus so enraged they more closely engaged
And they laid on the blows most severe.

The stranger hit Robin a crack on the crown,
Which was a most terrible stroke;
The very next blow laid Robin below
And tumbled him into the brook.

“Oh where are you now?” the stranger he cried.
With a hearty laugh in reply,
“Oh, faith, in the flood,” called bold Robin Hood,
“And floating away with the tide.”

Then Robin he waded all out of the deep
And he pulled himself up by a thorn;
Then just at the last he blew a loud blast
So merrily on his bugle horn.

The hills they did echo, the vales they did ring,
Which caused his gay men to appear,
All dressed in green, most fair to be seen;
Straight up to the master they steer.

“What aileth thee, Master?” quoth William Stutely,
“You seem to be wet to the skin.”
“No matter,” said he, “this fellow you see
In fighting hath tumbled me in.”

“We’ll pluck out his eyes, and duck him likewise.”
Then seized they the stranger right there.
“Nay, let him go free,” quoth bold Robin Hood,
“For he’s a brave fellow. Forbear!

“Cheer up, jolly blade, and don’t be afraid
Of all these gay men that you see.
There are fourscore and nine, and if you will be mine
You shall wear of my own livery.”

A brace of fat deer was quickly brought in,
Good ale and strong liquor likewise;
The feast was so good, all in the greenwood,
Where this jolly babe was baptized.