Page "Little John" Paragraph 5

The earliest ballads do not feature an origin story for this character, but one was soon to follow.

According to a 17th-century ballad, he was a giant of a man ( at least seven feet tall ) who was named John Little.

Robin Hood first encountered him when he tried to prevent Robin from crossing a narrow bridge.

The two men then fought with quarterstaves, and Robin was knocked into the river.

Despite having won the duel, John agreed to join his band and fight alongside him.

He was baptised by the Merry Men and then called Little John, as he most certainly was not Little.

This scene is almost always re-enacted in movie and television versions of the story.

In some modern film versions, Little John loses the duel to Robin.

Little John's grave in St Michael's Church graveyard, Hathersage.