Bold Pedlar & Robin Hood- Gallagher (NS) 1943 Creigton
[From Rec No. 130, LOC. no. AR 5041 by Creighton, 1943. Also in Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia, 1950, Creighton and Senior.
R. Matteson 2015]
Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood - from Mrs. Edward GALLAGHER, of Chebucto Head, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, recorded 1943.
Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood
1. There was a pedlar and a pedlar bold,
A pedlar bold he seemed to be,
He put his pack all on his back
And he went clinking all o'er the lea.
2. By chance he met two troublesome men,
Two trooblesome men they chanced to be,
And the one of them was bo1d Robin Hood
And the other Little John so free.
3. "What's in your pack?" said Little John,
"Come speedilee and tell to me."
" I have seven suits of the Spanish silk
And I have bow strings it's two or three."
4. "If you have seven suits of the Spanish silk
And you have bow strings it's two or three,
I'll pledge myself," said Little John,
"That half of them will belong to me."
5. The pedlar then he lowered his pack,
He lowered it down unto his knee,
Saying, "Show me the man who put me two foot back,
The pack and all will be his fee."
6. Then Little John he pulled out his sword
And the pedlar he pulled out his brand
And they swiped their swords till the sweat did run,
He cried, "Lovely pedlar come hold your hand."
7. Now Robin Hood he being standing by,
As angry a man as there could be,
Saying, "I know a man of smaller scale
Who could whip the pedlar and win the fee."
8. "Go try him master," cried Little John,
"Go try him master most speedilee,
For there's not a man in fair Nottingham
Who could whip the pedlar and win the fee."
9. Then Robin Hood he pulled out his sword
And the pedlar drew out his brand,
And they swiped their swords till the blood did run,
He cried, "Lovely pedlar come hold your hand."
10. "What is your name?" cried Little John,
"Come quickly tell it unto me.''
"Oh the devil's a bit of my name you'll get
Until both of yours you'll tell to me."
11. Then Robin Hood he being standing by,
As pleasant a man as there could be
Saving, "The one of us is Robin Hood
And the Little John so free."
12. Now the pedlar said, "I have your names
For both of them you have told to me,
And now it lies within my own breast,
I'll tell my name to either he or thee."
13. "But[1], my name," he said, "it is young Gamewell,
I have travelled far over land and sea,
For killing a man in my father's court
In my own defence I was forced to flee."
14. Robin Hood he being standing by,
As pleasant a man as there could be,
"We are two sisters' sons," he said,
"And what nearer kindred can we be?"
1. The word "but" is very emphatic, signifying that the pedlar changed his mind. Mrs. Gallagher pauses at this point to give emphasis to the word.