Page 248 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

were I not a yeoman of Sherwood Forest, I had rather be a
strolling friar than aught else in the world.’
‘Yea, it is a goodly song,’ said Robin Hood, ‘but methought
those two burly beggars told the merrier tales and led the
merrier life. Dost thou not remember what that great black-
bearded fellow told of his begging at the fair in York?’
‘Yea,’ said Little John, ‘but what told the friar of the har-
vest home in Kentshire? I hold that he led a merrier life than
the other two.’
‘Truly, for the honor of the cloth,’ quoth Friar Tuck, ‘I
hold with my good gossip, Little John.’
‘Now,’ quoth Robin, ‘I hold to mine own mind. But what
sayst thou, Little John, to a merry adventure this fair day?
Take thou a friar’s gown from our chest of strange garments,
and don the same, and I will stop the first beggar I meet and
change clothes with him. Then let us wander the country
about, this sweet day, and see what befalls each of us.’
‘That fitteth my mind,’ quoth Little John, ‘so let us forth,
say I.’
Thereupon Little John and Friar Tuck went to the store-
house of the band, and there chose for the yeoman the robe
of a Gray Friar. Then they came forth again, and a mighty
roar of laughter went up, for not only had the band never
seen Little John in such guise before, but the robe was too
short for him by a good palm’s-breadth. But Little John’s
hands were folded in his loose sleeves, and Little John’s eyes
were cast upon the ground, and at his girdle hung a great,
long string of beads.
And now Little John took up his stout staff, at the end of