“I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now?” The stranger, in laughter, he cry’d; Quoth bold Robin Hood, “Good faith, in the flood, And floating along with the tide.
“I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul; With thee I’ll no longer contend; For needs must I say, thou hast got the day, Our battel shall be at an end.”
Then unto the bank he did presently wade, And pulld himself out by a thorn; Which done, at the last, he blowd a loud blast Straitway on his fine bugle-horn.
The eccho of which through the vallies did fly, At which his stout bowmen appeard, All cloathed in green, most gay to be seen; So up to their master they steerd.
“O what’s the matter?” quoth William Stutely; “Good master, you are wet to the skin:” “No matter,” quoth he; “the lad which you see, In fighting, hath tumbld me in.”
“He shall not go scot-free,” the others reply’d; So strait they were seizing him there, To duck him likewise; but Robin Hood cries, “He is a stout fellow, forbear.
“There’s no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not afraid; These bowmen upon me do wait; There’s threescore and nine; if thou wilt be mine, Thou shalt have my livery strait.
“And other accoutrements fit for a man; Speak up, jolly blade, never fear; I’ll teach you also the use of the bow, To shoot at the fat fallow-deer.”
“O here is my hand,” the stranger reply’d, “I’ll serve you with all my whole heart; My name is John Little, a man of good mettle; Nere doubt me, for I’ll play my part.”
“His name shall be alterd,” quoth William Stutely, “And I will his godfather be; Prepare then a feast, and none of the least, For we will be merry,” quoth he.
They presently fetchd in a brace of fat does, With humming strong liquor likewise; They lovd what was good; so, in the greenwood, This pretty sweet babe they baptize.
He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high, And, may be, an ell in the waste; A pretty sweet lad; much feasting they had; Bold Robin the christning grac’d,
With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring, And were of the Nottingham breed; Brave Stutely comes then, with seven yeomen, And did in this manner proceed.
“This infant was called John Little,” quoth he, “Which name shall be changed anon; The words we’ll transpose, so where-ever he goes, His name shall be calld Little John.”