Lithe and listen, Gentlemen! All that now be here, Of Little JOHN, that was the Knight's man, Good mirth ye shall hear. It was upon a merry day That young men would go shoot, Little JOHN fetched his bow anon And said he "would them meet." Three times, Little JOHN shot about, And always he sleste [_slit_] the wand: The proud Sheriff of NOTTINGHAM By the Marks 'gan stand. The Sheriff swore a full great oath, "By Him that died on the tree! This man is the best archer That yet saw I me! Say me now, wight young man! What is now thy name? In what country wert thou born? And where is thy woning wane?" "In Holderness, I was born, I-wis, all of my dame: Men call me REYNOLD GREENLEAF, When I am at home." "Say me, REYNOLD GREENLEAF! Wilt thou dwell with me? And every year, I will thee give Twenty marks to thy fee!" "I have a Master," said Little JOHN, "A courteous Knight is he; May ye get leave of him, the better may it be." The Sheriff got Little JOHN Twelve months of the Knight; Therefore he gave him right anon A good horse and a wight. Now is Little JOHN a Sheriff's man, God give us well to speed! But always thought Little JOHN To quite him well his meed. "Now, so God me help!" said Little JOHN, "And be my true lewte! I shall be the worst servant to him That ever yet had he!" It befel upon a Wednesday, The Sheriff on hunting was gone, And Little JOHN lay in his bed, and was forgot at home, Therefore he was fasting till it was past the noon. "Good Sir Steward, I pray thee, Give me to dine!" said Little JOHN. "It is long for GREENLEAF, fasting so long to be. Therefore I pray thee, Steward, my dinner give thou me!" "Shalt thou never eat nor drink," said the Steward, "Till my lord be come to town!" "I make my avow to God," said Little JOHN "I had lever to crack thy crown!" The Butler was full uncourteous, There he stood on floor; He started to the buttery, and shut fast the door. Little JOHN gave the Butler such a rap His back went nigh in two Though he lived an hundred winters, the worse he should go. He spurned the door with his foot, it went up well and fine! And there he made a large 'livery Both of ale and wine. "Sir, if ye will not dine," said Little JOHN, "I shall give you to drink! And though ye live an hundred winters, On Little JOHN ye shall think!" Little JOHN eat and little JOHN drank, the while he would. The Sheriff had in his kitchen a Cook, A stout man and a bold, "I make mine avow to God!" said the Cook, "Thou art a shrewd hind, In any household to dwell! for to ask thus to dine!" And there he lent Little JOHN Good strokes three. "I make mine avow," said Little JOHN, "These strokes liketh well. Thou art a bold man and a hardy, And so thinketh me! And ere I pass from this place Assayed better shalt thou be!" Little JOHN drew a good sword,