No. 148: The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hood's Preferment
[There are no known US or Canadian version of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes [There are no footnotes for this ballad]
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Text A (For text changes versions from A a to make A b- A g see End-Notes)
5. End-Notes
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 148. The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hood's Preferment
A. Roud No. : The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hood's Preferment ( Listings)
2. Sheet Music: (Bronson's traditional music versions)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a-A g with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative
A. a. Wood, 402, p. 18.
b. Wood, 401, leaf 25 b.
c. Garland of 1663, No 12.
d. Garland of 1670, No 11.
e. Rawlinson, 566.
f. Pepys, II, 108, No 95.
g. Pepys, II, 123, No 108.
Also Roxburghe, II, 370, III, 524; The Noble Fisherman's Garland, 1686; Bagford, 643. m. 10, 22.
'The Noble Ffisherman, or, Robin Hoods great Prize' is receipted for to Francis Coules in the Stationers' Registers, June 13, 1631: Arber, IV, 254.
Ritson, Robin Hood, II, 110, 1795, "from three old black-letter copies, one in the collection of Anthony a Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a private collection." Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 171, from an Aldermary garland.
Robin Hood is here made to try his fortunes on the sea, like Eustace the Monk and Wallace. He goes to Scarborough and gives himself out as a fisherman, and is engaged as such by a widow with whom he lodges, who is the owner of a ship. Out of his wantonness, rather than his ignorance, we must suppose, Simon, as he calls himself, when others cast baited hooks into the water, casts in bare lines; for which he is laughed to scorn. A French cruiser bears down on the fishermen, and the master gives up all for lost. Simon asks for his bow; not a Frenchman will he spare. The master, not strangely, takes such talk for brag. Simon requests to be tied to a mast, 'that at his mark he may stand fair,' and to have his bow in his hand, when never a Frenchman will he spare. He shoots one of the enemy through the heart, and then asks to be loosed and to have his bow in his hand, when, again, never a Frenchman will he spare. The Englishmen board, and find a booty of twelve thousand pound. Simon announces that he shall give half the ship to the dame who employed him, and the other half to his comrades. The master objects; Simon has won the vessel with his own hand (a point which might have been made more distinctly to appear in the narrative), and he shall have her. But the outlaw afloat has still his munificent old ways; so it shall be as to the ship, and the twelve thousand pound shall build an asylum 'for the opprest'! All this may strike us as infantile, but the ballad was evidently in great favor two hundred years ago.
Translated (not entirely) by A. Grün, p. 295.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
Robin Hood is here made to try his fortunes on the sea, like Eustace the Monk and Wallace. 'The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hoods great Prize' is receipted for to Francis Coules in the Stationers' Registers, June 13, 1631.
'The Noble Fisherman or Robin Hood's Preferment'- Version A a; Child 148 The Noble Fisherman or Robin Hood's Preferment
a. Wood, 402, p. 18.
b. Wood, 401, leaf 25 b.
c. Garland of 1663, No 12.
d. Garland of 1670, No 11.
e. Rawlinson, 566.
f. Pepys, II, 108, No 95.
g. Pepys, II, 123, No 108.
1 In summer time, when leaves grow green,
When they doe grow both green and long,
Of a bould outlaw, calld Robin Hood,
It is of him I sing this song.
2 When the lilly leafe and the elephant
Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere,
This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,
And chasing of the fallow deere.
3 'The fishermen brave more mony have
Then any merchant, two or three;
Therefore I will to Scarborough goe,
That I a fisherman brave may be.'
4 This outlaw calld his merry men all,
As they sate under the green-wood tree:
'If any of you have gold to spend,
I pray you heartily spend it with me.
5 'Now,' quoth Robin, I'le to Scarborough goe,
It seemes to be a very faire day;'
Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,
Hard by upon the water gray.
6 Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne?
Or tell to me, where dost thou fare?
'I am a poore fisherman,' saith he then,
'This day intrapped all in care.'
7 'What is thy name, thou fine fellow?
I pray thee heartily tell to me;'
'In mine own country where I was borne,
Men called me Simon over the Lee.'
8 'Simon, Simon,' said the good wife,
'I wish thy maist well brook thy name.'
The outlaw was ware of her courtesie,
And rejoyed he had got such a dame.
9 'Simon, wilt thou be my man?
And good round wages I'le give thee;
I have as good a ship of mine owne
As any sayle upon the sea.
10 'Anchors and planks thou shalt want none,
Masts and ropes that are so long;'
'And if that you thus furnish me,'
Said Simon, 'Nothing shall goe wrong.'
11 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
When others cast in their baited hooks,
The bare lines into the sea cast he.
12 'It will be long,' said the master then,
'Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea;
I'le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,
For in truth he is of no part worthy.'
13 'O woe is me,' said Simon then,
'This day that ever I came here!
I wish I were in Plomton Parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere.
14 'For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
And they by me set nought at all;
If I had them in Plomton Park,
I would set as little by them all.'
15 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three;
But Simon spied a ship of warre,
That sayld towards them most valourously.
16 'O woe is me,' said the master then,
'This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne.
17 'For your French robbers on the sea,
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong.'
18 But Simon said, Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care;
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.
19 'Hold thy peace, thou long lubber,
For thou art nought but braggs and boast;
If I should cast the over-board,
There were nothing but a lubber lost.'
20 Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he
That he tooke his bent bow in his hand,
And to the ship-hatch goe doth he.
21 'Master, tye me to the mast,' saith he,
'That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bended bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.'
22 He drew his arrow to the very head,
And drew it with all might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
Doth the Frenchmans heart the arow gain.
23 The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch,
And under the hatches down below;
Another Frenchman that him espy'd
The dead corps into the sea doth throw.
24 'O master, loose me from the mast,' he said,
'And for them all take you no care,
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.'
25 Then streight [they] did board the Frenchmans ship,
They lying all dead in their sight;
They found within the ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of money bright.
26 'The one halfe of the ship,' said Simon then,
'I'le give to my dame and children small;
The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow
On you that are my fellowes all.'
27 But now bespake the master then,
For so, Simon, it shall not be;
For you have won her with your own hand,
And the owner of it you shall bee.
28 'It shall be so, as I have said;
And, with this gold, for the opprest
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest.'
End-Notes
a. The Noble Fisher-man, or, Robin Hoods Preferment: shewing how he won a great prize on the sea, and how he gave the one halfe to his dame and the other to the building of almes-houses.
The tune is, In summer time.
London, Printed for F. Coles, in the Old Baily. (1631?)
31. fisher-man, which perhaps should stand.
51. with for quoth.
204. hatchs.
212. fare.
224. Frenchman.
231. fell owne.
252. lyin.
282. for thee.
b. Title as in a, except: won a prize, gave one half.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson. (1648-63?)
21. Clephant.
22. good wanting.
31. fisherman.
33. will I.
51. with for quoth.
124. of wanting.
142. set nothing.
163. fish that we have got: to-day wanting.
171. For yon.
194. There 's but a simple.
204. ship-hatch.
211. mast he said.
212. fare.
213. bent.
224. Frenchmans.
231. downe.
251. streight they boarded the French ship.
252. lying.
254. in mony.
263. of my ship I'le give.
264. To you.
273. hands.
274. must be.
282. for thee.
c, d. Title as in a, except: won a prize, gave one.
The tune is, Summer time.
22. good wanting.
31. fisher men.
32. Than.
51. Now quoth.
62. c, thou dost.
63. said.
64. d, cares.
74. call.
94. sails.
112. d, than.
123. you wanting.
124. of wanting.
142. set nothing.
152. than.
154. most wanting.
163. fish that we have got: to-day wanting.
171. yon: robber.
182. you any.
194. There 's but a simple.
204. shiphatch.
211. mast he said.
212. fair.
213. bent.
214. d, a wanting.
224. Frenchmans.
231. down.
241. c, mast side.
251. they boarded the French ship.
252. lying.
254. in for of.
263. of my ship I'le give.
264. To you.
271. c, But wanting.
273. hands.
274. you must: d, of you it.
282. for the.
e. Title as in b. Variations found also in b are not given.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke. (1650-80?)
51. Now quoth.
54. waters.
61. of wanting.
94. sails.
153. espy'd.
174. And lay.
182. any for no.
233. that him did espy.
f. Title as in b.
Printed for Alex. Milbourn, Will. Ownley, Tho. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-lane. (Date indeterminable: after 1670.)
12. doe wanting.
14. my song.
22. good wanting.
31. fishermen.
32. merchants.
34. fisherman might be.
43. If you have any.
51. Now quoth Robin Hood.
54. waters.
61. of wanting.
63. said.
72. tell it.
74. call.
92. I will.
93. of my.
94. sails.
101. shalt not want.
102. that wanting.
123. you wanting.
124. of wanting.
142. set nothing.
153. espyed.
154. most wanting.
163. fish that we have got.
171. robber.
174. And lay.
182. you any.
194. There 's but a simple lubber lost.
204. And in.
211. saith he wanting.
212. fair.
213. bent.
224. Frenchmans.
231. ship-catch: so g.
232. there below.
251. Then they boarded the French: so g.
254. in for of.
263. other part: I'le give.
264. To you.
273. hands.
274. owner thereof you must.
282. for the.
g. Title as in b.
Printed for I. Wright, I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger. (1670-86?)
Agrees generally with f.
171. For yon.