Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Little John a-Begging

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Little John a-Begging

Little John Abegging

...
...
...beggar,' he sayes,
`With none such fellows as thee.'

`I am not in iest,' said Litle Iohn,
`I sweare all by the roode;
Change wiirth 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,' said 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 upon 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 could take
Was towards Nottingham towne.

But as he was on the hills soe high,
He mett wiirth 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.'

Child #142
Version A in Child
LMP
July01
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