Robin Hood and His Merry Foresters

by Joseph Cundall

ROBIN HOOD’S YOUTH.

“More than six hundred years ago, in the reigns of King Henry the Second and Richard Cœur de Lion, there lived in the northern part of England a most famous outlaw, named Robin Hood. The daring exploits and curious adventures of this renowned hero have been celebrated in songs throughout almost every country in Europe; and so great a favourite has he always been in England, that, as the old poet says,

“‘In this our spacious isle I think there is not one

But he of Robin Hood hath heard, and Little John;

And, to the end of time, the tales shall ne’er be done

Of Scarlet, George-a-Green, and Much, the miller’s son;

Of Tuck, the merry friar, which many a sermon made

In praise of Robin Hood, his outlaws, and their trade.’

“Robin Hood, whose true name appears to have been Robert Fitzooth, was born and bred in the sweet town of Locksley, in merry Nottinghamshire, about the year 1160. He was a very handsome youth, with light auburn hair, and dark bright eyes that glanced and sparkled like stars, and was the most expert archer and bravest wrestler among all the lads of the county, from whom he oft-times bore away the prize in their rural sports. One day as Robin Hood was going to Nottingham upon a visit to his uncle he passed by an ale-house, at the door of which stood several foresters, keepers of the king’s parks, drinking ale and wine. Young Robin joined the party, and entered into conversation with them, when he learned that the king had commanded a shooting match to be held at a town close by in the course of the following week.

“‘I will be there,’ cried Robin Hood with great glee, ‘and will show King Henry a good cloth-yard arrow well shot.’

“‘Ha! ha!’ laughed one of the foresters. ‘Dost thou think that a stripling like thee may shoot before a king? I’ faith, my young fellow, thou must give place to better men.’

“Robin Hood’s brow flushed with anger at this slight, and he half drew his dagger from its sheath, but recollecting himself—‘I’ll wager thee twenty crowns,’ he replied, ‘that I will strike a deer at five hundred yards.’

“‘Done,’ cried the forester. ‘I bet thee twenty crowns thou canst not. Our host shall hold the stakes while we go into yonder wood.’

“‘Agreed,’ said Robin Hood; ‘and if I do not kill the deer thou shalt win the bet.’ Each then paid twenty crowns to the host, and the whole party set out merrily to the wood. Young Robin strung his noble bow, and chose one of his best arrows, and in a few minutes a hart bounded across the plain. Although the animal was at a considerable distance farther off than the space agreed upon, Robin would not lose the chance; he drew his arrow to the head, and let fly with such force that when it struck the deer upon its side the poor creature fell plunging to the earth in a stream of its own blood.

“‘Give me the money,’ said Robin Hood proudly, to the host, ‘if ’twere a thousand pound, I’ve won the wager.’

“‘The wager’s none of thine,’ cried the man with whom he had laid the bet. ‘Thou hadst better take up thy bow and begone, or by’r lady I’ll make thee rue this day;’ and thus saying he bestowed a buffet on the young archer’s head, while the other keepers stood by and laughed.

“Robin Hood took up his bow as he was bidden, without saying a word, and smiled as he ran away from them across the plain. When he had got some good distance off, he turned round, and aiming at the treacherous forester, let fly a shaft which struck him upon the breast, pierced his heart, and laid him dead upon the spot. Before his companions had recovered from their surprise, Robin Hood sent arrow after arrow among them, wounding some severely, and stretching others lifeless upon the grass.

“The people of Nottingham hearing of this, came out in great numbers to take the bold young archer, but he had escaped far away before they arrived; therefore, contenting themselves with taking the bodies of the dead foresters, they buried them ‘all in a row,’ in the churchyard in Nottingham.

“For a long time afterwards Robin Hood dared not show himself in any town or village, as a reward was offered for his apprehension; but he lived in the forests under the green-wood trees, where he quickly met with several other youths who for various causes had been outlawed like himself.

“In these times immense tracts of land, especially in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, were covered with dense woods, which generally abounded in deer and every description of game; and as these were the property of the king, rangers or foresters were appointed for their protection, and the penalty against any one who dared to slay a stag was death.

“Robin Hood and his companions cared very little for these rangers, who indeed stood but a poor chance against them. They shot the king’s deer whenever they were in want of food, and cooked it well enough by a fire kindled with branches of the royal trees.

“They likewise were sometimes bold enough to stop his majesty’s liege subjects upon the highway, and politely request the loan of a few pounds, which was most frequently granted them without their giving any security for its repayment, the poor traveller being glad to escape with a safe body.

“As the young outlaw thus continued to live in Sherwood forest, his superior skill in archery and his prowess at all manly exercises gained him great fame. Many young men joined him in his retreat, and placed themselves under his leadership, so that he soon found himself captain of at least three-score gallant youths.

“Robin Hood and his followers all dressed themselves in cloth of Lincoln green, and generally wore a scarlet cap upon their heads. Each man was armed with a dagger and a short basket-hilted sword, and carried a long bow in his hand, while a quiver filled with arrows a cloth-yard long hung at his back. The captain, besides wearing a better cloth than his men, always carried with him a bugle horn, whose notes he taught his followers to distinguish at a most incredible distance.

“One day Robin Hood said to his men, ‘My brave fellows, here have we been fourteen long days without any kind of sport. Stay ye here awhile among the green leaves, while I go forth in search of some adventure. If I want your assistance three blasts on my bugle horn will tell ye where I am.’ And bidding them adieu for the present, he shook hands with them, and with his trusty bow in his hand set out on his expedition. He soon reached the high road, where he thought he should most easily meet with something to do, and marched along boldly for a considerable way. Presently he came to a wide but shallow brook that ran across the road, over which there was but one narrow bridge, that would only permit a single person to cross at a time. Just as Robin Hood set his foot upon the plank at one end a traveller appeared upon the other side, and as neither would return they met in the middle of the bridge. The stranger was a tall handsome young fellow nearly seven feet high, but unarmed, except with a stout oaken staff.

“‘Go back,’ cried he to Robin Hood, ‘or ’twill be the worse for thee.’

“‘Ha! ha!’ laughed Robin, ‘surely thou jestest, man. Were I to bend this good bow of mine I could send an arrow through thy heart before thou could’st even strike;’ and stepping back a pace or two he drew a shaft from his quiver and fixed it ready to shoot.

“‘Thou talk’st like a coward,’ replied the stranger; ‘with a long bow drawn against one who has but an oaken staff.’

“‘I am no coward,’ answered Robin Hood, ‘and that thou shalt see. Stay on the bridge awhile. I’ll be with thee again in the twinkling of an arrow.’ And laying aside his bow he ran back along the plank, plunged into a thicket close at hand, and quickly returned bearing a good oak branch.

“‘Now,’ cried he to the traveller, ‘now we are equally matched; let’s fight out our quarrel on the bridge; whoever throws the other into the water shall win the day, and so we’ll part.’

“‘With all my heart,’ replied the stranger, ‘for go back I will not;’ and without a word farther he bestowed such a thwack on the head of Robin Hood that his teeth chattered together.

“‘Thou shalt have as good as thou giv’st,’ cried Robin, and laid such a blow on the shoulder of his opponent that every bone in his body rung again. At it they then went in right earnest, and thick and fast rattled the staves upon their heads and backs, appearing like men threshing corn. Getting more enraged at every stroke, they laid about each other with so much fury that their jackets smoked as if they had been on fire; but at last the stranger gave Robin Hood a blow upon the side of his head that made him stagger, and losing his balance the outlaw tumbled into the brook.

“‘Where art thou now, my fine fellow?’ cried the victorious stranger, laughing.

“‘Good faith,’ replied Robin Hood, ‘I’m in the water, and floating bravely with the tide. But thou art a bold yeoman I needs must say, and I’ll fight no more with thee. Thou hast got the day and there’s an end of our battle.’ Then wading to the bank he caught hold of a projecting branch of a tree, pulled himself out of the brook, and setting his bugle to his lips blew three such loud and lusty blasts that the woods and valleys echoed and re-echoed them, till they reached the ears of his merry bowmen. In a few minutes they all appeared dressed in their bright green coats, and ranged themselves round Robin Hood, who was lying on the grass to rest his bruised limbs.

“‘Good master,’ cried one of them, named Will Stutely, ‘what wantest thou with thy merry men? Hast thou fallen into the brook?’

“‘No matter,’ replied their captain; ‘this youth and I have had a famous fight, and he knocked me into the water.’

“‘We’ll duck him, we’ll duck him,’ exclaimed the men, running up to the stranger, and seizing him by the arms.

“‘Forbear!’ shouted Robin Hood. ‘He is a brave young fellow, and must be one of us.’ Then, springing to his feet, he advanced towards him. ‘No one shall harm thee, friend,’ he said; ‘these merry men are mine. There are three-score and nine, and if thou wilt join them thou shalt have a coat of Lincoln green like theirs, a dagger, a good broadsword, and a bow and arrows, with which we will soon teach thee to kill the fat fallow-deer.’

“‘Here’s my hand on it,’ replied the stranger, striking his palm into that of the bold outlaw; ‘I’ll serve thee with my whole heart. My name is John Little, but thou’lt find I can do much, and that I’ll play my part with the best.’

“‘His name must be altered,’ said Will Stutely. ‘I’ll be his godfather, and we’ll have a merry christening in the green-wood.’

“A brace of fat does were presently shot, and a fresh barrel of humming strong ale was broached for the occasion. Robin Hood and his followers then stood in a ring, while Will Stutely, attended by seven of the tallest, dressed themselves in black garments that had once belonged to some unfortunate priests, and prepared to baptize this pretty infant. They carried him into the midst of the ring, and throwing a bucket of water over his face, for fear a little sprinkling might not be enough, Will Stutely in a very solemn tone said, ‘This infant has hitherto been called John Little; we do now hereby change his name, which from the present day to the end of his life shall be called Little John.’

“A loud shout from the men made the forest ring again. When this ceremony was concluded, and when Robin Hood had given his new attendant a coat of Lincoln green, and a curiously carved long-bow, they all sat down on the grass to a merry feast. Music succeeded, and their bold captain, in honour of his new guest, trolled forth the following song:—

“‘You’re welcome, my lad, to the forests o’ green,

Where the wild deer so merrily bounds;

Where the foresters bold their gay revels hold,

And their bugle-horn cheerily sounds.

“‘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 welcome, my lad, to the merry green-wood,

Where the wild deer so joyously bounds;

Where the foresters bold their gay revels hold,

And their bugle-horn cheerily sounds.’

“THOU’RT WELCOME MY LAD TO THE MERRY GREEN-WOOD.”

J. Gilbert

“Merrily and gaily did they pass the evening; now dancing round some old monarch of the forest, and now listening to the rude but pleasing ditty of one of their companions. At length the sun went down, and the deep shades of the forest began to draw around them. Robin Hood drew forth his bugle, sounded a few notes, and in a minute or two the whole band were dispersed in groups to their huts and caves.