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15 - Robin Hood by J Walker McSpadden · Robin Hood

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  Speaker 1: How Robin Hood was tanned of the tanner. In Noddingham
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  Speaker 1: there lived a jolly tanner with a hay down down
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  Speaker 1: adown down. His name was Arthur A Bland. There never
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  Speaker 1: was a squire in Nottinghamshire. Dare bid Bold Arthur stand,
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  Speaker 1: And as he went forth in a summer's morning with
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  Speaker 1: a hay down down adown down to the forest of
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  Speaker 1: mary Sherwood to view the red deer that range here,
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  Speaker 1: and there there he met with Bold robin Hood. The
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  Speaker 1: sheriff's daughter bited for several days in the faint hope
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  Speaker 1: that she might hear tidings of the prattling tinker. But
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  Speaker 1: never a word heard she, and she was forced to
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  Speaker 1: the conclusion that her messenger had not so much as
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  Speaker 1: laid eyes upon the outlaw. Little wrecked she that he
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  Speaker 1: was even then grinding sword points and sharpening arrows out
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  Speaker 1: in the good greenwood, while whistling blithely or chatting merrily
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  Speaker 1: with the good friar tuck. Then she bethought herself of
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  Speaker 1: another good man, one Arthur A Bland, a tanner who
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  Speaker 1: dwelt in Nottingham Town and was far famed in the
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  Speaker 1: tourneys round about. He had done some pretty tricks at archery,
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  Speaker 1: but was strongest at wrestling and the quarterstaff. For three
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  Speaker 1: years he had cast all comers to the earth in wrestling,
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  Speaker 1: until the famous eric A Lincoln broke a rib for
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  Speaker 1: him in a mighty tussle. Howsoever, at quarterstaff he had
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  Speaker 1: never yet met his match, so that there was never
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  Speaker 1: a squire in Nottinghamshire. Dare bid bold Arthur stand with
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  Speaker 1: a long pike staff on his shoulder, so well he
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  Speaker 1: could clear his way, that by two or three he
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  Speaker 1: made men flee, and none of them could stay. Thus
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  Speaker 1: at least runs the old song which tells of his might.
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  Speaker 1: This is just the man for me, thought the sheriff's
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  Speaker 1: daughter to herself, and she forthwith summoned him to the
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  Speaker 1: mansion house and commissioned him to seek out robin Hood.
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  Speaker 1: The warrant was quite to Arthur's liking, for he was
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  Speaker 1: happiest when he was out in the forest taking a
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  Speaker 1: sly peep at the king deer. And now he reckoned
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  Speaker 1: that he could look at them boldly instead of by
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  Speaker 1: the rays of the moon. He could say to any
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  Speaker 1: king's forester who made bold to stop him, I am
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  Speaker 1: here on the King's business. Gray mercy, no more oak,
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  Speaker 1: bark and ditch water, and the smell of half kind
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  Speaker 1: hides to day, quoth he gaily, I shall even see
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  Speaker 1: what the free air of heaven tastes like when it
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  Speaker 1: sweeps through the open wood. So the tanner departed joyfully
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  Speaker 1: upon his errand, but much more interested in the dun
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  Speaker 1: deer of the forest than in any two legged rovers therein.
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  Speaker 1: This interest had in fact caused the foresters to keep
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  Speaker 1: a shrewd eye upon him in the past, for his
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  Speaker 1: tannery was apt to have plenty of meat in it
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  Speaker 1: that was more like venison than the law allowed. As
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  Speaker 1: for the outlaws, Arthur bore them no ill will. Indeed,
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  Speaker 1: he had felt a secret envy in his heart of
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  Speaker 1: their free life. But he was not afraid to meet
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  Speaker 1: any two men who might come against him. Nayth less,
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  Speaker 1: the sheriff's daughter did not choose a very good messenger,
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  Speaker 1: as you shall presently see. Away sped the tanner a
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  Speaker 1: piece of bread and some wine in his wallet, a
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  Speaker 1: good long bow and arrows slung across his shoulder, his
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  Speaker 1: stout quarter staff in his hand, and on his head
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  Speaker 1: a cap of troubled rawhide, so tough that it would
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  Speaker 1: turn the edge of a broadsword. He lost no time
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  Speaker 1: in getting out of the hot sun and into the
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  Speaker 1: welcome shade of the forest, where he stalked cautiously about
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  Speaker 1: seeking some sign of the dun deer. Now it so
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  Speaker 1: chanced that upon that very morning Robin Hood had sent
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  Speaker 1: Little John to a neighboring village to buy some cloth
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  Speaker 1: of Lincoln green for new suits for all the band.
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  Speaker 1: Some of the money recently won of the king was
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  Speaker 1: being spent in this fashion against the approach of winter.
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  Speaker 1: Will Scarlett had been sent on a similar errand to
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  Speaker 1: Barnsdale some time before, if you remember, only to be
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  Speaker 1: chased up the hill without his purchase. So to day
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  Speaker 1: little John was chosen, and for sweet company's sake, Robin
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  Speaker 1: and went with him a part of the way until
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  Speaker 1: they came to the seven Does the Inn, where Robin
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  Speaker 1: had recently played his prank upon Middle the Tinker. Here
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  Speaker 1: they drank a glass of ale to refresh themselves withal
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  Speaker 1: and for good luck, and Robin carried a bit while
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  Speaker 1: Little John went on his Errand presently Robin entered the
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  Speaker 1: edge of the wood, when whom should he see but Arthur,
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  Speaker 1: a bland busily creeping after a graceful deer that browsed
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  Speaker 1: alone down the glade now by Saint George and the dragon,
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  Speaker 1: quoth Robin to himself, I much fear that yon sain
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  Speaker 1: fellow is a rascally poacher. Come after our own and
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  Speaker 1: the King's meat. For you must know, by a curious
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  Speaker 1: process of reasoning, Robin and his men had hunted in
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  Speaker 1: the Royal Preserve so long that they had come to
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  Speaker 1: consider themselves joint owners to every animal which roamed Therein Nay,
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  Speaker 1: he added, this must be looked into. That cowskin cap
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  Speaker 1: in sooth must hide a scurvy varlet. And forthwith he
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  Speaker 1: crept behind a tree, and thence to another, stalking our
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  Speaker 1: friend Arthur, as busily as Arthur was stalking the deer.
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  Speaker 1: This went on for quite a space until the Tanner
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  Speaker 1: began to come upon the deer and draw his bow
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  Speaker 1: in order to tickle the victim's ribs with a cloth
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  Speaker 1: yard shaft. But just at this moment, Robin unluckily trod
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  Speaker 1: upon a twig, which snapped and caused the tanner to turn. Suddenly,
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  Speaker 1: Robin saw that he was discovered, so he determined to
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  Speaker 1: put a bold face on the matter, and went forward
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  Speaker 1: with some smart show of authority. Hold, he cried, stay
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  Speaker 1: your hand. Why who are you, bold fellow, to ring
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  Speaker 1: so boldly here in sooth to be brief? Ye look
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  Speaker 1: like a thief that has come to steal the king's deer. Mary,
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  Speaker 1: it is scant concern of yours what I look like,
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  Speaker 1: retorted Arthur, a bland Who are you who speaks so bravely?
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  Speaker 1: You shall soon find out who I am? Quoth Robin,
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  Speaker 1: determining to find some sport in the matter. I am
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  Speaker 1: a keeper of this forest. The king knows that I
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  Speaker 1: am looking after is dear for him, and therefore we
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  Speaker 1: must stay you. Have you any assistance, friend, asked the tanner, calmly,
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  Speaker 1: For it is not one man alone who can stop me. Nay, truly, Gossip,
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  Speaker 1: replied Robin. I have a good ye baw, also a
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  Speaker 1: right sharp blade at my side. Nay less, I need
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  Speaker 1: no better assistant than a good oak graft like unto yours.
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  Speaker 1: Give me a baker's dozen of minutes with it, and
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  Speaker 1: it shall pleasure me to crack that pate of yours.
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  Speaker 1: For your sauciness. Softly, my man, fair and softly. Big
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  Speaker 1: words never killed so much as a mouse, least of
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  Speaker 1: all yon deer, which has got away while you were
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  Speaker 1: filling all the woods with your noisy breath. So choose
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  Speaker 1: your own playthings for your sword and your bow. I
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  Speaker 1: care not a straw, nor for all your arrows to boot.
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  Speaker 1: If I get but a knock at you, twill be
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  Speaker 1: as much as you'll need. Now, by our lady, will
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  Speaker 1: you listen to the braggart, cried Robin in a fine rage. Marry,
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  Speaker 1: but I'll teach ye to be more mannerly, so saying,
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  Speaker 1: he unbuckled his belt, and flinging his bow upon the ground,
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  Speaker 1: he seized hold of a young sapling that was growing
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  Speaker 1: near by his hunting. I soon had it severed and
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  Speaker 1: lopped into shape. Now come, fellow, said Arthur, a bland,
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  Speaker 1: seeing that he was ready. And if I do not
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  Speaker 1: tan your hide for you, in better shape than ever,
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  Speaker 1: calfskin was turned into top boots. May a Moraine seize
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  Speaker 1: me stay, said Robin. Methinks my cudgel is half a
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  Speaker 1: foot longer than yours. I would have them of equal
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  Speaker 1: length before you begin your tanning. I pass not for length,
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  Speaker 1: bowled Arthur, replied, My staff is long enough as you
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  Speaker 1: will shortly find out eight foot and a half, and
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  Speaker 1: twill knock down a calf. Here he made it whistle
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  Speaker 1: in the air, and I hope it will knock down you.
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  Speaker 1: Forthwith the two men spat on their hands, laid firm
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  Speaker 1: hold upon their cudgels, and began slowly circling round each other,
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  Speaker 1: looking for an opening. Now it's so chance that little
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  Speaker 1: John had fared expeditiously with his errand he had met
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  Speaker 1: the merchant from whom he was wont to buy Lincoln Green,
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  Speaker 1: coming along the road, and had made known his wants
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  Speaker 1: in few words. The merchant readily undertook to deliver the
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  Speaker 1: suits by a certain day in the following month. So
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  Speaker 1: Little John glad to get back to the cool shelter
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  Speaker 1: of the Greenwood, hasted along the road lately taken by Robin.
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  Speaker 1: Presently he heard the sound of angry voices, one of
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  Speaker 1: which he recognized as his captain's. Now heaven, forfend, quoth
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  Speaker 1: he that Robin has fallen into the clutches of a
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  Speaker 1: king's man. I must take a peep at this fray.
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  Speaker 1: So he cautiously made his way from tree to tree
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  Speaker 1: as Robin had done, till he came to the little
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  Speaker 1: open space where Robin and Arthur were circling each other
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  Speaker 1: with angry looks, like two dogs at bay ha. This
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  Speaker 1: looks interesting, muttered little John to himself, for he loved
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  Speaker 1: a good quarter staff bout above anything else in the world,
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  Speaker 1: and was the best man at it in all the greenwood.
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  Speaker 1: And he crawled quietly underneath a friendly bush, much as
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  Speaker 1: he had done when Robin undertook to teach will Scarlet
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  Speaker 1: a lesson, and chuckled softly to himself and slapped his
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  Speaker 1: thigh and prepared to watch the fight at his ease. Indeed,
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  Speaker 1: it was both exciting and laughable. You would have chuckled
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  Speaker 1: one moment and caught your breath the next to see
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  Speaker 1: those two stout fellows swinging their sticks, each half as
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  Speaker 1: long again as the men were, and thick as their arm,
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  Speaker 1: and edging along sideways, neither wishing to strike the first blow.
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  Speaker 1: At last, Robin could no longer forbear, and his good
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  Speaker 1: right arm swung round like a flash, ping went the
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  Speaker 1: stick on the back of the other's head, raising such
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  Speaker 1: a wealth that the blood came, but the tanner did
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  Speaker 1: not seem to mind it at all, for Bing went
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  Speaker 1: off his own staff, and returned, giving Robin as good
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  Speaker 1: as he had sent. Then the little battle was on,
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  Speaker 1: and furiously it waged. Fast fell the blows, but few
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  Speaker 1: save the first ones, landed, being met in mid air
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  Speaker 1: by a counter blow, till the thwacking sticks sounded like
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  Speaker 1: the stade roll of a kettle drum, and the oak
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  Speaker 1: bark flew as fine as it had ever done in
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  Speaker 1: Arthur a Bland's tannery. Round and round they fought, digging
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  Speaker 1: their heels into the ground to keep him slipping, so
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  Speaker 1: that you would have vowed there had been a yoke
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  Speaker 1: of oxen plowing a potato patch. Round and round, up
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  Speaker 1: and down, in and out, their arms working like threshing machines,
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  Speaker 1: went the yeoman and the tanner for a full hour,
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  Speaker 1: each becoming more astonished every minute that the other was
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  Speaker 1: such a good fellow, while little John, from underneath his
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  Speaker 1: bushy covert, had much ado to keep from roaring aloud
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  Speaker 1: in pure joy. Finally Robin saw his chance and brought
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  Speaker 1: a full arm blow straight down upon the other's head,
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  Speaker 1: with a force that would have felled a bullock. But
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  Speaker 1: Arthur's troubled cowskin cap here stood him in good stead.
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  Speaker 1: The blow glanced off without doing much more than stunning him.
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  Speaker 1: Nay less, he reeled and had much ado to keep
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  Speaker 1: from falling, seeing which Robin stayed his hand to his
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  Speaker 1: own sorrow, for the tanner recovered his wits in a
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  Speaker 1: marvelous quick space and sent back a sidelong blow which
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  Speaker 1: fairly lifted Robin off his feet and sent him tumbling
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  Speaker 1: on to the grass. Hold your hand, Hold your hand,
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  Speaker 1: roared Robin, with what little breath he had left. Hold,
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  Speaker 1: I say, and I will give you the freedom of
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  Speaker 1: the greenwood. Well god a mercy, said Arthur. I may
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  Speaker 1: thank my staff for that. Not you well gossip. Let
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  Speaker 1: it be as it may. But prithee, tell me your
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  Speaker 1: name and trade. I like to know fellows who can
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  Speaker 1: hit a blow like that. Same last. I am a tanner,
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  Speaker 1: replied Arthur, a bland in Nottingham. Long have I wrought,
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  Speaker 1: and if you'll come to me, I swear I'll tan
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  Speaker 1: your hides for naught. Odds bodkins, quoth Robin, ruefully, Mine
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  Speaker 1: own hide is tan enough for the present. Howsoever there
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  Speaker 1: be others in this wood, I would fain see you
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  Speaker 1: tackle harkye if you will leave your tan pots and
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  Speaker 1: come with me as sure as my name is Robin Hood.
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  Speaker 1: Ye sha'n't want gold or fee by the breath of
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  Speaker 1: my body, said Arthur, that will I do, and he
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  Speaker 1: gripped him gladly by the hand. But I am minded
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  Speaker 1: that I clean forgot the errand that brought me to Sherwood.
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  Speaker 1: I was commissioned by some under the sheriff's roof to
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  Speaker 1: capture you. So was a certain tinker now in our service,
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  Speaker 1: said Robin, smilingly. Verily, tis a new way to recruit forces,
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  Speaker 1: said the tanner, laughing loudly. But tell me, good, Robin Hood,
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  Speaker 1: where is little John? I fain would see him, for
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  Speaker 1: he is a kinsman on my mother's side. Here I
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  Speaker 1: am good, Arthur, A bland, said a voice, and little
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  Speaker 1: John literally rolled out from under the bush to the sward.
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  Speaker 1: His eyes were full of tears from much laughter, which
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  Speaker 1: had well nigh left him powerless to get on his feet.
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  Speaker 1: As soon as the astonished tanner saw who it was,
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  Speaker 1: he gave little John a mighty hug around the neck
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  Speaker 1: and lifted him up on his feet, and the two
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  Speaker 1: pounded each other on the back soundly. So glad were
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  Speaker 1: they to meet again, Oh man, man, said little John,
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  Speaker 1: as soon as he had got his breath. Never saw
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  Speaker 1: I so fine a sight in all my born days.
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  Speaker 1: You did knock him over like as he were a
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  Speaker 1: nine pin, And you do joy to see me thwacked
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  Speaker 1: about on the ribs, asked Robin with some collar. Nay,
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  Speaker 1: not that, master, said little John. But tis the second
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  Speaker 1: time I have had special tickets to a show from
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  Speaker 1: beneath the bushes, and I cannot forbear my delight. Howsoever,
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  Speaker 1: take no shame unto yourself, for this same Arthur A
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  Speaker 1: Bland is the best man at the quarterstaff in all Nottinghamshire.
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  Speaker 1: It commonly takes two or three men to hold him,
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  Speaker 1: unless it be Eric O. Lincoln, said Arthur modestly, And
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  Speaker 1: I well know how you paid him out at the fair.
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  Speaker 1: Say no more, said Robin, springing to his feet, for well,
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  Speaker 1: I know that I have done good business this day,
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  Speaker 1: and a few bruises are easy payment for the stout cudgel.
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  Speaker 1: I am getting into the band your hand again, good
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  Speaker 1: Arthur a Bland, come let us after the deer of
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  Speaker 1: which I spoiled your stocking. Righty gladly, quoth Arthur, Come cousin,
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  Speaker 1: little John away with vats and tan bark and vile
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  Speaker 1: smelling cowhides. I'll follow you two, in the sweet open
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  Speaker 1: air to the very ends of earth. So ends chapter fifteen.