Classic Poem

. . . . . . . .
 . . . . . . . .
. . . . beggar,’ he sayes,
 ‘W i th none such fellows as thee.’

‘I am not in iest,’ said Litle Iohn,
 ‘I sweare all by the roode;
Change w i th mee,’ said Little Iohn,
 ‘And I will giue thee some boote.’

But he has gotten on this old mans gowne,
 It reacht not to his wrist;
‘Christ's curse on 's hart,’ said Litle Iohn,
 ‘That thinkes my gowne amisse.’

But he has gotten on this old mans shoes,
 Are clouted nine fold about;
‘Beshrew his hart,’ says Litle Iohn,
 ‘That bryer or thorne does doubt.

‘Wilt teach me some phrase of thy begging?’ says Iohn;
 ‘I pray thee, tell it mee,
How I may be as beggar-like
 As any in my companie.’

‘Thou must goe two foote on a staffe,
 The third vpon a tree;
Full loud that thou must cry and fare,
 When nothing ayleth thee.’

But Iohn he walket the hills soe high,
 Soe did [he] the hills soe browne;
The ready way that he cold take
 Was towards Nottingham towne.

But as he was on the hills soe high,
 He mett w i th palmers three;
Sayes, God you saue, my brethren all,
 Now God you saue and see!

This seuen yeere I haue you sought;
 Before I cold neuer you see!
Said they, Wee had leuer such a cankred carle
 Were neuer in our companie.

But one of them tooke Litle Iohn on his head,
 The blood ran over his eye;
Little Iohn turned him twise about
 . . . . . . .

*****

‘If I . . . . . . .
 As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the best churches
 That stands by any highway.’