Page 251 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

presently. I thank the good Saint Wilfred that he hath given
me a pretty wit. Look ye, now. Here I take this great basket,
so; here I tie my rosary around the handle, thus; and here
I slip the rosary over my head and sling the basket upon
my back, in this wise.’ And Little John did according to his
words, the basket hanging down behind him like a peddler’s
pack; then, giving his staff to one of the maids, and taking a
basket upon either arm, he turned his face toward Tuxford
Town and stepped forth merrily, a laughing maid on either
side, and one walking ahead, carrying the staff. In this wise
they journeyed along, and everyone they met stopped and
looked after them, laughing, for never had anybody seen
such a merry sight as this tall, strapping Gray Friar, with
robes all too short for him, laden with eggs, and tramping
the road with three pretty lasses. For this Little John cared
not a whit, but when such folks gave jesting words to him he
answered back as merrily, speech for speech.
So they stepped along toward Tuxford, chatting and
laughing, until they came nigh to the town. Here Little
John stopped and set down the baskets, for he did not care
to go into the town lest he should, perchance, meet some
of the Sheriff’s men. ‘Alas! sweet chucks,’ quoth he, ‘here
I must leave you. I had not thought to come this way, but I
am glad that I did so. Now, ere we part, we must drink sweet
friendship.’ So saying, he unslung the leathern pottle from
the end of his staff, and, drawing the stopper therefrom, he
handed it to the lass who had carried his staff, first wiping
the mouth of the pottle upon his sleeve. Then each lass took
a fair drink of what was within, and when it had passed all

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood