The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 567, September 22, 1832 — John Shaqi
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 567, September 22, 1832Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 567, September 22, 1832
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
the chief of which seems to be Barnsdale, in Yorkshire, Sherwood, in
Nottinghamshire, and Plompton Park, in Cumberland. Here he either found,
or was afterwards joined by, a number of persons in similar
circumstances,
Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth
Thrust from the company of lawful men;
who appear to have considered him as their leader. Of these, his
principal favourites, or those in whose courage and fidelity he most
confided, were Little John, (whose surname is said to have been Nailor;)
William Scadlock, (Scathelock or Scarlet;) George a Green, pinder, (or
pound-keeper;) of Wakefield; Much, a miller's son; and a certain monk or
friar, named Tuck. He is likewise said to have been accompanied in his
retreat by a female, of whom he was enamoured, and whose real or adopted
name was Marian. His company, in process of time consisted of a hundred
archers, "men," says Major, "most skilful in battle, whom four times
that number of the boldest fellows durst not attack." His manner of
recruiting was somewhat singular; for, in the words of an old writer,
"wheresoever he heard of any that were of unusual strength and
hardiness, he would disgyse himselfe, and rather than fayle, go lyke a
begger to become acquaynted with them, and after he had tryed them with
fyghting, never give them over tyl he had used means to drawe them to
lyve after his fashion; numerous instances of which are recorded in the
common and popular songs, where indeed he seldom fails to receive a
sound thrashing. After such manner he procured the pynner of Wakefyld,
friar Tuck, and Scadlock. One day meeting him, Scadlock, as he walked
solitary, and like to a man forlorn, because a maid to whom he was
affianced was taken from him by her friends, and given to another that
was old and wealthy; Robin hearing when the marriage day would be, came
to the church as a beggar, having his own company not far off; and who
at the sound of his horn rushed in, took the bride from him that was to
marry her, and caused the priest to wed her and Scadlock together." In
shooting with the long bow, the company excelled all the men in the
land; their archery indeed was unparalleled, as both Robin Hood and
Little John, _it is said_, have frequently shot an arrow a measured
mile, or 1,760 yards.
Charlton informs us, that in one of Robin's peregrinations, he, attended
by his trusty mate, John, went to dine at Whitby Abbey, with the abbot,
Richard, who having heard them often famed for their great dexterity
in shooting with the long bow, begged them after dinner to show him a
specimen. They went up top of the abbey, and each of them shot an arrow
that fell not far from Whitby-laths. The abbot placed a pillar on the
spot where each arrow fell, and named one Robin Hood's field, the other
John's field. Their distance from Whitby is more than a measured mile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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