Bold Robin Hood and the Pedlar

"What have you got, you pedlar trim?
What have you got, pray tell to me?"
"It's seven suits of the gay green silk,
Beside my bow-strings two 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

Note: one of the very few Robin Hood ballads collected in this
century. RG
Child #132
RG