Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb pies,65
Were set upon every table:
And noble George Gamwel said, "Eat and be merry
And drink too as long as you're able."
When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,
And, "Be merry, my friends," said the 'squire;70
"It rains, and it blows, but call for more ale,
And lay some more wood on the fire.
"And now call ye Little John hither to me,
For Little John is a fine lad
At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks,75
As shall make you both merry and glad.
When Little John came, to gambols they went,
Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown;
And what do you think? Why, as true as I live,
Bold Robin Hood put them all down.80
And now you may think the right worshipful 'squire
Was joyful this sight for to see;
For he said, "Cousin Robin, thou'st go no more home,
But tarry and dwell here with me.
"Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then,85
Thou shalt be the staff of my age:"
"Then grant me my boon, dear uncle," said Robin,
"That Little John may be my page."
And he said, "Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon;
With all my heart, so let it be;"90
"Then come hither, Little John," said Robin Hood,
"Come hither, my page, unto me.
"Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,
And broad arrows, one, two, or three;
For when 'tis fair weather we'll into Sherwood,95
Some merry pastime to see."
When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,
He winded his bugle so clear;
And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold
Before Robin Hood did appear.100
"Where are your companions all?" said Robin Hood,
"For still I want forty and three:"
Then said a bold yeoman, "Lo, yonder they stand,
All under [the] green wood tree."