The Knight pressèd into the place, An hundred followed him free, With bows bent, and arrows sharp, For to shende[794] that company. CXLI They shoulder’d all, and made him room, To wete[795] what he would say, He took the yeoman by the hand And gave him all the play; CXLII He gave him five mark for his wine, There it lay on the mould, And bade it should be set a-broach, Drink who so would. CXLIII Thus long tarried this gentle Knight, Till that play was done ... So long abode Robin fasting, Three hours after the noon. _The Third Fytte_ How Little John robbed the Sheriff of Nottingham and delivered him into Robin Hood’s hands CXLIV Lithe and listen, gentlemen, All that now be here, Of Little John, that was the Knight’s man, Good mirth shall ye hear. CXLV It was upon a merry day, That young men would go shete[796]; Little John fet[797] his bow anon, And said he would them meet. CXLVI Three times Little John shot about, And alway cleft the wand, The proud Sherìff of Nottingham By the marks gan stand. CXLVII The Sheriff swore a full great oath, ‘By Him that died on a tree, This man is the best archèr That yet saw I me. CXLVIII ‘Say me now, wight[798] young man, What is now thy name? In what country were thou born, And where is thy woning wane[799]?’-- CXLIX ‘In Holderness I was bore, I-wis[800], all of my dame, Men call me Reynold Greenleaf, When I am at hame.’-- CL ‘Say me, Reynold Greenleaf, Wilt thou dwell with me? And every year I will thee give Twenty mark to thy fee.’-- CLI ‘I have a master,’ said Little John, ‘A courteous knight is he May ye get leave of him, The better may it be.’ CLII The Sheriff got Little John Twelve months of the Knight, Therefore he gave him right anon A good horse and a wight. CLIII Now is Little John the Sheriff’s man, He give us well to speed, But alway thought Little John To quit him well his meed[801]. CLIV ‘Now so God me help,’ said Little John, ‘And by my true lewtè[802], I shall be the worst servant to him That ever yet had he.’ CLV It befell upon a Wednesday, The Sheriff on hunting was gone, And Little John lay in his bed, And was forgotten at home. CLVI Therefore he was fasting Till it was past the noon. ‘Good sir steward, I pray thee, Give me to dine,’ said Little John. CLVII ‘It is too long for Greenleaf, Fasting so long to be; Therefore I pray thee, steward, My dinner give thou me.’ CLVIII