Little John a Begging (Child 142)

. . . . beggar,’ he sayes,
‘With none such fellows as thee.’

‘I am not in iest,’ said Litle Iohn,
‘I sweare all by the roode;
Change with mee,’ said Little Iohn,
‘And I will giue thee some boote.’

But he has gotten on this old mans gowne,
It reacht not to his wrist;
‘Christ’s curse on’s hart,’ said Litle Iohn,
‘That thinkes my gowne amisse.’

But he has gotten on this old mans shoes,
Are clouted nine fold about;
‘Beshrew his hart,’ says Litle Iohn,
‘That bryer or thorne does doubt.

‘Wilt teach me some phrase of thy begging?’ says Iohn;
‘I pray thee, tell it mee,
How I may be as beggar-like
As any in my companie.’

‘Thou must goe two foote on a staffe,
The third vpon a tree;
Full loud that thou must cry and fare,
When nothing ayleth thee.’

But Iohn he walket the hills soe high,
Soe did [he] the hills soe browne;
The ready way that he cold take
Was towards Nottingham towne.

But as he was on the hills soe high,
He mett with palmers three;
Sayes, God you saue, my brethren all,
Now God you saue and see!

This seuen yeere I haue you sought;
Before I cold neuer you see!
Said they, Wee had leuer such a cankred carle
Were neuer in our companie.

But one of them tooke Litle Iohn on his head,
The blood ran over his eye;
Little Iohn turned him twise about

‘If I . . . . . . .
As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the best churches
That stands by any highway.’