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Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair
"Itismuchagainstmywill,"saidRobinHood,"ne’ertheless,ifthoudostwishit,gettheegone,butbearthyselfseemingly,LittleJohn,forthouartmineownright-handmanandIcouldillbeartohaveharmbefallthee."
SoLittleJohncladhimselfallinscarletandstartedofftotheFairatNottinghamTown.
RightmerryweretheseFairdaysatNottingham,whenthegreenbeforethegreattowngatewasdottedwithboothsstandinginrows,withtentsofmany-coloredcanvas,hungaboutwithstreamersandgarlandsofflowers,andthefolkcamefromallthecountryside,bothgentleandcommon.Insomeboothstherewasdancingtomerrymusic,inothersflowedaleandbeer,andinothersyetagainsweetcakesandbarleysugarweresold;andsportwasgoingoutsidetheboothsalso,wheresomeminstrelsangballadsoftheoldentime,playingasecondupontheharp,orwherethewrestlersstruggledwithoneanotherwithinthesawdustring,butthepeoplegatheredmostofallaroundaraisedplatformwherestoutfellowsplayedatquarterstaff.
SoLittleJohncametotheFair.Allscarletwerehishoseandjerkin,andscarletwashiscowledcap,withascarletfeatherstuckinthesideofit.Overhisshoulderswasslungastoutbowofyew,andacrosshisbackhungaquiverofgoodroundarrows.Manyturnedtolookaftersuchastout,tallfellow,forhisshoulderswerebroaderbyapalm’s-breadththananythatwerethere,andhestoodaheadtallerthanalltheothermen.
