Pedlar Bold- Henneberry (NS) c.1929 Creighton
[From Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, 1933, Creighton. Her notes follow. This version was recorded in 1943. Even though it was sung from memory, it remains very close to print. it seems that Creighton used the version published by Child (Dixon, 1846) to check the text and spellings.
R. Matteson 2015]
No. 6. The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood, Child 132
As far as I can learn, this is the first time this ballad has been found upon this continent. Child says it seems to have been built on a portion of the ruins of the fine old tale of Gamelyn.
(See Skeat's Chaucer, 14, 645 ff.) Anthony a Wood and Pepys had it in their collections, it was in the Robin Hood Garland of 1663 and 1670. It is a traditional variation of Child 128 Robin Hood Newly Revived, or The Meeting and Fighting with his Cousin Scartet. It is significant that Mr. Faulkner remembers the name "Gamble Gold" as "Young Gamwell." The last stanza given by Mr. Henneberry, and which I have not found with any other variant of this ballad, is from Little John A Begging, Child 142, B, v. 21.
Pedlar Bold- Sung by Mr. Ben Henneberry, Devil's Island, c. 1929.
There chanced to be a pedlar bold,
A pedlar bold there chanced to be,
He put his pack upon his back
And so merrily trudged o'er the lee.
By chance he met with two troublesome men,
Two troublesome men they chanced to be,
One of their names was bold Robin Hood
And the other Little John so free.
"Pedlar, pedlar, what's in thy pack?
Come speedilie and tell to me."
"I have several suits of the gay, green silk,
And silken bow-strings one, two, and three."
"If you have several suits of the gay, green silk,
And silken bow-strings one, two and three,
Then by my body," cried Little John,
"Half your pack belongs to me."
The pedlar then took his pack
And placed little below his knee,
And demanded, " Moves me one perch from this
The pack and all shall gang to thee."
Little John he pulled forth the sword
And the pedlar by his pack did stand,
They swaggered swords till the sweat did flow
And he cried, " Pedlar, pray hold your hand."
Robin Hood, he being standing by,
He did laugh most heartilie,
"I could find a man of smaller scale
Could whip the pedlar and also thee."
"Go try, master," cried Little John,
"Go try, go try most speedilie,
There is not a man in fair Nottingham
Can beat the pedlar and also me."
Bold Robin Hood he drew forth his sword
And the pedlar by his pack did stand,
Where they swaggered swords till the blood did flow,
When he cried, "Pedlar, pray hold your hand.
Oh pedlar, pedlar, what is thy name?
Come speedilie and tell to me."
"The devil a one of ye my name shall know
Before both your names ye have told to me."
One of our names is bold Robin Hood,
The other one Little John so free."
"Now," said the pedlar, "it's my good will
Whether my name I should tell to thee.
I am Gamble Gold[1] of the gay green woods,
I have travelled far and o'er the sea,
And for killing of a man in my father's court
From my country I was forced to flee."
"If you're Gamble Gold of the gay, green woods
And have travelled far and o'er the sea,
You are my mother's own sister's son,
What nearer cousins then can we be?"
They sheathed the swords with friendly words,
So merrilie they did agree,
They went to a tavern and did they dine
I'd cracked a bottle most merrilie.
Then these three they took hold of hand,[2]
Merrilie danced round the green tree,
You drink water while your money lasts,
There's a time you'll die, lads as well as me.
1. Mr. Faulkner of Devil's Island remembers this line as "Now my name it is young Gamwell." This is the name in Child 128, Newly Revived.
2. Last stanza from Little John A Begging, Child 142, B, v. 21.