CHAPTER IX.
The words of the old Earl gave a good idea of the picture which waspresented to his eyes. It was indeed like a May-day pageant, or likeone of those scenes which we now-a-days see upon the stage, but whichare but feeble representations of those that in former times wereconstantly acted in reality. Though, it is true, we form exaggeratedimages of many things that we do not behold, imagination presents but avery faint idea of the splendour and decoration of those ages whensumptuary laws were enacted in various countries to prevent peasantsfrom displaying gold and silver embroidery in their garments. What maybe called representation was a part of that epoch. It was in everypalace, and in every castle, at the table of the grave citizen, withhis gold chain, in the arm-chair of the justice, in the ball of thefranklin. It sat upon the forked beard of Chaucer's merchant, itappeared in the party-coloured garments of the gallant of the court. Inshort, a great part of everything in that day was effect: it was one ofthe great objects of the age, and all classes of people had an eye forit. Perhaps in all things, as in their great buildings, their taste wasbetter than our own--in very few points it could be worse; and inconsulting what is bright and pleasing to the eye, what is exciting anddazzling to the imagination, they followed where nature led--nature whodelights in striking contrasts, as much as in gentle harmonies.
If, indeed, we can form a very faint idea of the splendour of the courtand the castle, our conception is still more inadequate of thepicturesque decoration of humbler scenes in those days. We are apt toconceive that it was all rude, or gross; and we scarcely believe in thecharms of the merry morrice dance, in the graces and attractions thatsported round the May-pole, in the moonlight meetings which OldFitzstephen records, or in any of the sweeter and more gentle pleasuresand pastimes of the peasantry of Old England; and yet all these thingswere true, all were enacted by living beings like ourselves upon everyvillage green throughout the land, long before a feeble mockery of themcrept into a close and stifling playhouse.
Stronger passions--or perhaps the same passions but less under controlthan in the present day--took their part therein, from time to time,and prompted to all those wild energies which spring from deep andhighly-excited feelings. Graces free and uncultivated were therelikewise, and the honest outpourings of the heart, subjected to no dullsneer from the lips of false refinement, burst forth with the touchingforce of simplicity and truth. The universal weaknesses of our naturemingled with all the rest, and varied the drama through a thousandparts. Vanity, and self-love, and pride, and envy, had their share inthe gathering of spring flowers, in the weaving of the garland, in thedecoration of the tent, in the choice of the May queen, and in thedance upon the sward; but to say sooth, they gave a pungency and abrightness, and a human interest to the whole.
I beseech thee, then, dear reader, carry thy mind back to the times ofwhich I write, and recollect that such scenes as that which met the eyeof the old Lord Monthermer, were every-day realities, and not any partof a cold fable.
Whether planted by accident or design I know not, but at the side ofone of the little savannahs I have described, where the grass was shortand dry, six old oaks came forward from the rest of the wood, three oneither hand, at the distance of about forty feet apart, forming a sortof natural avenue. Their long branches stretched across and nearly meteach other, and under this natural canopy was spread out the longtable, prepared for the good Earl's repast; while, from bough to boughabove, crossing each other in various graceful sweeps, were innumerablegarlands, forming a sort of net-work of forest flowers, The board,too--let not the reader suppose that it was rude and bare, for it wascovered with as fine linen as ever came from the looms of Ireland orSaxony.[2] The board had a nosegay laid where every man was expected tosit, and the ground beneath was strewed with rushes and green leaves tomake a soft resting-place for the feet. Under the trees were gatheredtogether various groups of stout archers in their peculiar garb, withmany a country girl from the neighbouring villages, all in holidayapparel. A number of young countrymen, too, were present, showing thatthe rovers of the forest were at no great pains to conceal their placeof meeting; for their lawless trade found favour in the sight of themany; and their security depended as much upon the confidence andgoodwill of the lower orders, as upon the dissensions and disunion ofthe higher classes.
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[Footnote 2: I need not refer the learned reader to the curiousinvestigations of M. le Grand; and perhaps for the less inquisitive itmay be enough to say, that such was literally the fact.]
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The first sight of the Earl and the outlaw caused not a little bustleamongst the companions of the latter. There was running here and there,and putting things in array; and it was very evident that, althoughexpected and prepared for, everything was not quite ready when the Earlarrived.
"Give him good morrow--give the noble Earl good morrow!" cried theforester, putting his horn to his lips and waving his hand for asignal.
Every man followed his example, and in a moment the whole glades of theforest rang with the sounds of the merry horn. Not a note was out oftune, no two were inharmonious, and, as with a long swell and fall, themellow tones rose and died away, the effect in that wild yet beautifulscene was not a little striking and pleasant to the ear.
"Yeomanly! yeomanly! right yeomanly done!" cried Robin Hood. "This isthe way, my lord, that we receive a true friend to the English Commonsand the good old Saxon blood. Will you please to dismount, and tasteour cheer? If yonder cooks have not done their duty, and got all ready,I will fry them in their own grease, though I guess from yon blazinglog that they are somewhat behindhand."
As he spoke, he fixed his eyes upon a spot, to which those of the Earlfollowed them, where a scene not quite harmonious with the poetry ofthe rest of the arrangement was going on, but one very satisfactory tothe hungry stomachs of the Earl's retainers. An immense pile of blazingwood, fit to have roasted Hercules himself, was crackling and hissingand roaring so close to a distant angle of the wood, that the flamesscorched the green leaves on the farther side. Beside it were some fivemen, in clean white jackets, running hastily about, and basting sundrythings of a very savoury odour, which by the contrivance of smallchains and twisted strings, were made to revolve before the fire. Eachman was glad enough to keep to windward of the blaze; and, even then,full many a time were they forced to run to a distance for cool air andfree breath, for the heat was too intense for any one to endure it longwithout suffering the fate of the immense masses of meat which wereturning before it.
About fifty yards from this burning mountain was a lesser volcano, fromwhich, upon the primitive tripod of three long poles; hung sundry potsof vast dimensions, emitting steams very grateful to the nose; while,in a cool spot under the trees, appeared the no less pleasant sightof two large barrels, one twined round with a garland of youngvine-leaves, and the other with a wreath of oak. A host of drinkingcups, fit to serve an army, lay near them, and a man with a mallet wasbusily engaged in driving a spigot and faucet to give discreet vent tothe liquor within.
"Ho! where is Little John?" cried Robin Hood--"a small friend ofmine, my lord, whom you must know. What! Naylor! the master of ourrevels--where is he? By my life, he is basting the capons! Hallo!friend John!--You will easily see, my lord, how he deserves his title."
As he spoke, a yeoman, some six feet four in height, with shouldersthat seemed as fit to carry the bull as the calf, a round head coveredwith nut-brown hair, and a face running over with fun and jest, camenear and shook the Earl's proffered hand.
"We have met before, I believe, Little John," said the Earl, "and Ithink in as warm a feast-day as this!"
"Warmer, my lord, by a bucket full," replied Naylor. "One of thosefeasts where one is as likely to be carved as carve."
"I recollect, your face well," said the Earl.
"John of Andelys would recollect it better, my lord, if he couldrecollect anything, poor fellow," answered the yeoman. "When last he
and I and you met together, he had got you by the throat, with hisdagger through your avantaille. I just tapped him on the head, toremind him not to do such things; and whether he went away or not Idon't know, but if he did, he certainly did not carry his brains withhim."
"Ay, you did me good service there," replied the Earl--"I should havelost an eye, at least. There's a jewel, my good friend," he continued,taking a ring from his finger--"I won it with hard strokes myself, nearTripoli, and I give it to you for as good a blow as ever was struck byan English yeoman."
"I'll set it in my cap, my lord," replied Little John, "and, perhaps,some day----"
"Nay, now, no boasting, John!" cried Robin Hood; "but let the Earl sitdown to meat. It is the season, my good lord, when one strikes neitherhart nor hare, when the partridge is free for her brood, and even thewild bustard runs unscathed. Thus, my good lord, I cannot give youforest cheer; otherwise, so help me Heaven! as you should dine at theKing's expense, while his majesty be revelling with my Lord ofLeicester. However, not being able to treat you as a yeoman, I willfeast you as a baron; and if those good cooks do but their duty, nocastle hall in all merry England shall show a better supper than yoursthis day."
"I doubt it not, good Robin--I doubt it not!" replied the Earl, with agood-humoured laugh; "you are Lord of Sherwood, and may hold your courtof free-baron when you like. On my life! you have a peacock," hecontinued, as a long train or men began to approach, bearing largewooden trenchers loaded with viands--"and the noble baron of beef too!"
"True, my lord.--true!" replied Robin, "I could not feast an earl, youknow, without giving him a young peacock with his tail spread, norreceive your merry men honourably without a double sirloin from thebest ox in the country. The beef's my own," he continued, "for I boughtit with gold out of my purse; and the peacock's my own, for Little Johngave it to me."
"And how he came by it--you did not ask," said the Earl, smiling.
"Nay, why should I?" demanded Robin Hood, in the same jesting tune;"you would not have me doubt my man's honesty?"
"Heaven forbid!" replied the Earl; "and I will claim a slice of thefair bird, by the same title."
"Come, my lord, come," cried Robin; "let us sit down.--We have nosalt-cellar here, to make a distinction between highest and lowest," hecontinued aloud; "so let every man place himself where he can findroom.--Peaceably there,--peaceably! Give seats to the women, and showyourselves courteous as knights. If there be not stools for all, thereare platters for all, with meat to spare, and God made the greenground, you know, long before man made a settle. Here my lord, sit byme, and I will help you; and, as my chaplain is not here, I will giveyou a forest grace to your meat--Reverence, my men--reverence!"
Each man stood up, took off his hat, and crossed himself, and RobinHood, bowing his head, and running the two parts of his sentencesomewhat 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 accountof the arrangement of his party; and it is only necessary to add thatabout a third of the number of those present found seats upon theground, while the rest placed themselves on stools round the table; andit is to be remarked that many of the village girls, who had come asguests, preferred the green sward, with a stout young bowman besidethem, 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 oftender age, capons, and fowls, and pigeons, a heron here and there,together with that most excellent of all ancient dishes, a bittern madeinto soup, while, in the centre of the table, was seen the peacock withhis magnificent tail spread out.
Close by the herons wherever they appeared, had been placed, bydirection of Little John, who would have his jest at the long-leggedfowl, large dishes of magnificent trout. "There," said the master ofRobin 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 yeomenfell as readily into the customs of Sherwood as their lord, and,sitting down pell-mell with the green-coated rangers, attacked the meatas soon as grace was said. The cooks, themselves, when their functionwas done, and the dinner was dished up, took such places as they couldfind, and every man drawing forth anelace, or dagger, as the case mightbe, assailed the dish that was before him, and helped his neighboursand himself. For some time a deep silence fell over the whole party,and less noise attended the proceeding than ever occurs now-a-days, fordishes ages platters were all of wood, and the knives were encounteredby no forks in those times, so that little clatter accompanied theoperation either of carving or eating.
At the end of about ten minutes, some five or six of the younger menrose from various parts of the table, and made an excursion towards thebarrels we have mentioned. They returned loaded with large flagons, andthe only act of ceremony which took place was, that Little Johnhimself, with a large black jack full of strong ale in one hand, and astoup of wine in the other, approached the Earl, while another broughta large silver cup, and offered him to drink. Thus refreshed, anotherattack upon the unresisting viands succeeded, after which more tankardsof wine were set around for every line to help himself as he liked. Thejuice of the grape soon had its effect so far as to quicken themovements 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 lowerand more serious tone; but, in general, the old nobleman joined ingaily with the rest, with few words, indeed, and calm withal, but witha well-pleased smile, and a frequent glance down either side of thetable at the row of merry faces which surrounded him.
"Come, Pigmy, come!" cried Robin Hood, at length, addressing LittleJohn, "cheer us with a song, if thy portion of the baron have left theeany 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 firsttime 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 ourcaptain'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 thepoet, 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, hesaid--"If men should ever talk of me after I am dead, they'll take mycharacter from yon knave's songs. But come, my lord, I'll give you onemyself, 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 hiscompanions, for at the close of each stanza they took up the refrainof--
"Ho, merry England, merry England, ho!"
and singing it to a wild though very simple minor airs produced apowerful effect upon their hearers and upon each other. When they haddone, their leader poured out some wine, saying, "Pledge us a cup, mylord the Earl, in wine--better than which Gascony never produced,--tothat 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, hesaid, in a low voices to his companion, "I fear I must mar yourmerriment, Robin, by departure. I am anxious for tidings, and haveperhaps delayed somewhat too long already. I know that letters must bewaiting for me, and they may need an instant answer."
"Seek them not at Nottingham, my lord, at all events," replied theforester; "aware of the trap they hid laid for you there, I havealready sent out people to stay all messengers De Montfort may havedispatched to you, and bid them turn aside to the little village ofStapleford. There you will find them, if at all. Yet I would fain haveyou remain here an hour or two longer; for, in the course of thisnight, 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 paternosterto-night, when he is at the table; but, in good truth, I quite forgothim.--Blawket must do, I fear, my lord; but yet I could have wished tohave 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 someplan for joining you speedily, which I could not do with either theyeoman or the priest. Still I suppose you are right, and had betterproceed."
"Hark!" cried the Earl, and, after a momentary pause, he added, "Ithought I heard the blast of a horn at a great distance; perhaps it isyour messenger."
"No," replied the outlaw; "I heard it too, but it came from the east. Ihave scouts out that way. Some one must be riding Sherwood worthy ofnotice. We shall soon know more. Silence, my men, silence! There is ahorn, I think, from the ash-tree covert!"
All was instantly still, and for rather more than a minute no onespoke. But patience began to grow weary, and one or two at the lowerend of the table were beginning to say an occasional word to their nextneighbour in a low tone, when the horn again sounded, much nearer thanbefore, and Little John started up, exclaiming, "That's Kneller's blastat the hollow oak on Mostyn's Edge!"
"Look to your bows, my merry men," cried Robin Hood; "whoever it is, hecomes this way fast. We may have to show the Earl some of our habits oflife."
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 fittedto the string.
In about five minutes more, another horn sounded, not many hundredyards from the spot where the tables were laid. The country girls ranto the other side of the green, although they were told not to beafraid; and the old Earl separating his followers from the rest badeeach man have his hand upon his bridle, ready to mount and takewhatever part might seem needful; when gradually the sound of horses'feet coming at a quick pace became distinct, and, after a short pauseof expectation, Hugh of Monthermer, with four or five servants,somewhat heated and travel-stained, rode into the little open space,and suddenly halted, as if in wonder at the scene which met theirsight.
Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times Page 9