CHAPTER 2
Little John (of the Dead)
In merry England, before the name of Robyn Hude was spoke by those who loved that rogue, tales there were of robbers in the greenwood. Survivors they were, living off the land, foresters, outlaws, and peasants who had nowhere else to go. And they declared themselves freemen, and let no warrant of arrest draw them out, and laughed at armored caravans who promised them safe return to prison.
Robin had heard tales of these men, and so, upon his exile from the castle, he went into the greenwood, so these men to find.
When robin found them, those who knew him for the earl of Huntington new of his plight, and his being kept from the loving hands of Maid Marian, as the people called her, and of his refusing to pay the Tax, and Robert said to them "You all have refused to pay these worthless taxes, and so have I also. No longer am I Robert, earl of Huntington, but Robert of the Hood. And you, who shall know me better, can call me Robin Hood." And it was that name, and that name only that he would use to take over leading this band of outlaws. And so it was that Robin Hood came to lead his band of Merry men, and keep court in the shade of the greenwood.
And robin said "They have thrust me from my birthright to the wild, and I have exchanged richly garb for the linden green of the forester, and yet I find I still keep court, and have a band of loyal men about me. But the joke is on them, for my walls are the thicker, and my court the larger, and my land the more wealthy, for I own more than a hundred horned beast on a hundred woody hills. Indeed, little has changed between there and here!" and he laughed at this Joke, and the men laughed, too, for they were in much need of a good joke.
Now one day as Robin and his men were lying Idly under the greenwood, Robin decided he had a taste for venison.
So he headed off into the greenwood.
"You are not going alone?" asked one of the men.
"Of course. One is quicker, alone."
"'Tis dangerous," said the man, Much the Miller's son, he was. "You could be killed, or worse!"
"No, no, Lord Robin Hood is the greatest shot in all of england!" said another man, and all the men agreed. And they spoke loudly, saying "The sheriff can put up a thousand warrants of arrest, and a thousand plagued surround him, and he will prevail. He can beat that old blackguard to a pulp! All cheers for merry robin!" They cheered for him.
"Indeed, name one man who can shoot better than I!"
And Much the miller's son said "None I know who can shoot as well as thou, Master Robin, but I do know one whose strength of arm makes his range outdo yours!"
"Indeed?" said Robin. "I should very much like to learn this man's name."
"He is a man from a village to the east, who roams the woods as well, leader of his own band. Some say he is taller than any man."
"I was going to go in search of deer, but I think I shall go in search of just this very man."
"Shall we go with you Robin, in case the worst should happen?"
"Nay, nay," said Robin, but they would not have it.
"Alas, good men." And he took up a horn of ivory that lay nearby. "Should I find myself in danger, I shall blow this horn. Follow the sound, and you shall find me, for better or for worse. Now, fare thee well," and he was off.
Robin wandered through the merry woods of Sherwood, unchanged as they were from year to year, and though he kept his longbow and sword ready at hand, he whistled as he went.
Presently Robin Hood came upon a brown and babbling brook, across which led a bridge so narrow, only one man could cross it at a time. And across the way stood a man, who was wide of birth, and strong of arm.
"Let me pass, stranger," said Robin.
"That I cannot do," said the man. He bore a quarter staff of wood, and rested his arms upon it above the babbling brown stream. "You couldst have the plague, how should I know otherwise? Those who tread these woods often do, because they have been banished. And those who have been banished have either played the wolfshead, or have the plague. Be ye the second, then you have it. Be ye the first, then you will no doubt have it soon."
"What care is it is of yours, if I had?" asked Robin, wily. "I do not ask to stay with you, what harm can I have, if I should merely pass by?"
"You would pass, yes, but should the sickness take full effect, then were I to chance meet you again, it would not be a harmless encounter."
"Well, said, but if I insist to pass, as yet, what wouldst thou do? Would you kill a man who may not have it?"
"I don't know," said the man. "I think, I should bind him. And if a day and half's passing does not reveal the answer, his life would be spared."
"A fine plan," said Robin. "But what if I were to say that I am a restless soul, and would not insist upon such treatment? What wouldst thou do then?"
"I," began the man, but paused. "I don't know. I would fight you."
"With swords? To the death?"
"No, with quarter-staff." He held his own up. "I would subdue you, and take you alive."
"And what if I should not be subdued?"
"I'd make thee!" said the man, and held the staff forward.
"So it is settled," said Robin. He drew his sword, and cut himself a length of wood from a sapling at hand, and trimmed it of leaf and branch, so that he had a staff, and he faced the tall man with staff in hand.
"So it begins," said the man.
The Man struck first, and Robin followed. It was a grand tussle, as each man fought not only the mighty blows of the staffs, but also for his own balance upon the narrow bridge. Robin was a fine warrior, well taught. He met the mighty-arm of the stranger with equal skill. But not, that is to say, with equal strength. The tall man was strong, and his blows were like a thunderclap. Robins staff threatened to splinter beneath the force. Robin took a chance at a blow upon the shoulder, but the man caught it in time, and forced robin's upwards. Robin spread his arms to keep his balance, and the man took the opportunity to strike Robin on the crown, and he fell to the brown rush below.
Robin pulled out his horn of ivory, and blew a long hard blast, as Little John lowered his staff to Robin's neck.
Almost instantly, it seemed, were they surrounded by men in linden green. The stranger was surprised.
"We kept close watch over you," said the foremost man, a forester. "In case you should be in danger." Men had already surrounded the tall stranger, but Robin spoke quickly.
"Leave him be, he is a good man, and a friend."
"What is this?" said the man. "Who are all of you? Leave me be, I am trying to find Robin Hood and his band of Merry men. They say he keeps court, here in the greenwood."
"Alas, friend," said Robin, standing again, and eying him from above. "You have found him."
"What! you are Robin?" asked the stranger.
"And so we meet. I would ask your name, though, stranger."
"I am John-little, or John-Jenkins, if you prefer."
"Hmm," said Robin, wily. "I think John-little is not a fitting name. No, indeed not. Instead, I shall call you 'Little John,' that sells the idea a lot better." He winked, and the men about laughed long and hard. John-little grinned a mighty grin, and let Robin help him to his feet.
And so was the friendship of Little John won, by Robin Hood and his merry men.
They brought Little John back to their camp beneath the spreading oak, and there was he made welcome. And there, in Robin's court, Robin spoke to him.
"We hear you have the strongest arm of any, Little John, and a fine archer, what's more."
"Indeed." Robin pointed to a tree, some 300 yards away, and said "Strike that tree, if you can."
Little John took up his longbow, strung it, and set the knock of an arrow to the string. He pulled back, till he was red in the face, and the string looked about to break, and then he let it fly. It struck the tree full on. When Robin sent a man to fetch it, he could not retrieve it from the bark of the wood, it had sunk too deep. "Let it remain as a reminder," said Robin with a laugh, "Not to make enemies of this man." And he struck Little John upon the back in kindly gesture. "Strength you have indeed, but what is your aim?" And Robin set up a branch of wood some yards distant, not as far, but nearly.
"A closer target, but let's see how you do." Little John drew back his bow as before, and let it fly. It brushed past the branch, missing it by less than a finger's length.
"A Fine shot, good fellow," said Robin.
"Indeed, a target such as that, I am surprised I did as well. I doubt any man could strike it."
Robin smiled, and pulled back his bow. He let it fly and it struck the wood, splintering it into halves.
The men cheered, and jeered at Little John kindheartedly. Little John turned to Robin and said "May men learn of your skill, Robin, that they may know not to make enemies of you, either."
Robin laughed and said "True. Only my enemies have never met a foe like me. They had better learn of me well enough soon, or else they shall, indeed, live to regret it."