US & Canada Versions: 132. Bold Pedlar & Robin Hood
[In his 1st footnote to Child 128, Robin Hood and the Newly Revived, Child comments: "The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood, No 132, is a traditional variation of Robin Hood Revived." Curiously Dixon's version, 132 A, as taken from tradition, was published in the US by Cozzens about the same time as Dixon's version- 1846. Cozzens version is missing the refrain and was reprinted by Barry in BBM, 1929. This establishes that both Dixon's "traditional" version and Cozzens were taken from British stall copies.
Whether both Child 128 and 132 should be the same ballad is debatable. Whether the name should be "Robin Hood and the Stranger" after Ritson (and Knight, 1999) is another question. For now, I'm putting North American versions here under Child 132.
Most of the North American versions originated from Canada except the Harrington version which came from Rhode Island. The sole version from Appalachia is likely a ballad recreation by Niles.
R. Matteson 2015]
CONTENTS: (To access individual texts click the highlighted blue title link below)
1) The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood- (NY) c1845 Cozzens -- Published by Phillip J. Cozzens (Cozans); c. 1845 at 107 Nassau Street, NYC. Reprinted in British Ballads from Maine, 1929.
2) The Bold Peddler- Smithy (KY) 1912 Niles -- From The Ballad book of John Jacob Niles, 1961. This ballad has not been found in Appalachia and most US versions can be traced to Canada. It's likely this is a ballad recreation.
3) Pedler Bold- Henneberry (NS) c.1929 Creighton A -- From Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, 1933, Creighton. Sung by Mr. Ben Henneberry, Devil's Island, c. 1929; this version was recorded in 1943.
4) Bold Robing Hood- Harrington (VT) 1930 Flanders B
5) Robin Hood & the Pedlar- Edwards (VT) 1934 Flanders C
Bold Robin Hood and the Pedlar- Richards (NH) 1941
Robin Hood and the Pedlar- Grover (ME) 1941 REC
Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood- Gallagher (NS) 1943 Creighton B
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[British Ballads from Maine, 1929, Barry's notes ]
No text of this old ballad has as yet been recovered, though it is sure to be found in Maine; but for a special reason it seems important to include it in the American Songster published by Cozzens (there being at least four other American songsters known to us, none of them with sufficient means of identification), it appears next to "Robin Hood Rescuing the Three Squires," there called "Bold Robin Hood." Both seem to be from stall copies, apparently English, if we may judge by the spelling of "pedlar." We have found a good traditional copy of the rescue of the squires, and it will be only a question of search to locate this song.
Yet it is not this text which should be sought for diligently, although this the one printed by Professor Child, from Dixon's Ancient Poems, Ballads, and songs of the peasantry of England, (1846). Dixon says that he got his text from an aged woman in Bermondsey, Surrey, who informed him that she had often heard her grandmother sing it, and that it never was in print." However, he says that he "has of late met several common stall copies." The American songster must have been printed about the same time as Dixon's book. No one copying from his text would have changed it to this illiterate form, although they run
parallel, verse for verse and line for line. (The spelling- "litle" for "little" by the way, probably marks the old pronunciation "leetle," well remembered by one of the editors as very common in New England.)
The form of the songster text indicates a stall copy of about the second quarter of the nineteenth century. If the ballad came to America by way of this broadside, it must have been of comparatively late introduction.
But what the collector should seek with diligence is not the text of this ballad, but of the older underlying one, Robin Hood Newly Revived" (Child 128). This is the same story of Robin Hood's contest with his own nephew, will Gamwell, who becomes "Gamble Gold," perhaps by way of being Gamwell Bold. He is not peddling with a pack; but attired like a gentleman, is escaping the law with a leisureliness which must have caused gratification even to his redoubtable uncle.
For killing of my own father's steward,
I am forced to this English wood,
And for to seek an uncle of mine;
Some call him Robin Hood, (Stanza 18)
is his explanation when the fighting with broadswords-which Robin regarded as less deadly than the bow is over. Robin Hood was walking at midday in the forest and
There was he met of a deft Young man
As ever walkt on the way.
His doublet it was of silk, he said,
His stockings like scarlet shone,
And he walkt on along the way,
To Robin Hood then unknown'
(Stanzas 8, 4)
Robin Hood's well-meant offer to make the stranger one of his yeomen is rejected with scorn and a challenge to fight, in which the stranger proves the better man. Explanations follow in which Young Gamwell hereafter known as Will Scarlet, learns that he has found the relation he was seeking.
But Lord! what kissing and courting was there,
When these two cousins did greet!
And they went all that summers day,
And Little John did meet. (Stanza 20)
This is no baseborn ballad. Professor Child says, "The story seems to have been built up on a portion of the ruins of the fine tale of Gamelyn. (See Skeat's Chaucer, IV, 645 ff.)" At least it existed in old broadsheets. Anthony a Wood and Pepys had it in their collections, according to Professor Child, and it was in the Robin Hood' Garland of 1663 and 1670, and has been reprinted in the Roxburghe Ballads.
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ROBIN HOOD AND THE PEDLAR (Child 132) Sung by Mrs. Belle Richards of Colebrook, New Hampshire, as learned from her father, Mr. Luther, of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, who was born in Canada. from Ballads Migrant to New England
"What have you got, you pedlar trim?
What have you got, pray tell to me?
It's seven suits of gay green,
Besides my bow strings tow or three.
"If you've seven suits of the gay green silk,
Besides your bow-strings two or three,
Upon my word," said Little John,
"One half of them belong to me."
The pedlar then took off his pack,
And laid it down most manfully,
Saying, "The man that can drive me two feet from this,
The pack and all I will give to thee."
Then Little John he drew his sword.
The noble pedlar held his hand.
They swaggered swords till the sweat did drop,
Saying, "Noble pedlar, stay your hand.
Then Robin Hood, he drew his sword.
The noble pedlar held his hand.
They swaggered swords till the blood did drop,
Saying, "Noble pedlar, stay your hand."
"What is your name, you pedlar trim?
What is your name, pray tell to me?"
"Not one bit of it; of my name you'll get
Till both of yours you tell to me." .
"My name is Bold Robin Hood,
The other Little John so free,
And now it lies within your breast
To tell us what your name can be."
"My name is Bold Gammon gay,
And I came far beyond the sea;
For killing a man in my father's court
I was banished from my own country."
"Your name it is Bold Gammon gay,
And you came far beyond the sea;
And if we are two sister's sons ;
What nearer kindred need we be?"
From Ballads Migrant in New England, Flanders
Collected from Mrs. W. H. Smith, Houlton, ME 1940
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