#A.# Little John, meaning to go a begging, induces an old mendicant to change clothes with him and to give him some hints how to conduct himself. Thus prepared he attempts to attach himself to three palmers, who, however, do not covet his company. One of the palmers gives John a whack on the head. We may conjecture, from the course of the story in #B#, that John serves them all accordingly, and takes from them so much money that, if he had kept on in this way, he might, as he says, have bought churches. The beginning of #A# is very like that of Robin Hood rescuing Three Squires, #A#; but the disguise is for a different object. We are reminded again of Hind Horn, and particularly of versions #C#, #G#, #H#, in which the beggar, after change of clothes, is asked for instructions. #B.# John is deputed by Robin to go a begging, and asks to be provided with staff, coat, and bags. He joins four sham beggars, one of whom takes him a knock on the crown. John makes the dumb to speak and the halt to run, and bangs them against the wall, then gets from one’s cloak three hundred pound, and from another’s bag three hundred and three, which he thinks is doing well enough to warrant his return to Sherwood. #B# is translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 155. A Percy MS., p. 20; Hales and Furnivall, I, 47. * * * * * 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . beggar,’ he sayes, ‘W_i_th none such fellows as thee.’ 2 ‘I am not in iest,’ said Litle Iohn, ‘I sweare all by the roode; Change w_i_th 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; The ready way that he cold take Was towards Nottingham towne. 8 But as he was on the hills soe high, He mett w_i_th 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 . . . . . . . * * * * *