Lyth and lysten, gentyll men,
All that now be here,
Of Lytell Johan, that was the knyghtes man,
Good myrthe ye shall here.
It was upon a mery day,5
That yonge men wolde go [shete],
Lytell Johan fet his bowe anone,
And sayd he wolde them mete.
Thre tymes Lytell Johan shot about,
And always [cleft] the wande;10
The proude sheryf of Notyngham
By the markes gan stande.
The sheryf swore a full grete othe,
By hym that dyed on a tre,
This man is the best archere15
That yet sawe I me.
"Say me now, wyght yonge man,
What is now thy name?
In what countre [were thou] born,
And where is thy wonnynge [wane]?"20
"In Holdernesse I was bore,
I-wys all of my dame;
Men call me Reynolde Grenelefe,
Whan I am at hame."
"Say me, Reynaud Grenelefe,25
Wolte thou dwell with me?
And every yere I wyll the gyve
Twenty marke to thy fee."
"I have a mayster," sayd Lytell Johan,
"A curteys knight is he;30
May ye gete leve of hym,
The better may it bee."
The sheryfe gate Lytell Johan
Twelve monethes of the knyght;
Therfore he gave him ryght anone35
A good hors and a wyght.
Now is Lytel Johan the sheryffes man,
God gyve us well to spede,
But alway thought Lytell Johan
To quyte hym well his mede.40