No. 131: Robin Hood and the Ranger
[There are no known traditional US or Canadian versions of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Text A a (Changes for texts A b to A f covered in End-Notes)
5. Endnotes
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 132. Robin Hood and the Ranger
A. Roud No. 933: Robin Hood and the Ranger (10 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: (Bronson's traditional music versions and other versions)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a- A f with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: Robin Hood and the Ranger
A. 'Robin Hood and the Ranger.'
a. Robin Hood's Garland, London, C. Dicey, in Bow Church-Yard, n.d., but before 1741, p. 78.
b. R. H.'s Garland, London, W. & C. Dicey, n.d.
c. R. H.'s Garland, London, L. How, in Peticoat Lane, n.d.
d. The English Archer, etc., York, N. Nickson, in Feasegate, n.d.
e. The English Archer, etc., Paisley, John Neilson, 1786.
f. R. H.'s Garland, York, T. Wilson & R. Spence, n.d.
(All in the Bodleian Library.)
In Ritson's Robin Hood, 1795, II, 133, from a York edition of Robin Hood's Garland. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 200, apparently from an Aldermary garland.
Mr. Halliwell, in Notices of Fugitive Tracts, etc., Percy Society, vol. xxix. p. 19, refers to an edition of Robin Hood's Garland printed for James Hodges, at the Looking-glass, London-bridge, n.d., as containing "the earliest copy yet known" of Robin Hood and the Ranger, but does not indicate how the alleged fact was ascertained. Inside of the cover of a is written, William Stukely, 1741. b appears in advertisements as early as 1753.
Robin Hood, while about to kill deer, is forbidden by a forester, and claiming the forest as his own, the cause has to be tried with weapons. They break their swords on one another, and take to quarter-staves. Robin Hood is so sorely cudgelled that he gives up the fight, declaring that he has never met with so good a man. He summons his yeomen with his horn; the forester is induced to join them.
Child's Ballad Text
'Robin Hood and the Ranger'- Version A; Child 131
a. Robin Hood's Garland, London, C. Dicey, in Bow Church-Yard, n.d., but before 1741, p. 78.
b. R. H.'s Garland, London, W. & C. Dicey, n.d.
c. R. H.'s Garland, London, L. How, in Peticoat Lane, n.d.
d. The English Archer, etc., York, N. Nickson, in Feasegate, n.d.
e. The English Archer, etc., Paisley, John Neilson, 1786.
f. R. H.'s Garland, York, T. Wilson & R. Spence, n.d.
1 When Ph'qbus had melted the sickles of ice,
With a hey down, &c.
And likewise the mountains of snow,
Bold Robin Hood he would ramble to see,
To frolick abroad with his bow.
2 He left all his merry men waiting behind,
Whilst through the green vallies he passd;
There did he behold a forester bold,
Who cry'd out, Friend, whither so fast?
3 'I'm going,' quoth Robin, 'To kill a fat buck,
For me and my merry men all;
Besides, eer I go, I'll have a fat doe,
Or else it shall cost me a fall.'
4 'You'd best have a care,' said the forester then,
'For these are his majesty's deer;
Before you shall shoot, the thing I'll dispute,
For I am head-forester here.'
5 'These thirteen long summers,' quoth Robin, 'I'm sure,
My arrows I here have let fly,
Where freely I range; methinks it is strange,
You should have more power than I.
6 'This forest,' quoth Robin, 'I think is my own,
And so are the nimble deer too;
Therefore I declare, and solemnly swear,
I wont be affronted by you.'
7 The forester he had a long quarter-staff,
Likewise a broad sword by his side;
Without more ado, he presently drew,
Declaring the truth should be try'd.
8 Bold Robin Hood had a sword of the best,
Thus, eer he would take any wrong,
His courage was flush, he'd venture a brush,
And thus they fell to it ding dong.
9 The very first blow that the forester gave,
He made his broad weapon cry twang;
'Twas over the head, he fell down for dead,
O that was a damnable bang!
10 But Robin soon did recover himself,
And bravely fell to it again;
The very next stroke their weapons were broke,
Yet never a man there was slain.
11 At quarter-staff then they resolved to play,
Because they would have t'other bout;
And brave Robin Hood right valiantly stood,
Unwilling he was to give out.
12 Bold Robin he gave him very hard blows,
The other returnd them as fast;
At every stroke their jackets did smoke,
Three hours the combat did last.
13 At length in a rage the bold forester grew
And cudgeld bold Robin so sore
That he could not stand, so shaking his hand,
He said, Let us freely give oer.
14 Thou art a brave fellow, I needs must confess
I never knew any so good;
Thou'rt fitting to be a yeoman for me,
And range in the merry green wood.
15 I'll give thee this ring as a token of love,
For bravely thou'st acted thy part;
That man that can fight, in him I delight,
And love him with all my whole heart.
16 Then Robin Hood setting his horn to his mouth,
A blast he merrily blows;
His yeomen did hear, and strait did appear,
A hundred, with trusty long bows.
17 Now Little John came at the head of them all,
Cloathd in a rich mantle of green;
And likewise the rest were gloriously drest,
A delicate sight to be seen.
18 'Lo, these are my yeomen,' said Robin Hood,
'And thou shalt be one of the train;
A mantle and bow, a quiver also,
I give them whom I entertain.'
19 The forester willingly enterd the list,
They were such a beautiful sight;
Then with a long bow they shot a fat doe,
And made a rich supper that night.
20 What singing and dancing was in the green wood,
For joy of another new mate!
With mirth and delight they spent the long night,
And liv'd at a plentiful rate.
21 forester neer was so merry before
As then he was with these brave souls,
Who never would fail, in wine, beer, or ale,
To take off their cherishing bowls.
22 Then Robin Hood gave him a mantle of green,
Broad arrows, and a curious long bow;
This done, the next day, so gallant and gay,
He marched them all on a row.
23 Quoth he, My brave yeomen, be true to your trust,
And then we may range the woods wide:
They all did declare, and solemnly swear,
They'd conquer, or die by his side.
End-Notes
a. Robin Hood and the Ranger, or True Friendship after a fierce Fight. Tune of Arthur a Bland.
24. whether.
83. he'll.
121. a very hard blow.
b. 24. whither.
62. are all.
112. the other.
121. very hard blows.
142. any one.
152. thou hast.
182. And wanting.
234. They would.
c. Burden: With a hey down down down and a down.
24. whither.
53. methink'.
62. deers.
83. he'd.
101. soon recoverd.
102. to wanting.
103. they broke.
121. very hard blows.
124. this combat.
134. He cry'd.
144. And live.
162. blast then.
192. a wanting.
212. with the.
d. Tune of, etc. wanting.
Burden wanting.
11. the circles.
13. he wanting: ramble away.
24. whither.
52. arrows here I've.
54. then I.
62. so is.
71. he wanting.
31. he had.
83. he'd.
91. that wanting.
93. his head.
101. soon recoverd.
103. they broke.
121. he wanting: many hard blows.
134. He cry'd.
161. Then wanting: Hood set his bugle horn.
162. blast then.
163. and soon.
164. An.
173. rest was.
181. said bold.
184. I'll.
203. the whole.
212. with the.
213. beer and.
214. take of the.
222. a wanting.
234. They would.
e. Burden: With a hey down down deny down: or Hey down derry derry down.
11. circle.
13. he wanting: ramble away.
23. he did.
24. whither.
31. quoth Robin wanting.
33. ere.
53. here wanting.
62. so is.
71. he wanting.
82. neer.
83. he 'd.
84. thus wanting.
93. his head.
101. soon recovered.
103. they broke.
111. then wanting.
121. many hard blows.
134. He cry'd.
154. whole wanting.
161. set his brave.
162. blast then.
163. and soon.
164. An.
181. said bold.
183. and a bow.
184. I'll.
201. were in.
203. the whole.
212. with the.
222. a wanting.
f. 11. ickles of ice.
13, would frolicksome be.
14. And ramble about with his bow.
24. whither.
31. Hood wanting.
81. he'd.
101. recovered.
103. they broke.
104. Yet neither of them were slain.
112. the other.
121. very hard blows.
124. this combat.
134. He cry'd.
141. And live.
181. said bold.
194. a good.
212. As when.
213. beer and.