by: Anonymous (Author) , Francis James Child (Editor)
from: The English and Scottish Popular Ballads 1882-1889
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While these resources will remain accessible during the course of migration, they will be static, with reduced functionality. They will not be updated during this time. We anticipate the migration project to be complete by Summer 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly at robbins@ur.rochester.edu. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
Little John A Begging (Child Ballad No. 142A)
* * * [Half page missing]* * *
[...] beggar,' he sayes,
'With none such fellows as thee.'
'I am not in iest,' said Litle Iohn,
'I sweare all by the roode;
Change with 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 with 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;
Litle Iohn turned him twise about
* * * [Half page missing]* * *
'If I [...]
As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the beste churches
That stands by any highway.'
[...] beggar,' he sayes,
'With none such fellows as thee.'
'I am not in iest,' said Litle Iohn,
'I sweare all by the roode;
Change with 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 with 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;
Litle Iohn turned him twise about
* * * [Half page missing]* * *
'If I [...]
As I haue beene but one day,
I shold haue purcchased three of the beste churches
That stands by any highway.'
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