The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
LITTLE JOHN A BEGGING—A
[OMITTED]1
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
[OMITTED] beggar,’ he sayes,
‘With none such fellows as thee.’
2
‘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.’
3
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.’
4
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.
5
‘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.’
6
‘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.’
7
But Iohn he walket the hills soe high,Soe did [he] the hills soe browne;
189
Was towards Nottingham towne.
8
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!
9
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.
10
But one of them tooke Litle Iohn on his head,The blood ran over his eye;
Little Iohn turned him twise about
[OMITTED]
11
‘If I [OMITTED]As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the best churches
That stands by any highway.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |