Tyll that play was done;
So long abode Robyn fastinge
Thre hourës after the none.
[ THE THIRD FYTTE (144-204)]
Argument.—The narrative of the knight’s loan is for the moment dropped, in order to relate a gest of Little John, who is now (81.2) the knight’s ‘knave’ or squire. Going forth ‘upon a mery day,’ Little John shoots with such skill that he attracts the attention of the Sheriff of Nottingham (who is here and elsewhere the type of Robin Hood’s enemies), and enters his service for a year under the name of Reynold Greenleaf. While the sheriff is hunting, Little John fights his servants, robs his treasure-house, and escapes back to Robin Hood with ‘three hundred pound and more.’ He then bethinks him of a shrewd wile, and inveigles the sheriff to leave his hunting in order to see a right fair hart and seven score of deer, which turn out to be Robin and his men. Robin Hood exacts an oath of the sheriff, equivalent to an armistice; and he returns home, having had his fill of the greenwood.
THE THIRD FYTTE
144.
Lyth and lystyn, gentilmen,
All that now be here;
Of Litell Johnn, that was the knightës man,