35 ‘O ill betide you,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘That you so soon are gone; My sword may in the scabbord rest, For here our work is done.’ 36 ‘I little thought when I came here, When I came to this place, For to have met with Little John, Or seen my masters face.’ 37 Thus Stutly was at liberty set, And safe brought from his foe; ‘O thanks, O thanks to my master, Since here it was not so.’ 38 ‘And once again, my fellows, We shall in the green woods meet, Where we will make our bow-strings twang, Musick for us most sweet.’ * * * * * #a.# Robin Hood his rescuing Will Stutly from the sheriff and his men, who had taken him prisoner, and was going to hang him. To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. London, Printed for F. Grove, on Snow-hill. Entred according to order. (1620–55: _Chappell_.) 25^1. thou dost. 26^4. too. 29^2. Stutli’s. 33^1. doubtless. #b.# _Title as in_ #a#, _except_ rescuing of: were going. 4^3. said _wanting_. 6^3. in all the. 11^1. steps out. 13^1. Alas, alas. 13^4. yonders gallow. 14^2. would soon. 16^4. shall be. 19^4. the _wanting_. 25^1. thou dost. 26^4. too. 28^1. he _wanting_. 33^1. doubtless. #c.# _Title as in_ #a#, _except_ were going. 1^4. Tiding for certainly. 3^4. stay. 4^3. men said. 13^1. Alass, alass. 17^2. was _wanting_. 24^2. hearted. 25^1. thee dost. 26^4. too. 29^2. Stutli’s. 33^1. doubtless. 36^2. came hereto, #d.# _Title as in_ #a#. Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. (1670–86?) 1^1. livd _wanting_. 3^2. as ’tis. 4^3. and to: men said. 5^2. brought back. 8^1. they are. 9^3. said. 13^1. Alas, alas. 13^3. to day. 14^3. yeomanry. 17^2. gates were. 19^2. said. 19^4. the _wanting_. 21^1. But this. 21^3. swore. 24^2. hearted. 25^1. thee doth. 26^1. gone _for_ come. 28^1. he _wanting_. 29^1. And Little. 29^3. sheriffs. 33^1. doubtless. 35^1. said _for_ quoth. 36^2. came here. 142 LITTLE JOHN A BEGGING #A.# Percy MS., p. 20; Hales and Furnivall, I, 47. #B.# ‘Little John and the Four Beggers.’ #a.# Wood, 401, leaf 33 b. #b.# Garland of 1663, No 16. #c.# Garland of 1670, No 15. #d.# Pepys, II, 119, No 105. #B# is also in the Roxburghe collection, III, 10. #B a# is printed in Ritson’s Robin Hood, 1795, II, 128. Evans, Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 196 follows the Aldermary garland.