Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times
salt-cellar here, to make a distinction between highest and lowest," he
continued aloud; "so let every man place himself where he can find
room.--Peaceably there,--peaceably! Give seats to the women, and show
yourselves courteous as knights. If there be not stools for all, there
are platters for all, with meat to spare, and God made the green
ground, you know, long before man made a settle. Here my lord, sit by
me, and I will help you; and, as my chaplain is not here, I will give
you a forest grace to your meat--Reverence, my men--reverence!"
Each man stood up, took off his hat, and crossed himself, and Robin
Hood, bowing his head, and running the two parts of his sentence
somewhat close together, though there was a slight pause between them,
said, "God give us his blessing--and let no man disturb us!"
We have given the words of the forester, as affording the best account
of the arrangement of his party; and it is only necessary to add that
about a third of the number of those present found seats upon the
ground, while the rest placed themselves on stools round the table; and
it is to be remarked that many of the village girls, who had come as
guests, preferred the green sward, with a stout young bowman beside
them, eating, as was then customary with lovers, out of the same dish.
As Robin had said, indeed, there was plenty of food for all; for,
besides two gigantic barons of beef, there was many a roasted pig of
tender age, capons, and fowls, and pigeons, a heron here and there,
together with that most excellent of all ancient dishes, a bittern made
into soup, while, in the centre of the table, was seen the peacock with
his magnificent tail spread out.
Close by the herons wherever they appeared, had been placed, by
direction of Little John, who would have his jest at the long-legged
fowl, large dishes of magnificent trout. "There," said the master of
Robin Hood's revels, "the ancient enemies sit side by side peaceably,
to show that man's maw made friends of all things!"
There was no serving at the table of Robin Hood. The Earl's good yeomen
fell as readily into the customs of Sherwood as their lord, and,
sitting down pell-mell with the green-coated rangers, attacked the meat
as soon as grace was said. The cooks, themselves, when their function
was done, and the dinner was dished up, took such places as they could
find, and every man drawing forth anelace, or dagger, as the case might
be, assailed the dish that was before him, and helped his neighbours
and himself. For some time a deep silence fell over the whole party,
and less noise attended the proceeding than ever occurs now-a-days, for
dishes ages platters were all of wood, and the knives were encountered
by no forks in those times, so that little clatter accompanied the
operation either of carving or eating.
At the end of about ten minutes, some five or six of the younger men
rose from various parts of the table, and made an excursion towards the
barrels we have mentioned. They returned loaded with large flagons, and
the only act of ceremony which took place was, that Little John
himself, with a large black jack full of strong ale in one hand, and a
stoup of wine in the other, approached the Earl, while another brought
a large silver cup, and offered him to drink. Thus refreshed, another
attack upon the unresisting viands succeeded, after which more tankards
of wine were set around for every line to help himself as he liked. The
juice of the grape soon had its effect so far as to quicken the
movements of the tongue; and the jests and laughter, and, it must said,
noise also, became considerable.
From time to time the Earl and Robin Hood exchanged a word in a lower
and more serious tone; but, in general, the old nobleman joined in
gaily with the rest, with few words, indeed, and calm withal, but with
a well-pleased smile, and a frequent glance down either side of the
table at the row of merry faces which surrounded him.
"Come, Pigmy, come!" cried Robin Hood, at length, addressing Little
John, "cheer us with a song, if thy portion of the baron have left thee
any voice; but mind, no ribaldry, and as little impudence as may be."
"Heaven deliver us!" cried Little John, "I shall never be able to sing!
I am like a city lady, who has just been called _madam_ for the first
time in her life, and somewhat faint with the smell of fat viands.
Come, Billy of Southwell, fill me a cup of wine; for I must do our
captain's bidding."
And having taken a deep draught, he went on, in a voice of a fine tone,
indeed, but loud enough, according to the whimsical thought of the
poet, to
"Sweep the sear leaves off the trees,
As if a storm pass'd by."
SONG.
Robin Hood and the Grinder.
"Lythe and listen, my merry-men all,
Lythe and listen to me,
Of a wonderful matter that once did befal
Under the greenwood tree.
"Those who go out to catch are caught,
As you shall presently hear;
For bold Robin Hood once a lesson was taught
Which well-nigh had cost him dear.
"'I'm going alone,' said Robin, one day--
'I'm going alone, to see
What sport I can make on the king's highway,
For I am as good as three.
"'Take any three men from Nottingham town,
And set them all of a row,
If they bide my buffet and do not go down,
They shall set me up for a show.'
"Bold Robin went out, and he met with a man--
A grinder he was by trade;
And 'Hillo! stand fast!' good Robin began,
'Bide here, till the toll be paid.'
"'Get out of my way, toll-taker,' said he;
'I'm a grinder, and one of hot blood,
And I have a strap that should well leather thee,
Wert thou even our bold Robin Hood!'
"Then Robin he took his stout staff in his hand,
And struck at the grinder a blow,
But he jump'd aside, and his running wheel-band
O'er Robin's two shoulders did throw.
"With a tug at the end, and a twitch at the buckle,
He pull'd it down over his wrists--
I know not if Robin's forgotten his knuckle,
But he left him the sign of his fists.
"Good luck for bold Robin!--the grinder took fright
At three yeomen, who came from the wood,
Or right sure he'd have pummell'd him on until night,
And made jelly of bold Robin Hood!"
Robin laughed heartily at the song; and turning to the Earl, he
said--"If men should ever talk of me after I am dead, they'll take my
character from yon knave's songs. But come, my lord, I'll give you one
myself, to another tune."
SONG.
Merry England.
"Ho, merry England! merry England, ho!
The crimson grape grows ruddy in fair France;
There the rich juices from the wine-cup flow,
There beat the timely feet in graceful dance.
But give me back the bower
Where pass'd youth's jocund hour--
Ho, merry England! merry England, ho!
"Ho, merry England merry England, ho!
Light fills the skies, and gilds the fields of Spain;
Orange and olive, thyme and myrtle, grow
O'er purple hill and perfume-breathing plain;
But give to me the glade,
And twinkling forest shade,
Of merry England, merry England, ho!
"Ho, merry England! merry England, ho!
Bright shines the sun on the Italian shore,
And art and nature gain a brighter glow
From memories of greatness gone before;
But my dear island home
Veils not the crest to Rome,
Ho, merry England, merry England, ho!
"Ho, merry England, merry England, ho!
Thy hills, and dells, and groves,
Are full of brighter things than other lands:
Glorious remembrances, and happy loves,
And hearts sincere, and true and honest hands.
There let my life go by,
And my grave, when I die,
Be merry England, merry England, ho!"
It seemed to be a favourite song with the outlaw, and also with his
companions, for at the close of each stanza they took up the refrain
of--
"Ho, merry England, merry England, ho!"
and singing it to a wild though very simple minor airs produced a
powerful effect upon their hearers and upon each other. When they had
done, their leader poured out some wine, saying, "Pledge us a cup, my
lord the Earl, in wine--better than which Gascony never produced,--to
that dear mother-land for which we have bled, or are willing to bleed.
Here's to Merry England!"
The Earl willingly drunk the toast; and after a few words more, he
said, in a low voices to his companion, "I fear I must mar your
merriment, Robin, by departure. I am anxious for tidings, and have
perhaps delayed somewhat too long already. I know that letters must be
waiting for me, and they may need an instant answer."
"Seek them not at Nottingham, my lord, at all events," replied the
forester; "aware of the trap they hid laid for you there, I have
already sent out people to stay all messengers De Montfort may have
dispatched to you, and bid them turn aside to the little village of
Stapleford. There you will find them, if at all. Yet I would fain have
you remain here an hour or two longer; for, in the course of this
night, I myself expect tidings by a sure hand and a nearer way."
"I will leave either the priest or my good yeoman, Blawket, with you,"
said the Earl, in a low tone. "Both are to be trusted."
"The priest!" exclaimed Robin Hood, "God bless his reverence, I forgot,
and took his trade out of his hand just now. I must add a paternoster
to-night, when he is at the table; but, in good truth, I quite forgot
him.--Blawket must do, I fear, my lord; but yet I could have wished to
have some one with me whom I could consult in case of need; for I, too,
may have to act at a moment's warning, and may require to arrange some
plan for joining you speedily, which I could not do with either the
yeoman or the priest. Still I suppose you are right, and had better
proceed."
"Hark!" cried the Earl, and, after a momentary pause, he added, "I
thought I heard the blast of a horn at a great distance; perhaps it is
your messenger."
"No," replied the outlaw; "I heard it too, but it came from the east. I
have scouts out that way. Some one must be riding Sherwood worthy of
notice. We shall soon know more. Silence, my men, silence! There is a
horn, I think, from the ash-tree covert!"
All was instantly still, and for rather more than a minute no one
spoke. But patience began to grow weary, and one or two at the lower
end of the table were beginning to say an occasional word to their next
neighbour in a low tone, when the horn again sounded, much nearer than
before, and Little John started up, exclaiming, "That's Kneller's blast
at the hollow oak on Mostyn's Edge!"
"Look to your bows, my merry men," cried Robin Hood; "whoever it is, he
comes this way fast. We may have to show the Earl some of our habits of
life."
Every man now rose from the table at once, the implements Of archery
(which were hung upon, or leaning against, several of the trees around)
were hastily resumed, the bows were strung, and an arrow or two fitted
to the string.
In about five minutes more, another horn sounded, not many hundred
yards from the spot where the tables were laid. The country girls ran
to the other side of the green, although they were told not to be
afraid; and the old Earl separating his followers from the rest bade
each man have his hand upon his bridle, ready to mount and take
whatever part might seem needful; when gradually the sound of horses'
feet coming at a quick pace became distinct, and, after a short pause
of expectation, Hugh of Monthermer, with four or five servants,