o God," said the cook,
"Thou art a shrewd-e hind,
In an household to dwell,
For to ask thus to dine."
And there he lent Little John,
Good strok-es three.

"I make mine avow," said Little John,
"These strok-es liketh well me.
Thou art a bold man and an hardy,
And so thinketh me;
And ere I pass from this place,
Assayed better shalt thou be."

Little John drew a good sword,
The cook took another in hand;
They thought nothing for to flee,
But stiffly for to stand.
There they fought sor-e together,
Two mile way and more,
Might neither other harm don,
The mountenance of an hour.
"I make mine avow," said Little John,
"And by my true lewt-e,
Thou art one of the best swordmen
That ever yet saw I me.
Couldest thou shoot as well in a bow,
To green wood thou shouldest with me,
And two times in the year thy clothing
I-changed should-e be;
And every year of Robin Hood
Twent-y mark to thy fee."

"Put up thy sword," said the cook,
"And fellows will we be."

Then he fet to Little John
The numbles of a doe,
Good bread and full good wine,
They ate and drank thereto.
And when they had drunken well,
Their troths together they plight,
That they would be with Rob-in
That ilke same day at night.
They hied them to the treasure-house,
As fast as they might gone,
The locks that were of good steel
They brake them every one;
They took away the silver vessel,
And all that they might get,
Pi-eces, mas-ars, and spoons,
Would they none forget;
Also they took the good pence,
Three hundred pound and three;
And did them straight to Robin Hood,
Under the green wood tree.

"God thee save, my dear mast-er,
And Christ thee save and see."

And then said Rob-in to Little John,
"Welcome might thou be;
And also be that fair yeom-an
Thou bringest there with thee.
What tiding-es from Nottingham?
Little John, tell thou me."

"Well thee greeteth the proud sher-iff,
And sendeth thee here by me,
His cook and his silv-er vessel,
And three hundred pound and three."

"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
"And to the Trinit-y,
It was never by his