ROBIN GOOBFELLOW, a name given in England to a domestic spirit or fairy, analogous in character to the Nisse God-dreng of Scandinavia, the Knecht Ruprecht, i.e., Robin of Germany, and the Brownie of Scotland. Roguery and sportiveness were the characteristics of this spirit; and in the reign of Elizabeth, his existence was so generally credited, that he was " famozed in every old wives' chronicle for his mad merrye prankes." It was from the popular belief in this spirit that Shakespeare's "Puck" was derived. From the early ballads concerning Robin, we learn that he was the offspring of a "proper young wench by a bee-fairy," who was no less a person than Oberon, king of Fairyland. In his youth, Robin displayed such mischievous tricks that his mother found it necessary to promise him a whipping. He ran away from home, and engaged with a tailor, from whom he also eloped. When tired, he sat down, and fell asleep, and in his sleep he had a vision of fairies. On awaking, he found lying beside him a scroll, evidently left by his father, which, in verses written in letters of gold, informed him that lie should have anything he wished for, and also the power of turning himself into various shapes; but he was to harm none but knaves and queens, and was to "love those that honest be, and help them in necessity." As a specimen of his "mad prankes," Robin went one day to a wedding Os a fiddler, and was a welcome guest; but in the evening "then bee beganne to play his merry trickes in this manner. First, hee put out the candles, and then being darke, lice strucke the men good boxes on the cares; they, thinking it had beene those that did sit next them, fell a-fighting one with the other, so that there was not one of them but had either a broken head or a bloody nose. At this, Robin laughed heartily. The women did not
scape him, for the handsomest lie kissed: the others he pinched, and made them scratch One the other, as if they had beene cats. Candles being lighted againe, they all were friends, and fell againe to dancing, and after to supper. Supper being ended, a great posset was brought forth. At this, Robin's teeth did water, for it looked so lovely that bee could not keepe from it. To attaine to his wish, lie did tune himself into a beare: both men and women seeing a beare amongst them, ranne away, and left the whole posset to Robin. He quickly made an end of it, and went away without his money, for the sport bee had was better to him than any money whatsoever." Although Robin was a sprite particularly fond of disconcerting and disturbing domes tic peace, lie was believed to be easily.propitiated. If a bowl of milk, or curds and cream, were duly laid out for him, he would at midnight perform for the servants many house hold duties. If this were neglected, Robin would revenge himself by pinching and otherwise annoying the inmates. The following passage in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream fully describes Robin's peculiarities: Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are you not he That frights the maidens of the villagery; Skims milk, and sometimes labors in the quern, And bootless makes the breathless housewife churn; And sometime makes the drink to bear no harm; Misleads night-wanderers, laughing at their harm? Those that hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck, You do their work, and they shall have good-luck.
The Had Pranks and Merry Jests of Robin Goodfellow have been reprinted from the edition of 1628 by the Percy society in 1841.