P. 155. The following copy, entitled 'Robin Hood and the Proud
Pedlar,' is from a garland in a collection of folio sheet-ballads
mostly dated 1775, in the British Museum, 1346. m. 7(9). The
Museum catalogue assigns the ballads to Edinburgh. I owe my
knowledge of this piece to Mr. P.Z. Round.
| 1 |
There was a proud pedlar, a fine pedlar,
a proud pedlar he seemd to be,
And he's taen his pack upon his back,
and went linking over the lee. |
| 2 |
Where he met two troublesome men,
troublesome men they seemd to be,
The one of them was Robin Hood,
the other Little John so free. |
| 3 |
'O what is that into thy pack?
thou pedlar proud now tell to me;'
'There's seven suits of good green silk,
and bow-strings either two or three.' |
| 4 |
'If there's seven suits of good green silk,
and silken bow-strings two or three,
Then be my sooth,' says Little John,
'there's some of them must fall to me.' |
| 5 |
Then he's taen his pack off his back,
and laid it low down by his knee:
'Where's the man fit to drive me frae 't?
then pack and all to him I'll gie.' |
| 6 |
Then Little John pulld out his sword,
the pedler he pulld out his brand,
They swapped swords till they did sweat;
'O pedlar fine, now hold thy hand!' |
| 7 |
'O fy! O fy!' said Robin Hood,
' O fy! O fy! that must not be,
For I've seen a man in greater strait
than to pay him and pedlars three.' |
| 8 |
'Then try him, try him, master,' he said,
'O try him now, master,' said he,
'For by me sooth,' said Little John,
'master, 't is neither you nor me.' |
| 9 |
Bold Robin pulld out his sword,
the pedlar he pulld out his brand,
They swapped swords till they did sweat;
'O pedlar fine, now hold thy hand! |
| 10 |
'O what's thy name,' says Robin Hood,
'now, pedlar fine, come tell to me;'
'No, be my sooth, that will I not,
till I know what your names may be.' |
| 11 |
'The one of us ['s] calld Robin Hood,
the other Little John so free,
And now it lies into thy breast
whether thou 'It tell thy name to me.' |
| 12 |
'I'm Gamwell gay, of good green wood,
my fame is far beyond the sea;
For killing a man in my father's land
my native land I was forcd to flee.' |
| 13 |
'If thou be Gamwell of the green wood,
thy fame is far beyond the sea;
And be my sooth,' said Little John,
'my sister's son thou needs must be. |
| 14 |
'But what was that was on thy back?
O, cousin Gamwell, tell unto me;'
'It is seven sarks and three gravats,
is all the kitt that I carry.' |
| 15 |
They smoothd their words and sheathd their swords,
and kissd and clapt most tenderly;
To a tavern then they went to dine,
and drank about most heartily. |
| July, 1775. |
Captain Delany's Garland, containing five new songs, ... II,
Robin Hood and the Proud Pedlar.
