〃Yea；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　laughing；　〃that　was　the　night　that　Will　Stutely　must　needs　snatch　a　kiss　from　the　stout　hostess；　and　got　a　canakin　of　ale　emptied　over　his　head　for　his　pains。〃
  〃Truly；　it　was　the　same；〃　said　Little　John；　laughing　also。　〃Methinks　that　was　a　goodly　song　that　the　strolling　friar　sang。　Friar　Tuck；　thou　hast　a　quick　ear　for　a　tune；　dost　thou　not　remember　it？〃
  〃I　did　have　the　catch　of　it　one　time；〃　said　Tuck。　　〃Let　me　see；〃　and　he　touched　his　forefinger　to　his　forehead　in　thought；　humming　to　himself；　and　stopping　ever　and　anon　to　fit　what　he　had　got　to　what　he　searched　for　in　his　mind。　At　last　he　found　it　all　and　clearing　his　throat；　sang　merrily：
  〃_In　the　blossoming　hedge　the　robin　cock　sings；　　　　　　For　the　sun　it　is　merry　and　bright；　　And　he　joyfully　hops　and　he　flutters　his　wings；　　　　　　For　his　heart　is　all　full　of　delight。　　　　　　　　　　　For　the　May　bloometh　fair；　　　　　　　　　　　And　there's　little　of　care；　　And　plenty　to　eat　in　the　Maytime　rare。　　　　　　　　　　　When　the　flowers　all　die；　　　　　　　　　　　Then　off　he　will　fly；　　　　　　　　　　　To　keep　himself　warm　　　　　　　　　　　In　some　jolly　old　barn　　Where　the　snow　and　the　wind　neither　chill　him　nor　harm。
  〃And　such　is　the　life　of　the　strolling　friar；　　　　　　With　aplenty　to　eat　and　to　drink；　　For　the　goodwife　will　keep　him　a　seat　by　the　fire；　　　　　　And　the　pretty　girls　smile　at　his　wink。　　　　　　　　　　　Then　he　lustily　trolls　　　　　　　　　　　As　he　onward　strolls；　　A　rollicking　song　for　the　saving　of　souls。　　　　　　　　　　　When　the　wind　doth　blow；　　　　　　　　　　　With　the　coming　of　snow；　　　　　　　　　　　There's　a　place　by　the　fire　　　　　　　　　　　For　the　fatherly　friar；　　And　a　crab　in　the　bowl　for　his　heart's　desire_。〃
  Thus　Friar　Tuck　sang　in　a　rich　and　mellow　voice；　rolling　his　head　from　side　to　side　in　time　with　the　music；　and　when　he　had　done；　all　clapped　their　hands　and　shouted　with　laughter；　for　the　song　fitted　him　well。
  〃In　very　sooth；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃it　is　a　goodly　song；　and；　were　I　not　a　yeoman　of　Sherwood　Forest；　I　had　rather　be　a　strolling　friar　than　aught　else　in　the　world。〃
  〃Yea；　it　is　a　goodly　song；〃　said　Robin　Hood；　〃but　methought　those　two　burly　beggars　told　the　merrier　tales　and　led　the　merrier　life。　Dost　thou　not　remember　what　that　great　black…bearded　fellow　told　of　his　begging　at　the　fair　in　York？〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　Little　John；　〃but　what　told　the　friar　of　the　harvest　home　in　Kentshire？　　I　hold　that　he　led　a　merrier　life　than　the　other　two。〃
  〃Truly；　for　the　honor　of　the　cloth；〃　quoth　Friar　Tuck；　〃I　hold　with　my　good　gossip；　Little　John。〃
  〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　hold　to　mine　own　mind。　　But　what　sayst　thou；　Little　John；　to　a　merry　adventure　this　fair　day？　　Take　thou　a　friar's　gown　from　our　chest　of　strange　garments；　and　don　the　same；　and　I　will　stop　the　first　beggar　I　meet　and　change　clothes　with　him。　Then　let　us　wander　the　country　about；　this　sweet　day；　and　see　what　befalls　each　of　us。〃
  〃That　fitteth　my　mind；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃so　let　us　forth；　say　I。〃
  Thereupon　Little　John　and　Friar　Tuck　went　to　the　storehouse　of　the　band；　and　there　chose　for　the　yeoman　the　robe　of　a　Gray　Friar。　　Then　they　came　forth　again；　and　a　mighty　roar　of　laughter　went　up；　for　not　only　had　the　band　never　seen　Little　John　in　such　guise　before；　but　the　robe　was　too　short　for　him　by　a　good　palm's…breadth。　But　Little　John's　hands　were　folded　in　his　loose　sleeves；　and　Little　John's　eyes　were　cast　upon　the　ground；　and　at　his　girdle　hung　a　great；　long　string　of　beads。
  And　now　Little　John　took　up　his　stout　staff；　at　the　end　of　which　hung　a　chubby　little　leathern　pottle；　such　as　palmers　carry　at　the　tips　of　their　staves；　but　in　it　was　something；　I　wot；　more　like　good　Malmsey　than　cold　spring　water；　such　as　godly　pilgrims　carry。　　Then　up　rose　Robin　and　took　his　stout　staff　in　his　hand；　likewise；　and　slipped　ten　golden　angels　into　his　pouch；　for　no　beggar's　garb　was　among　the　stores　of　the　band；　so　he　was　fain　to　run　his　chance　of　meeting　a　beggar　and　buying　his　clothes　of　him。
  So；　all　being　made　ready；　the　two　yeomen　set　forth　on　their　way；　striding　lustily　along　all　in　the　misty　morning。　　Thus　they　walked　down　the　forest　path　until　they　came　to　the　highway；　and　then　along　the　highway　till　it　split　in　twain；　leading　on　one　hand　to　Blyth　and　on　the　other　to　Gainsborough。　　Here　the　yeomen　stopped。
  Quoth　jolly　Robin；　〃Take　thou　the　road　to　Gainsborough；　and　I　will　take　that　to　Blyth。　　So；　fare　thee　well；　holy　father；　and　mayst　thou　not　ha'　cause　to　count　thy　beads　in　earnest　ere　we　meet　again。〃
  〃Good　den；　good　beggar　that　is　to　be；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃and　mayst　thou　have　no　cause　to　beg　for　mercy　ere　I　see　thee　next。〃
  So　each　stepped　sturdily　upon　his　way　until　a　green　hill　rose　between　them；　and　the　one　was　hid　from　the　sight　of　the　other。
  Little　John　walked　along；　whistling；　for　no　one　was　nigh　upon　all　the　road。　In　the　budding　hedges　the　little　birds　twittered　merrily；　and　on　either　hand　the　green　hills　swept　up　to　the　sky；　the　great　white　clouds　of　springtime　sailing　slowly　over　their　crowns　in　lazy　flight。　Up　hill　and　down　dale　walked　Little　John；　the　fresh　wind　blowing　in　his　face　and　his　robes　fluttering　behind　him；　and　so　at　last　he　came　to　a　crossroad　that　led　to　Tuxford。　　Here　he　met　three　pretty　lasses；　each　bearing　a　basket　of　eggs　to　market。　　Quoth　he；　〃Whither　away；　fair　maids？〃　And　he　stood　in　their　path；　holding　his　staff　in　front　of　them；　to　stop　them。
  Then　they　huddled　together　and　nudged　one　another；　and　one　presently　spake　up　and　said；　〃We　are　going　to　the　Tuxford　market；　holy　friar；　to　sell　our　eggs。〃
  〃Now　out　upon　it！〃　quoth　Little　John；　looking　upon　them　with　his　head　on　one　side。　　〃Surely；　it　is　a　pity　that　such　fair　lasses　should　be　forced　to　carry　eggs　to　market。　Let　me　tell　you；　an　I　had　the　shaping　of　things　in　this　world；　ye　should　all　three　have　been　clothed　in　the　finest　silks；　and　ride　upon　milk…white　horses；　with　pages　at　your　side；　and　feed　upon　nothing　but　whipped　cream　and　strawberries；　for　such　a　life　would　surely　befit　your　looks。〃
  At　this　speech　all　three　of　the　pretty　maids　looked　down；　blushing　and　simpering。　　One　said；　〃La！〃　another；　〃Marry；　a'　maketh　sport　of　us！〃　and　the　third；　〃Listen；　now；　to　the　holy　man！〃　But　at　the　same　time　they　looked　at　Little　John　from　out　the　corners　of　their　eyes。
  〃Now；　look　you；〃　said　Little　John；　〃I　cannot　see　such　dainty　damsels　as　ye　are　carrying　baskets　along　a　highroad。　Let　me　take　them　mine　own　self；　and　one　of　you；　if　ye　will；　may　carry　my　staff　for　me。〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　one　of　the　lasses；　〃but　thou　canst　not　carry　three　baskets　all　at　one　time。〃
  〃Yea；　but　I　can；〃　said　Little　John；　〃and　that　I　will　show　you　presently。　I　thank　the　good　Saint　Wilfred　that　he　hath　given　me　a　pretty　wit。　Look　ye；　now。　　Here　I　take　this　great　basket；　so；　here　I　tie　my　rosary　around　the　handle；　thus；　and　here　I　slip　the　rosary　over　my　head　and　sling　the　basket　upon　my　back；　in　this　wise。〃　And　Little　John　did　according　to　his　words；　the　basket　hanging　down　behind　him　like　a　peddler's　pack；　then；　giving　his　staff　to　one　of　the　maids；　and　taking　a　basket　upon　either　arm；　he　turned　his　face　toward　Tuxford　Town　and　stepped　forth　merrily；　a　laughing　maid　on　either　side；　and　one　walking　ahead；　carrying　the　staff。　In　this　wise　they　journeyed　along；　and　everyone　they　met　stopped　and　looked　after　them；　laughing；　for　never　had　anybody　seen　such　a　merry　sight　as　this　tall；　strapping　Gray　Friar；　with　robes　all　too　short　for　him；　laden　with　eggs；　and　tramping　the　road　with　three　pretty　lasses。　For　this　Little　John　cared　not　a　whit；　but　when　such　folks　gave　jesting　words　to　him　he　answered　back　as　merrily；　speech　for　speech。
  So　they　stepped　along　toward　Tuxford；　chatting　and　laughing；　until　they　came　nigh　to　the　town。　　Here　Little　John　stopped　and　set　down　the　baskets；　for　he　did　not　care　to　go　into　the　town　lest　he　should；　perchance；　meet　some　of　the　Sheriff's　men。　〃Alas！　sweet　chucks；〃　quoth　he；　〃here　I　must　leave　you。　I　had　not　thought　to　come　this　way；　but　I　am　glad　that　I　did　so。　Now；　ere　we　part；　we　must　drink　sweet　friendship。〃　　So　saying；　he　unslung　the　leathern　pottle　from　the　end　of　his　staff；　and；　drawing　the　stopper　therefrom；　he　handed　it　to　the　lass　who　had　carried　his　staff；　first　wiping　the　mouth　of　the　pottle　upon　his　sleeve。　Then　each　lass　took　a　fair　drink　of　what　was　within；　and　when　it　had　passed　all　around；　Little　John　finished　what　was　left；　so　that　not　another　drop　could　be　squeezed　from　it。　　Then；　kissing　each　lass　sweetly；　he　wished　them　all　good　den；　and　left　them。　But　the　maids　stood　looking　after　him　as　he　walked　away　whistling。　〃What　a　pity；〃　quoth　one；　〃that　such　a　stout；　lusty　lad　should　be　in　holy　orders。〃
  〃Marry；〃　quoth　Little　John　to　himself；　as　he　strode　along；　〃yon　was　no　such　ill　happening；　Saint　Dunstan　send　me　more　of　the　like。〃
  After　he　had　trudged　along　for　a　time　he　began　to　wax　thirsty　again　in　the　warmth　of　the　day。　　He　shook　his　leathern　pottle　beside　his　ear；　but　not　a　sound　came　therefrom。　　Then　he　placed　it　to　his　lips　and　tilted　it　high　aloft；　but　not　a　drop　was　there。　〃Little　John！　　Little　John！〃　said　he　sadly　to　himself；　shaking　his　head　the　while；　〃woman　will　be　thy　ruin　yet；　if　thou　dost　not　take　better　care　of　thyself。〃
  But　at　last　he　reached　the　crest　of　a　certain　hill；　and　saw　below