Story 2. Of the Merry Adventure which Gained Robin Hood his Good Right-hand Man, Little John How Robin Hood goeth abroad for to seek adventure and encountereth a tall stranger on the bridge. How the tall stranger doth tumble Robin into the stream but afterward joineth his band and is christened "Little John." Sources for the story-teller Ritson. Robin Hood, v.2, p.290–297. English and Scottish popular ballads, p.302–305. Sources for children Story Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.5-10. Pyle. Some merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.8-15. Rhead. Bold Robin Hood and his outlaw band, p.32-40. Tappan. Robin Hood, his book, p.31-38. Lang. Book of romance, p.325–326. Ballad Moore. Pictorial book of ballads, v.1, p.156–160. From Ritson's "Robin Hood." Haaren. Ballads and tales, p.7-15. Long. Old English ballads, p.17-25. Story 3. How Robin Hood Went to the Shooting Match at Nottingham Town and Won the Golden Arrow The Sheriff of Nottingham, thinking to entrap Robin Hood, doth proclaim a shooting match. Robin and his merry men do outwit the sheriff and Robin winneth the prize and hangeth it upon the greenwood tree, where all may have joy of it. Sources for the story-teller Ritson. Robin Hood, v.I, p.50-63; v.2, p.323-329. Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.25-33. Sources for children Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.25–33. Pyle. Some merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.16–26. Rhead. Bold Robin Hood and his outlaw band, p.52–60. Tappan. Robin Hood, his book, p.75–89. MacLeod. Book of ballad stories, p.209–215. Story 4. How Will Gamwell became Will Scarlet Of the meeting with a stranger in scarlet on the highway and how Robin is outdone in a combat with stout staves. How the stranger proveth to be Robin Hood's kin, becometh one of his merry band and is called Will Scarlet. Sources for the story-teller Ritson. Robin Hood, v.2, p.217–221. English and Scottish popular ballads, p.309–311. Sources for children Story Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.88-97. Pyle. Some merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.90-104. Tappan. Robin Hood, his book, p.105–122. It is suggested that stories 4 and 5 be told together. Both are slight in incident, but of interest because they introduce two prominent members of Robin Hood's band. Story 5. Of the Encounter with Arthur a Bland, the Tanner of Blyth How Arthur the tanner fighteth a merry bout and proveth himself most skilful with the quarterstaff and Robin gaineth another good comrade for his band. Sources for the story-teller Ritson. Robin Hood, v.2, p.181-187. English and Scottish popular ballads, p.305–307. Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.79-87. Rhead. Bold Robin Hood and his outlaw band, p.140-148. Sources for children Story Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.79-87. Pyle. Some merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.77-89. Tappan. Robin Hood, his book, p.212-226. Story 6. How Robin Hood did Outwit the Tinker at Blue Boar Inn The tinker carrieth the warrant for Robin Hood's arrest but Robin doth meet him and steal the warrant. Of the encounter in the forest when the tinker doth break Robin's oaken staff and join the outlaw band. Sources for the story-teller Ritson. Robin Hood, v.2, p.189–196. English and Scottish popular ballads, p.307–309. Sources for children Story Pyle. Merry adventures of Robin Hood, p.13-22. Rhead. Bold Robin Hood and his outlaw band, p.98-112. Tappan. Robin Hood, his book, p.90-104. This is one of the merriest of the adventures, but requires careful handling as to certain details to give the flavor of rollicking humor instead of coarseness to the joke. Unless this can be done, it had best be left untold. |